New This Week in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides At A Little Beacon Blog!

We've made so many updates to our classes and guides this week, we want to make sure you do not miss a thing!

We just found out this week that the 10th Annual Beacon Barks Parade has been postponed until the last Sunday of April 2017. In the meantime, please continue to support the Dutchess County SPCA and Beacon Barkery.

A Little Beacon Blog is happy to be a sponsor of "Turning Passion Into Profit" at Beahive on March 16th. The event is hosted by HV Women In Business, and the topic will be about how to become successful by doing what you love.

Great guide. Can't believe I missed out on the start of the Beginner Spanish class! https://t.co/FB48lv0IcA

— CTPassat (@CTPassat) February 21, 2016

Don't worry, "CTPassat," we have added more language classes (including Spanish!) from the Fishkill Recreation Center.

Has your kid expressed an interest in Babysitting? Make sure they are trained the right way.  We added a new Babysitting category to our Kids Classes, featuring workshops that aspiring caregivers can sign up for.

Has the craft bug bitten you? Take a road trip down to Pelham in Westchester County to learn the craft of Wet Felting, where you learn to transform delicate wool fibers and into strong cloth with beautiful texture.

And don't forget to keep moving! We added more Zumba! and Tai Chi classes at the Veterans Memorial Building and Beacon Recreation Center.

March is jam-packed with upcoming events to check out! Easter is early this year, so bring the kids to Memorial Park for their annual Easter Egg hunt. More new events include a magic show with illusionist Ryan Dutcher, a special "Coffee House" night at the Howland Cultural Center (check out the "Women Artists Of The Hudson Valley" exhibit while you're there), and the inaugural Parade Of Green for St. Patrick's Day!

Plan ahead for April by supporting The Beacon Players with their rendition of Peter Pan at Beacon High School.

Do you have a class or workshop you would like us to consider adding? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or via email at editorial@alittlebeacon.com. 

The Roundhouse is Shoppable! Click and Ship from Major Artisans

Just when you couldn't stop staring at everything around you at The Roundhouse, Beacon's transformative hotel that is arguably one of the most beautiful, rustic, and artistic luxury spaces around, the staff there read your mind and created STACK, a curated collection of Hudson Valley, NY, artisan goods reflective of the Roundhouse aesthetic. The online shop features locally made, hand-crafted, unique pieces for the home, office and closet. Every product has been hand-selected for its organic nature, hand-hewn qualities and beauty. A series of Roundhouse-specific pieces have been designed exclusively for STACK and made by local artisans right in Beacon, NY. From the first glance at any of the pieces in the collection at STACK, your mind will drift into a peaceful, imaginative place.

We have made you a preliminary "I Need This" List. Behold...

The lighting sets the mood at The Roundhouse, and I don't mean the large windows overlooking the Fishkill Creek. Inside each area of the Roundhouse, be it in the Swift lounge or the restaurant or the guest rooms, you'll find unique lighting. In glass that is hand-blown, this line known as Swirl by 10 Willow will give any room in your house an airy feel. These designers are based here in Beacon and can often be found at seasonal pop-up shops, hanging with the folks at Hudson Beach Glass, and are artisans you want to get to know.

Even gray days get instantly brighter when you pinch something from these Pinch Pots by Andrew Rouse. Salt, makeup, safety pins...

Never have I seen a ring like this, with polished wood and sparkling fluorite. Have you? Lavender Kiss Ring by Christine Brandt

An easy way to give any room in your house a makeover is to change the seating. Introducing the Jackson Stool by Rexhill Furniture, a local design team you can also find during select shopping events from Reservoir and Wood (a boutique on Main Street).

"Maidenhair Fern" Silver Gelatin Print by Amanda Means

So beautiful, and there are more glasses where these came from. Your friends are sure not to have them, so get one or two or six. Makes a great wedding gift or an upgrade to your own glasses. Metallic "Dipped" Pint (or Water) Glass from Hudson Beach Glass, located on Main Street, Beacon.

Must. Have. I don't know about you, but the wires for my phone earbuds are out of control and act like fishing hooks in my purse. This handmade leather cord wrapis by Samwell Leather Co.

Yes, yes, and more yes. The Hand-Riveted Leather Tool Roll by Samwell Leather Co. is something I'd think the guys at The Hudson Valley Maker and Artisan Cooperative would use, which makes me want to use it too.

Thanks to the Beacon Historical Society's Centennial Book, we learned that the building now occupied by The Roundhouse was built round to accommodate blacksmith's work around a hearth. Get the blacksmith look with this black Reggie Bib Apron by Jones of Boerum Hill.

Any jewelry that features a pin to close it like a door and has been molded from another form is intriguing. Introducing Silver "Leather" Strap Cuff by Marisa Lomonaco.

For the latest on retail experiences in Beacon, check out A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide, where you'll find a full list of the local shopping option - right at your fingertips. And sign up to receive our free newsletter for updates to the scene. Keep your eye on STACK as well, as different pieces from different artists will become available. Share what you collect in photos in Instagram and tag A Little Beacon Blog so that we can see!

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe...Which Car Do You Want the Most? (Sponsored By Poughkeepsie Nissan)

How is that car of yours? The better your car is now, the more value it may have if you use it as a trade-in to get a different car! Poughkeepsie Nissan has a huge selection of new and used cars of many makes and models, including Audi, Mini, Subaru, Honda, and many more in all shapes and sizes. Pickup trucks, too! Poughkeepsie Nissan offers a guaranteed credit approval and is home of the Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on all new and pre-owned vehicles, which makes buying a pre-owned car that much more possible. Plus, have you tried their online shopping? You can "walk the lot" from your computer.

Getting to Poughkeepsie Nissan is easy. Zoom up Route 9 or take the prettier and more direct route up 9D, driving past the Stony Kill Farm and bright pink Nesting Doll store. Poughkeepsie Nissan is located across from Hannaford, so you can fit in some very affordable grocery shopping while you're out and about.

A Little Beacon Blog thanks Poughkeepsie Nissan for being a Spotlight Sponsor, which helps make our coverage of the amazing people and things to do in and around Beacon possible! 

Beacon Historical Society Begins Fundraising for a New Home - Kickoff at Beacon Bath and Bubble

On the coldest night of winter this season (as recorded on cell phones in the area), the Beacon Historical Society joined in February's Second Saturday fun with a gallery opening at Beacon Bath and Bubble. The event's purpose: to kick off their fundraising goal of raising money for a new physical home. The ever-expanding collection of more than 2,000 artifacts and historic materials including photos, letters, maps, and paintings has outgrown its current digs at the Howland Cultural Center. The Beacon Historical Society was formed in 1976 with the mission to "preserve, procure, and present Beacon’s heritage and history." To aid in that mission, a search has begun for a permanent location for a Beacon History Museum, which would serve as a place to store the heritage-focused collection, as well as being an educational destination for people to learn about Beacon across the centuries.

During the fundraiser, I interviewed Diane Lapis, a trustee at the Beacon Historical Society and one of the organizers of the night's event. Lapis ex planed to me how the Beacon Historical Society acquires its artifacts and why the organization needs a new home. The interview was originally broadcast live on A Little Beacon Blog's Periscope channel. If you're at home and want to catch live snippets with us out and about, definitely follow our handle @alittlebeacon! The broadcast only lasts for 24 hours over there, so we upload them to our YouTube channel, to which you can also subscribe.



Despite the frigid weather, art galleries on Main Street did have people inside, but you may not have seen them, thanks to the steamy windows! Beacon Bath and Bubble, located in the former home of The Hop, was nice and cozy inside, filled with devout supporters of this community and of the Beacon Historical Society.

Beacon Bath and Bubble made a custom-designed green soap for the occasion, fitting for the Irish in Beacon's history, as well as a bright reminder for the upcoming Irish parade.

During the gallery showing, captions were matched with pictures, enabling visitors to fall back into different decades of Beacon's history.

In this picture, a woman in a plaid dress, matching bonnet, and day gloves crosses the street with her daughter, who wears a matching outfit.

An aerial photo of the property now known as The Roundhouse. The caption reveals why the building was originally round - to accommodate the blacksmith stations built around a large, central hearth. The Beacon Historical Society has evidence that the building was once a place where the first lawnmowers were made in America, in 1860-1870. However, the building dates back to 1820, so it has had many lives.

In addition to snagging a bar or two of the special soap, visitors had several ways to donate during the evening, including buying the Beacon Centennial book and raffle tickets. Support - philosophical and financial - was apparent just by opening the book. Local businesses commemorate important times in Beacon's history, as in this ad from Antalek & Moore, which was founded in 1853, and who through their family-owned insurance business knows the history of most homes in this community.
 

The Beacon Centennial book is for the most part divided into two-page chapters. A chapter on Urban Renewal is a page-stopper. Just as you're flipping through the book, there's a picture of a Victorian home being pushed over by a bulldozer - shocking, and revealing a pivotal point in our nation's history.

In the 1960s, federally funded programs aided communities in clearing out abandoned, decaying, or outdated buildings, with the intention of restoring life to those properties.With a controversial vote of 3-2 from Beacon's city council at the time, 205 homes and 142 buildings were torn down, according to Beacon Historical Society. This included buildings on Main Street, as well as the waterfront. Structures like the one Bank Square Coffeehouse is in is not the original, but was rebuilt as a shopping center for the west end of Main Street to take advantage of the then-new 9D corridor and Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Urban Renewal programs ended in the 1970s, when "inflationary pressures forced the federal government to withdraw funds for any future renewal," according to the book. Although more than 500 new housing units and 250,000 square feet of new industrial space were created by Urban Renewal programs, it is only because of the cease in funding that many buildings, considered historic today, are still standing.

Page 44 in "Beacon at 100, 1913-2013" that gives an overview of the controversial Urban Renewal project that Beacon participated in.

There are many ways to get involved with the Beacon Historical Society: You might become a member, donate funds, volunteer, or donate historical items. However you decide to get involved, your view of Beacon is sure to be enriched, and reviewing our city's past will help you form opinions on development projects and cultural opportunities to come. 

Longtime Beacon resident Kate (Sandford) Rabe, of Kate Rabe Consulting, attended the event, and declared: "I was so happy that I braved the cold and made it to the Historical Society event at Beacon Bath and Bubble. As a lifelong resident of Beacon, I have never really given much thought to the changes that have occurred in Beacon over the years, not just in my life but also everything that my family has seen over the past 65+ years that they have lived here. I have my membership application filled out and ready to send. I want to become part of keeping this greatness alive!"

P.S.: If you want to stay in the loop on current development projects, you can have videos emailed to you along with the City of Beacon's newsletter. You can also watch the City Council meetings and Planning Board meetings on the Municipal Channel of your TV.  

P.P.S: If you're reading this article way in the future, and that newsletter link doesn't work and has changed, then check the City of Beacon's website for any updated link. We try to keep links updated through the history of this publication, but here's a backup ... just in case!

New This Week in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides At A Little Beacon Blog!

There seems to be a theme with the classes and events added to our Things To Do In Beacon guides this week - keep it in the family! Not only is a new "Parenting" category added, we added more classes from Waddle n Swaddle, ranging from pre-natal topics to teaching children French!

Want a change of scenery and to spend some time on a farm? Stony Kill Farm is opening its doors Saturdays and Sundays for Open Barn tours starting this month through November. Parents can even sign up to volunteer as a guide with their child!

Another class added for parent/child is the Dancin' 2's program at Yanarella Ballet School, which started this week for as young as 16 months. This class introduces children to creative movement, helping them to develop motor skills as they run, skip and jump the day away.

If you always wanted to learn how to knit, it is never too late to start, and it can be a therapeutic skill to have. Beacon Art Studio has started their Knit, Slip and Beyond class for young and old, beginner or advanced.

Speaking of crafts, added to our Events page is Fishkill's Fine Arts & Craft Fair, hosted by the Fishkill Business Association, which is going into its 23rd year. They are looking for vendors for this year's event, so get your applications in!

Do you have a class or workshop you would like us to consider adding? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or via email at editorial@alittlebeacon.com. 

It's Flyer Friday! A Peek Into Our Day Hanging Flyers Around Town

The Latest Headlines flyers, fresh from Accuprint the printer.

I now proclaim Fridays in a given month to be Flyer Fridays! The latest headlines from A Little Beacon Blog are selected and printed out at Accuprint on Main Street, and passed out by me in a semi-strategic fashion with a box of thumbtacks and the tape roller hanging out of my pocket.

Hanging flyers is actually nerve-wracking because you're walking into someone's busy day and asking if your own business can show up on their walls. It's really fun, however, to be out and about, out from behind my computer, basking in the sunshine. I've also tried bringing my daughter along so that she can see me at work in a different capacity other than sitting at a computer. This prospect did not go over so well, as she just wanted to get home and run around, so ... I turned it into a job prospect for her! Now, when she comes with my on my flyer route, she is a Flyer Hanger and gets paid 10 whole dollars for the afternoon, which sometimes consists of hanging flyers in just three shops (thanks Beacon Karate!) because of the introductions and shop-talk conversations that take place. But, I figure this is a good job to do, as she's saving up for the grand summer of Summer Day Camps; the cash goes right into her Camp bank envelope.

What my daughter has seen, however, is the denial of a flyer hung. I know! Some businesses just don't do flyers, and that's perfectly alright. But after that happened, she started rooting for me. When we took ourselves on a business lunch to BJ's for some sweet yams and mac 'n' cheese, she insisted that I ask them if we could hang a flyer. I told her that we could wait till the end of our lunch, as they were very busy. But she persisted. "Persistence" is one of her favorite words that she learned at school. I asked why she wanted me to ask so badly ... why the sudden interest? She replied: "I want to see if they said yes!"

BJ's did say yes. Thank you, BJ's! And thank you to everyone who takes flyers! Homespun, Baja 328, Bank Square, Beacon Natural Market, Antelek and Moore Insurance, Beacon Dental, Key Food, everyone!

Do you want the Latest Headlines or a Things To Do In Beacon Guide flyer in your store? Comment here or on Facebook to let me know, and we will stop in!

Beacon Dental - Beacon, NY

Beacon Dental

1020 Wolcott Avenue 

Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 838-3666

www.beacondental.net

Beacon Dental, founded by Dr. Hongli Wang, is committed to providing comprehensive care utilizing the most recent advances in the science and the art of dentistry, with an emphasis on education, preventive care, restoration of function, and aesthetics.

Beacon Dental places tremendous importance on education both for their patients and staff. If your children are in school in the Beacon area or beyond, chances are your children have been treated to an oral health demonstration from a few of the friendly dental hygienists from Beacon Dental, who are committed to educating the public about the care of teeth and gums. Your oral health is Beacon Dental's top priority and they are devoted to providing all of their patients with comprehensive preventive care. Please click here to meet the team at Beacon Dental, from dental hygienists to office managers processing insurance claims and consulting with patients.

SPECIAL MESSAGES FROM BEACON DENTAL

Daddy! I Swallowed My Molar! Is This a Job for the Tooth Fairy?

The team at Beacon Dental wishes you a happy Valentine's Day, and reminds you to brush you teeth after eating those caramel chocolates!

Beacon Dental Visits All Schools in Beacon School District to Educate Kids About Oral Health

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile How Do You Score on the Periodontal Chart?

Beacon Dental Celebrates 10 Years in Business! Mayor Casale Awards with Appreciation Certificate for Community Involvement

Meet Dr. Hongli Wang, the Founder of Beacon Dental!

A Little Beacon Blog thanks Beacon Dental for being a sponsor, which helps make our coverage of the amazing people and things to do in and around Beacon possible! 

To have a Sponsor Spotlight page with like this one with monthly articles to authentically share your company's message with readers of A Little Beacon Blog, please see our Advertising  Packages page.

Daddy, I Swallowed My Molar! Is This a Job for the Tooth Fairy? (Sponsored by Beacon Dental)

An unusual question from a reader came in after her 6-year-old son confessed before bedtime that while eating breakfast that morning, he chomped on something hard, and swallowed it. While thinking about it at school that day, the boy decided that he must have swallowed his molar because the rest of his teeth were in place. When he told his dad, his father was under the impression that molars were permanent and did not fall out. After consulting the book "The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist" and coming up with no answers, the family thought of A Little Beacon Blog's friend Beacon Dental - they must know the answer! Because most importantly, if the tooth was swallowed, does the Tooth Fairy come to collect it?

To find the answer to the tooth question, we went straight to Dr. Wang herself, mother of a teenager who we showcased here. Dr. Wang answered affirmatively: "Yes, kids lose all of their baby teeth. Unless they don’t want to grow up…!” Aha! So this was Peter Pan's trick! And Tinker Bell was maybe in on it with the Tooth Fairy! Pictured above in this article is one of Beacon Dental's gentle hygienists counting the teeth in a 3-year-old during his first visit to the dentist. Brushing baby teeth and visiting the dentist regularly are important ways to keep baby teeth healthy, even though they do fall out! Located in the plaza on Wolcott Avenue, Beacon Dental is an easy location to drive or walk to, and has a parking lot.

So there you have it: Yes, young kids do lose their molars. As for whether the Tooth Fairy comes to collect it, I will leave that process to you... but somehow, a delivery of some kind should probably appear.

Beacon Dental is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and we thank you for supporting businesses that make this publication possible!

Need a Card? For Saying I Love You, Thanks, or to Address Your Inner Awesome Self

Isn't shopping for cards fun? Should you need one today - Valentine's Day - or any day of the week, you could of course find rows and rows of them at Rite Aid, which does carry the popular Papyrus cards that are usually decorated with glitter, or you could find clever cards from artists in your favorite boutique. The best part about this route: The cards carried in each store reveal the personality behind each proprietress or proprietor. Which personality fits you?

Awwwe! A Forever Awkward Together card is precious with this gift set, from proprietress Michelle Caves at Blackbird Attic, on Beacon's east end of town near the mountain.

At first glance, these lovely fonts are so innocent...until you read the kick-ass message! Find these "glitter and cleavage" or "Being a badass is exhausting" cards in one of Beacon's newest shops, Style Store House from owner Michele Williams, who is actually from Poughkeepsie! #funfact. Style Store House is on Beacon's east end of town near Utensil and the mountain.

If Clay Wood & Cotton owner Kristy Carpenter had her way, she'd knit all day at home without pants. And she's got the card to prove it. Plus, find locally designed pottery for your coffee and tea drinking needs. Clay Wood & Cotton is on Beacon's west end of town near Bank Square. HOT TIP! Some of the most beautiful and creative flower bouquets from Viridescent are at Clay Wood & Cotton today - Sunday!

Are you part of one of those lucky couples who shares the same schedule - and taste in shows - to hunker down on the couch and binge-watch shows together? So is Jackie Foley, owner of The Pfotoshop.

And because it's Valentine's Day, you may need a larger selection of smart love cards, also at The Pfotoshop.

Because really...cats will wake you up each morning with kisses... and demand to be fed. Wait a minute...aren't you supposed to get breakfast in bed on Valentine's Day? Or your birthday? Or any day?

YES. One of my favorite cards at Play, on Beacon's west end of town. Because really, prehistoric reptiles are pretty cool.

Should you need a Thank You card at any time for a job interview, gift, or just any reason to say Thanks, you've got options at The Pfotoshop, Clay Wood & Cotton, and Echo.

This is not an exhaustive list, as cards show up in several shops around town at any given time, and this won't be the last stationery roundup you'll get! Keep your eye on another new shop, Wanderlust Gifts near Ella's Bellas, who has a curious collection of just the right things you need for any given moment.

Find addresses and days open for these shops in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide!

New This Week in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides At A Little Beacon Blog!

Our Classes Guides, which are part of the Things to Do in Beacon Guides, continue to grow this week!  The Beacon Pantry has more classes coming this month if you want to up your cheese-and-wine pairing game. We also added more classes for moms-to-be or brand new moms, with classes from Waddle n Swaddle. Our friends at the updated Howland Public Library have a new kids class starting this weekend, Kids Explore: Sea+Space.

We have added more categories to both Kids and Adults Classes to help your searching and get you exposure to more business classes and workshops: 

Baby/Infant (Kids)

Business (Adults)

Cooking (Adults)

Food/Tasting (Adults)

Open Houses (Kids)

Pre-Natal (Adults)

We appreciate everyone sharing their classes and workshops with us on Twitter, Facebook, and via email at editorial@alittlebeacon.com, so keep them coming!

More Annual Events are being added too! Next month, visit the Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill for their FREE 13th Annual Sugar Maple Celebration, co-sponsored by The Fresh Air Fund and New York State Outdoor Education Association.

Sweet and Spicy Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Beacon 2016!

Y'all. You are in for a delightful weekend in Beacon again! Happy Valentine's Day! We have many gift ideas to warm your heart, because it will be chilly out! Quick, scroll down and see which idea works for your valentine, even if you are your own valentine! PS: Need a card?

Beacon Pantry

Beacon Pantry's owner, Stacey, is the queen of cheeses in Beacon. (She frequently takes trips to Europe to further educate herself.) Thanks to her obsession with flavors, Beacon Pantry is offering a fondue night on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm-9pm. On the menu is fondue, but they will also substitute a cheese and charcuterie plate if desired. Each couple receives bubbly fondue with all the trimmings, a bottle of bubbly and a dessert to share! Reservations are required.
Details >

After Ella's More Good Tasting Room

This Valentine's Day Sunday, Ella's Bellas and Drink More Good (we covered More Good's bitters here) have teamed up to introduce After Ella's: More Good Tasting Room for a very boozy Valentine’s Day brunch, which will run from 11am-3pm, followed by an evening of small plates and cocktails from 4pm-9pm. Guest Chef Brandon Collins will be serving up some fantastic food and More Good will be curating the cocktail menu. Normally they serve a light breakfast on the weekend, as seen in A Little Beacon Blog's Best Brunches Guide, but this special brunch opportunity is a treat. Yum.
Details >

A Room With a Heated Stone Floor

Watch out world...one of the sisters of Cedar Lakes Estates, and of the corresponding Instagram account "sistersofcedarlakes," has moved to Beacon, bringing with her the style of the unbelievably beautiful wedding and event venue from Port Jervis (off of I-84's Exit 2). You could book this room with its "heated stone floors, wood burning fireplace and like 100 furry blankets" and take a mini-vacation from Beacon. Just sayin'.
Details >

Beacon's airbnb scene offers many options, from romantic and country to city and lofty. Here are two you'll want to try:

A Room with Quite a View

Lambs Hill is a private equestrian estate on Mount Beacon, with 180-degree views overlooking the Hudson River and Beacon. This private guest house is part of a larger wedding destination spot. During your stay in a beautifully designed luxury suite, you can visit the estate's Icelandic horses and donkeys, or slip into the outdoor hot tub. One mile to Beacon's Main St. and 2 miles to train and Dia.
Details >

An AirBNB in Beacon Special

You can stay for a night in this mid-19th-century Italianate home. Owned by a sculptor, you have a built-in concierge as he is happy to advise you on the local arts and outdoor scene. Just half a block off of Beacon's Main Street, and minutes to the Metro-North train station.
Details >

Lacy Things!

You can thank Christina Faraj, The Bra Fit Expert for the sexy lead photo of this Valentine's Day Gift Guide, as she is selling that matching lingerie set in her shop, located in a permanent pop-up space in Echo Boutique on Beacon's east end of town near the mountain. Walk on down to her shop and you can buy the lingerie set seen here, or any lingerie item, and get a festive valentine gift bag to give your valentine. Pictured here is a matching set, with a black lace push-up demi bra from BTempted. Christina is a professional bra fitter and can get you in exactly the right shape for your body. She can see you on the spot if you need a quick fitting, but if she's not there, fear not, you can grab any style of bra you want and buy it at the sales counter at Echo. The Bra Fit Expert is a Featured Business in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide, and she always has something new up her sleeve!

Hot Stone Massage and Melt Those Cares Away

With all of the heavy shoveling you aren't doing this year, I know your body is worn out anyway, from getting your taxes ready, last minute Valentine's Day shopping and teacher card writing, and all of the other things during your day that make you tense. I'm not sure how you are going to make it to March without getting a therapeutic massage from Karen Meyer at River Therapeutic Massage, who has designed a special Valentine's Day massage just for you. Incorporating gently warmed and scented oils, the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage Experience is like no other. These polished stones have ancient healing energy to bring balance to the mind, body and spirit. Luxuriate in their warmth as they ease the tension out of your back, neck and shoulders.

Your session continues with an oil-infused Himalayan Salt Scrub for your hands and feet…and finally, complete your experience with a relaxing and rejuvenating Mini Facial Massage, enhanced with essential oils. Choose from rose, frankincense or several others.

While you’re still feeling the post-massage “glow,” enjoy a glass of wine or mineral water and a light snack. No rush to get back to real life!

River Therapeutic Massage is a featured business in A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide, and each month we are tempted with a new offering! So keep checking here to find out which special Karen will offer next.
Details >

Couples Massage

Maybe you did a couples massage on your honeymoon, or maybe you've never booked a massage with your honey at all. This may be your weekend! Terra Firma Massage is offering an educational twist to this, where you can learn some easy massage techniques to enhance your connection with each other and not feel like you don't know how to give a nice back rub. Giannetta Salon Spa always has available their couples room, which includes homemade banana bread for you to snack on. Amazing, I know! For other sources of massages, do see A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide for many more ideas.

Fun in a Photo Booth!

Adorbs, I know. You too can look this cute and fabulous in the photo booth at The Pfotoshop, who painted the backdrop pink for Valentine's Day! Pfotoshop is a boutique specializing in home decor and gifts and is a featured shop in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide. They're on the east end of Main Street near the mountain, one of a few shops in the old Matteawan train station. And if you need to pucker up for that photo like owner Jackie Foley is here, head across the street to The Blushery, where you'll find a fresh shade of pink or red lipstick.

Do treat yourself to these lovely aromas, the Pfotoshop's newest line of bath and body products.

Roller Skating Date!

I know, right? You're dying to go roller skating with your mate! Well now you can, in Hyde Park at Roller Magic. Hyde Park Roller Magic is also included in our Adults Classes Guide, should you be looking for hula hooping classes...

Going to a Dance

Those Howlands...they are always dancing! Every month,, the Howland Cultural Center has a dance event, and this month it is in honor of Valentine's Day on Saturday night at 8pm. Special refreshments will be served, along with chocolates. This night is also Beacon's Second Saturday, so after you see art by walking our Second Saturday Guide, drop into this dance!

Chocolate and Balloons

Sometimes you need to give balloons instead of chocolate or flowers. Maybe your recipient is not eating chocolate at the moment, or is overwhelmed by the scent of flowers. Balloons are the way to go. My secret balloon source is the little shop in the middle of town that is next door to Trendy Tots, the kids consignment shop. If you have never been inside of this little store, I know that you have walked by it several times. The window is nondescript with old flyers on it, but the woman inside is magical and very busy building flower arrangements and blowing up mylar balloons, and even has an air pump for those of you who need a sea of balloons on the floor or taped to walls for decoration. At the time of the publishing of this article, the photo of her storefront is buried in my files, but I will snap the shot and post it here.

A lot of chocolate was consumed for the writing of this Valentine's Day Gift Guide. These chocolate hearts in particular are from Alps Sweets Shop on Beacon's Main Street. The chocolate-covered Oreos below are famously from Gourmetibles.

Kids Activities

You knew Beacon's bakers were going to do something special for Valentine's Day! The Be Mine Pop UP  is your chance to buy baked goods from 5 Hens as well as sing and dance in Spanish with Lisa Marie and listen to bluegrass music from The Miller Brothers. This is a weekend event, running from Friday at 4pm until Sunday. So get up on it.
Details >

Friday afternoon at 4pm, make cards at The Beacon Bagel with The Beacon Craft Workshop to raise money for the Beacon Soup Kitchen. Kids 5 and up can attend without a parent, and kids 4 and under must be with a parent.
Details >

Work off the Chocolate

Maybe you forwent all of the gifts and went straight for dessert, as was recommended here in last year's Valentine's Day post with the seven sources of chocolates at that time. It's best you go to a boot camp or get some endorphin-producing exercise. All Sport's special Buddy Boot Camp is your chance to come with a friend and work out together in what will be a challenging morning, but so worth it in the end. And you can always relax in the hot sauna to sweat it out even more when complete. This is one of several special classes at All Sport that we keep track of here at A Little Beacon Blog.

This Valentine's Day Gift Guide was brought to you buy (typo intended!) A Little Blog's Shopping Guide. There are plenty more gift ideas out there on Main Street, and we have your full Shopping Guide for when you are out and about! Have A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide open on your phone as you look for gifts for Men, Women, Kids, Foodies, and more.

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
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

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!

Live Interview with Zero to Go Founder Sarah Womer on Her Successful Crowdfunding Campaign (Sponsor)

Remember back in March of 2015 when your favorite education-based waste management company, Zero to Go, launched a crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter to raise $20,000 for their bike-powered food compost pickup project? Well, it was a huge success, and Zero to Go founder and Beacon resident Sarah Womer met her goal of $20,000 from 248 backers in just 18 days. We covered the food waste project here at A Little Beacon Blog, and made a food waste sundae to celebrate.

This Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 12 noon EST, Tin Shingle will interview Sarah during their Live Training Webinar TuneUp series to learn about how she did it, from her social media efforts to how she made her campaign video to one of the most critical aspects of a crowdfunding campaign: community support. This live webinar is free for anyone with a phone or computer to call or click into. If you have thought about starting a crowdfunding campaign, you will want to listen to this interview with Sarah to get inside of her head and learn from her experience. Click here to get the registration information.

The free registration link is here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5824891914585570305

Tin Shingle is a community-based training resource for small businesses using today's trends in getting the word out about their business using methods in PR, social media, SEO, newsletters, web design, and more. Sign up for their free newsletter to stay in the loop about best practices and great ideas you can use today in these areas. Listen to any of their classes, which are free to those with Tin Shingle memberships. Learn about a budget-friendly, buzz-building membership today.

PS: If you are reading this article after 2/10/16, you can find the recording of this webinar at www.tinshingle.com/classes.

Tin Shingle is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and we thank you for supporting businesses that make this publication possible! Fun fact: Tin Shingle is co-run by A Little Beacon Blog's publisher, Katie, who is obsessed with small businesses.

Those Librarians are Busy at the Howland Public Library!

Eddie the Lilac Lion poses for his #LibraryShelfie at the Howland Public Library's Shelfie Week on Instagram. Photo Credit: Jennifer Sarah Blakeslee

If you're not already following the Howland Public Library's Instagram feed or subscribing to their newsletter, you are missing out on exciting action! The staff at Beacon's public library, the Howland Public Library, has been quite busy with upgrades and innovations. Just when we wanted to blog about their clever Food for Fines program, they went and completed the construction on their new automatic doors!

Food for Fines Program - Ends February 28th

In lieu of paying fines, the library kicked off a Food for Fines program that ran from January 1 - February 28th* (if you're reading this before then, there is still time to pay off those fines with creative ideas for local food pantries in Beacon). The library's new director, Amy Raff, experienced a successful variation of this program at her former library, focusing on toiletries for food pantries, as those can be overlooked when rummaging through cupboards for food. Socks are often the most needed by people who depend on food pantries and other charitable outlets.

As food pantries have been in the news a lot in Beacon, it has drawn attention to the senior community, a large proportion of those who use such programs. Not only do seniors need socks, they sometimes also need help for incontinence issues. Therefore, for my own fines for four overdue DVDs, my donation was absorbent underwear for women, and black and white socks. What did you donate?

*The Food for Fines Program was extended till the end of February due to upgrade-based library closures and national holidays that happened in February.

Easier to Use Computers and Rent DVDs

Announced just before 2016 started, the library unveiled new rules to make accessing their resources more time-friendly and less costly. The big changes are:

• Overdue fines for DVDs are now 25 cents a day (instead of $1.00). 
• DVD series (with more than 2 DVDs) now circulate for 14 days (instead of 7 days).
• Each item may now be renewed twice, if there is no hold on it (instead of once). 
• Use the public computers for 2 hours per day (instead of 1 hour per day). P.S.: You can thank Beacon Reads, the little bookstore next door with the FREE cart of books out front, for help in raising money to provide those computers!
• Use the computers if you owe less than $50 (instead of $10).

Now, don't go crazy with your lateness habits. Books, DVDs and other resources are in hot demand by other public libraries! Changes made to the computer-use rules will certainly help expand the types of work to be done on library computers, such as a bigger research project instead of quick email checking.

New Automatic Doors for Better Accessibility!

Taking a cue from Rite Aid's 2014 upgrade almost across the street, the Howland Public Library modernized with new automatic doors! The previous doors were very difficult to get through, especially if you were pushing a stroller, pulling a kid wagon, or using a wheelchair. And with the great programming at Beacon's library, the senior and kid communities are regulars! The entrance now has two rows of glass doors that slide open, providing a new source of natural light around the front desk area. According to the library, this accessibility upgrade was made possible, in part, by a construction grant from The New York State Department of Education/New York State Library.

Check out the Howland Public Library's new director, Amy Raff, demonstrate walking through the doors on the library's Instagram feed:

Testing 1,2,3. Our new doors are here and in motion! #howlandlibrary #beaconlibrary #beaconny #librariesofinstagram #librarylife #mhls #automaticforthepeople #adaaccessible #library

A video posted by Beacon Library (@beaconlibrary) on Feb 1, 2016 at 8:40am PST

Up Next: New Public Bathrooms!

As if the changes couldn't get any better - even the bathrooms are getting an upgrade! It's a real page-turner over there at the library as they keep us on our toes.

New This Week In A Little Beacon Blog - Classes, Valentine's Day Deals & More!

We are starting 2016 with a lot of awesomeness here at A Little Beacon Blog, so we want to give you a nice week-ending wrap-up in case you missed anything.

We just announced our new Kids Classes guide, which we continue to update DAILY, so make sure you keep checking back. If you know of a class we should include in our guide, let us know!

More classes added, such as Ice Skating, classes from Ballet Arts Studio, and programs from Common Ground Farm. By popular demand, we also added more categories such as Nature & Outdoors, Theater, and Private Lessons.

We have new class announcements for adults too. All Sport Health & Fitness has a new EPOC class starting next Thursday at 9:15 am. Also sign up for their Buddy Boot Camp on February 13th if you and your partner want to skip the Valentine's Day candy.

That's right, Valentine's Day is next week! Our friends at River Therapeutic Massage are offering a sweet "RTM Valentine LOVE!" massage package for the month of February.

While we're talking about Valentine's Day, when planning your night out don't forget to check out our Restaurant Guide, which has also been updated with who is open and what is coming soon in 2016.