Endless Summer/Fall Issue 2025 by The Mountains

READY

The Orange Is The New Black star is poised to blow our minds, again BY RICHARD PÉREZ-FERIA

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE RUIZ

TAYLOR SCHILLING IS SO

{ ENDLESS SUMMER } HOT DAYS, COOL NiGHTS

ROBERT HARTWELL

The Berkshires superstar brings joy to the world

FRESH AIR FARE

Hungry? Great al fresco spots BY HAL RUBENSTEIN

UN-HAMPTON INNS

Really fabulous lodging picks BY AUDREY CHAMBERLIN

FASHION MAKEOVER

Designer Mara Hoﬀman’s surprising next act BY TODD PLUMMER

Beyond The Pup Cup: Dining With Dogs

(Creative Legion) Hudson: Mark D’Arcy’s Latest Move

Quentin Bacon Makes Photographic Magic & Who’s Coming To Dinner? BY MARTHA FRANKEL

Amenia ........................................................72, 73

Ancram .............................................................90

Ashley Falls ......................................................95

Bantam .............................................................70

Barryville..........................................................53

Beacon...................................................12, 86, 94

Becket ..............................................................87

Bethel ...............................................................53

Bethlehem........................................................95

Catskill.........................................................16, 87

Chatham...........................................15, 51, 79, 94

Cheshire ...........................................................95

Coxsackie...................................................59, 88

Craryville..........................................................66

Delhi..................................................................59

Dover Plains .....................................................70

East Greenbush ...............................................85

Egremont.....................................................19, 54

Fishkill...............................................................95

Ghent...............................................61, 64, 94, 95

Glenford ...........................................................95

Great Barrington ...............10, 19, 29, 40, 56, 59, .........................................................66, 67, 70, 95

Hillsdale.................................................61, 79, 87

Hudson ...............10, 19, 49, 50, 51, 87, 90, 94, 95

Hyde Park....................................................61, 68

Kinderhook ......................................................54

Kingston ..................10, 20, 22, 74, 85, 87, 94, 95

Lagrangeville....................................................95

Lakeville ...........................................................67

Lee ..............................................................94, 95

Lenox ...........................................................17, 90

Litchﬁeld ..........................................................94

Marlboro...........................................................86

Millbrook ...........................................................41

Monticello ........................................................95

Narrowsburg ....................................................53

New Marlborough .............................................17

New Paltz..............................................22, 90, 94

Norfolk .............................................................87

North Adams..............................................56, 90

Pawling..............................................................86

Peekskill .....................................................76, 90

Philmont ...........................................................79

Phoenicia...........................................................71

Pi sﬁeld ...................................56, 70, 90, 94, 95

Poughkeepsie...........................10, 85, 90, 94, 95

Red Hook..............................................69, 94, 95

Rhinebeck ...............10, 59, 69, 71, 85, 90, 94, 95

Ridgeﬁeld .........................................................95

Rosendale...................................................22, 54

Salisbury ...........................................................16

Saugerties ......................................36, 70, 94, 95

Sharon Springs..................................................74

Sheﬃeld ...........................................................85

South Egremont...............................................64

Stockbridge................................................59, 90

Stone Ridge......................................................22

Stormville ..........................................................12

Tannersville .......................................................71

Tilson ................................................................22

Tivoli ..................................................................91

Torrington.........................................................95

Troy ...................................................................85

Washington .......................................................16

Wassaic.............................................................79

West Park .........................................................59

White Lake.......................................................52

Williamstown..............................................71, 90

Windham ..........................................................88

Woodridge........................................................55

Woodstock ......................................16, 19, 36, 86

Art by Jan Kallwejt exclusively for The Mountains

Boston

Albany

New York City

grand hotel

The beautiful James Newbury Hotel shines in Coxsackie, NY.

Alan Katz FOUNDER | CEO

Richard Pérez-Feria EDITOR IN CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathleen Gates

MANAGING EDITOR James Long

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Erika Phenner

SENIOR EDITOR | RESEARCH DIRECTOR Sarah Carpenter-Peck

DESIGN EDITORS Eduardo Rodríguez, Herman Vega

DIGITAL MANAGER Isabella Joslin

DESIGNER Linda Gates

EDITORS AT LARGE Martha Frankel, Marco Medrano, Hal Rubenstein

Kevin Sessums, Tara Solomon

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Toni Gerunda

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Greg Calejo, Kate Doyle Hooper, Anthony Giglio

Rebecca Hardiman, Bill Henning, Isabel Hochman

Sean McAlindin, Simon Murray, Todd Plummer

Mitch Rustad, Jordan Schor

WRITERS Abbe Aronson, Bill Cary, Audrey Chamberlin

Jeff Dingler, Dan Koday, Sandy MacDonald

Mira Peck, Robyn Perry Coe, Terry Rosen

PHOTOGRAPHERS | ARTISTS Quentin Bacon, Fahnon Bennett, Natalie Chitwood

David Cowles, Bryan Derballa, Dori Fitzpatrick

Jan Kallwejt, Daniella Murray, Robert Risko

Mike Ruiz, Beth Schneck

Amy Smith

EXECUTIVE SALES DIRECTOR

ACCOUNT DIRECTORS Libby Hall Abeel, Louis Sarmiento

George Thomas Wilson, Amy Zaltzman

ACCOUNT MANAGER Livi Perrone

FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Caryn Whitman

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MARKETING DIRECTOR Bill Gibbons

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THE MOUNTAINS is published four times a year by MountainView Media 1 LLC

the s u mmit Trees

managing the moment—that’s what I’ve always called it. The moment, you know, is the circumstances in front of you teeter the overwhelming and the stress meter is careening off the charts. We all find ways of managing that moment.

first time I was forced to implement self-preservation tactic was during my sophomore year at Tulane University. I don’t precisely what was making me feel so despondent at the time, but I was a political science major working nearly fulltime at the school newspaper while also managing a very social life. It was a lot. I do remember removing myself from my immediate highoctane environment and finding a stone bench outside adjacent to a beautiful ivy-covered, centuries-old architectural marvel that doubled as our school’s classrooms. Tulane’s— New Orleans’—indisputable abundance bucolic beauty served me very well during

those years, particularly as my activities and responsibilities grew exponentially.

Here’s the thing: The moment I went outside, I quite literally exhaled the stress away. That shift in location and focus not only helped me come back to center but helped me access the solution to whatever crisis was making me anxious. Nature, as we all know, is a very powerful tonic—it cures what ails us.

When we first ventured north of our Manhattan digs and bought a home in Poughkeepsie a decade ago—a short walk to another gorgeous campus, Vassar College—I knew we made the right choice. A little later I was told Poughkeepsie’s unofficial nickname was the “City Of Trees” because of the thousands upon thousands of mature trees everywhere you look. This happy development isn’t a given for any city, let alone the largest one in our region.

Over the past decade, I’ve been able to “manage the moment” from our lovely cul-de-sac colonial home HQ as I handled life’s natural and preternatural occurrences— from career stresses to live birds invading our home (via the fireplace); from the mentally grueling days/months/years of the global pandemic to my parents unexpectedly passing not 48 hours apart.

I know…I know…Life comes at all of us fast and unrelenting, I’m just grateful beyond words that I had my little corner of the world (including my tree-filled backyard) where I could go and quietly manage those disquieting moments. And I had Vassar. And farmers markets. And the Kingston waterfront. And Montgomery, Warren and Railroad Streets in Rhinebeck, Hudson and Great Barrington, respectively. Oh, and I had the mountains.

As we ponder the end of yet another endless summer, take a jaunt outside, look up at the knowing, majestic trees and, yes, manage the moment. It will change your life. It certainly changed mine.

—Richard Pérez-Feria EDITOR IN CHIEF

ves its mark Poughkeepsie’s unofficial nickname is the “City Of Trees” because of thousands upon thousands of mature trees everywhere you look, including the stately Vassar College campus.

Fashion Forward

shoot the messenger Hoffman says that photography was her new passion project rooted in years of shooting her own brand’s fashion campaigns herself as well as her current life in the woods.

Designer Mara Hoffman on shuttering her brand, embracing the mountains and her creative—and surprising—next move. | By Todd Plummer

nobody did boho-chic better than Mara Hoffman. The Brooklyn, NY native practically invented the term. Over a quarter century— at least three lifetimes in fashion years— Hoffman built her eponymous fashion label into one of the most recognizable, beloved independent brands in the industry.

But in 2023, she made the difficult decision to put it all on pause. While she still owns a townhome in Williamsburg, the designer now spends the bulk of her time in Stormville, a hamlet tucked in the woods between Beacon, NY and the Connecticut border. I caught up

with Hoffman to learn more about what she’s been up to in the past couple of years.

“I started my business the summer I graduated from Parsons [School Of Design in New York City],” she says. “It really defined me, and for so long I lived my life through being a brand.” Over time, the daily strain of running and scaling a company— especially one committed to sustainable, ethical production and without outside investment—began to weigh heavily. I was living with the same scarcity mindset over and over. The compromises I would’ve had

THE WEAR

www boawellness com

to make in order to keep going after the pandemic…I just couldn’t.”

Like so many city dwellers, Hoffman made the move to the Hudson Valley in the midst of the global pandemic. Living closer to nature ultimately gave her clarity, she says. Hoffman placed her son in a local school, she and her husband started to find community and suddenly, and gradually, she says her husband and her found a sense of community they’ve been missing which gave her the clarity to ask herself the ultimate question about her career in fashion: Should she stop? The answer, she reveals, was a resounding ‘yes.’

“I started my business the summer I graduated from Parsons School Of Design in New York City. It really deﬁned me, and for so long I lived my life through being a brand.”

After some additional soul-searching, Hoffman says she wound down her business in early 2023, publicly announcing the closure in May. She ensured that the end of her fashion business was done with integrity—taking months to wrap operations and hold final sample sales for her most devout followers. Now, all that remains of her brand is a small storage unit with a few dozen boxes.

But don’t get it twisted, fashionistas: Hoffman has done anything but disappear. She has taken this new direction to reimagine a creative life on her own terms. A longtime member of and mentor through the Council Of Fashion Designers Of America (CFDA), Hoffman has continued her ad hoc mentoring work through serving—what she calls a “creative doula”—advising any and all young fashion brands who seek her counsel.

Hoffman says she’s also gearing up to launch a new website for sharing and highlighting her photography—a passion project rooted in years of shooting her brand’s campaigns herself, as well as a renewed interest in pictures inspired by her current life in the woods. “People knew the clothes, but they didn’t know I was behind the lens, too,” Hoffman says. “Photography has always been a love of mine.”

Hoffman’s relationship to fashion may have changed but her creative practice continues to deepen, from the tranquil woods of Stormville outward. As she tells me, there’s a legit liberation in ending things—and sometimes, stepping away is the most powerful way to begin again.

get

Great Neck(laces)

These understated, classic pieces get more stunning the longer you look at them.

By Mitch Rustad

1. Pink Tourmaline Cabochon Necklace

You’ll stand out day or night in this gorgeous black organic tourmaline bead necklace, with soft pink tourmaline cabochon center stone. Features diamond pavé spacer beads, pink Peruvian rondel cabochon beads, Tahitian dark gray pearls and an Italian-made, 18K gold lobster claw clasp. $3,195 Joane Cornell Fine Jewelry, 9 Main Street, Chatham, NY joanecornellfinejewelry.com

2. Roberto Coin Venetian Princess with Diamond Flower Detail Necklace

3. Marco Bicego 18K Yellow Gold Siviglia Necklace

You’ll be so stunning you’ll stop traffic in this gold Siviglia necklace, inspired by the beautiful namesake Spanish city and created exclusively for Bloomingdale’s. Featuring a mix of polished and handengraved 18K gold with a lobster clasp, this Marco Bicego necklace stands out from his signature Siviglia collection. $3,400 bloomingdales.com

3 4 2 1

This necklace from Roberto Coin’s Venetian Princess collection drapes a 25mm satin pendant with diamond flower detailing on an elongated 19” chain. It’s positively royal in 18K yellow gold, with options for rose or white gold available. In stock locally at Frank Adams Jewelers, a premier destination for exceptional designer jewelry for almost a century. $8,240 | Frank Adams, 144 Wolf Road, Albany, NY frankadams.com

4. LAGOS Cultured Freshwater Pearl Collar Necklace

Pearls have long been associated with love, beauty and power, and this knockout 18” necklace from the Luna collection certainly affirms that history. Stand-out features include 18K yellow gold and sterling silver, gorgeous cultured freshwater pearls, accented by a beautifully detailed two-tone clasp. $990 | bloomingdales.com

Homes, Sweet Homes

A former horse barn, a music showpiece, a riverside Victorian and a

By Bill Cary

for trophy home lovers, we’ve had some great listings come to market recently. Here are a few that caught, and held, our eye.

Albert Grossman’s Music Lair In Woodstock

If these walls could sing, what a tuneful medley they would hum. Known as The Stone House on Striebel Road, this 72-acre compound was once owned by Albert Grossman, legendary music manager and founder of Bearsville Records and Studios. It was here, in 1965, that the iconic album cover for Bringing It All Back Home was photographed, with Bob Dylan and Sally Grossman shown by the living room fireplace. Other musical guests included Janis Joplin, George Harrison, Johnny Cash, Björk and the Dave Matthews Band. $4.999 million. Michelle Bergkamp, Corcoran Country Living and Kathryn Johnson, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.

From Hayloft To Primary Bedroom Suite

Longtime Broadway stagehand Bill Colgan and his wife, Lorna, spent three years transforming a historic horse barn in Salisbury, CT, from the late 1800s into a stunning, modern four-level family home. The renovated barn now offers 5,497 square feet of interior space, with five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and three partial bathrooms on a dozen acres in the coveted Twin Lakes neighborhood. My favorite spot is the magnificent great room, featuring 45foot ceilings and a soaring stone fireplace. $4.321 million. Elyse Harney Morris and Holly Leibrock, Elyse Harney Real Estate.

Lakeside Villa In Connecticut

This stylish modern compound on 18 acres in scenic Litchfield County, CT is set way up on a hillside with wide-angle views of Lake Waramaug. The Tinker Hill Road home in Washington was designed by the architect Steven F. Haas, with landscaping by garden and events designer Renny Reynolds, and built in 2003 for investment magnate Richard Cantor and his wife, Dr. Pamela Cantor. “They were inspired by Tuscany,” says listing agent Peter Klemm. It boasts an equally stylish guesthouse, really sweet gardens and both swimming and reflecting pools. $14 million. Peter Klemm, Klemm Real Estate.

Gilded Age Glory In Greene County

Perched on a hill with panoramic views of the Hudson River, Rip Van Winkle Bridge and Frederick Church’s Olana, this grand Victorian was built in 1887 for New York State Supreme Court Justice Emory Chase. The nine-bedroom charmer at 25 Prospect Avenue in Catskill, NY has been fully renovated and restored. Bonus points: it’s just a ten-minute drive to Hudson’s Warren Street and a wealth of fine dining. $1.25 million. Martin Salerno, The Kinderhook Group.

The Market: Now, Next

Across the board, the real estate market in our region has a bad case of the summer ho-hums. Things are mostly quiet and not much is moving—for buyers or sellers. At the top of the market, above $2 million, houses are sitting much longer than they used to. Way below that, would-be buyers who need a mortgage are closely watching the market, looking for signs that rates may come down. Cash is still king and, even in the $300,000 to $500,000 market, bidders looking to seal a deal keep getting trumped by all-cash buyers. Unfortunately, the fall and the new year will apparently bring more of the same. Stay tuned.

escro w

modernist Tuscan villa capture our imagination. |

greene house effect (top) Lakeside Villa; (inset) Gilded Age Glory; (bottom) Music Lair in Woodstock

curb appeal

Land Of Opportunities

The Berkshires and New York beauties.

Lenox Bespoke Two Bedroom | $2,450,000

165 Kemble Street #17

Lenox, MA

2BR | 2.5BA | 1,950 SF

“Why is it special? It’s the most beautifully finished home and one of the most private with extraordinary design and millwork throughout— and access to the bountiful amenities at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires.”

SELINA LAMB

REALTOR / FOUNDER, BIRCH PROPERTIES

1798 Georgian Home | $5,800,000

764 East Hill Road

New Marlborough, MA

5BR | 5.5BA | 5,000 SF | 227 Acres

“East Hill Farm’s 227 acres comprises the 1798 Georgian home built for early settler Thomas Shepard, high on a hill, where Arabian horses once grazed. This home boasts all the gracious details of country life, perfectly restored.”

CHAPIN FISH

THE BROCKMAN GROUP, LICENSED ASSOCIATE REAL ESTATE BROKER, WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

‘Happy Brooks’ Compound | $2,100,000

Mount Tremper, NY

9BR | 10BA | 17 Acres

“Happy Brooks, the much-loved compound of Woodstock Festival co-founder and legendary music industry icon Michael Lang, features three architecturally significant and historic structures on the 17-acre estate designed by prominent architect A.M. Bedell.”

NANCY FELCETTO LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER, BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

breaking...

Wait…Is Bigfoot Back?

TNow we all know someone in the Sasquatch business.

here’s always been rich folklore surrounding the worn and rounded misty peaks of the ancient Appalachian Mountains. We all know someone who knows someone who definitely, maybe, saw the big, hairy mascot of the mountains. Bigfoot Researchers of the Hudson Valley, founded in 2012, is a paranormal research group dead set on solving one of the oldest mysteries in this neck of the woods. The group has been interviewed for several Bigfoot-focused television shows, including two new episodes from the online-only documentary show Small Town Monsters earlier this year.

listen

Berkshires’

New Muse

Put Glori Wilde on your playlist. Now.

With a deeply sensitive voice, deftly expressive pen and uncommon poise, Glori Wilder is a homegrown, Berkshires folk talent worth slowing down for. You may someday be saying you saw her when...

—SARAH CARPENTER-PECK

—SEAN MALINDIN

HUDSON HIGH

With three dispensaries now open, the chic town is fast becoming Cannabis City. | By Sarah Carpenter-Peck

Pre-2024, Hudson’s canna-curious were accustomed to the near hour it takes on NY-23 to get to Great Barrington, MA, to stock up on recreational plant medicine. Just two years later and Hudson is halfway to competing with GB for dispensaries per capita with three new dispensaries recently opening.

Gotham

The New York City cannabis concept store, founded by Joanne Wilson, chose Hudson as its first location beyond the bounds of its eponymous city, where it already runs a gaggle of popular “artsand-culture-forward” adult-use shops. The Hudson space features an outdoor mural by Evan Paul English. 260 Warren Street Hudson, NY 12534 | gotham.nyc

Riverbend Dispensary

Rudy Huston, co-founder of Riverbend along with cannabis connoisseur Ed Glickman, has lived in Hudson for two decades. These

guys are committed to selling quality product—in New York, there are no microbial safety limits on flower, so the duo has taken it upon themselves to implement their own limits.

531 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 | riverbenddispensary.com

Goldleaf Cannabis

Just off Hudson’s main drag, this dispensary offers a wide selection with friendly service in a darkminimal vibe complete with homey lighting and a couple of neon splashes of color. 235 Fairview Ave, Hudson, NY 12534 | goldleafcannabis.com

spotlight

The Barn: RHONY’s Heather Thomson Leaves Her Mark

Sean McAlindin

as you drive around a sweeping corner on Route 23 in Egremont, MA, it’s hiding quietly, right there. Known to locals simply as “The Barn,” this rustic, cozy venue is what mountain music is all about.

The inn, restaurant and music venue were purchased and renovated by Berkshires local Heather Thomson, the former star of The Real Housewives Of New York City Now the Buttonball Inn, it’s a space you should feel to believe.

“We’re pouring a tremendous amount of love, money and effort into this,” Thomson says. “We know how special this is to everyone.”

privé

There’s Something About (Upstate) Mary. Adults Only.

Better sex starts at the farm. Um,what? | By Abbe Aronson

The slogan alone—“Farm to Bedroom” (yes, it’s trademarked!)—makes me say “Yes! Yes! Yes!” but this woman-owned, plant-based sexual-wellness company from Woodstock, NY, is more than just juicy vibes. Founded by Melissa Eppard and Michelle Bergkamp to make intimacy better for every body, Upstate Mary’s collection of full-spectrum CBD lubes and suppositories are formulated with organic, all-natural ingredients to ease pain, increase blood flow and promote relaxation—an excellent recipe for better sex. Sourced entirely in the Hudson Valley, the line is popping up in health-centric retailers nationwide introducing shoppers to a fresh way to reclaim pleasure. Go on, treat yourself.

happy hour

Edesia = Elevated Maier and Boye join forces.

After several collabs in the Hudson Valley wedding scene, Jeanette Maier (Fancy Girl Table) and Michelle Boye (Tapped Into The Catskills) wanted a meaningful connection, so they’ve joined forces at Edesia, a new food and beverage company that elevates events to artistry. Edesia is a one-stop feast for all parties that combines the sustainable, organic catering options that first put Fancy Girl on the map and the custom-built, vintage trailerturned-mobile bar that is Tapped’s signature offering Cool.

—ABBE ARONSON

Our resident cocktail guru, Anton Kinloch of Lone Wolf in Kingston, might have just made the drink for an endless summer in the mountains. | By Abbe Aronson

Photography by Jerry Thompson when asked to capture the essence of “Endless Summer,” Anton Kinloch, owner of Kingston’s Lone Wolf cocktail bar, said he wanted something that “felt like twilight, not the blazing heat of midday or the sugary beach drinks you find poolside,

but the kind of cocktail you sip after the sun dips behind the mountains, when the fire pit’s crackling and the air smells like pine. It’s a drink for mountain nights that never quite cool off; a cocktail meant for stories, not selfies.”

Thirsty yet?

A graduate of Culinary Institute of America and lifelong hospitality professional, Kinloch specializes in layered cocktails that tell a story, drawing from both the land and the people who shape it. Through events such as Class To Glass and his writing in Something To Drink About, he works to close the education gap in the mountains’ cocktail culture and bring small producers into the spotlight.

“The Martinez is the perfect structure: classic, elegant, slightly mysterious,” Kinloch says. “I reached for Isolation Proof’s Mushroom Gin because it’s grounded in the forested hills of the Catskills, layered with earth and spice, yet bright enough to hold its own. Method Sweet Vermouth, made in the Finger Lakes, adds a rich, herbaceous backbone

cocktail shaker “The Martinez is the perfect structure: classic, elegant, slightly mysterious,” says the mixologist, Anton Kinloch, who could’ve easily been describing himself.

that ties everything together without cloying sweetness.”

Here’s Kinloch’s take on the Martinez, composed of gin, maraschino and sweet vermouth; this classic is a precursor to the martini and borderline mimics a classic Manhattan.

The Martinez

1.5 oz Isolation Proof Mushroom Gin

1.5 oz Method Sweet Vermouth

.25 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

2 dashes Angostura bitters Garnish with orange twist directions

Combine ingredients in a chilled mixing glass, add ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with an orange twist.

don’t hold your breath

“I let out a deep exhale every time I arrive to our second home in Rosendale, NY,” the author says. We can totally see why.

dream closet. I pick up a ceramic sardine necklace and head into ClubHouse Vintage, where I love to browse the vintage T-shirt and jean racks. At Somewhere In Time, I pick up some classic Barbie dolls for my daughter and then admire the cottagecore knick-knacks at the new shop at the Six Bells Countryside Inn

1:00 p.m. LUNCH

Time to pop into The Big Cheese for my favorite falafel wrap and grab some of their homemade hummus to go. Lunch serves as a sufficient break from shopping, so I’m ready to head to the back of the shop, where the owner has set up a select vintage section of clothes and home goods.

3:00 p.m. HIKE

Feeling full from lunch, and taking advantage of being solo for the day, I decide to take a quick hike up Joppenbergh Mountain, a 500foot mountain right in the town of Rosendale. the weekend

Rosendale’s Fairy Tale

Tucked between New Paltz and Kingston, the hidden whimsy of this town is hard to resist. | Words And Pictures By Jamie Betesh Carter

welcome to rosendale, ny, a town that’s reputed for bridging the past and the present. With an abandoned cement mine that now hosts live music, a century-old movie theater, a world-renowned pickle festival and vintage merchants aplenty, our small town keeps us endlessly entertained. As a local writer who splits her time between Brooklyn and Rosendale, I let out a deep exhale every time I arrive at our second home. Let the perfect weekend commence.

Saturday

8:00 a.m. NATURE

I find myself with a rare 24 hours of childfree time. I wake up and take a stroll to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail right up our street and wander over the Rosendale Trestle

overlooking the Rondout Creek. When the kids are with us, and we’re feeling adventurous, we’ll continue on to the Rail Trail Café, a spot literally in the middle of the woods, where we’ll grab fresh juice and pastries.

10:00 a.m. COFFEE

I drive down to Main Street to grab a cold brew and smoothie at Lift Café. Eyeing their delicious gluten-free pastries, I make note to come back after lunch.

For a heartier breakfast when the kids are there, we’ll head to the Truss and Trestle Diner on the other side of town for their fluffy chocolate chip pancakes (for the kids) and breakfast tacos (for me).

NOON SHOPPING

Our tiny but mighty town has become a hub for enchanting vintage shops. I set out to peruse the treasures and first head into Soiled Doves, which is like stepping into a 1980s

4:30 p.m. SWIM

Feeling the heat, it’s time to take a break and leave Main Street for a bit. I drive over to our neighboring town of Accord, NY, for a swim at the pool at INNESS, a retreat which has become our home away from home Upstate. I take a dip in the pool, use the sauna and settle into an Adirondack chair overlooking the mountains with a crisp glass of white wine and my book. When my kids are around, they’ll often convince us to stop at Skate Time, a revitalized, neon-adorned roller-skating rink, for a few laps around the rink and games in their arcade.

7:00 p.m. DINNER

I wrap up the evening at Darlings in Tilson, NY, our favorite local dining destination. I wait all week to indulge in their corn nachos and spring salad. For a more intimate date when my husband can join, we head over to Butterfield, the restaurant at the Hasbrouck House estate in Stone Ridge, NY.

Sunday

9:30 a.m. MORNING

I drive over to Black Dot café in Stone Ridge for my favorite cold brew coffee and parfait. In an hour, it’ll be time to make a stop at the Rosendale Farmers Market right in town to stock up on local eggs and fresh fruit to bring back to Brooklyn to continue my big city life.

A Clear Focus on Quality & Service

In a community deﬁned by its natural beauty, beautiful homes and local tradition, purchasing Marvin products from Williams Lumber & Home Center is more than a functional choice—its foundational. Marvin, and many the other brands offered by Williams, focus on craftsmanship, performance, expertise and local service

EXTERIOR PAINT

When the temps begin to cool and the humidity is low, it’s the perfect time for an exterior color refresh with Benjamin Moore

DECKS & PAVERS

Transform your outdoor space into a sanctuary. Cambridge with ArmorTec® pavers and natural Delgado Stone products are safe and beautiful.

WINDOWS & DOORS

Marvin’s style and innovative options will improve any home— from classic to modern and everything in between.

LAWN & GARDEN

Keep your property green and healthy with grass seed, fertilizers, soils, peat and mulch from Scotts, Miracle-Gro and Ortho Top power equipment brands like Husqvarna, Stihl, EGO and DeWalt, quality tools from Fiskar and seeds from Botanical Interests will keep your yard thriving.

A Shared Heritage of Family & Quality

Both Williams Lumber & Home Centers and Marvin trace their roots to midcentury America, when lumberyards were the backbone of building communities. Marvin, founded in 1912 in Warroad, Minnesota, has stayed family-owned ever since, developing a reputation for innovation and superior craftsmanship. Williams Lumber & Home Centers, founded in 1946 by Stanley Williams in Rhinebeck and now into its third generation, remains proudly family operated. What unites these two businesses more than their longevity and family focus, is their shared values of integrity, service, and excellence.

MARVIN DOORS & WINDOWS

The evolution of how and where we live and work continues to march on and Marvin’s relentless focus on innovation, quality and design is inspired by our changing lives. With 5 distinct product lines of windows and doors made from a wide variety of top-quality materials, Marvin elevates modern, classic and historic homes with solutions that will provide joy and performance in every season.

SUPERIOR DESIGN & PERFORMANCE FOR YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR

In addition to Marvin, many of the brands that Williams Lumber & Home Centers offers are privately owned and/or family businesses focused on exceptional quality. For example, Williams Lumber & Home Centers is committed to Cambridge Pavingstones and DelGado Stone, familyowned businesses manufacturing the highest-quality pavers and wall systems. And while not family owned, Williams partners with Benjamin Moore, a private paint company for over 140 years, that distributes solely to independent locally owned retailers.

YOUR LOCAL PROJECT PARTNER

Whether you are working with a professional or are a DIY enthusiast, you’ll ﬁnd Williams Lumber & Home Centers associates give everyone the personal attention they deserve. If you are building, renovating, updating or maintaining your home and property, Williams Lumber & Home Centers is your local project partner.

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makers

off broadway “Everyone’s just stunned to learn that I really do live

full time,” says

in Great Barrington

Robert Hartwell, the Broadway actor whose credits include Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler. Hartwell currently runs The Broadway Collective.

genius, in human form

Photography by Danielle Cohen

exclusive Taylor’s Version

The Orange Is The New Black star, award-winning actor TAYLOR SCHILLING, takes it all in from her Hudson Valley sanctuary as she readies to captivate us once again.

BY RICHARD PÉREZ-FERIA

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE RUIZ exclusively for The Mountains

here’s this thing that Taylor Schilling does when she hears an interesting question or agrees wholeheartedly with something someone is saying that’s quite revealing and refreshing. She leans in, takes a deep breath and says, “Yes!” Schilling does this so often, so automatically that it simultaneously disarms and engages the person extracting those reactions from her. “Yes!” the star of Orange Is The New Black exclaimed when she heard my first question. “The thing is, Richard, I love acting. I love working.” I believe her. More importantly, she believes her. And the result is a fully-realized, emotionally mature person poised for greatness. It’s as if Taylor Schilling’s holding the winning lottery ticket but hasn’t quite yet figured out where to go to cash it.

phone home “The best part of my perfect day is turning my phone off, like for a full day, no phone access,” Schilling says from her home in the Hudson Valley.

It may seem a tad odd to say about a thespian who’s been nominated multiple times for Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe awards over the course of her decidedly successful career, but the truth is, given Schilling’s immense talent, the fact that she isn’t as of yet talked about in the same conversation as Jennifer Lawrence or Emma Stone or Jessica Chastain is downright criminal. Accomplished CV? Yes, Schilling has that in spades. Should she be in the rarefied air of Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman or, newest member, Carrie Coon? Also yes. And I suspect she knows it, too.

I first meet a smiling Schilling in her charming Brooklyn home to go over the logistics of the forthcoming magazine photo shoot and to get a general vibe from each other. If there ever was a human being who embraces the “good vibes only” mantra more than Schilling, I haven’t met them yet. The Waylan, MA, native is so well meaning, so positive, so hopeful for the best outcome for all people at all times, that she borders on naïve in the most beautiful way. It strikes me the idea we all hear as adults—the one about how children live their lives

unencumbered by reality—lives within this fascinating woman in front of me. Taylor Schilling knows—feels—she’s here on this planet for some larger purpose and she just can’t wait to get there and play.

In 2006, Schilling graduated from Fordham University in New York City with a Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Acting before enrolling in New York University’s Tisch School Of The Arts’ Graduate Acting Program. Making her film debut in Dark Matter—co-starring Meryl Streep and Aidan Quinn—Schilling subsequently landed roles on NBC’s medical drama, Mercy, and in high-profile movies Atlas Shrugged: Part 1; Nicholas Sparks’ The Lucky One, opposite Zac Efron; Academy Awardwinning thriller, Argo, directed and starring Ben Affleck; comedy Take Me and the sci-fi thriller The Titan, co-starring Sam Worthington.

Somewhere in the middle of that enviable acting résumé building journey, Schilling won the lead in the life-changing role of Piper Chapman in the most buzzed-about new Netflix series of its time, Orange Is The New Black, co-starring Jason Biggs as her husband. For the universally-acclaimed seven seasons the show aired on the world’s

biggest streaming platform, Orange Is The New Black literally redefined the landscape of what was possible to watch on television. Arguably as impactful in its lane as, say, Will & Grace was for the LGBTQIA+ community—America now knew (and loved) gay people—Orange’s honest, often scary portrayal of women behind bars, led by the Bambiin-the-woods-gets-tough-as-nails brilliant arc portrayal by Schilling in the series’ most important role (we don’t believe her, there’s no show) changed not only what we saw on TV, but how we watched TV. Enter television’s binge-worthy drama moment.

With her impressive list of co-stars and collaborators continuing to grow exponentially since OITNB wrapped—Schilling just completed a multi-episode recurring role in Peacock’s hit drama series, Poker Face, starring Schilling’s former Orange co-star, the terrific Natasha Lyonne—the feeling that something big is coming for the impossibly youthful 41-year-old is palpable. I, for one, can feel it.

The next time I see Schilling a couple of weeks after our initial introduction, she’s sitting by herself in her sunny, majestic hideaway, a sprawling, gorgeous home in the northern reaches of the Hudson Valley near the Catskills.

And she’s happy. Oh so happy. The intensity and pressures of Brooklyn seem but a distant memory, as Schilling—with her easy-going demeanor—settles in for more than a chat with me and she strives to connect our very auras. And, yeah, I’m so down for that.

“ The best part of my perfect day is turning my phone off, like for a full day, no phone access,” a relaxed Schilling tells me enthusiastically when I commence the interview by asking what an ideal 24 hours looks like. “Now, that’s bliss!” [Laughs] A big reason for that bliss may just be because of her stunning surroundings. “You know something, I wouldn’t change a damn thing about the town where I live,” Schilling says rather defiantly. “I love hiking and biking and I love our market and I miss our favorite restaurant that closed, but, mostly, I love that I now get to have a garden. I now have the ability to mess around in the dirt.”

But before she purchased the sprawling nirvana that defines her current home life, Schilling had to put in the work. A lot of work. She recently starred in the Fox anthology series Accused and will next be seen in the independent feature film Queen Of Bones, opposite Martin Freeman, Julia Butters and Jacob Tremblay. On the small screen, she appeared in Jason Katims’ series Dear Edward on Apple TV+ and portrayed porn star Erica Boyer in the lauded Hulu series Pam & Tommy opposite Seth Rogen (is anyone hotter in Hollywood right now?). Previously, Schilling appeared in The Second Wave for Robert and Michelle King, co-creators of hit legal dramas, The Good Wife and The Good Fight, starring Julianna Margulies and Christine Baranski.

Truth is, there are a lot of theater, television and film credits Schilling excelled in that we’re not going to get to here, including her auspicious stage debut, at 11, in Fiddler On The Roof “Now, I remember that performance for sure!” she says. [Laughs] But the overwhelming sense I get from Schilling, as she regales me with her favorite poets, novelists, feminists, teachers, mentors and authors— and trust me, it’s quite an impressive, intellectually powerful roster— is how determined she is to get it right, whatever it is. I recognize that in her, for I’m the same. Game recognizes game, they say.

“A lot of my great mentors I’ve had have been from afar, mostly writers and teachers,” Schilling tells me, as she contorts her lithe body

pied piper For the universally-acclaimed seven seasons the show aired on Netflix, Orange Is The New Black

landscape

in what I can only describe as a relaxed pretzel. Yoga and Pilates are definitely in play here. “But I think love can conquer all. I absolutely believe that. There’s nothing more galvanizing and there’s nothing that connects us more as a species. Love is the only thing that’s really worth anything. Do you know what love does? It grows compassion and it informs everything. With love, the words ‘perspective’ and ‘intention’ take on a deeper meaning.”

I bring up the concept of love as I move our conversation to two somewhat related topics: Schilling’s personal life and her views on the current state of our country.

“I feel grateful taking up space being who I am,” she tells me easily, as I hark back to an Instagram post during the pandemic’s early days where Schilling announced a new relationship with a woman (now her ex). “You know, I certainly don’t feel scared being who I am even if it still may ruffle feathers for some folks. Here’s how I view all of that: If it’s useful to see someone who’s not feeling ashamed to be who they are, and who’s living a matter-of-fact life, who’s allowed to have

redefined the

of what was possible to watch on TV; Schilling, as Piper Chapman, with her fellow castmates-cum-inmates.

free radical “If it’s useful to see someone who’s not feeling ashamed to be who they are, and who’s living a matter-of-fact life, that doesn’t seem radical to me, that’s normal,” she says.

what everyone else is allowed to have, that truly doesn’t seem radical to me, that seems quite normal to me.”

As we apply her concepts of love and life to the state of the union, her mood darkens markedly. When I ask her what she feels as she sees and reads about what’s currently going on in the US, she falls silent for a full, painstaking minute before tentatively revealing her thoughts.

“There’s a lot of sadism in play when 16 million people lose their health care, so I’m concerned about that,” she tells me haltingly. “I’m really looking at practical ways where I can be useful in the world right now. I’m so worried about the amount of suffering being mandated by this administration. I truly believe we’re in a time that has all the makings for a revolution. And I’m talking beyond politics—I’m talking about revolution in a humanist way, and how all of us have to be galvanized to take care of each other right now. It’s about humanism. I live my life a certain way. To me, as so many feminists and humanists have powerfully stated, the personal is political.”

But the moment isn’t just filled with danger and despair. When I ask her to complete the sentence “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been because…” the smile returns and her energy clearly accelerates.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been because I feel comfortable in my skin—simple as that,” Schilling says. “However, I’m also worried now because I feel as a society we’re losing the ability to see each other’s humanity. I work at this very hard—every single day I’m conscious of this—to make sure I see every single person as the precious human being they are. I feel grief that as a culture writ large we’ve gotten so far away from seeing other people as valuable and beautiful human beings. We’re all in this together, regardless of what political team you’re on.”

Speaking of teams, I ask Schilling to give me quick speed-round thoughts on several of her best-known, A-list co-stars.

Zac Efron: “Oh, he’s a real gentleman. He’s the Fred Astaire of our time. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent.” Ben Affleck: “He’s such a kind-hearted person. I played his wife in Argo, and they had to cut a lot of our scenes since the movie became a thriller and there wasn’t time for the emotional underbelly of our scenes together so they were cut. How he handled that situation with me was beyond amazing, as was his then wife, Jennifer Garner. They’re both a class act.” Jason Biggs: “He’s the sweetest neurotic guy in the world. Funny thing is, he’s also the ultimate family man.” Greg Kinnear: “He’s beyond super smart, ambitious and unbelievably brilliant. The world has seen maybe one percent of Greg Kinnear’s incredible genius.” Adam Scott: “In my book, he’s the next huge thing in Hollywood. Adam Scott is the real big thing. I had the biggest crush on him, too. [Laughs] Adam Scott is one of our generation’s best actors. No question about it.” Sam Worthington: “He’s such a hard worker. He’s so smart, and he cares about every detail. He’s one of those savant actors who knows everything about the history of Hollywood and acting.” Audra McDonald: “What a beautiful person! She’s my other crush on this list for sure. Audra’s a living legend. My experience working with her was beyond amazing. I truly believe Audra and I both had a once-ina-lifetime experience, something I’ll cherish for the rest of my career.” Keeping it light, I reveal to Schilling—who somehow endearingly reminds me of Alicia Silverstone’s Cher Horowitz from one of my all-time favorite movies, Clueless (“I totally paused!”)—my top three television must-see shows of the moment: The Gilded Age; And Just Like That and, best of all, Love Island USA I dare you to come for me. “Oh my God, Richard! Thank you for your honesty,” Schilling tells me, nearly falling off her chair laughing. “I love that! My top shows are in the same vein, I think. Hacks The writing is so good and Jean Smart is beyond ridiculously great. You know, Jean Smart not only tells the truth; she eviscerates you in the process and then makes you laugh. Genius. I also love Severance—it’s really great. Your Friends & Neighbors is doing it for me, too. I’m so into Jon Hamm. I’m currently rewatching The Sopranos and it’s landing differently for me now. It’s so much better. And, of course, The White Lotus I mean…amazing.”

As I listen to the super easy-on-the-ears timbre of Schilling’s voice as she explains to me why Severance is next-level television, and how I should continue watching it (I stopped Season 1, Episode 3), a question pops into my head: Taylor, do we, the public, really know you? “That’s an incredibly difficult question, my friend,” she says in a wistful whisper. “I’m still trying to fully explore within myself why I haven’t shared my life on social media or anywhere, really. I do love the work—I love it so, so much—but the stuff that surrounds my work isn’t my favorite at all. Something that’s critical for my happiness, my peace is the ability to connect to something much bigger than myself; so my idea of me, of my ego, isn’t the be all, end all of my life. There’s the earth’s nature and there’s the idea of community and then there’s actual art—the concept of a higher power is genuinely fundamental to my life.”

When the topic turns to others’ perception of Schilling’s work, her smile is as big as the huge windows in her beautiful living room. “Now

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social studies “I’m still trying to fully explore within myself why I haven’t shared my life on social media or anywhere, really,” Schilling says.

this is the absolute truth,” she says. “I’m literally the poster child for the ‘it’s-an-honor-just-to-be-nominated’ actor. I swear to you. It is an honor to be nominated for your work, your passion. How could it not be?”

Even with all of the accolades Schilling has amassed throughout her acting career—plenty of award-show hardware as well as (mostly) raves by the country’s top critics—there’s a sense that her story is only now just commencing. I ask her about that, and she agrees instantly. “Oh, definitely,” she says. “There’s something brewing within me—I can feel it. And I feel so ready for it because I finally feel like myself. Yeah, I feel ready. No, it’s better than that, I am ready.”

As we wrap up this terrific, life-affirming convo, the topic of Zac Efron comes up again (OK, fine…I bring it up again). She laughs

as she recalls their pivotal shower and love scenes in the Scott Hicks-directed romantic drama they co-starred in, The Lucky One “Those epic scenes were by far—and I mean, by far—the absolute best moments of the movie.” I bet they were, I say, as we burst into synchronized, uproarious laughter.

“Finish this for me,” I ask the talented, ambitious, beautiful, funny, emotionally mature, fascinating person sitting in front of me: Taylor Schilling is… “Oh…I have no idea how to answer that question.” [Laughs] “That question is so far beyond my skill set. I do know the answer definitely changes on a daily basis. But, mostly, I know that I’m enough. That I definitely know: I’m enough.”

Taylor Schilling is definitely enough, yes, but there’s more coming our way, more I want to see from her. Universe, please take note: The Taylor Era is nearly upon us. Are you ready for it?

Rock sTaR

ARCHITECT CHRISTIAN WASSMANN’S SELF-STYLED MASTERWORK IS ALSO HIS UNFORGETTABLE ULSTER COUNTY RESIDENCE.

By james long

I’m not an architect—but my ex was. My former partner taught me more about cantilevers, concrete and, er, collecting fees than I ever expected to know as he interpreted his clients’ visions into built designs. And for what it’s worth, my mother once dated the pioneering architect Paul Rudolph in her debutante days (finally conceding he was gay long before she did with me).

Nevertheless, between friendship, osmosis and family lore, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for how architects express themselves, especially when the client is themselves, with a space that reflects their obsessions, experiments and identity. Philip Johnson had his Glass House, a study in minimalism and transparency. Frank Lloyd Wright’s house-studio, Taliesin, evolved with his life, blending nature and structure. Frank Gehry wrapped his Santa Monica residence in industrial materials as did Charles and Ray Eames, who turned their Case Study House into a midcentury icon.

Christian Wassmann’s Rock’n’House, tucked between Woodstock and Saugerties, NY, belongs in that lineage. The house is wrapped quite literally around a massive boulder that bursts through the first floor. Rather than avoid it, Wassmann embraced it, letting the rock anchor both the home’s structure— its interior walls curving like tree bark, blurring the lines between built and organic, its radiant geometry spiraling upward to a rooftop terrace with views across the Catskills—and its spirit—with its ingenious energy solutions, the house is sited with an exuberance of celestial and terrestrial ties.

The Rock’n’House is undeniably part shelter, part sculpture, and is Wassmann’s private thesis etched into wood, stone and hillside. It isn’t just a home—it’s a philosophy. Like the best self-designed architect dwellings, it whispers: This is what I believe.

classic rock The Rock’n’House is undeniably part shelter, part sculpture, and is the architect’s private thesis, etched into wood, stone and hillside.

The Pride Of The Berkshires

From Broadway to television star, the truly divine Robert Hartwell is exactly where he Belongs. On top.

By Richard pérez-Feria

PhotograPhy

by danielle Cohen

There are entrances, then there are Robert Hartwell entrances. A dozen emojis couldn’t paint the proper picture. Toward the end of what was, in hindsight, the absolutely perfect day last summer, I first laid eyes on one Robert Hartwell. In the mid-evening splendor that was unmistakably in the air, about two dozen of us were milling around the bucolic grounds of our hostess, the fabulous Dorinda Medley, on her magical estate in the Berkshires, Blue Stone Manor. Medley’s fellow “Real Housewife” Margaret Josephs and acclaimed Hollywood actor Elizabeth Perkins were in attendance among the other carefully selected chic/vibey guests. As small groups gathered in the stunning backyard of Medley’s home, the singlemost colorful and dynamic man suddenly revealed himself. Robert Hartwell had arrived at Medley’s soirée and none of us will soon forget the moment.

New to the Berkshires as a homeowner, Hartwell instantly established himself to be nothing short of a sheer delight and genuine force of positivity. Let’s talk clothes, shall we? Let’s just say, if Italian couture houses made a contemporary ’fit for King Louis XIV we’d be somewhat close to imagining what Hartwell was wearing that night.

What emerges from Hartwell is brilliance, pure and simple. Yes, he’s a genuine conversationalist, a raconteur with few peers, but he’s also a deft listener, a quick study and—not-so-subtly—mischievously hilarious with impeccable timing to

secret admirer “I love the Berkshires because we’re all in on the secret,” Hartwell says of his home.

(not so) hidden agenda “My new television show, debuting later this year, will feature Hartwell House as the backdrop and joy will be on the agenda,” Hartwell says.

boot. In short, I couldn’t like Hartwell more; in fact, everyone who’s met him seems to be lowkey obsessed with him. Best part? Our man of the hour is, undeniably, having a moment in the pop cultural zeitgeist. So there’s that. First some context.

Hartwell seems taller than his six feet, boasts luminous, flawless skin and shames coiffure pretenders with his stunning braided dreadlocks. Impressively, Hartwell is a standout Broadway actor whose credits include Motown, Memphis and (easily my favorite), Hello, Dolly! starring the delicious Bette Midler. Hartwell currently runs The Broadway Collective, a

New York City-based musical theater training company that hosts national programs. His it’s-happening-right-now-for-him moment stems from the recent six-episode docuseries on HBO Max, Breaking New Ground, featuring his purchased amazing 203-year-old house near downtown Great Barrington, MA, the epicenter of the Berkshires fabulosity. But, in a community of 7,000 residents—more than 83 percent of whom are white—let’s just say Hartwell isn’t exactly blending in. Nor should he.

Since our initial meeting (our friendly connection was effortless), I’ve seen Hartwell

several times, each time better than the last. And the clothes…oh my! Consider this my contribution to our region. For the very few of you left unaware or misinformed about this fantastical addition to the neighborhood, I caught up with my friend as he was in Europe (Rome! London!) on a much-deserved sojourn from the madness. I suspect you just may fall for his spell, too. We’re only human, after all.

Now that Breaking New Ground aired and you’re a certified reality television star, is life different? Are your neighbors aware of your situation?

My heart and mind are still the same, but there are more people who now recognize me in public especially when traveling. I’ve always loved people’s stories; so, to hear first-hand how our show touched someone or how they created their own “Paulette’s Parlor” fills my heart. You never know what will land with an audience, but to see families across the world creating their own homecoming because of our show makes the journey beyond worth it. As far as my neighbors, they’re so lovely. Everyone’s just stunned to learn that I really do live in Great Barrington full time.

Have any of our mutual famous friends in the Berkshires offered up advice about navigating life there with your higher profile?

One of the most beautiful lessons I’ve learned from Dorinda [Medley, The Real Housewives Of New York City] is that life is about family and friends who become family. To get to know her heart has been a gift I’ll always thank the Berkshires for. Dorinda reminds me that none of it is worth it if you don’t deepen your gratitude practice and love of the beautiful land we get to call home.

On that topic, tell me why you love the Berkshires? What makes it special? I love the Berkshires because we’re all in on the secret! I also love rooting for all of the small businesses and cultural institutions. Hope is quite alive here.

Of all the musicals you’ve starred in on Broadway and nationally— Dreamgirls, Memphis, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Cinderella, Motown and

Hello, Dolly!—what’s your favorite and most challenging?

Memphis was definitely the most challenging. It was my Broadway debut so there were tons of feelings and pressure around the moment. I played the role of Wailin’ Joe, an ode to Little Richard, one of my favorite artists. The challenge was that I understudied the three principal roles as well. So, in a given eight-show week, I could end up performing four different roles. My mom helped me print four copies of the script out in different colors so I could visualize what lines, music and dances I needed to execute each night. I’ve never been prouder of my brain and determination.

My favorite was Hello, Dolly! with Bette Midler. At the time I knew I wanted to move into full-time entrepreneurship so it would be my last Broadway show. The late and dearly loved fellow actor Gavin Creel said nightly “Isn’t the world full of wonderful things?” Indeed. And my God was that show wonderful night after night. I have goosebumps as I tell you this, Richard. Dolly was a cast, crew and creatives full of pure magic makers. I couldn’t have asked for a better send off. Truly.

What I really want to know…what was Bette Midler like to work with? Amazing, I hope. You know, she lives down the road in Millbrook, NY.

They don’t make hearts like Bette Midler any more. She’s more magnetic and dynamic than one could ever imagine. Bette was the first person in the theater each day and always the last to leave. Her generosity and work ethic for excellence knew no bounds and I’ll forever be grateful that her love and friendship will hold permanent residence in my heart.

Finally, as you continue to defy gravity, exceed expectations and face the future with enthusiasm and panache, how excited are you about what’s next?

Oh, be still my heart Richard! [Pause] The world is crying for hope right now and I’ve never felt more energized to create more meaningful conversations and connections that center it. I have a new television show that’ll be debuting later this year—Hartwell House will be the backdrop and joy will be on the agenda.

That may be the least surprising thing you’ve said all day. With Robert Hartwell, joy is always on the agenda. As it should be. [Laughs]

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the artist HE GETS THE PICTURE

Celebrated Aussie photographer QUENTIN BACON reveals stunning images not far from his Berkshires home.

BY RICHARD PÉREZ-FERIA

I’ ve always marveled at talented people who elevate their craft into something from another world. I’ve been so fortunate to be in the presence of sheer masters who far exceed their socalled skill. When certain savantlike interior designers can walk into an empty room and know—not suggest or think they have an idea—but absolutely know what that room needs to make it something special or when a top chef opens a refrigerator and sees only eggs and onions and somehow makes a frittata no one who tried will soon forget, these are individuals who were not only born to do what they do, but are mere vessels of an unknowable creative force. Such is the case with Quentin Bacon, the Australian born and raised photographer who’s made the Berkshires his permanent home for nearly a decade.

When I commissioned Bacon last year to shoot a very prominent couple at their country home—you know the place, five minutes from here; ten minutes from there—I walked in to find the photographer quietly surveying the grounds of the property while his assistant set up lights inside the home. Bacon was polite and reserved, certainly not what I was expecting after my many trips to Sydney, Melbourne and other destinations Down Under— polite and reserved are decidedly not the adjectives I’d associate with the amazing people I encountered on that island continent. More like, audacious and fearless.

Quentin Bacon

I could easily discern just by watching him work that Bacon’s eye was impressive, his framing of the shots genius. By the time we were done a little more than an hour after we started, I realized that I wanted to hang out longer to surround myself with Bacon’s quiet aura, his confident mastery expressed in a whisper. Needless to say, the results of that day’s effort produced beautiful, impactful images I very happily included to accompany the interesting magazine feature. And it’s no wonder. Bacon has worked for Gourmet and Food & Wine as well as photographing cookbooks for the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Ina Garden and—hold on to your hats—Michelle Obama. So, yeah, there’s that.

As another endless summer sadly comes to a close, I asked the in-demand photographer to share some of his favorite captured images from our beautiful corner of the globe. He was happy to oblige. What you’ll see are indelible images from a master at work. Aren’t we the lucky ones that Quentin Bacon chose to be our neighbor from halfway around the world? The answer you’re looking for is “yes, indeed we are.”

stay THE CATSKiLLS GO WEST

DRIFTWOOD RANCH RESORT IS THE -ACRE WORKING HORSE AND CATTLE RANCH YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED IS THIS MONTANA? ALMOST | BY DAN KODAY

If the phrase “Catskills ranch resort” makes you think of city slickers wearing kitschy cowboy hats taking hayrides, think again. At Driftwood Ranch Resort, a new boutique property set on 300 private acres near White Lake, NY, the Old West rides again—but this time with handcrafted lighting, Pendleton wool rugs and a chandelier made of reclaimed barn beams.

The vibe? Montana wild meets Manhattan design pedigree.

Founded by Steve and Anne Dubrovsky—lifelong equestrians and former rodeo competitors—the ranch blends raw natural beauty with architecture you’d expect to ﬁnd in a highend lodge out West. But this isn’t a theme. It’s lived-in, worked-on and deeply personal. Steve isn’t just a cowboy—he’s also the architect behind the acclaimed Chatwal Lodge. His style is all over Driftwood: trees from the property form structural supports, rooms feature handcrafted beds and hand-hewn beams and each suite is a study in rustic luxury. In the Museum Suite, guests will be surprised to ﬁnd fullsized installations from the “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” exhibit from the Rochester Museum Of Science And Nature.

“It’s a continuation of the work I’ve done for decades,” says Steve, whose architectural DNA is imprinted on many homes throughout the Chapin Estate nearby. “Only this time, it’s also our home and our lifestyle.”

That lifestyle is no act. Steve is a four-time PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) circuit champion in steer wrestling. Anne, his wife and partner, has been riding and training horses her entire life. Their dream wasn’t just to create another Catskills getaway—it was to build a fully functioning ranch where guests don’t just watch the cowboy life… they live it. And that’s exactly what sets Driftwood apart. Yes, the rooms are beautiful—like, showstopping stone ﬁreplaces and Pendleton-wool-on-handmade-beds beautiful— but the real magic happens outside.

Each day, guests can opt into the rhythm of the ranch: feeding longhorn cattle, watching horses being trained in the massive indoor arena or learning to rope alongside seasoned cowhands. There are nearly four miles of wooded trails for riding or hiking, ponds surrounded by grazing horses and plenty of porch-sitting for

those who prefer to soak in the scenery with a bourbon in hand. On-site, guests will also find a cowboy cauldron fire pit that elicits and encourages campfire stories, a leather stamping workshop with classes on offer, a chainsaw carving studio and a bunkhouse-style breakfast and lunch room (not to mention de facto bar) for refueling.

The Dubrovskys have also added longtime friends Mona and Mark Kreutziger to the team—both accomplished equine experts in their own right with backgrounds in barrel racing, quarter horse racing and polo pony training. In other words: this place is run by people who know their way around a saddle.

“We wanted it to feel immersive,” Anne says. “You’re not just staying on a ranch—you’re part of it. You’re in it.”

That immersive approach has already captured the attention of guests from New York City and beyond. Some come for the serenity, others for the hands-on experiences and many leave with sore muscles, dirt under their nails and the kind of stories you don’t pick up at a spa.

Despite its frontier charm, Driftwood doesn’t skimp on the good stuff (en suite Toto toilets!). Every room features unique pieces—

lighting handmade by Steve and his talented team, rugs from the Pendleton Reserve Collection and super cozy bed covers sourced with authentic Native and Western designs front of mind. It’s truly refined rustic done right.

cool ranch Each day, guests can opt into the rhythm of Driftwood Ranch: feeding longhorn cattle, watching horses being trained in the massive indoor arena or learning to rope alongside seasoned cowhands.

And then there’s the setting itself. Located a quick drive from popular Sullivan County Catskills towns Bethel, Narrowsburg and Barryville, Driftwood feels remote yet not removed. Whether you’re hiking under cathedral-high pines, learning horsemanship or quietly watching mist rise off an idyllic pond at sunrise, nature always finds its way into everything here.

“People are fascinated by this life,” Anne says emphatically. “There’s a mystique to it—the horses, the land, the history. We wanted to bring that mystique East.”

Mission accomplished. Giddy up.

INN LOVE

These charming, must-stay inns embody all that’s good about the mountains. | BY

AUDREY CHAMBERLIN

With big hotel chains, you know what to expect and there’s a certain comfort in that. But outside of urban centers, name recognition is harder to come by. In its place, however, independent inns run by locals can promise a more intimate experience, breathing some magic back into travel. When executed well,

these charming accommodations offer a meaningful experience you simply cannot ﬁnd at any major hotel chain. Here are four options to consider for a change of pace on your next trip to the mountains.

At the center of the town of Kinderhook, NY, is Old Dutch Inn. Holding nine guest rooms, the building is delightfully whimsical—while remaining up-to-date

technologically to ensure each visitor is comfortable. The inn property’s rich history is preserved in each room’s name, a reminder of the building’s 200 years of service. The luxury inn is steps away from restaurants and local attractions, including the Samascott Orchards, where guests can pick their own fresh fruit and vegetables, the Empire State Trail for biking and walking and the seasonal farmers market. While the inn doesn’t offer food, each room provides a gift card to a local café and a coffee station in the lobby is available to each guest.

A brand-new offering in Rosendale, NY, is The Six Bells Countryside Inn Conceived by Audrey Gelman, founder of The Wing, it tells the story of a ﬁctional town named Barrow’s Green through its room’s names and the décor found within. As an extension of her pre-existing home goods brand, furniture and décor in the rooms are available for sale, so guests can bring a bit of Barrow’s Green magic home with them. The inn also features The Feathers Tavern, which serves country-style American food and promises murder-mystery party weekends where guests can fully immerse themselves in the Barrow’s Green story.

Prospect Berkshires isn’t an inn in the traditional sense, but their 49 homey cabins built deep in the wilderness in Egremont, MA,

As days grow golden, nights turn electric at The Barn, with Food Truck bites under the stars and the ButtonBall Inn just steps away. Every night is an encore. Formerly The Egremont Village Inn 17 Main Street South Egremont, MA 01258 413-528-1570 buttonball.com

promise to be just as cozy. Prospect Berkshires is a full resort complete with The Cliff House restaurant, salt-water pool, multiple saunas, tennis courts and seasonal offerings such as paddleboarding and ice skating on the lake. Though the facilities are beautiful, the heavy emphasis is on the nature around it rather than what’s inside—each cabin boasts a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door to allow nature’s presence inside at all times. That’s not to say they haven’t put work into their interior, of course. Each cabin is furnished with cotton linens, hypoallergenic down blankets and wool blankets from one of the oldest wool mills in the country. Guests are encouraged to pack for warmth, even during summertime, as the only way to get from place to place is to walk outdoors.

The Outlier Inn, in Woodridge, NY, is a special destination for sure. While their focus is group retreats, they offer stays for individuals with a two-night minimum. The property features a dozen options for individual stays year-round, consisting of several full-size houses, a cottage and a bungalow. In the warmer months, they also make available several tiny houses (one of which is built entirely out of recycled materials), two geodesic domes meant for larger groups and an antique trailer refurbished for guests. The property contains

inns, not outs (clockwise from top) The Six Bells Countryside Inn, Old Dutch Inn, The Outlier Inn; (opposite) Prospect Berkshires.

several communal facilities for cooking, bathing and swimming, with a sauna and amphitheater on the premises. Despite its remote location, the inn offers high-speed internet and presentation spaces with monitors and projectors. Amenities available include yoga classes, massage therapy, a private chef by request and even dog obedience training. The property includes a full recording studio, which is available to book by appointment to musicians and nonmusicians alike and a farm, which everyone is encouraged to visit. The barn shop is open 24/7 on an honor system and sells produce and yarn goods made from their on-site sheep. What could possibly be more “mountains” than this?

BE PART OF SOMETHING GREATER

Hudson’s ‘Legion’ of superHero Artists

AFTER SPENDING A DECADE AT META, MARK D’ARCY HAS OPENED (CREATIVE LEGION), A NEW COMBO CREATIVE MAKERSPACE, STAGE AND GALLERY. | BY JEFF DINGLER

hen I first moved Upstate years ago, I marveled at how much creativity and arts flowed up the Hudson from New York City into these charming little towns. Each felt like a jewel of artists’ colonies carved out along the river. Of course, I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“Hudson, specifically, but also Columbia County, generally, are reasonably unique in the world,” says Mark D’Arcy, founder of (Creative Legion), a new artistic incubator

and workspace that opened its doors in May. “There are very few places I’ve ever seen that have the concentration of creative people, which goes back generations, that’s attracted these artists and designers to this beautiful environment, and it’s a deep-seated part of the culture, but it’s also just two hours from Manhattan.”

Located in the old American Legion building on Fairview Avenue (ergo the reference in the new name), this is much more than just another public office space where folks will pound out emails high on espresso (guilty) or autopilot through another two-hour staff meeting (doubly guilty). The goal is to create a dream factory, a warehouse of ideas for creatives with its own stage, gallery and podcast series to help generate, invite and perform these new artworks. This tiny building on one-and-a-half acres just

space jam “We’ve designed the (Creative Legion) less as a purist co-working space and more of a collaborative space to make things,” D’Arcy says; (opposite) Hougland.

outside the downtown strip has big ambitions of elevating the arts scene in Hudson, turning it into a nexus for artists, creatives and entrepreneurs both local and from all over.

“I’ve spent a long time running creative teams all around the world at a bunch of different companies, and I’ve found that places are really important to turning community into action,” says D’Arcy. “That’s why we’ve designed the (Creative Legion) less as a purist co-working space and more a collaborative space to make things.”

D’Arcy would know, too. He’s a veritable marketing wiz with a love of the arts who spent a decade at Meta, a decade with Time Warner before that and just recently switched over to Microsoft AI—living between Seattle and Manhattan.

To helm this big project, D’Arcy tapped his long-time colleague and friend, the “heart and soul” and COO of (Creative Legion), Melissa Hougland.

“Hudson has one of the largest per capita populations of creatives in the country,” says Hougland, who worked with D’Arcy at Meta for years, doing event activations and working with creative groups. She recently relocated from Brooklyn to lead this new legion of artists. “You can’t go anywhere in Hudson without meeting someone who’s creative. So making a space for them

to land in, to meet each other, especially five years out of the pandemic, is one of our goals.”

Hougland even helped revitalize the old, vacant American Legion building with Chatham-based designer Michele O’Hana. After three years of renovation, the end result is a sumptuous new artists’ emporium that’s beautiful, inspiring, but also useful for generating, testing and exhibiting creative work. The (Creative Legion) is membership-based, but it offers three tiers of plans—Fancy, Affordable and Free—so anyone can have access.

“It’s based on our love of

creative economy is going to be a key factor in this. The more creative business, the more entrepreneurs, the more of these people we can attract to make Hudson and Columbia County a destination, the more worldclass businesses and world-class ideas can take flight here.”

Speaking of, in July, the Legion opened their second exhibition with Good Black Art, in participation with Upstate Art Weekend, called “Waiting Room,” co-curated by emerging NYC-based artist Braden A. Hollis and designed by Pablo Olguin. And it’s just the beginning as (Creative Legion) plans future exhibitions,

GHENT, NY

Mass appeal

Berkshire Health Systems invests in next gen caregivers.

| BY DAN KODAY

The Berkshires are universally known for being a hub of cultural attractions and outdoor recreation. As we all experience, from Tanglewood to Mount Greylock, Berkshire County nurtures some of the most inspiring sights and artistic opportunities in the US. Leading the charge in nurturing residents and visitors alike is Berkshire Health Systems (BHS), which is currently investing in the next generation of caretakers.

To care for people in rural areas, healthcare providers need to think big and start local. That means not only running good clinics and hospitals nearby but also working closely with the community on programs that make life better—like supporting local jobs, health education and other services people need to stay healthy.

Thanks to thoughtful investments, BHS believes it’s uniquely situated to serve the Berkshire County region, today and for generations to come. With more than 4,000 employees across three hospitals and numerous provider practices, BHS provides comprehensive healthcare services across rural Berkshire County and neighboring southwestern Vermont and Upstate New York.

“Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, North Adams Regional Hospital in North Adams and outpatient practices and community health services across the region work together to provide a level of care and services often thought to be limited to larger communities including primary, emergency and urgent care to specialties such as neurosurgery, orthopedics, endocrinology, cancer care and

handles with care “Berkshire County is a unique place, with a smalltown feel,” says Darlene Rodowicz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Health Systems. “We’re caring for our own families, friends and neighbors.”

many others—all without having to leave the Berkshires.” says BHS President and Chief Executive Officer Darlene Rodowicz.

Each facility and department within BHS plays a unique and equally essential role in this integrated system. As BHS’s flagship hospital, Berkshire Medical Center (BMC), a Level III Trauma Center, maintains major clinical partnerships with Baystate Health, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham. BMC is also a teaching hospital with residency programs specializing in internal medicine, surgery and psychiatry, through partnerships with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Fairview Hospital and North Adams Regional Hospital, the system’s Critical

Access Hospitals, serve the needs of the North and South County communities—keeping care local whenever possible and seamlessly transporting patients to BMC if a more advanced level of care is needed.

Across its facilities, BHS delivers exceptional care that’s earned national recognition, including BMC’s Leapfrog Grade ‘A’ for Patient Safety, ‘Get With The Guidelines’ awards from the American Heart Association and Fairview Hospital’s Healthgrades status for Outstanding Patient Experience (13 years running), among others.

But BHS’s commitment to the region extends far beyond its clinical walls. As Berkshire County’s largest employer, BHS embraces the responsibility of creating career opportunities and addressing local workforce shortages in healthcare.

In recent years, BHS has invested in a variety of innovative Career Pathways Programs, which reduce barriers and provide opportunities for those who previously may not have been able to enter the healthcare workforce. Designed to fill in-demand roles across the system, BHS Pathways Programs offer paid training opportunities for residents to learn valuable skills, earn certifications and progress toward a career at BHS.

“Four years after establishing our Career Pathways Program, we’re seeing the results of this investment pay off, with additional employees delivering care and our staff feeling more supported,” Rodowicz says. “Beyond growing our system’s workforce, the program represents a major investment in creating more jobs and training opportunities for our region, ultimately bolstering our economy.”

This investment in talent through the Career Pathways Programs is one way that BHS brings to life its vision to be the region’s trusted healthcare partner and community advocate for improving overall quality of life.

An anchor of the community, BHS looks beyond the care it provides in its facilities to work with groups across Berkshire County to address the social factors that may prevent residents from living healthy lives. Whether it’s food security, housing access or preventive education, BHS is committed to removing the barriers that stand between residents and long-term health.

“Berkshire County is a unique place, with a small-town feel,” Rodowicz says. “We truly are caring for our own families, friends and neighbors—a profound honor and responsibility. Every day, our team comes to work united under the common mission of advancing health and wellness for everyone in our community.”

with style

nine

We Have the Tea

Who’s in, what’s shakin’, where’s next.

Must-try spot: TAY TEA in Delhi, NY, is an incredible find founded by Nini Ordoubadi, a fascinating Persian artist, in 2023. Ordoubadi, who’s based in the Catskills, hand makes and hand blends her own teas and jams.

2 The logo alone is reason enough to go to No Comply Foods on Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, MA.

Chesterwood, the Stockbridge, MA-based 122-acre summer residence, studio and gardens of sculptor Daniel Chester French, reopened after a massive four-year renovation with a vibrant 2025 season. Next summer stands to be even better.

Richard Bodin and Greg Feller, co-owners of Hudson Home, celebrated the store’s 20th anniversary this summer. The Warren Street interior design showroom is reportedly the only one in the Hudson Valley, ideal for sourcing for top designers.

Luxury retailer J.McLaughlin opened store on Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck, NY, selling to both men and women.

6 In Coxsackie, NY, the new $15 million James Newbury Hudson Valley hotel and The Wire event center opened to much fanfare.

End Cut, everyone’s favorite steak chalet conveniently located in West Park, NY, down the road from the Culinary Institute of America, opened a back patio this summer. We’re sure the food was better than ever and Chef Jordan Schor was even more charming if that’s even possible.

Hark! Mid-Hudson Fiber makes news. The region’s cable/fiber scene is finally changing with more towns and better service.

we all scream End Cut Executive Chef Jordan Schor expanded his award-winning North Park, NY, restaurant for al fresco diners— and ice cream fans.

9 Mirbeau Inn & Spa, the legendary wellness destination in Rhinebeck, NY, since its opening in 2019, celebrated a quarter-century of success with its parent company, Mirbeau Companies.

Get Out And Eat. Now.

Hudson Chatham Winery, Hy’s Fried Chicken, The Greens At Copake Country Club and The Bistro Box are sublime al fresco dining options just down the road. | By

Hal Rubenstein

As I’m writing this, it’s 98 degrees in Manhattan and we last exactly five shvitzy minutes on the patio under a defenseless umbrella before requesting a move indoors. We didn’t want to succumb, however, because during summer, food somehow tastes better when eaten outside. Not that kitchens do anything different with your al fresco order, but we savor the open-air experience because the mood seems lighter, spirits higher, conversation is often more buoyant and/or romantic when there aren’t any boundaries or blaring music, more space between tables and you’re surrounded by fresh rather than refrigerated air. So many new restaurants spend a fortune on singularly,

dramatic décor (thank you David Rockwell, Martin Brudnizki, Ken Fulk and Roman & Williams), but rare is the setting that can compare with a crystal clear or starlit sky, a coral-to-fuchsia-to-lavender sunset, caressed by just enough breeze to blow out a votive candle (easily the worst element of any table setting because if you think being lit from below is flattering, how come every campfire ghost story teller uses a flashlight under the chin to spook you out).

There’s still a couple of months left to enjoy the serene rush that comes with literally eating out—and these are four different ways to do it.

HUDSON CHATHAM WINERY

If you’re an avid reader of The Mountains, you know we haven’t just discovered HCW.

We’ve been big fans from the outset. In fact, the Summer 2024 issue featured an interview by Anthony Giglio in his “Thirsty” column of co-owners Steven Rosario and Justen Nickel focusing on both their life partnership, and the ways they’ve renovated and transformed the winery since taking ownership in 2020. Though Giglio praised the couple’s determination and perseverance in reinvigorating the vineyards, there was no mention, for justifiable reasons, of what had made me a constant visitor. Justen Nickel is a smashingly gifted chef.

After our collective release from selfimposed house arrest, the guys, who met as students at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park began hosting intimate dinners for 30 once a month. The meals were refined revelations. Deceptively simple, yet innovative even audacious feasts, each featuring several dishes capable of generating gastronomic bliss. Depending on the weather, dinners were either staged in the winery’s tasting room or outdoors on a pastoral hillside with a clear view of the alluring vineyards under several expansive tents of various shapes illuminated by bistro lights and fire pits. More than half a dozen dinners, not a single dish was repeated. Each meal was heartily consumed with boundless delight, a devoted following developed that transformed a roomful of strangers into affable acquaintances and new friends. But suddenly, legal complications brought these dinners to a halt and my taste buds went into mourning.

Happily, this spring, the winery cleared all the hurdles jealousy had dropped in its path and the dinners have returned. I hesitate to relay this good news because seating capacity hasn’t increased, the evenings already sell out quickly and describing the bounty of the last buffet will only intensify desire.

The groaning board of a buffet was a celebration of Steven Rosario’s Dominican heritage. The winery excels at charcuterie plates. This one was three-feet long and the shrewd diners were quick to ransack the Ibérico ham, though they need not have—there was a seeming unlimited supply. Lots of Spanish restaurants feature tostones though green plantains originated

in vino veritas Hudson Chatham Winery excels at charcuterie plates, some featuring Ibérico ham, a true crowd favorite.

in West Africa. Too often tostones taste like they were cookie cuttered out of UPS shipping boxes. Here they were crisp and savory on the outside, slightly sweet and nutty on the inside, and became irresistible when dipped in Salsa Waskaka, a Dominican sauce of garlic, cilantro, olive oil and lime. Fried yuca (cassava) has a similar coloration but the flavor is more like a cross between a creamy french fry and a potato chip and was enhanced by Salsa Rosada, a pink sauce that’s a Latin street food staple whose base is just mayonnaise and ketchup punched up with lime juice, garlic, onion powder and hot sauce. Pico pollo is an excellent South American version of fried chicken, different from Hy’s Fried Chicken (see below) in that the chicken is first marinated in citrus, vinegar and garlic, then rolled in more heavily seasoned cornmeal flour and served with a peppery, herb-flecked sauce. Surrounded by beetstained potato salad, citrus laced avocado, pickled red onions, the table’s unequivocal star was pernil, succulent, addictive, slow-cooked shredded pork shoulder marinated in an adobo rich in oregano, garlic, paprika and lime. After everyone had had their multiple portions, I stood over the table and unapologetically picked at it until my husband pulled me away.

For dessert, the table groaned with dulce de leche sandwiches, flan, rice pudding, a cake I can’t honestly recall though I remember having two pieces and coconut cookies so wonderful I took home half a dozen. Oh yeah, we had wine with dinner.

The Winery has tastings daily, a limited menu on weekends and can be rented for groups, conferences, celebrations and weddings. This fall, after hosting another evening of deliciousness and unlimited hospitality, the owners will escort diners to a massive bonfire held toward the back of their vineyard; sort of a mini-Burning Man minus the life-changing ephemeral philosophy and the semipermanent coating of dust. Is there room for all of you? No. So, how about I just write about it after it’s over? I want to. I do. But I can’t. As we’re learning daily, it’s a lot less fun being ethical.

The email for Hudson Chatham’s mailing list is below.

HUDSON CHATHAM WINERY

1900 NY-66, Ghent, NY

hours: Dinners are once a month on Friday at 6pm hours of the winery: Thursday-Saturday 12-7 pm Sunday 12-5pm 518.392.9463 info@hudsonchathamwinery.com

HY’S FRIED CHICKEN

It’s as hard to imagine anyone turning their nose up at fried chicken as it is refusing to sit next to Lin-Manuel Miranda at dinner, turning off Singin’ In The Rain during “Moses Supposes” or calling Meryl Streep, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and Jerry Seinfeld “overrated.”

Fried chicken is having a Ranch dressing moment. The crispy bird seems to be everywhere—from fast food establishments to fine dining. Cluckers account for more than half of McDonald’s revenue and that percentage is growing (all hail the return of the Snack Wrap!). Cane’s, the chain that sells only chicken fingers, is popping up all over the place, with its CEO Todd Graves, who owns 90 percent of the $12 billion company, occasionally sitting in one of the black faux Eames chairs on Shark Tank Chick-Fil-A is inedible because it’s too difficult to chew any fried food produced by unapologetic homophobes, but it may be easier to find a Hermès Himalaya Birkin bag than score a 7:30pm reservation at Coqodoq, the Korean fried chicken phenomenon in NYC’s Flatiron district. Walk-ins can wait more than two hours for a table, if they aren’t first turned away.

Well, for the time it takes to be seated at 10pm and spend almost $40 a head for about two pieces (your share) of Coqodoq’s signature “Bucket List,” you could drive up to Hy’s Fried Chicken in Hillsdale, NY, spend just $4 more and get an eight-piece bucket for four of the Hudson Valley’s crispiest, most satisfying version of this American classic.

If you’re willing to sacrifice the bronzed and lacquered splendor of Coqodoq’s David Rockwell designed chicken palace disguised as a sleek, members-only disco, you can savor the T-shirt and shorts ease of either Hy’s cherry-red enameled, retro school-cafeteriaturned-into-a-roadside-disco interior, complete with checkerboard floor and mirror ball, or claim one of the expansive array of picnic tables out front, just far enough away from Route 23 to ignore the traffic noise, though I wouldn’t let my dog off his leash. However, once owner Jack Luber’s singular bucket of joy hits your table, you won’t be paying much attention to your surroundings.

while the structure may not be elegant or up-to-date, it’s comfortable and familiar, like a favorite pair of golf gloves or a family dinner where everyone likes each other. The dining room’s décor is a little more than functional, but it’s decidedly relaxed. The view, however, overlooking the 100-year-old course’s 17th hole is lovely, especially when viewed from the outdoor dining terrace, its verdant lawn sloping up into the Berkshire foothills unbroken to the horizon. Even the whirring of a few traversing golf carts doesn’t disturb its serenity, and it’s more effective than a dirty martini in getting those shoulders down from just below your earlobes.

The restaurant attracts a steady local clientele, many of whom know each other, and the staff is equally convivial. The menu, wisely and not surprisingly, leans toward comfort food and executes it with consistent satisfaction. Odd, however, that such a straightforward place would start its menu in such a dishonest fashion, listing the appetizers as “Small Plates,” when every single option is generous enough to serve at least two people. Fritto misto is

hole in one The view at The Greens At Copake Country Club overlooking the century-old golf course’s 17th hole is lovely—as is the food.

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overflowing with crisply fried calamari (lots of tentacles!), white fish and shrimp, graced by shishito peppers and sundried tomatoes in a light marinara and lemon aioli sauce. Three large tacos hosting large batter-fried shrimp with sesame slaw and pickled onions could easily be a main course. It’s become standard for many eateries to charge around $35 for a single crabcake. The Greens offers two sizably dense discs of piquantly seasoned, almost filler-free seafood. Blackened Brussels sprouts, lacquered in sweet chili, soy and sesame works best as a side dish with entrées.

For entrées, pan-roasted hangar steak not only gives credibility to the notion that an iron skillet is a better home for slabs of beef than an outdoor grill, but for $34— startling, considering the ever-increasing price of beef. Half a roast chicken with mashed potatoes, roast Faroe Island salmon and the house burger (another bargain at $21) are all substantial versions of comfort classics. I usually hesitate ordering sea scallops because I rarely find them an ample main course (when I

worked at The Odeon, the kitchen rationed three to a plate) but the half-dozen large, golden, gently sautéed scallops circling a briny mass of couscous may be the first time I’ve not been able to finish an order of bivalve mollusks. Desserts are okay but chocoholics need note that the chocolate torte is really a solid slab of ganache masquerading as a slice of cake.

Country clubs are often characterized as bastions of elitism, just the place to show off your Prada golf shoes ($950) and Vuitton golf bag ($23,400). The Copake online pro shop sells Carhartt hoodies and coolers, Imperial bucket hats, North Face backpacks and Adidas pullovers. The most expensive item is a Pinned Rangefinder at $329.95. If you’re looking to impress folks, head to the Silo Ridge Golf Club in Amenia, NY ($150,000 initiation fee). However, if you’d rather break open your cooler after 18 holes and dance with your kids down at the bandstand listening to the music of Acoustic Mafia, Tim McDonald or grabbing a mic for Karaoke during The Thursday Night Summer Music Series, then head to

The Greens. And that’s definitely no lie. THE GREENS AT COPAKE COUNTRY CLUB 44 Golf Course Road, Craryville, NY

hours: Monday & Thursday 11am-8pm

Tuesday & Wednesday 5pm-8pm Friday & Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-8pm

518.325.0019

Info@copakecountryclub.com

THE BISTRO BOX

Great Barrington, MA, the tranquil and serene civilized refuge for lovers of crocheted vests, Barbour style jackets and women who wear their hair like Joyce Carol Oates or Andie McDowell boasts three defining traits: It’s the home of Karen Allen, my favorite Indiana Jones heroine; many, many cannabis dispensaries for a population of only 7,000; and the best food in town is served from a roadside stand four miles south of the main drag on Route 7. If The Bistro Box were down the road from me, I’d probably eat there every day. Most roadside stands are usually sufficient for something, anything to eat along the way, but the William-Shatner-at-Comic-

Con long line that amasses every day at lunchtime is composed of rabid patrons who shlep to this compact structure with a daunting I-want-it-all menu because Nick and Birdie Joseph’s food is pretty damn faultless across its boards.

If you’re headed to The Box during primetime, it’s best not to go alone because scoring a picnic table requires an eagle eye and a sprinter’s reflexes. Frankly, I’d happily sit on the grass or the open trunk of my SUV because Bistro has the best burger for miles. It’s not just the superior grass-fed beef from Mazzeo’s (available at Guido’s Marketplace right up the road closer to town). It’s the divine tomato jam which The Box sometimes offers separately, except it sells out faster than you can eat their super hand-cut fries and cornmeal-dipped onion rings—and you have to stop yourself from wolfing them down.

Go on. Order everything: the pressed Cuban sandwich with the hand-pulled pork, briskly zingy gazpacho, almost perfect chili (though if you like yours with beans, it is perfect), turkey BLT wrap chicken

boom box Go ahead and order everything at The Bistro Box from the delicious pressed Cuban sandwich with the handpulled pork to the almost perfect chili.

quesadilla, falafel burger, fried pickles, tacos, pesto panini, chili cheese fries, even the damn hot dog (from Whippoorwill Farm in Lakeville, CT). There isn’t an item on that wall I wouldn’t recommend. Whatever the berry lemonade is of the day—blueberry, strawberry, raspberry—get it, unless you can’t resist the slushie of the day—orange

mango, blueberry pomegranate, strawberry mint. Then again, how do you possibly resist a peach pie milkshake?

The only thing upsetting about The Bistro Box? This is the Berkshires, not the San Gabriel Mountains. It’s Great Barrington, not Pasadena. The Bistro Box will close in mid-November and not open again until mid-spring of 2026. The lines during the last week of each season are proof of The Box clientele’s fervent adoration—and they’re very vocal about the anxiety they’ll soon feel being denied that superior burger for at least four months. Maybe that’s why there are so many places up the road where you can buy gummies.

THE BISTRO BOX

937 South Main Street, Route 7 Great Barrington, MA hours: Thursday – Tuesday, 11am-4pm 413.717.5958

thebistrobox@hotmail.com

GUIDO’S MARKETPLACE

760 South Main Street, Great Barrington, MA

WHIPPOORWILL FARMS

189 Salmon Kill Road, Lakeville, CT

God’s Sake

In Hyde Park, Dassai Blue applies centuries-old Japanese brewing techniques to elevate The drink beyond the sushi bar. |

By Anthony Giglio

When you pull off Route 9 in Hyde Park, NY— home to the Culinary Institute of America and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s historic estate—you probably aren’t expecting to walk into one of the most advanced sake breweries in the world. But behind the glass doors of what used to be a Stop & Shop is Dassai Blue, the American outpost of one of Japan’s most revered sake producers, Asahi Shuzo.

Dassai’s US facility, which opened to visitors in the fall of 2023, is a sleek, stateof-the-art production site and tasting room that blends centuries-old Japanese brewing techniques with a distinctly modern sensibility. “People walk in and say, ‘I used to shop here,’” says Jocelyn

Heyward, Director of Marketing for Dassai Blue. “Now they come in and get a tour, sip a flight of beautifully crafted sake in wine glasses and leave with an entirely new understanding of what sake can be.”

Sake 101: What’s In The Glass?

• Sake is brewed like beer, fermented with koji mold and enjoyed like fine wine

• Junmai Daiginjo is the highest sake category, made only with rice, water, yeast and koji and polished to at least 50 percent of the grain

• Dassai 23, 35 and 50 refer to the rice polishing ratio—lower numbers mean more polishing and more refined flavors

• Serve sake chilled in wine glasses for maximum aroma and finesse

Dassai has long been known in Japan for innovation. Under the leadership of Hiroshi Sakurai, a fourth-generation sake maker, the company helped usher in a renaissance of ultra-premium sake. Sakurai’s bold move to produce sake year-round (rather than just in winter), and his obsession with rice polishing—sometimes down to a mere 23 percent of the grain remaining—helped redefine what sake could be.

The Hudson Valley location is Dassai’s first outside Japan. The name Dassai Blue comes from a Japanese proverb: “The indigo dye is bluer than the indigo plant.” It suggests that a student can surpass the master—a bold ambition that Dassai Blue embraces as it takes on the US market.

So, what exactly is sake? Despite common misconceptions, sake is not a rice wine— or at least, not in the way we categorize wine or beer. It’s brewed like beer (with a fermentation process), but its aromatic complexity and structure make it more akin to wine. Dassai serves its sake in wine glasses to accentuate its aromatics and showcase its refined texture—or, as we sommeliers say, ‘mouthfeel,’ referring to the tactile sensation a wine (or any beverage) creates on the palate—essentially, how it feels in your mouth, not how it tastes.

True sake is made with just four ingredients: rice, water, koji mold and yeast. Koji, it’s worth mentioning, is a type of friendly fungus that’s used to help ferment foods and drinks, especially in Japanese cuisine. Koji breaks down starches in rice (or other grains) into sugars, which yeast can then turn into alcohol during fermentation. It’s what makes sake possible—and it’s also used to make soy sauce, miso and mirin. Dassai’s Hudson Valley site even includes a dedicated rice polishing facility, where the team mills both imported and Arkansasgrown Yamada-Nishiki rice—a prized variety considered the “King of Sake Rice.”

About 80 percent of the rice used in Hyde Park comes from the US, a testament to the brand’s commitment to local agriculture.

A guiding concept in Dassai’s process is tema, a Japanese term that loosely translates to “time, care and human touch.” Every step—from hand-washing the rice in cold water to delicately sprinkling koji over steamed grains—is carried out with patience and precision. “To polish rice down

to 20 percent takes more than 100 hours,” Heyward says. “It’s a time-heavy process, and it has to be done with intention and attention to detail. That’s tema.”

Visitors can witness the tema process on guided tours through glass-walled rooms, where steaming rice, koji rooms and fermentation tanks bubble with life. There’s even a chance to sample moromi, the halfwayfermented mash that becomes sake.

Please know that Dassai Blue isn’t just for sake geeks. It’s also a hospitality experience that encourages new drinkers to rethink everything they’ve assumed about the beverage. On any given afternoon, you can sit at the sleek tasting bar, order a sake flight and snack on sushi from a Japanese-trained chef or a cheese plate sourced from Red Hook’s Corner Counter. The brewery also collaborates with the Culinary Institute of America and local bars such as {pretty to think so} in Rhinebeck, NY, which mixes Dassai into cocktails and pours it by the glass.

“We want people to stop thinking about sake as just something you shoot at a hibachi restaurant,” says Heyward. “It’s elegant, it’s expressive—and it pairs beautifully with all kinds of cuisine.”

With ambitions to expand sake’s reach in the US, Dassai Blue hopes to change the conversation—one tasting at a time. “Our chairman always says: ‘Sake isn’t a drink meant to get you drunk—it’s a drink meant to be enjoyed,’” Heyward says. “It’s about refinement, balance and appreciation.”

With Dassai Blue, where locals used to pull off Route 9 to grab groceries, they now come to explore the delicate craft of sake. It’s a transformation from Stop & Shop to stop and sip—and for anyone curious about what Japan’s most refined sake tastes like, it’s well worth pulling over for.

blue’s clues Dassai Blue’s name suggests that a student can surpass the master—a bold ambition the sake brand embraces; (opposite) the brand’s Hyde Park HQ.

5 ICE CREAM SPOTS WORTH THE DRIVE

FROM NEW-WAVE FLAVOR PROFILES TO OLD-SCHOOL SOFT SERVE, THESE STANDOUT CREAMERIES ARE MELTING OUR HEARTS.

By Isabel Hochman

1. SoCo Creamery (Great Barrington, MA)

SoCo serves up small-batch pints made with organic milk and cream. Their Espresso Cookie and Dirty Chocolate are locals’ favorites for a deliciously good reason.

2. Kelly’s Creamery (Dover Plains, NY) On the way

milk and honey Who wants to go with me to Saugerties for Alleyway Ice Cream’s Honeycomb Chocolate Swirl? You do.

to and from the city, Kelly’s is known for generous scoops, creative seasonal specials and a relaxed country setting that invites lingering. Bonus points for their gluten-free cones.

3. Dairy Cone (Pittsfield, MA)

This nostalgic roadside stand keeps it classic with rich soft serve, frozen yogurt, dipped cones and milkshakes. Go for the chocolate and vanilla twist with chocolate dip. You can thank me later.

4. Arethusa Farm Dairy (Bantam, CT) From cow to cone, Arethusa makes all their ice cream using milk from their

own award-winning dairy farm. It’s indulgent, ultracreamy and elegantly simple— don’t miss the strawberry. Arethusa is now partnering with other local Connecticut farms to supply milk for their dairy products.

5. Alleyway Ice Cream (Saugerties, NY) Tiny in size but bold in flavor, Alleyway churns out inventive scoops including Thai Tea Cookies & Cream and Ube Heath Bar Crunch. A must for foodies with a sweet tooth.

AT 432 WARREN

fur Who Needs A Doggie Bag Anyway?

Four mountains restaurants that‘ll satisfy both pup and parent.

By Sarah Carpenter-Peck

The mountains are a dog-friendly place to live. You’ll find lots of restaurants that’ll welcome your pup and their water bowl on the patio. Actually, this story was going to be about those spots—but I ended up with such a long list, I pivoted when four places really stood out above the rest. They’re not just dog-friendly—they’re dog-tantalizing Treat your fur baby at these restaurants that have something on the menu they’ll love too.

Phoenicia Diner

This 1960s Airstream with a covered dining area and extended picnic area offers an unseasoned dog burger and a stack of water bowls at the drink station. Humans enjoy a locally-sourced menu with some vegan, gluten-friendly and kid options. Phoenicia, NY | 845.688.9957 | phoeniciadiner.com

Smoky Rock BBQ

The doggie menu at this barbecue joint— offering bipeds burgers, sandwiches, signature meats and classic barbecue sides—features oven-roasted dog-friendly

brisket and turkey prepared without any spices. Arf arf! (That’s dog for “more, please!”) Rhinebeck, NY | 845.876.5232 | smokyrockbbq.com

Last Chance Restaurant

With an upscale café menu offering (in part) gluten-free, vegan and kid options plus a healthy beer and wine menu for the adults, the secret doggie menu (chicken and rice, steak and rice) at this full-service restaurant, antique store and gourmet shop is truly icing on the cake. Tannersville, NY | 518.589.6424 | lastchanceonline.com

The ’6 House Pub

This restaurant at the 1896 House Inn offers a “Bone Appetit” doggie menu including a cut up hot dog without the bun, gourmet ground beef meatballs, a burger patty and flame-grilled chicken breast with rice. Hope Fido leaves room for dessert—there’s even a scoop of vanilla ice cream on this menu. Williamstown, MA | 413.458.1896 | 6housepub.com

burger king No doubt our happy friend wants Phoenicia Diner’s unseasoned doggie burger.

one

horse town “The most important thing is that I develop trust with all my horses,” says Cari Swanson, the Amenia, NY-based equine trainer to many Hollywood productions.

Hollywood Horse Play

Equine trainer extraordinaire Cari Swanson saddles up from Amenia. | By Sarah Carpenter-Peck

On screen, the mood is dark and anxious as a mother (Julianne Moore) teeters between losing her daughter (Sydney Sweeney) and losing her own moral compass. The crows are cawing and the horses are whinnying in the stalls.

Those horses, in several scenes on Apple TV’s new American thriller, Echo Valley, are your neighbors (no pun intended). Off screen, they spend their days at Windrock Farm in Amenia, NY, under the care of a woman who’s made a name for herself as the Upstate horse trainer in the film and television industry: Cari Swanson.

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“Horses need a purpose like people need a purpose,” Swanson tells me. It’s why she gives many of her horses second lives on-screen. Most of them are rescues, sometimes from a racetrack or an abusive environment, sometimes when their owner dies. If they’re too old or sick, they retire at the farm. They all do equine therapy when they come to Windrock, working with children or veterans—or acting on set when possible.

And in Echo Valley, you can see Moose, Luna, Buddha, Blaze, Listo and Chief on a farm that’s very different from the one they enjoy when they’re done with work.

“Sydney Sweeney fell in love with my Palomino, Moose,” Swanson says. Although the actress didn’t share any scenes with Moose, she’d visit between scenes to relax. “Horses heal humans,” she says. “They make them feel better.”

But the way that Swanson works with her horses—connecting with them, understanding their emotions, their pasts and their needs—I think it’s safe to say sometimes humans heal horses, too.

“The most important thing is that I develop trust with all my horses, so when they’re in a unique situation, they look to me and trust me,” Swanson says. She helps her horses prepare for the sights and sounds of being on a sound stage by replicating some of it at home. She’ll do photoshoots inside her house, set up black boxes in the dining room, assemble lights and cameras—whatever they might encounter on the job. “If you come prepared, then it’s easy,” she says.

Swanson’s horses have trusted her on stages, walking up steps or ramps, in freight elevators and on a tiny sound stage for a Ralph Lauren shoot. Always, someone from American Humane Society observes the horses on set to help ensure their safety, she says.

And sometimes, Swanson must coach actors to ride her horses. Recently, Days Of Our Lives, the long-running daytime drama, said they wanted a horse to rear and for a stunt man to fall off—one who’d never ridden a horse before. Swanson worked with him to make it happen safely.

Jonathan Groff in Taking Woodstock, who also had never ridden, trained with Swanson’s horse RJ for two weeks before filming the final scene of the movie with him.

Occasionally, a project will require a specific breed of horse and Swanson will source a horse to fit the bill. When this happens, it takes at least six weeks to prepare a horse who’s new to her care, along with further training throughout filming.

Because of Swanson’s passion for the arts, Windrock Farm is often buzzing with creative energy as artists, writers and other creators pass through—right now, Swanson is working on a television series in development about a talking horse, the grandson of Mr. Ed—but the farm is also home for Swanson and her animals.

While living in NYC Swanson had a horse sent to her from Ohio—luckily, she’d met someone with a farm Upstate who let her board the horse there. After a decade of splitting her time between Manhattan and Upstate, Swanson gave up New York City life and settled in beautiful Amenia.

“It’s a magical place to live,” she says.

Join us for our special Weekend of Giving, where the joy of giving meets the gift of self-care. For every gift card you buy for a loved one, you’ll receive a gift card to spend on your own wellness experience. The more you give, the more you get!

Saturdays 7PM

Sundays 3PM

Neighborhood Luxe

Hot brands Savor/Beauty, Beekman 1802, Atwater Skin and Dr. Perricone lead our bucolic beauty brigade.

By Marco Medrano

CASSATT STRING QUARTET & MAGDALENA BACZEWSKA, PIANO Works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Schumann Piano Quintet

NEW YORK GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLAYERS

H.M.S. Pinafore in One Act, and G&S Audience Favorites

96TH SEASON FINALE BENEFIT CONCERT & RECEPTION: JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET & RONALD COPES, VIOLA Beethoven, Dvorák Viola Quintet in E Flat Major “American”

There’s never a reason to shuck excellent skincare wellness, even in our naturally beautiful corner of the planet. The following (topshelf) skincare brands are not only nationally respected with massive, devoted enthusiasts swearing by their results, they also happen to be based down the road. Lucky us. Savor Beauty delivers clean, Kingston, NY-made Korean skincare rituals. Raspberry Seed Serum Line-Diminishing Face Oil ($70), Caviar Collagen Eye Cream ($105) and the must-have TriLuxe Gua Sha Eye Roller are all award worthy. Trust. savorbeauty.com

Invisible Deodorant ($20) in three (safe) delicious scents. beekman1802.com

ATWATER Skin, another Kingston, NY, success story, and a revered men’s brand, recently launched a silky, luxurious skin protector that disappears—like magic. As always, UV sun exposure and blue light damage is year-round. Skin Armor Mineral Facial Sunscreen SPF50+ is safe, strong and invisible ($42). atwaterskin.com

Tickets $30-65, free under 19.

Order by phone (860) 824-7126 or at musicmountain.org

Beekman 1802 is a goat milk-first brand emanating from their historic Sharon Springs, NY, farm in the Hudson Valley that expanded with serious treatments, including Milk RX Advanced Better Aging Wrinkle Serum ($72), Milk Drops Ceramide Serum ($45) and Milk Stick All-Day Odor Protection

Connecticut-based Dr Perricone is widely considered to be one of the OG titans of skincare and his Dr. Perricone Hydrogen Water (24pk for $69) has wholeheartedly led the charge for internal wellness to promote external beauty without sugar, caffeine or calories. perricone hydrogenwater.com

These topshelf skincare brands are not only nationally respected, but they’re also based just down the road. September @

local news

DONALD SOSIN & JOANNA SEATON SILENT FILM & LIVE MUSIC

F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise (1927), a silent ﬁlm masterpiece of love, betrayal, and redemption.

Derick LaTorre

Licensed Agent | Valatie, NY

LaTorreInsuranceAgency.com

(518) 660-0500

Derick@LaTorreInsuranceAgency.com

Convertible Bonds

By Simon Murray

Ifinally got around to reading T.C. Boyle’s Worlds End A satirical, 480-page romp through the early colonial days of the Hudson Valley through the late 1960s chronicling generations of two families and a tribe of Kitchawank Native Americans locked in an epic struggle for survival.

Maserati GranCabrio Folgore

In one of the novel’s many fever-dream sequences, our cursed antihero, Walter van Brunt—already an embittered, bilateral amputee haunted by ghosts—careens around Peekskill in a flashy MG convertible. In Boyle’s more than capable hands, you can feel the raw power of the British roadster as his gripping prose pushes you onward…to inevitably fantasize about owning a convertible of your own. (Or at least it did for me.) And while the timeless design of the MGAs and MGBs of the 1950s and ’60s remain popular choices for collectors, the Cyberster, MG’s new roadster, is pushing the famed marquee into the future: sleek, sculpted and fully electric. So, daydream worthy in every sense.

The bad news? The Cyberster isn’t yet available in the US. But before you start feeling like one of Boyle’s downtrodden characters, here are a few drop-top, super luxe EVs headed stateside that can help you soak up the summer on the open road.

Maserati doesn’t do anything mezza sega, so far from whispering into the electric age, they’re bellowing in Italian like an opera diva. The GranCabrio Folgore (that’s “lightning,” for those not fluent in drama) is the brand’s first all-electric convertible, and it’s exactly what you’d expect: gorgeous, sensuous and absurdly fast. Built on a tri-motor setup that delivers a neck-snapping 818hp, the four-seater can hit 60mph in just 2.7 seconds, all while pampering you in quilted leather and carbon fiber

There’s a dwindling number of convertibles in the automotive space, so whether you’re a misanthrope with a prosthesis or simply a fresh-air admirer, the Folgore is currently your only electric option in production.

Polestar 6

Well, at least for now anyway, because the Polestar 6 is looking to crash the party. If the GranCabrio is a symphony, this two-door hardtop convertible is Swedish techno. Taken as a whole, it’s too-clean lines, minimalist everything and a focus on performance screams science lab more than racetrack. Put another way, I can’t stop imagining the luminous ribbons of TRON unfurling behind its ultra sleek taillight. However, the 6 is no

slouch. With production unfortunately delayed in favor of the Polestar 7 SUV, the company says it’ll eventually deliver a 0-to-60mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 155mph thanks to a dual-motor setup and 800-volt architecture—meaning it charges faster than you can say “Scandinavian design.” It’s a concept car that made it off the sketchpad intact, and when it lands, it’ll likely be the most avant-garde drop-top on the road.

Carice TC2

If nothing else, I’m a sucker for timeless design. So, when I first laid eyes on this 1950s-style roadster that looks as if it was shrunk in the wash, my heart fluttered a little. Reimagined for the electric age by a team of Dutch futurists with what appears to be a working time machine(!), the Carice TC2 is charming, elegant and made almost entirely of composite materials. Weighing in at a mere 1,400lbs, the gorgeous automobile is a featherweight with enough spunk to make suburban errands feel like Goodwood. The kicker?

This modern callback to MGs and Porsches of old isn’t yet available in the US, but the company is actively seeking export partners—so keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime, it’s a cult favorite in Europe, beloved by design nerds and slow-car-fast evangelists alike.

As I can attest first-hand, reading isn’t only fundamental, but fantastical—especially when you keep the top down while driving.

THE REGION’S LARGEST SELECTION

Open Monday through Friday 10am–5:30pm • Saturday 10am–4pm 165 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA • 413-717-4239 • lennoxjewelers.com

going topless Polestar 6, Carice TC2 and (opposite) Maserati GranCabrio Folgore are three fantastical (and expensive) EV convertible options.

Antique Jewelry

Revisiting Frederic Church’s Hudson Valley Masterpiece

Come and see why Mark Twain called Olana “an exalted hill of art.”

By Isabel Hochman

Olana, the former home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church in Greenport, NY, is a New York State Historic Site and public park. Set on a breathtaking 250-acre estate, it reflects Church’s artistic vision, his deep love for the Hudson

Valley and his fascination with travel and exploration across the globe.

A day trip to Olana should include a tour of both the grounds and the house, where Church lived with his wife, Isabel, and their four children. The home—designed by Church and built between 1860 and

take me to church’s A day trip to stunning Olana should include a tour of both the grounds and the house, where Frederic Church lived with his wife, Isabel, and their four children.

1900 after his travels in the Middle East— blends Victorian architecture with Middle Eastern influences and sits atop a hill with sweeping views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains.

Knowledgeable, welcoming guides lead visitors from the base of the property up the winding carriage road to the main house. Along the way, they share thoughtful historical anecdotes and encourage questions, making the experience engaging, personal and connected. Inside, the tour continues to offer insight into how the artist’s family lived and worked, including a tour of Frederic’s studio and how his art was shaped by his adventures and hardships.

Having visited in summer and winter, Olana is stunning year-round—offering inspiration, history and beauty at every turn.

the ride Hail, Rail!

It took nearly four decades to build the first 26 miles of the rail trail. Only 20 miles to go.

By Audrey Chamberlin

When a railway dies, it leaves a body behind— miles and miles of rails, often left to fade into the underbrush. But a body will eventually enrich the soil around it, and so too has the Penn Central Railroad, being repurposed as the skeleton for 26 miles of paved trails stretching just inside the New York-Connecticut state line. Snaking through Taconic State Park, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail aims to connect Wassaic and Chatham at full completion, giving the communities along the way a path to reach

may not have considered stopping for if they were driving nearby.

each other and reminding everyone of the natural beauty right around us.

Founded in 1986, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association (HVRTA) is dedicated to their mission of connecting their communities by pathways traversable by anyone without the danger of using a main road. The hope is that it’ll connect the towns along the way to each other, allowing people to visit nearby places they

The trail is easy to walk or bike, with wide flat roads through picturesque forests and lively farmland. The current trail stretches from Wassaic all the way to Hillsdale, with current plans to build south from Chatham and connect in the middle. The project secured funding in 2019 thanks to the federal Transportation Alternatives Program and an additional grant in 2023 has allowed for the planning of the pathway from Chatham to Philmont. The trail from Hillsdale to Wassaic is open to all visitors from dawn until dusk.

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Before The Fall

Take advantage of the remaining warm days to prepare for the imminent cold.

Pictures + Words by Mira Peck

As gardeners, we’re constantly striking a balance between being present to our current season while also having one eye toward the next one. We appreciate and celebrate the bounty of summer as it’s happening—but we also prepare for all the fall jobs ahead. Even if warm temps continue well into September, I know the

bright bulb Pro tip: Plant tulips, daffodils and other bulbs in the fall when soil temperatures dip below 50 degrees which will stimulate root growth and prepare the plants for winter.

crisp air is coming. These are some tasks to start working on now.

For starters, order your spring blooming bulbs. These types of bulbs (such as tulips, daffodils, allium, etc.) are usually planted in October and November, but to get the best pick of my favorite varieties

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bulbs no later than August. (garlic too!) when soil below 50 degrees. Soil degrees will stimulate root the plants for winter.

Next, it’s helpful to look back at what you didn’t get done last spring in terms of planting and take inventory of your current garden. Note any replacements or additions that are needed. Fall is a great time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees. Just like with bulbs, the lower soil temperatures aid root growth potential and water requirements are less because you aren’t heading into the intense heat. Take stock of what you’d like to plant and—especially if it’s a specimen tree or rare variety—source it early.

Digging your Dahlia tubers is another big project that happens in the fall and now is the time to make sure that all your Dahlia plants are properly labeled. Make note of the ones you love and want to keep, and the less desirable ones that won’t make the cut. You won’t dig the tubers up until a few hard frosts have killed the plants, but once that happens if they’re not labeled you won’t know which is which.

Another fun project is to save your own seeds. It’s so satisfying for me to save the seeds of my

when you should you’d like to plant and— specimen tree or rare early.

favorite varieties and watch them grow and flourish the next year. It might be a unique peachy colored nicotiana I’ve never seen before, or the one glowing mauve zinnia that takes everyone’s breath away. Now is the time to label the specific plants you want to save seed from, otherwise they’ll soon all look the same.

Celebrate the late summer abundance and enjoy it until the very end—and remember that seasons are always changing, bringing new gardening tasks and delights.

Dirty Fitness

Treat planting like it’s a sport, says Madeline Hooper of PBS’ GardenFit

When I was studying at the New York Botanical Garden to become a professional horticulturist, I was obsessed with learning everything I could about gardening. I devoured books and classes but was so hyperfocused on learning about the plants, I didn’t focus on the one thing that would actually be doing the work—my body. That is, until the aches and pains started showing up.

Madeline Hooper of GardenFit is on a mission to help gardeners learn strategies and exercises to move with freedom, prevent injury and stay in the game. Follow Hooper online for helpful tips or watch episodes of her vibrant PBS show GardenFit. There she travels the country connecting with gardeners and showcasing their gardens. With the help of a certified personal trainer, she helps us learn better alignment, increased range of motion and ergonomics.

Hooper has been gardening in Columbia County, NY, for more than three decades and says the main principle she loves to emphasize with people is that “their body is their most important gardening tool.” How can we stay garden fit doing chores this fall? Keep your spine “stacked,” Hooper says. That means not bending your back at all, instead use the strongest muscles in your legs to squat. “Keep your back out of the equation,” she says. Garden fit, indeed. —MIRA PECK

In The Nic Of Time

For a lot of us, Nic’s Trattoria in Rensselaer County is all about the pizza. is it ever. | By Alan

Katz

As we all know, the mountains offer a multitude of great adventures, cultural attractions and beautiful paths for walking, running and biking. Similarly, restaurants have been proliferating throughout our region— most just a short ride away. And when we say short, we mean within 45 minutes (the apparent acceptable maximum driving time for a top-notch culinary experience). Since it most likely takes you 20 minutes to get to the nearest supermarket, what’s another 2025 minutes to sample some terrific food? My wife comes from a small town in Delaware and lived by the popular theory

life of pie At Nic’s Trattoria, the pizza pie starts with a great dough and slightly charred crust; then add the smooth and delicious sauce, with toppings that surprise and delight.

that asserts “there’s no such thing as bad pizza.” Being a kid from Brooklyn myself, I disagree. Good is good when it comes to most things, including pizza. And folks can debate about DiFara, Scarr’s, John’s, Luigi’s and Lucali all day long, but what’s not up for discussion is the fact that their pizza ranges from good to great.

In the mountains, good pizza can be far and few between, let alone great There’s Hilltown Hotpies. Fantastic, but we’re waiting for the full stop renovation and reimagining of this great concept and restaurant. We’ve loved and enjoyed Rafi’s imaginative and excellent pies at pop-ups all over the Upper Hudson Valley to the Berkshire Hills. “Can’t wait” would be an understatement. Trust.

What to do and where to go until then? Roberto’s in Sheffield, MA. Pizzeria Posto in Rhinebeck, NY. LOLA in Kingston, NY. Hudson & Packard in Poughkeepsie, NY (Detroit-style at its best). DeFazio’s in Troy, NY. But for my pizza money—for overall quality of crust, variety, service, environment and other Italian American

food—Nic’s Trattoria is the best. In East Greenbush, NY. Yes, East Greenbush. Unassuming on the outside and an oasis of quality, service and food inside, Nic’s Trattoria proprietors, the Nicoletta brothers, come from a traditional Italian-American pizza-making family. Their dad had a fantastic pizza store nearby where they learned and honed their craft. Michael went off to refine his cheffing skills in New York City at various celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants. But his beloved Valatie, NY, roots called him back home to plant his red, white and green flag in the mountains once again. With brother Rocco expertly running the front of house with his cadre of aimto-please wait staff, and smart, clean and inviting dining room and bar, it’s a packedevery-night destination restaurant.

Michael has built and modified his tight, consistent and delicious menu of salads, appetizers, house-made pastas, pizzas and entrées to near perfection. A friend and great maître d’ from Manhattan’s legendary eateries Le Cirque and Osteria del Circo once told me great restaurants need to be

consistent to be truly great. Michael clearly understands that. Take their chicken cutlet. It’s an art here. As Parmigiana, Milanese or Caesar’s Cutlet, great on Thursday and fantastic again two weeks later on a Saturday or a month later on a Friday. Always consistent and delicious.

Now for the beautiful woodfired brick oven pizza. It all starts with a great dough and slightly charred crust. Then smooth and delicious sauce, with toppings that surprise and delight. From earthy vegetables (broccolini and mixed mushrooms) to spicy and rich salumis (soppressata and pepperoni) to the topping of the moment, hot honey. You really can’t miss.

Their daily house-made pasta is a breath of fresh air. Seductively al dente and abundantly piled high with sauces that match the inventiveness of the pizzas.

So take the trip around the corner or across the nonexistent borders to Nic’s Trattoria. And if you’re lucky, you may find their dad back in the lineup slinging the OG pies when filling in for their master pizzaiolo, Tyler Mullins.

Autumn’s Sweetest Sounds

Summer’s not quite over until the playlist ends—and the hits just keep on coming.

By Sean McAlindin

You can’t live in the mountains if you don’t love seasons. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want the best ones to last. Filled up with a summer of bliss, we now hold to these sunny, sweet days like grains of sand, somehow believing they might never end. Even though we know they will, it’s that next moment that really counts. And up here, endless memories await with a limitless lineup of live concerts—mountains style.

Daryl’s House in Pawling ships in one-ofa-kind talent like Old 97s’ Rhett Miller on August 27, Young Dubliners on September 12, the venerable Chuck Prophet on September 18 and L.A. Guns on October 8.

In Marlboro, The Falcon swoops down with avant-garde upstart Kassa Overall on September 8, the indefinable Kaki King on September 14 and guitar virtuoso Ariel Posen on October 10.

The Towne Crier in Beacon calls for The Tannahill Weavers on October 3, Tom Rush on October 17 and Québécois marvels Le Vent du Nord on October 31.

In Woodstock, the Colony gathers round for an epic weekend of transatlantic tunes with the old time fiddlin’ of Bruce Molsky on September 13 and the Scottish rhymes of Kilmaine Saints with Brendan O’Shea on September 14.

Bearsville Theatre growls for Little Feat August 30-September 1, Devendra Banhart on September 12, Superchunk on September 14, Black Uhuru on September 24, The Japanese House on September 28, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers with Eggy September 29-30, Real Estate on October 1 and Makaya McCraven on October 3.

Levon Helm Studios welcomes Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel on August 29, Neko Case on October 1, Sam Grisman Project on October 24, Katie Pruitt on October 25 and Fruit Bats on October 31.

In Accord, Arrowood Farms hosts the one and only Ani DiFranco with Hurray for the Riff Raff on August 28 and the Woodsist Festival September 20-21 guided by Panda Bear, Built to Spill and more.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts draws the incomparable Black Keys on August

JEWISH PLAYS

29 and pop-punk protégés blink-182 on September 6.

As The Black Crowes reunite on September 27, all sources say the Robinson brothers have been getting along as least as good as Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis, so hopefully there won’t be any Jane’s Addiction-type meltdowns to worry about with this one.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) presents Leon Bridges and Charley Crockett on August 30, Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge on August 31 and Tedeschi Trucks Band with Gov’t Mule on September 5.

Avalon Lounge in Catskill sends up a nose-to-the-underground lineup with lowkey hotties Lung and Spite Club on

September 5, Shannon Lay and Shana Falana on September 9, Quintron & Miss Pussycat on September 13 and Julie Doiron on September 19.

In Kingston, locals’ favorite Tubby’s celebrates its seventh anniversary with seven days of free shows September 22-28 featuring Mountain Movers and Lady Wray Tropical Fuck Storm blows into town on October 3 and Modest Mouse is at Ulster Performing Arts Center on October 17.

In Hudson, Park Theater has Copilot and Dmitry Wild on September 6, Chris Trapper on September 12, Ali McGuirk on October 17 and DUUNES on October 18. You can follow your muse to Basilica SoundScape on September 19-20 with Deafheaven, Fcukers, billy woods and more.

In the Berkshires, Tanglewood winds down its summer season with Bonnie Raitt on August 31. The country legend plays SPAC on September 3.

Dream Away Lodge in Becket, MA, is like going to your iconic great-grandmother’s roadside motel with talking walls graced by photos of Dylan, Sinatra, Baez and other

legends who’ve played and stayed there. Pay her a visit for Charming Disaster on September 18, White Woods on September 21 or Vaguely Pagan on October 18.

Infinity Hall in Norfolk returns to its former glory with Jake Shimabukuro on August 30, Tower of Power on September 5, Crystal Bowersox on September 20, Donna the Buffalo on September 26, Reckless Kelly on September 28 and Shaun Cassidy on October 25.

One of the best little music festivals you could ever stumble upon returns to the rolling, green hills of Cool Whisper Farm in Hillsdale from September 4 to 7. With a motto “participation is preservation,” Old Tone Festival gets back to its roots with Foghorn Stringband, Tuba Skinny, Mama’s Broke, Dumpster Debbie, Jesse Lége and more.

From September 19-21, FreshGrass at MassMoCA in North Adams, MA, delivers Greensky Bluegrass, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kitchen Dwellers, Valerie June, Sierra Hull, East Nash Grass, Mr. Sun and the list goes on and on.

lady in red Indie folk icons Indigo Girls at SPAC; (opposite) Lady Wray at Tubby’s in Kingston, NY, in September. photo:

LIVE on STAGE

josh blue

fri oct 3 at 8pm

pat metheny

sat oct 4 at 8pm

david sedaris

sun oct 5 at 4pm

rennie harris puremovement

sat oct 18 at 1pm

music lovers With influences from classical, hip-hop, Caribbean and Latin, duo Joelle & River spin soulful, symphonic folk pop with a worldly twist.

Soul to soul

Melodious, rhythmic, eclectic—for married duo Joelle & River, music is all about family. | By Sean McAlindin

Joelle and River Rouen are having a quiet day on Mount Muse with their two young daughters. Their forested home in the Catskills outside of Windham, NY, is both a sanctuary and an inspiration for their blossoming family.

Since meeting as young artists at New York University in the early 2010s, the creative couple have been making sweet, sweet music together. Their children are babbling harmoniously as we begin.

“Apparently, he knew who I was, before I knew who he was,” laughs Joelle.

“She had no idea I existed,” River admits coyly. “We had a friend in common. I called that friend. ‘You know that girl with dreadlocks who plays violin and sits in the front of the class?’ I laid it on thick.”

Joelle was born in Harlem, River hails from New Orleans. During a melodious, whirlwind courtship, they made their first album together.

“Two worlds collided,” River says. “We had a really strong bond from the beginning.”

With influences from classical, hip-hop, Caribbean and Latin, the couple spins soulful, symphonic folk pop with a worldly twist.

“Music is the most potent force for transforming in the world,” River says. “It’s been with us since the beginning. The human voice. The heartbeat in the womb. Seeing vibrations. Sound made visible. It truly is amazing.”

The Rouens tied the knot in Coxsackie, NY, and later moved Upstate in 2020, selfproducing their second album that same year.

“If this is the end of the world, this is where we want to be,” Joelle says. “We went with our gut feeling.” Smart move.

SAVE THE DATE CULTURE VULTURES

Reported by Sandy MacDonald

Grandiloquent: Gary Gulman

Bardavon 1869 Opera House

Poughkeepsie, NY

The author of The Great Depresh recounts his challenging formative years (we’re talking first grade, twice) as a frustrated—but hilarious—budding genius. bardavon.org

17October 12

The Weekend: A Stockbridge Story

Barrington Stage Company Pittsfield, MA

The prospect sounds romantic, yes? Not with a socially awkward brother tagging along and killing the vibe. barringtonstageco.org

19-21

Get Into the Flow with BETTY

Omega Institute

Rhinebeck, NY

Want a hit of the vivacious trio’s joie de vivre? Consider a “retuning” retreat with yoga, songwriting games, “beauty constitutionals” and a concert/dance party. eomega.org

19-21

FreshGrass

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art

North Adams, MA

The avant-garde complex opens its galleries and an “urban concert meadow” to showcase bluegrass and roots music—supplemented by farm-fresh food and local brews. massmoca.org

19-21, 25-28

Penelope

Ancram Center for the Arts Ancram, NY

Grace McLean (Suffs) co-created and stars in a new musical based on the musings of Odysseus’ super-patient spouse. ancramcenter.org

múm

Hudson Hall Hudson, NY

Iceland gave us Björk and now the experimental electro/pop group múm, promising “ethereal electronics, nontraditional instruments and atmospheric vocals.” hudsonhall.org

25-28

WIT: Words, Ideas, and Thinkers Literary Festival

Shakespeare & Co. Lenox, MA

For their annual field trip, top literati plan to focus, fittingly, on “The Power of Words: Authors & Activism.” Featured guests include M. Gessen, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Catherine Coleman Flowers. authorsguild.org

october

3-5

Hudson Jazz Festival

Husdon Hall Hudson, NY

Canadian scat-singer Caity Gyorgy and the NOLA-influenced Gotham Kings anchor this spillinginto-the-streets celebration. hudsonhall.org

First Sunday Free: Sensational Serpent

The Clark Art Institute Williamstown, MA

With the admission fee waived, visitors of all ages are invited to study live snakes and create mini sculptures inspired by Javier Senosiain’s massive pond installation Coata III. clarkart.edu

11-12

Harvest Festival 2025

Berkshire Botanical Garden

Stockbridge, MA

An annual tradition for nine decades, this year’s festival will feature more than 50 artisanal food and crafts vendors, live music, a plant sale and an obstacle course. berkshirebotanical.org

17-19

The Catskills Comedy Festival

VENUE

Catskill, NY

In a region known for its legendary tummlers, Ophira Eisenberg and cohorts offer standup, sketch comedy, improv and open mic sessions to help fund lessons for young local wannabes. tccfest.org

The 28th Annual Rosendale International Pickle Festival

Ulster County Fairgrounds

New Paltz, NY

Get your pickle face on for this lively paean to all things brineenhanced, from pasta to cupcakes. rosendalepicklefestival.org

What is Your Hand in This?

Hudson Hall Hudson, NY

Operatic super-bass Davóne Tines and the early music band Ruckus mine four centuries of revolutionary music to gear up for the Declaration of Independence’s birthday next August. hudsonhall.org

25 Spooky Tricks Family Day

Norman Rockwell Museum

Stockbridge, MA

Kids 5-10 can get a not-tooscary jump on Halloween by examining the ingenious Walter Wick (I Spy!) exhibit, creating their own spooky scenes and setting out on a treasure hunt. nrm.org

Ira Glass of This American Life: Seven Things I’ve Learned

Paramount Hudson Valley Theater

Peekskill, NY

The NPR superstar will share career-shaping anecdotes and field questions. paramounthudsonvalley.com

with his

hot ticket

Homecoming Dance

The legendary Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company revisits a poignant eulogy unseen for two decades.

By Sandy MacDonald

If there’s a dance award that choreographer Bill T. Jones hasn’t won, it has yet to be invented. With two Tonys (Spring Awakening, Fela!), a MacArthur Genius Award and countless other accolades, at 73, he’s the dance-world equivalent of an EGOT.

Having taken his work to some 200 cities in 30 countries, this time Jones is sticking relatively close to home—the Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in Tivoli, NY—to revive a dance piece of profound personal significance. The company first performed History Of Collage in 1988, the same year Jones’ then lover and creative partner, Arnie Zane, succumbed to AIDS.

The pair met at Binghamton University and rather than follow their art to the then gritty streets of NYC’s SoHo, they settled in Rockland County, where Jones lives still, with his husband of 11 years, set designer Bjorn Amelan. Jones appreciates the Lower Hudson Valley, he says, “because it’s extremely green with lakes, rivers and state parks, yet within easy commute to one of the major cities in the Western Hemisphere with all of its offerings.”

In 1993, Jones revisited the last piece Zane contributed to before he died, performing it as Another History Of Collage.

This August, Kaatsbaan audiences witnessed the first time the piece had been performed in two decades, this time as Another Another History Of Collage, an iteration that blended dance, music and the spoken word. It was quite something.

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pas de deux Bill T. Jones—here

late partner Arnie Zane—recently danced at the Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in Tivoli, NY.

IHole In One

The swimming Spot known as Deep Hole belongs to everyone— and no one—and it’s unlike all others. | By Abbe Aronson out of sight Deep Hole exists in plain sight, but unless you actually know how to find it exactly, it’s unlikely that you’ll stumble on it yourself. Good luck.

n Plato’s philosophy, the “Platonic ideal” refers to perfect, eternal and unchanging forms or ideas that exist in a realm beyond our physical world. These forms are the true essence of things, and the objects we perceive in our everyday lives are merely imperfect reflections or imitations of these ideal forms.

In my mind, as I considered the Platonic ideal of an “endless summer,” I returned again and again to my fantasy of the perfect swimming hole. You know, some incredibly idyllic spot in the neighboring mountains

where there’s one thing—and one thing only—to do: cool off in pristine, clear waters. Bonus points if there are less than a handful of other people in close range.

Before any of our readers start to toss rotten tomatoes at my head for spilling the beans on my favorite secret spots in which to soak…relax, everyone That is not the mountains way, and anyway, the last time a big piece was written with regard to revealing off-the-beaten-track swimming holes in Upstate New York, by The New York Times no less, the locals went berserk! So, instead, let me tell you more about why my favorite respite is indeed a favorite, and then I’ll leave the more enterprising readers to find it on their own.

Located in the shadows of The Shawangunk Ridge (“The Gunks”) in the neighboring town of Accord, NY, the swimming hole that’s lovingly known as Deep Hole is about as ambrosial as it gets. Deep Hole exists in plain sight, but unless you know how to find it, via a friend or neighbor, it’s unlikely that you’ll stumble on it yourself. But once there…wow…all the

trappings of a perfect summer day.

The water is crystal clear and ridiculously clean; the air is filled with the perfume of a nature sanctuary. The vista? Nothing but wet, mossy rocks and sun-dappled leaves, water swirling and moving downstream at a nice clip, the flow sometimes slowing in the various eddies and pools that form pockets in which to float leisurely in place. It’s estimated that Deep Hole is about eight feet deep in parts, and wide enough in which to actually swim more than a stroke or two. Sunbathers can enjoy some of the smooth, flat rocks for baking, and on one visit, I glimpsed a beaver moving from bank to bank, completely unbothered by the few humans who congregated there. This is the slow lane, corporealized.

But Deep Hole isn’t like other secret swimming holes. It’s actually privately owned and under the protection of a not-for-profit group, Deep Hole Nature Sanctuary, whose purpose is to keep this magical spot open to all in the community for perpetuity. And that? Well, it adds to the caché. In a region that’s red-hot

and getting hotter all the time, Deep Hole is equally accessible to the local farmer and his kids as it is to the tony second homeowner and his nanny. And that’s because both demographics must adhere to the same rules of conscientious responsibility and reciprocity for the land, waters and non-human inhabitants of Deep Hole. In other words, it’s your land—treat it as such. There’s no lifeguard on duty, no music allowed, nor any fires or glass permitted. No one shows up at the end of each day to clean up trash. Dogs aren’t permitted, except during early morning or early evening hours, and it falls to those who enjoy Deep Hole to enforce these rules among themselves. And that’s where stewardship comes in—an aspect of Deep Hole that makes the property even more attractive to me, especially today as we all struggle to “be more human” in the current challenging societal landscape.

The keepers of this ambrosial forest oasis and surrounds have worked diligently to create a list of “dos and don’ts” for likeminded people who they consider to be

co-stewards of the land, while at the same time quietly raising funds via donations to make improvements that benefit all. (Background: Deep Hole was acquired as part of a larger land buy and then donated to the organization by the head of its board of directors). Most recently, a parking lot that can accommodate about 30 cars was built across from Deep Hole, marked only with a sign reminding “all who enter here agree to leave no trace and to be a steward of this cherished place.”

Intrigued? Here’s more:

• Visit deepholekeepers.org to become a member and donate to support the maintenance and ongoing beautification for this forever wild parcel of perfection. I love that a gift of $5 is just as valued as a gift of $5,000. Now that is the mountains way

• Keep an eye on that website, as Deep Hole merch will launch soon, the proceeds of which will also go back into the fund to keep the property accessible to all

• My favorite part of the “dos” activities at Deep Hole? Small stone and twig sculptures, flat rock stacking and fairy houses are all allowed on the banks of Deep Hole

A/C, Furnace

& heating

Hudson Heating and Cooling

6579 West Atlantic Avenue Hudson, NY 12534 518.965.8246 hvachudson.com

Home Services at

The Home Depot

1122 Ulster Avenue Kingston, NY 12401

844.476.2140 homedepot.com/l/Kingston-Ulster

Sinno ’s Plumbing & Heating LLC

2003 NY-32 Saugerties, NY 12477

845.246.8626

sinnottsplumbingandheating.com

Established in 1989. Sinnott’s started by servicing the local community in Saugerties and has since expanded to servicing all of Ulster, Greene and Dutchess Counties and parts of Columbia County.

Malcarne Contracting

22 East Market Street Rhinebeck, NY 12572

845.876.6889 malcarne.com

Basse Heating & Cooling 4 Wabasso Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.770.2586

On Demand Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning

Serving Chatham and nearby areas

518.701.1098 ondemandcomforthvac.com

Pi sﬁeld Heating & Air Conditioning 718 Barker Road Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.408.9191

TNT Refrigeration, LLC 164 Norfolk Road Litchfield, CT 06759

860.567.2124 tntrefrigeration.com

Insulation & weather stripping

Advantage, Inc.

118 North Road Red Hook, NY 12571 845.758.8544 advantageinsulation.net

Geothermal Energy Options LLC

125 Degarmo Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

845.240.1827 geo-us.com

B. Airsealing & Insulation Services

432 Ashokan Road Kingston, NY 12401

845.901.3692

Ardor Construction

47 South Putt Corners Road New Paltz, NY 12561 845.532.5117 ardor.construction

Brian Hommel Home Improvement

749 Kings Highway Saugerties, NY 12477 845.338.2211 brianhommel.com

Fogarty’s Home Services

Serving Berkshire County and surrounding area

860.219.0499 fogartyshomeservices.com

As a full-service insulation contractor, Fogarty’s Home Services provides expert home insulation services to improve areas such as walls, crawl spaces, basements and garages.

Hudson Valley Foam

Serving Dutchess County and nearby areas

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BJM’S A ic Insulation & Rooﬁng Services

Morabito Lawn & Tree Care 3779 US-9 Hudson, NY 12534 518.567.7150 morabitolawnandtreecare.com

Damasca Landscaping 26 Buel Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.517.4000 damascalandscaping.com

Hudson Valley Lawn Works Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845.505.8698 hudsonvalleylawnworks.com

As a family-owned business with deep roots in the Hudson Valley for more than 30 years, Hudson Valley Lawn Works is dedicated to helping their neighbors keep their properties looking their best.

SML Lawn & Landscape 37 Hill Road Hudson, NY 12534 518.965.2459

D.L. Lawn & Landscape 369 Main Street Beacon, NY 12508 845.519.4449

Premier Turf 98 East Litchfield Road South Litchfield, CT 06759 860.866.6672 premierturf.us

Bannen Landscaping & Maintenance

39 Mary Ann Avenue Saugerties, NY 12477 845.246.8623 facebook.com/ bannenlandscapingandmaintenance

Nathan T Bura o Landscaping 165 Highfield Drive Lee, MA 01238 413.446.5751 nathantburattolandscaping.com your ultimate survival guide 2025

Pittsfield Avenue Pittsfield, MA 01201 339.232.7042

Patio & Fire Features

Hudson Valley Firepits 407 Middle Road Hudson, NY 12534 518.444.2015 hudsonvalleyfirepits.com

Hudson Valley Hardscapes Serving Dutchess County and nearby areas 845.978.8610 hvhardscapes.com

Green Valley Landscaping 57 Cornell Street Kingston, NY 12401 845.331.1904 greenvalleyscapes.com

C.G. Stone, Inc. 518.858.3431 ccgregorystone.com

Woodpecker Builders Serving the Hudson Valley 845.303.1860 woodpeckerbuilders.net

Bayhorse Gazebos & Barns 2 Academy Hill Road Red Hook, NY 12571 845.758.1054 bayhorse.com

Upstate Decks 1382 NY-66 Ghent, NY 12075 518.653.4897 upstatedecks.com With more than three decades of building experience, Upstate Decks is locally owned and operated, and excels at delivering high-quality decks within your budget, ensuring your outdoor space reflects your style and enhances your lifestyle.

Hudson Landscape Contractors 6 Pound Ridge Road Pound Ridge, NY 10576 914.923.9107 hudsonlandscapes.com

Outdoor Furniture

Fortunoﬀ Backyard Store

1890 South Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 845.218.4290 fortunoffbys.com

Barrington Outﬁ ers

289 Main Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 413.528.0021 barringtonoutfitters.net

Hundred Mile: Furniture, Lighting & Outdoor 6417 Montgomery Street Rhinebeck, NY 12572 917.940.4312 100mileny.com

Glenfordrocks 2462 NY-28 Glenford, NY 12433 845.679.7555 glenfordrocks.com

Serving the entire Hudson Valley, Glenfordrocks brings a world of functional art into view, adding the fine nature of stone to your outdoor patio with bluestone benches, chairs and tables.

Majek Furniture

312 East Broadway Monticello, NY 12701 845.796.4800 majekfurniture.com

Valley Variety

705 Warren Street Hudson, NY 1253 518.828.0033 valleyvariety.com

Paul Rich & Sons

242 North Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.443.6467 paulrich.com

Tent & Canopy Rentals

Columbia Tent Rentals 8 Bender Boulevard Ghent, NY 12075 518.851.9460 columbiatent.com

Rhinebeck Party Rentals

8110 Albany Post Road Red Hook, NY 12571 845.758.5354 rhinebeckrentals.com

Martinez Party Rental

210 Cottage Street Suite 107 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

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Events Unlimited Tents & Party

5 Tissal Road

Saugerties, NY 12477

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American Tent & Party Rentals

State Route 55 Lagrangeville, NY 12540

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Tents Unlimited

1695 East Main Street Torrington, CT 06790

860.496.8882 tents-unlimited.com

Tents Unlimited is the premier provider of tent rentals in Connecticut, Berkshire County, MA, Dutchess County, NY, and beyond.

Mahaiwe Tent

125 Business Park Road

Ashley Falls, MA 01222 413.528.5945 mahaiwetent.com

Classical Tents and Party Goods

43 Downing Industrial Parkway Pittsfield, MA 01201

800.708.3687 classicaltents.com

Landscaping

Dyers Groundskeeping Services

Ulster Park and nearby areas

845.768.2445 dyersgroundskeeping.com

Lupe Garden Design, LLC

34 East Market Street Rhinebeck, NY 12572

845.656.6654 lupegardendesign.com

Offering garden design, landscaping, planter gardens and stonework, Lupe has lived in the Hudson Valley for two decades and says she takes pride in putting her personal touch on every project.

Earth Artistry

467 Church Road Hudson, NY 12534

518.821.3363 facebook.com/ EarthArtistryGardening

Secret Gardener

250 Warren Street Hudson, NY 12534 518.822.0992

Brooks Landscaping LLC

321 Main Street South Bethlehem, CT 06751 203.266.6363 brookslandscapingct.com

True Landscaping LLC 25 Bedell Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845.518.4285 truelandscapingllc.com

Nathan T Bura o Landscaping & Excavation 165 Highfield Drive Lee, MA 01238 413.446.5751 nathantburattolandscaping.com

Rocky Ridge Excavation 30 Richmond Avenue Lee, MA 01238 413.717.7159 rockyridge413.com

The Outdoor Kitchen Design Store 1456 Highland Avenue Cheshire, CT 06410 833.653.7867 outdoorkitchendesigner.com

RPM Hardscaping, Decks, Outdoor Kitchens

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Hudson Valley Outdoor Living Serving Dutchess County and surrounding areas 845.640.4745 deckhv.com

Premier Outdoor Living and Landscaping 18 Highview Road Ridgefield, CT 06877 203.665-8587 premieroutdoorliving.us

Integrastone Landscaping 1589 East Street Suite C Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.327.9779 integrastonelandscaping.com

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Cabinet Designers 747 NY-28 Kingston, NY 12401 845.331.2200 cabinetdesigners.com

Outdoor Kitchen & Grill

Martha’s Cookin’

This ain’t no potluck.

Pictures

+

Words by Martha Frankel

If I invite you to my house for dinner, here’s what I’d like you to bring… Nothing! OK, some homemade cookies if you must. And maybe some bug spray, because I never remember to keep it here—bugs don’t like me. But please don’t bring an appetizer you think might work or a bowl of your grandma’s dilly beans.

Before I even think about what we’ll eat, I’ll iron some of my beloved napkins. Stop laughing, this is as close to meditating as I’ve ever gotten. I thought I was alone in this, until I mentioned it to some friends, and many told me that it’s one of their peccadillos, too. Who knew?

I’ll light a few too many candles, both inside and out. I’ll fill a pitcher with fresh squeezed orange juice, add some flavored seltzer right before the guests show up. I’ll keep the bar open so they can add booze if they desire.

I’ll cut some cheese and maybe smear it with jam; I’ll heat some spanakopita and mini crab cakes for us to nibble while everyone gets settled.

Depending on the season, I’ll put corn in a pot and steam it right before we eat. Or cook some coconut basmati rice. Or maybe make a potato rosti in duck fat.

I’ll slice tomatoes and sprinkle vanilla salt on them. Or I’ll sauté zucchini in curried panko and pistachio dukkah Or maybe a simple lemony salad with feta and hazelnuts. All this can be done beforehand; it’s amazing what doesn’t need to be served hot.

For sure there’ll be bottles of pickled onions and cucumbers and carrots.

I’ll make a coleslaw dressing with lots of mayo and vinegar and celery seeds and just keep adding sliced cabbage and carrots until it’s tangy and delicious.

I’ll grill salmon and shrimp burgers, some hamburgers, a few fancy sausages.

Dessert is always the same: Del’s and Fruition’s ice cream sandwiches, cut into quarters, a bowl of sprinkles to dunk the cut edges into. And those homemade cookies, if you brought them.

The key is to make it all look effortless, which, the more I do it, it is.

And oh, if you invite me to your house for dinner, I’m coming empty-handed. Except for some exquisite napkins. And really, who can turn those down?

iron maiden “Before I even think about what we’ll eat, I’ll iron some of my beloved napkins. Stop laughing, this is as close to meditating as I’ve ever gotten,” the author says; the best al fresco dinner group, Steve Heller, Fabrice Fortin and Zeva Bellel.