If you ever wanted to know what it's been like over the years to live in Beacon, just visit the current one-room archive of the Beacon Historical Society. The entire collection resides in the Howland Cultural Center, but will soon move to its new home at 17 South Ave., in the white house that is the former rectory of St. Andrew’s Church. "New home" is the key phrase here, as the society is getting ready to move beyond the single room it has occupied in the Howland Cultural Center - it literally is filled to the ceiling with this region's history. The volunteers, members and supporters of the Beacon Historical Society have been working for months, this fall especially, to fundraise for the new lease, which allows them to expand even more.
This Saturday is the highly anticipated auction of more than 50 hat silhouettes from over 50 artists, all using wood cutout hats as the canvas to depict Beacon’s past and present. The idea is similar to Newburgh's Lightbulb project: In its third year, participation has grown from 48 artists to 94 making art out of plywood lightbulb forms to connect art and awareness of the city's history. The remarkable hats on this side of the river, as well as goods from local businesses, will be offered at a silent auction to benefit the society. Members of the public will be able to view, and, if they wish, bid on the pieces of art this Saturday from 1 to 5 pm at the Howland Cultural Center. The hats will be on display throughout November, at which point the winning bidders can take home their art.
My own hat, a collage of newspaper articles from the first newspaper printed in Beacon in 1913, and clips from 1930s editions of The Beacon News. Clips were photographed from the Beacon Historical Society's collection of bound newspapers and color-printed at Accuprint, then glued onto the board.
The Beacon Historical Society has kept track of the happenings of this region for centuries. It safeguards rare records of moments in history, such as a 1769 Rombout Precinct Tax List and copies of Civil War pension records, Beacon Incline Railway tickets, school notebooks, uniform buttons, operating records from Highland Hospital, and so much more, as described by Alison Rooney in her January 2016 article in the Highlands Current.
Inside the One-Room Collection
The society's collection fills every inch of the walls and carefully packed drawers and bins, and society members know where everything is. Upstairs in the library of the Howland are the bound books of The Beacon News, the paper so fine that it now disintegrates at the edges, requiring gloves and a proper lifting technique to turn the pages.
Robert Murphy, president of the Beacon Historical Society since 1998, has written its story-filled newsletter since 1981.
Robert (Bob) Murphy is the longtime president of the Beacon Historical Society and 2015 recipient of the Dutchess Award, presented by the Dutchess County Historical Society. He knows where every single historical item is, and is happy to show you exactly where to find it - like these volumes of The Beacon News that he allowed me and possibly others to photograph. (There are a few newspaper-based hat collages on display this weekend!)
Up these stairs and around the top narrow balcony, you'll find the volumes of newspapers...
Pass the lady on display in the current art show, and head to the end of the hall to find the newspapers.
Pretty soon, more pictures like this will have more wall space to fill at the Beacon Historical Society's new home.
About The Hats - One Could Be Yours!
Diane Lapis, a trustee of the Beacon Historical Society, has been exceptionally inspired by the exhibit: "Standing in front of the wood-decorated hats by local artists at the Howland Cultural Center, one is drawn to the hat designed by Victoria Raabin, entitled, 'Me Encanta la Forma Que Se,' loosely translated as 'I love the way you look.' It sums up the spirit that these artists brought to the Beacon Historical Society’s 40th anniversary 'Hats Off' exhibit and celebration. One can feel the artists' 'love' of Beacon, as it is seen today, and in our collective memory."
Each artist needed to supply an artist statement about their hat. Not all participants are artists in the traditional or professional sense. We have randomly selected a few hats to highlight, but you'll see many more when you visit (and place a bid!) this Saturday.
In typical form, Theresa Kraft thought “outside the box” or literally “inside the box” and put her hat in a frame. Beacon memorabilia from The Evening News’ reporter Dick Shea’s personal collection surrounds the hat. The piece is an assemblage of local newspaper clippings, brochures, and film negatives, alongside a scrapbook with more than 50 original black-and-white photos from the 1950s, complete with Shea's crop marks. This hat is a tribute to Mr. Shea and the City of Beacon, from Shea’s point of view through his camera lens and words - the insider.
Samantha Beste is a painter of city scenes. Beacon has inspired her to branch out into mixed media. It has been a pleasure for her to “mix it up” in this city.
Rebecca Finlay's "Tails" is a mythological hat inspired by the Hudson River. This artist considers what the river may have been like in the past… clean and full of life as the mermaid's tail suggests.
Karen Meyer has always loved working with her hands. Most of the time, that translates into her daytime job as a Licensed Massage Therapist. She had so much fun creating her entry for the "Hats Off" project. Her creativity is rekindled and she is anxious to get back into making art, mainly jewelry and multimedia pieces.
As a longtime resident of Beacon, Anne Forman appreciates the Historical Society and looks forward to the monthly newsletters. She has always loved to draw and paint, and majored in art education. She finds joy in living and teaching in Beacon, especially when she sees former students who recall past projects. To Anne, that is a great feeling!
Brenda Murnane has lived in Beacon since 1993. She has made a wonderful life here with her family and grown a wonderful soap business, Beacon Bath and Bubble. Beacon is near and dear to her.
Insun Kim has lived in the Hudson Valley since 1987. She discovered a love of nature through landscape painting and remains fascinated by it. She has been building trees out of nails for 11 years. “To me, trees are beautiful with or without leaves changing in appearance throughout the seasons, in color, fruiting bodies, and structure. Just as every person has their own story to tell, the trees speckled throughout our community and those surrounding it have stories of their own.”
Photo Credit: A night out at Dogwood with music and a family-friendly vibe, captured in Dogwood's Instagram.
When The Hop abruptly closed last week, the reaction to not having that usual place to go was stunning. But service industry veterans' thoughts quickly moved to the employees and where they would go the next day to find a job. The first to react were some restaurant owners, realizing that a variety of employees - servers, cooks, and other kitchen staff - were suddenly out of work. Steve Ventura, co-owner of Quinn's and manager of Ziatun recalled: "I called a couple of people first thing Tuesday morning to offer them jobs. By the time I heard about what happened on Monday night, it was too late to make phone calls, so I waited until morning." Steve eventually hired someone for regular shifts at Ziatun, and another person for the kitchen at Quinn’s.
George Mansfield, owner of Dogwood on the other side of the Fishkill Creek, made a fast hire the next day: "We hired Pete - he's one of the cooks - and are trying to fit a few more in." Stock Up, over on Teller Avenue, hired a line cook, aka "Sandwich Master," and co-owner Lisa Hall says: "He's killing it!"
Craig Nixon, an active participant in a community Facebook group, put a call out with Kamel Jamal, co-owner of four restaurants in the area including the Beacon Bread Company,Ziatun,Tito Santana Taqueria, and Angelina's in Cold Spring. "Response has been very positive," says Craig. "We’ve heard from a cross-section of folks, some ex-Hoppers and some not. In addition, response from the entire community has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re currently in the process of setting up interviews. With four locations, there are a lot of schedules in play here."
Other eateries and cafes have tried, including Homespun and Ella's Bellas, but they haven't found a match yet. Jessica Reisman, co-owner of Homespun, tried to hire a dishwasher, but he ended up moving to out of state. Carley Hughes, owner of Ella's Bellas, has "come close, but we haven’t hired anyone, yet. We are still hopeful!" Jason Robert Schuler, owner of More Good, reported: "We gave part-time shifts at farmers' markets to a couple of people, and commissary kitchen production work to a couple more people." More Good produces syrups out of their Main Street location, which sells teas, syrups and bitters in the front, with a custom-designed commissary kitchen in the back.
Max's On Main and Poppy's say no one has inquired for a job just yet. Meanwhile, The Vault is hiring for servers and a cook and hopes people will walk in and ask, and Barb's Butchery is hiring. There are many more restaurants than these to check in with. If you need budgetary justification to eat out on the weekend, and more importantly mid-week for an easy lunch or dinner, consider this: What you miss out on in savings from cooking at home, you'll gain in companionship, time saved (from cooking and cleaning!), and a good feeling from supporting the community.
Your Weekend Guide to events, shopping, restaurants and beauty.
Hello!
This weekend is loaded with options! Here is your easy access to planning. These are weekend events pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's 10 Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week.
Style Storehouse: 50% Off Denim
Luxe Optique: Sale on Ray-Ban Glasses
Community Sponsor of the Upcoming Events Guide
Reel Expressions International Youth Film Festival Day: Friday, November 4, 2016 Time: 5:30 pm Location: Bardavon Theater, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY Information >
Beacon Historical Society 40th Anniversary Celebration and Silent Auction Day: Saturday, November 5, 2016 Time: 1 to 5 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Open House for The Beacon Veterinary Associates
(formerly Roosevelt Vet On The Hudson) Day: Saturday, November 5, 2016 Time: Noon to 4 pm Location: 385 Main St., Beacon, NY Learn more about Dr. Nick in our article!
Sargent Elementary School PTO Book Fair Day: Saturday, November 5, 2016 Time: 10 am to 6 pm Location: Barnes & Noble, 2518 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY Information >
2016 Pumpkin Smash! Day: Sunday, November 6, 2016 Time: 1 to 3 pm Location: Beacon Farmers' Market, 8 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY Information >
American Sign Language Class for Older Children and Teens Days: November 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2016 Time: 4 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Mad Science Enrichment Program
Ages: Grades 1-4 Days: Saturdays, November 5, 12 and 19, and December 3, 2016 Time: Noon to 1 pm
Location: Fishkill Recreation, 792 Route 52, Fishkill, NY Information >
Glass Bead-Making Workshop With Stephanie Maddalena Day: Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6, 2016 Time: 10 am to 5 pm Location: Hudson Beach Glass, 162 Main St., 2nd Floor, Beacon, NY Information >
Personal Finance Planning for Creatives, Artists and Entrepreneurs
Day: Thursday, November 10, 2016 Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon NY
The end of the year is coming. Do you have a retirement plan? When you sell a piece of art, do you put any money into your IRA or a mutual fund? As a business owner, do you take a salary and does all of it go to bills? How can you set up a financial plan for yourself? Enter Galia Gichon, longtime business friend of A Little Beacon Blog’s publisher Katie Hellmuth Martin, and patient and friendly financial adviser who works with artists. She’ll be delivering a group workshop to help you piece it together, and answer your questions. Information >
Visit our Adult Classes Guide for upcoming classes.
5th Annual Mike Archer Memorial 5K Run & Walk Day: Saturday, November 5, 2016 Registration: Begins at 9 am Time: 10 am Location: Memorial Park, Beacon, NY Information>
Visit our 5K Race Guide for upcoming races in the area.
'Tis the season for Pop-Up Shops! Are you hosting one or do you know of a friend who is? Tell us about it! Pop-Up Shops get listed in our Pop-Up Shop Guide, so send information to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com
Read more about upcoming Pop-Up events!
**Host your own pop-up shop at A Little Beacon Space! More details here.
It’s officially turkey month, and Barb’s Butchery has the Thanksgiving bird you’ve been waiting for! Order from Barb’s and you’ll know your turkey was raised locally, supporting Hudson Valley farms. Plus, you can add on having the experts at the shop smoke it for you - easy peasy! Call in your order now; birds are limited: (845) 831-8050.
Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is in full swing, and BAJA 328 has a special prix-fixe dinner option in addition to their full menu offerings. Try one of three appetizers (like chicken mole kabobs), four entrees (like the Cabo Wabo burger), and two desserts (pineapple-upside down cake, anyone?). And of course, you can never go wrong with the seasonal apple cinnamon margarita.
Our Restaurant Guide has all of your options - even eateries you didn't know about! Keep it open on your phone, because we list everyone's phone number and website, making it super easy for you to tap-to-call!
Welcome to Main Street, Courtney Sedor of Raven Rose! Courtney bought and transformed the former La Bella Rosa floral and gift boutique located across from the Howland Cultural Center. At Raven Rose, you'll find fresh flowers and a highly curated collection of home decor gifts, including several succulents! Pictured here is the thistle, a flower that Courtney loves to use in bouquets for the texture and depth it gives.
Welcome to Main Street, Liz Ferrera, a designer in the former co-op space inside of Clay, Wood and Cotton. Liz is now the sole proprietor of the entire store that only carries product from makers in the Hudson Valley. reMADE replaced Clay, Wood and Cotton and features rare finds such as handcrafted items from local artists, like this stunning porcelain bowl made by Beacon artist Andrew Rouse. Rouse used the ancient "pinch-pot" technique to give these bowls a unique hammered look.
The first snow of the season has come and gone, but we have months of potential winter fun ahead of us! Strap on a pair of these Tubbs snowshoes, which are available in many styles and colors at Mountain Tops, and you’ll be ready to enjoy all the beauty that winter in the Hudson Valley has to offer.
Stop in to see the gorgeous new jewelry collection at East End, formerly known as Pfotoshop. When asked if there was a unifying theme to the collection, owner Jackie said, “They’re just all beautiful!”
Attention glasses-wearers: All optical prescription Ray-Ban frames at Luxe Optique are only $199, and the complete package includes frames, prescription lenses, premium anti-scratch and non-glare treatments, AND a one-year warranty!
All shops in Beacon are listed in this Shopping Guide, from Home Decor to Kids Fashion to Vintage and more. Keep it open on your phone as you're walking around shopping!
Throughout November, take 10% off all gift certificates purchased at River Therapeutic Massage or by phone. Limit three per person, and they cannot be combined with any other offer. River Therapeutic Massage is super cozy and tranquil, and is located inside of Karen's Place hair salon (near the new dentist's office, Bright Smiles).
From the hairs on your head to the toes on your feet, there are many ways to pamper yourself and your pet in our Beauty Guide.
When you stop by the open house from The Beacon Veterinary Associates this Saturday, you’ll see why their motto is: “21st-century medicine and surgery, paired with 20th-century care and compassion.” Says Dr. Nick: “We feel we are small enough to offer that hometown community feel, yet still provide advanced medicine and surgery. If we can’t offer you a service in-house, then we will make sure to find the right specialist to come to our hospital or we'll facilitate a referral to the best specialty centers in the area.”
The Beacon3D sculpture project may be over, but BeaconArts always has more in store! Carl Van Brunt’s digital paintings will be on display at Theo Ganz Studio through Sunday, November 6, and Scott Daniel Ellison’s paintings and drawings will be on display at Matteawan Gallery, also through Sunday.
Coming up:
11/19-20: “Conscious Entrepreneurship: Tools to Build Profit and Purpose” with Antidote Collective. The weekend of workshops will interweave business basics with social/environmental/personal values, inner awareness, and a vision of community. BeaconArts members receive 20% off the program fee. Information >
Antalek & Moore
Driving and chaperoning your child’s friends is a fact of life for most parents, but did you know the added responsibility can also mean more liability? “Parents shouldn’t stop chaperoning children,” said Antalek & Moore partner Susan Pagones, “but they should make sure they're adequately insured against the risks they assume when driving multiple kids around.” Find out more about personal umbrella insurance and talk to a local agent today.
Tin Shingle
If you’re ready to take your small business to the next level with effective press and social media strategies, Tin Shingle is the resource you need. From expert articles to live online training sessions, SEO basics to advanced Instagram tactics, and a community of supportive fellow entrepreneurs at your fingertips, you will have everything you need to get the word out about your business. Join today!
InHouse Design Media InHouse Design Media just launched a redesigned and revamped website for MUGI Pottery. The newly-implemented Squarespace experience is clean, easy to navigate, and uses the Occasion sign-up system to easily sell classes and gift cards. Would your business benefit from a website renovation? InHouse Design Media has the knowledge and experience to turn any website into a business asset, so reach out today and transform your web presence!
All Sport Health & Fitness
With Veterans Day around the corner, All Sport is offering several ways to support those who have served. From now until November 11, you can sponsor an American-made flag on the property, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit local veterans. Last year, the Salute the Veterans drive raised over $10,000 for the Hudson River Housing Veterans Program! Then on Monday, November 7, rally your troops, reserve indoor bikes anytime between 7 am and 7 pm, and raise donations for the Salute Our Veterans Cycle-Thon.
A Little Beacon Space
Did you participate in last month’s Halloween-themed family yoga class?! It was awesome, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg for what we have going on at A Little Beacon Space. With first-floor windows looking right onto Main Street, A Little Beacon Space is perfect for fun events, pop-up shops, meetings, workshops, and just about anything you can imagine. Last week we had a morning workout class to jump start our Tuesday! Check out the schedule for upcoming events, and reach out to us with your own ideas. We would love to make your dream event a reality! See here for rental details!
You’re invited: Don’t miss these events!
11/10/16: Personal Finance Planning for Creatives, Entrepreneurs & Artists with Galia Gichon of Down to Earth Finance, brought to you by Tin Shingle. 2/11/17-2/12/17: Valentine’s Day Pop-Up with jewelry from Kit Burke-Smith and Margeaux Lange, and baked sweets from 5Hens. It will be heaven.
A Little Troll stands across the street from Echo, examining her collection. Image by @campbellandcampbell
Can we... I just... I can't. So cute was the Kids' Hocus Pocus Parade this year! Blocks and blocks of families walked down Main Street, from Bank Square to Teller Avenue, with many continuing around Main Street to visit the many more shops that often feel hidden around that bend. With The Roundhouse offering special cider and The East End boutique (formerly PfotoShop) opening up their photo booth, there was much fun to be had on the Sunday one week before Halloween.
Some serious witches and ghosts stroll down the dead tracks on Beacon's West End of town, near the mountain along the Fishkill Creek (near The Roundhouse Patio). Image by @cappyhotchkiss
Dr. Who fans immediately recognize this costume, outside of The Pandorica Restaurant on Beacon's East End of town (near Play). Image by @thepandoricarestaurant
Key Food Beacon hired a band of 12-year-olds to warm up the neighborhood before the parade started. Some even dressed in character! Image by @junior_zayed
Kids gathered 'round The Yankee Clipper Diner for select pieces of candy. Image by @yankeeclipperdiner
More Key Food and that boxed water. Image by @junior_zayed
Pictured Left: Dr. Bethany Souers, and Right: Dr. Nicholas Spaccarelli
SERVICES & SPECIALTIES:
Wellness care
Cat vaccinations
Dog vaccinations
In-house pharmacy
In-house lab diagnostics
Advanced dental services
Digital radiology
Soft tissue surgery
Affordable orthopedic surgery with both general practitioners and board-certified orthopedic surgeons
Chronic pain management
Major work has been going on in the center of Main Street at The Beacon Veterinary Associates, the new vet in the same strip as More Good, Towne Crier and Oak Vino. Six months ago, Dr. Nicholas Spaccarelli (aka Dr. Nick) bought Roosevelt Vet on the Hudson and has been enhancing it ever since, working with the existing staff and veterinarians like Dr. Bethany Souers, and preparing for their major name change.
Celebrating this Saturday at their Open House from 12 to 4 pm, you're invited to stop into their hospital and office location at 345 Main St., where they will personally take you on tours of the facility. You'll recognize several faces of the team if you visited prior, including Morgan, Dr. Souers, Nicole, and Heather. Soon you can meet Mike McCabe, LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) who sees patients during select Saturdays.
About Dr. Nick Spaccarelli
“Our Motto is: ‘21st-century medicine and surgery, paired with 20th-century care and compassion.’ We feel we are small enough to offer that hometown community feel yet still provide advanced medicine and surgery. If we can’t offer you a service in-house, then we will make sure to find the right specialist to come to our hospital or facilitate a referral to the best specialty centers in the area.””
— Dr. Nick
Dr. Nick Spaccarelli was born and raised in the Hudson Valley. He went to SUNY Delhi where he received a degree as a veterinary technician. He later attended Purdue University and continued on to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
In 2007, Dr. Spaccarelli returned to the Hudson Valley to begin working in private practice and to pursue his professional interests in surgery, rehabilitation and pain management in pets that have chronic issues. A few years later in 2011, he went back to Ross University as a faculty member and clinician at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
After three years on the island of St. Kitts, Dr. Spaccarelli returned to the Hudson Valley to fulfill his lifelong dream of practice ownership. He brings over 10 years of small animal experience to the Beacon Veterinary Associates. He is excited to be adding orthopedic surgery and chronic pain management to a long list of advanced offerings at the practice.
Dr. Spaccarelli resides in Hopewell Junction with his wife Megan and their newborn daughter Mackenzie. They have a dog named Marshall that they rescued, along with two red-footed tortoises - named Harry and Sally - from St Kitts. He is an avid traveler and has been to Europe, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean and Central America. His passions include surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, hiking, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
This article has been a Partner Post with Beacon Veterinary Associates as a Spotlight Sponsor. Thank you for supporting businesses who support this publication and the community!
When the famed Beacon Barkery moved next door to its original location at the corner of Main Street and Willow Street, several people just thought it closed, and didn't see its newly decorated storefront window next door. What even more folks didn't know was that the original owners, Libby Faison and Nanci Pate, hadn't been in the Barkery since before the move, as they sold it to Donald McNeal, the father of one of their new employees, Jon McNeal.
Ten years ago, Libby and Nanci opened the Beacon Barkery to give back to the dog and cat populations in Beacon. Through their work within the community, they brought thousands of people and pets to Beacon through such annual events such as the Beacon Barks Parade, which attracted people from all over the state of New York, and was the unofficial kickoff to Spring during the first week of April. The Beacon Barkery became a known destination as a specialty pet boutique for healthy food options, quality clothing, treats, and the owners' experienced advice. For instance, it is to Libby's credit that I eliminated chicken from my dog's diet, as she had developed an allergy to it, causing her to itch and bite her skin, and eventually rip her hair out. Test after test revealed nothing, until one day, Libby suggested cutting out grain and chicken. It was the chicken that did it. My dog was cured and calm. No antihistamines necessary after that.
As of this spring, the Barkery has a new owner. Several business owners in Beacon already know him from his regular rounds, during his full-time job as route manager for a pest control company; Libby knew him as a customer. The Barkery isn't the first business Donald has owned, but he walked into it with similar passion for pets, their communities, and his own family's involvement in running the store.
The Background to the Beacon Barkery
When Libby and Nanci opened the Barkery, they had full-time jobs. They kept those up during all of the years they ran the Barkery, and still maintain to this day. Libby is a school administrator (now mostly retired, but working in the Wappingers School District), and Nanci is an occupational therapist who also works in schools. Two of their children worked in the store. One of them, Becca, even helped manage the store. Would the Barkery have paid the bills if they'd wanted to leave their full-time jobs? "No," says Libby. "There were three kids here and a mortgage. We really opened the Barkery not to make our first million, but to give back to the community on behalf of dogs and cats. We wanted to help the dog and cat population."
So what was the catalyst to selling? There wasn't one! "We were downsizing so that we could start doing some retirement planning." When I texted Libby questions for this story, she responded from Italy, so I asked her if traveling was part of those retirement plans. "Yes, like going to Italy. Honestly, when you own a store, it's really hard to plan a two-week vacation abroad." Jon, one of their recent employees who was quite enthusiastic about The Beacon Barkery, had told his father, Donald, that it was for sale. Jon and Donald were customers on behalf of their pug family, so the pull to own was strong.
The Puppia Harnesses That First Attracted Donald to the Beacon Barkery.
New Guys In Town
Though Donald and Jon live in and commute from Hopewell Junction, and are new to Main Street as shop owners, they've been around Beacon's Main Street for a long time. Through his day job, Donald counts several Main Street businesses, including Zora Dora's and Kitchen Sink, as his customers in the pest control business. He's also not new to entrepreneurship, having owned several businesses in the past, including his own pest control business, a barber shop, and even a fire extinguisher company. "I’m an entrepreneur at heart," he says.
It was the Puppia harnesses (pictured above) that first brought Donald into the Barkery. The McNeals are a pug family, owning three of them: Angel, 9 years old, Casper, 1 year old, and Eddie, 6 months old. Says Donald: "We always shopped here, and we first came for the harnesses. We went to a pug meet and I was the only one without a harness. When I went shopping for one, nobody had them, except the Barkery. We always liked the store. After Jon told my wife and I that it was for sale, my wife kept at me, 'When we going to buy the Barkery?'"
The new Primal refrigerator for a larger raw food selection.
The New Beacon Barkery
Much is the same in the store, except that it's one door down, thanks to a rent increase that kicked in shortly after the McNeals moved in. Once the new ownership was transferred into place, the landlord increased the rent, so the McNeals packed it up and moved next door. They quickly painted the new space, set up new lighting, got new decals on the windows, and more. Says Jon: "People are finding us. The Car Show helped us. More customers who aren’t local know about us now, and for the locals, they are passing us in the new store, and they see that we are open."
New product is being carried also, such as Primal Raw Dog and Cat Food, freeze-dried treats, and goats milk. The new Primal refrigerator just arrived, and it will be fully stocked this week. For my picky cat with a chronic ear problem, I tried the raw goats milk at Donald's suggestion. “It's the way nature meant to feed our pets.” I have to say, never having ventured into the raw world myself, my picky cat who drinks no water, drank the milk. New clothing is arriving in the store, and the Beacon Barkery maintains it is the largest carrier of the Puppia and Easy Dog harness lines in the area.
Tasty dog and cat snacks.
Beacon Barkery To Continue Community Work
As active participants in the pug community, Donald and Jon know the value of socializing among pets, and giving back. "We have had one dog adoption already, and we plan on doing cat adoptions, and more adoptions in general. We would love to work with the new vet." They aim to continue with the Beacon Barks Parade.
Dog treat cookies, decorated for the season, are in the Beacon Barkery.
What's Next for Libby and Nanci?
Libby and Nanci are not done with their animal work, nor with the Beacon Barks Parade. Says Libby: "We are going to be working with the Beacon Barkery for the Beacon Barks Parade, and will contact the Dutchess County SPCA in 2017. We will be volunteers!"
The Beacon Barks Parade isn't the only thing they are staying connected to. "We miss being in Beacon. We live in Wappingers, and we were down in Beacon every day. Now we are just customers of the Beacon Barkery!"
Advice on Running a Local Store
Libby and Nanci started the Beacon Barkery to improve a community, and it's the community that is the most important for them for running a local business. "It's very important to be part of what's going on, and being active. It also makes it much more fun, when you know your customers and the community. You help each other."
Shop and restaurant owners can often get stuck inside of their stores. Is it important to step outside? "You need to step outside of your shop and be involved. There were times that we had adoptions, and put our tent up out front, and did special kinds of celebrations. Like our Food Fest. The community needs to be able to find you. Beacon's Main Street is a very long Main Street. It's not all that easy for people on the East end to know what's going on the West end."
Cheers, Libby and Nanci, to your new working-retirement! Soon after the sale, Libby and Nanci booked themselves a trip to Italy to enjoy a good two-week vacation, something small business owners rarely experience.
Cheers to Donald and Jon, to your exciting new adventure as owners of the Beacon Barkery and helping so many dogs and cats feel good all over, even in quality fashion!
Libby (left) and Nanci (right) on their first two-week vacation after selling The Beacon Barkery.
The story of Sarabeth's orange apricot marmalade is what always attracts me to the plain-fonted logo wherever I see it, in this case, on the shelves at Key Food. So when I spotted the bag of Sarabeth's French Vanilla coffee in the coffee aisle of Key Food, I had to have it. Sarabeth's started in 1981 from the apartment of a woman living in New York City. Sarabeth made up some batches of her family's 200-year-old recipe, jarred it, and sold it. The marmalade became wildly popular, and was featured on Oprah Winfrey's TV show. Sarabeth went on to open several restaurants. I have fond memories of brunching in Manhattan's West 80s, and I still pine for their Salmon Eggs Benedict. These days, Sarabeth's has 16 restaurants all over the world.
Everyone is hooked on their particular brand of coffee, and we certainly have some incredible choices to choose from locally, like Stumptown at Beacon Pantry and Tas Kafe at Ella's Bellas, while others never leave home without their variously dripped coffee from Bank Square. Oh, and now that Crepe Royal offers Turkish coffee, well, I'm just not sure what you're going to do.
Personally, I'm hooked on Starbucks Italian Roast (I don't drink coffee from a Starbucks store unless it's a One-Pump Vanilla Latte, but I do buy the bag from Key Food or Hannaford and make it myself), a very dark bean. Every morning, I make my own at home in a French press (find one at Bank Square or Utensil) or the AeroPress (find it at Mountain Tops) using a super dark bean.
Normally, I don't do flavored creamers or beans. However, the best part about flavored coffee is the aroma. I may brew it just to sweeten up the kitchen. So on the weekend, I decided to sprinkle a little scoop of the Sarabeth's French Vanilla into my usual dark Italian Roast and have a different cup of coffee on a quiet Saturday morning.
The result? Relaxing. I fixed it for my neighbor and even gave her half a bag of ground beans, knowing it would take me a while to get through them. This is how she responded months later when she finally made coffee at home (she buys it every morning):
Hence, the recommendation of the coffee is making it to A Little Beacon Blog for you to try, too!
Do Try The Jam for Breakfast or Brunch or Lunch!
You'll also find the jam in Key Food. It's one of the fanciest jars on the shelf, so you may want to wait until it goes on sale and then stock up, and only if you like blended flavors. But it's quite a large jar, the size of spaghetti sauce, so you are getting a lot of jam for the price.
Dozens of painted and built-out hats have been hanging in Beacon Bath and Bubble since October's Second Saturday, and are now moving across the street to the Howland Cultural Center to be put on display for the Beacon Historical Society's big fundraising event and silent auction, on November 5 from 1 to 5 pm! The theme of the hat decoration was "Beacon's Past or Beacon's Present."
My inspiration was decades-old newspapers, and showcasing what they looked like and covered over the years. The tricky part was getting into the Beacon Historical Society's headquarters and archives inside of the Howland Cultural Center - during their very limited open hours!
Finally, after taking the walking tour of the east end two weekends ago (just one of several fundraisers they have been having this month), I was able to slip in and be escorted to the newspaper archives. Containing decades of editions, they reside in the bound books upstairs in the narrow library of the The Howland. In a very special box, there I found "The First Newspaper Printed in the City of Beacon" in 1913, the year of the Beacon Evening Journal's merged creation.
Several clippings stood out, but my biggest takeaways from looking through various editions were how Beacon has always had high aspirations and been very proud of its community. And just look at that school achievement! The news stories were not so different from what they are today, from violent crime to announcements for Girl Scout meetings and baby support circles.
A comic strip runs along the bottom: Ella Cinders. She seems to be a director in the 1930s, dealing with a condescending boss and other questionable male professionals. Get it... CinderElla?
This project could not have been possible without Byrdie's on-demand color printing over at Accuprint near Homespun. Byrdie has been known to save many of us who need a flyer or menu fast, and the machines keep on whirring in her little print shop as her mother does taxes and bookkeeping in the back, and her father provides general oversight and support throughout the building.
Your Weekend Guide to events, shopping, restaurants and beauty.
Hello!
This weekend is loaded with options! Here is your easy access to planning. These are weekend dates pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's 10 Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week.
Pumpkins in the Park Jack O'Lantern Lighting
Carving: Monday to Thursday, October 24 to 27, 2016 Carving Time: 3 to 6 pm Lighting: Friday, October 28, 2016 Lighting Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: Long Dock Park, Beacon waterfront
Weekday afternoons , visit Long Dock Park to put your carving skills to use on pumpkins provided by Scenic Hudson. Stick around Friday evening, when the jack o'lanterns will be set aglow and displayed throughout the park. Information >
International Film Night Day: Friday, October 28, 2016 Time: 7 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Beacon Historial Society Luncheon Day: Sunday, October 30, 2016 Time: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Location: Outback Steakhouse, Route 9, Wappingers Falls, NY Information >
Kids' Halloween Craft Event Day: Monday, October 31, 2016 Time: 12:30 to 3:30 pm Location: Fishkill Recreation Center, 793 Route 52, Fishkill, NY Information >
Anime & Manga Club Day: Friday, October 28, 2016 Time: 3 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Babysitters Preparedness Course
Ages: 12 & up
Date: Saturday, October 29, 2016
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Location: All Sport, 17 Old Main St., Fishkill, NY Information >
Painting Day of the Dead Skull Masks with Debbie Lane Day: Saturday, October 29, 2016 Time: 1 to 2 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Beginning Photographer Fall Foliage Photo Excursion with Karl LaLonde Day: Saturday, Oct 29, 2016 Time: 9 am to 1 pm Location: RiverWinds Gallery, 172 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Ghost Hunting Day: Sunday, October 30, 2016 Time: 2 to 3 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Visit our Adult Classes Guide for upcoming classes.
Vassar College Halloween 5K Fun Run Day: Saturday, October 29, 2016 Registration: Begins at 10 am Time: 11 am Location: Vassar College - North parking lot off Collegeview Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY Information>
Visit our 5K Race Guide for upcoming races in the area.
Read about the great time that was had at FitKidz Parent/Kid Yoga Workshop at A Little Beacon Space here. We also worked up a good sweat at our first Drop 'N Give Me 20 class. Stay tuned for the next one!
Read about more upcoming Pop-Up events!
**Host your own pop-up shop at A Little Beacon Space! More details here.
This weekend marks the last that Get Frosted Cupcakery will be open in Beacon. Please go in, buy a cupcake, and wish Karen the best for “what life has in store for her next” - her words from our interview about life after three years of living her dream.
Mondays can be tough, but The Vault makes them better with its extended happy hour! Head in from 4 pm to 10 pm for great deals on bottles, drafts, wine, and cocktails.
Lunch at Barb’s Butchery! The menu is simple. The sandwiches are delicious. When you have beef and pork this good, you don’t need much to dress it up for an incredible meal!
Halloween is here, and at BAJA 328 that means even your tequila gets dressed up. Try this spooky tequila on its own or in one of Baja’s signature cocktails!
Our Restaurant Guide has all of your options - even eateries you didn't know about! Keep the Guide open on your phone because we list all websites and phone numbers, making it easy for you to tap-to-call!
It’s snowed!! Winter is coming, and you need these boots from Mountain Tops. Fashionable yet practical. Who says you can’t brave the weather while looking good?
The East End, formerly known as Pfotoshop, has a selection of beautiful and oh-so-cozy Farm2Fashion ponchos and wraps that you need to head in and feel to fully appreciate.
Have you been in “the chair”? The eye doctor is in at Luxe Optique, where a comprehensive eye exam is only $65, or FREE with the purchase of glasses. The friendly staff will even process your insurance claim for you!
Get excited for the first annual Style Storehouse Pop-Up Holiday Shop on Friday, November 11 at 6 pm! The WHOLE STORE will move to the Crew Restaurant on South Road in Poughkeepsie for an evening of shopping, food, drinks, and all-around good times.
All shops in Beacon are listed in this Shopping Guide, from Home Decor to Kids Fashion to Vintage and more. Keep it open on your phone as you're walking around shopping!
From the hairs on your head to the toes on your feet, there are many ways to pamper yourself and your pet in our Beauty Guide.
We know what you're thinking. ... "I want my business featured here!"
Pictures shown above are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here, too!
A special Open House will be taking place on Saturday, November 5, from noon to 4 pm at The Beacon Veterinary Associates (formerly Roosevelt on the Hudson) at 385 Main St. in Beacon. Come meet the new owner, Dr. Nick Spaccarelli, and his team, who will be caring for your furry loved ones. You can get a tour of the facility and enjoy refreshments and snacks.
BeaconArts held their monthly member meeting at TERRESON: Beacon this week, updating business, art and supporting members about their fiscal partner projects. The annual holiday party will be Tuesday, December 6, where all are invited, even non-members, as it’s a great way to meet other artists, businesses and supporters of the arts. And you can think about being a member for next year! Do it.
Antalek & Moore
October is Cyber Security Month, and last week major hack crippled websites including PayPal, Amazon, and, most likely, your friendly neighborhood businesses’ websites. With invisible threats coming from all corners of the globe, Antalek & Moore has been encouraging Cyber Liability Insurance for small businesses. Check in with Antalek & Moore to find out why: 845-245-6292
Tin Shingle
If you’re ready to take your small business to the next level with effective press and social media strategies, Tin Shingle is the resource you need. From expert articles to live online training sessions, SEO basics to advanced Instagram tactics, and a community of supportive fellow entrepreneurs at your fingertips, you will have everything you need to get the word out about your business. Join today!
InHouse Design Media
Need help coming up with ideas for your social media streams? Do you wish your website looked or did something different? InHouse Design Media can help!
All Sport Health & Fitness
Come in to All Sport on Sunday at 10:15 am for a Halloween-themed Zumba dance party! The '90s tunes will be turned up, three instructors will be leading the dance workout, and it’s free for members. Wear your costume!
A Little Beacon Space
Located in the heart of Beacon's Main Street, A Little Beacon Space is an ideal location for meet-ups, photoshoots, workshops, seminars, pop-up shops, and more. Host your own event or attend one of A Little Beacon Blog’s pop-up experiences in the space. Contact us today with your questions and ideas! See here for rental details!
Karen Rokitowski's mom was sitting in the back of Get Frosted Cupcakery one Thursday afternoon, as she usually did, because Karen takes care of her aging mom on that day. Karen, the co-founder and owner of Get Frosted Cupcakery, was reflecting on the three years she has run Get Frosted on Beacon's Main Street. She turned to ask her mom a question: "Mom, did you ever think I was going to own a cupcakery?" Her mom simply nodded, and said: "Of course. You always wanted to do it when you were little."
The question is a fair one because prior to opening her first shop on Beacon's Main Street, Karen was a cosmetic chemist for 28 years in the corporate world, having worked for Elizabeth Arden, Avon, Chanel and Burt's Bees. She is directly responsible for the compositions of some beauty products many women use, as she holds three patents for her work: one for an Elizabeth Arden mascara, which uses her alcohol-modified wax to prevent it from drying out quickly and clumping up on lashes, and two patents for toothpaste and shampoo for Burt's Bees.
When Karen left the corporate world, she remembered how she did not know what she was going to do, and let herself be open to what "The Universe had in store" for her. She left North Carolina and returned to New York to reevaluate what she wanted. Karen has always found baking therapeutic: "It's like gardening. Like meditation." She never tires or gets bored of making each little cupcake, cake pop, or white-chocolate baguette.
One night, Karen and her sister were at a party and were analyzing the baked goods situation, and said to each other: "I think we can do better." Together, they looked around Beacon and couldn't find a cupcake to their standards. (Can anyone make a better cupcake than a chemist?) Karen credits her sister for pushing her to open Get Frosted, which they did together, and Karen bought out her sister's share a year later.
Catalyst For The Closure
When Karen opened, she told her accountant that she'd give it three years. Most of her business relied on foot traffic, which ebbed and flowed over time. Large orders for weddings and birthday parties increased, and both the foot traffic and large orders kept Karen in the black, having no debts at the three-year mark. At the beginning of October, her landlord presented her with a new lease. "They did increase my rent more than my business can absorb, especially with the price of eggs and butter rising." She adds, "The heating bill is astronomical here." As she was reflecting on the milestone third-year mark, debating whether to place her next big ingredients order, the decision became clear: "When the new lease came in, they made my decision for me."
"Did You Just Open?"
During our interview, the shop doorbell proudly rang its hopeful ring, and a customer walked in, looking for business donations for a local elementary school. While making her pitch, the fundraiser couldn't keep her eyes off the generously frosted cupcakes in the case, and took a moment to ask about the business, inquiring if Karen had just opened the store because she'd never seen it before - a common question for businesses on Main Street who rely on foot traffic. Karen calmly answered: "I've been here for three years."
Before continuing our interview, I asked Karen: "What's the key to being found on Main Street?" And we just laughed. Why is it so hard to stop into a store and find out what is in there? It's why A Little Beacon Blog has the "Come In!" series, exploring the interior of stores and sharing interviews with business owners, and illustrates why the series is so popular. Karen has two theories: "Main Street is so narrow, that people driving in their cars don't have time to stop and look around. But a lot of the complaints I get include 'I couldn't find a spot out front, so I decided not to stop.'"
Note to self: Walk everywhere. Smell the baking bread and sweets. Head into the shop.
What's Next?
Karen's already had an offer to be a baker for someone in Westchester, but isn't sure yet what direction she wants to take. "I'm going to wait and see what The Universe has in store for me." Could Karen work for someone else? "I don't know. I feel like I've done this, lived my dream. It's something I wanted to do since I was 12; I feel like I want to do something else. I just don't know what that is yet."
We wish Karen THE BEST on her next adventure, and thank her for bringing such sweetness to Beacon. Please open the door to ring that shop bell to give her a hug and buy your last cupcake.
Sponsor Disclaimer: Get Frosted Cupcakery was an advertiser in The Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so we had the pleasure of seeing her every week and getting to know her better when we came in to take photos of her cupcakes for our weekly newsletter and her photo gallery in our Restaurant Guide. This article is not part of her advertising.
A screenshot from The Hop's home page, taken 10/24/16.
Just another Monday night, finishing up work, when the text comes in: "The Hop is closed?!" Which is a shocking text to receive, as we had just been there Friday night with family, and the leftovers are still in our fridge. Several tables had diners, the bar was full, and a private party enjoyed themselves in the next room. Sure enough, a check of their Facebook page and website confirmed the news.
What is the case with The Hop? It was a New York Times darling (mentioned here and here), having been written about several times in many publications. It had full seating - indoors and out! - and parking to match. One couldn't really get in without reservations; in such cases, we were lucky to squeeze in at the bar for a meal. [Edit 10/26/16, post-publishing: The Hop and its building are now listed for sale in The New York Times),
[Edit 10/25/16, post-publishing]: With regard to the rent-increase issue that growing numbers of Beacon storefronts are facing, one of The Hop's partners owns the building at 554 Main Street. The building, its apartments and business have been listed for sale one day after announcing the closure.
[Edit 10/25/16, post-publishing]: Akin to "Saturday Night Live" and "The Daily Show" pipelines, talented employees who worked at The Hop years ago have spun out of The Hop and are now proprietors of their own establishments, including John-Anthony Gargiulo, who opened the Hudson Valley Brewery at 7 East Main Street, and Harrison Manning, who opened Harry's Hot Sandwiches at 449 Main Street, neither of whom have a role in the current Hop. Originally, when The Hop opened on Main Street in the location that is now Beacon Bath & Bubble, it had three owners: John Kelly, Chris Kavanagh and Matt Hutchins, and has two now: Kavanagh and Kelly. When he was a partner, Hutchins was the chef and was behind the original creative flavors that helped establish The Hop's strong culinary reputation.
According to The Hop's website, as of this publishing date of October 24, 2016: "The Hop is closed until further notice."
[Edit 10/26/16, post-publishing]: The Hop's Facebook Page has since been disabled, so links to it may not go anywhere.
Published to their Facebook page, just hours after publishing a cute promo for beer, a post used this language: "The Hop is now closed indefinitely. Thank you all for making it a success. Cheers!" It is unconfirmed whether this message went up after the message was posted on the website, so as to indicate a follow-up, with the words: "is now closed," as opposed to maybe being closed. Neither message indicates finality because of the word choices: "indefinitely" and "until further notice."
Speculation about the precise meaning of these words is happening because a closure is just so unbelievable. An anchor on the east end of town, The Hop is a helpful destination for fueling your afternoon or evening strolls to visit galleries or shops. It, along with several other restaurants on Main Street, have helped Beacon tremendously in terms of keeping people here for dinner or lunch, as opposed to traveling up or down the Hudson River to find another eatery with a great experience.
Confirmation is always required at the physical storefront. Still, the verbiage used indicates a notice to come in the future about it not being closed.
With Hudson Valley Restaurant Week just around the corner, from November 1 to 13, we'd better all explore and keep those seats warm. The Hop did seem to have a lot of people in seats at all times, but one never knows in business. There are so many factors that go into keeping a business open. If they are indeed closed with no change, then we wish them well on their new endeavors and thank all of the creators of The Hop for bringing it to Beacon for the time it was here, defining a strong atmosphere with excellent employees, and being one of the first on Main Street to food compost.
Before I signed the lease on the space, I literally asked Deborah, the building owner and landlord, would I have privacy in the office because sometimes I needed to do my morning exercises. She responded by offering to install blurry glass in the office door, but that didn't seem necessary once I learned that I could do my morning stretching routine behind a wall in the middle of the room.
In the winter, I don't run outside as much because my bones get too cold and stiff, so it's either off to All Sport (where I can sit in their sauna!) or do a little routine at my desk! And so I thought: "Wouldn't it be fun if others got this quick morning workout, too?" So Jane Savage, founder of Savage Health and a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and USPTA-certified tennis coach, who for many years taught cardio tennis for all ages, is going to lead us in a 30-minute workout on Tuesday from 9:30 am to 10 am. Tickets are $10 and there are only seven spots left. Get it online or at the door, and bring your sneakers! Mats will be provided for any floor work.
After we put down the mats and set up the boom box, the morning began with spooky and dramatic organ playing as we moved our arms and pointed fingers to warm up our bodies. Child fitness instructor and founder of FitKidz, Dayna Case (my sister-in-law), led a small audience of mothers and children through different yoga poses and activities to songs, like "Going on a Bear Hunt," except our version was "Going on a Vampire Hunt" with all sorts of creepy adventures as we got closer to finding the vampire. Don't worry - we escaped from him.
The first dual yoga I'd ever done was Alice Sipple/Dancing Tree Yoga's class at All Sport. It was called Family Yoga and it was awesome. Alice has since moved with her family to Egypt for a spell, so when Dayna asked me if she could run a Parent/Child Yoga class in A Little Beacon Space, I jumped on it.
Why It Was So Special
In a yoga class with pairs, you get to work with and touch your partner. You can put feet to feet and grab wrists and sway back and forth. You can look at each other eye-to-eye, and give each other a spooky face. You can stop in the moments of a busy day to just be with that other person, who in this case, is your child. No telling them to put their socks on, no telling them to stop throwing water. Just moving and swaying, curling and rolling.
When's The Next One?
I don't know! Dayna lives in Columbus, Ohio, so it could happen whenever she passes through Beacon, I suppose. Or if you lead classes like this and want to give a special pop-up experience, contact me with your idea.
Your Weekend Guide to events, shopping, restaurants and beauty.
Hello!
This weekend is loaded with options! Here is your easy access to planning. These are weekend dates pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's 10 Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week.
Roller Derby Fundraiser to Support School Nurse Donna Pedersen
Day: Friday, October 21, 2016 Time: 6 pm Location: Rombout Middle School Information >
2nd Annual Dark Parade
Day: Saturday, October 22, 2016 Lineup Time/Location: 6:45 pmLineup at Teller Avenue and Main Street. The parade ends at the Elks Club for a dance party. Information >
Open Mic Story Share: An Open to the Sky Event Day: Saturday, October 22, 2016 Time: 7 to 9 pm Location: Polhill Park, corner of 9D & Main Street, Beacon, NY
Red Pepper Dance Night Day: Saturday, October 22, 2016 Time: 7 to 11 pm Location: The Red Pepper, 1458 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls, NY Information >
Kids' Hocus Pocus Parade Down Main Street Date: Sunday, October 23, 2016 Time: 12:30 pm: Parade lineup at the visitors center & Polhill Park (South Avenue and Main Street) Time: 1 pm: Parade begins Location: Main Street, from Polhill Park to Teller Avenue Information >
Pumpkins in the Park Jack O'Lantern Lighting
Carving: Monday to Thursday, October 24 to 27, 2016 Carving Time: 3 to 6 pm Lighting: Friday, October 28, 2016 Lighting Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: Long Dock Park, Beacon waterfront
Weekday afternoons, visit Long Dock Park to put your carving skills to use on pumpkins provided by Scenic Hudson. Stick around Friday evening, when the jack o'lanterns will be set aglow and displayed throughout the park. Information >
Z!ne Club @ Beacon Library Day: First Meeting, Friday, October 21, 2016 Time: 3 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Upcycle Art Studio for Teens
Day: Saturday, October 22, 2016
Time: 11 am to 12 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Babysitting Course Day: Saturday, October 22, 2016 Time: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Location: Fishkill Recreation, 792 Route 52, Fishkill, NY Information >
Drop 'N Give Me 20! Day: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 Time: 9:30am to 10:15am Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY
Get a little cardio and stretching in before your work day! This is a quick workout session. Only seven spots left! Information >
Visit our Adult Classes Guide for upcoming classes.
Visit our 5K Race Guide for upcoming races in the area.
Parent/Child Yoga: Halloween Theme: Day: Saturday, October 22, 2016 Time: 9:30am to 10:15 am Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY
Enjoy a Saturday morning of duo yoga poses with a parent and child in this Halloween inspired yoga class. How will you and your little one rattle your skeleton bones? Arch into a Spooky Cat Pose, bend into an Eerie Crescent Moon, and take flight in a Flying Bat Pose. Information >
Kitchen Cuts and Face Painting: Day: Sunday, October 23, 2016 Time: 10 am to 4 pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY
Our space gets transformed into a salon for kids' haircuts and face painting! During or after the Kids' Halloween Parade down Main Street, bring your kids in for a $16 cut and $1 face painting (face painting gets donated to Beacon elementary schools). Thanks to our sponsor It's All About The Mouse Travel from Teresa Marra, for sponsoring and helping to make this event possible! Information >
**Host your own pop-up shop at A Little Beacon Space! More details here.
We are in the final days of cupcakes from Get Frosted Cupcakery. Their last day in their shop is October 31. Enjoy their buttery goodness a final few times and give Karen a hug. A Little Beacon Blog has an interview with her coming soon.
Mondays can be tough, but The Vault makes them better with its extended happy hour! Head in from 4 pm to 10 pm for great deals on bottles, drafts, wine, and cocktails.
Wake up and smell the local bacon! The fresh bacon and eggs available at Barb’s Butchery come from less than an hour away in the Hudson Valley and can’t be beat for a hearty breakfast (or lunch… or dinner…).
BAJA 328’s anniversary celebration week is here! Saturday, October 22 kicks it off with Salsa Night, and of course there will be a spectacular Taco Tuesday on October 25! Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more updates.
Our Restaurant Guide has all of your options - even eateries you didn't know about! Keep it open on your phone, because we list everyone's phone number and website, making it super easy for you to tap-to-call!
New from the outdoor equipment specialists at Berghaus, this Elsdon jacket is waterproof, breathable, lined with super soft fleece shearling, AND stylish! Come in to Mountain Tops to try one on and head out, assured that you're ready for any weather this season brings.
The Pfotoshop (which is changing to The East End), is celebrating its one-year anniversary from October 21 to October 24! Come in for exciting new products, apple cider mimosas, PfotoBooth fun, and more. Click here to find out how to enter a big giveaway, and join everyone on Saturday, October 22, at 5 pm for a champagne toast and announcement of the giveaway's winners!
These frames are engineered by hand in Germany and bent and stretched by hand at Luxe Optique in Beacon to show how durable they are. Look, Ma! I can twist my glasses!
Yes, Labor Day has passed, but yes, you can still wear white! These white jeans at Style Storehouse have nice big cuffs and come ready-made with fashionable holes - no work required.
All shops in Beacon are listed in this Shopping Guide, from Home Decor to Kids Fashion to Vintage and more. Keep it open on your phone as you're walking around shopping!
From the hairs on your head to the toes on your feet, there are many ways to pamper yourself and your pet in our Beauty Guide.
We know what you're thinking: "I want my business featured here!"
Pictures shown above are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!
A Little Beacon Blog is now syndicated on the BeaconArts website! We're honored to have share a column of latest articles. Be sure to visit BeaconArts.org for the latest events, business directory listings and Member MeetUp dates, like the next one on October 26 at Terreson: Beacon.
Antalek & Moore Antalek & Moore brings the personal back into insurance, with their office right on Main Street and friendly staff ready to help you navigate the world of insurance. Keep an eye out for our upcoming profile of Antalek & Moore partner Susan Pagones, who has been in the insurance field for over 30 years! Whether you need to insure a new car or just want to find out if you can get a lower homeowners insurance rate, give the office a call at 845-245-6292.
Tin Shingle
If you’re ready to take your small business to the next level with effective press and social media strategies, Tin Shingle is the resource you need. From expert articles to live online training sessions, SEO basics to advanced Instagram tactics, and a community of supportive fellow entrepreneurs at your fingertips, you will have everything you need to get the word out about your business. Tin Shingle now has several membership levels, making buzz-building training accessible to everyone. Join today!
InHouse Design Media
Need help coming up with ideas for your social media streams? Do you wish your website looked or did something different? InHouse Design Media can help!
All Sport Health & Fitness
On Thursday, October 27, join All Sport to raise hopes and funds for local breast cancer survivors at the Pink Ride. The class will run from 9 to 10 am, with a reception after. And the next time you need to refuel after your All Sport workout, try the seasonal Pumpkin Shake at Fuel Cafe!
A Little Beacon Space
Read all about new happenings hosted at A Little Beacon Space on our new Schedule page to see what events are coming up at A Little Beacon Space! Want to set up your Pop-Up Shop here? Or other event? See here for rental details!
Oh my gosh, y'all! I'm not even Southern, but I lived there for a bit and I know what that phrase means when spoken by someone very excited: A Little Beacon Space is open. What is A Little Beacon Space? It's the office headquarters of A Little Beacon Blog and Tin Shingle, but I couldn't just have an office and an overhead because what fun is that? It's an interactive extension of A Little Beacon Blog that can bring in the community for special events planned by us, or planned by you! This office is in the heart of Beacon's Main Street, one of the areas of Main Street that is currently defining itself, at 291 Main St. in The Telephone Building. With such a vibrant city, I wanted to be part of Main Street, one of the shop owners, feeling the pulse of the city.
Having a space like this at 291 Main Street was never on my radar as a goal. Yes, I did and do have secret Plan B-type dreams of opening an ice cream parlor, or buying a nail salon and making it awesome. Interestingly, each of my marketing plans for those Plan B dreams involved hosting special events in those spaces to help bring people in.
With a little help from many friends, team members and supporters, A Little Beacon Space is open inside of A Little Beacon Blog's Main Street headquarters. I'm so excited to share this wonderful Telephone Building with so many other people producing unique things with their unique skill sets. The excitement is contagious: Here's a picture of the folks at Home Depot, taking it upon themselves to build me a sandwich board after they heard how I wanted to construct it (meaning, my version would have flown away in the wind).
Booking A Little Beacon Space
Different people and groups can rent this space for a workshop, event, pop-up, photo shoot, and many other things I haven't mentioned here but would love to hear from you about. Many thanks to photographer Jackie Foley, who took professional pictures of different aspects of the space. She was our first customer when she booked the space for the day to conduct a portrait session.
We had the great fortune of being featured in the Highlands Current earlier when the local networking group, HV Women in Business, hosted a meetup.
Curated Pop-Up Events at A Little Beacon Space
Sometimes, we make up our own events and host them in the space. You can always find the schedule of all events here. This weekend includes two of them! Spooky Parent/Child Yoga, and Kitchen Cuts, which was included in the Calendar at the Highlands Current! P.S.: Huge congratulations to The Incline Railway for their award.
Then stop in and say "hi" during the Kids' Hocus Pocus Parade, where we'll be giving little kids $16 haircuts and $1 face painting. Proceeds from the face painting go to the Beacon elementary schools, where we are working on a donation to the teachers for all of the art supplies they buy for our kids for day-to-day projects.
And then on Tuesday, pop in to do a quick 30-minute workout with us. Don't worry - you can come dressed for the day and get right back into your work clothes from your work-out clothes. Led by professional athlete Jane Savage of Savage Health, the idea is to get your blood flowing to inspire great ideas during your day.
Then in November, join us if you want to get your finances in order: Galia Gichon, one of my favorite people in finance who works with creative types, gives an interactive seminar on Personal Finance Planning for Creatives, Entrepreneurs & Artists. If you have some plans, no plans, or want a checkup, this seminar will make getting your house in order easier and more attainable.
Thank you so much for you support thus far. Only in Beacon could this business have been crafted this way. It's an inspiring city to grow a business in. See you soon!
Support for this publication comes in part from these businesses. We have highlighted what makes them special on their own dedicated pages. Want your business listed here? See the "Sponsor Spotlight" or "Event Promotion" option in our Advertising Page.
A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
