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!

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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! 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

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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

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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

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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: 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
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

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!

Beacon's Hocus Pocus Halloween Parade for Kids is Biggest Yet in 2015 - With Pictures of Costumes!

Reservoir & Wood was one of many businesses participating in the Hocus Pocus Parade.

Record numbers took part in the Hocus Pocus Halloween Parade of 2015, a signature event of Beacon's Halloween festival, A Very Beacon Halloween (a joint event from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce and the City of Beacon). Ron Iarossi, a board member on the Chamber and owner of Beacon Creamery who led the parade, confirms: "The parade was biggest one we have ever had. We had about 800 kids and just as many adults, for a total of 1,500 to 2,000 people." When the parade paused at Teller Avenue, participants who glanced back could see wall-to-wall people on Main Street, from Beacon Pantry to Hudson Beach Glass. Iarossi says that the number of people concentrated during the parade is normal. What was different this year? More people started at the official line-up of the parade, and still more joined in at different points on Main Street.

The Hocus Pocus parade pauses along Beacon's Main Street for kids to trick-or-treat from businesses. From this stop at Beacon Pantry, paradegoers could be seen all the way back to Hudson Beacon Glass.

Dueling Banjos? Adorbs.

Several duos of Little Red Riding Hood and her Wolf were out, but these two take our first prize!

A very serious wolf.

Cat Woman and Dog.

Little Darth Vader!

Baby R2D2 in the wagon of Tom and Andrea Cerchiara.

Yellow as a primary color in this year's parade!

Ms. Jenny, a teacher at Rose Hill and queen of crafts!

Paul Yeaple, of Poppy's, with kids!

Meet the Abrams/Blair family: The Avengers!

Businesses were ready for the crowd, and eager to give treats to the kids.

Locomotive Crossfit and Oak Vino were ready for the trick-or-treaters!

Beacon Bath & Bubble were happy to fill up pumpkins with treats.

The art gallery Back Room Gallery drew a few characters!

The Beacon Bagel was busy - as usual!

Beacon's 4th Annual Car Show Included Vintage and Muscle Cars - Pictures & Video Here!

A classic car on display at Beacon's 4th Annual Car Show. Photo Credits: Katie Hellmuth Martin

It was a chilly Sunday for Beacon's 4th Annual Car Show, a joint production of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce and Dutchess Cruisers Car Club. Several thousand people from Beacon, as well as visiting car enthusiasts, attended the daylong event (held October 18 this year), admiring the goods under the hoods of more than 250 cars lined up on Main Street. Attendees rocked out to music from five different bands, covering genres as diverse as beach and heavy metal, including the Judith Tulloch Band, The Costellos, Chowderhead, Bloated Toad and Talking Machine.

A video with this heavy metal band is below!

According to Pat Moore, president of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce and partner at Antalek & Moore, “Main Street Beacon in the autumn is the perfect setting for this event. It brings visitors from far and wide to our town. It is a terrific event for the City of Beacon and is now considered a must-show for car enthusiasts.” The cars have been carefully restored by their owners; those restorations can reach several thousands of dollars! According to Moore, some cars in the show are valued at well over $100,000.

 

Muscle under the hood of a Mustang.

Many of the cars on display have been beefed up with some serious horsepower. However, most of the cars in the show were older and considered classics. Heidi Bernhart, owner of Beacon Pie Company, the little pie cart next to Ella’s Bellas, closed her cart to walk the show. “I love car shows. I used to go to them every weekend before I moved to Beacon, so I'm glad that Beacon does one. Old cars are the best. My favorites are the Bel Airs.”

The East Mountain Boys represented.

The titling sponsor of Beacon's Car Show was the Healey Brothers Automotive Group. Gold and Silver Sponsors were Sukhothai Restaurant, Max’s on Main, Freedom Ford, Antalek & Moore Insurance and the Rutigliano Group. Many smaller businesses were also sponsors.

With more than 250 cars in the show, many styles were represented!

Pictures From Spirit Of Beacon Day 2015! Plus a Video!

Once again, Spirit of Beacon Day 2015 was filled with spirit, cheers and sunshine! It was a glorious day, and everyone enjoyed seeing each other, supporting the Beacon School District with a full representation of the four elementary schools, and the marching band. Boy and Girl Scout Troops were proudly marching, and dancers from Beacon's local dance schools were in costume. Main Street is a mile long, so it's a long parade with plenty to see and eat along the way. Here are a few pictures from the day, and video of walking in the parade:

Go South Avenue Elementary!

Go Sargent Elementary!

Go Glenham Elementary!

Go J.V. Forrestal Elementary!

Glorious day.

Consider donating this year to the City Of Beacon Fire Department! And look, there is the home of one of A Little Beacon Blog's sponsors, Antalek & Moore!

The day was so sunny and hot, that you needed a pitcher of house margarita.

A parade that ends in pie, and a brownie, fresh grapes and cabbage rolls.

Spirit Of Beacon Day 2015 Attracts Free Concert From Dar Williams, Slam Allan, and Others

Beacon's largest parade, the Spirit of Beacon Day, this year will have a major free concert for music lovers which kicks off a new arts project and destination.

The Spirit of Beacon Day Parade, this year on Sunday, September 27, 2015, is traditionally one of the biggest parade celebrations in Beacon, with floats of kids, parents and teachers from the school district driving down Main Street, followed by marching bands, fire engines, flying candy, even local dentists like Beacon Dental who have marched down handing out tooth brushes. After the parade, which usually is on a sparkler of a day with bright sunshine, and crisp, early Fall air softly swooping through the town at the base of Mount Beacon, the people of Beacon get to enjoy visiting tables of businesses, indulging in a little facepaint as a fundraiser of a local church or Beacon girls softball team, getting hypnotized by drum circles, and even watching dancers from many different nationalities like this one from Arts Mid-Hudson after last year's parade.

Missing from the day will be a live performance from Pete Seeger, who usually performed with members of his band in the middle of Main Street for all to hear. This year, however, a special live free concert will be taking place at the Veterans Place near the Post Office at 3pm - featuring major folk musicians from the area including Tom Chapin, Dar Williams, Bruce Molsky, Susan Wright and Slam Allen. The concert is part of an announcement of a new arts project: The American Center for Folk Music (ACFM).

The center is targeted to be located in Beacon and its primary mission is said to be "the presentation, celebration and study of folk music, and the ongoing support of folk musicians and music educators," according to a press release sent out by the Towne Crier, a 40-year old live music venue that relocated to Beacon and is now a central part of the City's burgeoning music scene. The Towne Crier's founder, Phil Ciganer, is providing logistical assistance with the project.

The American Center for Folk Music's co-founder David Ross, a former director of the Whitney Museum of American Art as well as an art educator and musician, has this to say about Sunday's free concert and about the foundation of the new center: “Folk music’s extraordinary heritage is something we feel needs to be taken seriously, and celebrated," said Ross. "For those of us in Beacon and in this region, it is a way of preserving the memory and continuing the work of Pete Seeger, the great American musician who is a hero to all of us who believed that music has the power to change the world for the better.”

Says Ross, "The American Center for Folk Music wants to be an integral part of the local community as well as a national destination for musicians, tourists and scholars alike."  Seems like a good idea to plant the seed on Spirit of Beacon Day, as hopefully one more rich addition to the culture that is once again taking shape in Beacon's long history of giving back and educating.

3rd Annual 5K At Dennings Point To Raise Money & Awareness For Sickle Cell Disease

Parents of children who are suffering physically or emotionally often develop an extraordinary set of survival skills, and a long lasting desire to help others who are trying to get better. Jessica Salomon of Beacon and her husband Jesse are examples of parents who have become change-makers by bringing awareness to others.

On September 12, 2015, the 3rd Annual Sickle Cell Disease 5K Walk & Run will be held at Long Dock to support Hope and Heroes, an organization that funds the life-saving work on childhood cancer and blood disorders at Columbia University Medical Center. The Salomon's sons, Jayden and Justin, are part of that life-saving work.

Red blood cells affected by Sickle Cell Disease. Photo from National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

When young Jayden Salomon was born in the Bronx, he lived with complications from Sickle Cell Disease, a red blood cell disorder that has a lot of complications, including pain, organ failure, and strokes. The only cure for the disease is a bone marrow transplant, where bone marrow is taken during a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The best match is a sibling who does not have the disease. Tough odds, but is part of what has cured many people and brought the life expectancy up from 14 years to 40-60 years in high-income countries.

Jayden during one of his many hospital stays.

Jayden beat the odds thanks to his baby brother, who was a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant. Jayden who is 12 today, is cured, thanks to his brother Justin, age 6, who was the donor when he was just a baby. Jessica recalls the decision: “When Justin was born, Jayden had already has multiple hospital admissions, lung complications, and so many other complications due to his disease. So we knew we had to test his little brother. By the graces of God, Justin was a perfect match! And on March 23, 2011 Justin donated his marrow and Jayden got his transplant at Columbia University Medical center. Jayden had a second shot at life. He is 100% cured. He is now 12 and living a full life. Justin is our hero! He is doing good as well!”

Jayden and his hero brother, Justin, at Long Dock in Beacon, NY.

The Salomons moved to Beacon, and Jessica wanted to give back to the healing world by bringing awareness to others about Sickle Cell Disease. She wanted to participate in a walk for the disease, but could not find any in this area. So she started one, using the fundraising platform at Hope and Heroes, and now people in this area can increase their awareness about the disease, contribute to one of the best medical centers in the country that happens to be local to many in the Hudson Valley, and enjoy a beautiful 5K run along Dennings Point! A win win for all.

Jessica and Jesse Salomon during last year's walk.

The Salomon Family during a 5K Prep Walk through Dennings Point.

A table of volunteers from Delete Blood Cancer for bone marrow registration.

Visit Jessica's Hope and Heroes page to create a team, register to walk or run, simply donate, or to just attend as a cheerleader. Put in your to-do list to donate blood, and consider registering as a bone marrow donor.

Thanks in part to this sponsor on A Little Beacon Blog for supporting this article!