Beacon Considers After-School Program - Will It Get Approved?

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Beacon is booming with class options for kids, both after school and during the day from private businesses run by creative types, but there is no official after-school program from the City of Beacon. Until, perhaps, now. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Price has been listening to residents' requests for such a program, and has put together a proposal on behalf of the City of Beacon Recreation Department for a self-sustaining, "enrichment-based" after-school program for grades K-5, which he plans to present to City Council during an April 25th City Council meeting. His proposed programming would include Homework Enrichment time, rounded out with themed days like Ninja Class, Cooking School, Yoga, Artists and Musicians

However, Price needs to show the council strong indication that parents will buy into the program before he is granted city money to get funding and staff to kick off the program. "This program is a big deal. It gives me goosebumps," says Price. Residents are being encouraged by Price and by Beacon's Interim Superintendent, Ann Marie Quartironi, to answer a four-question survey about the program so that Price can have the data to analyze the level of interest he is working with. Parents are also encouraged to email support to their council representative (if you don't know what Ward you live in and who represents you, you can click here for an interactive map, and then here for a list of council members and email addresses).

Track Record of City Funding

Price's recent track record of using city funds to start a program was proven successful last summer when he received city funding to re-open Beacon's public pool, after years of it being dry and forgotten, overgrown by weeds at the Settlement Camp on 9D (aka Wolcott Avenue). Season passes sold out last year, and often the pool was so well-attended that capacity maxed out and people waited on the lawn outside the pool in order to get in. So far, 100 of the 200 season passes to the pool have been sold, with day passes available, which help the public pool remain self-sustained.

Is Beacon Catching Up to Other Cities and Towns?

Fishkill has a successful after-school program that works with one of the four elementary schools in Beacon, Glenham Elementary. The health club All Sport has been promoting its new after-school program with busing for kids in the Wappingers District. For Beacon parents who need busing and full-day coverage while at work or commuting, the only option is to have children bused from their respective elementary schools to a daycare center in the area. For parents who work from home or have flexible schedules, the work day pauses at 3pm so that children can be picked up and taken home or to afternoon classes in other programs, like at Tri-Arts, Beacon Craft Workshop, the Howland Public Library or even to Fishkill's Recreation Center (for a list of kids classes, please see A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide).

What Will the After-School Program Look Like?

Photo Credit: Clarice Allee

Both Price and Quartironi have expressed a desire to take advantage of the creative talents who live in Beacon, who already offer programs to kids. Each of the three elementary schools (South Avenue, J.V. Forrestal and Sargent) would have a program within their building that is run by the Beacon Recreation Department, so that no busing would be necessary. Glenham's program with Fishkill's Recreation Department would not change. It is undecided at this time if it will include kids who are "Busers," which defines kids who need to wait in designated areas of their school for their bus to take them home or to another after-school program, and often have long wait times for their bus. There will be snack time, homework encouragement time (not a formal tutoring session at this time), and then programming that could involve recess time, arts and crafts, ninja-based activities, cooking, etc.

There will be a fee of $13-$15 per day and care would run until 6pm. Parents can select which days they sign up for, and do not need to commit to five days a week. It is undecided at this time if the days that a family picks can be changed as needed.

If approved, the after-school program would start in the 2016-2017 school year. "With a program like this, everyone wins," says Price. "It helps the Recreation Department get more programs and staff to run and promote those programs." Price estimates that he needs more than 105 families to participate.

If you are interested in seeing this program happen, three actions are encouraged:

1. Take the super-short survey online here.
2. Email your Ward representative, emails for whom can be found here, and if you don't know what Ward you live in, just click here, and zoom in on your house and click on it.
3. Attend the City Council meeting on April 25, where Council Members will be looking to see how many people would actually financially buy into this program.

RELATED GUIDE: Summer Day Camp Guide for Ages 3-17 for Beacon and Hudson Valley Kids

RELATED GUIDE: Kids Classes Guide for Beacon and Hudson Valley Kids

Alright, Beaconite...You Like a Subaru. Poughkeepsie Nissan Has Those Too! (Sponsored)

Alright, Beaconite ... you like a Subaru. And those boxy cars, like the Honda Element, the Kia Soul, and a good Jeep. We get it - they have a lot of room in the back for hauling away finds from the Beacon Flea, or a good yard sale, or even for picking up a bale of seedless hay from Sunny Gardens on 9D.

So guess what? Poughkeepsie Nissan, just up Route 9, redesigned their logo for a reason and included these words in it: "The BIG Store." That's because in addition to all of the new and used Nissans you can choose from on the lot, they have an even bigger lot of pre-owned cars, the collection of which includes Subarus, Hondas, and Kias. And even BMWs!

I know you need a new or different car pretty soon. So this is what you're going to do:

1. Take the scenic (and possibly faster) route up 9D past Stony Kill Farms, past the bright pink Nesting Doll store, past the Randolph School, and then take a right. 
2. You'll veer left without even touching Route 9, and take the back road to Poughkeepsie Nissan.
3. Park.
4. Walk into the showroom. Before you go in there, however, look behind you because you'll see the giant lot of great-looking pre-owned cars in the lot next door. Many of them have a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty, which makes buying a pre-owned vehicle feel more secure.
5. Also, take note of the Service Center right next to the showroom. They work on all kinds of vehicles, foreign and domestic, and can take care of your car needs.
6. Any of the sales people can help you, but if you get Nick, he'll take you on a test drive on a route of back roads that he made up. It will go toward Bowdoin Park, and you'll see some river and some reeds, and be able to test out the turning radius and brakes in your possible new car.
7. When you get back, the negotiating is up to you, but Poughkeepsie Nissan works with a lot of banks and credit unions, and everyone has a 100% guaranteed credit approval.

Send us a picture of what you drive home with!

Poughkeepsie Nissan is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created for them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight program. It is with the support of businesses like this, that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a Sponsor Spotlight or Community Partner, please click here for more information.

Summer Day Camp Options for 2016 for Beacon Families in the Hudson Valley

 

It's here! A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Day Camp Guide! The choices are amazing, and the decisions are not easy. You will need to get out a few calendars for this - your calendar, the grandparent's calendar or anyone who is helping to shepherd the kids around during different weeks of camp locations and times. Our guide is organized by Age, Times, Dates, Prices, Early/Late Options, and everything you need in one place to see what you want to do.

Maybe your phone has already been blowing up with texts from friends: "What weeks are you doing????" Camp with friends can make things easier, yet making new friends does eventually happen, despite that first day of "Who will play with me?" terror.

So, start your calendars, because we've got LEGO Star Wars, Farm Camps (two different ones!), Art Camps, Fashion Camp, High Activity Camp, Field Trip Camps, Gymnastics Camp, Film Camp, and Theater Camp. This Guide is updated every year. Like all of our Guides, it's live-action, meaning, it never gets old. We update it constantly.

Good Luck!

Click here for the full Summer Day Camp Guide >

Latest Updates This Week In The Things To Do In Beacon Guides

Happy Sunday! Here's a quick list of what we added to ALBB this week so you can plan ahead this Spring.  As the weather gets warmer, there will be more and more fun things to do!

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• Kingston Food Truck Festival: Friday, April 22
• Earth Day Clean Up: Friday, April 22 at Long Dock Park in Beacon
• Newburgh Urban Farming Fair: Saturday, April 30 at Safe Harbors of the Hudson in Newburgh
• Beacon Independent Film Festival: September 16-18
• Beacon Tree & Menorah Lighting: Two separate dates this year, December 10th & 24th respectively
• Artist Members Of The Howland: Latest art exhibit at The Howland Cultural Center going on now through April 29th

All of these dates are in the Events Guide, organized by Month. Take a look for a big-picture view of your month ahead!

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• Kids Brunch: Learn how to make pancakes with John Cummings at The Beacon Pantry on Sunday, June 12.

Check our Kids Classes Guide regularly for more updates.

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• Sailing Class: New "Sailing" section added, with a class offered by the Beacon Sloop Club.
• The Beacon Pantry: More classes added all through June, including Classic French Sauces, Too Hot To Cook, and Allergy Friendly Fiesta.

Check our Adult Classes Guide for more updates.

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• Get Frosted Cupcakery: Brought back their white chocolate baguette on Fridays only!

You can always check our Restaurant Guide for the latest openings and promotions!

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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. 

April at All Sport is Spring Challenges, Barre Fusion, Tai Chi Classes, and Swimming (Sponsored)

April is moving fast through All Sport! Here's the good news: It's Buddy Month! So you get to bring a friend who has been considering joining. Meanwhile, April is an important time for new class signups, including Swimming (registration is going on now, so reserve your spot). You want the kids swimming by summer so that you all can enjoy All Sport's Outdoor Park and Pool, with the poolside food and drink bar!

A Little Beacon Blog keeps tabs on all of the super important dates you want to know about at All Sport. Highlights include:

• SGT Spring Challenge: April 18 to June 26
• Les Mills Launch: April 18 to 23
• Eat Fat, Get Thin: April 21
• Comedy Night At All Sport: April 23 
• Open House for Summer Camp: Camp Fit is open for you to explore on Saturday April 23rd, 11:00-2:00 pm Details>

Definitely look through their classes for adults, which include Barre Fusion, Zumba, and even Tai Chi.

Have you been to a birthday party at All Sport? Booking one is easier and more affordable than you think. We got the scoop for you.
 
Click here for All Sport's easy calendar on A Little Beacon Blog!

The Biggest Chocolate Chip Cookie on Main Street: All You Knead Bakery

This one goes out to all you RSS readers out there, one of whom I had the pleasure of meeting last week during what may have become his winning streak at Wednesday Night Trivia at Newburgh Brewery.

Meeting him reminded me that I used to blog lovely photos like this to A Little Beacon Blog, before Instagram even existed, and then became a major source of information for insiders to share with their friends. Many pictures like this are sent straight to A Little Beacon Blog's Instagram feed, and it's not fair to you, dear RSS reader, who keeps tabs on what's published here on the blog via headlines at your preferred readers.

So know this: Even if you miss the blips at Instagram, the best ones may surface here, as published via my iPhone just like I did in the old days. And I will revisit them and link back for even easier reference for you.

So where is the largest chocolate chip cookie on Main Street? At All You Knead, in the middle on Main Street, across from Get Frosted Cupcakery. And of special note to you butter lovers: Both bakeries bake with butter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Record Store Day is Saturday April 16, 2016! Where You Will Find Crates to Buy Records, and Why Folks Love Records

For your Beacon trivia, this E.T. is the main storefront display for local record store favorite, Audioccult.

Beginning with a group of independent record stores wanting to celebrate and get the word out about vinyl records back in 2007, Record Store Day was created to show everyone that vinyl records can still be enjoyed. The first Record Store Day was on April 19, 2008, and has turned into a global phenomenon. It is a day that rabid vinyl collectors look forward to - some even camp out for it!

This year, Record Store Day is on Saturday, April 16, and you do not have a travel far to take advantage of all the RSD exclusives. Audioccult, located on Beacon's Main Street across from Key Food and next door to vintage shop American Gypsy (and host of this E.T. pictured here), will be celebrating their one-year anniversary (first opened on April 11, 2015, and covered by A Little Beacon Blog here!) and their doors will open at 9 am.  There will be live music at 1 pm with a performance from Zack Campone.

Here is a list of participating stores in our area:

Audioccult (Beacon, NY)
Sound Shack (Newburgh, NY - you won't find new releases aren't here, as they are into the vintage)
Halfmoon Records (Cold Spring, NY)
Darkside Records & Gallery (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Jack's Rhythms (New Paltz, NY)
Rhino Records (New Paltz, NY)
Rock Fantasy (Middletown, NY)
The Kiam Records Shop (Nyack, NY)
Wright Gallery Records (Kingston, NY)

To see "The List" of this year's exclusives, visit www.recordstoreday.com and check out our Events Guide for more happenings coming up!

For the Love of Records

When A Little Beacon Blog's publisher, Katie, first learned about Record Store Day last year, thanks to Sound Shack's promotion of it days before they left their Beacon location for the Newburgh Emproium, Katie's interest in why people love listening to records was piqued. What is it about records that has people so passionate? Do we all need to be buying record players now? It seems so! We asked around and heard from different folks about why they love listening to records. Here is what they had to say:

Photo Credit: The Fleshtones

Ken Fox, a local Beaconite and bass player for The Fleshtones (he also moonlights as an occasional handyman here in Beacon - he's really good!), loves records so much, that he very strategically tiled his kitchen floor in album covers. Says Ken about his love of records, and the difference between records and CD:

"The difference between vinyl and CDs is emotional as well as technical. Certainly LPs sound better, crackles and all. But it's the emotional ties that go with memories of peering through record store windows at new releases, the thrill of gate-fold sleeves and the occasional poster or insert. The way choice LPs feel when tucked under your arm on the way to a party. CDs could never match that."

Photo Credit: The Fleshtones

Special for Record Store Day, The Fleshtones are releasing "End Of My Neighborhood,” composed and sung by The Fleshtones guitarist Keith Streng. Says their Facebook page: "He certainly lets us know he is more than concerned about the re-development of his neighborhood and the concurrent loss, not only of all the things that made the ‘Northside’ of Williamsburg such a cool place to live, but of its human scale as well."

The 45’s sleeve shown here was designed by Herve Peroncini of the Italian band The Peawees. The photos are by Jacopo Benessi before a Fleshtones show in La Spezia, Italy. The songs were recorded with longtime friend of The Fleshtones, Florent Barbier, at Cold Cut Productions Studios. This release is exclusive to Record Store Day 2016.

Photo Credit: airbnb host.

Karen Meyer, founder and massage therapist at River Therapeutic Massage on Route 52, is so fond of records, a record player influenced her pick of airbnb's on an upcoming trip to Nashville for a family reunion. Says Karen:

"I grew up listening to records and still miss the sound of the needle on vinyl. We have a fairly large collection (combined) of albums, but they've been in boxes since before we moved up here in '93 :(
I will be visiting Nashville with my mom for a family reunion this August. We were lucky to get the same airbnb that we stayed in during our last visit - and it has records and a record player. I am looking forward to spinning some country western tunes while I'm there. Patsy Cline, anyone?"




Do you love listening to records? We would love to know why! Tell us in the Comments below.

Security in Weddings Has a Whole New Meaning With Antalek & Moore Wedding Insurance (Sponsored)

Wedding bells are ringing! The wedding season has begun, and you or your friends may need wedding insurance to have the Big Day. While we'll always plan for events to play out dreamily, what if your reception venue goes out of business a month before the wedding, and you lose your deposit and have to find another location? Or a hurricane causes your wedding to be postponed? What if your bridal shop closes, leaving you without a gown? OMG. You don't need to be left speechless.

You could call Antalek & Moore to get Wedding Insurance to cover things like Severe Weather, Transportation Shutdown, Ruined Photos (the worst!), Call to Duty, Venue Requirements, and more.

Coverage is also included even after the big day. Kelly and Roberto enjoyed their beautiful wedding up until their photographer called to say their wedding photos were ruined during the development process.  Having the right insurance can help cover the cost to re-take some of your wedding photos.

The average cost of weddings is around $28,000, but that number is rising. You have been planning your wedding day for months and there is no reason it shouldn't go off without a hitch. Call Antalek and Moore today at (845) 831-4300.

Antalek and Moore works in collaboration with Travelers, and wedding coverage includes:

• Lost deposits
• Damaged gown/tuxedo
• Lost rings
• Weather
• Sudden illness
• Transportation shutdown
• Ruined photos
• Call of duty
• Liquor liability
• Damaged gifts
• Additional venue insurance
• Additional expenses such as changing venues at the last minute

Weddings are an investment, like buying a car and a home, so let Antalek and Moore be a part of your wedding planning by providing the protection your wedding deserves. 

Antalek & Moore is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created for them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight program. It is with the support of businesses like this, that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a Community Partner, please click here for more information.

Latest Updates This Week In The Things To Do In Beacon Guides

Happy Sunday! Here's a quick list of what we added to ALBB this week so you can plan ahead this Spring.  As the weather gets warmer, there will be more and more fun things to do!

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• Scenic Hudson Kayak Storage: Lottery for storage is open until April 22nd 
• The Loom Record Release Party: Saturday April 23rd at The Howland Cultural Center
• K104's 5th Annual Cupcake Festival: Sunday May 8th at Main Street in Fishkill

All of these dates are in the Events Guide, organized by Month. Take a look for a big picture view of your month ahead!

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• All Sport Health & Fitness:  Camp Fit program dates, School's Out Daycare Program

Check our Kids Glasses Guide regularly for more updates.

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• The Beacon Pantry: more classes added such as Beginning Butchery, Cooking For The Week, and A Taste Of The Beacon Pantry
• All Sport Health & Fitness: April is "Buddy Month", plus Comedy Night, Health & Nutrition workshops and more April events.

Check our Adult Classes Guide for more updates.

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• COLORANT Re-Opening: Hours are 11 am to 6 pm, Friday through Sunday. 

You can always check our Shopping Guide for the latest openings and promotions!

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• Barb's Butchery: Beginner class at The Beacon Pantry, "Beginner Butchery With Barb - Chicken" on April 26th. 
• Royal Crepes:  Now open at 303 Main Street in Beacon

You can always check our Restaurant Guide for the latest openings and promotions!

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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. 

Things To Do In Beacon Guides

Your Organized and Curated Life In Beacon, NY

When you wake up on a Saturday, or any day of the week here in the Hudson Valley, do you think: "There is so much to do today! Where should I start!?" Us too! That's why we produced specialty Guides for you to filter your life in and around Beacon, NY. With so many creative minds creating so many events, shops, dining experiences, and specialty services, you can turn to A Little Beacon Blog for a local life more organized.  

PS: If you are a business wanting to advertise in these Guides, please click here.  

 

April's Second Saturday Guide for Beacon Art Showings

 Second Saturday Happenings on April 9, 2016!

The BeaconArts Official Logo for Second Saturday.

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

What to Know About This Guide:

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

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

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

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

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NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET

Dia:Beacon

Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100

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

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

More details at Dia:Beacon.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

Music in the Sanctuary at St. Andrew's

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

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THE WEST END

(Close to the train station)

Catalyst Gallery

Catalyst Gallery 
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY

(845) 204-3844

The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.

Special for Second Saturday: Carin Jean White, a visual and theater artist who also teaches at Columbia University's University Writing Program, whose past work evokes the sea and other natural landscapes. White brings her new paintings to Catalyst Gallery through April 24.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm

Marion Royael Gallery

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

Lynn-Marie Veverka at Hudson Beach Gallery

Hudson Beach Glass

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

"Toys & Towers" at Clutter

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

RiverWinds Gallery

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

Dream in Plastic

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



Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries 

Beacon Institute

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

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

THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"

The start of The Middle, aka "Market Square"

Howland Public Library

Howland Public Library
313 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-1134

Each month, the library features the work of Hudson Valley photographers and artists. (Please note, the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs.)

Special for Second Saturday: Come celebrate April as National Poetry Month! The Howland Public Library hosts the book launch for the Calling All Poets (CAPS) anthology. CAPS is in its 17th year of promoting poetry in the tri-state area, and is the longest-running poetry series between New York City and Albany. Join founder/president Jim Eve and vice president Mike Jurkovic in listening to poets read selections from the anthology. 

Hours: 2 to 3 pm

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

THE EAST END & BEYOND

(Close to the mountain)

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

At Matteawan Gallery

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

Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm

Morphicism Gallery

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

  

"East End of Main" at 3B Gallery

3B Gallery

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

Back Room Gallery

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

Howland Cultural Center

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

Hours: Opening reception, 3 pm to 5 pm

Book launch at Pfotoshop

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

At Bau Gallery

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

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

BEACON near RT. 52

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

Atelier Room 205

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

SPECIAL HAPPENINGS FROM FEATURED BUSINESSES:

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

From The Shopping Guide:

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

Don't forget to check out these two other Guides as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!

Backstage Passes to Behind-the-Scenes of Peter Pan at the Beacon High School...Student Makers Rocking This Show

Attending the Beacon Players production of "Peter Pan" at the Beacon High School this weekend will be like watching a college-level production. Why? Because of the dozens of uber-talented student makers who are involved in putting it together, from the costume department to the set design and construction. Beacon is a community of rolling-up-the-sleeves creative talent in so many areas, from carpentry to film to photo to dance (

so many areas!

), and this show has provided a trifecta opportunity for students, teachers and parents to unite those skills, working together all over the high school, setting up on hallway floors to draw patterns onto Tiger Lily's skirt, to building the set, to collecting props from flea markets, stores, and homes all over the community.

Involving students as much as possible has been integral to director Anthony J. Scarrone's vision. His assistant director is student Henry Wyand. Even the PR and marketing arm of the student production has stepped up. Two students in particular, Sierra Caban and Michael Bonanno, have been hard at work doing media outreach, organizing sneak previews for the press, and distributing free tickets in a 600-egg Easter egg hunt. All of this with the guidance of newly involved parent advisor Kelly Ellenwood, a grassroots organizer for many local organizations, as well as Nicole Paoli, Janira Quiñones, and Irina Siegel.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

A special touch that will have your visual senses soaring is seeing Peter Pan (played by BHS junior Rhiannon Parsaca) fly out of the nursery (pictured below) with new recruits to Neverland. This year, the Beacon Players have invested in the rental of a flying apparatus. The contraption, 

Flying by Foy

, was

developed by Peter Foy

to answer the aggressive vision of Mary Martin in the full musical version of "Peter Pan" in 1954. "Martin wanted her Peter Pan to fly higher, faster and farther than had ever been attempted before," according to the company. This allowed for Martin's "soaring aerial choreography [that] thrilled audiences and ushered in a new era in stage flying." Student choreographer Emily Kidd, pictured and interviewed in a Beacon Players video below, had that special opportunity to choreograph for the air as well as the stage floor.

The Foy flying director is Perry Fertig, with Randy Benson as flying supervisor; running the flying crew are P.J. Devine, D.J. Goodall, Zach Rodgers, Chris Richards, Connor Sgorbissa, Mark Murphy, and Mike Zingone. It will be quite busy in those wings!

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The Flying By Foy technology has been used in many productions you know, including "The Wizard of Oz," "A Christmas Carol," and even "Ice Capades." Beacon students will join the ranks of stars who have been strapped into it, including David Bowie, Lucille Ball, Diana Ross, Sally Field, Howard Stern, and even Sean Connery!

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

In last week's issue of The Highlands Current, Parsaca

shares her childhood dream

of being flown away by Peter Pan. Now she gets to play that role, and actually fly.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Students Design Costumes for 'Peter Pan'

The adults involved in the designing of the costumes are costume crew advisor Karin Zdrojewski with costume crew coordinators Jayne Warner and Irina Siegel. Digging into the design and construction of the costumes for Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily and her tribe were students on the costume crew: Cynthia Carmona, Ali Caruso, Elyse Istvan, Kindeya Green, Marin Kacur, Jessica McTeer, Jana Medley, Dana Miller, Kailee Montross, Grace Sanker, Marissa Schiller, and Jillian Warner.

In this 

video interview, Jillian Warner

, one of the costume designers and creator of Peter Pan's costume, describes what it was like to prepare for and produce the costumes. Jillian began sewing at a young age, keeping her skills honed long after a sewing class she attended with 

Eva Intonti Gronowitz

at Beacon Art Studio (which you can find in

A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Day Camp Guide

!)

Photo Credit: Beacon Players video screenshot.

Photo Credit: Beacon Players video screenshot.

Photo Credit: Beacon Players video screenshot.

Photo Credit: Beacon Players video screenshot.

A student designer applies the pattern with gel glue before it is dyed.

The Indian skirts for Tiger Lily and her girls were hand-dyed, using gel glue as the paint.

Watch the video

below to see how they did it. Says Sierra Caban, student media contact for the show, about the costumes: "For some costumes, they were put together using pieces of costumes that have been used in the past. They re-hem old costumes to fit the person that's wearing it in the current show, pin pieces together so that costumes won't fall apart, sew new pieces of fabric onto costumes, find shoes for some characters, and so much more. This show was very hard to costume because our director wanted everyone to be different, he wanted LOTS of color; but of course, [the] costume crew delivered. All of the costumes are so unique and wonderful because they've spent almost every day of the week leading up to the show at the school from 3pm to 9pm."

Photo Credit: Beacon Players video screenshot.

Choreography Is Huge Opportunity for Students

Most students in high school may get an opportunity to choreograph something as an end-of-the-year exam. But this year, student Emily Kidd got to choreograph for a real life play, and star in it as Tiger Lily herself. "I’m so honored to be and happy to be the choreographer for 'Peter Pan,' " says Kidd in this video interview produced by the Beacon Players, "because even though I’ve been worried that dances wouldn’t be as good as if an adult had done it, it’s still exciting. It’s scary, but I’m honored to do it. It’s a challenge. I’ve gotten more confident after people have been encouraging me." 

Students have been rehearsing for weeks. When most families were on Spring Break, Beacon Players were in the Pete and Toshi Seeger Theatre in the Beacon High School building the set, rehearsing dance moves, sewing costumes, and putting on other finishing touches for this weekend's opening.

Set Design Opportunities

The set/stage crew chief is Mark Murphy Jr., with Randy Caruso as advisor. The two have led a student crew consisting of Michael DeChent-Robertin, Elyse Fox, Ella Lewis, Stevie Hulse, James Olson, Anya Sendelbach, Kevin Steger, Sebastian Uribe, and Brandon Wansor. Take note of the beautiful paintings on canvas, by Lori Christie, that hang in the nursery..

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

To get

really

behind the scenes with this and all productions from the Beacon Players, you can

read their meeting notes!

You'll see details that reveal to you who is making the magic happen, like this update: "Mrs. Siegel has been working on a vacant store front window display to advertise the show." 

It's been fun to glimpse some of the behind-the-scenes action required to put on this performance that gives Beacon students such a unique experience. For many, involvement in high school starts to define what careers they carve out. It's easy to see how your support for the Beacon Players gets used.

Ticket sales

,

program advertisements

,

sponsoring a seat

in the theater, and

donations

are all ways you can contribute. Students can

join the Beacon Players by filling out this form

to start the process.

Show Times: NEARLY SOLD OUT, if not already sold out by the time you read this!

Friday

 (night)

 April 8th: 

7pm

Saturday

 (afternoon)

April 9th

: 

2pm

Sunday

 (afternoon) 

April 10

: 

2pm

Buy tickets online

here

, or risk it and buy at the door!

*Waiting lists may be available at the door.

See you at the show!

Happy Brrrrrthday! Easiest. Birthday. Party. Ever. Indoors. (Sponsored)

Taking a break to eat cake.

The month is March, or January or February, or even April and it just snowed. You've got a birthday party to plan for your child. But here's the thing - your house is small, or messy, or clean but you don't know many of the parents of your child's friends, so having a party in your home may not be ideal. So here's what you do:

You call All Sport. Because their facility is large, indoors, and can be almost any kind of party theme you want: Soccer, Nerf Dart Tag, Disco Dance, Swimming (indoors), Tennis (outdoors), you could even throw in a Bouncy House! All for $279 ($259 for All Sport members) which includes 2 pizzas, juices, paper plates, in addition to the running around sixteen little kids get to do (Bouncy House is $30 extra). Even though we are focusing on indoor parties in this article, All Sport also hosts outdoor parties as well in their expansive Outdoor Park.

http://www.allsporthealthandfitness.com/kids-birthday.html

While the entertainment your child and their friends will have is memorable, here's your favorite part: you get a Party Hostess, who loves the party as much as your kids do, and she serves the two pizzas that come with your party, the extra food you bought for adults (Middle Eastern Plate from Homespun anyone?) cuts and serves the cake you brought, pours the juice and water, and cleans up! But you may not have even noticed because you were taking pictures of your child the whole time, and talking to your friends and family who traveled to the party.

A sports party at All Sport - score!

Insider Hot Tip: Balloons make a party. They are an instant decoration and kids love them. But buying helium balloons at the drugstore can be expensive, and blowing them up with air could cause you to hyperventilate. So here's what you do: You know that little shop next to Trendy Tots, and across from Get Frosted Cupcakery in the middle of Main Street? The nondescript storefront that offers floral arrangements and computer repair in the same window? She has a large selection of helium balloons in there, and a special air pump that can blow up air balloons as well - for lower prices than you'll find in any drug store. Pop your head in to see what you can arrange. She even delivers. And then of course, order your birthday cupcakes from Get Frosted Cupcakery, and you've just experienced a one-stop-shop birthday party production.

This little shop on Main Street sells helium and air balloons inside for low prices.

EDITORIAL NOTE:
This article is part of A Little Beacon Blog's Branded Content program, where we work with a business to bring you information you need via an advertisement article that has our editorial stamp of approval and goes through our writing and design process. Advertising helps A Little Beacon Blog continue to bring you stories that inform and inspire you, and we thank you for supporting businesses who support us! To be part of the program as an advertiser or sponsor in any level, click here.

Latest Updates This Week In The Things To Do In Beacon Guides

Happy Sunday! Here's a quick list of what we added to ALBB this week so you can plan ahead this Spring.  As the weather gets warmer, there will be more and more fun things to do!

---

• Common Ground Farm Plant Sale:   Saturday May 7th, at Tito Santanas Taqueria.
• Come on Beacon, let's dance!: Saturday April 22nd, 8pm at The Howland Cultural Center. 
• Hudson Valley Mac n Cheese Festival: Saturday, April 30th in Washingtonville, NY. Those who were lucky enough to score tickets (it sold out!) look for Barb's Butchery cooking up a batch of special mac and cheese! Wonder what her twist on the recipe will be!

All of these dates are in the Events Guide, organized by Month. Take a look for a big picture view of your month ahead!

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• Boys & Girls Soccer: Fishkill Recreation, 4th to 6th Grade, registration required
• Just Dance: SkyBaby Yoga & Pilates, 1st Sunday of the month (kids & adults)
• Clay Garden: Beacon Craft Workshop, ages 5-8 and 8-12 starting this week

Check our Kids Glasses Guide regularly for more updates.

---

• Cheese & Wine Pairing Class: Friday April 8th at The Beacon Pantry
• Kayaking: How To Get Started: Thursday, April 7th at The Howland Public Library (new category)
• Overcome The Overwhelm. Make Time. Make Money: Thursday, April 7th at Oak Vino Wine Bar

Check our Adult Classes Guide for more updates.

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• OPEN HOUSE: Camp Fit at All Sport Health & Fitness in Fishkill, NY
• Fishkill Recreation Programs: The Artist Corner, Mad Science, Snapology, Sports Camp, Junior & Senior Day Camps

Check Summer Camp Guide for ages, rates, and registration details.

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• "The Naked & The Lens" Launch Party & Book Signing: at The Pfotoshop Saturday, April 9th (Second Saturday!)

You can always check our Shopping Guide for the latest openings and promotions!

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Saturday, April 30th, Barb’s Butchery will be cooking up the best of the best mac and cheese for a Hudson Valley Mac and Cheese Festival in Washingtonville. Kids 10 and under eat free. VIP TICKETS ONLY LEFT!

You can always check our Restaurant Guide for the latest openings and promotions!

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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.