Gallery Closing: Matteawan Gallery's Final Opening is September 2018 - Where to Find Karlyn Next

It's bittersweet that this month's opening at Matteawan Gallery reflects on the passage of time: Eleanor White's It's About Time will be Matteawan Gallery's final show. Karlyn Benson opened Matteawan Gallery in March 2013 in a small space further east on Main Street near the mountain.

It was a pretty common sight to see familiar faces packed into the gallery and congregating on the sidewalk outside, discussing everything from new puppies (hi, Jack!) to the featured artist who used math and dots to make really neat art that I couldn't wait to share with my math teacher-Renaissance man dad. I (I = Second Saturday writer Catherine, not bloggista extraordinaire Katie) am a total art newbie, and don't always "get" the fancy/important work, but Karlyn's gallery always had pieces by new (to me), interesting artists. Who remembers the baseball card guy

Matteawan will be missed, but keep your eyes peeled for Karlyn's name: "I plan to curate exhibitions under the name Matteawan Projects and to write about art in the Hudson Valley," she says. (Her first article is already up at Chronogram!) 

September's Opening: Eleanor White's It's About Time

Eleanor White returns to Matteawan Gallery with It's About Time. In her second solo show at the gallery, Eleanor explores the passing of time in sculpture and drawings. Natural materials, including hair, dandelion fluff, wood ash, and eggshells break out of their place in the daily background to figure prominently as materials, reminding viewers of fragility and the cyclic nature of ... nature. According to gallery owner Karlyn Benson, "White takes ordinary objects and makes them into something wonderful, captivating, and strange, thereby showing the potential of everything around us to change over time."

This exhibit runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018.

Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide For September 2017

ALBB 2Sat Sept 17.jpg

Happy Second Saturday, Beacon and fans of Beacon! Fall is in the air - schools are back in session, leaves are crunching, and there's just something invigorating about all of it. Make like the kids this weekend and work on expanding your horizons: Seeing a variety of art is a most excellent way to learn new things. Check in with nature at Theo Ganz, Catalyst and Matteawan, or find your softer side at Clutter. Practice civic engagement with two interactive art projects at the Howland Library. It's the final weekend for two exhibitions (Cathouse FUNeral and Beacon Institute)that blend history and art in very different ways. Don't miss out!

Get the scoop on all the Second Saturday happenings around town in our Guide to Second Saturday Art Gallery Showings

As always, a huge, big thanks to BeaconArts (BACA) for the tireless efforts promoting Saturday. And another huge, big thanks to A Little Beacon Blog's advertising partners, without whom this production would be exceptionally difficult. Please support the businesses who support us!

Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide For August 2017

Happy Second Saturday, Beacon and fans of Beacon! Don't let the threat of some showers keep you inside. There's art galore happening around town: An artist/gallery owner Russ Cusick will be performing classic TV theme songs *inside a TV* at another gallery, Marion Royael, Beacon seniors exhibit paintings at the library, and colorful critters take over a West End space!

Get the scoop on all the Second Saturday happenings around town. ➡️ http://alittlebeaconblog.com/second-saturday

As always, a huge, big thanks to BeaconArts (BACA) for the tireless efforts promoting Saturday. And another huge, big thanks to A Little Beacon Blog's advertising partners, without whom this production would be exceptionally difficult. Please support the businesses who support us!

May's Second Saturday Guide for Beacon Art Showings



 Second Saturday Happenings on May 14, 2016!


http://beaconarts.org/donate/


The BeaconArts Official Logo
for Second Saturday.
"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses arts on the second Saturday of every month. According to Dan Rigney, current president of BeaconArts, the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events, says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday is a great reason to "walk" Main Street and beyond and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure eating and drinking your way through Beacon, so this guide will help you know where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:
  • This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in a gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
  • Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
  • Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
  • Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. A new municipal lot opened near Fishkill Creek, near the mountain.
  • Live-tweet your way through Second Saturday by using the hashtag created by BeaconArts: #2SAT, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
  • If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night Spots to Eat and Drink (After 9pm)
After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink!
See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9pm in our Restaurant Guide

Bank Square 129 Main St.
Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
Poppy's Burger and Fries 184 Main St.
Max's On Main 246 Main St.
Baja 328 328 Main St.
Quinn's 330 Main St.
The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St.
(call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served)
Draught Industries 394 Main St.
The Vault 446 Main St.
Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
The Hop 554 Main St.
(reservations usually needed for food)
Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
Dogwood 47 East Main St.

There's so much going on - keep your eyes on our Things To Do In Beacon Guides for all dates!
Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone.

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NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET


Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100
Special for Second Saturday: Community Free Day! Every three months, Dia:Beacon flings open its beautiful doors for Hudson Valley residents, offering a day of programming for all ages, including tours, talks, workshops, and performances. 

To kick off Dia day, there's a family-friendly program on sound, color, and environment led by an educator. The first of several half-hour "Dialogue Duets" pairs the work of artists Dan Flavin and Blinky Palermo. At 1pm, reconsider movement in and around art installations as you are guided through four artists' work. Pieces from visual artists Gerhard Richter and Fred Sandback are teamed up for the second duet. (If you were into last summer's yarnstravaganza, Sandback's work might tickle your fancy!) In the monthly Gallery Talk, learn about German Fluxus Joseph Beuys as explained by Rattanamol Johal, a curator/archivist/doctoral student. The final duet showcases perennial Dia faves Sol LeWitt and Robert Irwin. All this art thinking and walking can be taxing, so wind down with a tasting of 2-Way Brewing Co.'s brews. 
More details at Dia:Beacon.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm





Art in the Sanctuary at St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
15 South Ave.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: This month's Art in the Sanctuary event features "Beauty in Everything and Everyone," paintings by Maria Amor. She is the artist and director of Atelier Room 205 in the old Beacon High School, where the Atelier hosts classes, workshops, and openings.
Hours: 5 pm to 7 pm






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THE WEST END
(Close to the train station)



Catalyst Gallery
Catalyst Gallery 
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 204-3844
The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.
Special for Second Saturday: Photographs by Susan Keiser and Scott Lerman. Keiser, who has been called "a storyteller, psychic, and poet," brings her "Flooded" series to Catalyst, exploring what water can reveal over time. Water is a frequent subject for Lerman as well; his photographs in this exhibit evoke droplet-based Spirograph works or even mandalas.
Hours: 1 pm to 6 pm; reception, 6 pm to 9 pm



Theo Ganz Studio 
Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(917) 318-2239
Theo Ganz Studio, the little gallery with the big windows in Beacon's west end, was founded by artist Eleni Smolen as a venue for contemporary artists working in all media. Recognizing the importance of exhibitions in an artist's career, Smolen concentrates on presenting actively engaged emerging and mid-career professionals in either solo or group exhibitions.
Second Saturday: "Still Life in the Spinning World - The Force Field of Morandi" opens, with work from four artists using ceramics, wood, photography, and mixed media to challenge a 20th-century artist's expression of "still life."
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 8 pm



Marion Royael Gallery
Marion Royael Gallery
159 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Continuing this month is "VICTORYdotCONbackslashFUSE," described at the gallery's site as "finely executed visual perspectives..., woven together into a singularly connected Directed Migrating Installation." Painting, photography, sculpture, mixed-media, and jewelry are all represented in this show, which is set to run through July. Artists include Kathleen Erin Lee, Rick Hutchinson, Hy Suchman, Brian Edwards, Jens O Bille, Joe Zarra, Dave Dziemian, Mary Giehl, Barbara AG Riddle, Alexander Percy, Steven Paul Riddle, Ivan Suchman, and more.
Hours: Noon to 7 pm



Hudson Beach Glass
Hudson Beach Glass
162 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0068
A glass studio casting functional and sculptural objects for over 20 years. A truly special establishment to have in Beacon. Stop in to find blown-glass objects of all kinds, from lights to bowls to wind chimes. Sometimes on Second Saturday you can watch them blow glass.
Special for Second Saturday: Hudson Beach Gallery presents Caren Benzer's "Small Wonders." Subtle texture and vibrant colors are hallmarks of her style, developed while studying graphic design and textile design in Boston and Manhattan. Benzer works in oil, acrylic, and gouache. Head to Hudson Beach Glass and check out this show, and relish every time you get to say "gouache."
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm
 


"Bear in Mind" at Clutter
Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Works are a variety of sizes.
Second Saturday: The creative geniuses at Clutter have not one, but TWO shows opening this weekend! First up: "Bear in Mind" showcases nearly three dozen artists' reinterpretations of Luke Chueh's bear head. Chueh himself is set to attend, too! Take a gander at Instagram to see what the #bearinmindshow artists have been up to.
The second show opening tonight is a solo exhibition from Venezuelan Carlos Enriquez Gonzalez, "Shrunken Heads." The Venezuelan artist's work is described as surreal, yet we're pretty sure no actual shrunken heads were involved in the process. Since Gonzalez is scheduled to attend the opening, you could go and ask him yourself!
Hours: Opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm
 



RiverWinds Gallery
RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.
Special for Second Saturday: "Spirit Dancing - The Art of Annette Jaret" incorporates photography, painting, and collage, channeling inspiration from trees as they pass through the seasons. Jaret, who designed jewelry for years, takes her work in a different direction with these meditations on trees and paper. 
Hours: Opening reception, 5 pm to 8 pm



Porkchop at Dream in Plastic
Dream in Plastic
177 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 632-3383
Special for Second Saturday: "Rise of the Mudmen," by artist Porkchop! "Butcher by day and illustrator by night, you will find him surrounded by piles of pens, sheets of paper, and inks made from juiced primordial creatures," the Facebook event description touts. There's only one way to find out more - go see for yourself what has risen from the ooze! (Don't quote us on this, but - in the past, DiP has been known to offer cupcakes and coffee at openings!)
Hours: 11 am to 7 pm; opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm



Signing at Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway 
179 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(646) 283-1604
Special for Second Saturday: Real estate office by day, fashion showroom by weekend! Look past the latest listings for this book signing and dress exhibit with Gretchen Hirsch, aka Gertie, creative genius and author of "Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book."
Hours: 6 pm to 9 pm
 


Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries 
Beacon Institute
199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses the Institute’s gallery, Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, and its administrative headquarters. The gallery showcases river and environmentally themed art and educational exhibits. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: The historic Mount Beacon Incline Railway gets a spotlight in this exhibit, which features large-format photography, digital renderings, animations, and infographics, all exploring the Incline Railway’s early origins in shaping Beacon. The exhibition explores the initiative to bring back the Incline Railway, through the lenses of a historic narrative and an eye toward the future.
Click here for more event details.
Hours: 11 am to 3 pm




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THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"


The start of The Middle, aka "Market Square"

Art With Miss Vickie
Rite Aid
320 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-5699
Special for Second Saturday: Rite Aid hosts "Make Art Out of..." with Miss Vickie! Come see Miss Vickie, who you might know from music lessons, Beacon's holiday festivities (her secret elf name is Tinsel), or maybe you've seen her around Main Street making sure it stays beautiful. See what creative treats she has in store for the kids at Rite Aid!
Hours: 3 pm to 4 pm


Beacon Soundworks
Beacon Soundworks
395 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-9000
Special for Second Saturday: A new venue for Second Saturday! Visit the recently opened Beacon Soundworks, near Teller Ave., the diner, and Beacon Pantry, to see the work of Scott Prater. Also known as ThroughGlassEyes, he explores landscapes both outdoors and in, often around the Hudson Valley and the broader reaches of the Northeast. His moody work is also up at The Vault, Newburgh Brewery, and Beacon Bagel.
Hours: Call for details!




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THE EAST END & BEYOND
(Close to the mountain)

The start of the East End of Main Street and beyond.

At Matteawan Gallery
Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.
Special for Second Saturday: "Six Hits of Sunshine" is a solo exhibition of paintings and drawings by Gabe Brown. In these works, Brown explores facets of the natural world - leaf development, cell structure, birds, regeneration, water - and relationships with its residents, while always keeping in the foreground the wonder she experiences at this "parallel universe."
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm





Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames - art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

  









At Blackbird Attic
Blackbird Attic Boutique
442 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6782
Special for Second Saturday: The earth is warming up around us and days have been stretching longer and longer... Come celebrate this exciting time of year with Jessica Nash, a Beacon resident, traveler, teacher, and mixed media artist, with her "Under the Glow: Light & Landscapes" at Blackbird Attic. Recent trips to Iceland and Germany, when sometimes just finding a bright spot of light was cause to rejoice, inspired these meditations on light and land. Nash works with oil and watercolors, but thin glazes atop the pigments lend an intriguing luminosity.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm





Back Room Gallery in Beacon NY
Back Room Gallery


Back Room Gallery
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1838
Find 30 artists showing here, from large paintings to small collectibles. Also find art supplies such as sketch pads and charcoal pencils. And if you're with a man who wants to skip the art but loves anything to do with the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, send him to the actual "back room" of this gallery for a viewing of a very valuable collection of War art on crepe fabric.
Special for Second Saturday: Stop in and find out!
Hours: LATE





Howland Center
Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource.
Special for Second Saturday: The Howland Cultural Center marks Asian-American History month with this group show featuring more than a dozen Asian-American artists from around the Hudson Valley. Media represented include ceramics, painting, photography, and more. Pieces from artists working in China and Korea will be displayed as well.
Hours: 1 pm to 5 pm



At BAU Gallery
BAU Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members/artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. BAU builds a vital link between the activities at bau and the community.
Special for Second Saturday: Bau 137! In the Main Gallery, Erica Leigh Caginalp, working in ceramics, and Carla Goldberg, with resins and mixed media, team up once again to present "Eventide," plumbing the depths of their work to present a complementary ocean-inspired show.
In the Beacon Room, Melissa Schlobohm's painstakingly produced woodblock prints feature larger-than-life scenes from the natural world. See birds and bones like you never have before, noticing new details by immersing yourself in the patterns.
Hours: Noon to 6 pm; reception from 6 pm to 9 pm




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BEACON near RT. 52
(Beacon's part of Rt. 52 that heads into or out of town.)


Atelier Room 205 
Studios at the Old Beacon High School
211 Fishkill Ave.
Beacon, NY
Second Saturday: Jump into the fray with "An Art War - Realist or Modernist?" when author and artist Michael Guilmet shares his thoughts on Modernism in the rear-view mirror. What more-recent names pop up that have parallels with artists working centuries ago? Guilmet will share the connections he has researched over the past five years.
Hours: 1 pm to 3:30 pm






Don't forget to check out these two other Guides as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/pop-up-shop-guide-to-beacon-ny.html

Second Saturday Specials! 

  • Style Storehouse:  6 Month Anniversary Sale - 20% off all denim, with more stock added to the 40% off Jewelry sale and the 50-75% off Sale racks.
  • The Blushery: 1 Year Anniversary Sale with Brow Bar specials, giveaways and more!
  • BAJA 328: Enjoy an $8 margarita honoring Second Saturday that features different fruits each month.
  • The Vault: They mixed a special cocktail for Second Saturday called the Rosé Cocktail. Served over ice, it’s a French rose wine with pamplemousse. Yes, please.
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/beacon-shopping-guide.html

It's Back! Beacon Farmers' Market Returns With New Access to Food and Programs

Go ahead, call it a comeback! The long-running Beacon Farmers' Market, located down at the docks by Beacon's Metro-North Station just on the other side of the stairs or track as you head down to the train, is back from its extended winter and spring break. Many of our favorite vendors are returning, selling crafted items, vegetables, and prepared food, but a bushel of new elements (a food truck? live music, anyone?) takes the market to another level. Even the footprint has grown, making use of the driveway and grassy area south of the market’s traditional spot on the docks.

Head down to the Metro-North station off of Red Flynn Drive to witness the Beacon Farmers' Market's next chapter. The fun resumes tomorrow, April 24, from 10am-3pm, and every Sunday.

Finding Common Ground

The market had been year-round for years, but has been on hold since Thanksgiving while the city searched for a new market manager. The result may have been hiding in plain sight: Now running the show is Common Ground Farm, who has participated in the Beacon market since at least 2008. The farm is based just a few miles up Route 9D at Stony Kill Farm in Wappingers Falls, and has been active throughout Beacon for a long time by way of the Green Teen program and Common Greens mobile markets, donations to the Kids R Kids food program and several food pantries, a partnership with Beacon City School District, and events like the Firefly Feast. 

Common Ground's mission has always been geared toward education and food justice, but taking over the Beacon Farmers' Market wasn't originally part of the plan. Decision-makers - within Common Ground as well as with the City of Beacon - felt that there was a lot to be gained by taking advantage of the farm's organizational support and infrastructure, according to Sarah Simon, the newly named Farmers' Market Manager who's in her second season working at Common Ground. "As a nonprofit, we can bring a different mission to the market; it's an opportunity to give access," Sarah said. The enthusiasm within the community is already there. "Beacon should have a big farmers' market."

Education and Access 

Food insecurity is relatively high in Beacon, with many kids qualifying for reduced-price or free lunches, and seniors are also often in need. A bevy of programs at the Beacon Farmers' Market seek to help out. The most important change along these lines is the market-wide acceptance of food benefits such as SNAP, EBT, and WIC. People who use these programs can swipe a card at the market to receive tokens to redeem with vendors for fruit, vegetables, meat, and other un-prepared foods, but also seeds and seedlings for plants! Sarah, the market manager, is literally just waiting for the USDA iPad to arrive in May, and this program will be ready for action.

New York State's Fresh Connect program will kick in an additional 40%: For every $5 redeemed in SNAP benefits, the state will provide $2 on top of that to spend with farmers at the market. Additionally, Common Ground identifies people who might benefit from the "Green for Greens" program: $4 "bucks" that can be redeemed for fruit and vegetables at the market or at other sites listed on the back of the bucks. This access helps those in need get the freshest produce and also benefits family farmers in the Hudson Valley.

Education-oriented groups will be frequent friendly faces at the market, with a mandate to give an experience in addition to staffing a table and handing out flyers. Bija, a recent addition to Beacon's education and Pre-K programming scene, is partnering with a farm to talk with kids about responsible meat production and consumption. On May 15, market-goers will get to see a summer program showcase from a variety of organizations, such as Hudson Valley Seed, Hudson Hills Montessori, Bija, and more. Regarding higher education for the grown-ups, Sarah says, "I would love to see what the market can become as a community forum."

Food...Want...Now!

Most vendors from last year are returning, for a total of 34 vendors booked, with a weekly rotation of 26 vendors at tables. Main Street fave Drink More Good will be back with a whole product line, and so will former market manager Dana Devine O’Malley, showcasing her Five Hens Baked Goods - hand pies, whoopie pies, cookies, and signature marshmallows in creative flavors.

Common Ground and Fishkill Farms have been market mainstays for a decade or more. Joining these anchors this year is Obercreek Farm, bookending the season, as well as Starling Yards, a farm in Red Hook that grows specialty vegetables. If they’re good enough for Blue Hill, they’re probably pretty good. Beacon-based landscape designers One Nature will sell native plants, perennials and edibles from their nursery.

Some will alternate weeks; others will have specific seasons at the market. An olive oil producer will be at the market every other week, because most people don’t need to buy it on a weekly basis. Obercreek Farm will be at the market at the sometimes-chilly beginning and end of the growing season, offering robust greens from their extensive greenhouse network.

www.poughkeepsienissan.com

This article is made possible in part by support from Poughkeepsie Nissan.

The new 2016 Nissan Titan XD makes for easy hauls to and from market!

For the carnivores, there will be several meat producers, and four outposts for your egg pickup.

Two of the meat vendors are participants in Glynwood’s prestigious farm incubator: Back Paddock will offer beef and shiitake mushrooms, while Grass + Grit will bring pastured pork, lamb, goat and poultry to market.

If you'd rather pick up food to eat on the spot, you'll enjoy another new feature of the market: the regular presence of a food truck. John Lekic, owner and creative force behind Hudson Valley fave L’Express, will be selling lunch made from local products at the market.

And what meal would be complete without a little tipple? Market regulars will recognize Adair Winery’s booth, but adult beverage selections will be rounded out this year with Hudson Valley producers of hard cider, mead, and spirits.

Bring Your Dancing Shoes

It wouldn’t be a Beacon event without some music, too. The market has teamed with Beacon Music Factory to present music every week, from 12 noon to 2pm, in a wide variety of styles. The idea is to have “a music show that happens in the market, a show (emphasis on the word "show"),  as opposed to just background music,” Sarah says. Fundraising efforts are under way to pay musicians. 

The Beacon love fest is evident everywhere: Hudson Valley native Daniel Wiese came up with striking new promotional designs - on a donation basis. “It reflects Beacon more than traditional farmers' market branding,” Sarah says. (Think olde-timey tomatoes and pumpkins clip art. Would that really feel like our town?) Daniel is working on the market's website, too. It's currently under construction, but fans can sign up there to receive a weekly newsletter that features vendor lineups. You'll recognize Daniel's work on another participating partner, Zero to Go, who is hosting a zero - waste initiative down at the market.

New branding for Beacon Farmers's Market, designed by Daniel Wiese

Hungry yet? The Beacon Farmers' Market is open from 10am-3pm every Sunday. If eating and walking is your thing, then head on down to the market on a Sunday. Yet if you're ready for brunch, A Little Beacon Blog's got a guide for that, and an entire Restaurant Guide at your fingertips as you eat your way through the day. Several of the farms you'll shop from at the Beacon Farmers' Market also work with restaurants up on top of the hill in downtown Beacon, so you'll get to enjoy the fruits of their labor in both places!

Take a picture of your bounty and tag us in Instagram! #alittlebeacon

Lottery for Long Dock Kayak Storage Starts Now! A Sure Sign of Spring!

The kayak pavilion at Long Dock Park prior to rental season.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin




Spring has been showing its frostier side around the Hudson Valley recently, but steamy hot days will be here before we know it. What better way to cool off than heading to the Hudson River, and what better way to enjoy the crisp waters than in a kayak or canoe? If you have your own river-faring vessel like a kayak, you have a shot to store it right at Long Dock Park in Beacon!


That’s right, the 7th annual lottery for kayak/canoe storage at Scenic Hudson’s pavilion at Long Dock is happening. Now through Friday, April 22, 2016, hopeful paddlers can enter the lottery by filling out a form here at Scenic Hudson’s website. People whose entries are drawn from the lottery will be notified by Friday, April 29. The storage pavilion's season runs from May 7 to October 31, and use of the storage costs $175. If you have any other questions, call Laura Sumner at (845) 473-4440, ext. 247, or email her at lsumner@scenichudson.org

The area that we now know and love as Long Dock wasn't always so welcoming, however. For many decades, it was a bit of a wasteland. A history of industrial use and general neglect left a lot for Scenic Hudson to turn around. But turn it around they have, after some serious cleanup and soil remediation work, not to mention the incredible landscaping with Hudson Valley native plant species. The park has even won prestigious national awards for its design and - in true Beacon fashion - environmentally friendly aspects! Thousands of people now visit Long Dock every year to spot wildlife (including bald eagles!) and enjoy the expansive river views. Check A Little Beacon Blog's Annual Events Guide for when Scenic Hudson conducts their riverside cleanups, and sign up for our newsletter that tells you what is going on each weekend so that you don't miss it!

If you haven't tried kayaking or canoeing, you can still get hooked on paddling. Longtime Beacon shop Mountain Tops Outfitters rents watercraft by the hour or day, and they even run kayak tours from Long Dock to Denning's Point and Bannerman Island during the summer. Who knows - you might enjoy it so much that you'll be a 2017 lottery hopeful!

April's Second Saturday Guide for Beacon Art Showings



 Second Saturday Happenings on April 9, 2016!


http://beaconarts.org/donate/


The BeaconArts Official Logo
for Second Saturday.
"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses arts on the second Saturday of every month. According to Dan Rigney, current president of BeaconArts, the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events, says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday is a great reason to "walk" Main Street and beyond and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure eating and drinking your way through Beacon, so this guide will help you know where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:
  • This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in a gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
  • Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
  • Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
  • Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. A new municipal lot opened near Fishkill Creek, near the mountain.
  • Live-tweet your way through Second Saturday by using the hashtag created by BeaconArts: #2SAT, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
  • If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night Spots to Eat and Drink (After 9pm)
After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink!
See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9pm in our Restaurant Guide

Bank Square 129 Main St.
Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
Poppy's Burger and Fries 184 Main St.
Max's On Main 246 Main St.
Baja 328 328 Main St.
Quinn's 330 Main St.
The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St.
(call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served)
Draught Industries 394 Main St.
The Vault 446 Main St.
Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
The Hop 554 Main St.
(reservations usually needed for food)
Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
Dogwood 47 East Main St.

There's so much going on - keep your eyes on our Things To Do In Beacon Guides for all dates!
Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone.

****************************************

NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET


Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100
Special for Second Saturday: The Robert Irwin symposium is centered around a new installation of "Excursus: Homage to the Square3." Professors, curators, artists, and historians gather to reflect on Irwin's work, which includes paintings, light installations, steel, aluminum, and scrims. Tickets to the symposium (11:30 am to 5 pm) are sold out, but Dia visitors might be able to listen in... 

Because of the symposium, the monthly Gallery Talk is pushed forward a week. Learn more about Dia:Beacon's famed "pile of glass": Robert Hobbs on Robert Smithson. Smithson is noted for large-scale land art as well as sculpture works in what he called "nonsites." Hobbs is a historian and curator who organized the first retrospective of Smithson's sculpture. Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon usually take place the second Saturday of every month at 2 pm. Focusing on the work of a single artist on view at Dia:Beacon, these one-hour walk-throughs are led by curators, art historians, and writers.  Free with admission to the museum. (Don't forget: Beacon residents get in free on weekends!)
More details at Dia:Beacon.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm






Music in the Sanctuary at St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
15 South Ave.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: This month's Music in the Sanctuary event, co-sponsored by the Central Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, will feature an organ recital by brothers Bruce and Reilly Xu. The 13-year-olds, students of Jimrae Lenser and Craig Williams (organmaster at West Point's Cadet Chapel), will perform "The Organ Book," a program featuring the works of Bach, Nevin, Sousa, and more on a two-manual Johannus Opus 20 electronic organ. A reception in St. Andrew's carriage house will follow the performance.   
Hours: 4 pm to 6 pm






****************************************

THE WEST END
(Close to the train station)



Catalyst Gallery
Catalyst Gallery 
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 204-3844
The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.
Special for Second Saturday: Carin Jean White, a visual and theater artist who also teaches at Columbia University's University Writing Program, whose past work evokes the sea and other natural landscapes. White brings her new paintings to Catalyst Gallery through April 24.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm



Marion Royael Gallery
Marion Royael Gallery
159 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Opening this month is "VICTORYdotCONbackslashFUSE," described at the gallery's site as "finely executed visual perspectives..., woven together into a singularly connected Directed Migrating Installation." Painting, photography, sculpture, mixed-media, and jewelry are all represented in this show, which is set to run through July. Artists include Kathleen Erin Lee, Rick Hutchinson, Hy Suchman, Brian Edwards, Jens O Bille, Joe Zarra, Dave Dziemian, Mary Giehl, Barbara AG Riddle, Alexander Percy, Steven Paul Riddle, Ivan Suchman, and more.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm



Lynn-Marie Veverka at
Hudson Beach Gallery
Hudson Beach Glass
162 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0068
A glass studio casting functional and sculptural objects for over 20 years. A truly special establishment to have in Beacon. Stop in to find blown-glass objects of all kinds, from lights to bowls to wind chimes. Sometimes on Second Saturday you can watch them blow glass.
Special for Second Saturday: Hudson Beach Gallery presents an artist whose vision and execution belie her youth: Lynn-Marie Veverka's show of new watercolors, "Neither Here Nor There," opens in the upstairs gallery. Veverka works in paint - both watercolors and oil - as well as glass. She's studying for an art degree (and a marketing minor; it never hurts to have the fallback) at Alfred University School of Art and Design when not making art with the school's Painting Club.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm
 


"Toys & Towers" at Clutter
Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Works are a variety of sizes.
Second Saturday: The creative geniuses at Clutter have not one, but TWO shows opening this weekend! First up is "Hit Squad," a group show through May 6th featuring Big C, EOS, Frank Montano, iRoc, JFURY, Malo April, MaloWRX, and Playful Gorilla. The artists have different styles that all fit together, in custom resin toys as well as illustrated pieces, the gallery says. In Clutter Gallery 2, check out "Toys & Towers," in which artists deliver their takes on Boundless Brooklyn's Water Tower model kits. If you saw the Dunny show at Clutter a while back, it's sort of the same idea: Artists use a common base (or style of base; sometimes the size changes) and put their own unique, whimsical, often beautiful spin on the pieces. Water Tower artists include Ian Ziobrowski, JeAA, Jenn & Tony Bot, Kevin Gosselin, Lou Pimentel, Mike Strick, Peter Kato, Scarecrowoven, Small Angry Monster, UME Toys, and Wetworks.
Hours: Opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm
 



RiverWinds Gallery
RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.
Special for Second Saturday: "Texture + Tactile" opens, with fiber arts works by Karen Madden and sculpture by Bob Madden. Karen often uses wool, enjoying its earthy nature, while working to transcend some common ideas of fiber arts. Bob, on the other hand, surprises viewers by getting stone scupture to feel soft and complex instead of hard and cold.
Hours: Opening reception with Bob Madden, 5 pm to 8 pm (artist talk with Karen Madden, May 7 at 4 pm)



Dream in Plastic 
Dream in Plastic
177 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 632-3383
Special for Second Saturday: Once in a while, Dream in Plastic adorns the walls of their sweet retail shop with amazing artwork from their friends. Lucky us - today is one of those days! "Fleet" will include new paintings from ezerd, a robot-loving, illustrating friend of the whimsical geniuses at DiP. (Don't quote us on this, but - in the past, DiP has been known to offer cupcakes and coffee at openings!)
Hours: 11 am to 7 pm; opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm



Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries 
Beacon Institute
199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses the Institute’s gallery, Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, and its administrative headquarters. The gallery showcases river and environmentally themed art and educational exhibits. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: The historic Mount Beacon Incline Railway gets a spotlight in this exhibit, which features large-format photography, digital renderings, animations, and infographics, all exploring the Incline Railway’s early origins in shaping Beacon. The exhibition explores the initiative to bring back the Incline Railway, through the lenses of a historic narrative and an eye toward the future.
Click here for more event details.
Hours: 11 am to 3 pm




****************************************

THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"


The start of The Middle, aka "Market Square"

Howland Public Library
Howland Public Library
313 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-1134
Each month, the library features the work of Hudson Valley photographers and artists. (Please note, the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs.)
Special for Second Saturday: Come celebrate April as National Poetry Month! The Howland Public Library hosts the book launch for the Calling All Poets (CAPS) anthology. CAPS is in its 17th year of promoting poetry in the tri-state area, and is the longest-running poetry series between New York City and Albany. Join founder/president Jim Eve and vice president Mike Jurkovic in listening to poets read selections from the anthology. 
Hours: 2 to 3 pm



****************************************

THE EAST END & BEYOND
(Close to the mountain)

The start of the East End of Main Street and beyond.

At Matteawan Gallery
Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.
Special for Second Saturday: August Ventimiglia returns to Matteawan Gallery. Work shown this time includes recent drawings from his collections Islands and Breath Rivers. In Islands, Ventimiglia uses string, construction chalk, the circumference of his own embrace, and gravity to show us that really, no man is an island. In the Breath Rivers series, Ventimiglia blows ink across paper, varying intensity and angle to create diverse scapes within consistent parameters.  
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm





Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames - art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

  









"East End of Main" at 3B Gallery
3B Gallery

458 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6782
Special for Second Saturday: Step back in time as the Beacon Historical Society presents "East End of Main - A Journey Into the Past." Continuing through the end of April, the exhibition includes vintage photographs and ephemera from the side of Beacon that, until 1913, made up the village of Matteawan. The display highlights old-fashioned storefronts and factories, the Matteawan Railroad Station and tracks, the original Howland Library, our beloved dummy light and more.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm







Back Room Gallery in Beacon NY
Back Room Gallery
Back Room Gallery
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1838
Find 30 artists showing here, from large paintings to small collectibles. Also find art supplies such as sketch pads and charcoal pencils. And if you're with a man who wants to skip the art but loves anything to do with the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, send him to the actual "back room" of this gallery for a viewing of a very valuable collection of War art on crepe fabric.
Special for Second Saturday: Stop in and find out!
Hours: LATE





Howland Cultural Center
Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource.
Special for Second Saturday: The annual exhibition of the artist-members of the Howland Cultural Center will include paintings and photos from Alexis Lynch, Susanne Moss, Patricia Collins Brown, Janet Ruhe-Schoen, Rose Bambrace, and more.

Hours: Opening reception, 3 pm to 5 pm



Book launch at Pfotoshop
The PfotoShop
493 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 765-8130
Special for Second Saturday: "The Naked and The Lens" book signing and launch party with photographer (or, should we say, pfotographer?) and author Lou Benjamin. Nude fine-art photography can be uncomfortable at times for the folks on both sides of the lens. In the second edition of his book, Benjamin breaks down technology and psychology, from creative concept to publication, with the goal of keeping both sides satisfied with the artistic process. In case you need to see success to believe it (or even if you're simply interested in portrait photography), a showcase of Benjamin's work will be opening in the PfotoShop's Studio Room.
Hours: 11 am to 7 pm; opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm




At Bau Gallery
BAU Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members/artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. BAU builds a vital link between the activities at bau and the community.
Special for Second Saturday: Bau 136! In the Main Gallery, you'll find the paintings of Eva Drizhal. She attended art and design school in her native Czech Republic before coming to the United States in 1979. She uses paper, clay, and acrylic paint over plywood to emphasize the 3D nature of her botanically inspired work in "BETWEEN." (You might mistake the piece at right for a leafy portrait, as I did on first glimpse!)
In the Beacon Room, AM DeBrincat explores humanity's interconnectedness via handmade wallpaper in "Power Moves." A single expression in 25 languages, conveying "the word for the sound it makes when someone punches someone, a sound of people simultaneously physically coming together and propelling each other apart," covers the gallery walls. Don't see the word in your language? Add it in the guestbook.
Hours: Noon to 6 pm; reception from 6 pm to 9 pm




****************************************

BEACON near RT. 52
(Beacon's part of Rt. 52 that heads into or out of town.)


Atelier Room 205
Atelier Room 205 
Studios at the Old Beacon High School
211 Fishkill Ave.
Beacon, NY
Second Saturday: This Painters' Salon event takes a look at what's happening in the Cuban art scene. Cuban-American painter Enrique Flores Galbis will be showing his work and discussing what it’s like to be an artist in Cuba, and how to travel there. There is no fee, no RSVP necessary.
Hours: 1 pm to 3 pm






SPECIAL HAPPENINGS FROM FEATURED BUSINESSES:
Businesses in our “Stand Out” program of the Things To Do In Beacon Guide can list their special events for Second Saturday here. Interesting in starting a “Stand Out” package? Click here

From The Shopping Guide:
Style Storehouse, at 484 Main St., is offering a Second Saturday special that will be sure to give you the blues - in a good way! Get the deets in The Shopping Guide.



Don't forget to check out these two other Guides as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/pop-up-shop-guide-to-beacon-ny.html
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/beacon-shopping-guide.html

March's Second Saturday Guide for Beacon Art Showings



 Second Saturday Happenings on March 12, 2016!


http://beaconarts.org/donate/


The BeaconArts Official Logo
for Second Saturday.
"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses arts on the second Saturday of every month. According to Dan Rigney, current president of BeaconArts, the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events, says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday is a great reason to "walk" Main Street and beyond and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure eating and drinking your way through Beacon, so this guide will help you know where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:
  • This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in a gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
  • Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
  • Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
  • Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. A new municipal lot opened near Fishkill Creek, near the mountain.
  • Live-tweet your way through Second Saturday by using the hashtag created by BeaconArts: #2SAT, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
  • If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night (After 9pm) Spots to Eat and Drink: 
After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink!
See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9pm in our Restaurant Guide
Bank Square 129 Main St.
Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
Poppy's Burger and Fries 184 Main St.
Max's On Main 246 Main St.
Baja 328 328 Main St.
Quinn's 330 Main St.
The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St.
(call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served)
Draught Industries 394 Main St.
The Vault 446 Main St.
Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
The Hop 554 Main St.
(reservations usually needed for food)
Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
Dogwood 47 East Main St.

There's so much going on - keep your eyes on our Things To Do In Beacon Guides for all dates!
Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone!

****************************************

NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET


Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100
Special for Second Saturday: Have you ever wondered what "radical materiality" is? Well, wonder no more. Come visit Dia:Beacon for a symposium (the first of two) on painter Robert Ryman, known particularly for his white-on-white abstract paintings.  
For the monthly Gallery Talk: Claire Gilman on Sol LeWitt. Gilman, senior curator at The Drawing Center in New York City, will discuss the works of Connecticut-born Sol LeWitt, who worked as a graphic artist during his Korean War service before finding his way to architectural drafting and, ultimately, art. Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon take place the second Saturday of every month at 2 pm. Focusing on the work of a single artist on view at Dia:Beacon, these one-hour walk-throughs are led by curators, art historians, and writers. Free with admission to the museum. (Don't forget: Beacon residents get in free on weekends!)
More details at Dia:Beacon.
Hours: 11:30 am to 4 pm






Art in the Sanctuary at St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
15 South Ave.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Photos in the new "Freedom!" exhibit trace one parishioner's pilgrimage through South Africa a year ago, from a monastery and school, to safari, to Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 imprisoned years). The exhibit's pieces explore the different facets of freedom in a society where so many were restrained for so long. Framed prints will be for sale; proceeds will benefit the Holy Cross School in Grahamstown. 
Hours: 4 pm to 6 pm






****************************************

THE WEST END
(Close to the train station)



Scribbleheads at Catalyst Gallery
Catalyst Gallery 
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 204-3844
The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.
Special for Second Saturday: Tom Moore's Scribbleheads take over Catalyst for the month, celebrating the gallery's third anniversary! The pop-up shop will have live drawing events, artwork, installations, merchandise, NEON!, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for additional hours through March 29. 
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm



"Regeneration" at Theo Ganz
Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(917) 318-2239
Theo Ganz Studio, the little gallery with the big windows in Beacon's west end, was founded by artist Eleni Smolen as a venue for contemporary artists working in all media. Recognizing the importance of exhibitions in an artist's career, Smolen concentrates on presenting actively engaged emerging and mid-career professionals in either solo or group exhibitions.
Second Saturday: "Regeneration," recent paintings by Samantha Beste, takes on New York cityscapes. Chile-born Beste splits her time between Beacon and Manhattan, and always has a camera with her to capture inspiration. The resulting paintings simultaneously celebrate and eulogize the city's constantly changing scenery.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 8 pm



Kaiju Battlers at Clutter
Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Works are a variety of sizes.
Second Saturday: The "Kaiju Battlers" exhibition showcases artists' takes on "the classic two-figure battle pack — a set of two creatures or monstrous humanoids ready to spring into combat with one another," according to the gallery. Artists work in pairs, battling each other's designs. Artists include Awesome Toy, Bwana Spoons, Cop a Squat Toys, Galaxy People, GEEK!, Kenth Toy Works, Mark Nagata, Max Nagata, Mechavirus, Mr. Krotpong, Mutant Vinyl Hardcore, Plaseebo, Psycho Scimitar, Rampage Toys, Secret Demon Services, Skullmark Toys, SLAVExONE, Splurrt, TAN, and Violence Toy.
Hours: Opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm
 



RiverWinds Gallery
RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.
Special for Second Saturday: The second annual Artist Book Show features paintings, photography, poetry, recipes, and other creative expressions, all linked by the bound format. Artists include Mariella Bisson, Virginia Donovan, Shelley Lowell, Diane-Ellen McCarron, Linda T. Hubbard, Lisa Levart, Eric Lindbloom, Rafael Quirindongo, Cali Gorevic, Annette Josephine Brocks, Lisa Caron Hickey, Galina Krasskove, Grace Palmer, and Kat Stoutenborough.
Hours: Opening reception, 5 pm to 8 pm
 


Artisan Wine Shop
180 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6923
Special for Second Saturday: Try some new bottlings from around the world, just for fun or with an eye toward meal pairings. Several wines will be poured for tasting - and there might just be a snack, too!
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm; tasting, 3 pm to 6 pm
   


Flora
Flora Garden and Home
197 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 764-1886
Special for Second Saturday: Just in time to usher in the spring gardening season, Flora is displaying the photos of Beacon gardener extraordinaire Philomena Kiernan. Get inspired to grow your own beauty, find locally made garden gear, and maybe even take home some greenery. Who knows? It could be photos of your garden adorning walls, someday.
Hours: 11 am to 8 pm



Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries 
Beacon Institute
199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses the Institute’s gallery, Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, and its administrative headquarters. The gallery showcases river and environmentally themed art and educational exhibits. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: The historic Mount Beacon Incline Railway gets a spotlight in this exhibit, which features large-format photography, digital renderings, animations, and infographics, all exploring the Incline Railway’s early origins in shaping Beacon. The exhibition explores the initiative to bring back the Incline Railway, through the lenses of a historic narrative and an eye toward the future.
Click here for more event details.
Hours: 11 am to 3 pm




****************************************

THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"


The start of The Middle, aka "Market Square"

CoMFY 16 at Howland Public Library
Howland Public Library
313 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-1134
Each month, the library features the work of Hudson Valley photographers and artists. (Please note, the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs.)
Special for Second Saturday: CoMFY 16 is a group show featuring the work of more than 20 visual artists living in and around Beacon. CoMFY the group began almost five years ago when Beacon-area women rallied around an art/work/life balance conversation (as though the realms could be divided), eventually meeting weekly and organizing group shows. This exhibition includes photography, pottery, paintings, and mixed media works.
Hours: 10 am to 4 pm (library hours); reception 5 pm to 7 pm


Binnacle Books
321 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-6191
Special for Second Saturday: Beacon's newest used-new bookstore will screen short films. Sam Green, based in San Francisco and New York, is a documentary filmmaker whose work has been nominated for an Academy Award. Check it out - you might see one of his shorts this weekend, and when it wins big, you can say you knew about it from Beacon...
Hours: Noon to 7 pm

****************************************

THE EAST END & BEYOND
(Close to the mountain)

The start of the East End of Main Street and beyond.

"Rational Curves" at
Matteawan Gallery
Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.
Special for Second Saturday: "Rational Curves" features the abstract work of three artists, curated by Robert Otto Epstein (who himself had a solo show at Matteawan in July 2014). Matt Phillips' paintings (right) incorporate silica mixed with pigment to lend unusual texture to the surface. Ryan DaWalt is transcending "typical" paint as well, using steel, magnets, Masonite, and linen. Sculptor Joy Curtis creates both wall-mounted works and freestanding pieces, transforming cotton, plaster, paper, mirrors, and other materials in works that evoke the corporal.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm





Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames - art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

  







"East End of Main" at 3B Gallery
3B Gallery

458 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6782
Special for Second Saturday: Step back in time as the Beacon Historical Society presents "East End of Main - A Journey Into the Past." The exhibition includes vintage photographs and ephemera from the side of Beacon that, until 1913, made up the village of Matteawan. The display highlights old-fashioned storefronts and factories, the Matteawan Railroad Station and tracks, the original Howland Library, our beloved dummy light and more.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm; reception, 6 pm to 9 pm






Back Room Gallery in Beacon NY
Back Room Gallery
Back Room Gallery
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1838
Find 30 artists showing here, from large paintings to small collectibles. Also find art supplies such as sketch pads and charcoal pencils. And if you're with a man who wants to skip the art but loves anything to do with the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, send him to the actual "back room" of this gallery for a viewing of a very valuable collection of War art on crepe fabric.
Special for Second Saturday: Stop in and find out!
Hours: LATE





Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource.
Special for Second Saturday: To commemorate and celebrate Women's History Month, the Howland Cultural Center presents more than 40 female artists from around the Hudson Valley. The mixed-media exhibition includes painting, sculpture, fabric arts, ceramics, and photography. Many of these artists live right here in Beacon; come say hi and show some neighborly love!

Hours: Opening reception, 3 pm to 5 pm



BAU Gallery
BAU Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members/artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. BAU builds a vital link between the activities at bau and the community.
Special for Second Saturday: Bau 135! In the Main Gallery, you'll find 12 Members and a Marble Machine. That's right, Beacon's very own marble-driven art-making machine, yielding a Japanese sumi-e style print. Come and make your own print!
In the Beacon Room, Catherine Latson's "Tapioca Bride" explores the language of clothing, using only repurposed organic (that is, straight out of nature) materials, including roots, leaves, petals, and shells, to craft "whimsical and improbable reinventions of the packages we put ourselves in."
Hours: Noon to 6 pm; reception from 6 pm to 9 pm




****************************************

BEACON near RT. 52
(Beacon's part of Rt. 52 that heads into or out of town.)


Atelier Room 205
Studios at the Old Beacon High School
211 Fishkill Ave.
Beacon, NY
Second Saturday: Atelier Room 205
This Painters' Salon event takes a look at what's happening in the Cuban art scene. Cuban-American painter Enrique Flores Galbis will be showing his work and discussing what it’s like to be an artist in Cuba, and how to travel there. There is no fee, no RSVP necessary.
Hours: 1 pm to 3 pm










Don't forget to check out these two other Guides as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/pop-up-shop-guide-to-beacon-ny.html
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/beacon-shopping-guide.html

February's Second Saturday Guide For Beacon Art Showings



 Second Saturday Happenings on February 13, 2016!


The BeaconArts Logo for
Second Saturday.
"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses arts on the second Saturday of every month. According to Dan Rigney, current president of BeaconArts, the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events, says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday is a great reason to "walk" Main Street and beyond and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure eating and drinking your way through Beacon, so this guide will help you know where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:
  • This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in a gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
  • Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
  • Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
  • Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. A new municipal lot opened near Fishkill Creek, near the mountain.
  • Live-tweet your way through Second Saturday by using the hashtag created by BeaconArts: #2SAT, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
  • If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night (After 9pm) Spots to Eat and Drink: 
After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink!
See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9pm in our Restaurant Guide
Bank Square 129 Main St.
Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
Max's On Main 246 Main St.
Baja 328 328 Main St.
Quinn's 330 Main St.
The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St.
(call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served)
Draught Industries 394 Main St.
The Vault 446 Main St.
Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
The Hop 554 Main St.
(reservations usually needed for food)
Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
Dogwood 47 East Main St.

There's so much going on - keep your eyes on our Things To Do In Beacon Guides for all dates!
Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone!

****************************************

NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET


Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100
Special for Second Saturday: Gallery Talk: Matilda Guidelli-Guidi on Blinky Palermo. Guidelli-Guidi, a doctoral student who is also a Andrew W. Mellon Fellow with the Dia Art Foundation, will discuss the works of German artist Blinky Palermo. (Born Peter Schwarze, he borrowed "Blinky's" name in 1964 from a Mafia-linked American boxing promoter.) Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon take place the second Saturday of every month at 2 pm. Focusing on the work of a single artist on view at Dia:Beacon, these one-hour walk-throughs are led by curators, art historians, and writers. Free with admission to the museum. (Don't forget: Beacon residents get in free on weekends!)
More details at Dia:Beacon.
Hours: 11 am to 4 pm






Art in the Sanctuary at St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
15 South Ave.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: February is Black History Month, and St. Andrew's Art in the Sanctuary program has two photo exhibits to reflect on the past and celebrate the present. A long-time parishioner from St. Andrew's shares historical, archived images, while Beacon photographer Meredith Heuer's portraits showcase today's parishioners at St. Andrew's.
Hours: 4 pm to 6 pm






****************************************

THE WEST END
(Close to the train station)



Theo Ganz Studio
Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(917) 318-2239
Theo Ganz Studio, the little gallery with the big windows in Beacon's west end, was founded by artist Eleni Smolen as a venue for contemporary artists working in all media. Recognizing the importance of exhibitions in an artist's career, Smolen concentrates on presenting actively engaged emerging and mid-career professionals in either solo or group exhibitions.
Second Saturday: "Cape Dorset and Points South, Vol. 2" presents the print and various-media works, many featuring animals, of more than a dozen artists. Cape Dorset Inuit Art gallery, in Nunavut, Canada, showcases the etchings, paintings, sculpture and stone-cuts of Inuit artists; Theo Ganz Studio shares a dozen pieces in this show. The exhibition title's "Points South" refers to the Hudson Valley artists (several of whom live right here in Beacon!) who round out this display, with sculpture, painting, photography, and more.

Hours: Noon to 8 pm




"Political Theater" at
Hudson Beach Glass/Fovea
Hudson Beach Glass / Fovea
162 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0068
A glass studio casting functional and sculptural objects for over 20 years. A truly special establishment to have in Beacon. Stop in to find blown glass objects of all kinds, from lights to bowls to wind chimes. Sometimes on Second Saturday you can watch them blow glass.
Special for Second Saturday: Upstairs in the gallery space, witness the return of Fovea Exhibitions' photojournalism showcase. "Political Theater, photographs by Mark Peterson," examines those vying for office in this year's presidential election. This Saturday, Peterson takes a break from the campaign trail to talk about the photos.
Hours: 10 am to 9 pm; with a talk from the photographer at 6:30 pm
 


Clutter Magazine Gallery
Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Works are a variety of sizes.
Second Saturday: (In)Action Figures! The fourth edition of the Magazine Gallery's annual exhibition showcases action figures and other retro-toy inspired designs. Curious to see more? Check out #inactionfigures4, then visit the gallery to see the artwork in person!
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm; opening reception 6 to 9
 



"Aqua Essence" at RiverWinds Gallery
RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.
Special for Second Saturday: "Aqua Essence," watercolor paintings by Betsy Jacaruso. The Rhinebeck-based artist was raised in the Hudson Valley, and stayed in New York when it came time to further her formal education, studying at the legendary Pratt Institute. The Hudson Valley informs and inspires her work on a regular basis. According to Jacaruso's website, current work explores atmosphere and luminosity in landscape. "Through the aqueous process of watercolor, I endeavor to create a transcendental atmosphere, in hopes of evoking an emotion, which supersedes the visual,” says Jacaruso.
Hours: Noon to 9 pm; artist's reception 5 to 8
 


Artisan Wine Shop
180 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6923
Special for Second Saturday: Try some new bottlings from around the world, just for fun or with an eye toward meal pairings. Several wines will be poured for tasting - and there might just be a snack, too!
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm; tasting 3 pm to 6 pm
   


Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries 
Beacon Institute
199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses the Institute’s gallery, Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, and its administrative headquarters. The gallery showcases river and environmentally themed art and educational exhibits. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: The historic Mount Beacon Incline Railway gets a spotlight in this exhibit, which features large-format photography, digital renderings, animations, and infographics, all exploring the Incline Railway’s early origins in shaping Beacon. The exhibition explores the initiative to bring back the Incline Railway, through the lenses of a historic narrative and an eye toward the future.
Click here for more event details.
Hours: 11 am to 3 pm




****************************************

THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"


The start of The Middle, aka "Market Square"

"Conflicts/Resolutions"
at the Howland Public Library
Howland Public Library
313 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-1134
Each month, the library features the work of Hudson Valley photographers and artists. (Please note, the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs.)
Special for Second Saturday: Photographers and poets join forces in "Conflicts/Resolutions: Poetry Meets Photography," a group exhibition of the Beacon Photography Group. Participants were asked to to submit either poetry or photography (or both) that related in some way to the theme of conflict and resolution. The show, on view in the Community Room Exhibit Space, includes work from 16 photographers and/or poets, including organizers Jon Slackman and Samantha Palmieri.
Hours: 10 am to 4 pm (library hours); reception 5 pm to 7 pm


Beth Weintraub at Beacon Pantry
Beacon Pantry
382 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-8923
Special for Second Saturday: You know Beacon Pantry as the spot to pick up the fanciest butter, a bistro-inspired sandwich, or the exact right amount of capers (because, let's face it, who ever uses an entire jar in one go?), but did you know the shop hosts art, too? True story! Beth Weintraub may have fixed you a fine cup of tea at the Pantry. Witness another side of her talents this weekend: Her colorful etchings will adorn the walls of Beacon Pantry. Get $1 off beer and wine during the artist reception!
Hours: Reception 6 pm to 9 pm

****************************************

THE EAST END & BEYOND
(Close to the mountain)

The start of the East End of Main Street and beyond.

Marieken Cochius at Matteawan Gallery
Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.
Special for Second Saturday: Marieken Cochius' work, separated into three bodies: a large drawing made with water-based mediums, pastel, charcoal, and pencil on paper; the Cloud series of drawings with graphite and pastel (some of the finest lines in this piece are made with feathers rather than traditional implements); and the most recent work, ink and shellac drawings. Stay tuned for a talk with the artist on February 27 at 3 pm. 
Hours: 6 pm to 9 pm





Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames. An art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

  







"East End of Main" at 3B Gallery
3B Gallery

458 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6782
Special for Second Saturday: Step back in time as the Beacon Historical Society presents "East End of Main - A Journey Into the Past." The exhibition includes vintage photographs and ephemera from the side of Beacon that, until 1913, made up the village of Matteawan. The display highlights old-fashioned storefronts and factories, the Matteawan Railroad Station and tracks, the original Howland Library, our beloved dummy light and more.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm; opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm

 



Back Room Gallery in Beacon NY
Back Room Gallery
Back Room Gallery
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1838
Find 30 artists showing here, from large paintings to small collectibles. Also find art supplies such as sketch pads and charcoal pencils. And if you're with a man who wants to skip the art but loves anything to do with the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, send him to the actual "back room" of this gallery for a viewing of a very valuable collection of War art on crepe fabric.
Special for Second Saturday: Stop in and find out!
Hours: LATE





Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource.
Special for Second Saturday: To commemorate and celebrate Black History Month, the Howland Cultural Center presents its 21st annual African-American History Month show, shining a spotlight on African-American artists from around the Hudson Valley. The exhibition includes works by Yvette Bird, Josephine Green, Kyra Sukenya Husbands, Robert Lewis, Richard Outlaw, Symantha Outlaw, Michael White, Donald Whitely, Jacob Williams, Merv Willis, and John Wynn. (After checking out the show, come back for the Valentine's-themed dance at the Howland! More info in our special V-Day post here.)

Hours: 1 pm to 5 pm



Michael X. Rose at BAU
BAU Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members/artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. BAU builds a vital link between the activities at bau and the community.
Special for Second Saturday: In the Main Gallery, Michael X. Rose's latest oil paintings, grappling with mortality and nature and their relationship to man's place in the world.
In the Beacon Room, the larger-than-life works of Richard Deon, paintings, banners, prints, and sculptures that leave clues about far-fetched stories, and illustrate a kind of social surrealism.
Hours: Noon to 6 pm; reception from 6 pm to 9 pm





Don't forget to check out these two other Guides as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/pop-up-shop-guide-to-beacon-ny.html
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/beacon-shopping-guide.html

January's Second Saturday Guide for Beacon Art Showings



 Second Saturday Happenings on January 9, 2016!


The BeaconArts Logo for
Second Saturday.
"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses arts on the second Saturday of every month. According to Dan Rigney, current president of BeaconArts, the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events, says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday is a great reason to "walk" Main Street and beyond and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure eating and drinking your way through Beacon, so this guide will help you know where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:
  • This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in a gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
  • Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
  • Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
  • Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. A new municipal lot opened near Fishkill Creek, near the mountain.
  • Live-tweet your way through Second Saturday by using the hashtag created by BeaconArts: #2SAT, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
  • If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night (After 9pm) Spots to Eat and Drink: 
After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink!
See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9pm in our Restaurant Guide
Bank Square 129 Main St.
Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
Max's On Main 246 Main St.
Baja 328 328 Main St.
Quinn's 330 Main St.
The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St.
(call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served)
Draught Industries 394 Main St.
The Vault 446 Main St.
Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
The Hop 554 Main St.
(reservations usually needed for food)
Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
Dogwood 47 East Main St.

There's so much going on - keep your eyes on our Things To Do In Beacon Guides for all dates!
Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone!

****************************************

NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET


Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100
Special for Second Saturday:  Community Free Day! Residents of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties receive free admission to the museum (with proof of residence). Activities take place all day: "Experiments in Looking" (11:30 am) is a family-friendly trip through the works of Dan Flavin, Blinky Palermo (an instant kid favorite based on name alone!), and Robert Irwin, led by artist educator Alisa Besher; "Experience and Perception in Painting" (1 pm) examines the medium's possibilities via works by three artists, guided by Dia's Ellen Siebers; "Dia Teens: Open Lab" (1 pm) encourages adolescents to discuss and debate the work of an artist (Robert Ryman); John Chamberlain's metal sculpture is the focus of curator Alex Klein's walk-through Gallery Talk (2 pm); Beer Tasting (3 pm) with Beacon's own 2 Way Brewing Company.
Don't forget: Beacon residents get in free on weekends!
More details at Dia:Beacon.
Hours: 11 am to 4 pm






Music in the Sanctuary at St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
15 South Ave.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: It might be chilly outside, but St. Andrew's Music in the Sanctuary is sure to warm your soul. "Jazz to Chase the Blues Away" is a program of classics from the American songbook and beyond, performed by Dead End Beverly (aka Angela Devine and Daniel Rayner).
Hours: 4 pm to 6 pm






****************************************

THE WEST END
(Close to the train station)



Small Works Show at Catalyst Gallery
Catalyst Gallery 
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 204-3844
An artist-run rental space in Beacon. The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.
Special for Second Saturday: Last chance! The Small Works Show has been extended through this weekend. It showcases 150 works - paintings, drawings, photography, prints, mixed media and sculpture - by more than 70 artists, and everything is for sale.
Hours: Noon to 8 pm; closing reception 5 to 8 pm




Theo Ganz Studio
Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(917) 318-2239
Theo Ganz Studio, the little gallery with the big windows in Beacon's west end, was founded by artist Eleni Smolen as a venue for contemporary artists working in all media. Recognizing the importance of exhibitions in an artist's career, Smolen concentrates on presenting actively engaged emerging and mid-career professionals in either solo or group exhibitions.
Second Saturday: "Small Things, Tall Things, Red Things, Dead Things," botanical photographs by Lori Adams. Her family's long history with photography impelled Adams (based in East Fishkill) to turn her passion for plants into prints. The details she captures can be seen with the naked eye, but Adams' use of macro photography really brings the precise nature of her specimens to the fore.
Hours: Noon to 5 pm




"Political Theatre" at
Hudson Beach Glass/Fovea
Hudson Beach Glass / Fovea
162 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0068
A glass studio casting functional and sculptural objects for over 20 years. A truly special establishment to have in Beacon. Stop in to find blown glass objects of all kinds, from lights to bowls to wind chimes. Sometimes on Second Saturday you can watch them blow glass.
Special for Second Saturday: Upstairs in the gallery space, witness the return of Fovea Exhibitions' photojournalism showcase. "Political Theatre, photographs by Mark Peterson," examines those vying for office in this year's presidential election.
Hours: 10 am to 9 pm; opening reception 5 to 9, with a talk from the photographer at 6:30
 


Dunny customized by
Artmymind at Clutter
Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Works are a variety of sizes.
Second Saturday: After the smashing success of last year's Dunny show, Clutter (joining forces with KidRobot) welcomes back artists for more custom fun! The list of participating artists includes: Abell Octovan, Andrea Kang, Artmymind, Brent Nolasco, Charles Rodriguez, Chris Ryniak, Dolly Oblong, fplus, Amanda Louise Spayd, Gary Ham, Gianluca Traina, Ian Ziobrowski/Nugglife, Jenn & Tony Bot, kaNO, Mab Graves, Quiccs, RxSeven, Seymour, Sket One & Jamie Lee Cortez, and Yu Maeda. Artists will be using the hashtag #DTADunnyShow as they post images of their works-in-progress leading up the show, so keep your eyes peeled for the latest - then come see the figures in person!
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm; opening reception 6 to 9
 



iEurope at RiverWinds
RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.
Special for Second Saturday: "iEurope: Strange Beauties" is a collection of photos from Galina Krasskova and Mary Ann Glass, who toured Baroque churches in Poland, Czech Republic, and Cologne, Germany, after their residency in Poland last summer. 
Hours: Noon to 9 pm; artists' reception 5 to 8
 


Artisan Wine Shop
180 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6923
Special for Second Saturday: Try some new bottlings from around the world, just for fun or with an eye toward meal pairings. Several wines will be poured for tasting - and there might just be a snack, too!
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm; tasting 3 pm to 6 pm
   


Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries 
Beacon Institute
199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses the Institute’s gallery, Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, and its administrative headquarters. The gallery showcases river and environmentally themed art and educational exhibits. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: The historic Mount Beacon Incline Railway gets a spotlight in this exhibit, which features large-format photography, digital renderings, animations, and infographics, all exploring the Incline Railway’s early origins in shaping Beacon. The exhibition explores the initiative to bring back the Incline Railway, through the lenses of a historic narrative and an eye toward the future.
Click here for more event details.
Hours: 11 am to 3 pm




****************************************

THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"


The start of The Middle, aka "Market Square"
Quinn's
330 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-1134
Special for Second Saturday: Beacon's favorite diner-turned-jazz/ramen/cocktail lounge plays host to MOVE IT baby MOVE IT! This special daytime family dance party will have food and drink specials as well as DJs, dancing, and face-painting! All proceeds will go toward hiring art, movement, and music teachers at Castle Point Early Childhood Learning Center (aka CPECLC). More information on the Facebook event page. 
Hours: 2 pm to 5 pm

****************************************

THE EAST END & BEYOND
(Close to the mountain)

The start of the East End of Main Street and beyond.

At Matteawan Gallery
Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.

Special for Second Saturday: Traditionally, the "Gallery" part of Matteawan Gallery closes for most of January, and one artist takes over on an installation basis for the month. This year, Beacon resident Jean-Marc Superville Sovak presents "I Draw & You Talk," an oral history project that combines portrait drawing with discussions of local issues and current events. He is particularly interested in working with people who don't think of themselves as the "type" to visit an art gallery. In addition to the drawing/talking, Superville Sovak will post a poll outside Matteawan, inviting passersby to weigh in, whether they decide to set foot in the gallery or not.
Hours: Noon to 5 pm






Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism Gallery
Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames. An art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

  








Back Room Gallery in Beacon NY
Back Room Gallery
Back Room Gallery
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1838
Find 30 artists showing here, from large paintings to small collectibles. Also find art supplies such as sketch pads and charcoal pencils. And if you're with a man who wants to skip the art but loves anything to do with the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, send him to the actual "back room" of this gallery for a viewing of a very valuable collection of War art on crepe fabric.
Special for Second Saturday: Stop in and find out!
Hours: LATE





Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource
Special for Second Saturday: "Some Favorites," a group exhibition featuring the work of 14 photographers, including Mark Baylash, Alissa Corrado, Russell Cusick, Joan D'Emic, Christine Jacques, Dale Leifeste, Raphael Lopez, Susanne Moss, Jean Noack, Melissa Robin, Linda Schiller, Donald Whitely, Michael Wilmot, and John Wynn.
Hours: 1 pm to 5 pm



At BAU Gallery
BAU Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members/artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. BAU builds a vital link between the activities at bau and the community.
Special for Second Saturday: In the Main Gallery, 12 members of BAU present colorful works. Artists include: Gary Jacketti, Joan Phares, Carla Goldberg, Russell Ritell, Herman Roggeman, Julie Jacobs, Tom Holmes, David Link, Grey Zeien, Melissa Robin, Eva Drizhal, Erica Caginalp, and Kirsten Lyons. In the Beacon Room, Dan McCormack presents "The Nude at Home," an extension of pinhole photography-based work he began in 1998.

Hours: Noon to 6 pm; reception from 6 pm to 9 pm





Don't forget to check out these two other Guides as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/pop-up-shop-guide-to-beacon-ny.html
/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/beacon-shopping-guide.html

Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens for People in Need in Beacon

One of the first meals served in the new Soup Kitchen at the
Tabernacle of Christ Church A/G at 483 Main Street.
Photo Credit: Tabernacle Church of Christ.

The Salvation Army's restructuring of its soup kitchen prompted a fresh look at food pantries and soup kitchens in the area, and the opening of a new one. While these sources are on the radar for many, including the Sloop Club who hosts an annual event in December to raise money for pantries, donating to food pantries and soup kitchens may not be at the top of the list for others. Furthermore, food pantries can go underused, according to Deaconess D. Williams of Springfield Baptist Church, who says: "Many miss out because they simply don't know that help is available."
This Thanksgiving, we have organized a list of sources for people to donate to and eat from.
If you organize a food pantry or soup kitchen, or provide free meals in another way, please email this information to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com to be considered for this list.

Whether you are looking for a warm meal, canned goods, or friendly community, or you’re in a position to help by donating food or time, the following organizations in and near Beacon would love to see you. Contact organizers for information about the most up-to-date ways to participate.

Soup Kitchens & Feeding Programs

Soup Kitchen
Tabernacle of Christ A/G Church
Organized rapidly this November and already served its first meal, this soup kitchen is open to all and serves a hot meal. Several organizations pitched in, including Common Ground Farm, My Bread Is Your Bread, Dutchess Outreach, Tabernacle of Christ Church A/G, and In Care of.
Beacon, NY
DAYS/TIMES - Free Meals
11am-12pm Monday - Thursday
Coordinators for eating or donating:
Candi Rivera and Kundi Glasson: (845) 728-8196 incareof.beacon@gmail.com 
Currently seeking donations for commercial-grade stove and refrigerator. For the interim, Ella's Bellas has donated a household refrigerator until the commercial-grade version is secured.
Donations: https://www.gofundme.com/kjb4buzw 
To Volunteer: http://vols.pt/Bd35tD 



Welcome Table Soup Kitchen
Photo Credit: First Presbyterian Church.
First Presbyterian Church 
50 Liberty Street 
Beacon, NY
DAYS/TIMES Free Meals
10-12pm Fridays and Saturdays. In the summer, you may spot the Green Teens' green bus selling very affordable produce from the parking lot.
Coordinator for eating or for donating: 
Rose Quirk: (845) 600-5389


Seniors Feeding Seniors Ministry
Free meals and baked goods for seniors
Springfield Baptist Church 
8 Mattie Cooper Square
Beacon, NY
DAYS/TIMES - Free Meals
The last Saturday of each month at 12pm
DAYS/TIMES - Baked Goods
Every Wednesday (845) 813-4093
Coordinator for eating or for donating: 
Penny Jackson: pjackson6@hvc.rr.com

Senior Program
Salvation Army, Beacon Corps
Salvation Army Beacon Corps
372 Main Street
Beacon, NY
DAYS/TIMES Free Meals for Seniors
Tuesday & Thursday, 11-1:30pm
DAYS/TIMES for Donation of Food
Tuesday - Thursday by using the back door by the parking lot. Not the side door by the bank's parking lot, but the very back door directly behind the church. Walk straight back and step over the chain that blocks cars from short-cutting through to avoid the light, or if by car, use the Fishkill Ave. / Rt. 52 entrance.

The Salvation Army in the church at 372 Main Street, which is in the middle of town across the street from the Yankee Clipper Diner, recently restructured its soup kitchen to be open to senior citizens only.

Pastor Kisser studied the people walking into the church, and noticed that in Beacon's current renaissance, the fastest-growing demographic using the service was seniors. Pastor Kisser explains: "Due to budget constraints, the cook for the soup kitchen was let go, and the program director and the seniors stepped in to volunteer to help feed each other. The program continues to feed 20-25 seniors per session on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-1:30pm." Earlier this week, the kitchen served its Thanksgiving meal to seniors, who enjoy the community time with each other.

Important to the Salvation Army is helping people eat in groups for social interaction. While the soup kitchen program is dedicated to seniors, during the Thanksgiving season, the Salvation Army does offer food vouchers to all people. Says Pastor Kisser: "In an effort to preserve the family, we give out vouchers to enable families to buy food at their own grocery stores and prepare it at home so that the family can sit down together in their own environment."
Coordinator for eating or for donating: Rhode: (845) 831-1253
Seniors should call or walk in to sign up for the program.
Donations of food can be made Tuesdays - Thursdays by using the back door off the parking lot.
Financial donations can be made online and designated to Beacon, as well as answering the seasonal mail that comes. When you designate Beacon, the location at 372 Main Street is the recipient. And of course, when you see the bright red kettles at supermarkets, money goes to your local Salvation Army. You could also drop off a check at any time to the building.


Food Pantries Open To All In Need

St. Andrew’s Church
17 South Avenue, Beacon
DAYS/TIMES - Pickups
10am-11am Saturdays
Contact for eating or for donating: 
Pat Lassiter: (845) 831-4711


St. Luke's and St. Andrews Food Pantry
Contact for eating or for donating: 
Rev. John F. Williams: (845) 831-2643


Salvation Army, Beacon Corps
372 Main Street
Beacon, NY
The emergency food pantry is open to all.
DAYS/TIMES - Pickups
Starting at 9am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Appointments are required.
Call to make an appointment, or stop in:
(845) 831-1253
DAYS/TIMES - Donations of Food 
Can be made Tuesdays - Thursdays by using the back door off the parking lot.


Springfield Baptist Church
Food pantry
Springfield Baptist Church 
8 Mattie Cooper Square
Beacon, NY
Coordinator for eating or for donating: 
Deaconess Joan Cook: cjoanochorios@aol.com




Food Pantry
New Vision Church of Deliverance 
831 Route 52
Fishkill, NY
This food pantry serves fresh produce from Common Ground Farm. Says Common Ground: "Fresh produce is tough to find at food pantries because it is perishable, so it doesn't store as long as canned foods or dry goods. But of course, it is much healthier (and tastier). That's why we harvest that same day and deliver directly to our pantry partners." This pantry is in Fishkill, NY, and is a few doors from the diner, on Beacon's side of I-84.
11am Thursdays

First Reformed Church
1153 Main Street
Fishkill, NY (just before Route 9)
DAYS/TIMES - Pickups
Monday - Thursday 9am to 12pm 
Tuesdays: open until 2pm
Contact for eating or for donating: To access the pantry, make an appointment by calling (845) 896-4546. Call the same number to donate or volunteer. 


I Am Beacon
While not a food pantry, it is a source that delivers food to people in need during Thanksgiving. Key Food is a major partner in this drive, by way of collecting donations and storing turkeys until they are delivered.

A very special thanks for the rapid responses of organizers on the eve of Thanksgiving to compile this article:
  • Catherine Sweet of A Little Beacon Blog for pounding the keyboard and making phone calls to find programs.
  • Joyce Hanson with the Beacon Sloop Club for delivering information on food pantries in the area. Beacon Sloop Club is hosting a Cajun Holiday Party fundraiser with proceeds going to the Beacon Food Pantry and Beacon Sloop Club. Read about this and other upcoming events in A Little Beacon Blog's Annual Events Guide.
  • Deaconess D. Williams of Springfield Baptist Church for clarifying and providing contact information.
  • Kundi Glasson for helping to rapidly organize the Soup Kitchen at Tabernacle of Christ Church A/G and providing its newest details as they develop. 

 

New Storefronts Opened in the Shopping Guide and a New Discount on Massages in the Beauty Guide!

We here at A Little Beacon Blog are ever-updating our Things To Do In Beacon Guides! Sometimes we have sleuths on the street to hear of new openings, or sometimes just like you, we are lucky to walk by to see what shop has most recently arrived and opened. Without further ado, here are recent Shopping Guide for your retail therapy and great gift buying, and the Beauty Guide for necessary pampering like hair, nails, and massages. Inside each Guide, you may spot a special deal or promotion! So don't miss. And be sure you're subscribed to our free newsletter list to be alerted.  
  /www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/beacon-shopping-guide.html 

Indoor bulbs at Flora.
Fairly new to Beacon, and thus to our Beacon Shopping Guide, are two sweet shops: Flora and The PfotoShop. At Flora, you'll find plants, flowers, indoor bulbs, and gardening supplies, of course, but also unexpected touches of home decor, like giant watering cans and nightlights. For November's Second Saturday, there will even be an art show! 

The PfotoShop, open in the Matteawan train depot.
Venture three-quarters of a mile down Main Street, toward Mount Beacon, to discover The PfotoShop, stocked with colorful pillows, handmade candles, frames, and other home-y elements. Word is, there is even a photobooth (pfotobooth?) tucked into the historic space, which long ago served as home to the Matteawan train depot. Read more about Flora and The PfotoShop, as well as great Beacon businesses dealing in Music, the Great Outdoors, Pets, Vintage Wares, and Fashion for all ages, in A Little Beacon Blog's updated Shopping Guide.
The Pfotobooth.

/www.alittlebeaconblog.com//p/beacon-beauty-guide.html
Find the perfect pampering for you or someone you love by reading through A Little Beacon Blog's updated Beauty Guide. From lash pros, to hairstyling wizards, to wellness coaches, there are experts around Beacon who can help you take care of yourself, mind, body and soul. This month, Karen Meyer, LMT, of River Therapeutic Massage is offering special pricing on  massage therapy packages. Among current deals: six 60-minute sessions for $420 - a $60 savings! Once you relax a little, you are probably going to want to relax a lot, so why not buy in bulk? It's really the only efficient way to go. 

Check out our Shopping Guide and our Beauty Guide, to find the best ways to look good, and feel better, all around Beacon, NY, and nearby. And if you know of a new Beacon business, let us know! Drop a line to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com.

Pumpkin Patches and Parades 2015: Where To Find Pumpkins & Halloween Events Near Beacon in the Hudson Valley

UPDATE: For Pumpkins and Parades for 2016, click here

Pumpkins and Parades 2015

The tree leaves are turning, there's a crisp note in the air, and every now and then, we catch a whiff of wood smoke. All signs point to fall. But our autumn wouldn't be complete without some family-friendly Halloween celebrations!

The Hudson Valley has a wealth of spooky fall fun. (Maybe you've heard of a little place called Sleepy Hollow?) Here are some of our favorite events and pumpkin-picking spots, all a little closer to our Beacon home. 

Need pumpkin decoratin

g ideas after you collect all of these pumpkins? Consider a couple of our favorites -

covering a pumpkin in go

ld leaf

, or

using a power drill to make beaded designs

.

Pumpkin Carving Contest

Saturday, October 10, 2015

10 am

Location:

Pavilion at Beacon Memorial Park

Kids 15 and younger can compete for Top Carver in two age divisions (13 to 15, and 12 and under). Parents should supervise children at all times! Supplies will be provided, but are limited. Sign up ahead of time at City Hall. Organizers insist, no professionals, please. 

Halloween Parade and Festival

Saturday, October 17, 2015

10 am to 6 pm

Location:

Meiser Park, Wappingers Falls

The second annual festival, in the heart of the village just up Route 9D, will feature a parade, festive food, face-painting, music (an Alice Cooper tribute band, in fact) and a pumpkin patch, among other activities for the whole family. 

Information >

Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Noon to 5 pm

Location:

Pe

te and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park

Volunteers from the Beacon Sloop Club will serve chili, while pumpkin pie and a host of other treats will be available from vendors. Farm-fresh pumpkins will be for sale, too! And, keeping with the spirit of the late, longtime Sloop Club member Pete Seeger, tunes from several local musicians, a

ll set to the backdrop of the mighty Hudson

.

Information >

A Very Beacon Halloween: Premier Of Beacon's Dark Parade

Friday, October 23rd, 2015

Locations:

7pm Parade Lineup at Chase Bank

7:30pm Parade begins at Chase Bank, and then ends at The Falls

Enjoy this spooky dark party! Costumes and lights are encouraged, including flashlights or other creative lights that may come with your costume, like a light saber or glowing staff! Being that it's dark and late, this is for adults only. Parade ends at The Hop. Get dinner ideas here in A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide, and consider making reservations first at any restaurant, as you'll be with several other hungry people.

Information >

A Very Beacon Halloween: Psychic Fair

Saturday, October 24th, 2015

12pm to 5pm

Location:

Chill Wine Bar

Treat yourself to tarot and other types of readings from 8 to 10 readers from Notions & Potions. Readings are $25 for 20 minutes of indulgence in your future - if you dare! This event is for adults only. 

Information >

A Very Beacon Halloween: The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Dance Party!

Saturday, October 24th, 2015

DJ: 7 to 10pm; movie: 10pm to midnight

Location:

St. Rocco's, 26 South Chestnut Street

Boo-gie the night away to a rockin' DJ at St. Rocco's! It's the brick building up the hill on South Chestnut. (You've passed it many times as you drove behind the parking lot for the Yankee Clipper diner or Beacon Flea.) In keeping with The Rocky Horror Picture Show tradition, you should probably dress up! Tickets are $25 at the door and a cash bar is available.

Information >

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest

S

unday, October 25, 2015

11

:30

a

m

Registration at Beacon Barkery, 192 Main Street

12:

0

0pm:

Contest

begins

Location:

Cross Street and Main Stre

et, Beacon (near River Winds Gallery)

Dress up your fur-friend in the cutest costume ever!

Prizes

are award

ed for:

Look Ali

ke

Cutest

Scariest

Most Original

Information >

A Very Beacon Halloween: Kid's Hocus Pocus Parade

S

unday, October 25, 2015

12:30 pm

Parade Lineup at the Visitor's Center & Peace Park

(South Avenue/9D and Main Street)

1pm: Parade begins

Location:

Main Stre

et, Beacon

Cost

umed kids start lining up at Peace Park (South Avenue/9D and Main Street) near the Visitor's Center at 12:30 for a parade down Main Street at 1pm. Trick-or-treating at businesses follows the stroll. Don't forget to check in at the

Beacon Flea

behind the Post Office, too! They'll have some treats for the little goblins. 

Information >

Pumpkins in the Park - Jack O'Lantern Lighting

Carving: Tuesday, October 27 to Friday, October 30, 2015, 3 pm to 6 pm

Lighting: Friday, October 30, 2015, 6 pm to 8 pm

Location:

 Long Dock Park, Beacon waterfront

On afternoons Tuesday to Friday, visit Long Dock Park to put your carving skills to use on pumpkins provided by Scenic Hudson. Stick around Friday evening, when the jack o'lanterns will be set aglow and displayed throughout the park.

Information >

Rascal's Monster Bash

Sa

turday, October 31, 2015

2 pm to 5 pm

Lo

cati

on:

 Dutchess Stadium, 1500 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls

This free family event, hosted by the

Hudson Valley Renegades

baseball team, will have tons of entertainment and activities, including inflatable amusements, trick-or-treating from vendors' tables, and pumpkin painting. For more information, call (845) 838-0094.

Where to Pick Pumpkins

Select your perfect pumpkin from patches at these farms. It's always a good idea to call before you go, to confirm hours, prices and availability.

Fishkill Farms

has pumpkins in their Pick-Your-Own patch set on the 20-acre farm. Fall Harvest Fest weekends include hayrides, fo

od and music. Open daily, 9 am to 6 pm, rain or shine ($5 per car admission on weekends and holidays).

CROWD ALERT!

There are

many, many people at Fishkill Farms

during this season.

Lawrence Farms

in Newburgh has pumpkins in their Pick-Your-Own patch, as well as at their farm stand. You'll also find apples and other seasonal produce, as well as a hay bale maze and a mini-village for kids to play. Lawerence Farms is on many, many acres of beautiful Hudson Vall

ey land, so you have plenty o

f space to run and pla

y

despite

the number o

f people

who are there.

Open daily, 9 am to 4 pm.

AFTERNOON CLOSING ALERT

!

Lawrence Farms closes at 4pm, so

get th

ere

during the first part of your day.

Overlook Farm Market

, also in New

burgh, promises "no razz a ma tazz" at their fourth-generation farm stand and Pick-Your-Own area. Open daily except Tuesdays, 8 am to 6 pm.

Where to Purchase Pumpkins

In a pinch? These markets usually have an easy grab-and-go selection of pumpkins and other colorful winter squash, often locally grown! 

Key Food

, 268 Main St., Beacon

Adams Fairacre Farms

, 160 Old Post Road (Route 9), Wappingers Falls

Hannaford

, 1490 Route 9, Wappingers Falls

Historical Hike | Meet Madam Brett, See The Factory Ruins While Hiking The Park

Find this view when you turn right on the trail and go past the mill. Shown in video below.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Linking Beacon’s industrial past with its nature-loving, creative present, Madam Brett Park provides a unique ecological map of our city, including waterfalls, marshes, hunting grounds and habitats. Take in the various sights along boardwalks and dirt trails to see the remains of places that helped to form Beacon as we know it today, and to become an industrial powerhouse known, at one time, as the “hat-making capital of the US.”

The Nuts and Bolts of the Madam Brett Park Hike

A parking lot is off to the left once you go under the old train trestle just off Tioronda Avenue.

The entry point from Tioronda Avenue. Go under the old train trestle.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

According to Google Maps, it is two miles from the Newburgh-Beacon bridge via 9D. Start your visit at the park's east end, taking in the scenic Tioronda waterfall from the observation deck. The deck itself was part of the old

sluiceway

(a gate that controlled water flow), and you can still make out some of the foundation which was built across the falls.

A cement wall is part of the sluiceway that you will walk across as part of your hike east, headed toward the small waterfalls.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

This foundation is part of the sluiceway that controlled the creek's flow for the mill, and also was part of a structure that pulled trains across the creek. You will be climbing up it! The entry into the creek is worth it.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The trails within

Madam Brett

are a gentle, fairly even mile, scraping the Fishkill Creek and the old

Tioronda Hat Works factory

, adjacent to the park in the large brick building via woodland or gravel trails and a boardwalk. 

The boardwalk along the old mill when you turn west to hike along the Fishkill Creek.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Old ruins of a hat factory, seen as you walk along the boardwalk.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

At the entry to the boardwalk, take a look at what remains of the iron-truss Tioronda bridge, built between 1869 and 1873 (a

nd, for safety reasons, mostly torn down in 2006

) with its rare bowstring design. 

Old remains of the Tioronda Bridge.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The twelve acres of parkland is full of all kinds of wildlife. Much of the woodlands surrounding Madam Brett is devoured by flora and fauna - just as it was in the Colonial era, when Madam Brett first laid eyes on the place. The banks, creek, hillside and marshland are home to a diverse set of animals, including predatory birds such as osprey and bald eagle who hunt and nest here, muskrats, and a large selection of fish and amphibious animals. In the spring, striped bass and shad journey up the Hudson to spawn here. Make sure to stop and take in several vistas along the marsh and creek, where the views are serene and plentiful. Listen for the variety of bird calls, and the train that passes now and again along the lazy tidal wetland.

The History of Madam Brett Park

As the trail itself now connects to Denning's Point, so does the history of Madam Brett’s land. Catharyna Rombout Brett (1687-1764) became the first European settler in Beacon, in large part due to the Rombout Patent. After her father, Frans Rombouts (sometimes spelled Francis Rombouts), died in 1691, Catharyna became an heir to her family’s third of a stake in the Rombout Patent. Twelve years later, 16-year-old Catharyna married Roger Brett, a lieutenant in the British Royal Navy who had arrived in the colonies with Lord Cornbury. The newlyweds took up residence in the stately Rombout family home in lower Manhattan. Roger Brett became a vestryman

for Trinity Church for several years as they enjoyed great wealth. However, after her mother passed away in 1707, Catharyna and Roger were left with very little money, an enormous house they couldn’t afford, and thousands of acres in the remote Hudson Valley wilderness. After the Rombout Patent was partitioned among the owning Van Cortlandt, Verplanck and Rombout (now Brett) families, Catharyna received more than 20,000 acres on the lower Fishkill Creek. They mortgaged the Rombout home in lower Manhattan, and - portending such migrations 300 years later - relocated with their sons and slaves to the remote and wild lands of what would become lower Dutchess County. 

The Madam Brett homestead.

After building their Homestead (the original Rombout Patent document is displayed at her historic home), the family got to work. While still relatively wild, Madam Brett saw the plot of land where Fishkill Creek let out into the marshy waters and into the Hudson River as opportunity. It was a popular spot for local farmers and Native Americans to congregate, sell and trade. The family soon built a gristmill on the land that married the creek and the river, and started to lease other partitions of land to farmers.

View Of The Fishkill Creek From The Boardwalk

While this was a very successful venture, tragedy would soon strike again for young Catharyna Brett. During these Colonial times, farmers in the region would ship their produce down the river to Manhattan on sloops run by Roger, a former Navy officer. One day, his sloop was struck by a freak storm upon returning from his delivery in the city, and he drowned in the Hudson. A widow at the age of 31, Catharyna partnered with George Clarke, secretary of the province and former partners with Roger, to make several key land deals in order for Madam Brett to become the sole proprietor of her land and the gristmill.

Running and maintaining the mill became the center of her life. Catharyna also looked out for the locals, to whom she provided food, clothing and servants. Aside from her fellow colonists, she became friendly with the local Wiccopee tribe, allowing them to camp on her front yard and spending time in their village. Her children Thomas and Francis could often be seen playing with the local Sachem (tribe leader) Nimham’s children. This relationship also proved beneficial when, during a financial dispute with Poughkeepsie settlers, Native Americans were sent to attack the Brett family, but the Sachem’s son warned them and the Bretts were able to escape.

In 1748, along with eighteen men, Madam Brett helped create the first river freight building to help ship produce from the local farmers, as well as the meal and flour her factories were grinding out. The building, called the Frankfort Store House, was erected on “Lower Landing,” what is now the Denning's Point area. It helped the village of Fishkill Landing (which would become part of present-day Beacon) become one of the first river ports, drawing the strategic eyes of American revolutionary military minds. (Alexander Hamilton landed just off the Store House as he finished his first entry in the Federalist Papers.) Madam Brett was also the first widow to arrange for a cooperative produce business for colonists.

As the Colonial era wound down and high fashion became all the rage, hat factories took the place of flour mills on Madam Brett’s land. At one point in the 1800s, as many as fifty factories were present around Beacon! The area’s reputation as an industrial powerhouse was strong, and would remain so for another century. 

Extend Your Stay on the Trail

The Dave Miller Connector Trail opened in 2013. It allows travel beyond Madam Brett Park, linking up with Denning's Point as well as the Klara Sauer Trail north to Long Dock Park. If you are up for a long, though not strenuous, walk through the history of Beacon, my wife and I will often walk from the Roundhouse, down Tioronda Avenue, through Madam Brett Park, on to Denning's Point and beyond to Long Dock. This loops back to the beginning of Main Street on the west side, which we follow all the way back. It’s a wonderful, leisurely hike that will take a couple of hours.

Madam Brett was a revolutionary businesswoman and the founding mother of Beacon. She built up a small empire, was a trailblazer in settling farms in Dutchess County and paved a free road through her lands to the river - today’s Route 52. She was one of the few to sell to settlers, allowing them to own their own land for farming (although, owning a keen business mind, she always made sure she had rights to build a mill on the property she sold). The parkland that we know today as Madam Brett Park played a key role in forming the local community, and helped stamp Beacon as an industrial hub, once of grain and later of hats. The park still plays an important role in Beacon, and is now helping to conserve the beauty and history of this region.

Please welcome back contributor

Dylan Price, a writer/filmmaker and avid outdoorsman who moved to Beacon with his wife from Washington, D.C., yet have since moved to Florida. They were attracted to Beacon for the unique mix of nature, art and food.