The Mountains Holiday Issue 2025 by The Mountains

FROM THE CATSKILLS TO THE

’TiS THE SEASON!

CHRISTMAS WITH CHEFS

What the culinary masters are cookin’ BY HAL RUBENSTEIN

HOLIDAYS IN OK, I get it now—Christmas rocks! BY RICHARD PÉREZ-FERIA

GIFT RAP

Give what you want BY MARTHA FRANKEL

PARTY PEOPLE

Hosting the best holiday soirée BY DAN KODAY

EGGNO!

Rethinking the holiday drink BY ANTHONY GIGLIO & WHERE TO SKI Time To Hit The Slopes! BY AUDREY CHAMBERLIN HOT TREND

PATRICIA CLARKSON A WOMAN IN FULL

Single-Screen Movie Palaces BY SEAN MALINDIN

TREE LOVERS UNITE Mountain Top Arboretum BY JAMES LONG

The extraordinarily talented Oscar-nominated actor talks life, work and Woodstock. Strap in. BY ABBE ARONSON

Home For The Holidays

HOLIDAY GIFTS TO HELP YOU NAIL IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

Admit it: You’re excited about the holiday season and beyond. It’s time to sit in front of the fire and feel the love our homes provide. Oh, and of course, curl up with your favorite magazine, The Mountains, to help take some of the chill right out of the air. Enjoy the issue.

You are here. We are, too.

Ghent................................................................79

Great Barrington ......17, 19, 43, 45, 49, 71, 78, 79

Kingston .......14, 17, 28, 52, 53, 59, 66, 70, 78, 79 LaGrangeville.............................................23, 68 Lenox...........................................................74, 79

Litchfield .....................................................17, 78

Lynbrook ..........................................................79

Marlboro............................................................71

Millbrook ..........................................................23

Millerton...........................................................53

Monterey...........................................................19

Narrowsburg ..............................................43, 45 index | our towns

New Paltz....................................................78, 79

Newburgh .........................................................28

North Adams.....................................................74

North Branch ...................................................20

Pawling..............................................................70

Peekskill ......................................................74, 79

Phoenicia....................................................28, 80

Pine Plains..................................................59, 70

Pi sﬁeld ...................................38, 53, 63, 78, 79

Poughkeepsie........................................47, 78, 79

Red Hook..........................................................79

Rhinebeck ......................................45, 47, 52, 80

Ridgeﬁeld .........................................................43

Rosendale....................................................51, 59

Salisbury...........................................................47

Saugerties ................................28, 52, 53, 78, 79

Shandaken........................................................28

Sharon ........................................................43, 47

Shokan ..............................................................80

Stockbridge.......................................................74

Stone Ridge......................................................78

Tannersville ..........................................43, 55, 74

Tivoli .................................................................78

Torrington...................................................78, 79

Tuxedo Park ......................................................18

Ulster Park .......................................................59

Union Vale ........................................................68

Verplanck ..........................................................74

Warwick............................................................67

West Hurley .....................................................80

West Shokan ....................................................80

Williamstown..............................................53, 78

Woodstock ..............20, 28, 43, 52, 71, 72, 73, 74 ..........................................................77, 78, 79, 80

Art by Jan Kallwejt exclusively for The Mountains

Boston

Albany

New York City

Photo: Sarah Hill

Photo: Eric Medsker

You Are Here

The Summit

The Wear: Holiday Fashion

Get: Dear Santa

Escrow: Tuxedo Park Manse

Curb Appeal: Berkshires

Extra! Extra!: News, With A View

The Mix: Caﬀeine Cocktail

The Weekend: Millbrook, NY

Thirsty: Eggnog Alternatives 62 Drive: Electric Rides 64 Read This: Town & Country

66 INC.: Archtop Fiber

68 Nigh ripper: Christmas Lights

70 Live Music: Music Rooms

72 Stage: Tryst La Noir

74 RSVP: Winter Wonders

75 Hot Ticket: Rosanne Cash

76 Then. Now. Next.: Adulting Gi s

78 Punch List: Ultimate Holidays

80 Diary: The Gi of Giving

CIAO, BELLO! Canoe Hill is a rustic bar that seems to have been carved out of the Italian countryside, it

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICK ALBERT

Choosing a college is overwhelming, with promises, pressures, and hype that can miss the point of what your student needs – small classes, individualized attention, and the opportunity to find their voice before heading into a competitive, 4-year environment. Want to learn more?

Call Admissions at 518.697.6500 or email admissions@sunycgcc.edu.

Alan Katz FOUNDER | CEO

Richard Pérez-Feria EDITOR IN CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathleen Gates

MANAGING EDITOR James Long

CONTENT EDITOR Sarah Carpenter-Peck

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Erika Phenner

DIGITAL MANAGER Drew Bartelstein

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,Emma Williams

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the s u mmit

Ho-Ho-HO

though hardly a scrooge by anyone’s realistic standards, I’ve never been an all-in for Christmas kind of guy. So, yeah, it always annoys me a bit when the official start of the holiday season keeps creeping in earlier and earlier in the calendar culminating last August(!) when I heard Mariah Carey’s ubiquitous (and undeniably terrific ear candy) seasonal classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” while trying on sweaters at Brooks Brothers Factory Store inside the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets mall in Central Valley, NY. It. Was. August. I mean… As we deliver another terrific issue of your favorite magazine—yes, The Mountains—I

find myself leaning in to all things holiday as a necessary balm, a tonic to soothe my troubled, doom-scrolling soul as I try to forget, if only for a few moments, the current state of our great country. Have we ever needed Rudolph and his brethren playing those reindeer games more? I don’t think so. This perilous, unimaginable governmental environment is but one of the topics we discussed with our cover star, the amazing actor Patricia Clarkson, who’s won multiple Emmys, a Golden Globe and been nominated for an Oscar. In our revelatory convo, the New Orleans native revealed how the abundance of community and humanity she finds in her many encounters with

cat dad christmas

If I needed the sweet distraction that the holiday season provided last year, how badly do you think I’m looking forward to it this time around? Yep.

our neighbors in the Berkshires, the Catskills and beyond is precisely what she needs to fuel her soul in these troubled times.

Last Christmas—as I played George Michael’s classic Wham! tune, “Last Christmas”—and a mere month or so after the presidential election and a month or so before the looming inauguration—I did what I vowed I’d never do: I went all-in for the holidays. Cocktail party with friends in Chatham? I was there. Festooning the fireplace mantle with red stockings and decorating the large Christmas tree? Yes, please. Listening to Kelly Clarkson’s and Ariana Grande’s sublime—and vocally perfect— irresistible smash, “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me” on a perpetual loop? You better believe it. And it helped. All of it. The friends, the music, the food, the love. And I felt bad about not vibing with the Christmas spirit for so many years as so, so many of my closest friends always had.

Now, we’re here again. The holidays. And if I needed the sweet distraction that the season provided last year, how badly do you think I’m looking forward to it this time around? Yep, a lot of ho-ho-ho is headed right for my disquieted soul. Just in time.

Even as I write this, there’s a catharsis, a healing that occurs as I share—and thus release—my fears and hopes into the universe. Who knew that Mariah, Kelly, Ariana and Wham! could warm my slightly chilled heart with gorgeous music and good old-fashioned brotherly and sisterly love? So, in the spirit of my way-too-late-to-the-party holiday cheer team captain status, I say to all of us: Love is the answer—it has always been and will always be. Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays. Enjoy the issue.

—Richard Pérez-Feria EDITOR IN CHIEF

Tim Streetporter

| life, a little bit at a time

From NYFW Chic To Upstate Function

Here’s what you want to wear this season | By Todd Plummer

each september as the fashion set descends on Manhattan for the whirlwind of vogue shows and parties known as New York Fashion Week, I often find myself thinking, “Would any of these clothes make sense outside the city?” Because sure, a sharply tailored suit looks great for lunch at The Grill, but how would it fare at a Hudson Christmas party when someone inevitably lights a bonfire?

The good news: a surprising number of looks translate north of 72nd Street. Take the new(ish) L.L.Bean store in Kingston, for instance. The brand best known for

monogrammed totes and rubber Bean

Boots also has pieces that make sense for elegant after-hours occasions—I’m thinking

THE WEAR

perfect fit From winter essential sweaters at L.L. Bean to Jamestown Hudson's fashionforward coats and the selction of Dansko clogs at Barrington Outfitters, this season is all about the fit.

fisherman sweaters that look smart with khakis and a penny loafer.

Then there’s Jamestown Hudson, a perfect treasure trove curated by partners James Scully and Tom Mendenhall, the latter moonlights as the newly-appointed CEO of Stella McCartney(!). Think: ASPESI, K-Way, RRL and Penfield, the type of brands that make you look as though you casually inherited your style. Their racks are filled with clothes that catch the firelight just right. It’s where to shop if you’re looking for that “I just came from Fashion Week, but I can also chop firewood” outfit. Personally, I’ve got my eye on a patchwork coat from Monitaly—stylish and different without trying too hard.

Finally—and stay with me here—there’s Barrington Outfitters in the Berkshires. They’re perhaps best known as the retailer of choice for outdoor furniture, but their clothing and shoe sections shouldn’t be missed. They trade in the sort of pieces you’ll find that every stylish Upstater has: Dansko clogs crafted from sleek leather and comfortable enough to wear all day and durable Blundstones that almost look better with a little mud on the heel. Because no matter how many fashion shows I attend, that’s something I always want my shoes to give.

MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER SPACE.

(Creative Legion) is a space for creatives, makers, artists and entrepreneurs to create, collaborate, share and celebrate.

ringing edgy New York interior design sensibility to the Hudson Valley and erkshires, creating sophisticated, livable interiors that celebrate your personal style

Whether refreshing a single room or reimagining an entire home, you'll get timeless, high-style, functional design that elevates the way you live

Dear Santa,

If I don’t see these home goods under the tree, we’re gonna have a problem. | By

Mitch Rustad

1. Thrown Bell Tall | Stripes Indigo

Assembled with a wood knocker and hemp rope, this elegant, tall wheel-thrown stoneware bell is hand painted with indigo stripes and is safe to hang outdoors with yearly rope replacement. Handmade in New York by MQuan Studio.

$375 | bluecashew Kitchen Homestead 37b North Front Street Kingston, NY 12401 bluecashewkitchen.com

2. Velvet + Linen Pillows

Create instant luxury and vibrant color in any room with these easy-care pillows from Boxwood Linen, a small maker of fine home linens known for their expert craftsmanship and simple utilitarian style. The back side of each pillow features a washed Belgian linen in natural flax and plush pillow covers made with soft cotton velvet are available in three different colors.

$130 | Boxwood Linen 22 Main Street Chatham, NY boxwoodlinen.com

3. KHEM Walnut Peg Board

Versatility is the name of the game with this gorgeous, space-optimizing KHEM Walnut Peg Board. It can be used for hanging anything—from coats to kitchenware. Handmade in the Hudson Valley, it’s created with solid kiln-dried furniture-grade wood and thick maple dowels that support a board of any size. $175 | One Mercantile, 274 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230 sett.onemercantile.com

4. Milton Market + Dumais Made “Cobble” Lamp In Red Clay

This elegant, sleek red clay lamp is the result of a very special collaboration with Milton Market and local ceramic studio Dumais Made, inspired by a flea market find and reimagined in stoneware using slabconstruction techniques. Features tangerine and red marble shade with black trim, antique brass fittings and black cloth cord.

$600 | Milton Market. 14 Cobble Court, Litchfield, CT 06759 miltonmarketct.com

Record-Setting Digs in Luxe Tuxedo Park

By Bill Cary

it was the longtime home of the late Robert S. Dow, an Olympic fencer and prominent investment manager, and his wife, former asset manager Christina Seix Dow. Their daughter, Lindsey Dow, is managing the sale.

chroniclers of primetime real estate in the Hudson Valley know that some of the best stuff is tucked inside the private and gated Orange County enclave of Tuxedo Park, NY.

Here, on 2,050 lushly verdant acres with three pristine lakes and some 330 homes, you’ll find Gilded Age Queen Annes, Newport-style “cottages,” French chateaus, grand Tudor mansions and modern Mediterraneans. Many of the private estates have lush landscaping, tennis courts and pool houses that match the elegant architecture of the main house. Some compare the community to Lake Como in Italy and the Lake District in England.

And yes, the modern evening wear known as the tuxedo was named for Tuxedo Park in the late 19th century, when several of its gentlemen residents began wearing the tail-less formalwear first seen on London’s Savile Row.

One of the grandest estates in Tuxedo Park, a 1928 French Provincial known as Renamor, has been listed for $29.5 million. At 151 acres, it’s the largest parcel ever listed for sale in the historic community. And it’s the first time the home at 120 Ridge Road has hit the market in more than three decades.

“I love the architecture,” says listing agent Richard Ellis, of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s kind of a very simple style, with beautiful rustic doors and finishes and a grand entry hall with hand-hewn beams. It’s a very, very useable house—it’s not some rambling old house with so many bedrooms that are never used,” he says. The former ten bedrooms on the second floor have been refashioned into a handful of manageable suites.

Amenities include two swimming pools, a tennis court, a five-car garage, a wine cellar, a secluded log cabin, a boathouse on Tuxedo Lake and a third-floor gym.

Other outbuildings include a sixbedroom guesthouse from the 1930s and a 4,700-square foot, two-bedroom carriage house. In total, there are 16 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms and 19 fireplaces. Distinctive architectural details in the fully renovated 14,000-square-foot main house include a stone and stucco façade, a steep hip roof with clay tiles, period ironwork and ceilings with decorative plaster work.

The estate was built for George S. and M. Renee Carhart Amory, whose blended names inspired the estate’s moniker. Most recently,

The main house features a dramatic great hall, a grand salon, a cozy woodpaneled library, a banquet-sized dining room, an octagon-shaped former chapel, a large modern kitchen and a “fumoir,” where gentlemen smoked after dinner.

Aside from the historic grandeur, one of my favorite features is that the estate is almost completely off the grid. Dow invested $1 million to install geothermal heating and cooling and an array of solar panels that power the entire estate.

Home prices in Tuxedo Park continue to escalate, Ellis says. Prior to 2020, the “sweet spot to get a good home in the Park was between $1.5 and $3 million. Today the sweet spot is more like $2 to $4 million.”

real estate roundup:

• In the Berkshires, the overall dollar volume of real estate sales in the first three quarters of this year was $549 million, a ten percent increase over 2024, according to the Berkshire County Board of Realtors. The number of transactions rose three percent compared to the same period last year.

• So far this year in Litchfield County, CT, the dollar volume for closed sales was just higher than $770 million, a seven percent increase over 2024, and the average price for single-family homes rose six percent, to $602,112, according to a Q3 report from William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. Some good news for home shoppers— inventory is up three percent.

part and parcel At 151 acres, Renamor in Tuxedo Park, NY, is the largest parcel ever listed for residential sale in the historic community.

CURB APPEAL

Berkshires Beauties

Three homes, three price points, three steals.

10 Phelps Road | $895,000 Monterey, MA

3BR | 2BA | 1,297 SF

This renovated home has bright, open living spaces that connect to the outdoors. You can launch your kayak, canoe or paddleboard from the backyard into the brook and reach Lake Garfield.

TIM LOVETT, REALTOR / OWNER BERKSHIRE PROPERTY AGENTS TEAM AT COMPASS

56 Taconic Avenue | $675,000

Great Barrington, MA

4BR | 2.5BA | 1,864 SF

Set proudly on a sun-drenched corner lot ‘on the hill,’ this Queen-Anne style home offers in-town seclusion yet is just a short stroll from downtown Great Barrington. It boasts an enclosed front porch, hardwood floors throughout and abundant natural light.

PAIGE LANG PALUCH

264 Main Street #B | $425,000

Great Barrington, MA

2BR | 1.5BA | 1,860 SF

Arrive at your sunlit haven in the heart of Great Barrington where both privacy and excitement await. Romance in every arch, possibility in every room. Great Barrington—Gateway to the Berkshires, no passport necessary.

MAGGIE MERELLE,

And The Winner Is…

Napkin chic at Chatham’s Boxwood Linens.

By Richard Pérez-Feria

Not to get lost in the shuffle, a late entrant to “the perfect gift for the holidays” sweepstakes is found at lovely Boxwood Linens in Chatham, NY, with their chic and thoughtful monogrammed cocktail napkins which are an extraordinary (and simple) gift given all the cocktails and nibbles being served this time of year. You’re welcome.

Same Old, New Old

Catskills Vintage Art serves up eclectic nostalgia in North Branch. | By

Dan Koday

In a lovingly restored garage in North Branch, NY, Catskills Vintage Art invites visitors into a world where the natural and nostalgic collide. Curated by founder Colleen Noonan, the shop brims with antique paintings, whimsical animal portraits and vintage home décor—each piece echoing the region’s timeless charm and wild beauty. Expect vintage owl and mushroom paintings, 1800s-era oil pastels of pet guinea pigs or a pair of antique andirons made from old horseshoes.

market

Viva Sicily!

The artisanal products from Seligo are a find in Catskill. | By Abbe Aronson

Not Board This Winter It’s that special time to shred and appreciate the glorious fresh powder at Berkshire East Mountain Resort and other area ski destinations. See page 48.

sicily by way of the Hudson River? Sure! Seligo—an artisanal brand that includes unrefined Extra Virgin Olive Oil, heirloom wheat pastas, traditional sauces, even unrefined “bean to cube” chocolate—quietly opened doors in Catskill, NY, and

story

Singer’s Short Stories Soar

Woodstock-based Grammy nominee Robbie Dupree releases second book. known for his soft rock hits including “Steal Away” (No.6 on Billboard’s Hot 100) and “Hot Rod Hearts” (No.15), Robbie Dupree has just released his second book, Babies Of Limbo And Other Short Stories, a collection of ten true-life tales. Not surprisingly, the Grammynominated, long-time Woodstock, NYbased singer/songwriter spins quite a yarn, ricocheting from his childhood to his wild ride in the music business. To date, “Steal Away” has been played on American radio some three million times. Storyteller indeed. —ABBE ARONSON cheers!

Last Call

A beloved Summer of Love watering hole bids adieu

By Sarah Carpenter-Peck

Hector’s Inn, also known as the “original Woodstock watering hole” in Bethel, NY, is on the market for $490,000. The legendary spot has been family-owned since 1949 and has been a veritable landmark in Sullivan County since the summer of 1969, when owner Jerry Hector sold beer out of the back of his car to concertgoers on their way to the historic festival. The current owner says, “it’s time to retire,” and so this well-located bar laden with rock ’n’ roll lore is ready for a second life.

let’s just admit it: we’re hooked. The products are showcased inside the Bottega Bernard & The Sicilian Merchant specialty grocery shop on Main Street. Next: “Saucy Friday Sicilian Pasta Club” events held in conjunction with neighboring Citiot. Bonu abbura!

the ﬁnd

moments

Espresso Yourself

Turning the ubiquitous espresso martini into party mode. | By

Wyome Sadhana

the espresso martini was created in London in the 1980s by Fred’s Club bartender Dick Bradsell, or so the story goes. A young woman (rumor has it she’s now a famous model) asked for a drink that would wake her up but also get her good and drunk. I’d say the drink definitely embodies both of those elements and since then, it’s become very popular, with a marked resurgence this decade. The original version was just espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur, often appearing on menus as a ‘vodka espresso.’ Now there are many variations including using Bailey’s or Crème de Cacao. A surprising alternative to the classic recipe substitutes mezcal for vodka—don’t knock it ’til you try it.

At The Mill in Egremont, MA, where we pride ourselves on great food and drink, I make a lovely version of the espresso martini. We use local Six Depot Roastery espresso freshly made for each drink. Giving it a rich and creamy flavor when mixed with the vodka, Kahlúa, Bailey’s and simple syrup.

Espresso Martini

1 oz Tito’s or any vodka

1 oz shot espresso

.5 oz Kahlúa or coffee liqueur

.5 oz Bailey’s or Irish cream

.5 oz simple syrup

ART SCENE THE HUD SON

ARTLife717

ARTLife717 showcases inspiring artwork by individuals overcoming mental health challenges—uniting creativity, compassion, and community in a welcoming Hudson space that celebrates healing through the arts. 717 Columbia Street / namaskar47@hotmail.com stigmafree.art

MacBride Elliott

Enter the magical world of MacBride Elliott from stunning silver and 24k-gold-overbronze wearable art perfectly priced, to glimmering mobiles of semi-precious jewels fit for a palace.

235 Warren Street / (518) 697-0070

From the famed 19thcentury Hudson River School to today’s local jewelry designers and the galleries of the Warren Street area, Hudson, NY, continues to be a destination for artists, artisans, and collectors.

Shana Lee

Shana Lee’s artistry infuses modern day beauty with the ancient sacred, and every piece she produces with its energy, love and power.

315 Warren Street / Shanalee.com

Hudson

Once an 18th-century hat shop, now a creative space: the Hudson Milliner Art Salon features socially engaged, community-driven art, performance, and events.

415 Warren Street / (646) 379-4499 hudsonmillinerartsalon.com

Milliner Art Salon

the weekend

Not Your Run Of The Mill(brook) Town

This quiet Dutchess County village—where most folks are on a first-name basis—beckons. Can you hear it?

Pictures And Words By Rick Albert

after a quarter century in Brooklyn Heights and East Hampton, it was time for a change. So I sold my consulting practice, packed up the family and headed north to Millbrook, NY, where I became a real estate agent at Keller Williams.

Millbrook is nestled in the heart of Dutchess County and it’s one of the Hudson Valley’s most charming and quietly sophisticated towns. It offers a blend of rural beauty, historic charm and understated luxury.

There’s a quiet kind of luxury here: sunsets over horse pastures, farm stands brimming with fresh produce and neighbors who still wave

snoop dogs Not sure who loves this friendly farming town more, resident Rick Albert or his four adorable Redbone Coonhounds.

are none better. An added benefit is the first name hellos and big smiles delivered by Jenn and the team she manages. Owners Buffy and Beth hired very well.

10:00 a.m. DOG WALK

Time to walk the hounds. We have four Redbone Coonhounds who must exercise their noses. So off we go. I just happen to live on an amazing road full of horse farms so the scents are unlimited and the pack always leaves happy.

11:30 a.m. SHOPPING

Everyone is back at the house, so we now head out to the farmers market in town where nature’s bounty abounds. We stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables for the week with a quick drop-in to visit Rebecca, the in-the-know, personally curated herbalist and owner of Mama Wolf Herbs for some lotions and potions. Fun fact: Rebecca also runs the Millbrook Farmers Market.

exterior—there are hundreds of thousands of bottles, mugs, jugs, pots, pans and more from late 1800s up to today. I guarantee you won’t leave empty handed.

4:00 p.m. FASHIONABLE RETAIL

No trip to town is complete without a visit to J.McLaughlin for the latest in sophisticated fashion for any occasion and for both men and women. So, if you’re planning a night out—or just relaxing by the fire— McLaughlin has what you need.

5:00 p.m. COCKTAIL HOUR

hello. Millbrook proves you don’t have to go far to feel (civilized) worlds away.

Saturday

7:00 a.m. GYM

Off to Planet Fitness in neighboring LaGrangeville, NY for a quick workout.

9:00 a.m. BREAKFAST

It’s time to head to Babette’s Kitchen for an egg scramble wrap and an iced Americano. If you’re a fan of breakfast burritos, there

1:00 p.m. LUNCH

Head back to town after dropping off the groceries and make a beeline for the Millbrook Diner for a quick burger and chocolate shake that must be eaten with a spoon. Everyone in town can be found there at some point over the weekend.

2:30 p.m. ANTIQUING

Time to go explore the hidden treasures of the Bottle Shop Antiques run by Kevin de Martine. Words cannot describe the wonders you’ll find hidden in what appears to be a broken-down shack. Don’t be fooled by the

Off to Canoe Hill for a drink and some oysters. Hidden in a small alcove next to the diner, this place never disappoints. A rustic bar that seems to have been carved out of the Italian countryside, they deliver a wide range of cocktails and equally diverse range of oysters that’ll satisfy the most discerning tastes. Once our thirsts are quenched, we head home to feed the hounds and get ready for dinner.

7:00 p.m. DINNER

We hit Julien’s where we’re greeted by Shell, the restaurant manager, waitress and bartender. This tiny six-table bar and restaurant rocks with live music every Saturday night and serves one of the most eclectic menus I’ve ever seen. Their brick oven pizzas are truly over-the-top; the pasta specials are sure to delight and—wait!—there’s even a complete Japanese menu of fresh sushi specials if Italian food isn’t your thing. Can’t think of a better way to end the day.

Tis the Season for Home, Friends & Family Tis the Season for Home, Friends &

As the holiday song says, outside its so frightful but your ﬁre is so delightful. It’s time to make warm memories with friends and family—and your local friends at Williams Lumber & Home Centers will help make that wish come true.

WINDOWS & DOORS

Keep the cold out, the warmth in and invite the beauty of the outdoors into your home with Marvin Windows & Doors

WINTER GEAR

Williams has all your winter needs including shovels, ﬁreplace wood, EGO snow blowers, IceMelt, birdseed and Carhartt Outdoorwear

INTERIOR PAINT

Let Williams help you choose the perfect Benjamin Moore color to calm your room or energize your style.

STONE

Whether your goal is drama or tranquility, stone walls or ﬁreplaces made from DelGado stone are both functional and fashionable.

Making it a home for the holidays

For the past 80 years, Williams Lumber & Home Centers has been a vital part of the Hudson Valley and Catskill region. We’re blessed to live where the region’s natural beauty inspires every season. Our homes become the central focus of the holiday season and winter months, and you can depend on your friends at Williams to be your decorating and renovating partners.

Williams Lumber & Home Centers was founded in 1946 by Stanley Williams in Rhinebeck and it remains proudly family operated by the third generation of Williams’. Their recipe for longevity is that they, and the Williams’ team, are consistently focused on integrity, service, and excellence.

MARVIN DOORS & WINDOWS

When the weather is cold and you want an energy-efficient, cozy home, choose Marvin’s quality windows and doors. They leave the cold outside and invite the beauty inside. Marvin’s ﬁve distinct product lines are made from a wide variety of top-quality materials that elevate modern, classic and historic homes with solutions that will provide joy and performance during every season, for years to come.

SHARED VALUES MAKE IT A COMMUNITY

In addition to Marvin, many of the brands that Williams Lumber & Home Centers offer are privately owned and/or family businesses focused on quality and community. Williams is proud to offer Cambridge Pavingstones and DelGado Stone, family-owned businesses manufacturing the highest-quality stone, pavers and wall systems. And while not family owned, Williams partners closely 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 DIYer, 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.

NAIL IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

Visit us in Rhinebeck, Hudson, Hopewell Junction, Tannersville, Red Hook, Pleasant Valley or High Falls and see for yourself. Or on the web at williamslumber.com &

HPATRiCiA CLARKSON, RiSiNG

The award-winning actor would rather be in the Catskills than just about anywhere else. | BY ABBE

ARONSON

ere’s the thing about Patricia Clarkson: She makes people happy.

To wit, when our team at The Mountains was mulling over possible cover options for this issue, we were hoping for a story with someone who makes us clap our hands together in delight. When acclaimed actor Patricia Clarkson said she was indeed available to sit down with Editor in Chief Richard Pérez-Feria and me, we were thrilled—quite literally—for we knew what a ‘get’ Clarkson is.

Pérez-Feria recalled the ﬁrst time he met Clarkson they were in Los Angeles at the legendary Chateau Marmont on the day she received a staggering three SAG nominations for The Station Agent and Pieces Of April When the New Orleans native walked in with co-star Peter Dinklage and spotted Pérez-Feria with Robert Downey, Jr., the actor proceeded to playfully bow at Clarkson’s feet because of her accomplishment at the SAGs. Even RDJ knows everything is more joyful when Clarkson’s around.

I’ve known the endlessly lauded and ridiculously talented Patricia Clarkson (everyone calls her Patti) for some time now, ever since she came into the orbit of our mutual darling pals Mark McGrath and Michael Mills. The story goes that McGrath was working with her on a charity benefit for a not-for-profit organization that they both were supporting and it was practically love at first sight. Soon after, Mills was equally ga-ga, and as their bestie, I asked, “So when do I get to meet The Lady?” The rest, as they say, is history.

Winner of a Golden Globe, two National Society of Film Critics Awards and three Emmys, Clarkson doesn’t disappoint. From the moment I locked

roll call Clarkson says it was “the role of a lifetime” when she got to play political ﬁrebrand Lilly Ledbetter in Lilly (Netﬂix); (opposite) Clarkson lights up the Manhattan night at the Tribeca Film Festival.

eyes with her on a sultry summer day at Mark and Michael’s house in Shandaken, NY, in the wilds of the forest surrounding Panther Mountain in the Catskills, her star wattage was only dimmed by the holy moly ferocity of the strawberry blonde’s smile and outstretched arms. Wearing sneakers and slim-fitting jeans, she came bounding down her host’s deck staircase onto the grass, hugging me deeply and saying, “Well, I just know we’re going to have so much fun!”

One of five daughters raised in New Orleans by a mother who was both a state legislator and head of District C for the New Orleans City Council (representing the Algiers neighborhood which includes The French Quarter) and a father who was a beloved school administrator, Clarkson and her girl gang of siblings (and two female dogs!) knew how to have fun. But lest you think it was all Mardi Gras shenanigans, here comes the first surprise: the Academy Award- and Tony-nominated actor recalls some of her favorite childhood memories very much including her family’s time spent at an Air Force base in Newburgh, NY.

“Oh, those years when my family was in Newburgh on the US Air Force base were beautiful times!,” Clarkson says. “It was the first time I saw the leaves change, saw mountains, saw snow! I learned to ride a bike there. My sisters and I loved to play in the woods, and we created this incredibly intricate imaginary life among the trees. We played spy; we made up whole worlds. This was so not New Orleans.”

Clarkson’s family had previously lived on Air Force bases in Biloxi, MS, and Hampton, VA, but coming north to Newburgh really made an impression on the six-year-old. “I saw my first Broadway play while we were living in Newburgh, Annie, Get Your Gun with Ethel Merman and Irving Berlin was in the audience,” Clarkson says. “My parents had no money, so we had nosebleed seats, but we went down to the city, and it was wonderful. It absolutely stayed with me. And in second grade, I had my first boyfriend. I’m laughing about it now but it really—it was my first date! He lived two doors down from me on the Air Force base and I remember he invited me to his parents’ house for dinner.”

Seems like after this, Clarkson was destined to discover a variety of sweet spots in and around the mountains that still

was so not

Orleans.”

thrill and delight her afresh. In addition to staying with our pals in Shandaken and joining friends on my porch for summer soirées with my pup, Frankie. Clarkson, a true dog lover, interrupted herself to blow Frankie kisses and continue their love story. My French Bulldog rescue only has eyes for Clarkson when she’s in the room. She went on to tell us how much she really loves small town life in these mountains.

“I love going to Saugerties, NY, to antique, to stroll around, to eat at Miss Lucy’s and of course, it’s close by the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, which I adore. Likewise, Phoenicia, NY is one of my favorite small towns and I love The Shandaken Inn. It’s just so great to hop in the car, go for a drive and see what we uncover, tag sales, all of it. Sometimes we’ll end up at any number of wonderful places in Kingston or Woodstock—of course, I have to mention one of my all-time favs, Peekamoose Restaurant, because I love Marybeth and her team. I’ve had such great times at The Woodstock Film Festival, where we did a special screening of my latest film, Lilly (2024), the Lilly Ledbetter story [more on that in a minute]. All of this to say that

I’m definitely more of a mountains person than a Hamptons person. I’m not a fan of sand [Laughs] and Upstate, well, it’s more my vibe. Connecticut, the Berkshires and Massachusetts, the Hudson Valley—it’s all beyond gorgeous to me. Likewise, I have lots of friends in the area who also think this part of the world is just paradise as well, so whenever I’m here, it’s always a good time.”

About Lilly…Clarkson said that when the call came in, asking if she wanted to play the iconic trailblazer, it indeed felt like the role of a lifetime, in a career with so many soaring highs. Lilly Ledbetter was a hard-working Alabama tire factory supervisor whose singular goal was to earn enough to comfortably support her family in middle-class rural America. Having grown up in poverty, Ledbetter endured a work environment plagued by constant harassment, for the sake of the best paycheck in her hometown. As retirement approached, she discovered that the system had been cheating her, paying her close to only half of what men with the same jobs were earning. Outraged, Ledbetter took this fight to the US Supreme Court, the corridors of Congress and eventually The White House, as the powers that be tried to shut her down.

“When they reached out to see if I was interested in the role, and my agent asked, ‘Do you know who Lilly Ledbetter is?’ I was almost incredulous with delight, ‘Darlin’, I grew up in a house with five girls and a mother who ran the city—are you kidding me?!’” Soon to be released on Netflix, Clarkson said that this was a woman-powered picture from the very beginning. “The reason it got made is because of women. Women opened their wallets and wrote checks to fund this very indie movie because they believed so deeply in what Lilly did—not just for herself, but for women everywhere in this country.”

Clarkson also speaks with great admiration and pride for the work she did in the recent 2022 film Monica, which stars Trace Lysette as a transgender woman who returns to the Midwest after two decades to care for her estranged, dying mother. The film leaves not a dry eye in the house, exploring themes of abandonment, aging, forgiveness and reconciliation. Clarkson, as Monica’s terminally ill mother Eugenia, initially doesn’t recognize her daughter, and their moment of reckoning as Monica bathes Eugenia in the

the clarkson five Clarkson and her four sisters loved to play in the woods of Newburgh, NY. “We created this incredibly intricate imaginary life among the trees,” she says. “This

New

Here, Clarkson and her sisters surround their father home from the nearby Air Force Base.

film stands out as one of the most intimate reconnections on screens in recent years. Audiences gave the film an 11-minute standing ovation at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Clarkson endeavored, and succeeded, in getting herself and Lysette (the first transgender woman in a leading role) on the cover of Variety.

If I needed any more reasons to adore Clarkson, those two stories above exemplify why I think she’s one of the biggest hearts in any room, tough as nails when she wants something done, or when she thinks there’s good she can contribute to the cause, but soft and warm as a favorite cozy sweater when it’s time to enjoy a glass of wine with a friend and gossip about boys and love. Listen, I can do girl talk with the best of them. But, Clarkson? Well, you’ll never find a more mischievous but deeply loyal confidante.

“Oh, those years when my family was in Newburgh on the US Air Force base were beautiful times! It was the first time I saw the leaves change, saw mountains, saw snow!”

So speaking of the boys… Clarkson agreed to play a speed-round of one-word answers regarding her bestknown male A-list co-stars. Here’s what she had to say—adding that on her first feature film, The Untouchables in 1987, Clarkson was the only woman on the set, a lone female in a sea of men, including her dresser and makeup artist. She says her mom had a good laugh about that one!

Kevin Costner? “He’s lovely.” Stanley Tucci? “Absolutely divine!” Kelsey Grammer? “Fabulous.” Peter Dinklage? “Yummy.” Robert Downey, Jr.? “Scary talented.” Leo DiCaprio? “Brilliant.” Bradley Cooper? “Uber brilliant; you ask me, he’s a slow burn. In ten years, he’ll be considered one of the greatest actors of all time.” George Clooney? “Perfect, egalitarian; literally no one’s ever said a bad word about George Clooney.” Ryan Gosling? “Inspiring.” Sir Ben Kingsley? “Knightly!” Clarkson next reveals what people say to her at the airport when they see her. “If it’s younger people, it’s Easy A,” Clarkson says. “For older people, it’s often Six Feet Under. For many, many people, it’s Sharper Objects, although I still laugh when I remember my mother ringing me up and saying, ‘Now I know there wasn’t any of me in that portrayal!’”

HOLIDAYS in KINGSTON, NY

Clarkson adds that in addition to her always supportive parents, her namesake Aunt Patsy delivered one of the world’s greatest one-liners after viewing her in High Art. “My mother called and said, ‘Oh my God, we just saw High Art and we loved it and we brought Aunt Patsy and she’s going to call you tomorrow to discuss it.’ And I said, ‘You brought Aunt Patsy to that?’ and my mother said, ‘Yes, she loved it, but she’ll call you.’ And then Aunt Patsy called me up and said, “Patricia darling, you’re fabulous and a great actress but if a director told me I had to play a German, lesbian, heroin addict—I’d tell that director that I could play one of the three.’” Namesake indeed.

Naturally, our conversation circled back around to other women she loves and admires off screen, including a choice that might surprise some people: Joan Rivers. “Joan told me that at the end of the day, she saw the difference between herself and everyone else as this—she never quit,” Clarkson said. “I think about Joan all the time and how I got to spend some time with her, which was one of the greatest days of my life. She was absolutely amazing, and she really understood who she was and the privilege that she had in living life her way, on her terms, without hesitation. I think about that often— how I want to use my fame and money and position to do the most I can for others. ’Til the day I die, I’ll host the New York City Housing Works fundraisers; it’s one of the greatest organizations in the history of New York. And

cover girls With friend and actor—and fellow The Mountains’ cover star—Elizabeth Perkins; (opposite, from top) with Succession’s Brian Cox in Eugene O’Neill’s masterpiece, Long Day’s Journey Into Night in London’s West End; with James Cromwell in The Green Mile.

Kingston Social

I’ll always step up and help raise money for legal defense funds that help poor women hold onto jobs when they’re fired or discriminated against. [Clarkson says she raised $175,000 for a fund that was in line with Lilly Ledbetter’s ideals as the film was released]. I’m planning to use my money and whatever fame I have to make a difference as long as I can, for all the causes and communities that I love and want to support.”

No wonder this dynamo loves to return again and again to the mountains, to rest and recharge and balance out not just her fast-moving professional passions and activism, but also as a gorgeous foil to her decades-long life in NYC’s buzzy West Village. Note: Clarkson has indeed mixed business with pleasure, filming a movie in the Catskills in 2001 (Wendigo, an independent psychological horror film written and directed by actor/director/writer Larry Fessenden, who also makes his home here and in New York City). “The life I like best in the country is very much like my favorite parts about living in the city, with all my favorite haunts, my usual spots which are cozy and familiar,” Clarkson says. “But, of course, in the country, I also love being in people’s homes, driving over to a friend’s house for dinner, spending time at home with people as opposed to being in a restaurant or even an apartment. I mean, what’s better than waking up and going outside in your pajamas to smell the morning air, see the sun, hear the birds? You do that in Manhattan, they’d pick you up and cart you away! One morning, at Mark’s and Michael’s house, we were watching robins hatching and it was absolutely amazing. And of course, there’s nothing better than relaxing on your sofa, Abbe, having eaten one of your amazing meals, and just sitting around and kissing on Frankie.”

What a lucky dog Frankie is.

HOLIDAYS in CATSKILL, NY

STAY FOREVER

We’re a Latina and AAPI-owned gift and lifestyle shop featuring mindfully made goods from BIPOC makers, artists, and indie brands.

397 Main Street / (518) 291-4430 shopstayforever.com

PHÕS MY GREEK AMERICAN KITCHEN

Phōs is a full service casual/ﬁne dining restaurant in the heart of the village of Catskill, NY. Enjoy Greek-American cuisine/beverages inspired by local ingredients.

353 Main Street / (518) 943-7600 / phoscatskill.com

CATSKILL COLLECTIBLES

We celebrate the charm and history of the Catskills. Our shop curates vintage treasures, local art, and souvenirs bringing the magic of the mountains home.

386 Main Street / (845) 978-3178 tom@catskillcollectibles.com

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Connect, collaborate, and thrive in our vibrant community. Join the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and explore new opportunities today! 432 Main Street / (518) 943-4222 greenecountychamber.com

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN WOODWORKING

Our store and website are full of our own handcrafted in Catskill cutting and charcuterie boards. We also handcraft furniture, trays & personalized gifts that we carry in our store alongside other local makers work!

431 Main Street / (518) 947-4445 catskillmountainwoodworking.com

KAATERSKILL MARKET

Live simply with simple things. Handmade, local, and fair trade homewares and gifts. Shop our baskets, candles, ceramics and more.

355 Main Street / (518) 291-8874 kaaterskillmarket.com

CITIOT

Shop NYCITIOT.COM online for design, art, gifts, and Catskill favorites. Use MOUNTAINS10 for 10% off online orders until 12/31/25. And stop by our shop! 404 Main Street / nycitiot.com

CATSKILL CRYO

A specialized destination for those who value elevated wellness. Catskill Cryo pairs cold therapy with infrared heat and red-light treatments in a deliberately streamlined environment. 414 Main Street / catskillcryo.com / @catskillcryo (518) 947-8718

Peyton’s offers artisan curated gift collections of jewelry, specialty foods, soaps, candles, ceramics, home decor, kitchenware, games, garden accessories and more.

356 Main Street / peytonesstore.ny info@peytonesstore.com

PEYTON’S

the pros

KiTCHEN CONFiDENTiAL

We asked the best of the best chefs around what they serve family and friends in their own homes this holiday season.

BY HAL RUBENSTEiN

hen I was a kid, this was the time of year when Perry Como, America’s favorite crooning dad and ex-barber (Google him if you must) would sing “Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays.” Now, depending on what goes on under your roof, that could be

a good thing or a nightmare. But considering the nonstop avalanche of negativity that’s waiting for you outside your front door daily, let’s focus on the former. Though Thanksgiving has just past, your social life will be all about gatherings for the next few weeks, some with family, some with friends and some with strangers. You’ll likely go out more than usual, so make sure you have

When entertaining at home, always trust your favorite recipes, the ones you make with conﬁdence.

shoes you can stand in for more than an hour. You’ll also be running into some of the same people over and over so it wouldn’t hurt to go over your wardrobe options now to avoid repetition and hearing, “I have to tell you again, that I love that plaid shirt on you.”

However, most holiday parties are like store bought eggnog: not well blended, more sweet than substantial and barely capable of giving you a buzz. So, how do you avoid all of that when it’s your turn to host?

For tried and tested advice on entertaining to stave off stress, we’ve consulted some of this region’s favorite (and very best) chefs to learn how they like to entertain and what they serve those they charm and cherish.

But first, some advice:

0 Unless you’ve installed a mirror ball and dance floor, no party needs to be more than three hours long.

0 When it comes stop RSVPing, virtually

everyone sucks at it (including you). Be patient, and don’t dig your heels in. Send out two snark-free reminders. Regardless of the final number, expect a ten percent drop off on the day of your event.

0 Maybe this is my ethnic thing, but aside from breaking one of the Ten Commandments, there’s no greater shanda (disgrace) than throwing a party and running out of food. Great flavors are impressive. So is abundance. Prepare 20 percent more than you need to. That’s why God made freezers.

0 I don’t care if it’s your family or your best friends. Don’t invite people over and then just wing it. In fact, you should plan your party with the same precision as the invasion of Normandy. Working back from your D-Day, make a schedule citing what day and time to shop, when to prep, what to cook when, when to set up, serve and break down. Pro tip: If you aren’t a chef, make dishes one at a time—do not multitask. You will screw it up.

0 Unless you have hired help, it’s best if everything served can be made in

advance or assembled with no effort. Cakes, pies, soups and punches can be frozen with no loss of flavor. Substantial foods like potted meats, stews, baked dishes often taste better the next day. Go for options that can be served at room temperature. Flowers or décor should be finished the day before.

0 I know it’s the time of year for families to get together, but if you want to host a grownups only party, don’t be afraid to banish children and pets. If someone doesn’t like it, they can simply decline. A party with children and dogs is always all about children and dogs. And that can be delicious. So can a dinner party composed solely of adults.

0 Regardless of the task at hand, when each guest arrives, stop what you’re doing and greet them at the door and, unless they’re in recovery, direct them immediately to the bar.

0 Figure ten people to a bottle of liquor, four to a bottle of wine. If it’s a cocktail party and you have carpets or rugs that stain, reconsider serving red wine.

AT 432 WARREN

However, a brightly colored very boozy punch is the smartest, canniest and most economical option. Perfect for raising a mood collectively. Note: Eggnog goes together horribly with food.

0 Order too much ice. It’s just water. It’s not like it’s hard to get rid of. But it can be a nightmare if you run out and have to wait for reinforcements.

0 Adjust your lighting. Your house should already be on dimmers. Every switch. Always. Unflattering lighting can empty a room faster than an album of Kid Rock’s greatest hits.

0 You need music. It doesn’t have to be “Silver Bells” and “Little Drummer Boy.” In fact, the selection matters less than its volume—it should act as an undercurrent, able to instigate a buzz, but not loud enough to have anyone suggest karaoke.

0 There are very few truly happy drunks. Alert close friends and allies of an impending situation. If no one lives in the right direction, call a rideshare app or keep a taxi service number handy.

Don’t be afraid to ask for someone’s car keys. Don’t be afraid to gang up against possible resistance. It may get uncomfortable, but it sure beats having this time next year being overshadowed by memories of a funeral.

0 When you’re ready, quietly break down a buffet, clear a table, diminish a bar, enlist one friend to say their goodbyes, or simply say, “My gosh, I can’t thank you enough for being here and making this evening so special for us.” People rarely want to be the first to leave. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to.

Always trust your favorite recipes, the ones you make with confidence. But if you’re looking for something special to try this year, who better to ask than the amazing top chefs in our region. Chefs Nora Allen (Mel The Baker), Halo Pérez-Gallardo (Li’l Deb’s Oasis), Efrén Hernández (Casa Susanna) and Rafi Bildner (Hilltown Hot Pies) share how they entertain in their own homes. And one last bit of advice from this writer: try out any

secret admirers Chefs Nora Allen and (opposite) Halo Pérez-Gallardo are among the most celebrated culinary pros in the neighborhood we asked to reveal the secrets of some of their tastiest dishes. Happy cooking!

new recipe at least once before you commit it to your big day; it lessens the possibility of a panic attack even mistletoe can’t quell.

NORA ALLEN

MEL THE BAKER

“When we have people over, we always have extensive grazing plates of bread and cured meats. Dinner is built around warming meals, like brazed short ribs, a beef stew or a grilled salmon. I’m all about aromatic smells of the season like apple cider mulling and hearty soups. Ribollita is my soul soup—but who doesn’t love a chowder?”

“We favor produce traditionally grown in the Hudson Valley including squash and sweet potatoes. But I’m obsessed with corn—corn pudding, stuffing—no stuffing is better than corn bread stuffing—savory and sweet desserts. Traditional corn season is over but I’m also talking about the dried Flint corn [Flint or dent corn is native to America, and comes in colors as varied as garnet, grey, orange and navy. It can be

obtained at Our Farm, outside Casanovia, NY, near Syracuse]. Castle Valley Mill just across the state border in Doylestown, PA, has an amazing array of corn meal and flour in almost every color of the rainbow, my favorite being bloody butcher, a horrible name because it’s blood red…but the flavor is super. Any of these will upscale your corn pudding or similar recipe. I use cornmeal in my stuffing. It’s the secret in the distinction of my Parker House rolls.

I go crazy on desserts. I make so many pies. But one of my favorite desserts is a Brazilian dessert they often make for kids, kind of like a truffle but it’s a simple labor of love. Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest difference.”

CORN PUDDING

16 oz Whole corn kernels

¾ cup Heavy cream

½ cup Spelt flour

1/3 cup Corn meal

¼ cup Sugar

2 tsp Salt

¼ tsp Baking soda

1 cup Sour cream

6 tbsp Unsalted butter, melted

1 Egg

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously butter an 8” baking dish

• Blend corn and cream in blender ’til smoothish

• Combine and mix all ingredients in mixing bowl until well-combined

• Pour into baking dish. Bake for 35 mins (tester comes clean)

• Serve warm

BRIGADEIRO

¼ cup Densely packed sweetened cocoa powder

3 cans Condensed milk (42 oz)

9 large Eggs

1 tbsp Vanilla bean paste

2 tsp Salt Chocolate sprinkles

• Preheat oven to 325°F

• Use non-stick spray on a bundt pan

• Blend all ingredients together for 3-4 minutes ’til fully emulsified

• Pour into Bundt pan, place onto water bath rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes until set

• Invert and cool

• Top with sprinkles and serve

Hibernation Season

HALO PÉREZGALLARDO

LIL DEB’S OASIS

“My family is both Ecuadorian and Argentinian, though we tend to favor the Ecuadorian side. But it’s important to note that my grandmother was the cook for the Newhouses (the family that created the Condé Nast magazine dynasty) for three decades. The Newhouses are Jewish, so growing up in the ’80s, my diet was a mix of gourmet Ecuadorian and Jewish food. Empanadas, oysters and gefilte fish. Empanadas are important in our home, but Argentinians use a wheat flour dough and fill the pocket with ground beef, raisins, peas and potato. Ecuadorian empanadas use cornmeal or green plantains and can be filled with cheese, scallions and sugar. They’re called ‘viento’ because they puff up like the wind.

For a main course, hornado—a pork slow roasted until its meat is succulent and its skin is crispy—served with encurtido, spicy pickled vegetables. You also can’t beat a

prime rib. And for New Year’s, it’s paella. If you’re serving multiple dishes, no one’s taking a full portion of anything.”

OYSTERS WITH MEYER LEMON & COFFEE OIL

1-2 dozen Oysters

2 tbs Coffee beans medium roast

¼ cup Neutral cooking oil

1 Meyer lemon

1 tbsp Wheatgrass or chives, thinly sliced

½ Shallot, finely minced Sea salt, to taste

• One day ahead, make the coffee oil: Finely grind beans. Combine with oil in a small pot and simmer gently for 45 minutes. Store overnight. Strain through cheesecloth

• Prepare the mignonette: Peel and mince lemon rind. Squeeze the juice and combine in a small bowl with shallots and salt

• Assemble: Spoon ¼ tsp of mignonette over each oyster. Drizzle with coffee oil. Garnish with chives. Serve immediately

EMPANADA DE VERDE

MAKES 24

FOR THE MASA

6 Green plantains peeled & grated

6 Green plantains, peeled, chopped & boiled

1 tbsp Onion powder

1 tbsp Ground cumin

1 tbsp Garlic powder

1 tbsp Kosher salt

FOR FILLING

½ lb Shredded mozzarella

½ Muenster cheese

½ Queso fresco, crumbled

1 bunch Chives or scallions thinly sliced

1 qt Canola or neutral oil (more if needed)

• In a large pot of salted water, boil the chopped plantains until fork tender

• In a food processor, purée the boiled plantains until smooth. Add onion and garlic powder, cumin and salt

• In a large bowl, mix the warm mash with the grated plantains, until it forms a cohesive dough. This is the masa. Adjust seasoning so that it is savory and aromatic

• Combine cheeses and herbs in a separate bowl

• Roll golf ball portions (2 inches) of masa. Flatten into a small circle. Spoon 2 tsp of filling onto ½ of disc. Fold and flatten to seal

• Heat oil to 350°F. Fry 2 empanadas at a time for 3-4 minutes until golden and crisp. Dry on paper towels

• Serve warm with your favorite hot sauce

NOTE: Uncooked empanadas can be frozen for up to 1 month. Fry straight from freezer at a slightly lower temp and cook a little longer

EFRÉN HERNÁNDEZ

CASA SUSANNA, RIVERTOWN LODGE

“This year I’m excited because I’m hosting Christmas Eve and Day. My wife’s family is from Pittsfield, MA, so we go hard during the holidays. I’ll brine the turkey, we’ll have big steaks, sweet potatoes, mashed

potatoes, broccoli. My young daughter, oddly enough and unlike most kids, loves broccoli. I can’t make too much of my traditional Mexican food because she won’t eat food that is too spicy, but she likes making tortillas and tamales because she loves playing with the dough. It’s fun to watch her get excited about rolling it and then we’ll make it the way my aunt used to with rajas, strips of roasted poblano peppers with cheese and wrap them up. My dad used to say ‘Well, at least if we go over to my aunt’s house at Christmas, if she forgets again to give you a gift, at least you unwrapped a really good tamale’.”

TAMALES DE RAJAS

MAKES ABOUT 12

FOR TAMAL BATTER:

24 oz Masa (for home cooks, the easiest way is to buy masa harina and make masa by doing equal parts masa harina and hot water until you form a dough)

7¼ oz Duck fat

2½ tsp Salt

4 tsp Baking powder (2.5%)

Chicken Stock or water for desired texture

• In a standing mixer, whip the fat

• Add baking powder, salt and combine

• Gradually add masa in 4 parts making sure it’s fully incorporated. Don’t rush this step

• Bring to correct consistency with chicken stock. It should be pasty, like pancake batter

• To assemble tamales, use dry corn husks and spread the tamal batter evenly across the smooth side near the edge. Then in the middle add sliced strips of poblano pepper and queso Oaxaca. Roll the tamale closed and then fold over the end without the masa on it so that everything is tucked inside the leaf

• Place your tamales in a steamer. Depending on how many tamales you put in there, it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour to steam fully. I like to steam them 1 hour before I’m serving and then leave them in the steamer until the moment I want to eat them

• Serve with salsa

JALAPEÑO CORN BREAD

1 cup All-purpose flour

1 cup Yellow cornmeal

1 tbsp Baking powder

½ tsp Baking soda

1 tsp Kosher salt

1 large Egg, beaten

1 cup Buttermilk

½ cup Sour cream

½ cup Butter, melted

2 tbsp Sugar

3/4 cup Pickled jalapeños, diced (you can buy these at grocery store)

1 cup Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

• Preheat your oven to 400°F

• If using a cast-iron skillet, place it in the oven to heat with 1 tbsp of butter or oil. You can also use a baking pan in a similar fashion

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar

• In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, sour cream and melted butter

• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Don’t overmix; the batter should still be a little lumpy

• Fold in the diced jalapeños and shredded cheddar cheese

• Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven using oven mitts. Pour the batter into the hot skillet and spread it evenly

• Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean

• Let the cornbread cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing and serving

culture club “My diet changed when I merged traditions with those of my adopted family in southern Italy,” says Hilltop Hot Pies’ Rafi Bildner; (opposite) Casa Susanna’s Efrén Hernández says he’s hosting Christmas this year.

RAFI BILDNER

HILLTOWN HOT PIES

“For me, this season was always about Channukah, and Granny Norma, the consummate Jewish chef, was always in charge. So we ate flanken (short ribs off the bone), jelly-filled donuts and latkes (potato pancakes). My diet changed when I merged traditions with those of my adopted family

in southern Italy. And then I added Middle Eastern cuisines thanks to the journeys I took for the travel company I worked for. Pitas are not that dissimilar to pizza dough. I had to offer readers Granny Norma’s latkes—because they’re the best. As for the pizza recipe, I know it’s complicated but it’s an incredibly unique combination of ingredients that reflects the different stages of my life. I love it and I hope you do too. It’s the heartiest winter pizza and each flavor comes from a joyful place—perfect for the holidays.”

the HEART of the HOLIDAYS

GRANNY NORMA’S LATKES

MAKES 12 (4-INCH) PANCAKES

1½ lbs Russet potatoes (3 to 4)

1/2 medium Yellow onion, peeled

1 large Egg

2 tbsp Matzo meal

1 tsp Kosher salt

1/8 tsp Freshly ground black pepper

1 cup Canola oil

Applesauce and sour cream, for serving

• Heat oven to 200°F, to keep latkes warm. Fill a baking sheet with paper towels and another with a wire cooling rack

• Scrub russet potatoes well (DO NOT peel). Cut each potato in half crosswise

• Peel and grate potatoes and onion (halve the half onion first) in a food processor using the shredding disc

• Transfer the grated potato and onion mixture into a large double layer of cheesecloth. Gather the corners, tie up around the handle of a wooden spoon and hang the bundle over a large bowl, then twist and squeeze the potatoes and onion as hard as you can until no more liquid comes out

• Let the bowl settle for a few minutes and then pour off the liquid on top of the bowl—but keep the potato starch that settles to the bottom

• Into the bowl, add the potato and onion mixture, the egg, matzo meal, kosher salt and black pepper. Mix this with your fingers, making sure the potato starch breaks up and is evenly distributed with the rest of the ingredients. Let the mixture sit for ten minutes

• Place 1 cup canola oil (or chicken fat if you want to be luxurious) in a large, 10-inch skillet (the oil should be a 1/4-inch deep). Heat over medium-high heat until a piece of the latke mixture dropped in sizzles immediately

• Form latkes one at a time. Scoop 1/4 cup of the latke mixture onto a flat spatula. Flatten with your fingers to a roughly 4-inch patty. Place in oil gently and fry until golden on both sides. Repeat until the pan is full but the latkes aren’t crowded. Cook until deeply golden-brown, 4-5 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as needed

• Transfer the latkes to the paper towellined baking sheet to drain for 2 minutes. Serve right away with applesauce and sour cream or transfer the latkes to a wire rack and keep warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes while you continue frying the remaining latkes

THE LEVANT PIZZA –A Hilltown Specialty

Pizza-making is more art than science. The quantities below are guides for topping your pizzas—and feel free to add or omit toppings! The amounts needed vary depending on the size of your pie, whether the crust is precooked and store-bought…just be sure not to overdo the toppings, so the crust isn’t weighed down. To make your own quick crust, Bildner recommends Jim Leahy’s No-Knead Pizza Dough recipe, which makes enough for four pies

TOPPING

1 small Red onion, sliced thin

1 cup Red wine vinegar

FOR HERB YOGURT SAUCE:

½ cup Plain, full-fat yogurt

¼ cup Fresh mint leaves

2 tbsp Cilantro

½ tsp Cumin

½ tsp Ground sumac

½ tsp Kosher salt

1½ tsp Lemon juice

FOR LAMB:

¾ lb Ground lamb

2 Garlic cloves, minced to a paste

1 tsp Ground sumac

1 tsp Ground cumin

1 tsp Smoked paprika

¾ tsp Kosher salt

½ tsp Ground coriander

½ tsp Ras el hanout spice blend (available in specialty shops. If not, substitute garam masala)

¼ tsp Cayenne

1 cup Fresh mozzarella, finely cubed

1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp Za’atar

1 sprig Dill leaves

• Pre-heat oven to 400°F

• PREPARE TOPPINGS:

For Pickled Onions: Place onions in small nonreactive bowl, cover with red wine vinegar. Let soak for at least 30 minutes, preferably for at least an hour

For Herb Yogurt Sauce: Blend yogurt, herbs, spices, lemon juice and lemon zest in a bowl, blender or food processor until smooth and fully incorporated.

For Lamb: Mix ground lamb with garlic and spices until incorporated. Form lamb into 6 small patties and place on foil-lined half-sheet pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes until well-browned on the outside and slightly pink in the center. Let cool.

• Raise temperature of oven 500°F

PIZZA ASSEMBLY:

• Place a pizza stone or steel in the oven if using.

• Flour a work surface to stretch the dough. If using a pizza stone, form into a shape to match and with the desired thickness. If you don’t have a stone, use a nonstick sheet

pan. If stretching the dough is difficult, let it relax for 5 minutes and then return to working it. Make sure there is enough flour under the dough to prevent sticking. Repeat as needed, depending on the amount of dough

• If using a pizza stone, gently slide a pizza peel under the dough

• Top each pizza first with half the feta, then half the mozzarella. Add 2 tbsp of pickled onions and then crumble 1-2 lamb patties onto the pizza. Drizzle 1-2 tsp extra virgin olive oil on top, rubbing oil onto exposed crust

• Slide the pizza from the peel carefully onto the pizza stone—or put the sheet pan—into the oven

• Bake for 10-18 minutes, until the crust is slightly risen and golden in color. If using a pre-baked, store-bought crust, the cooking time will only be 5-8 minutes.

• Remove the pizza from the oven. Allow it to cool for a few minutes on a wire rack to prevent moisture from building underneath the pizza

• Move to a wooden board or pizza tray. Slice the pizza first, and then sprinkle with 1 tsp za’atar, garnish each slice with a sprig of fresh dill and finally, lightly drizzle about 1 tbsp of the herby yogurt sauce all over pizza. Enjoy.

all you knead To make your own dough, Hilltown Hot Pies’ Rafi Bildner recommends Jim Leahy’s No-Knead Pizza Dough recipe.

treasure chest

PRESENT(S) PERFECT

Thoughtful, locally made gi s that say “thank you” with cra smanship and a sense of place. It’s very mountains.

★

BY DAN KODAY

If you’ve ever spent a holiday season in the mountains, you know the party circuit moves fast. One night it’s a roaring fire in Woodstock, NY, the next it’s a candlelit dinner in Sharon, CT, a fondue night in Great Barrington, MA, or a wine-soaked fireside hang in Narrowsburg, NY. And if you’re lucky enough to be on the invite list, there’s only one unspoken rule: never show up empty-handed.

This year, we sourced from local artisan makers and asked some of the most stylish people we know in this corner of the globe to showcase the ultimate host gifts—things that feel personal, functional and perfectly at home in the mountains. Whether it’s something to sip from, light up or simply admire, these are the holiday gifts that say thank you—with an ineffable flair they’re sure to treasure.

BABY ALPACA FUR HAT •

The epitome of winter luxury, the premium baby alpaca fur hat is hypoallergenic and handcrafted. It’s as stylish as it is comfortable. Fluff Alpaca, 319 Main St., Great Barrington fluffalpaca.com

VETIVER TWIGS NEST BOWL •

Handwoven from fragrant vetiver twigs, this piece doubles as décor and subtle natural scent diffuser. The warm, earthy smell will remind your host of long walks through the woods. Lili and Loo, Hudson, NY • liliandloo.com

COPPER COLOR CATSKILLS CANDLE STUDIO BOURBON LEATHER SPECIAL EDITION CANDLE •

Hand-poured in Tannersville, NY, this scent blends bourbon, smoke and soft leather—essentially a cozy cabin night in candle form. Catskills Candle Studio, Tannersville, NY • catskillscandlestudio.com

OIL CAN •

“Juliette Hermant of Maison Bergogne has created a retail experience that’s breathtaking,” says Dane Pressner, Design Director of D’Aquino Monaco and owner of Found by DaneCharles. “You’re immediately transported into a different time and place.”

This vintage copper oil can from Hermant’s Narrowsburg shop can be styled on a bar cart, used to water plants or simply admired as an objet d’art. Maison Bergogne, Narrowsburg, NY • maisonbergogne.com

UPSTATE ARCH CREWNECK •

From Hudson Valley staple Hamilton & Adams, this cozy military-green sweatshirt is a local favorite. A subtle nod to life Upstate—no explanation needed. Available online and at r52home in Jeffersonville, NY

MOUSE LIGHT •

A country mouse that actually earns its keep: this whimsical light brings a soft glow to any nightstand or bookshelf. Homestedt, Livingston Manor, NY • homestedt.com

MEREWIF FEELINGS RING •

The perfect small token for a host who loves handmade things, this gold-plated ring feels both sentimental and stylish. Clove & Creek, Hudson, NY • cloveandcreek.com

VINTAGE COPY OF APPLES OF NEW YORK •

A rare treasure for the nature lover or design-minded collector, this early edition celebrates the state’s rich apple varieties with stunning illustrations and charming botanical descriptions dating to 1905. A.THERIEN, Cairo, NY • atherien.com

MEDIUM TERRA COTTA CASSEROLE •

Rustic meets refined in this perfectly weighted dish. “The colors are incredible, and it’s the best for baking or braising in the oven,” says Bobby Graham, co-founder of DUGAZON.

DUGAZON, Sharon, CT

MELAMINE FAIENCE FLEURS ISOLÉES DINNER PLATE •

“They don’t break, can be put in the dishwasher and you can take them anywhere,” adds Matt Marden, co-founder of DUGAZON. In other words: elegant enough for the table, durable enough for the patio. DUGAZON, Sharon, CT

PAPER COCKTAIL NAPKINS •

For the friend who loves a good quip with their martini. “Fun cocktail napkins elevate even an impromptu moment,” Pressner says. “My favorites are by Anne Taintor.” Foxtrot Home, Ridgefield, CT | foxtrothome.com

OUTDOOR RESEARCH TRAIL MIX XT FLEECE JACKET •

For the host who insists on an outdoor cocktail hour, this fleece hits the sweet spot of technical warmth and style. Soft, durable and handsome enough for a casual dinner. Outdoor Research • outdoorresearch.com

ANTIQUE-INSPIRED WINE BOTTLE •

A sculptural, conversationstarting bottle that looks as good empty as it does filled. Perfect for gifting to your host with their favorite vintage inside. Hall Space by Nonneta, Eldred, NY • nonnahall.com

DENIM

STIO SLIPSTONE JAPANESE DENIM SHIRT •

SHIRT •

Not your average denim shirt

BLACKSAW KIMURA HEIRLOOM ALPACA BLANKET •

This one, from mountain-born b as a a that looks at brunch or wood. Men’s and sions

Not your average denim shirt. This one, from mountain-born brand Stio, has a perfectly broken-in feel and a dark wash that looks equally good at brunch or chopping wood. Men’s and women’s versions available. Stio • stio.com

DIRESTA MINI ICE PICK

•

Maker Jimmy DiResta’s mini ice pick can break up large chunks of ice used to chill drinks just as easily as it can take on large chocolate bars or peppermint bark. I Make • imakeny.com

BREEO LIVE-FIRE PIZZA OVEN

•

For the ultimate mountain host— the one who’s always tinkering with the fire pit or feeding half the neighborhood. This livefire pizza oven takes outdoor entertaining to the next level. Breeo • breeo.com

The 100% natural, heavyweight, eco-luxury in a heirloom quality woven from extraordinarily rich superfine alpaca and undyed Peruvian cotton is also hypoallergenic. What a find! Fluff Alpaca, 319 Main St., Great Barrington • fluffalpaca.com

CARA-SEL THE BIG JAR SALTED CARAMEL •

Hudson Valley-based maker

Kristin Nelson’s nod to cozy mountain holidays: this rich, buttery caramel sauce doubles as an indulgent gift and a go-to baking ingredient. Swirl it through your favorite cookie dough, drizzle over a warm apple crisp or stir into hot cocoa by the fire. The Ardent Homesteader, Arden, NY • ardenthomesteader.com

LE CREUSET ENAMELED CAST IRON FONDUE POT •

“The ultimate entertaining piece—I love the connection of sitting around a fondue pot after a cold day,” says event planner and Berkshire Muse founder Lauren Fritscher. “This one’s easy to transport outside and big enough for a large group.” Williams Sonoma • williamssonoma.com

MOUNTAIN HOUSE POUCHES •

When your holiday or après-party turns into an impromptu hike the next morning, these vintageinspired packs are a godsend. Just add hot water and enjoy surprisingly good comfort food like chicken tikka masala or beef stroganoff. Mountain House • mountainhouse.com

THINGS TO DO IN THE WILD •

Perfect for the family that loves getting snowed in with a purpose, this illustrated guide

Introducing Side Gig SUPERSALT® It makes everything taste better! Created by wine and food authority Anthony Giglio and made in Italy with fresh herbs, garlic and Sicilian sea salt. Transforms meats, vegetables, eggs—everything. Really.

offers skill-building inspiration to help you connect with—and thrive in—nature. Project Weekend, Narrowsburg, NY • projectweekendny.com

MARBLED ENAMEL TRINKET TRAY •

A high-style, artful accent for your host’s desk or entry console—this swirling marbled enamel tray is equal parts sculpture and utility, perfect for loose change from the farmers market, matches to light the woodstove or even a pair of cufflinks. Paper Trail, Rhinebeck, NY • papertrailrhinebeck.com

STAINLESS STEEL ICE TRAY •

In the country, running out of ice can mean a 20minute drive to the corner store. This retro, ’50s-inspired tray keeps the party going—and vibes perfectly with vintage barware. One Mercantile, Great Barrington, MA • sett.onemercantile.com

the host Your Yuletide Soirée

A STYLISH GUIDE TO PEAK ENTERTAINING IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS SEASON.

BY dan KodaY

Whether you live in one of the region’s old farmhouses, a timber-frame cabin, a grand Greek Revival or a cozy cottage or chalet, homes in our corner of the world practically beg to be used for entertaining.

Since building our own Mid-century Modern style cabin in the mountains, my husband and I have spent countless hours doing just

that—with area friends, pals who drive up from the city, family and even the occasional stranger who lingers a little too long at the door. It’s part of the reason we chose this lifestyle and community: for the built-in brood that fills our home with laughter, good food and all the quirks that come with mountain living.

And, unsurprisingly, the holidays are when we go all out. With these ideas from local designers, event planners, business owners and generally stylish folks, you can too.

PERFECT FLOW

This season, one entertaining trend I’m excited to try out is the dînatoire, a French-style gathering that blends cocktail party and dinner into one. In dînatoire tradition, guests mingle rather than sit for a formal meal—think abundant hors d’oeuvres, passed small plates and drinks that together replace what would otherwise be a traditional sit-down dinner. It’s less grazing board and more grazing for a fuller belly, coupled with mingling and storytelling all at once—a holiday soirée that flows and feels sophisticated yet low-pressure.

For Shalon Massello, senior conference planning manager at Windrose on Hudson, successful entertaining is all about that flow. “I avoid sit-down dinners and prefer heavier cocktail receptions with action stations,” she says. “It encourages movement and interaction.” Similar to a dînatoire, she likes to scatter food throughout several rooms so guests naturally drift and mingle.

OUTDOORS IN

As event planner Lauren Fritscher, founder of Berkshire Muse, puts it: “Gathering in this region is about connection as much as setting. The holidays are a perfect time to invite neighbors and friends we might not always cross paths with to slow down and reconnect. Make it feel effortless by making it simple.”

a simple plan If there’s one unifying theme to how mountains hosts entertain, it’s this: don’t overcomplicate it. The best gatherings here happen by firelight, with mismatched plates and the hum of music that fills the lived-in home.

everyone make a handwritten label for their pie. Then set up a hot drink bar—mulled wine, cider or spiced tea in vintage teacups. I love the storytelling and connection that it creates.”

For Bobby Graham and Matt Marden, founders of DUGAZON in Sharon, CT, holiday decorating can be simplified by reflecting the land outside your door. “We always bring the outdoors inside,” they agree. “Find beautiful pine branches from your yard or local nursery—garlands, trees and wreaths from local greenery make everything feel grounded.” They say their go-to is the Salisbury Garden Center on Route 44, but the philosophy holds anywhere: look to your surroundings first.

Dane Pressner, design director of D’Aquino Monaco and owner of Found By DaneCharles, also uses what nature gives him freely: fallen pinecones gathered from his yard, piled into bowls or scattered across the table for a festive but unfussy look. “Adding a touch of weird to a table makes for a great conversation piece,” says Victoria Thomas, owner of Table 75 Events in Poughkeepsie, NY, who advises incorporating dried local flowers, branches, acorns, moss, nuts and stones.

Graham and Marden also advocate for decorating with what you love—family heirlooms, sterling silver, those plates you use once a year. “Don’t be afraid if they get chipped or broken,” they laugh simultaneously. “That means they had a good time. Nothing is too precious. Use it and enjoy it.”

EXPERIENCES, NOT TABLESCAPES

If there’s one thing Berkshire Muse’s Fritscher knows, it’s that experiences linger longer than centerpieces. Her ideas lean both beautiful and communal. One of her favorites: a pie party. “Imagine inviting friends and neighbors for an afternoon gathering where each guest brings their favorite pie—a family recipe or a local specialty,” she says. “Use vintage pie servers and antique dessert plates. Have

Or embrace winter fully with an après ski gathering—even if no one’s actually skied that day. “Think hot toddy bar, raclette or fondue, vintage blankets and classic board games,” Fritscher says. “Set it up on an outdoor patio with heaters and fire pits or indoors around a roaring fire. It’s family-friendly and cozy all at once.”

PERSONAL + LOCAL

Pressner emphasizes that hospitality up here is all about intention. “We love sharing the many amazing things the Catskills have to offer with our out-of-town guests,” he says. “For the at-home portion of hosting, I begin by leaving a welcome card on each guest’s pillow. In the card, I’ll include a note and a suggested itinerary. For us, most guests are coming from the city—we want to make them feel as cozy and comfortable as possible.”

That sense of ritual extends into breakfast. “Local farm-fresh eggs, bread and 2 Queens Coffee brewing—it’s the little details that make the weekend feel special,” he says. Thomas agrees, telling us a well-executed holiday table embodies the bounty of the region and brings people around it in a warm, intriguing and inviting way. “Greet guests with a glass of lively pét-nat from Accordion Wines [in Accord, NY] or a craft cocktail with local spirits from Pollinator Spirits [in the Catskills], Tuthilltown [in Gardiner, NY] or C. Cassis [in Rhinebeck, NY],” she says.

“In this part of the world, drive times from town to town can be a bit long for some guests. I suggest curating a themed playlist you can send to guests ahead of time—it can ease some of the most antsy guests in the car,” says Pressner.

FIRE STARTER

If there’s a unifying theme to how mountain hosts entertain, it’s this: don’t overcomplicate it. The best gatherings here happen by firelight, with mismatched plates, vintage finds and the hum of music that fills every corner of a lived-in home. As Fritscher reminds us, “A fireside chat, a simple meal with a small group—these are the invitations that people want.”

So this holiday season, forget perfection. Instead, gather your people, light the fire, pour the wine and make room for stories that’ll last well after the snow melts. “We don’t overdo it and keep our décor very subtle,” DUGAZON’s Graham and Marden say. “We just need a collection of Santas on the mantle or Vintage Czech Rhinestone Christmas Trees.” Sounds like a good time to me.

focus

SNOW PATROL

WINTER IS WHEN OUR BACKYARD BECOMES A PLAYGROUND— WHETHER YOU’RE AT THESE AREA RESORTS TO SHRED THE GNAR OR JUST COZY UP FOR THE APRÉS SKI BY AUDREY CHAMBERLiN

When winter rolls around, I always get the itch to go play in the snow. Despite being far removed now from Chicago winters, the ﬁrst snowfall always reminds me of early mornings waking up, throwing on my boots and coat and rushing out to meet the bus that took a group of us kids Upstate to a ski mountain just across the state line. It was a notable highlight of school breaks and winter free time—and I still think there’s nothing quite like the feeling of zipping down a mountain as fast as your skis will take you. It’s undeniably and unbelievably exhilarating. Initially, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to ﬁnd space to ski after I moved here, but I was gladly proven wrong by the vast and excellent options just a day trip away. If you’re also missing the feeling of snow underfoot and wide-open mountains, here are a few places you can go whether you’re a bunny-hill beginner or a seasoned slope veteran.

It’d be hard to talk about Upstate skiing without mentioning Windham Mountain Club in Greene County, so let’s start there. This exclusive club offers 54 different ski trails (tuned for both beginners and experts), six terrain parks between them and nearly a dozen chairlifts that can move more than 20,000 guests an hour. There are several long and winding easy trails, perfect for beginners (or those out of practice), and a clear build up to more difficult courses as the day goes on. Even the six terrain parks are designed to help build skills, with the easiest one featuring small jumps and rails, and the most difficult featuring drop offs, boxes and rails. Off the slopes, the resort offers several different first-rate restaurants, condos for longer trips and a luxury spa for members. In the offseason, the resort features golfing, hiking, fishing and many other outdoor activities for its lucky members.

Up in the Catskills is Hunter Mountain, a popular resort with plenty of trails to beckon guests from all over the area. The paths consist of mostly medium difficulty courses, though there’s a designated section of the park for those just learning to ski or snowboard, as well as lessons for those interested. The mountains feature 13 different lifts, with four terrain parks and 67 distinct trails to follow. The hills also feature snow tubing, with both

single- and double-inner tubes available and a magic-carpet-style lift to bring guests back to the top. The resort offers several kinds of lodging, several restaurants including two bars, equipment rentals and even custom gear molding and fitting. This resort has a more laidback vibe, better for families and beginners.

Over in the Berkshire mountains is Ski Butternut, a cute, two-peak ski slope boasting 22 trails, 10 lifts and snow tubing in Great Barrington, MA. There are a few long, winding tracks that’ll take you from one side of the mountain to the other, as well as more difficult sections like two terrain parks or a course made up of moguls for more experienced skiers to attempt. The lower lodge contains a massive store for ski and snowboard gear of all kinds, as well as some options for food, beer and wine. This resort has a detailed webpage to introduce each of its courses to people new to the slopes, allowing people to see what they may be capable of and how to access each branching trail.

Also in the Berkshires, in Charlemont, MA, Berkshire East Mountain Resort is going to better satisfy those expert skiers in your group. Featuring several double black diamond tracks (the most difficult rating), this cozy resort offers six lifts and both day and nighttime access to its trails, which intersect frequently for an easily adjustable experience.

There’s something for everyone here: Berkshire East also offers tubing and a few smaller spaces to practice for beginners. Their green ranked courses (the easiest marking) are long and separated from the harder courses for people who want a more laid-back experience. The lodge offers a full restaurant and bar, with a “mug club” subscription offering free drinks for frequent visitors. Ski and snowboard lessons are also available and a robust equipment rental saves time for those traveling far distances. There’s no overnight lodging, but easy road access means getting home should be a breeze. Don’t forget the snow tires.

powder buffs (above) Windham Mountain Club in Greene County, NY; (right) Hunter Mountain in the Catskills; (opposite, from top) Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont, MA; and Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, MA.

The Marvelous FuTure oF IndependenT Movie palaces

Grassroots campaigns revive single-screen theaters throughout our region. | By sean McAlindin

The wood and the curtains, the intricate Art Deco plaster, the smell of fresh popcorn and, perhaps, a long sip of a cool cocktail. It all melds together in a timeless sort of dream that feels like magic amid the absurd hustle of 21st century American life. Independent movie theaters began their long decline after World War II due to the popularity of television. The only survivors met their match in the 1980s with the arrival of multiplex theaters and blockbuster films. While it’s hard to get a definitive count on the number that remain, it’s safe to say these cinematic sanctuaries are few and far between.

But, here in the mountains, we’ve got a few. And now, thanks to community efforts, these small theaters continue to operate with

the classic spirit and philosophy that have made them the center of village life for generations. Come, let’s escape into the magical world of independent cinema. We won’t have far to go.

CRANDELL THEATRE CHATHAM, NY

Known locally as “the jewel of Main Street,” the 500-seat Crandell Theatre in Chatham, NY, reopened in October after a $4.2 million renovation. Gone is the red velvet. Back is the classic interior of the theater that began on Christmas Day in 1926. Today, a liquor license, surround sound, a fresh screen and a triumphant return to Spanish Renaissance design make the old feel new again.

theater’s company

This July, journalist and filmmaker Mirissa Neff took the reins as executive director to lead the Crandell into its next chapter. During her first Columbia County winter in 2020, and desperate for connection, she pitched a children’s film series called Kid Flicks. It was a total hit and Neff joined the board soon after.

“The point was to create a space where kids can be kids—chatter, dance, get up, have fun,” she says. “They wouldn’t have to worry and pretend like they’re an adult.”

In October, the annual FilmColumbia—which brought more than 50 new films to the theater for ten days—was a resounding return to form with numerous sold-out screenings and pre-pandemic levels of attendance. Now, on Community Wednesdays, movie tickets are only $6. Sonic Sundays bring the best in music documentaries including the US premiere of The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne in November.

“The energy and excitement are palpable,” says Neff. “It does feel like this elevated experience. To see movies like this on a single screen is something unique and special.”

During Chatham’s annual Winter Fest on December 13, the Crandell will offer a free screening of The Grinch starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and rumor has it the Clauses will be there, too.

COMMUNITY THEATER CATSKILL, NY

Community Theater, based in Catskill, NY, reopened its doors on September 12.

Built in 1902, the two-floor theater on Main Street hosted vaudeville until it burned down a decade later. A community-driven effort rebuilt it in the 1920s and inspired its name. Downstairs in the basement, you can still read the names and initials of a century of performers etched into the plaster.

After passing through hands over the generations, the theater closed during the pandemic and was purchased anew in 2021 by Ben Fain, a local restoration expert from Nice and Weird LLC who’s become known for his meticulous work on the city of Hudson’s historic waterfront.

“It’s hard not to feel like you’re part of something greater,” says Fain. “This is about as unique and important of a building as it gets. It was never a Lamborghini of a theater. It’s more of a really great Pontiac. It’s calibrated to the passion and energy of the community.”

After a year of work and $750K in restorations, one of the first things new management did was to put up a chalkboard where community members can suggest films.

“It’s an amazing concept to not impose yourself but instead be open to what the

community is asking for,” says Fain.

With two screens that can accommodate 500 and 300 people each, Community Theater shows major releases alongside independent films, foreign titles, concerts and live performances. Directors, such as Michael Mills (C’mon C’mon, 20th Century Women, Thumbsucker) this winter, often come to talk with the audience and host Q&As after the show.

“People have nostalgia for things they couldn’t participate in originally,” says Fain. “We are experts in letting you access it but making it up to date with people’s current tastes and interests amidst the complexity of it all.”

ROSENDALE THEATRE ROSENDALE, NY

The site of Rosendale Theatre on the namesake town’s Main Street began in 1850 as a blacksmith shop to service the town’s once-thriving cement factories. It opened as a casino in 1905, sometimes showing 16mm films. Over the years, it was used for square dancing and burlesque, amongst other things.

The Cacchio family bought it in 1947 and turned it into a movie theater. The first film they showed was psychological western Blood On The Moon starring Robert Mitchum. Tickets were 50 cents. When Anthony Cacchio, Jr.— who was such a film purist he once banned

(opposite) Crandell Theatre Executive Director Mirissa Neff was joined by powerhouses Stephen Lang, actor Walton Goggins and his wife, film director Nadia Conners, at the newly renovated theater’s festive ribbon cutting in Chatham, NY; (right) Rosendale Theatre in Rosendale, NY; (inset) Community Theater in Catskill, NY.

popcorn—retired in 2010, the community came together to purchase the building and keep the dream alive. “COVID killed box office revenue all over the country,” says Board President Laurie Giardino. “So, we’ve been using our imagination.”

Murder mystery dinners, live concerts, indie art films, feature premieres and special events are all part of the enchantment. A $60,000 digital projector moved the theater into the modern era, and even Uncle Tony learned how to use it, though he always believed 35mm reels were easier to deal with.

“The magic is the community because we bought it and we’re running it,” says Giardino. “It’s a feeling of belonging. And you can always count on a good conversation about the film in the lobby afterwards.”

STARR THEATER RHINEBECK, NY

TINKER

STREET CINEMA

WOODSTOCK, NY

ORPHEUM THEATRE

SAUGERTIES, NY

Trailblazers in rural arthouse cinema, Upstate Films began screening movies at historic Starr Theater in Rhinebeck in May of 1972. The two-screen space is currently undergoing a $1.4 million renovation, though one room remains open.

In 2010, they expanded to Woodstock to operate the Tinker Street Cinema. Founded

in 1961 in a pre-Civil War church, the 160seat, revival-house movie theater projects rare and forgotten movies from throughout cinema history, now under new ownership.

Upstate Films then bought and renovated the three-screen Orpheum Theatre in Saugerties, NY, in 2021. Then in September, they opened the new, 41-seat Midtown Screening Room in Kingston, NY, out of what was once an old barbershop. There are weekly community screenings for a dollar; for members and children, tickets are always $7.

“Kingston hasn’t had a theater within city limits since the ’70s,” says co-executive director Paul Sturtz. “The idea is to knit together the community as best we can. Our feeling is that each of these towns deserves its own theater.”

also…

For those traveling deeper into the mountains, consider a trip to Mountain Cinema featuring Hollywood, foreign and indie films at Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter, NY. The Moviehouse in Millerton,

And, of course, our Berkshires readers know to take a lovely drive to Images Cinema in Williamstown, MA, a former Spring Street fraternity house converted into

a movie house in 1916. Recent renovations split the theater into one 70-seat main screening room and a new 19-seat theater to show modern premieres alongside classic arthouse cinema.

Let’s go to the movies. And, sorry Uncle Tony, but I’m definitely having popcorn.

NY, and Phoenix Theatres Beacon Cinema in Pittsfield, MA, offer both independent and new releases in intimate spaces.

HOLIDAYS in CHATHAM, NY

This holiday season enjoy festive local shopping, food, drinks & holiday fun in the historic Village of Chatham, NY. For a complete list of businesses go to visitchathamny.com

PARK ROW GALLERY

Custom framing offering high-quality services for all types of artwork, photographs, and memorabilia with care and attention to every detail. 57 Main Street / (518) 392-4800 parkrowgallery.com

BOXWOOD LINEN

From the kitchen to the bed and bath we design beautiful moments for your everyday life. Discover endless options of fine linen for every room in your home with an emphasis on your holiday table. Happy Holidays everyone! 22 Main Street / (518) 392-3918 boxwoodlinen@gmail.com

THE CHATHAM BOOKSTORE

The Chatham Bookstore celebrates over 40 years in the heart of Chatham. We carry books for readers of all ages, along with art supplies and toys. 27 Main Street / (518) 392-3005 chathambookstore.indielite.com

One of New York state’s most charming towns, Chatham—nestled just east of the Hudson River— features a classic Main Street feel with a hint of modern style. Stroll down Hudson Avenue and Main Street to find delightful shops that will nourish your sense of style, your curiosity and your taste for fine foods and drink this holiday season.

CONCORD HILL SOAP & CANDLE

Our farmhouse country soap and candle shop brings warm, handcrafted charm-seasonal scents, rustic cheer, and farm-to-tub goodness to brighten your home with simple holiday magic. 54 Main Street / concordhillfarm.com concord.hill_farm@outlook.com

A unique micro-resort of romantic, artful tiny homes—each one different, each with its own story. Private hot tubs, fireside moments, with Main Street just steps away.

34 Center Street / artparkhomes.com @artparkhomes

Red Mannequin is not just about selling uniquely beautiful clothing and accessories to men and women...it’s about getting to know our customers, and respecting their tastes and lifestyles.

38 Main Street / (518) 392-7148 redmannequin697@gmail.com

9 Hudson Avenue / (518) 392-6675 jewelersroost.biz

ART PARK

CABA

RED MANNEQUIN

THE JEWELERS’ ROOST Step into The Jewelers’ Roost to work directly with the artists to design and create the jewelry you dream of.

spotlight Not-SoSecret GardeN

MOUNTAIN TOP ARBORETUM

in Tannersville makes a case for bundling up this winter. It’s worth every shiver.

By James Long

During visits to my sister and her family in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, we’d sometimes slip away to the Arnold Arboretum, a ten-minute walk from their backyard. No matter the weather, the 281-acre preserve, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, was the kind of place that rewarded wandering—a patchwork of pathways and circuitous routes that seemed to reorder themselves like an analemmatic sundial. On a fall day, the sharpness of the air would be filled with the scent of spruce and pine, while the maple trees, to borrow a line from neighboring Brookline’s famed Modernist poet Amy Lowell, “glittered with the tumbling of leaves.” Guided by my sister’s opportune horticultural knowhow—I wouldn’t know rhododendron from rhubarb—those walks were less about exercise than recalibration, a way of feeling returned to myself from Manhattan’s concrete confines through nature, motion and air.

winter wanderland

Mountain Top Arboretum’s 200 acres connect meadows, wetlands, Devonian-era bedrock and forest with a network of trails.

That same inner harmonizing has no doubt accorded many hikers who’ve visited the Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville, NY. Open every day of the year, perched at 2,400 feet in the northern Catskills, it’s less a manicured garden than a living dialogue between elevation and environment. Across its 200 acres, the multitude of native conifers and berry-laden shrubs give way to meadow and Devonian-era bedrock; a network of trails through evergreens leads to the forest edge, the rolling Catskills spilling out against a panoramic blue sky. It is, as its founders intended, a place for observation and instruction—the Arboretum’s timber frame Education Center hosts workshops along with other events, programs and guided walks—as well as for recreation, a landscape that changes not just with the seasons, but with one’s disposition.

A hardened city dweller, I’ve become partial to winter. The air burns a little in my lungs, and snow crusts over the edge of sidewalks, for a little while, anyway. It’s the kind of cold-hardy resilience required to appreciate the Mountain Top Arboretum’s wintertime flora and austere beauty: hemlocks glisten; an elevated boardwalk protects the bog’s marshy ground ecosystems; and the natural curves of a stream— part of the watershed that supplies most of New York City’s drinking water—make a hike in the snow not an act of endurance but of renewal, each breath bright, each step clarifying.

By March, everything will no doubt shift again. But bracing winter walks stay with me most. At the Mountain Top Arboretum’s altitude, even the silence must feel crisp.

Add a fresh ﬂock to your glassware collection with our Small Birds of the Northeast set—the perfect companion to our best-selling large bird glasses. Featuring four charming new designs, each illustrated in-house, these USA-made glasses are printed with non-toxic inks and available as singles or as a boxed set of four. Perfect for holiday gifting.

$8.95 each or $32 for the boxed set sett.onemercantile.com

274 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA (413) 528-1718

LaRue & Co.

Beautiful handcrafted ﬁne jewelry for humans, carefully crafted with love. Using eco conscious materials, and a focus on gender and size inclusion. Woman and LGBTQ+ owned and operated. We strive to make people feel safe and informed while shopping with us. So come play dress up and check us out for all of your holiday gifting needs.

Jewelry starting at $500 larueandco.co

@larueandcony / info@larueandco.com (845) 399-2597

Look Hudson

Look Apparel and Accessories is a standout shop carrying excellent vintage and contemporary clothing and so many sparkly gifts starting at $10 you’ll gasp!

Happy Holidays!

401 Warren Street (Inside Face Stockholm)

@lookhudson

Dassai Blue Essential Trio 375ml

This beautifully packaged set includes three premium sakes, Type 23, Type 35 and Type 50, all handcrafted in the Hudson Valley! Packaged in a special box, it’s the perfect gift for both curious beginners and sake lovers. Free shipping with orders over $90 using this code on dassai-blue.com: GIFTLIST25 dassai-blue.com

5 St Andrews Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538 (845) 407-0721

Hive & High Cheer Gummies

Celebrate the season with Hive & High’s festive honey gummies, a limited-edition holiday treat. Enjoy the cozy gingerbread-honey ﬂavor on its own or melt into a warm drink for an infused twist. Only available this holiday season at Gotham. $30 gotham.nyc

260 Warren Street, Hudson, NY, 12534 (518) 249-7159

Kasuri

A ﬁnely curated selection of Japanese, European, and American labels ﬁrmly rooted in the avant-garde, in an exquisitely renovated space where experimentation and tradition collide. kasuri.com / @kasuri_ny

Klocke Estate

Become a holiday hero instantly! Our elegant gift sets, perfect for any occasion, feature Brevis Vermouth Red & White 2-packs ($90) or Flyback ready-to-drink cocktail 3-packs ($117). The stunning packaging is as exquisite as the drinks within. Happy holidays! shop.klocke-estate.com

2554 County Rte. 27, Hudson, NY (518) 672-116

It’s Cooler in The Mountains

The Mountains gear is the perfect holiday gift for all of your mountaineers. Cool and cozy. Rep your love for the Catskills, Berkshires and Hudson Valley. Gift one to a friend or family…and pick one up for yourself. Purchase two items and take 20% off. Plus free shipping for the holidays! Hoodie $60 / Tote Bag $25 / W e Beanie $30 themountainsmedia.myshopify.com

albanymed.org/heart

mode

Life of Pie

Nikki Freihofer’s Salted Maple Bourbon wins Stissing House’s Pie Fest 2025.

1Stissing House’s recent Pie Fest 2025 winner Nikki Freihofer— who won with her pie—is also half the operation behind The Rolling Cones in Kingston, NY. The winning pie is currently available at the Pine Plains, NY, eatery.

2The Major’s Tailor is a vintage clothier specializing in uniforms—both military and otherwise—and has recently expanded to include a Warren Street storefront in Hudson, NY.

3Calling all jocks! Neighbor Running, also in Hudson’s famed Warren Street, has joined an ever-growing list of boutiques catering to the athlete inside all of us.

4The chic hotel Pocketbook Hudson is open for business with 46 rooms, enough for even the most luxurious and ambitious wedding party.

5Isn’t it always a good time for pizza? That’s definitely the case at Sorry Charlie in Kingston, NY, where great pizza is only the beginning. Famous for their classic Sicilian crust with a twist, their simple, yet bold homemade red sauce and their assortment of classic and creative toppings, the hotspot’s unofficial slogan is “That Dough Though.” Well deserved.

6The aptly named Old Toll House, in Ulster Park, NY, was originally built in 1775 and pre-dates the American declaration of independence from British rule. The 250-yearold fully restored gem is unexpectedly for sale for a (relatively) modest $799,000 and it’s listed with Sally Sprogis of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty.

The first sentence on the Marton & Davis website says, “A charming shop in the Village of Chatham, NY.”

Red Rooster is going viral. The six-decade old Brewster, NY institution was recently on the receiving end of some high praise when social media page Hidden Gems US Travel boosted the eatery as “as pure a slice of Americana as you’ll find anywhere in the northeast US”—and a short drive from us.

Montauk Catch Club just opened in Rosendale, NY, and is everything a great fresh seafood market and restaurant should be. Owned by Savannah Jordan and Parker Hollinger, this is definitely the sort of place that you’d see on the way to the Hamptons, but it’s right here instead. Lucky us.

Concise. Efficient. Honest. It’s a must-stop in Chatham. No doubt.

Summoning New Holiday Spirits

Step away from that eggnog pre-fab carton. These festive cocktails will restore your holiday cheer.

By Anthony Giglio

During the holidays I must confess to absolutely loving a proper eggnog— the kind that requires separating yolks from whites, whisking, folding and chilling overnight with enough bourbon, rum and Cognac to make Santa skip a few rooftops. But let’s be honest: most people’s eggnog comes from a sad paper carton that tastes like melted ice cream left out during a family argument. Do yourself a favor: skip the store-bought sludge. If your eggnog doesn’t require a whisk and a prayer, it’s not worth the calories.

This year, why not rewrite your holiday cocktail playbook—especially if you’re hosting a dinner party? You don’t need

to be a professional bartender to create cocktails that are festive and sophisticated. Still, it doesn’t hurt to take inspiration from those who shake and stir for a living.

Mulled Cider

BY BRIAN CROCCO, Beverage Manager

at Klocke Estate, Hudson, NY

I caught up with one of my favorite locals, Brian Crocco, who makes a spectacular mulled cider that’s as comforting as your favorite holiday sweater—but with far better aromatics. “Our country’s landmark apple poet Robert Frost encourages us at autumn harvest time to ‘Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall...,’” says Crocco. “We take

beautiful fresh-pressed cider from Samascott Orchards (in Kinderhook, NY), simmer it with star anise, clove and cinnamon. To that aromatic and rich juice, we add some of our own Klocke Un-Oaked Apple Brandy (00) and garnish it with a star anise pod.”

yields: 2 quarts

ingredients

4 Ceylon cinnamon sticks

8 Star anise pods

12–18 Cloves

2 Quarts Fresh cider

method

Toast the first three ingredients in a saucepan over low heat for five minutes or until very fragrant. Remove from heat and slowly add the cider. Simmer on low for one hour—mind your heat level, as too high a temperature will cause the cider to break. Strain and serve six ounces of juice with the desired amount of Klocke Estate “00” Apple Brandy or a high-quality Calvados.

Paradise Lost

BY PIA BAZZINI, Beverage Director at The Maker, Hudson, NY

Pia Bazzini reimagines the holiday ’nog with Paradise Lost, a luscious large-format cocktail that trades heavy cream for coconut milk and swaps brown spirits for agavebased ones. “It’s a delightful blend that captures the season’s essence without egg or cream,” says Bazzini. “With warming spices and rich coconut, it’s balanced by citrus and a hint of herbal complexity.” The result: all the holiday indulgence, none of the nap-inducing aftermath.

yields: 1 large-format batch

ingredients

30 oz Blanco tequila

10 oz Raicilla (or a non-smoky mezcal)

5 oz Green Chartreuse

15 oz Yuzu juice (or substitute lemon juice)

5 oz Lime juice

10 oz Simple syrup

20 oz Golden Milk (see next page)

½ tsp Coarse sea salt method

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl and stir well. Chill before serving. Serve over ice with a festive garnish—try a dusting of cinnamon or a sprig of sage.

Mulled Cider

Golden Milk Recipe

1½ Cans coconut milk

1 tbsp each black and pink peppercorns

1 tbsp Agave

6 Cinnamon sticks

¼ tsp Ground cinnamon

13 g Grated ginger

¼ tsp Ground ginger

20 g Grated turmeric

¼ tsp Ground turmeric

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for ten minutes, until fragrant and flavorful. Strain through a fine mesh strainer; it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Five Spice Flip

BY TAD CARDUCCI, Spirits Educator and Co-Founder at Tippling Bros.

While Hudson Valley bartenders are shaking up brilliance, I couldn’t resist calling an old friend who’s been stirring the national cocktail scene for decades: Tad Carducci. He’s the Co-Founder & Principal of Tippling Bros. and has spent more than a quarter century engineering cocktails at bars, consulting for top restaurants and co-authoring A Lime And A Shaker: Discovering Mexican-Inspired Cocktails (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

Tad’s Five Spice Flip takes a classic—spirit, whole egg and sugar—and gives it a warming twist with bourbon, Amaro Montenegro and a pinch of Chinese fve-spice. The result: a rich, silky cocktail that tastes like the holidays.

ingredients

1 oz Bourbon

1 oz Amaro Montenegro

1 Whole fresh egg

.75 oz Simple syrup (1:1 sugar-to-water ratio) Pinch of Chinese five-spice powder

method

Add all ingredients to a shaker. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds without ice (“dry shake”). Add ice and shake again for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled rocks glass and dust with additional Chinese five-spice.

and feel Devine! 71 Main St, South Egremont, MA

the berkshires best

NNOX Diamonds NNOX

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

Paradise Lost

Antique Jewelry

Electric Shock

By Simon Murray

As subsidies are phased out and batteries get smarter, automakers— including Jeep, Toyota and Subaru—are retooling for a plugged-in future that’s faster, cleaner and unexpectedly opaque. |

Forgive me for talking macroeconomics in a column about EVs, but technology is where money and politics now collide at full speed. At the time of writing, seven companies—Tesla among them— represent nearly 30 percent of the S&P 500’s market cap, investing billions into AI infrastructure despite little evidence of near-term profit. The resulting froth has prompted everyone from Sam Altman to Andrew Ross Sorkin to proclaim that the stock market is in a bubble.

Still, all the doom and gloom in the headlines tends to miss one thing: there’s a ton of innovation happening around the world—not just in AI, but across quantum computing, synthetic biology and, yes, renewable energy. In the lab, scientists have developed silver-ion coatings that extend lithium-metal battery life by 96 percent after 1,300 charges; Toyota is chasing the first solid-state EV battery, promising faster charging and longer range; and AI is now inspecting battery cells to spot microscopic defects before they reach production. While the

regulatory fate of gas-powered cars in the US remains uncertain, the innovators seem undeterred, charging ahead with breakthroughs that could redefine the next generation of EVs.

All of which brings us to the fun part: the cars themselves. Here are two EVs—and one plug-in hybrid—that capture this spirit of innovation in up-and-coming models.

2026 Jeep Compass 4xe

The current administration’s rollback of the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it led to a historic surge in third-quarter EV sales—more than 438,000 units for Ford, GM and Tesla combined. Proof, perhaps, that buyers aren’t ready to tap the brakes on electric propulsion just yet.

The new Compass 4xe leans into that momentum with its “4xe” powertrain— Jeep’s shorthand for plug-in hybrid technology that fuses a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with dual electric motors and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The result is up to 195 horsepower, about 30 miles of electric-only range and

mud slinger (above) The Jeep Compass 4xe has full Trail Rated capability, meaning it can crawl through mud, rocks and water just like its gas-powered counterparts; (opposite top) 2026 Toyota BZ Woodland Edition; (opposite bottom) 2026 Subaru Uncharted.

full Jeep’s Trail Rated capability, meaning it can crawl through mud, rocks and water just like its gas-powered counterparts.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Edition

Like it or not, keeping politics out of car buying went out the window the moment Mr. Musk went to Washington. Whether you’ve pried the T off your Tesla or just want a car that won’t start a debate, your home state might still help foot the bill. In New York, for instance, the Drive Clean Rebate offers up to $2,000 off more than 60 EV models, with the greater the range, the greater the rebate. And if you’re Massachusetts-based, the MOR-EV program provides $3,500 for all-electric vehicles or $1,500 for plug-in hybrids.

Toyota’s bZ Woodland Edition, expected at dealerships in early 2026, feels destined for both lists. Based on the refreshed bZ4X platform and tuned for adventure, its standard all-wheel drive, upgraded suspension and all-terrain tires make it the most trail-ready member of Toyota’s growing “Beyond Zero” lineup. With an estimated 250-mile range and improved charging speeds, it’s proof the company’s slow-and-steady EV strategy might finally be hitting its stride.

2026 Subaru Uncharted

My wife and I recently bought an Ascent from the lovely folks at Haddad Subaru in Pittsfield. It was there I laid eyes on the upcoming Uncharted and, without hesitation, told them that would be my next car. (In hopefully a decade, but still.) Due out next spring, the Uncharted will sit on Subaru’s new e-Global platform—shared with Toyota—and slot just above the Solterra. Early specs suggest dual motors, standard all-wheel drive and around 300 miles of range. True to Subaru form, it looks ready to tackle snowbanks, muddy trails and, of course, I-84 in winter.

Ask me again in a decade. By then, my next Subaru might drive itself, charge in five minutes and politely tell me it’s time to stop writing about EVs and just enjoy the ride.

WOODFIRED PIZZA HOMEMADE PASTA

Tuesday–Thursday seating 5:00pm–8:30pm

Friday & Saturday seating 11:30am–8:30pm

The Boys Of Summer

In Town&Country, Brian Schaefer’s keenly observed debut novel, pink polos upend not only real estate prices but the very idea of belonging.

By James Long

Like many before me and since, I spent summer weekends on Fire Island Pines—a feverish, salt-air season that glows in my memory like a sun-faded photograph.

Every Friday, I joined a bevy of gay men fleeing New York City for the barrier island’s wooden boardwalks and dune paths, where Speedos were less suggestion and

more necessity and the weekends were choreographed for pleasure. I shared a weathered cedar house with several friends, all of us single and young enough to mistake our self-indulgence as a permanent escape. On one memorable après-beach afternoon, we hosted what I would grandly describe as a Dionysiac sarong party. Inviting friends from other houses—and newly minted “friends with benefits,” like seashells, collected from the beach—everyone came wrapped in a length of bright cloth knotted at the hip, their glistening tanned torsos bare. Accessories of beads, rhinestone tiaras and feather boas were nearly as loud as our stereo (or was it a boom box?) blaring a Pet Shop Boys cassette from the deck. Someone snapped Polaroids—too many, maybe—and they remain with me still, a shoebox archive of youthful excess and the fleeting ease of those weekends.

One might imagine how my chronicle stretched into the future—a scenario delightfully rendered in Brian Schaefer’s sharp debut novel, Town & Country (Atria Books). The gays are older; some are

gone, lost to AIDS before the pills arrived, others married thanks to laws that finally caught up to reality. Their careers secured and their wallets heavier, they traded Fire Island shares for farmhouses, fixeruppers and Gothic revivals, their NYC polish seeding gentrification in trendy rural towns and hamlets: another kind of Pines invasion, quieter but no less

We

transformative. And, as Schaefer’s prose artfully captures, no less contentious.

Town & Country takes place in Griffin, a rustic township whose watchful inhabitants see a threat from afar, like the mythical creature that shares its name. Part of a swing district heading toward a congressional election in six months, Griffin finds itself caught between shifting allegiances— between lifelong townsfolk and the pink-polo-wearing “power gays,” to whom Schaefer bestows other clever taxonomic classifications I won’t spoil—the latter’s influx driving up real estate and remaking its streets into expensive gourmet-this and boutique-that, gourmandizing salmon-dill canapés and poolside bottles of rosé.

The Griffin gays have also registered to vote—and therein lies the battle. One of their own, Paul Banks, is running for the House seat, his campaign bankrolled by

his older husband Stan, whose private grief shadows Paul’s public ascent. On the opposing side is Chip Riley, who owns the local pub—a gathering place largely unchanged over the years. His wife, Diane, a devout Protestant and real estate agent, is grappling with a “both saint and sinner”

tug-of-conscience: once leading a crusade against same-sex marriage, she’s now selling homes to the “impossibly plural” gay transplants.

Schaefer is a character virtuoso, populating Town & Country with figures who are at once recognizable and wonderfully unexpected. Add to the novel’s intrigue two Riley sons: Will, a college student fresh out of the closet, and his older brother, Joe, struggling with addiction over the death of his best friend; the self-loathing Leon Rogers whose calculated moves to be accepted by the in-group backfire; and Eric Larimer, whose unlikely bond with a late-twenties farmer is a window into the region’s complicated soul.

Harkening back to my summers on Fire Island, it feels as mythical now as Schaefer’s intrepid Griffin. Both places, real or fictional, wrestle with their own kinds of elections— what it means to belong, and who and what must be sacrificed to do so. Refusing to choose between the story I lived or the one I’ve read, in the end, I’m casting my vote to proudly hold them together.

main character Author Brian Schaefer is a character virtuoso, populating Town & Country with figures who are at once recognizable and unexpected.

Wire To Wire

Kingston’s Archtop Fiber strives to build better connections. Literally.

By Audrey Chamberlin

Phone and electricity companies have a (perhaps well-earned) reputation for being difficult, obtuse and frustrating—but a new company in the Kingston area hopes to turn expectation on its head.

Archtop Fiber is bringing fiber-optic internet to rural and suburban cities across the Hudson Valley and beyond, hoping to replace the current copper-based options. While their coverage is small at the moment, they say they have ambitious intentions of expanding their reach to cover more than 2,500 miles. And with $78

million in funding awarded to the company this September, with a $28 million match to serve 2,511 locations in five counties (Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Orange and Sullivan) with fiber optic technology, they’re poised to do just that.

The benefits of fiber-optic internet over the older cable systems are many. First, data can travel much faster down the cable, which means the internet gets faster with no effort from the consumer. Second, it allows the internet to be more reliable, as it’s not dependent on good weather or light usage from everyone in the neighborhood. Third, the cable enables download and upload times to be similar in pace, which means workflows can be much more streamlined than initially expected. While fiber-optic internet does require a higher upfront cost, it promises long term cost savings because the cables last longer than copper and

require less maintenance and remove the need for signal boosters or other bandwidth add-ons. The main limiter of fiber-optic internet is simply that it’s newer technology, and implementing it can be expensive and disruptive, especially for areas that already use the old cable internet system.

Archtop Fiber says they also have a strong commitment to their community. Their code of ethics is proudly displayed in their ESG reports, and their website boasts their commitment to hiring local and having excellent customer service. They also pledge on their website to use green energy, a promise that’s compounded by

the fact that fiber-optic cable is much more energy efficient than previous systems. They’re also dedicated to showing up in their community, often hosting booths at local events to promote their business and hand out free coffee to passersby. This year, WVT Fiber, an Archtop Fiber company, delivered reliable connectivity to Applefest, in Warwick, NY, to help bridge a connectivity gap as 30,000 visitors gathered for the beloved community event.

And their 4.5-star rating on Google suggests their customers are apparently happy they switched to fiber. The future is almost here. Even in the mountains.

moral fiber Archtop Fiber says they’re proud of their code of ethics, their commitment to their community and their pledge to use green energy.

This House Is Totes lit

This LaGrangeville, NY, family’s massive holiday light display holds the Guinness World Record for a private home. Definitely worth a post-sunset trip, no?

sweet charity

“Our family feels blessed we found a way to bring joy to others and help fund charitable causes,” says Tim Gay.

By Audrey Chamberlin

Christmas evokes several warm memories for me—early morning presents, late night hot cocoa and of course, extravagant decorations. It always reminds me of the light show my parents used to drive my brother and me to see back in Chicago where I grew up.

They’d tune the radio to a Christmas station that was synchronized with the light show as the two of us in the back seat stared up in awe at the glimmering displays. We’d try our best to find all the hidden snowmen and, at the end, Santa would give us each a candy cane. That display hasn’t been active for many years, but the magic lives on in LaGrangeville, NY, at the house of The Gay Family.

Tim Gay, the mind behind the extravagant display, saw in 2005 a video of a similar display to the one I’d seen as a child—and it inspired him to set up his own light show. The family already had a tradition of lights in their yard for their three children, but as the family grew older, so did their individual contributions to the lightshow, eventually swelling into a Guinness World Record-breaking spectacle that spreads

joy throughout their entire neighborhood. Tim and his wife, Grace, both have engineering backgrounds and they passed that love on to their children, who return to LaGrangeville every year in November to help set up the lights.

“It’s provided a reason for us to spend much time together in the fall, and, as a father, I’m very thankful for that,” Tim says. “Our family feels blessed that we found a way to bring joy to others and help fund many worthy charitable causes in our community.”

The family has refused to accept any money for their contributions to the neighborhood. Instead, for the last several years, they’ve partnered with their local fire department, using the lightshow as a fundraiser. At last count, they’d raised more than $700,000 since 2012. The lights will return this year— with a whopping light count of 745,994—on November 28. Visitors are free to drive along the property from 4:45pm on, though closing times vary by night: Sunday through Thursday the lights turn off at 9:30pm, and on Friday and Saturday they turn off at 10:30pm. They’re decommissioned for the year on December 28. Find the “ERDAJT” Christmas Display (an anagram of Tim & Grace’s children’s initials) in the town of Union Vale at 8 Patrick Drive, LaGrangeville, NY, 12540 and find more information at erdajt.com

Music Rooms

When it’s chilly outside, love the tunes inside.

By Sean McAlindin

Winter in the mountains is perhaps the most glamorous time to stay indoors for dinner and a live show.

On cold, holiday nights, there’s nothing better than world-class entertainment, up close and personal, cozy cheer and all. Here are our picks for the jolliest shows of the season.

Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston gets into the spirit with The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show on November

30, A Christmas Carol on December 6-7, The Nutcracker from December 12-14, “A Celtic Christmas” by A Taste of Ireland on December 18, Jessica Lynn’s “A Very Merry Classic Christmas” on December 20, alongside regular children’s programming, films and Met performances.

Tubby’s presents Liam Kazar and Adeline Hotel on December 3, Welsh garage rock trio The Bug Club on December 4, Bitchin Bajas on December 9, experimental rocker Steve Gunn on

December 13, Light Beams on January 28 and Marissa Nadler on February 17.

At Stissing Center in Pine Plains, Windborne presents “Music of Midwinter” on December 13, and on December 14 Nurit Koppel presents “Apologies Necessary,” a one-woman show about her extraordinary bond with comic icon Richard Lewis.

Amid a nightly lineup of the best cover bands in the land, Daryl’s House in Pawling has Rum Runners on January 25, The Junco Partners on February 12 and The True North Jazz Project on February 15.

Basilica Hudson gets heated with underground indie acts Cate Le Bon on January 17, Explosions In The Sky on January 30 and Dry Cleaning on January 31.

Park Theater has King in Yellow on December 5, Winterpills on December 6, Wingéd Monkeys presents “Holiday Pieces” from December 12-14 and Chris Trapper with Canyon on February 28.

A packed slate at Avalon Lounge in Catskill invites Julia Kent on December 5, The Ladybug Transistor on December 6, Pink Mountaintops on December 8,

Nestled in the Catskills, the Ashokan Center is a 385-acre nature preserve and learning center welcoming over 16,000 visitors of all ages each year.

Our nonproﬁt programming in the arts, outdoor education, traditional music & dance, and community events sparks creativity, curiosity, connection, and a deeper care for the natural world.

Lizzie West on December 13 and Chavez / Ismaily / Saunier on January 10.

Towne Crier Café in Beacon welcomes a slew of holiday-themed shows from Pedro Luis Ferrar on December 5, Sloan Wainwright on December 6, Alicia Witt on December 12, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on December 20 and The Costellos on December 21. Zydeco artist C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band roll into town February 22.

In the outskirts of Woodstock, Levon Helm Studios brings Ollabelle on November 29, Neighbor on December 5 and The Helm Family Midnight Ramble on November 28, December 6 and December 31. “The Sounding Joy” holiday concert on December 20 will benefit Washbourne House featuring talented locals such as Marco Benevento, Natalie Merchant, Gail Ann Dorsey and Amy Helm. Beloved New England jammers Max Creek rock out February 27-28.

Bearsville Theater wakes up with SunDub and The Medicinals on November 28, Marky Ramone’s “Holiday Blitzkrieg”

on December 6, Whiskey Treaty Roadshow on December 12, Rhett Miller’s “All-Star Holiday Party” on December 19, Dogs In A Pile on December 30-31, Pete Francis on February 13, The Barr Brothers on February 21 and Margo Price on February 26.

The Colony gathers Bruce Katz Band on December 5, Lilly Hiatt and Jenny Owen Youngs on December 11, Portland-based thread spinners Jeffrey Martin and Anna Tivel on December 14, Jeffrey Gaines on December 26, Rick Danko’s birthday party with Prof. Louie & The Crowmatix with The Woodstock Horns on December 27 and Driftwood on January 23.

The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington has Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet’s “A Guaraldi Holiday” on December 5, electroacoustic

duo ARKAI on December 6, Indigo Comedy Night with Ariel Ellis on December 12 and John Pizzarelli Trio’s tribute to Tony Bennett on December 20.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center presents “Christmas Dreaming” with Stella Cole on December 14.

The Falcon in Marlboro hosts Cameron Brown and Dannie’s Calypso on November 30, The Brighton Beat on December 6, Jeremy Baum Trio’s “Charlie ‘Baum’ Christmas” on December 11 and 21, English-Sudanese songwriter Sinkane on December 12, the annual Collazo Christmas benefit concert on December 19 and Ed Palermo Big Band’s “Christmas Spectacular” on December 20.

Egremont Barn snuggles up with Shawn Taylor on November 30, Alice Peacock on December 3, The Lily Vakili Band on December 5, Wanda Houston Project on December 6, Ryan Montbleu on December 12-13 and Trae Sheehan on December 18.

See you at the show.

BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Nightly, Nov 28–Dec 28

Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show with Larger-Than-Life Displays on the Grounds of Bethel Woods!

Walk-thru on Mondays

Holiday Market NOV 28, 29 & 30

3-Day Artisan Market with Over 75 Vendors + Saturday Pop-Up Markets Until Christmas

Dinner with Santa DEC 13 & 20 Kids of All Ages Will Delight in a Festive Dinner with Santa!

Feast of the Seven Fishes

DEC 19

price check Margo Price at Bearsville Theater; (opposite) Explosions In The Sky at Basilica Hudson.

Trick Or Tryst

Woodstock’s burlesque queen rocks the kasbah at Colony.

By Sean McAlindin

Ever the star of her own show, Woodstock, NY’s, resident burlesque madame, Tryst La Noir, knows how to get your attention. She grew up in Queens and spent her teenage years on Long Island, the sounds of New Order, Depeche Mode, En Vogue and Kate Bush echoing through suburban hallways.

“I remember being as young as three, dancing in front of my TV,” Tryst says. “MTV was always on, and I was probably wearing someone’s sunglasses. I used to draw on my Barbies and give them lingerie and chokers, eyeliner and lipstick.”

A self-described token goth girl in high school, Tryst moved back to NYC at 22 when she landed her first job as a makeup artist.

“I couldn’t wait to get out of my sleepy town and meet other vampires like me,” she says. “I was a wild child—a parent’s worst nightmare, really. It’s OK. I survived.”

After exiting a series of relationships with what she says were controlling men, Tryst attended

her first burlesque show in Brooklyn. From the moment she set foot inside, she knew she was going to be on stage. She moved Upstate and continued to return to perform at House of Yes.

“I’d be doing my makeup on the bus,” she says. “It was a wild time…and a good crowd.”

Now, Tryst hosts bimonthly burlesque cabarets at Colony in Woodstock. She’s set off a few smoke alarms, perhaps while pouring blood on herself, half-naked in a giant chalice, or when entrancing audiences with a classically sultry strip tease, shrouded in a bittoo-much fog machine.

“No one should ever be afraid of burlesque,” she says. “It’s fun. It’s funny. It can be silly, dark, sexy, campy or cheeky. On stage, we’re the most vulnerable but at the same time, it’s very empowering. It’s ancient, in a way. It’s a ritual. It’s therapy. It’s hypnotic. And for those few moments, the crowd is in the palm of your hand.”

Tryst hosts the radio show, “Nighthawks,” every Wednesday from 7 to 9pm on 98.1 FM WKZE. She’s currently working on her third LP of dark, romantic pop music.

“Embrace who you are,” she says. “I’m living proof you can follow your dreams and passions. That’s what my parties are all about. I want the freak parade to come to town and feel the freedom of art and expression.”

Tryst presents “Season’s Shimmies” on December 13 and “Cupid’s Cabaret” on February 14 at Colony with a little help from The Red Foxxx lingerie shop in Woodstock. trystofficial.com

(518) 828-4417

Serving the business community for over 60 years, we are your friends, your neighbors, your chamber!

Join us and learn what over 500 local business already know— Chamber membership is a great investment and itʼs for everyone!

vampire diaries “I couldn’t wait to get out of my sleepy town and meet other vampires like me,” says Tryst La Noir, host of burlesque cabarets at Colony in Woodstock, NY.

CA AR CALENDAR

december

An Amarcord Christmas Caramoor Center for Music & the Arts, Katonah, NY

The acclaimed Leipzig-based vocal quintet spans five centuries with a program of seasonally inspired songs. caramoor.org

7 The Irish Tenors

Paramount Hudson Valley Theatre, Peekskill, NY

For some, no holiday is complete without a few poignant tunes from the auld sod, as delivered by a worldclass trio of “vocal ambassadors.” paramounthudsonvalley.com

11 Judy Collins

Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, Bethel, NY

Collins attended Woodstock but not as a performer (an incomprehensible diss). At age 86, she’s still feisty and in fine voice, an enduring inspiration. bethelwoodscenter.org

12-14

Jewish Catskills Weekend

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge Hunter, NY

It’s time to celebrate traditional foods and other pleasures while based at a recently “re-interpreted” classic hotel. scribnerslodge.com

12-21

KinoSaito Annual: Community Art Beneﬁt

KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY

Check off your gift list while playing patron to Hudson Valley artists “in all stages of their careers.” kinosaito.org

13 Holiday Open House

Rosemary Farm Sanctuary

South Kortright, NY

Check out this 250-acre equine sanctuary—home to more than 100 burros, donkeys and horses (including some Central Park retirees)—while sipping cocoa and stocking up on fab crafts. rosemaryfarm.org

13 Artist Workshop with Louis Henry Mitchell

Norman Rockwell Museum Stockbridge, MA

The creative director of character design at Sesame Workshop helms a midday all-ages handson workshop. Unleash your inner muppeteer! nrm.org

17 Tracking Winter Wildlife For Beginners

The Mount, Lenox, MA

This Audubon-led exploration of the novelist’s grand estate promises “signs of delicate but exciting interactions between predators”—cue Undine Spragg. edithwharton.org

january

23-25

Finding Beauty In The Storm

Kripalu, Stockbridge, MA

Stuck in a doomscrolling spiral?

Consider a time-out retreat with Maria Sirois, author of The Generous Exchange: How Attention To Beauty, Goodness and Excellence Restores Us And Our World kripalu.org

24

Dvořák And The Music Of Ukraine

Fisher Center at Bard Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

Tatiana Kalinichenko, co-founder/ conductor of Kyiv’s New Era Orchestra, leads Bard’s graduatelevel The Orchestra Now (TŌN) in a program celebrating the courage of the Ukrainian people. ton.bard.edu

20

february

7 Malpaso Dance

Orpheum Performing Arts Center, Tannersville, NY

What To Wear

Wear

MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA

Fringe avatar Richard Foreman is enjoying something of a posthumous renaissance. Catch a glimpse of his 2006 post-rock opera spoofing the vagaries of fashion before it heads to the Brooklyn Academy of Music midJanuary. massmoca.org

Some impassioned modern Cuban choreography might be just the ticket to chase away the winter blahs. catskillmtn.org/ orpheum-performing-arts-center

The Vertical Challenge

Bousquet Mountain Pittsfield, MA

The whole fam can compete in this free fun race, which comes with swag, prizes and a DJ on deck. bousquetmountain.com

Cash Is Queen

Rosanne Cash calibrates her rousing sound for an elegant salon in Katonah. |

By Sandy MacDonald

Shy of cadging an invitation to singer/ songwriter Rosanne Cash’s New York City loft or Upstate retreat, this is probably the closest you can get to hanging out with the legatee/legend. Johnny Cash’s eldest daughter started out touring as a wardrobe assistant fresh out of high school in 1973, then quickly found her way to a mic. The rest is rock history: four Grammys to date, culminating in this year’s double CD The Essential Collection top picks from her impressive 14 albums (so far).

Cash’s repertoire defies categorization: country, definitely, but also folk, pop, rock, blues… whatever catches her ear. Classical has been largely incognita, but perhaps she’ll be inspired by the ghosts of music past who once regaled the intimate (192-seat) Rosen House music room, the Renaissance Art-bedecked centerpiece of the 81acre Caramoor estate and a beacon for musicians of every genre for the past 80 years. Proceeds from the event (super-fans at the $500 ticket level earn a private reception) will go toward supporting Caramoor’s upkeep and ongoing dedication to artistic development.

The set list may be a matter of spur-of-themoment inspiration, but with Cash’s spouse, celebrated singer/ songwriter John Leventhal as sideman, you’re sure to experience the couple’s shared love for music’s power to heal, both personally and on a global level.

“We all need art and music like we need blood and oxygen,” Cash wrote in her 2010 memoir, Composed, completed as she recovered from brain surgery. “The more exploitative, numbing and assaulting popular culture becomes, the more we need the truth of a beautifully phrased song, dredged from a real person’s depth of experience, delivered in an honest voice.”

ISolvedit!Here’s

| By

Abbe Aronson

t’s no surprise that I’m not remotely excited about the holidays this year, because, honestly, how much more crap does anyone need?

I’ve been clearing the decks for months, selling off a ton of my Mid-Century Modern ceramics and glassware, donating books by

the blue-IKEA-bag-full to various Little Free Libraries, eating out of my own kitchen with renewed intention (I made Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon recipe three times, among a dozen other recipes, so that I’d have extras to freeze when I didn’t feel like cooking—and that time is now).

My child is grown, and the holidays hold no appeal in terms of gift-giving because when I see something that I think he’d like (a pair of paintings at the Brimfield Antique Fair in May, for example), the purchase isn’t colored by the time of year or the occasion. And as for me? Honestly, every day is Christmas. I buy myself what I like if I’ve got the money to spend; as I’m fond of saying, my headstone will read, “She died penniless but with a great art collection.”

Combine this with the decidedly bah-humbug mental state of the world and I’ve realized that gifts this year should be about giving back, reusing/recycling or improving our wellbeing. With that in mind, I’m delighted to present my shortlist of “Perfect Holiday Gifts For When You’re Not Feeling Very Gift-y.”

First up, Oyster Party. Coowner Kyle Needham realized that while many of his pals love oysters, most of them had no idea

shellfish acts

Woodstock’s Oyster Party is a curated raw bar for hire and a gift that you can enjoy with loved ones and friends.

how to properly shuck them, and he quickly escalated this “best party guest ever” offering into a curated raw bar for hire, available in and around NYC, ultimately partnering with Samuel Keller. After more than a decade of catering and pop-up markets,

SHOP NOW Visit our shop at themountainsmedia. myshopify.com to ﬁnd The Mountains official gear.

Oyster Party now has a dedicated home outside of Woodstock on the Hotel Dylan property. What better holiday “present” for my beloveds than a shellfish extravaganza, maybe even one I can host in my pajamas in my own house?

Speaking of ways to celebrate/ gather with panache, I am gaga for S²Style, headed by master stylists and lauded costume designers Stephanie Maslansky and Sharon Globerson. Yes, the duo has dressed nearly everyone who has graced the red carpet and certainly can take you big bucks shopping on Madison Avenue—but some of their most creative options (all avail as gift certificates, so, as mentioned, perfect for the holidays) include a wardrobe evaluation and closet reset session. I love how this works for the fashion plate who wants a fresh set of eyes on their

wardrobe (we all need a “what to keep/what to ditch” refresher, don’t we?); a session with the ladies always yields some truly creative tips for wearing/pairing a favorite clothing item in a whole new way.

Want a few other ideas for ways to gift that keep an eye on consumption with a slightly smaller price tag?

If you’re following Isabel Klee, a.k.a. @simonsits, you already know that she’s about the closest thing a mere mortal can be whilst doing “God’s work.” An animal activist who’s dedicated her personal and professional lives to saving as many shelter animals as possible by fostering rescues and helping them heal from pronounced trauma on their way to new forever homes, Klee has captured the heart of social media. With nearly 700k followers on

Instagram, she takes us along as she fosters the neediest cases with love, patience and courage. Among her followers? The head of Oscar de la Renta, who just worked with Klee on a collection of dog accessories, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to one of Klee’s favorite orgs, Muddy Paws Rescue. I’m donating as well as purchasing Klee’s new book for a bunch of friends as part of a feel good/spend less holiday 2025.

And now for something entirely different? How about a deep-dive Tarot reading, or a series of guided lessons on learning how to explore the mystical practice on your own? Cazimi Modern Tarot offers one-on-one private readings, small group readings and newbieto-advanced instruction for individuals or focused gatherings. Tarot has an incredible story and was first documented in 15th century Milan. The practice counts Napoleon and Carl Jung among

its most notable Tarot-curious followers in history, in addition to being utilized by countless intuitives around the globe today. Full disclosure: Cazimi Modern Tarot is me! I’ve been studying and reading Tarot as a spiritual outlet for some time and launched a public-facing practice a few years ago. For the holidays, mention, “It’s cooler in the mountains” when you book a session with Cazimi Modern Tarot and I’ll donate a portion of proceeds to the Regional Food Bank Hudson Valley as my own give-back. Happy Holidays. Trust me, you don’t need a thing.

event planners

Christofora Events

721 Broadway #245 Kingston, NY 12401 845.430.6394 christoforaevents.com

Cathy’s Elegant Events, LLC

Serving Hudson Valley, Catskills 518.653.3505 cathyselegantevents.com

Jillian J Events

Serving the Berkshires and Hudson Valley 914.552.3811 jillianjevents.com

Berkshire Muse

Serving the Berkshires 917.704.7077 berkshiremuse.com

Mezze Events

Serving the Berkshires and Hudson Valley 413.458.8745 mezzeevents.com

unKAGed events

211 Fishkill Avenue Beacon, NY 12508 201.397.3564 unkagedevents.com

Lola’s Weddings & Events 131 Washington Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 845.471.8550 lolasweddingsandevents.com

With more than 30 years of experience in off premise catering, Lola’s specialties include weddings, small engagement parties, corporate outings and birthday parties.

Envious Events, LLC

Serving Dutchess County 914.804.4785 enviousevents.com

Caterers & Bartenders

The Hudson Valley Stir Up

845.313.5870 hvstirup.com

Sabatozzi Personal Chef & Catering

Serving Dutchess County Area Hyde Park, NY 845.416.1585

CRISP Catering

159 Water Street Williamstown, MA 01267 crispcateringevents.com

Elite Mobile Bar Service 1 North Front Street Hudson, NY 12534 (518) 828-4417 CocktailsMobileBartender.com

Berkshire Catering Company 66 Jerome Drive Williamstown, MA 01267 413.228.3737 berkshirecateringco.com

Catering the Berkshires for 35 years, Berkshire Catering Company offers outstanding food and exceptional personalized services that’ll create an event to remember.

Georgia Rays Kitchen 9 Ginsberg Lane Hudson, NY 12534 518.828.3245 georgiarays.com

Hudson Valley Food Dude 845.901.4715 hvfooddude.com

Bridge Creek Catering 30 Jenkinstown Road

New Paltz, NY 12561 845.255.9234 bridgecreekcatering.com

Florists

Bella Flora

760 South Main Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 413.528.1581 bellafloraberkshires.com

Sprig and Social 21 Green Street Suite B Hudson, NY 12534

518.822.7500 sprigandsocialshop.com

Since their founding in 2013, Sprig and Social has been at the forefront of creating unforgettable moments not just in the Hudson Valley area, but across the globe.

Tiny Hearts Farm Flower Shop 2643 NY-23 Hillsdale, NY 12529 tinyheartsfarm.com

Hudson Valley Floral 11 Eastdale Avenue South Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845.271.5331 hudsonvalleyfloral.com

Blooming Visions Hudson Valley 4863 NY-9G Tivoli, NY 12583

845.705.0887 bloomingvisionshudsonvalley.com

Litchﬁeld Hills Nursery Inc. 393 Torrington Road Litchfield, CT 06759 860.567.9374 litchfieldhillsnursery.com

Dancing Tulip Floral Boutique 114 Partition Street Saugerties, NY 12477 845.247.3164 dancingtulipfloral.com

Woodstock Field to Vase Reynolds Road Woodstock, NY 12498 845.417.4142 woodstockfieldtovase.com

Cleaning Services

Upstate Cleaning Service 75 Oneil Street Kingston, NY 12401 845.663.8344 upstatecleaningservices.com

All Cleaning Pros 84 Patrick Lane Suite 10 Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845.905.9151 allcleaningpros.com

McGuire’s Top to Bo om Cleaning Service 27 Horizon Hill Drive Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845.223.7147 mcguirescleaning.com

Clean Green House Cleaning of Ulster County Serving Gardiner, New Paltz, Stone Ridge, Woodstock and Kingston Areas 845.616.8968 ulstercountyhousecleaning.com

Hudson Valley Spotless Cleaning 2 Washburn Terrace Saugerties, NY 12477 845.802.3528 hudsonvalleyspotlesscleaning.com

Top Notch Cleaning 611 Prospect Street Torrington, CT 06790 203.206.0717

Berkshire Family Cleaning 158 Windsor Avenue Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.329.2071 berkshirefamilycleaning.com

Nikjoe Housekeeping & Management Services 66 Winesap Road Pittsfield, MA 01201 855.601.5563 nikjoe.com

With more than two decades of experience, family-owned Nikjoe Housekeeping & Management Services LLC is committed to delivering top-tier services and personalized solutions that ensure the highest standards possible.

Party Rentals

Nene’s Deco

144 South Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.344.9755 nenesdeco.com

Rhinebeck Party Rentals

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

Events Unlimited Tents & Party

5 Tissal Road Saugerties, NY 12477 845.246.7370 peakeventservices.com

Martinez Party Rental

210 Cottage Street Suite 107 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 845.505.1030 mtzpartyrental.com

CT Event Masters

59 Field Street Torrington, CT 06790 860.690.9461 cteventmasters.com

With more than a quarter-century of experience in the catering and party rental industry, CT Event Masters is proud to be the top party rental company in Connecticut for birthdays, graduations, weddings or town events.

Classical Tents and Party Goods

43 Downing Industrial Parkway Pittsfield, MA 01201 800.708.3687 classicaltents.com

Mahaiwe Tent

125 Sheffield Business Park Ashley Falls, MA 01222 413.528.5945 Mahaiwetent.com

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

DJs

On1 Entertainment NY

Serving Hudson Valley 845.674.7587 djon1.com

The Hudson Valley Event Group

Serving Poughkeepsie Area 845.782.3259 hveventgroup.com

DJ Domenic Entertainment

Serving Dutchess County and Connecticut 45 Sleight-Plass Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845.473.0041 djdomentertainment.com

Jade DJ Entertainment 171 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561 845.380.4207 jadedjentertainment.com

Old Soul Sounds 163 North Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.822.6826 oldsoulsounds.com

Inspired by their passion for music, Old Soul Sounds specializes in top tier DJ & MC services, event booking, planning and music curation, in addition to equipment rental, lighting services and audio guestbook rental.

Full Blast Entertainment Serving Litchfield County, CT 860.400.2320 fullblastentertainment.com

MSV Entertainment

396 Main Street Beacon, NY 12508 845.264.0800 musicspeaksvolumes.com

A Perfect Blend Entertainment 12 North Division Street Peekskill, NY 10566 914.941.0536 apbentertainment.com

Entertainment

(Caricaturist; Magician; Santa Claus)

Caricature Dreams–Joe Vissichelli

Serving New York and Connecticut Taft Avenue Lynbrook, NY 11563 516.593.4844 caricaturedreams.com

Chris Anthony Magic Serving Connecticut and New York area 718.518.8030 chrisanthonymagic.com

The Great Rolando - Magician Serving Massachusetts area 774.297.7611 greatrolando.com

Jackie ReynoldsBee Bee the Clown

Serving the Hudson Valley area 845.758.1938 beebeetheclown.com

JoJo’s Party Pals

Serving Fishkill, NY, area 845.621.3816 jojospartypals.com

BTC Family Entertainment

Serving Great Barrington area 413.442.4254 btc-entertainment.com

BTC Family Entertainment is an award-winning outfit featuring the very best in wholesome family entertainment, with magic and clown shows, expert balloon art and face painting, pirate and princess parties and more.

Duane Paul (A New York Santa) Serving Dutchess County and surrounding areas gigsalad.com/duane_paul_the_bronx

Marco The Magician

Serving Poughkeepsie area 646.320.6030 marcofrezza.com

Falkirk Estate 206 Smith Clove Road Central Valley, NY 10917 845.928.8060

Proudly offering certified Glatt Kosher catering services for weddings, milestone celebrations, and community events.

Osborne’s Flower Shoppe 30 Vassar Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845.462.5320 poughkeepsieflowershop.com

Spread joy this Hanukkah when you send beautiful Designer’s Choice Hanukkah arrangement flowers designed by Osborne’s expert florists.

Candlestock 16 Mill Hill Road Woodstock, NY 12498 845.679.8711 candlestock.com

Concepts of Art/Lenox Judaica 65 Church Street Lenox, MA 01240 413.637.4845 conceptsofart.com

Matrushka Toys & Gi s 28 Railroad Street

Great Barrington, MA, 01230 413.528.6911 berkshiretoys.com

Lev & Ida’s 359 Columbia Street at Cannonball Factory Hudson, NY 12534 838.273.9287 levandidas.com

Great Barrington Bagel & Deli 777 South Main Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 413.528.9055 gbbagel.com

Challah On The Hudson 46 Grandview Avenue Kingston, NY 845.656.7424 challahonthehudson.com

Hanukkah

I Need, I want

The best gifts to get are the gifts that get you. Pictures +

LIST

Words

by Martha Frankel

The best gift I’ve ever gotten came from a friend about two weeks after Hurricane Irene ripped through the Hudson Valley. We’d lost the bridge to our home and were schlepping everything over a small walking bridge my husband had strung for us.

The gift was delivered in a small cooler. Nestled inside were six cooked waffles, a pound of perfectly crisp bacon, a pint of local maple syrup. There was a loaf of warm bread from Bread Alone, a jar of chunky peanut butter and some homemade peach jam. A glass container with a large, cooked piece of salmon, a kale salad and some roasted butternut squash. Six cupcakes replete with sprinkles were the finishing touch. (Thank you, Sharon Cooper.)

showing love

Some gifts are foolproof: a charcuterie board, cheese and some vintage cheese knives never ever disappoint.

BOOKS The Golden Notebook (Woodstock, NY)

CANDLES Candlestock (Woodstock, NY)

CHARCUTERIE BOARD Fabulous Furniture (Boiceville, NY)

CHEESE Bistro To Go (West Hurley, NY)

CHOCOLATE Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY)

GRANOLA Bread Alone (Boiceville, NY)

MAPLE SYRUP Marty’s Maple Products (West Shokan, NY)

NAPKINS Paper Trail (Rhinebeck, NY)

PANCAKE MIX + COFFEE Phoenicia Diner (Phoenicia, NY)

I think of that present often, because it was so well thought out, so completely what we needed—but also what we wanted. Paper plates and linen napkins were all we needed to feel like we hadn’t a care in the world.

The best gifts are really things you want for yourself. And if you wrap it and somehow don’t make it to that dinner party? Oh well!

For me they also have to be sourced locally. That’s because I live in the mountains, where makers and doers are abundant.

Some gifts are foolproof—a gorgeous charcuterie board, some cheese and some vintage cheese knives never disappoint.

Or chocolate. Has anyone ever uttered the words, “I have too much chocolate!”? And candles. One is always nice. Three are nicer. Bring fancy matches, too, and a fancier plate to sit them on.

Breakfast baskets are always welcome. Pancake mix. Maple syrup. Ground coffee. Granola. A reminder that the beginning of the day should nourish them.

And books, books, books! By people you know, if you’re lucky (I am). Signed, if you’re luckier.

And really, who doesn’t want fancy schmancy napkins they would never buy for themselves?

OK, I’ll be right back. Have to go wrap some gifts.

Sumptuous meals. Silky cocktails. Hoppy brews. Our charming small towns are bursting with flavor day and night.