Catskill Mountain Region JANUARY 2021 COMPLIMENTARY GUIDE catskillregionguide.com

Winter in the Mountains On and Off the Slopes

January 2021 • GUIDE 1 2 • www.catskillregionguide.com January 2021 • GUIDE 3 Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum presents ACADEMY OF FORTEPIANO PERFORMANCE INTERNATIONAL ORTEPIANO Connecting fortepiano lovers from Salon Series all around the world via Zoom

SALON #1: “MEET MY PIANO” FORTEPIANOS IN OUR LIVING ROOMS & MUSEUMS Saturday, January 30, 2021 @ 8 pm EST (5 pm PST, 9 am China) Hosted from the New York Catskills by AFP faculty members Maria Rose and Yi-heng Yang

Informal online performances and discussions with fortepi­ano students and professionals anywhere, hosted by AFP faculty and guest artists around the world.

Interested in performing or presenting your own piano? Please apply to [email protected] with a brief bio and description of the music and piano to be presented.

FREE! REGISTER AT www.catskillmtn.org

MORE INFORMATION: www.catskillmtn.org This event is made possible in part through the support of the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, www.academyfortepiano.org Greene 4County • www.catskillregionguide.com Council on the Arts, d/b/a/ CREATE, and Stewarts Shops. IN THIS

www.catskillregionguide.com

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 1 January 2021 ISSUE

PUBLISHERS Peter Finn, Chairman, Catskill Mountain Foundation Sarah Finn, President, Catskill Mountain Foundation On the cover: Winter is in full swing in the Catskill Mountains! To see everything the region has to offer, both on and off the slopes, please EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, see the section starting on page 8. Photo courtesy of Windham Mountain CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION Sarah Taft

ADVERTISING SALES 6 THE ARTS: Academy of Fortepiano Performance Barbara Cobb International Salon Series Steve Friedman WINTER IN THE MOUNTAINS: ON AND OFF THE SLOPES CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & ARTISTS Ana Delgado, Carlo DeVito, Brian Dewan, Rodney Alan 8 Welcome to Minnewaska State Park Preserve Greenblatt, Karen Schoemer, Jeff Senterman, Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson & Robert Tomlinson 9 SKI NY To Continue the Ski & Ride ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Passport Program for 2020-2021 Season Candy McKee Justin McGowan & Emily Morse 10 Belleayre Mountain PRINTING 11 Hunter Mountain Catskill Mountain Printing Services 12 Plattekill Mountain DISTRIBUTION Catskill Mountain Foundation 13 Windham Mountain

EDITORIAL DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: January 10 14 My Snowboarding Journey By Melissa Gibson The Catskill Mountain Region Guide is published 12 times a year by the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc., Main Street, PO Box Off the Slopes 924, Hunter, NY 12442. If you have events or programs that you 16 would like to have covered, please send them by e-mail to tafts@ catskillmtn.org. Please be sure to furnish a contact name and in- THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE CATSKILLS clude your address, telephone, fax, and e-mail information on all 32 correspondence. For editorial and photo submission guidelines By Jeff Senterman send a request via e-mail to [email protected]. The liability of the publisher for any error for which it may be held legally responsible will not exceed the cost of space ordered POETRY Curated by Robert Tomlinson, with contributions by Carlo DeVito, or occupied by the error. The publisher assumes no liability for 36 errors in key numbers. The publisher will not, in any event, be Brian Dewan, Rodney Alan Greenblatt & Karen Schoemer liable for loss of income or profits or any consequent damages. The Catskill Mountain Region Guide office is located in Hunter Village Square in the Village of Hunter on Route 23A. 38 CATSKILL MOUNTAIN REGION GUIDE The magazine can be found on-line at www.catskillmtn.org ARTIST FEATURE: Ana Delgado Curated by Robert Tomlinson by clicking on the “Guide Magazine” button, or by going directly to www.catskillregionguide.com 7,000 copies of the Catskill Mountain Region Guide are distributed each month. It is distributed free of charge at the 45 A GREENE COUNTY GARDEN IN DECEMBER Plattekill, Sloatsburg and New Baltimore rest stops on the By Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson New York State Thruway, and at the tourist information offices, restaurants, lodgings, retailers and other businesses throughout Greene, Delaware and Ulster counties. TODAY BUILDS TOMORROW: Home delivery of the Guide magazine is available, at an 47 additional fee, to annual members of the Catskill Mountain Preparing for 2021: Kindness and the Art of Listening Foundation at the $100 membership level or higher. By Robert Tomlinson ©2000 Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The Catskill Mountain Region Guide is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All photo- 48 CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION graphic rights reside with the photographer. 2021 PERFORMING ARTS SEASON SNEAK PEEK 49 2021 COURSES AT SUGAR MAPLES CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION 7971 MAIN STREET, P.O. BOX 924 50 DONATE TO THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION HUNTER, NY 12442 PHONE: 518 263 2000 • FAX: 518 263 2025 WWW.CATSKILLMTN.ORG 52 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS

January 2021 • GUIDE 5 THE ARTS

Left to right: Yi-heng Yang; the 1826 Graf fortepiano, newly acquired by the Piano Performance Museum; Maria Rose

Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum presents The Academy of Fortepiano Performance International Fortepiano Salon Series Connecting fortepiano lovers from all around the world via Zoom

Salon #1: “Meet My Piano”: Fortepianos in our living rooms and museums Saturday, January 30, 2021 8 pm EST (5 pm PST, 9 am China) Hosted from the New York Catskills by AFP faculty members Maria Rose and Yi-heng Yang

The International Fortepiano Salon Series presents informal online performances and discussions with fortepiano­ students and profes- sionals anywhere, hosted by AFP faculty and guest artists around the world. The first International Fortepiano Salon, Meet My Piano, will be a free virtual gathering via Zoom on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 8 pm EST. Faculty members Maria Rose and Yi-heng Yang will moderate the hour-long event, starting with brief performances on different fortepianos from their own homes, and also introducing the newly acquired 1826 Graf Piano at the Piano Performance Mu- seum in Hunter, NY. Following this introduction, selected participants will perform short pieces of their choice from their homes, or talk about their pianos. All attendees can submit written questions or ask them live during the Q and A portions of the Salon. Profes- sionals, fortepiano students, and classical music lovers are invited to register for this informal workshop-setting and exchange of ideas at www.catskillmtn.org. Those who are interested in performing or presenting their own piano, please apply to academyfortepianoinfo@ gmail.com with a brief bio and description of the music and piano to be presented. Participation is limited due to time restraints, but all are invited to apply. For more information, please visit www.catskillmtn.org or www.academyfortepiano.org. The Salon Series will continue on a bi-monthly basis, with subsequent events in March, May, July, October, and December 2021, led by invited internationally renowned guest artists from, among other countries, China and Switzerland. Look for updates on www. academyfortepiano.org.

About the Academy of Fortepiano Performance The Academy of Fortepiano Performance was co-founded by fortepianists Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose, and Yi-heng Yang in 2017 to provide an inspiring and practical immersion into the world of historical performance for students, professionals, amateurs, and audi- ences. Hosted by the Catskill Mountain Foundation Piano Performance Museum in the idyllic mountain setting of Hunter, New York, the intimate performance hall, impressive piano museum, and comfortable student lodging are all in close proximity to each other and just 2 1/2 hours north of New York City. The Academy is open to students, professionals, and adult amateurs. Auditors are welcome to attend all events. Visit catskillmtn.org for more information.

This event is made possible in part through the support of the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, Greene County Council on the Arts, d/b/a/ CREATE, and Stewarts Shops.

6 • www.catskillregionguide.com The Catskill Mountain Foundation Piano Performance Museum

Featuring the Steven E. Greenstein Collection

Discover this extraordinary collection in performance, music education, and cultural exploration NOW OPEN BY APPOINTMENT!

The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum reopens to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, from 11am to 3pm by appointment only. Please call the CMF Reservation Line at 518 263 2063, to make an appointment to visit the museum. We will return your call as soon as possible to confirm your appointment. The docent tour is approximately 30 minutes. Appointments are available for a maximum of three people at a time. Masks are required and temperatures will be recorded at the door and visitors will be asked to answer a short questionnaire related to Covid 19. During the pandemic, visitors will be asked not to touch the pianos or other artifacts on display in the museum. CMF staff have established healthful guidelines for your visit to the museum to provide as safe an environment as possible for visitors and staff. We welcome you and look forward to showing you our extraordinary collection of historical pianos from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Doctorow Center for the Arts 7971 Main Street, Route 23A, Hunter, New York • www.catskillmtn.org Hours: By Appointment Only, Fridays & Saturdays 11am-3pm. Please email [email protected] or call 518 263 2063 to request an appointment

The CMF Piano Performance Museum is funded in part by the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation

January 2021 • GUIDE 7 Welcome to Minnewaska State Park Preserve

he Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located on the dra- are outstanding. Minnewaska offers over 26 kilometers of matic Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, New York. The machine-groomed trails for all ability levels, providing both classic TRidge, which rises more than 2,000 feet above sea level, domi- and skate skiing opportunities. The breathtaking vistas through- nates the Park Preserve and the pastoral valleys below it. Charac- out the groomed trail network are amazing. Be sure to bring terized by unique and sensitive environments, the Park Preserve is your camera to capture some of the unique winter landscapes, valuable for its many rare geological and ecological features. The ice formations and animal tracks. Park Educators offer regularly terrain is rugged and rocky, blanketed by dense forests encircling scheduled winter ecology and recreational snowshoe outings four sky lakes. Clear streams cut into valleys, pour over sheer cliffs throughout the winter, as conditions warrant. Numerous snow- and ledges and emerge as waterfalls. The Park Preserve has an shoeing opportunities are available on footpaths and ungroomed extensive trail network that traverses the landscape. This network carriage roads, but snowshoeing is not permitted on the groomed includes 35 miles of carriage roads and 50 miles of footpaths that cross-country ski trails. Hiking, walking, dogs and fat tire biking provide access to countless natural attractions. Minnewaska of- are not allowed on Minnewaska’s groomed cross-country ski trails. fers numerous recreational activities such as hiking, biking, cross Minnewaska’s new Visitor Center is open, offering a place to take country skiing and snowshoeing. the chill off while getting orienting to the park preserve.

Winter at Minnewaska For More Information Winter is an excellent time to explore the Park Preserve, as the Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located at 5281 Route 44-55, landscape changes and cross-country skiing opportunities are Kerhonkson, NY 12446. For more information, please call 845 plentiful. The cross-country skiing opportunities at Minnewaska 255 0752 or visit parks.ny.gov/parks/minnewaska/details.aspx.

8 • www.catskillregionguide.com Photo courtesy of Windham Mountain SKI NY TO CONTINUE THE SKI & RIDE PASSPORT PROGRAM FOR THE 2020-21 SKI SEASON! While other States have cancelled their program for this season, SKI NY continues to offer their Ski & Ride Passport program this ski season for the 21st year! SKI NY will be offering the Ski & Ride Passport for third and fourth graders. This program entitles the child to a free lift ticket with an adult purchase of a lift ticket or with a season pass redemption! The Passport can be used up to three times at each participating ski area. The Passport is also valid Monday-Friday non-holiday periods. It is not valid on weekends or holiday periods including Christmas week (12/23-1/3/21), MLK Day (1/18/21) and President’s week (2/13 – 2/21/21). Most Catskill Region ski areas require advance reservations: please check their websites for current COVID policies. There is a $31 processing fee for each Passport. Parents can apply at iskiny.com. New this year is quicker access to the child’s Passport card: once the application has been processed and ap- proved, the parent will receive an email with their child’s passport complete with their child’s photo on it. The passport can be shown on the parent’s phone or printed and brought with them to the ski area for redemption. Participating ski areas and more information can be found at iskiny. com.

January 2021 • GUIDE 9 BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN TRAILS, PARKS&GLADES: Uphill Lift Capacity: 12,980people/hour Snowmaking: 96% TotalSkiable Acres: 175 Vertical Drop: 1,404’ Longest Run: 12,024’ MOUNTAIN STATS: preventing wasteandaddinghassle-free convenienceforcustomers. go directly from theircartotheslopes. The lift ticket mediacanberenewed overseveral years, ORDA’s newRFIDtechnologyoffers direct-to-lift accessandonlinepurchasing, soguestscan theCatskills.be theperfectplaceforenjoyingbluebird skiesof will includefire pits, outdoorseating, anddirect accesstotheDiscovery Lodge. The patio will Visitors canalsoexpect toenjoythemountainviews from anexpanded outdoorpatio space.It to create spectacular snowquality. Replacing olddieselunits, thenewcompressor willhelpimprove coverage andthetime it takes expanded water delivery. An energy efficient compressor isalsobeingaddedtothesystem. pumps willboostpressure withinthesystemallowingforincreased snowmakingcapacityand New pumpsandanewcompressor are beingaddedtothesnowmakinginfrastructure. The the mainfloor. this“GreatThis allowsfornatural lightandaddstotheaestheticsof Lodge.” area incorporates large windowsthat overlook added tothethird floor. The additionalindoor indoorspacehasbeen 2,700 square feetof a hugesuccesslastseason. An additional The recently expanded DiscoveryLodge was 2020-2021 IMPROVEMENTS FORTHE 20% MostDifficult Trails 58% More Difficult Trails Easiest Trails22% 1 Progression Park &1 X-Course 50 Trails, 5Glades, 1 Terrain Park, ! All lift tickets, lessons, andrentals willberequired tobebooked thisyear online. We window tickets) availableforpurchase. willnothavewalkup (dayof Please visithttps://www.belleayre.com/operational-updates/ SEASON: 800-942-6904 | 845-254-5600 |belleayre.com WINTER HOURSOFOPERATION: for Belleayre’s COVID Health &Safetypolicy 181 GalliCurci Rd|Highmount, NY 12441 Know beforeyougo! Lodges: 8:00am-5:00pm Lifts: 9:00am-4:00pm snow. They are notpatrolled orgroomed. free touseandare onlyopenwithnatural trails.9.2 kmof The cross countrytrails are CROSS COUNTRYTRAILS: Discovery Lodge (lowermtn. lodge):2,025’ Overlook Lodge (midmtn. lodge):2,542’ Sunset Lodge (summitlodge):3,325’ Belleayre Summit:3,429’ ELEVATIONS: ! HUNTER MOUNTAIN ! Mt. Brighton, MI Brighton, Mt. Brandywine, OH Brandywine, Boston Mills, OH Boston Mills, Alpine Valley, OH Valley, Alpine Mad River Mountain, OH Mad River Mountain, 15% Expert: 25% Beginner: Roundtop Mountain Resort, PA Mountain Resort, Roundtop Advanced: 30% 30% Intermediate: PERCENTAGE OF TERRAIN: TERRAIN: OF PERCENTAGE Jack Frost, PA Frost, Jack Big Boulder, PA Big Boulder, Whitetail Resort, PA Whitetail Resort, Mount Sunapee, NH Mount Sunapee, Crotched Mountain, NH Mountain, Crotched Liberty Mountain Resort, PA Mountain Resort, Liberty MOUNTAIN ACCESS: 64 Klein Ave. | Hunter, NY 12442 NY | Hunter, Ave. 64 Klein Know before you go! you before Know about-the-resort/winter-experience.aspx for Hunter’s COVID Health & Safety policy & Health COVID for Hunter’s for all lesson participants. Class size is limited to six people. for all lesson participants. 800-HUNTERMTN | 800-486-8376 | huntermtn.com Hunter Mountain is pleased to be part of the entire Epic Pass family. family. of Epic Pass to be part Hunter Mountain is pleased the entire 1,600’ Drop: Vertical Please visit https://www.huntermtn.com/explore-the-resort/ Please Stowe, VT Stowe, Okemo, VT Okemo, MOUNTAIN STATS: STATS: MOUNTAIN Mount Snow, VT Mount Snow, Lessons must be booked 48 hours in advance, and a pass or lift ticket is required ticket pass or lift and a hours in advance, 48 must be booked Lessons 13 (up from 12) Number of 13 (up from Lifts: For more info visit https://www.epicpass.com/passes/northeast-value-pass.aspx more For 320 (up from 240) 320 (up from Skiable Acres: 67 (up from 58) 67 (up from Number of Trails: Number ofAreas 4 Gladed Glades:

Hunter Mountain, NY Hunter Mountain, Wildcat Mountain, NH Mountain, Wildcat so lock in your days early to secure your spot on the mountain and for the best savings. to secure so lock in your days early 1,600’ (above sea level) sea 1,600’ (above Base Elevation:

3,200’ (above sea level) 3,200’ (above sea Summit Elevation: 4 Freestyle Areas 4 Freestyle Parks: Terrain Number of Attitash Mountain Resort, NH Mountain Resort, Attitash Standard lift tickets are only available for purchase online this season. Lift tickets are limited, limited, are tickets Lift season. online this only available for purchase are tickets lift Standard Northeast Value Pass Value Northeast as low as $619 starting gives you priority access to 18 Eastern resorts, Pass Value Northeast The Hunter Mount Snow, to Okemo, holiday access pass excludes This Note: for the 20/21 Season. the Value offers Midweek Northeast If the midweek-only your schedule is flexible & Stowe. and Pass Value included on the Northeast Resorts $469. at best value with pass prices starting include: Midweek Pass Northeast More snow for beginners! More T40 Fan TechnoAlpin have added new 20 We in our trails snow guns to two top-to-bottom guns snow additional These Terrain. East Hunter as well as than ever before, in the season earlier beginner terrain will allow us to open more the snow surface as needed. refresh give us the ability to rapidly WHAT’S NEW AT HUNTER WHAT’S NEW AT HUNTER MOUNTAIN THIS SEASON? ! PLATTEKILL MOUNTAIN and rentals, eliminating linesintherental shopwithonlineformsandpreset gear • All newonlineshoppingcart forordering tickets to allowformore optionstoorder food. • An allnew“order online”optioninourcafeteria on ouroutdoordeckwithquickgrab andgoitemsavailableforsaleaswellbeverages • anew“PlattyThe Shack”featured additionof technology toourlifts andsnowmaking monitoringinfrastructure. wireless• Installation communication of ceived brand newautomation forimproved efficiency andsnowmakingspeed. pump andmotorimproving water reliability supplytoourmainpumphousewhichalsore of - abrand newsnowmaking • Installation of beginner andintermediate trails. our mostof • Widening andclearing of 2020-2021 WHAT’S NEWFORTHE ! Triple Chair, DoubleChair, Two Carpet Lifts Skiing &Snowboarding (Learning Center and Tubing Park) Friday-Sunday 8:45am-4:15pm All lift tickets, lessons, andrentals willberequired tobebooked thisyear online. Open Daily2/13/21-2/23/21 Open Daily12/26/20-1/3/21 MOUNTAIN STATS: Martin Luther KingHoliday: Presidents’Holiday Week: Christmas Holiday Week:Christmas Open 1/16/21-1/18/21 Average Snowfall:175” Longest Trail: 2miles Number of Trails:of Number 38 Snowmaking: 75% Number of Lifts: 4 Number of Elevation: 3,500’ Vertical: 1,100’ Terrain Park: 1 SEASON: Please visithttps://www.plattekill.com/covid-19/ for Plattekill’s COVID Health &Safetypolicy Know beforeyougo! 469 Plattekill Rd. |Roxbury, NY 12474 HOURS OFOPERATION 607 3263500 |plattekill.com PERCENTAGE OFTERRAIN: Saturdays &Sundays12/26/20–3/14/21: Holidays: OpenDaily More Difficult: 20% Most Difficult: 20% Snowtubing 2/13/21-2/21/21 1/16/21-1/18/21 12/26/20-1/3/21 Difficult: 40% 11am-5pm Easier: 20% ! WINDHAM MOUNTAIN - ! 285 732 Terrain Parks: 6 Parks: Terrain Total Acres: Acres: Total Trail Acreage: Acreage: Trail Adventure Park Fridays 5:00pm – 8:00pm Fridays Sundays 11:00am - 4:00pm Snowmaking Coverage: 97% Snowmaking Coverage: Saturdays 11:00am - 8:00pm Saturdays With additional holiday hours. 45 acres on 9 trails Night Skiing: 45 acres 19,890 passengers per hour 19,890 passengers Uphill Capacity: SEASON: HOURS OF OPERATION 19 Resort Dr. | Windham, NY 12496 NY Windham, | Dr. 19 Resort 800 754 9463 | windhammountain.com Know before you go! you before Know 8:00am – 4:00pm 9:00am – 4:00pm for Windham Mountain’s COVID Health & Safety policy & Safety Health COVID Mountain’s Windham for Number of 11 Lifts: Vertical Rise: 1,600’ Vertical advance reservations and details about the “Red & Green” calendar. & Green” and details about the “Red advance reservations are required. Please visit windhammountain.com for more details on visit windhammountain.com for more Please required. are 54 Number of Trails: 3,100’ Elevation: Top 2020-2021 Please visit https://www.windhammountain.com/covid19/ Please Monday through Friday Monday through 300-12,500’ Slope Length: MOUNTAIN STATS: STATS: MOUNTAIN Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays Saturdays, quads, 2 triples, 1 double, 5 surface 1 double, 2 triples, quads, Skiing & Snowboarding Advance registration for indoor dining, adult and child lessons, and equipment rental adult and child lessons, for indoor dining, Advance registration Further improvements include ticket kiosks that will be available for redemption of will be available for redemption first time that kiosks include ticket improvements Further in the inter cashless transactions Windham Mountain will be implementing New this year, Windham Mountain announced its new partnership with industry leader Centerplate as its Centerplate with industry leader new partnership Windham Mountain announced its 1 high-speed 6 passenger, 2 high-speed 2 high-speed 1 high-speed 6 passenger, WINDHAM MOUNTAIN WINDHAM IN THE the 2020/21 will approach Windham Mountain with guest and strategically winter season A force. employee well-being as the driving for to allow capacity calendar has been created guidance and Federal local, State, anticipated visitation limit the number of during peak that Windham Mountain can accommodate guests Days,” on “Green capacity restrictions calendar has no anticipated & Green” “Red This periods. distancing to social Days” to help adhere restrictions in place for “Red and significant capacity details. windhammountain.com for more Visit the mountain. guidelines throughout at self-service ticket emails may be scanned QR codes on confirmation purchases. ticket lift to the lift. directly may proceed onto RFID cards tickets and guests having re-loaded kiosks,

est of guest and employee safety. Credit/debit cards, Windham Gift Cards, and options to Cards, Windham Gift cards, Credit/debit est of guest and employee safety. money onto all along with reloading passes, and season cards on RFID charge” set up “resort only have cash can place that Guests for payment. all acceptable options are these products, cost. no extra at card onto a gift their currency to all COVID-19 adherence and will employ strict and culinary partner, catering new hospitality, for indoor dining Advance reservations for all visitors. a safe experience to ensure protocols avail- and other outdoor dining options will be food trucks and numerous required, venues are benches to enhance the outdoor dining experience. and heated heaters patio with able as well, ! My Snowboarding JourneyBy Melissa Gibson, USASA 50+ Snowboarding Champion

tanding atop the Gold Medal Boardercross podium at the 2015 USA Snowboarding Association Championships at SCopper Mountain in Colorado was one of the highlights of my adult life. I was 50 years old and competing in the 50+ age group. After a few years of qualifying for the National Championships in the 40+ age group, but not having the time or funding to make it work, a 50th birthday present from my husband covered the trip and I embarked on an adventure that was equal parts anxious ap- prehension and excited euphoria. A season of training, competing and qualifying culminated in a three for three podium run at the USASA National Championships, with silver medals in both Sla- lom and Giant Slalom to go with my gold from the Boardercross. I was at Nationals as a representative of the Catskill Mountain Series Team, which included riders and skiers of all ages, serv- ing Easter Regional athletes from Hunter Mountain, Windham Mountain, Catamount, Belleayre, Plattekill, and Campgaw. My participation and performance at Nationals was actually a come-back story. A year prior, I suffered a Thyroid Storm from Graves Disease which weakened me, sidelined me from all activity for six months and catapulted me into full blown menopause. This was my third immune diagnosis (the others are Celiac and

Lyme, that both began in my early 40s) and the symptoms rocked Melissa receiving her silver medal at the USASA Awards Ceremony my world. I had been a competitive athlete in my youth as well as in my adulthood, and being physically active had always been riding and skiing at Belleayre, usually staying at the Starlite Motel central to who I am and how I live my life. The good news is that in Big Indian. The rooms there had kitchenettes and included a my recovery from these disorders involved a health-related jour- morning basket with muffins, coffee, cereal and milk, so we didn’t ney that would lead me to a professional pivot, and the career I have to concern ourselves with preparing or procuring breakfast. enjoy today, educating others about the power of the hemp plant. This was key to minimizing the chaos of getting four people up In the throes of the disease, I hadn’t thought it was wasn’t possible and out the door each morning. Over the course of the weekend, to get back on the mountain, let alone win a National Champion- we would load and unload three snowboards, one pair of skis, ship a year later. four pairs of boots, four helmets, four sets of goggles and gloves, Belleayre is our home mountain. We’ve been season pass winter jackets, hats, bags, food and games at least six times. But it holders for the past 13 years and it is there that in addition to was all worth it. Winters on the slopes opened a whole new world years of fun on the slopes, our family made friendships that will for our family. Sometimes I’d laugh at the absurdity of getting last a lifetime. The laid-back, family oriented Belleayre Mountain geared up and excited to go outside in single digit temperatures lifestyle fit us from the start, so after a couple of years riding only and blizzard conditions when most sane people would choose to occasionally around NY, PA and MA, we found our place in the curl up at home by the fire. . Catskill Mountains and we were hooked. In 2007, we enrolled In 2010, after three years of traveling every winter weekend our boys, then 7 and 11 in the Alpine Development programs to the Catskills, we doubled down on our commitment to a and began commuting from our Long Beach home to Belleayre winter life of outdoor activity and made the decision to put down Mountain every winter weekend. While our kids were busy all roots a mile outside of Woodstock, and only a 35 minute drive day in their lessons, my husband and I got time to ourselves and from our beloved Belleayre Mountain. They say that if you can were able to participate in a morning Adult Snowboarding Pro- master the conditions on the East Coast, you can ride anywhere, gram, improving year after year with top-notch instructors. but that the reverse is not the case. Yes, we sometimes deal with We would leave Long Island either late Friday night or at icy slopes and must rely on snowmaking to get through the season dawn on Saturday morning, and drive up to spend two days of in the Catskills, but there are enough of those perfect days—blue-

14 • www.catskillregionguide.com bird skies and powder runs—to keep us coming back for more. And with the family of friends we have made over the years, even the worst days at the moun- tain make memories that feed the soul. I am grateful to snowboarding for enriching my life. Folks are surprised to find out I first stepped on a snowboard at age 40. I did not grow up on the slopes. From 7th grade through my first year in college, I was on the Winter Track team, and my coaches forbid us to ski (snow- boarding wasn’t much of a thing then). I think I went a handful of times after that until our kids were 4 and 8 and we wanted (needed) to get out of the house in the winter months. The learning curve for an adult snowboarder can be dramat- ic. You have to go fast enough to control the board, but your instincts tell you to slow down, which leads to falls that are quite memorable. But pushing past those first seasons was the best gift I could have given myself. As I take in the view at the mountaintop, confident enough in my skills to overcome the protective signals my lizard brain is sending my body, I feel invincible. Although I have enjoyed rac- ing, the truth is that I prefer to take my time going down. I make many wide and narrow turns, savoring my ride, looking for moguls where my board can dolphin over and around the bumps, my legs act- ing as pistons as I absorb the snow under my boots.

Melissa Gibson is a USASA 50+ Snowboarding Champion who learned to ride and race at Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills. After a serious health scare, Melissa founded her company Hemp & Humanity in 2016, and in the Fall of 2020, she opened a shop in the heart of Woodstock where she educates folks about the healing properties of the hemp plant, and helps clients find a CBD regimen that’s right for them.

January 2021 • GUIDE 15 The Emerson Resort & Spa Off the Slopes

Need a place to stay, have a meal, maybe do some shopping or visit a spa, or indulge in a bit of aprés-ski? We’ve got you covered. Check out these businesses in the Catskills who LOVE winter as much as you do, and are ready to help you out!

Delaware & Ulster ATTRACTIONS & THE ARTS Rail Road 43510 State Highway 28 Catskill Mountain Arkville, NY 12406 Foundation’s Piano durr.org Performance Museum 800 225 4132 Doctorow Center for the Arts The Delaware & Ulster Rail 7971 Main Street Road has big plans to wel- Hunter, NY 12442 come you back in 2021! Even catskillmtn.org with snow in the air … we 518 263 2063 are working on our tracks! The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Next year we want to be able to announce: “All Aboard … Museum is the home of the Steven E. Greenstein Piano Next Stop Highmount /Belleayre!” The Delaware & Ulster Collection, a one-of-a-kind collection of historic pianos and Railroad is embarking on a major project to restore our musical artifacts. A destination unlike any other in the Unit- tracks to Highmount and Belleayre Ski Resort. What will ed States, the Piano Performance Museum offers a unique it take for us to restore our tracks to Highmount? 7,000 glimpse into the development of pianos in Europe and environmentally friendly cross ties, treated with “Copper America over the past four centuries. Open on Fridays and Naphthenate”; 28,000 new rail spikes; 2,000 tons of stone Saturdays by appointment only. Email [email protected] ballast; and lots of hard work and dedication by the team at or call 518 263 2063 to make an appointment for your visit the Delaware & Ulster Railroad. Join us for our new events today! season in 2021!

16 • www.catskillregionguide.com Francis X. Driscoll Woodstock Art Exchange Photography & Pablo Glass Studio Images of the 1396 Route 28 Northern Catskills West Hurley, NY 12491 At Tannersville Art & Antiques woodstockartexchange.com 6045 Main Street 646 256 9688 Tannersville, NY 12485 Woodstock Art Exchange is an francisxdriscoll.com exciting gift shop and gallery 518 589 5600 featuring one-of-a-kind handmade gifts, handblown glass, A frequent contributor to the Guide and fine art. Located on Route 28 in West Hurley, there’s magazine, Francis X. Driscoll is something great for everyone, and at every price point. an award-winning nature photographer, whose work has Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm; for weekday hours, drop by or call us. appeared in National Geographic Explorer and Cynthia Dantzic’s prestigious book 100 New York Photographers. Driscoll is a self-taught photographer, whose work involves CAR DEALERSHIP total immersion in a setting so that he might capture that Thorpe’s GMC rare glimpse and share it with others. His primary subject is the Catskill Forest Preserve, and his best shots are often 5964 Main Street hard-won through years of returning to the same place Tannersville, NY 12485 with a sense of expectation for the beauty that might be thorpesgmcinc.com revealed to him on any given day. He shares his craft with 518 589 7142 Thorpe’s unmatched service and diverse GMC inventory others by leading hikes, conducting workshops and giv- have set them apart as the preferred dealer in Tannersville. ing private instruction. His book, Images of the Northern With a full-service team of sales and service profession- Catskills, is a celebration of his work. The largest selection als, visit them today to discover why they have the best of his work can now be found at Tannersville Art & An- reputation in the area. They offer one of the largest GMC tiques, open Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.

January 2021 • GUIDE 17 inventories in New York, and their trained sales staff will help you every step of the way during your shopping experience. HOME

Best Hot Tubs 5354 Route 23 Windham, NY 12496 besthottubs.com 518 734 9100 Best Hot Tubs Windham store serves the Hunter/Windham, NY and entire Mountain Top area, including the nearby ski resorts at Hunter, Wind- ham and Belleayre. You will find the right hot tub for your lifestyle and all the accessories you need to make your summer and winter spa experi- ence perfect. Bullfrog Spas are the only hot tubs personalized just for you with a complete array of unique, interchangeable JetPaks. Best Hot Tubs can help you design your perfect backyard and select the right Bullfrog Spa to feature, along with many other products and services.

The Garden of Stone 5444 State Route 23 Windham, NY 12496 518 734 4730 At The Garden of Stone, you can find an eclectic selection of cast stone or- naments for your garden and home. We hand-cast animal statuary, bird- baths, angels, gnomes, and more. We offer fresh cut flowers by the stem or

18 • www.catskillregionguide.com bouquet and we can help with your special event. Shop for houseplants and unusual items—vintage and new. Browsing is encouraged!

GNH Lumber 5477 Route 23 Windham, NY 12496 GNHlumber.com 518 734 3760 Visit GNH Lumber in Windham today! We’re your source for quality lumber, hardware, building materials, paint and stain, and construction tools and supplies. Do you want to create a one-of-a-kind kitchen sanctuary or bathroom oasis? Our expert design team is ready to help make your vision a reality. Compare our prices and services with other suppliers and discover for yourself why GNH Lumber has a reputation for the qual- ity and customer service you deserve since 1937. We’ll see you soon! Photo by Djelloul Marbrook at dusk February 7th 2015 Taken

Houst Hardware 4 Mill Hill Road Woodstock, NY 12498 housthardware.com 845 679 2115 Extra company for the holidays, a storm on it’s way … no need to roam far no matter what the season brings. H Houst & Son Hardware is known as the everything store. Yes, we have tools and toys, shovels and stock pots. Holiday Lights and tree stands. Gifts for everyone Tinkers and Mak-

January 2021 • GUIDE 19 ers, DIYers and Dreamers, Gardeners and Campers, Cooks and Geeks. So, make a list and check it twice for one stop HOTELS/EVENTS shopping … Houst Hardware Has It. Best Western Plus N&S Supply Uptown Kingston Locations in Fishkill, Brewster, Off NYS Thruway Exit 19 Kingston, Catskill, and Hud- 503 Washington Avenue son, NY; and Danbury, CT Kingston, NY 12401 nssupply.com bwpkingston.com N&S Supply is your one-stop 845 338 0400 • 800 780 7234 resource for all your plumb- A modern, full-service hotel located less than a mile from ing, heating and HVAC needs; Whether it’s an oil or gas I-87. Situated within walking distance to the Stockade burner, electric or gas water heater, furnace, toilet, faucet District and trendy uptown Kingston shops, restaurants and or custom shower, our service parts counters or our beauti- attractions. On-site amenities include First Capitol Bistro, ful Bath Classics Showrooms will have what you need. We a heated indoor saltwater pool, and complimentary WiFi carry complete product lines, including all the accessories & breakfast. Explore all of the outdoor activities that the needed for any installation, with dependable, on-time de- Catskills and Hudson River are famous for, including the livery service available. We provide everything you would new Ashokan Rail Trail, Mohonk Preserve, and more, from expect from a full-service distributor, including specialty one convenient location. Add-on experiences are available, products designed and manufactured to meet your needs including Windham snow tubing passes. and lifestyle. Contact us today and learn more about how we can provide the best solutions for you. Or, visit us at The Emerson one of our full service locations throughout the Hudson Resort & Spa Valley including Fishkill, Brewster, Kingston, Catskill, and 5340 Route 28 Hudson, NY; and Danbury, CT and N&S Bath Classic Show- Mt. Tremper, NY 12457 rooms in Fishkill. Brewster, Kingston, and Catskill, NY. emersonresort.com 845 688 2828 Photo courtesy Windham Mountain The Emerson Resort & Spa is a hidden treasure surrounded by the splendor of the Catskill Mountains. With spacious accommodations in the contemporary Inn and Adirondack- style Lodge, Emerson guests enjoy our nature-inspired Spa, Catskill creative cooking in our signature restaurant Wood- notes Grille, shopping in the Country Stores and the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope. The Emerson is an idyllic location for group events and weddings. Dogs are welcome.

20 • www.catskillregionguide.com Greenville Arms 11135 State Route 32 Greenville, NY 12083 518 966 5219 greenvillearms.com Originally built in 1889, our historically registered Inn is situated on six acres of gardens, lawns, and woodlands. The Queen Anne Revival-style main house, renovated Carriage House, and recently constructed Cottage building are host to 16 guest rooms open year-round to guests. Every guest room is uniquely decorated with a blend of antiques and modern amenities. A hot, cooked-to-order breakfast is included with each room.

Hammo’s Rustic Lodge 39 Goshen Road Windham, NY 12439 518 734 6500 • 917 402 4833 [email protected] Located just minutes from both Wind- ham and Hunter Mountains, Hammo’s Rustic Lodge is the perfect spot for you and your doggies to rest while you explore the Catskills this winter. Room rates include free TV, WiFi, use of pool tables, and a Continen- tal Breakfast. There is no charge for dogs, and your furry friend can even enjoy the dog playground on site!

January 2021 • GUIDE 21 MOVIE THEATER

Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Mountain Cinema Doctorow Center for the Arts 7971 Main Street Hunter, NY 12442 catskillmtn.org 518 263 4702 We show top Hollywood, foreign, and independent films at the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter, just a mile west of Hunter Mountain and a short drive from Windham Mountain. With over 200 films a year in high definition and digital surround sound, we have something for everyone. RADIO STATION

WRIP 97.9FM wripfm.com Streaming at rip979.com RIP 97.9 is located in the heart of Ski Country and is the radio voice of the Moun- taintop and Valley. Broadcasting 24/7 with the equivalent of 6,000 Watts of power from our main tower at the top of Windham Mountain Resort and signal booster on Hunter Mountain, we are the only radio station covering the entire region between the Hudson Valley and Oneonta. WRIP is independently owned and operated. WRIP is heard on these FM frequencies: 97.9 in Windham and Hunter, 97.5 in Durham and Greenville, 103.7 in Catskill and Hudson, 104.5 in Stamford and Delaware County, and streaming worldwide at rip979.com. REAL ESTATE

Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties Six Regional Offices: Margaretville: 845 586 3321 Boiceville: 845 657 4177 Delhi: 607 746 7400 Stamford: 607 652 2220 Sidney: 607 604 4394 Roscoe: 607 290 4130 TimberlandProperties.net At Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties we provide the respected name, the systems, the tools, the support, the management and atmosphere to help people to ac- complish buying or selling properties. We are passionate about this wonderful business. We help our customers and

22 • www.catskillregionguide.com clients realize their dreams. We deal with life experiences and someone’s largest (and probably best) invest- ment. We put the Coldwell Banker name next to our high standards, because this world wide name pro- vides our agents with the national and international network necessary for today’s full-service real estate agent to do a thorough job and assist clients with all their real estate needs.

Gallagher & Company 6 Mitchell Hollow Road Windham, NY 12496 gallagherandcompany.com 518 734 3300 In a market where homes are widely diverse in style, size and value, mak- Images of the ing a decision on how to list your property requires a team effort from Northern Catskills a group of experienced real estate professionals. If you are interested By Francis X. Driscoll in selling your home or commercial property please call us to request a consultation.

Gordon Hunter Mountain Realty 6528 Route 23A Hunter, NY 12442 gordonrealty.com 518 589 9000 Gordon Hunter Mountain Realty, LLC is one of the prime real estate profes- The largest selection of my work is now available at sionals in Hunter. They are dedicated Tannersville Antiques And Artisans to serving you when you’re looking 6045 Main Street • Tannersville, NY 12485 for property in Upstate New York and Northern Catskill Mountains. Their 518-589-5600 staff specializes in many different Open 11AM - 5PM Friday through Sunday types of properties near Hunter and For more information visit www.francisxdriscoll.com Windham Mountain ski resorts.

January 2021 • GUIDE 23 Windstar Realty Casa Vallarta Locations in Windham, Catskill, 1571 Ulster Avenue and Grand Gorge Lake Katrine, NY 12449 windstarrealty.com casavallarta.us 518 734 6600 845 481 5318 Windstar Realty Group, “The We take pride in sharing with you our Fastest Growing Realtor on the festive heritage and authentic Mexi- Mountaintop,” is a full service Real Estate Agency serving can styled foods from the port of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico the Greene and Delaware County areas of NY from our on the Pacific ocean coast. All our dishes are prepared Windham, Catskill, and Grand Gorge offices. Whether you with care and our promise of satisfaction. Large menu of are buying or selling a home, property, or business in the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, appetizers, soups & Upstate NY area Windstar Realty Group is the agency for salads, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, and faji- you! From skiing, hunting, hiking, and golf to the rolling, tas, as well as beef, pork, chicken, seafood and vegetarian lush landscapes, the Catskill region offers the perfect bal- entrees. And don’t forget the daily specials and dessert! All ance of adventure and serenity. If you are looking to sell, locations of Casa Vallarta are family owned and operated. purchase or rent in the Catskills, contact Windstar Realty Group. Chalet Fondue/ Nunzio’s Pizzeria RESTAURANTS & FOOD 55 State Route 296, Windham, NY 12496 Binnekill Tavern chaletfondue.com 746 Main St. 518 734 4650 Margaretville, NY 12455 The Chalet Fondue serves the 845 586 4884 finest in German, Swiss, and American cuisine, in a charm- binnekilltavern.com ing old-world European setting. Accented with soothing Binnekill Tavern, located in the candlelight, European fireplaces, and hand-picked German center of Margaretville, is a warm, friendly tavern featur- decor, you will feel as though you are in the Alps. ing “Mountain Comfort Food”. The dining room provides Nunzio’s Pizzeria is located inside the Chalet Fondue. riverside views and a large copper fireplace. The kitchen Serving Italian specialties and homemade pizzas, with expertly cooks modern tavern classics like Lamb Meat- gluten-free options. Curbside pickup is available. loaf, Pork Schnitzel, Shrimp Cocktail, burgers, homemade soups, daily seafood specials and much more. The Tavern Hunter Mountain Brewery serves an extensive list of inventive hand-crafted cocktails, 7267 Route 23A local beers on tap and a well curated wine list. Open for Hunter, NY 12442 dinner Thursday-Sunday and lunch Saturday and Sunday. HMBCatskills.com Country Casual. Reservations recommended. 518 263 3300 Hunter Mountain Brewery has Brandywine been serving our customers and 11157 State Route 23 community for five years. Our Windham, NY 12496 restaurant offers pub-style food, brandywinewindham.com Indian Cuisine and Sushi. We have a full bar, gift shop items 518 734 3838 and a variety of our own beers. For the past 35 years, this full- Hunter Mountain Brewery staff and management has service Italian restaurant has been successful in offering a safe spot during this pan- offered great food and impeccable service. Share won- demic for our patrons. Being a family-owned business we derful memories with your loved ones as we fill your table prioritize our guests’ health and safety, and we are fully with delicious Italian cuisine. Born and raised in Southern committed to get through these tough times together. We Italy, owner Louis Caracciolo has mastered the art of Ital- thank all our frontline workers for their service to keep our ian cookery. We guarantee that we know the formula to communities safe. capture the rich flavor of your favorite Italian dishes. Every We are open for limited capacity dine-in, offering take- Wednesday is Pasta Night! out, delivery via catskillsdelivery.com and beers to go in four packs/growlers. Cheers!

24 • www.catskillregionguide.com January 2021 • GUIDE 25 Jessie’s Harvest House 5819 Main Street Tannersville, NY 12485 jessiesharvesthouse.com 518 589 5445 Jessie’s Harvest House Restaurant and Lodge is a warm and comfy res- taurant and lodge that features a deli- cious menu of rustic American style cuisine with locally sourced ingredi- ents from the beautiful offerings of the Catskills. Overnight accommodations are also available in the cozy private guest rooms overlooking the scenic views of Hunter Mountain.

Mother Earth’s Storehouse Locations in Kingston and Saugerties motherearthstorehouse.com 845 246 9614 Over 30 years ago brothers Chris and Kevin Schneider helped start the organic and all-natural food trend in the Hudson Valley. Although it may seem like a recent trend, the organic and sustainable “Buy Lo- cal” movement has been around for many decades. Though modest in size, Mother Earth’s Storehouse has always been focused on wholesome, nutritious foods without artificial in- gredients. Come experience Mother Earth’s at one of their two convenient Hudson Valley locations in Kingston and Saugerties.

26 • www.catskillregionguide.com Pancho Villa’s Mexican Restaurant 6037 Main Street Tannersville, NY 12485 panchovillamex.com 518 589 5134 The Best Mexican Food this side of the Border! Pancho Villa’s is owned and operated by the Oscar and Pa- tricia Azcue family. They have been proudly serving authentic Mexican food on Main Street in Tannersville since 1992. Rooted in tradition, their passion is sharing great food and good company. All of the traditional Mexican favorites are served here, from enchiladas and burritos to chimichangas and flautas...plus great margaritas and daiquiris! Open every day except Tuesday.

Tito Bandito’s Taco & Tequila Bar 302 Main Street Pine Hill, NY 12465 845 254 3113 titobanditos.com Tito Bandito’s, located in the center of Pine Hill, just minutes from Bel- leayre Ski Center, is the spot to warm up after a day on the mountain with modern Mexican cuisine and hand- crafted cocktails. Our menu features traditional and inventive tacos, ques- adillas, burritos, and much more. The bar serves local and Mexican beer on tap, specialty margaritas, and an

January 2021 • GUIDE 27 extensive tequila list. Check out our après ski specials and events online. Fun and casual. Indoor and outdoor seating. Take-out. Open for dinner Friday-Monday. Lunch Saturday and Sunday.

Woodnotes Grille at the Emerson Resort & Spa 5340 Route 28 Mt. Tremper, NY 12457 emersonresort.com 845 688 2828, option 6 Woodnotes Grille features food you know done our way with fresh local ingredients, unforgettable flavors that hone in on the local spirit, and handcrafted cocktails that are an experience as well as a drink. We give classic entrees and your favorite drinks a little spin by adding native ingredi- ents and innovative twists.

The Woodstock Pub 17 Mill Hill Road Woodstock, NY 12498 845 684 5470 Facebook: TheWoodstockPub Occupying the site of the former Landau Grill (and before that, the original Woodstock Pub), the new Woodstock Pub opened last year after extensive renovations. New owners Chris Constant, James Constant, and Jennifer Ahearn grew up in Woodstock and bought the old drinking hole two years ago. The new Woodstock Pub serves “Pub fare with a Mediter- ranean flair,” with special Greek and Italian nights in honor of their heritages. Pub fare, soups, salads, burgers and sand- wiches. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Their Sweet Chili Cauliflower Wings were the winner of the 2019 Taste of Woodstock for Best Side Dish! RETAIL

Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Kaaterskill Shoppe 6042 Main Street Tannersville, NY 12485 kaatart.catskillmtn.org 518 589 7500 Located next door to the Orpheum Film & Performing Arts Center, our shoppe features a curated selection of books and gifts from around the Region and around the world. Open Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm, with spe- cial shopping hours for seniors and the immune-compro- mised from 11 am to noon on Fridays. Check out our NEW website for online shopping!

28 • www.catskillregionguide.com CVS lectibles. Hand-crafted, Made-In-America sold wood furni- 60 Mill Hill Road ture and furnishings for your home, lodge or cabin. Jewelry, Woodstock, NY 12498 blankets, pillows, rugs and clothing in Native American, CVS.com Western and country motifs and styles. The best selection 845 679 3686 of nature-inspired items hand crafted from artisanal crafts- Pharmacy, photo finishing, men located locally and from around the country. health and beauty products, fragrances, snacks, drinks, newspapers and magazines, and more. Your go-to stop if The Nest Egg you’ve forgotten that extra important something on your 84 Main Street trip. For any special occasion, they carry cards, candy, Phoenicia, NY 12464 decorations, and a wide variety of reasonably-priced gifts thenesteggcountrystore.com for men, women, and children. nesteggshop.com 845 688 5851 Hickory Hill Market An old-fashioned country 5200 NY-23 store in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, offering relaxed Windham, NY 12496 shopping and mountain hospitality. You’ll find a little bit of hickoryhillmarket.com everything here: Minnetonka Moccasins, t-shirts & sweat- 518 734 6300 shirts, local area books and hiking maps, candles, soaps, A must-stop on the way to the incense, jewelry, local maple syrup and honey, nostal- mountain, or to pick up that gic candies, toys, puzzles, games and souvenirs … and last minute item you forgot for your Holiday dinner. Featur- home-made delicious fudge! Owner Robin Kirk’s family has ing a beer cave with nearly 200 varieties of brews and owned The Nest Egg since 1968. micro-brews; all of your grocery and convenience needs, including fresh vegetables and produce; a full deli coun- Olives Country Store & Cafe ter with a full line of Boars Head products for all your deli 3110 State Route 28 needs; sandwiches, salads and personal pizzas to go; hand- Shokan, NY 12481 dipped ice cream and milkshakes; and of course gasoline olivescountrystoreandcafe.com for the ride home. Visit our website for daily specials and 845 657 8959 online ordering. Olives is the place to stop on the way up the mountain for your cof- Kenco fee & fresh made to order break- 1000 Hurley Mountain Rd. fast, to take with you or eat in the Kingston, NY 12401 Café, for your travel back home atkenco.com and Late Lunch on the way down the mountain, clean rest 845 340 0552 rooms, Mobil Gas & Diesel, and our unique Catskill Moun- A locally owned and tain & Ashokan Reservoir logo merchandise along with operated family business, the expanded one-of-a-kind Gift Shop. Awarded the 2018 Kenco is committed to the proposition that hard workers Ulster County Small Business of Year! need clothing and gear to match their ambition. Since then we have applied the same principle and grown to include Windham Mountain clothing and footwear for working, outdoor adventure, and Outfitters casual living. Kenco is the place to go to for knowledge 61 State Route 296 and gear for your next outdoor Catskills adventure. Windham, NY 12496 WindhamOutfitters.com Moose Crossing 518 734 4700 1 Reservoir Rd. Top of the line outdoor gear and equipment for rental or Shokan, NY 12481 purchase. We have all the gear and equipment you’ll need 845 657 9792 to have a great time on the trails or the slopes. Our large rustic-cabin.com selection of bike and ski equipment includes top of the line Casual, rustic and country bikes and skis, plus clothing and accessories in any size to Adirondack-style furniture, fit your goals and budget. Our full-service shop also does home furnishings, home decor, accessories, gifts and col- repairs and tune-ups. Open 7 days.

January 2021 • GUIDE 29 ence that combines our natural surroundings with the deep SERVICES relaxation effects of stone therapy and custom design treat- ments to suit the health, lifestyle and desire of every guest. Catskill Center for The Emerson Spa is open Thursday through Monday from Conservation & 10am to 5pm: please call for a reservation. Development 43355 Route 28 VISITOR INFORMATION Arkville, NY 12406 catskillcenter.org Catskill Interpretive Center 845 586 2611 5096 State Route 28 Since 1969, the Catskill Center has led the effort to pro- Mt. Tremper, NY 12457 tect the more than 700,000 acres of the Catskill Park and CatskillInterpretiveCenter.org Catskill Forest Preserve. Their mission is to protect and 845 688 3369 foster the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being Before you embark on any ad- of the Catskill Region. venture in the Catskills, be sure to stop at the Park’s official Visitor Center! The Catskill Catskill Mountain Interpretive Center is your gateway to Catskills, where you Printing Services can learn about the vast outdoor recreational opportunities 7970 Main Street in the area as well as discover Catskills communities and Hunter, NY 12442 rich cultural and natural history. The Catskill Interpretive 518 263 2072 Center is now open for phone consultations and for drive- Your one-stop shop for fast, per- up information. sonal service for all of your printing needs. Graphic design services are available, and we can print green! WINE & LIQUOR

Greene County Economic Elevated Wine & Spirits Development 7261 Route 23A Corporation Hunter, NY 12442 411 Main Street 518 263 4184 Catskill, NY 12414 Hunter Village Wines & greenecountyedc.com Liquors has been Elevated! 518 719 3290 We’re always expanding our The Greene County Economic Development Corporation selection of traditional, organic, biodynamic, and natural is your gateway to establishing your business in any of the wines, plus bartender-selected spirits including single vil- 14 Catskill Mountain, rural valley, and historic Hudson River lage mezcals and small batch bourbons. From Barefoot towns. Their team connects entrepreneurs, developers, Chardonnay to Cru Beaujolais, from Fireball to Fred #5. A site selectors, and corporate leadership with resources, wine & spirits shop for anyone at any budget. Lots of local municipalities, and investment incentives for job-creating spirits too. businesses.

SPA

The Emerson Resort & Spa 5340 Route 28 Mt. Tremper, NY 12457 emersonresort.com 845 688 2828 Welcome to a harmonious blend of nature, balance and restoration. It is our pleasure to introduce you to spa thera- pies inspired by the earth’s elements and the tranquility of the Catskills. The Emerson Spa provides a serene experi-

30 • www.catskillregionguide.com Town & Country Liquors 330 Route 12 Saugerties, NY 12477 townandcountryliquorstore.com 845 246 8931 Over the years our selection of wines and spirits has developed into the best in the Hud- son Valley. Our friendly helpful staff is here to assist you in finding the right beverage: we have a huge selection of wines and spirits from all over the world. In-store service is available, and pre-call curbside service is encouraged. Please see our inventory online.

Windham Wine & Liquors 5448 State Route 23 Windham, NY 12496 518 734 3474 Windham Wine & Liquors is the Mountaintop’s premier destina- tion for the best offerings of wines and spirits since 2003. Our ever-expanding selction is sure to please every palate and price range. Let us help with your special event or gift. Visit us at the west end of town. Open every day of the year except Christmas Day. View from the deck at Hunter Mountain Brewery

January 2021 • GUIDE 31 THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE CATSKILLS By Jeff Senterman

o far winter in the Catskills has been off to a shaky start and Swe’ve been more likely to come across mud rather than much ice or snow on the trails. Sadly, this just one more example of our increasingly chaotic weather patterns due to climate change. We hope that as we get further into the winter, the colder weather will settle across our region, allowing our local ski areas to open more terrain and have more snow for backcountry skiing, and many of our hiking trails will turn into great snowshoe and cross country ski routes as natural snow piles up in the moun- tains. Instead of staying in, winter in the Catskills is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the mountains. If you are going to be spending some time in the great out- doors this January there are some common sense things you can do to make your activities more enjoyable. Each year around this time, I like to go over these tips to maximize my own enjoyment of the outdoors in the winter and hopefully maximize your enjoy- ment too. Some Tips for Enjoying Outdoor Sports in the Winter Hikes, cross country ski trips, and snowshoe trips can all be fun, adventuresome and beautiful in the winter, but they do require advance planning as there is less room for mistakes and errors on a winter excursion because of the cold temperatures, generally higher winds, snow, ice and limited daylight hours. new way to look at the trails of the Catskill Mountains too, with Keeping Warm: You should always be prepared on any hike, ski adventures around every corner. or snowshoe trip to keep warm and sheltered with nothing more than what you are carrying with you. You should not count on Trail Markers: Luckily in the Catskills we do not have white a campfire or stove to keep you warm. You should learn how to trail markers, but even so, the familiar red, blue and yellow trail layer your clothing to maximize warmth. You must always stay markers may be hidden by deep snows, especially on mountain alert to the dangers of hypothermia and frostbite—know the signs summits. Having a map and compass is always a good idea, but it on both and learn how to treat them. is a necessity in the wintertime to make sure you do not lose your way. Get yourself a printed map from the Catskills Visitor Cen- Daylight: Unlike the long hours of daylight for hikes in the ter’s gift shop for your hikes and don’t rely on battery powered summertime, winter days are very short and darkness can easily devices—cold weather causes them to lose a charge much faster. surprise anyone in the woods with its quick arrival. Always plan out your trips to maximize your use of daylight. Always carry a Tips and Tricks for Enjoying flashlight and headlamp in case you are stuck in the darkness and the Outdoors in the Winter still need to make your way out to the trailhead. Here are some additional ideas, tips and suggestions for winter hiking, skiing and snowshoeing trips: Skiing and Snowshoeing: Hiking in the snow takes a lot of effort since most often hikers without snowshoes “post-hole” their way Stay dry and waterproof. Make sure you manage your core tem- along a trail. That is, with each step, a hiker sinks into the snow perature while hiking to prevent sweating, which gets your clothes creating what looks like a hole for a post with every step. Cross wet and limits their insulative value. Wear gaiters to help keep country skis and snowshoes, on the other hand, keep you on top your legs dry, and pop your hood over your head when trekking of the snow and let you travel further with less energy than trying through overhanging trees to prevent snow from getting in at the to hike on your own. Skiing and snowshoeing open up a whole neck and getting you wet.

32 • www.catskillregionguide.com Winter is the wrong time to think you need to pack lightly. Carry many insulating layers including a spare set of long under- wear tops and bottoms: putting on dry, cold clothes may shock the system initially but you will feel warmer quickly.

Make sure your equipment works. Finding out your water bottle is cracked when it is 10 below at lunchtime is the wrong time to learn about it.

Be aware that solid food items freeze. Cut up those Snickers bars ahead of time … even cold cuts can freeze!

Drink constantly. You will not feel as thirsty in cold weather as you do during summer activities.

Know how to repair snowshoe and crampon/creeper bindings. A broken binding can become an emergency deep in the woods.

Don’t use those ski pole wrist loops. A downhill fall can wrench a shoulder if you go one way and your ski pole stays put.

Ideally know your winter hike ahead of time. Trail finding is tricky with deep snow so knowing the route well is a good idea.

Favor hikes with few stream crossings. Crossings are dangerous as both a water hazard and possibly soaking everything you are Photo by Heather Rolland

January 2021 • GUIDE 33 CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THE ARTS

Photo by Fran Driscoll, francisxdriscoll.com THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS! wearing and carrying. Even just getting your snowshoes wet can result in heavy globs of ice stuck on.

F O U N A M D H A D T I N O I N W If you’re hiking with a dog: check their paws for icing, make sure they are staying Education, Recreation, Arts, and Community Initiatives adequately hydrated and are staying warm.

Be especially careful if conditions are icy. Crampons and creepers only work if you stay on your feet.

If you are a beginner winter hiker, consider a group hike to learn more about trail conditions and preparation. With proper planning, the right skills and the right equipment, winter is a great time to get out and enjoy the Catskills. One of the best ways to fight off cabin fever is to get out of the cabin and get into the woods!

Catskill Mountain Foundation is Visit the Catskill Park’s Visitor Center supported in part by New York Located at 5096 Route 28 in Mount Tremper, the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey State Council on the Arts, The Greene County Legislature through Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) is the official visitor center for the Catskill Park. Oper- the Cultural Fund administered by ated and managed by the Catskill Center, staff are available at the CVC with informa- CREATE Council for Resources tion, maps and all the advice needed to plan a Catskill adventure. A walk-up service to Enrich the Arts, Technology & window at the building is now open every day except for Wednesday, from 10 am to Education (formerly The Greene 3 pm. Visitors who wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols can get their County Council on the Arts), The Catskill questions answered in person, receive tourism literature and make purchases at Jarvis and Constance Doctorow the CVC’s shop. The CVC building, including the restrooms inside, are not yet open to Family Foundation, The Royce the public, but a port-a-john is available in the parking area. Family Foundation, The Samuel and Esther Doctorow Fund, The CVC staff are also available to answer questions about the Catskills and the Catskill Orville and Ethel Slutzky Family Park via email at [email protected] or phone 845 688 3369. Foundation, Platte Clove Bruder- In addition to the walk-up service window, 1.5 miles of trails on the CVC’s hof Community, Bank of Greene grounds, including the (roughly) 0.5 mile ADA accessible Interpretive Loop Trail, are County Charitable Foundation, The open to the public daily. The 80-foot tall Upper Esopus Fire Tower, which was con- Greene County Youth Bureau, structed and opened last fall, will also be open daily to visitors. Picnic tables are available Marshall & Sterling Insurance, All on site for those who wish to enjoy a picnic lunch. Souls’ Church, Stewarts Shops, Windham Foundation, and by Visitors can explore the ever expanding resources available online for the CVC on private donations. the web at catskillsvisitorcenter.org and on the CVC’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ catskillsvisitorcenter.

Catskill Park Day Coming in February Help Support the Catskills! 7971 Main Street, Village of Hunter Organized annually by the Catskill Park Coalition, which is co-chaired by the Catskill 518 263 2001 • www.catskillmtn.org Center, the 2021 Catskill Park Day will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. This day is an opportunity for supporters of the Catskills to have their voice heard in Albany and

34 • www.catskillregionguide.com to make a difference in the support and funding that the Park Give Back to the Catskills receives. This year will be a virtual advocacy day due to CO- The natural beauty, the majesty of the mountains, the protection VID-19—for more information visit catskillcenter.org/advocacy of the Catskill Forest Preserve, the region’s natural and cultural or call 845 586 2611. resources, all needs your help! By supporting the work of the Catskill Center, you support: stewardship of our Catskill Park and Catskill Park Updates now Available for the its vast natural resources; the Center’s collaborative spirit as we Catskills Online convene, create partnerships and facilitate discussions that benefit Local recreational opportunities are always changing and by the region; and the Center’s work to support education, arts and visiting the Catskills Visitor Center’s Trail Conditions blog you culture throughout the Catskills. can now see updates related to the Catskill Park, Catskill trails, To support the work of the Catskill Center, become a mem- Catskill campgrounds and camping, Catskill boating, skiing, and ber online through their website at catskillcenter.org/membership more at catskillsvisitorcenter.org. or donate by mail: Checks made out to the “Catskill Center” can be mailed to Catskill Center, PO Box 504, Arkville, NY 12406. Catskill Park Advisory Committee The Catskill Park Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established to facilitate communication within the Park. Chaired by the Catskill Center, it consists of representatives from local governments and organizations and provides a forum for communities, user groups, Jeff Senterman is the Executive and stakeholders of the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed Director of the Catskill Center for to discuss issues of regional importance. The purpose of the Com- Conservation and Development in mittee is to provide assistance, advice, and guidance to the DEC, Arkville, NY, a member of the Board the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and of Directors for the American Hiking other land managers in the management of the New York State Society, the Catskill Watershed Cor- Forest Preserve, the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed. poration and the Central Catskills Meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. If Chamber of Commerce. Jeff gradu- you’d like to learn more, join the mailing list or attend the next ated with a degree in Environmental meeting, please contact the Catskill Center at 845 586 2611 or Science from Lyndon State College and worked for many years as an email them at [email protected] with CPAC in the subject Environmental Planner in New England before coming back to New asking to be added to the mailing list. Please note that for the time York and the Catskills in the nonprofit sector. To learn more about being CPAC meetings will be held virtually. You must be on the the work of the Catskill Center in the Catskills, visit www.catskill- mailing list to receive the email to register for the virtual meeting. center.org.

#RecreateResponsibly in the Catskills As the Catskills get busier, it can be confusing to navigate this “new normal” in terms of how to recreate responsibly in the era of COVID-19. The #RecreateResponsibly guidelines give some sound advice on how to get outdoors right now. When you choose to recreate responsibly, you are doing your part to keep yourself and others safe and healthy.

Know Before you Go: Check the status of the place you want to visit. If it is closed, don’t go. If it’s crowded, have a plan B. Plan Ahead: Prepare for facilities to be closed, pack lunch and bring essentials like hand sanitizer and a mask. Stay Close to Home: This is not the time to travel long distances to recreate. Most places are only open for day use. Practice Physical Distancing: Adventure only with your immediate household. Be prepared to cover your nose and mouth and give others space. If you are sick, stay home. Play It Safe: Slow down and choose lower-risk activities to reduce your risk of injury. Search and rescue operations and health care resources are both strained. Leave No Trace: Respect public lands and communities and take your garbage with you, including disposable gloves, and masks.

We all have a shared responsibility to care for these places and ensure they remain for future generations to enjoy. Lead by example and join the Catskill Center and the Catskills Visitor Center in learning how to #RecreateResponsibly at recreateresponsibly.org.

January 2021 • GUIDE 35 POETRY Curated by Robert Tomlinson

We asked a few poets to write a poem to look forward to 2021 …

The Gleaning

The Master said to his harvesters, “Let her gather among the sheaves and do not reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up....”

The Book of Ruth, 2:15-16

The muddy soft rows My daughter’s Small hands, nicked, Are frosted with an icy lace Scratched, do rough work. As the orange sun reaches with small I wince as she toils without complaint. Fingers through the dark gray dawn And the short tawny bristles Tying anemic sheaves of wheat Sprout like large match sticks, To dry off in the afternoon sun From the dirt, Sharp and brittle. From the leftovers, from the discards, Stalks of hay scattered on the ground The droppings, we will winnow Are a cats cradle laid by a child. The chaff from the rough wheat.

Our collective breathes form a fog, I stand up to relieve the pain A too late harvest, that seemed That bolts up my back To never come, delayed, careless, And stare into the slight warming sun Postponed, and A reminder Diminished as it is this chill morning that the calloused fist of winter The solstice is not far off is not far off. The snow’s slow, arduous return And in the new year we will bake Mothers, sisters, the old, Thick bread, kneaded with Forage up and down the rows Love, and hope, for those Each to our business with the earth Who have not. We will taste Scratching in the cold mud It’s goodness, it’s richness, and Some to gather that which was spilled remember our struggle, Others to cut what escaped the And warmly embrace. reapers scythe. Small stands, at the far corners of the field. —Carlo DeVito The master’s discards promised To us by Ruth and her mother. Rose Hips and Hickory Nuts Today and Tomorrow Why the repeated noise? leaves fall with a crisp sound Next on the agenda dropping nuts feeding the ground Is to clean up cat piss as if a tree forgets being round When I’m done what’s on the other side I’ll move on to mouse droppings

Remember Now that I cleaned up my act how one thing on the table I’ll love my neighbor led to another? a camera became a pile of books became And eat the bread of life a bowl filled with acorns The holiest snack I sometimes say hello Tomorrow is wide open dried tendrils What a relief fruit of a rose train station without a train Open the windows intention is a barrier to affection Set the ghosts free the trying stops the going stem of actions —Brian Dewan

split in half What do you need? make a list don’t forget sun the mind draws lines between things Victory Dance but the whole can’t be siphoned into tiny bits After the empire is defeated a field is a field After the ogre is returned to the underworld but the bits are there Then rebels rejoice and heroes receive medals I remember Then they have to face themselves or else hunting on the ground for hickory nuts Become ogres and empires. walking on a quiet street I never thought I’d blank That said - Tears of joy! cupped hands rough barked Fireworks! the morning in pieces Victory dance! picking up my phone putting it down A good night’s sleep. turning pieces over expecting nuts but finding —Rodney Alan Greenblatt just shells

—Karen Schoemer CATSKILL MOUNTAIN REGION GUIDE ARTIST FEATURE

Curated by Robert Tomlinson ANA DELGADO anadelgadoart.com

I am an artist who works in photography and mixed medium paint.

My work deals with memory, family, displacement, and my visceral connection to nature.

Born in Cuba and immigrating to the United States at a young age, I have always had strong ties to my family and my Cuban roots. At home it was Cuba, outside it was America.

Much of my work is about human interaction, the flow from one to another, the closeness of familial bonds, loss of place, and the importance of home.

My work centers around the female perspective in the family relationship and the unique connection to na- ture that women have. This is of personal importance to me, as I have always had a very strong connection to nature.

Even as a child I would spend hours playing in the woods around our house creating stories, building houses, and making food for the family.

Today I am often drawn to the presence of trees, rocks, and landscapes. They are like friends and personali- ties that I come to know and love through photography.

As my recent work grows more abstract, colors, shapes, and their relationship to each other have become more important. The essence of things, I find, speaks more accurately of what they are than their factual rep- resentation. The interplay and flow between the forms are like a Cuban dance or a connection to a favorite place in nature.

Art to me is a visual language.

I use shapes, forms, colors, and light to communicate.

I think of my process as an expression of the moment.

I look, I see, I make.

I push, erase, cover and expose until there is something revealed.

It’s like magic. Ana Delgado, “Flirt” Acrylic and oil on canvas 48x48 inches, 2020 Ana Delgado, ”Birthday” Acrylic and oil on canvas 48x48 inches, 2020

Ana Delgado, ”Pep Talk” Acrylic and oil on canvas 60x60 inches, 2020 Ana Delgado, “I am here” Oil and Oil Stick on paper 14x16 inches, 2020 Ana Delgado, “Untitled” Acrylic and oil on canvas 40x60 inches, 2020 Ana Delgado, ”Lingering” Ink jet print with digital drawing 11x17 inches, 2019

Ana Delgado, ”Untitled” Ink jet print with digital drawing 11x17 inches, 2019 The MOUNTAIN CINEMA in Hunter IS OPEN!* *Subject to change based on guidance from New York State regarding containment of COVID-19 Please visit catskillmtn.org for updates

DOCTOROW CENTER SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR THE ARTS We hope to be able to remain open, but PLEASE visit catskillmtn.org or 7971 Main Street call 518 263 4702 in advance. Village of Hunter Shows open on Friday & run through Sunday.

Ticket Prices: $11 / $9 seniors & children under 11

View each week’s schedule and view trailers for our films online at www.catskillmtn.org

The movie theater at the Orpheum Film & Performing Arts Center in Tannersville will be closed until further notice. YOUR SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY To ensure the safety of our patrons and staff, we have instituted the following procedures:

• Masks Are Required Except when Seated to Drink or Eat

• You Must Wait to Be Seated

• The Theaters will be sanitized between showings: do not enter the theater until escorted.

• We strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance. Please visit www.catskillmtn.org and click on the film you’d like to see to choose your showing and reserve your seat!

www.catskillmtn.org • 518 263 4702

44 • www.catskillregionguide.com A Greene County Garden in January By Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson

garden starts with seeds. Within its outer coat, every seed stored at a moderate temperature in a dry container, will stay vi- Acontains a living embryo. Their outer forms have evolved able for several years. Seed banks like the Millenium Seed Bank of to help them disperse. Dandelion seeds have a feathery “pappus” the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London preserve the seeds of to catch the breeze and float away. Burrs hitch a ride on animal rare and endangered wild plants from around the world, storing fur or human clothing. Hura crepitans, the “dynamite tree” of the them deep underground at sub-freezing temperatures. Gardeners, Amazon rain forest, can hurl its seeds 100 feet or more at a speed meanwhile, preserve heirloom vegetable varieties by growing them up to 160 miles per hour. Other seeds hide within delicious fruits and saving the seeds year after year. that entice us to collect and eat them. You might like to experiment with heirloom vegetables Our human ancestors selected seeds from plants with desirable from native tribes of the Northeast, like Haudenosaunee Skunk characteristics and pampered them in rich seed beds. Over time, beans (grown by the Iroquois and available at fruitionseeds.com), the stringy, tough roots of wild carrots turned into our juicy, crisp Canada Crookneck squash (another Iroquois vegetable, available modern versions. Wild Brassica oleracea, growing on chalky seaside at greatlakesstapleseeds.com), and Abenaki Calais Flint corn (a cliffs, became today’s marvelously varied brassicas: kale, cabbage, restored variety of the corn grown by the Abenaki for cornmeal, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and more. available at fedcoseeds.com). Growing beans, squash and corn Some seeds stay alive for extraordinary lengths of time. together follows the Native American “three sisters” technique, Researchers have successfully sprouted an ancient variety of date which takes advantage of the complementary growth habits of palm from 2,000-year-old seeds found at an archaeological site these vegetables. in Israel. Bean seeds from a 1,500-year-old clay pot in Folsom, January is not too early to explore seed catalogs and start New Mexico, have also been grown. At the opposite extreme are placing orders. Last year, seed suppliers were caught by surprise by short-lived seeds of herbs like angelica and shiso, which should a pandemic-inspired enthusiasm for home gardening. Ordering be sown within a few months of harvest. Carrot and onion seeds early helps avoid disappointment if the seed of your heart’s desire germinate reliably for only a year or two. Most seeds, though, runs short.

January 2021 • GUIDE 45 C Kaaterskill M Shoppe F Gifts Books Toys Art SHOP LOCAL IN THE NEW YEAR!

SHOP ONLINE on our NEW WEBSITE! kaatart.catskillmtn.org

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY! • Wearing a mask is required—we have extra if you need one. • Hand sanitizer and gloves available for your comfort and safety. • No more than 6 people in the store at one time. • Credit card / check are preferred but not mandatory. • We have instituted enhanced cleaning protocols throughout the day. • We have set aside 11 am to noon as a special “seniors only” shopping hour

6042 Main St, Tannersville, NY 12485 (next to the Orpheum Film & Performing Arts Center)

Hours: Friday & Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm & Sunday 11 am to 6 pm (special shopping hours for seniors and the immune-compromised: 11 am to noon on Fridays)

Phone: (518) 589-7500 • KaatArtGallery • KaaterskillShoppe

46 • www.catskillregionguide.com PREPARING FOR 2021 Kindness and the Art TOMORROW TODAY Builds TODAY of Listening By Robert Tomlinson

“…artists’ lives do not necessarily parallel their art, or even indirectly cause it… It’s a misap- prehension to read by their deaths—or even by their lives, in many cases. To read them by their journeys, by how their art grew and changed over the course of their writing lives, tells us a great deal about what they made and why.” —from We Begin In Gladness, by Craig Morgan Teicher

Creating a work of art is not only about actively doing something. Attention is the natural prayer of the soul. It’s very much about pausing and patiently listening. I think of —Nicolas Malebranche, 17th century philosopher listening as an act of kindness—to oneself and others. Patient listening involves showing up and paying attention, bringing your • And finally, you have to feel the full range of your feelings in or- best self forward and being open to receiving new information der to gain access to the depth of yourself in order to know what and insights. If you are at all like me, this is a highly intuitive you are capable of, to arrive at your potential. process. What new journeys will we embark on in 2021? What goals Many of us are exhausted by the pandemic and politics, filled shall we establish for our collective selves and what role will kind- with grief and anxiety as we live with so much uncertainty. Find- ness play? ing gratitude helps me refocus away from what is frustrating or Here are some things that artists know: hurting and opens up resetting my emotions onto a new platform that is calmer and open to giving rather than receiving, listening • To explore new territory, you have to go where to where you rather than talking (or screaming) and moving with kindness and don’t know what you are doing. It’s kind of like intentionally get- generosity, not fear. ting lost. This is when discoveries are made. You have to let go of What will you be listening for in 2021? What acts of kind- what you think you know in order to make something new. This ness will you generate and with whom? Please consider that every is where learning occurs. act of kindness promotes empathy and today’s compassion builds trust for a tomorrow that is stronger, safer and more loving. • You have to not look away. There is a relationship between what you ask for and what you receive. This is about being vulnerable. Need a jolt of joy? Listen to Choir Choir Choir And then you have to be willing to be alone with yourself in a with Patti Smith singing “People Have the Power” deep way, to digest what is coming to you. on YouTube. You won’t regret it.

January 2021 • GUIDE 47 2021 PERFORMING ARTS SEASON SNEAK PEEK Bringing the Community There are many unknowns as we plan our 2021 season. We will continue to work with our artists to offer virtual, recorded performances throughout the year. We are Together through the Arts hoping to present The Nutcracker live in the Orpheum in December 2021.

FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC LOVERS FOR DANCE LOVERS We continue to do everything we can to support dance artists who seek safe studio and theater space to continue their dancing. Dance residencies will be hosted at our facilities in the winter and spring of 2021. CONCERTS & CONVERSATIONS Salon Series of 6 Performances with the Academy of Fortepiano Performance A series of informal online performances and discussions with fort- epiano students and professionals anywhere, hosted by AFP faculty and guest artists around the world.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim, A Night at the Theater, London, Peter B. Lewis Theater. Photo: Robert Altman at the Turn of the 18th Century Labyrinth Baroque Ensemble ZviDance Residency Richard Kolb (Music Director) and Tracy Cowart (Stage Director) Zvi Gotheiner, choreographer Saturday, September 4, 2021 @ 7:30pm Three Weeks in January, 2021 The ensemble brings to life the ravishing beauty and wry wit of 17th Films of the dancers in residence will capture their experience of and 18th century chamber music on period instruments. working in the Catskill Mountains. Final performances will be available later in the year on WNET. Thanksgiving Weekend Chamber Music Concert Arranged and Conducted by Robert Manno Guggenheim Museum Works & Process November 2021 Dance Residencies Directed by Duke Dang FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS Six Two-Week Residencies from January through May, 2021 Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, will Virtual performances in each season of 2021. incubate six new dance commissions shaping a more inclusive and representative world. These projects will be developed as part of a series of bubble residencies, a model pioneered by Works & Pro- cess, where artists can safely gather, create, work and perform. Each residency will feature a digital program that will allow audiences to go behind the scenes to gain insight into the creative process.

Orpheum Dance Program Performances Directed by Victoria Rinaldi and featuring dancers from the No Strings Marionette Company: “The Snowmaiden” Community Ballet program as well as students and professional Animals, humans and mythical creatures populate this beloved Rus- dancers from other schools and dance companies in the Northeast. sian folktale.

Enchantment Theatre from Philadelphia Three stories from the Brothers Grimm A FEW LAUGHS GO A LONG WAY Tune in for staged readings of a pair of short theater comedies filmed at the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter. Wanda’s Visit, by Christopher Durang A Midsummer Night’s Dream Featuring Darcy Dunn, Dayna Kurtz, August, 2021 John McCaffrey, and Mark Singer A night of dance and spoken word including dancers from profes- January, 2021 sional ballet companies and local ballet students. In this madcap farce, a married couple in a stale marriage host an unexpected visit from the husband’s old girlfriend, and she turns out to The Nutcracker be the guest from hell. December, 2021 The magic continues with this annual holiday production featuring The second play in this series has yet to be chosen. local ballet students and professional dancers. 48 • www.catskillregionguide.com ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 1! www.sugarmaples.org | www.catskillmtn.org On Instagram: @Sugarmaples.center CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

Adero Willard Cynthia Fisher Linda Schultz Laura Pierce WEEKLY CERAMICS COILING AND SLAB THE POETIC PICTURE: CLASSES CONSTRUCTION: CLAY AS CANVAS BASICS & BEYOND AN UNORTHODOX Instructor: Shanna Fliegel Instructor: Susan Bogen APPROACH TO August 19 to August 24 June 23 to August 25 TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES Instructor:Jeff Shapiro PATTERN ON THE CLAY CLAY FOR SENIORS July 15 to July 20 SURFACE Instructor: Susan Beecher Instructor: Adero Willard June 23 to August 25 AN EXPERIMENTAL August 26 to August 31 SALT FIRING CERAMICS Instructors: Max Seinfeld MOSAICS & Stephanie Lanter MAGNIFICENT MOSAICS WORKSHOPS July 22 to July 27 HANDBUILDING: Instructor: Cynthia Fisher TRICKS OF THE TRADE July 23 to 25 EXPRESSIVE TIPS Instructor: Vince Pitelka & SODA FIRING June 17 to June 22 PAINTING Instructor: Kenyon Hansen CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING July 29 to August 3 SENSATIONAL SODA Instructor: Linda Schultz FIRING June 26 to 27 MARRYING FORM Instructor: Bruce Dehnert AND SURFACE June 24 to June 27 FIBER ARTS WITH BRENDA QUINN BASICS & BEYOND Instructor: Brenda Quinn DELICIOUS DISHES WEEKLY WEAVING CLASS August 5 to August 10 Instructor: Susan Beecher Instructor: Laura Pierce July 2 to July 4 Session 1: June 7 to July 26 WHICH CAME FIRST, Session 2: August 9 to THE POT OR THE IDEA LEVEL UP YOUR PATTERN September 27 Instructor: Lindsay Oesterritter Instructor: Michael Kline August 12 to August 16 July 8 to July 12 INTRO TO RIGID HEDDLE Instructor: Teresa Curtiss August 7 to 8

January 2021 • GUIDE 49 PLEASE DONATE TO THE WE MISS YOU AND CAN’T CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION! Your support matters and makes everything we do possible! WAIT TO SEE YOU SOON! EACH YEAR, THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION • Presents and hosts more than 20 per- • Hosts arts residencies bringing many • Shows more than 100 films on our formances and lectures. artists to our community for extended four screens in Hunter and Tannersville. stays. • Offersfree or subsidized arts pro- • Publishes the monthly Guide maga- grams that are enjoyed by hundreds of • Is the home of the Piano Perfor- zine, distributed throughout the Catskill local children. mance Museum, a rare collection of Region and at New York State Thruway historic playable pianos. rest stops. • Offersworks of over 40 regional artists, along with the a hand-curated • Runs a dozen studio arts programs, collection of over 4,000 books. with students from around the U.S.

YES! I would like to help the Catskill Mountain Foundation in its mission to bring the arts to the Mountaintop Please accept my donation of: $ You may also make a donation online at https://bit.ly/2E3Exny

All donors are listed in our playbills and receive our weekly e-mail updates. q Primary Address Name 1: Name 2 (if joint membership): Address: City: State: Zip: E-mail: Phone: q Secondary Address Address: City: State: Zip: q Check if this is a new address. “All art has this characteristic – Please make your check payable to: Catskill Mountain Foundation PO Box 924 • Hunter, NY 12442 Become an “Angel of the Arts”: Make this a monthly gift it unites people.” I would like to donate $______monthly.

q Check Enclosed q Visa q Mastercard q AmEx —Leo Tolstoy

Card # Exp. Date CVV Billing Zip Code Signature

You may be able to double your contribution if you work for or are retired from a company that has a matching gift program. To make your match, simply obtain a form from your company’s Matching Gift Coordinator and send it along with your contribution. Catskill Mountain Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. All gifts are tax deductible as allowable by law. Questions/More Information: Call 518 263 2001 WE MISS YOU AND CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU SOON!

MUSICIANS ARTISTS CHILDREN AUDIENCES TEACHERS DANCERS WRITERS POETS SUPPORTERS COMMUNITY FOUNDERS STAFF BOARD

“All art has this characteristic – it unites people.” —Leo Tolstoy

January 2021 • GUIDE 51 Please Support Our Advertisers!

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