Need a Nap? Squishable Plush Pillows in Dream in Plastic

One Friday evening, the kids and I were strolling down Main Street looking for a little treat present after a great week. We were in Dream in Plastic and I was looking at paper stationery that struck my fancy. I turned around to see my two little ones snuggling with these Squishable pillows! Yum! I've never quite found the perfect "nap pillow" for daycare and school, and these are probably too big, but they certainly are contenders for nap pillows at home, being that naps at home are pretty hard to make happen and how can one not doze off when snuggling with this Squishable Pug on the couch or rug??

Must...Haves...Nella Bellas Boutique is Filled With Goodies!

Fall fashion is blowing into town...and you'll find several little must- have items in Nella Bellas Boutique. If you haven't already stopped in, it's a little boutique in the West End of Main Street that has quietly built a devoted following of shoppers who step in for an easy but super cute dress for work or play, or a piece of statement jewelry or a piece for everyday.

You'll see clothing lines similar to those found in Anthropology, yet for very friendly prices. Need a big plastic circle earring for $15? Or this giant silver leaf ring that dresses up a simple jeans and black t-shirt outfit? Done for $30.

And if you plan to shop for a while, your compadre can lounge in this comfy couch while you try on!

Burlock Interiors PopUp Shop - Last Day for Interior Designer's Finds!

The popup shop trend is in Beacon, with the latest popup shop experience created by Nicole Ashey, founder of Burlock Interiors, a Beacon based interior design firm who set up shop on the West End of Main Street near Clay Wood and Cotton.You'll find fabric, home decor items, eco-friendly pillows designed by Nicole, a bathroom faucet as pictured here in the clearance basket, and more treasures. But it all ends tonight!

This Second Saturday is her last day open, so hurry in as you enjoy strolling Beacon's Main Street, dipping in and out of art galleries and shops and restaurants that are displaying this year's fantastical art from Windows on Main Street (WOMS).

Wine and Beer, So Many Choices, So Many Forms

While out for an afternoon ice cream and quesadilla date with the kids to get them out of the house, we came upon Mercer's wine ice cream at the Beacon Creamery, which comes in pints or scoops, and this "P.B.R. 2 for $5 all day beer special" at Beacon Homebrew. No, we did not have quesadillas at Beacon Homebrew, but being that the owner of Tito Santana, Kamel Jamal, is part owner of Beacon Homebrew, this postcard sign was on the counter at Tito Santana.

For those not familiar with these locations, Beacon Creamery is the first shop on the West End of Main Street and primarily scoops Jane's Ice Cream. Tito Santana is up the sidewalk a bit with the red chairs outside, and Beacon Homebrew is just past the middle of Main Street near the Beacon Theatre.

So, pick your afternoon refreshment! Ice cream a la normal, wine ice cream, or a special on beer!

Quick Dip in River Pool at Beacon in the Hudson River

July and August can mean two things here in Beacon:

- Swimmers are paddling across the Hudson River from Newburgh to Beacon in The Swim, a fundraiser for the River Pool at Beacon, and...

- Swimmers are wading in the floating river pool, supported and surrounded by soft mesh and floating buoys in the Hudson River.

Did you know that river pools were being used by New Yorkers as far back as 1870, but ended in 1930 because of water pollution? And not just one - several pools dotted the river for city folk to enjoy. Thanks to Toshi and Pete Seeger, this pool not only happened, but is part of the environmental changes that Seeger helped lead in this region to clean the water.

Being that July flew by, there are a few weeks of summer left to enjoy the river pool! Open almost daily from 12-6pm except Mondays, and overseen by a lifeguard during pool hours. Put on your bathing suit and bring a towel down to Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park and enjoy floating in the water! Benches line the sides of this circular pool, so you can relax and enjoy the view.

The River Pool at Beacon is free to the public, and does accept donations and has a membership program.

Fresh Flower Cutting & Financial Education in the Morning

Doing bills and bookkeeping on a Saturday actually brings me great joy. As a small business owner, Saturday mornings are usually quiet, devoid of emails and demands of the week. In this digital age of newsletters and tweets, I actually look forward to the monthly, paper newsletter put out by the accounting firm Arthur DeDominics, CPA, based in Wappingers Falls, that contains financial planning guidance of everything from small business needs to college planning to splitting assets in divorce.

Nothing like a little fresh flower cutting and financial education in the morning, right?

The Wiggles and Hairdresser's Disco Ball at Mid-Hudson Civic Center

It's...The...Wiggles everyone!

I can recite the next line because I've listened to the DVD so many times while I'm making dinner or folding laundry, that to now see The Wiggles in a live show would be amazing for kids! Coming in September to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.

And...if you're into costumes, hair and makeup, the Hairdressers Disco Ball looks truly show stopping. Watch this video from Hudson Valley Hub to see the amazing talent that resides in the Hudson Valley. Amazing costume work and makeup. Not to mention hair!

Plan Bee Farm Brewery - Farm to Bottle Beer

Inspired by the "Barn to Brew" article in the Summer season's issue of edible HUDSON VALLEY, I finally ventured down to Beacon's Farmers' Market to try the beer from Plan Bee Farm Brewery that is mostly all grown and cultivated from one farm: the farm owned and operated by founders and brewers Evan and Emily Watson.

Even more compelling is the component that makes this beer extra special and unique: the Watsons use their own yeast from their farm, using cultures from peaches, apples, and unpasteurized honey from two bee-hives that came with the farm when they bought the property in Fishkill.

The most special thing about cooking, baking or brewing something is using ingredients around you to make the freshest of flavors not easily replicated time and again. Plan Bee Farm Brewery loves this spontaneity of flavor, and embraces and actually seeks out the different flavors their unique yeast method produces. According to Even in the article from edible: "I love the odd and complex flavors you can get from it. These are the backbone of our beers."

Each of their beers have a story which you can read about on their blog. The bottle I tried was their popular Chamomile, developed specifically for and sold at the Cold Spring General Store. Delicious. I took it to a gathering on Mahopac Lake and a friend happily dubbed it a "soft" flavor and immediately texted his parents who were hiking for the day in Cold Spring, to request that they buy a few bottles at the store.

A brew with a notable story behind it is the TechiNiki, which was named after an Indian woman of the Wappingers tribe who picked a peach on a Dutch settler's farm in 1659 and was shot - thus starting the Peach Tree War throughout the entire Hudson Valley. So you're drinking history with these beers, along with flavors and ingredients grown just miles away from you.

Beacon Architect Aryeh Siegel Featured in Upstate House

One of the most exciting aspects of living in Beacon, NY is that we are living during a historical era. When my family moved here, our neighbors across the street had moved here twenty years prior, also from Manhattan, to raise their family. They moved during the height of drug times, when Main Street was boarded up. The first investment they made to their home was installing a giant chain link fence around their entire property to keep people from sitting on the front stoop of their home to do "business".

Today, Beacon is the playground to many architects who are changing the face and experience of this city, while taking delight in "existing structural elements that can be incorporated into new uses." Such statement was spoken by Aryeh Siegel in an interview with Peter Aaron for Upstate House magazine. The article proclaims Siegel to be Beacon's architect laureate thanks in part to the number of game-changing projects he has been involved with crafting and reinventing, including Dia:Beacon, the Roundhouse at Beacon Falls, the Towne Crier Cafe, the Beacon Dog Park, the Beacon Cultural Community Center, and a growing list of other residential and mix-ed use sites.

If you haven't yet, do pick up this issue for the interview and the other great articles in Upstate House to see how this architect views Beacon.

BeaconCitizen Adds A Little Beacon Blog to Media Feed

Hey thanks BeaconCitizen for adding A Little Beacon Blog to its lineup of great media sources in the area! Now when you check in with BeaconCitizen for the latest events, updates, and community conversations, you'll also see latest headlines from A Little Beacon Blog.

Sunday Errands: Brioche Buns, Olive Oil, a Sweet

The best way to "run" errands is to walk them with a little one in tow and attach a cookie and a cupcake to the adventure. First stop is to Beacon Bread Company for brioche buns for weekday packed lunches. Next it's to the Scarborough Fare olive oil store to fill up this bottle with olive oil that tastes like "fresh cut grass and artichokes", to be used later in gazpacho and dipped in white bread from All You Knead and fresh Parmesan from a block from Beacon Pantry. Then it's off to Key Foods for rolls of fresh mozzarella and Applegate provolone cheese for a homemade pizza dough, the dough for which we will pick up from Pleasant Ridge on our way back home.

All on foot and a Radio Flyer bike!

What are your favorite errands on a Sunday?

The Hudson River Kayak Tours Paddles Onto the Outdoor Getaway Scene

One of the more relaxing ways to experience the Hudson River is by kayak, paddling up or down the river. In Beacon, Mountain Tops is a go-to source for kayak rentals and tours (see their 4th of July paddle under the fireworks).

For a getaway outside of Beacon, to travel by water under the Bear Mountain Bridge instead of commuting over it, The Hudson River Kayak Tours company has paddled onto the scene with three very different tours every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You don't even need to think about when a tour is, just pick a day, pack a lunch or bottle of wine, and go!

For a long lunch, try their Stony Point Lighthouse and Battlefield Tour, a four hour tour on Thursdays and Fridays where you pack a lunch, launch from Stony Point to paddle around the marshes and return for a guided tour of the lighthouse and the Stony Point Battlefield. On Saturdays and Sundays, paddle under the Bear Mountain Bridge during the Poplopen Creek and Iona Island Tour for a little bird watching at the Iona Island Bird Sanctuary, and on Friday - Sunday, enjoy a romantic night on the Hudson River during their Sunset Tours.

Enjoy!

Summer Wine Picks from Artisan Wine Shop

Summer and wine...such a happy combination. Of course your inspiration for different wines will come from different places, so we talked to Tim and Mei at Artisan Wine Shop for their recommendations on the perfect red, white or rosés wines for summer occasions available in their wine shop right now. Keep in mind, Tim recommends that most red wines should be served chilled in the summer. About 30-45 minutes in the 'fridge should do it...

GARDENING

You've been gardening, pulling weeds, harvesting beans, transplanting hostas, building decorative walls, and you're ready for a glass of wine. You're hot and tired, but you feel great after all of that physical work that looks so rewarding. What wine should you pair with your mood?

WHITE
Arca Nova is a Vinho Verde that is a refreshing white with a lightly bubbly effervescence to keep the taste fresh and you cooled off. It's a white wine from northern Portugal made from light, crisp grapes that are green and lush.

RED
The red Gamay from Domaine Les Hautes Noelles should be chilled and is a 'vin de la soif' (a wine for thirsty people) pulling in a cherry flavor that is low in alcohol.

PICNICS IN THE PARK

You're heading to Riverfront Park for a picnic, music festival, or a stroll down Long Dock, or are having an Alice in Wonderland type picnic in the pruned shrubbery at Dia (get some cheese from Homespun's Dia location), you'll want a wine that will match the early night breeze.

WHITE
You'll enjoy the Schlossmuhlenhof, a Riesling, but not just any Riesling...a dry Riesling Trocken that is native to the Germans who make and drink it. According to Tim, the Germans don't drink any other type of Riesling, certainly not ones that are sweet, which can be considered the norm by Americans. It's lower in alcohol, crisp, clean and good with food.

RED
The Fuori Off Road Strada, a liter of Tuscan red wine in a box.  Packs well in a sack, and you'll get more wine with less packaging! Put this organic boxed wine on ice. It's a Chianti, but not officially classified as such, being that it's in a box. It's light and crisp with some structure and dryness from the tannin. It will have dryness on the finish and is good with food.

BBQs & BACKYARD GRILL OUTS

You're going to a friend's BBQ or backyard grill, and everyone is bringing their craft beers and growlers from The Hop, but you want to bring wine.

WHITE
The Effet Papillon is a Cotos du Roussillon blanc from the southern part of France. It's wrought with soft texture and stands up to the weight of grilled chicken, fish and vegetables. The Effet Papillon picks up flavors well to enhance your meal.

RED
La Flor is a Malbec that is full of flavor. It handles heavy foods like meat well, but could be drunk by itself. This red wine is tangy in nature, and works well with BBQ sauce.

TIM'S FAVORITE ROSÉS FOR SUMMER

Tim was especially excited to share his favorite bottles of rosés. The Lieu-dit Cocagne Coteaux du Vendomois and Pigoudet Premiére. The Coteaux du Vendomois is dry and savory with no sweetness, and is best 15 minutes after opening. The Pigoudet is made from a blend of grapes and is more fruity because of the warmth of the region.

WINE CUPS FOR THE OUTDOORS!

And of course, you must have the proper glass! If you are on a picnic, traveling or just want to drink from a sturdy cup outside, the govino wine glass is shatterproof, reusable, disposable and available locally at Utensil. So fit in the trip from one end of town to the other when you are headed to your event and are picking up wine on your way! And don't forget, if you need a quick apple pie, there are usually mini apple and cherry pies ready at BJ's. 

All of these wines are available in the Artisan Wine Shop, so print out this guide or mention the Summer Wine Pick Guide on A Little Beacon Blog for some guided direction on picking your wines!

Movie Night at Howland Public Library

Tonight-ish is family movie night at the Howland Public Library!

Starting at 4pm, watch The Lego Movie! In partnership with the Wee Play Project, the library is kicking off summer with the release of this DVD. Popcorn will be served at this free event and no registration is necessary.

To learn more about events for kids at the Library, visit the Beacon Library Parents Group on Facebook, and check the main calendar of events at the Library.

City Wide Yard Sale Well Stocked as Ever!

Rain fell the entire week leading up to this year's City Wide Yard Sale. But hours before starting, the clouds parted, stopped drizzling, and the yard sales were out!

This year we went on foot, stopping at a yard sale behind Beacon Barkery to find a pink raincoat and matching rubber boots for $5. Onward we forged to fuel up at Culture for their delicious lattes (for my friend...I'd already fueled up at home thanks to my aero press from Mountain Tops that I love).

We found more sales on Beacon and S.Walnut, that had these craft supplies, cute trade paperback books, windows with glass for projects, porch lights still in the box, so much.

Cars and pickup trucks drive by, usually with a man in the driver's seat scouting and a woman jumping out to scavenger before his truck can fully stop. Usually the yard sales offer lemonade and are dotted all over Beacon, from residential streets, to even a cat hospital in the woods! Some specialize in certain things like tools or baby gear, but all offer many things you forgot you needed.

It's one of my favorite weekends in June.

Did you go? What did you find?