New Musical Production Holding Auditions May 21st and 22nd at Howland Cultural Center

The Hudson Valley Theatre Initiative will be holding auditions at the Howland Cultural Center on Monday, May 21, and Tuesday, May 22, from 5 to 8 pm for their upcoming pop musical production, "#QueenE The Musical." They are seeking eight women and two men and encourage all actors, singers, and dancers to come out - no experience necessary. 

Who Is The Hudson Valley Theatre Initiative?

The Hudson Valley Theatre Initiative's mission is to integrate professional theatre into the community experience of living in the Hudson Valley through music-focused, family-friendly theatre, by developing and presenting unique shows that push forward the art of live storytelling performance.

All Ages Welcome!

Whether you are 4 years old or 100, all experience levels are considered at these auditions, and non-traditional casting is encouraged. This is your chance to be a part of a musical production, if this is something you've always wanted to do but never had the chance.

Cupcake Festival in Beacon, NY 2018 - Reached the Cupcake Mecca

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Streets were packed on Beacon's east end of town for the Cupcake Festival 2018.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Did you reach the mecca? The Cupcake Festival? The east end of town was thick with cupcake celebrators, but in our journey to walk all of Main Street from the train to the mountain, we got to duck into a few favorite local businesses...

Luxe Optique (where we helped a friend buy some glasses!), American Gypsy Vintage while waiting for a to-go chicken wrap from Ziatun to eat on the way, NFP Studio (got a personal demonstration of how to wear their architecture-inspired sweaters!), Utensil Kitchenware (bought some nesting containers at last!), Jeffrey Terreson Fine Art (always love seeing that guy and he had a stunning, ginormous print on the floor ready for shipping out the door). And at last, we decorated this cupcake from Tops, and indulged in a generous chocolate cupcake with a lot of vanilla frosting from The Chocolate Studio. Alas, we ate it before the camera could capture a picture.

We Shopped at American Gypsy Vintage on the way down to the Cupcake Festival, while waiting for a takeout chicken wrap from Ziatun.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

How many cupcakes should you bring if you're a cupcake vendor? A lot. This is just a fraction - 1/279th - of the cupcakes that were for sale.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Finally Stopped into NFP Studio to experience the sweaters!
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

During Last year's Cupcake Festival, no one ventured down to 1 East Main, which is literally Just down a grassy hill from the Happenin' Event. This year, Since Trax Coffee Roasters Has moved in, Cupcake Aficionados Were Happy to venture down the hill.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Happening This Weekend 5/4/2018

Does your phone have a cupcake emoji? Because ours does not, and you'll need one this weekend! We're expecting thousands of people to come into Beacon on Saturday to see the Cupcake Wars and experience the Cupcake Festival, happening on the East End of Beacon near the mountain. Read our full report, with pictures, on how it went last year. If we had an emoji message for you, it would be: 🍡 🍰 🦄 ☕️ 🌷 😍 That you'll eat lots of cake, maybe feel like a unicorn with all that colorful frosting, at which point you'd need coffee from nearby Trax in the new 1 East Main area (read our interview with co-owner Katy Bell Behney here!). And a tulip because Beacon is still in glorious bloom. Whether you find yourself indulging in some cupcakes at this year's Cupcake Festival or burning them off at the Hard Cider Run in Warwick - it will be a good weekend to be outside, especially with the Spring plant sale, river cleanup and food events happening! See everything below. Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Beacon Waterfront Cleanup Day: Saturday, May 5, 2018 Time: 11:30 am to 2 pm Location: Beacon Sloop Club, 2 Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY Information > K104.7 Cupcake Festival Day: Saturday, May 5, 2018 Time: 1 to 5 pm Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY (between Route 52/Teller Ave. and E. Main St.) Information > Stony Kill Spring Celebration & Plant Sale Day: Saturday, May 5, 2018 Time: 11 am to 3 pm Location: Stony Kill Farm, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY Information > Hudson Valley Film & Television Industry Mixer Day: Saturday, May 5, 2018 Time: 3:30 to 7:30 pm Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY Information > Beacon Farmers Market Opening Day Celebration Day: Sunday, May 6, 2018 Time: 10 am to 3 pm Location: Veterans Place, Beacon, NY Information > Apple Blossom Day Day: Sunday, May 6, 2018 Time: 10 am to 3 pm Location: Fishkill Farms, 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction, NY Information > An Intimate Concert with Dar Williams Day: Sunday, May 6, 2018 Time: 2 pm Location: Winter Hill, Garrison, NY Information > Sound/Peace (Seeking Harmony in Dissonant Times) Day: Sunday, May 6, 2018 Time: 6 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.     Easy Peazy Pajama Pants with Katy Hope Day: Friday, May 4, 2018 Time: 1 to 5 pm Location:  Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Walking Foot Quilting with Melanie Tuazon Day: Saturday, May 5, 2018 Time: 1 to 3 pm Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Relax and Restore Acupuncture and Essential Oils with Erika Forsell, LAc Day: Sunday, May 6, 2018 Time: 4 to 6 pm Location: Beacon of Light Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide. Card & Board Games Club Day: Friday, May 4, 2018 Time: 3 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.   The Hard Cider Run: New York Days: Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, 2018 Time: 10 am (both days) Location: Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, 114 Little York Road, Warwick, NY Information >   Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide! BIG UPDATES MADE! There've been many recent changes, so get the full Restaurant Guide to Beacon here: CLOSED: Harry's Hot Sandwiches CLOSED: Pleasant Ridge 2 OPEN: Enoteca Ama OPEN: Melzingah Tap House (in the former Hop location) OPEN: Big Mouth Coffee Roasters OPEN: Trax Coffee Roasters     BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Recognize this face? It's Julia from Luxe Optique! When she's not working your paperwork and finding you frames, she's the star of much of Luxe Optique's fashion photography. These Thom Brownes are one of her favorite styles. Stop by any day of the week to try them on. 😎   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) This bride is wearing a Lillian West gown, as its simple elegance against the mountainous backdrop of Lambs Hill makes a big impact. You'll find Lillian West gowns at Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique at 1 East Main - near Trax Coffee Roasters! Come in to take a peek inside the boutique.   Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! Wares, Luxe Optique, and Lambs Hill. Look for our friends - The Blushery - at this year's Cupcake Festival! The owner, Stephanie, will have a table outside on the sidewalk. See her for your makeup needs and brow waxing! For more, check out A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency Book it and forget it. Let Antalek & Moore worry about your wedding venue insurance. They can do the research to find you the best rate. Check that off your list! Click here for details or call them at (845) 831-4300. Rhinebeck Bank When you buy a home, it's common to experience feelings after the initial baby step excitement, like "Ohmygosh, I love this home!" which (fingers crossed!) turns into "Ohmygosh, they accepted my offer!" Working with Rhinebeck Bank to finance your home can help set that nervous excitement at ease once you move forward with purchasing. Just hear what these happy homeowners had to say after closing on their home: "What an adventure this whole crazy home-buying process has been! You calmed the wild mortgage jungles with grace, patience, and expertise, helping us navigate through the financial waters... Thank you for everything!" Read about their success story here >   Katie James, Inc. Private training and group classes are available for: MailChimp Newsletters Squarespace Websites (both design and writing copy that helps you in Google and gets customers to do what you want on your website) Social Media Strategy Keep your eyes on this space for when the class dates are set! Though Private Training is available anytime. Want to book a Pop-Up Shop at A Little Beacon Space? Do it! Our Pop-Up Shop Package includes promotion for your weekend. Learn more here. Tin Shingle Sometimes you need a little wild eyes to keep you going! Check out the encouraging words from this artist who was featured in The New York Times for her work. If you're doing your own PR, she has words you need to hear. Tin Shingle offers the resources available to you to make feature stories like this possible, with our easy-to-use Media Contact List Database, Editorial Calendars, and Training webinars called TuneUps. Learn more about membership here. BeaconArts One of the most connected memberships in Beacon. If you are an artist, have a business or need to connect, this is a membership-based group you'll want to join. Beacon Chamber of Commerce Is your business new in town? Schedule your ribbon-cutting! Did you move and reopen somewhere? The Beacon Chamber of Commerce wants to help your business start out on the right foot. Reach out to them to schedule. SPONSOR OPPORTUNITY A Little Beacon Blog's monthly Second Saturday Guide is seeking lead sponsors to have their logo at the top of the Guide for the month. All Second Saturday Guides are archived and live forever to help preserve our memories of which artists were showing what. Packages start at $350 and can include newsletter and website exposure. See A Little Beacon Blog's Media Kit for details, and contact us with questions. STATS 14,500 views per month on this website 3,100 followers on Facebook 2,700 followers on Instagram 1,100 newsletter subscribers NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog Over 14,500 views per month happen at A Little Beacon Blog, with over 3,100 followers at Facebook and 2,700 at Instagram, as well as 1,100 newsletter subscribers. The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of what makes it happen, and get your business in front of the community. Click here to reach our readers > Until next week!

Trax Is Third Business in Beacon for Owners Buddy and Katy

Photo Credit: Trax Espresso Bar & Coffee Roasters

It's an iconic Beacon experience: Wrapping up the day with coffee or beer on the patio, under tree branches strung with twinkling lights, or imbibing on a balmy afternoon as breezes gust through the outdoor tables of Bank Square Coffeehouse, set between the Hudson River and Mount Beacon. Being the first storefront on Main Street off of 9D (aka Wolcott Ave.), up the hill from the train station, Bank Square's location is prime. Main Street parades often begin there, and overall, the coffee shop is an easy landmark when people are meeting up or discussing something going on in town.

The Bank Square Coffeehouse experience is partially responsible for the many happy walkers, diners and shoppers down on the West End of Beacon, toward the train station. Owners of boutiques, art galleries, and other shops down on the other end of town (aka the "East End") near the mountain continuously wish for more foot traffic, and think longingly of Bank Square. They had been overheard, wishing aloud: "If only we had a Bank Square down here..."

Two-Time Beacon Business Owners Open Second Coffeehouse on East End of Town

That dream came true when Trax Espresso Bar & Coffee Roasters opened in the newly renovated factory building at 1 East Main. Trax is the third business from Beacon business owners Buddy Behney and Katy Bell Behney. They own Bank Square Coffeehouse, which opened in 2009 in the longtime Muddy Cup space, and they can be found almost any day of the week across the street at their retail shop, Mountain Tops Outfitters, which opened in 2006. We reached out to Katy to learn more about the inspiration to open Trax.

ALBB: Had you considered opening a second location earlier?

Katy Bell Behney: "Yes, it’s always been in the back of our minds, whether it be in Beacon or a nearby town. We had been roasting more of our own beans. Having a new space gave us a new venue to do more of that. We hired our manager to help with the roasting: Kurt Balogh. We knew him from Coffee Labs, where we get our coffee for Bank Square. Kurt had worked for a roasting company down in Brooklyn, and was interested in working more with us. He lives in Yonkers and makes the commute up here to act as manager and roaster of Trax."

ALBB: Did any of the shop owners from the East End of town beg you to open up down there?

Katy Bell Behney: "We were approached about putting a coffee shop in there. We looked at the space, not thinking that we would. But once we saw the space, we fell in love with it. Seeing all of the activity going on at that end of town, we thought it would be an interesting opportunity to try a second location. We knew that they wanted a coffee shop there, so we figured we would give it a try. We were flattered that they approached us about it. That encouraged us."

Editor's Note! We dug a little deeper to find out who planted the seed in Katy and Buddy's mind, and learned that it was Charlotte Guernsey, another three-time Beacon business owner. Charlotte says: "Yes, it was me! I wanted their coffee and the foot traffic!" Charlotte owns Gatehouse Realty, the office of which is located on the East End of town, as well as Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique, located in the 1 East Main building with Trax, and also designed the wedding venue Lambs Hill on Mount Beacon.

ALBB: The decor is quite different from Bank Square - what was your thinking there?

Katy Bell Behney: "We wanted to make it a little simpler and stay true to the old building, with the beams that were already there. We wanted to play off of those. We have the old Tuck Tape Industries sign (more about Tuck here) that we salvaged a while back that we didn’t have a place for, and then we found this place. We also have an old billboard sign that came from a local shop. The bar in the window is used from the building next door - from the 1800s."

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Parking is available on the side of Trax.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

ALBB: The logo of the train spike is interesting - who came up with it?

Katy Bell Behney: Credit goes to Buddy on the logo. He and his friend who is a designer came up with the logo. We wanted to play off of the location. Bank Square is called Bank Square because it’s located in the Bank Square part of town. Being on the tracks, we came up with the name Trax. We just thought it looked cool.

Picture of an actual railroad nail that serves as the inspiration for Trax's logo.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Beacon Still in Bloom: Chain Link Fences of Beacon

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Beacon is still in bloom for what is shaping up to be a long floral season, with the healthy doses of rain we’ve been getting. The lilacs, dogwoods, and magnolias have just started opening up. There was a time, for two or three seasons in a row I seem to recall, when it did snow on the new magnolia buds. But so far... well, I won’t say more and jinx us. :)

Meanwhile, Beacon is famous for its chain link fences, and to be honest, the biggest benefit of the chain link fence is that you can see through it, letting in light which is good for plantings, and it doesn’t fall down as easily as soggy wooden fences do. (Though I love a good, soggy, mossy wooden fence. So atmospheric.)

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Sponsor Opportunity: Fundraiser for Episcopal Church of St. Mary’s Golf Outing

The Episcopal Church of St. Mary’s in the Highlands in Cold Spring.
Photo Credit: Google Images. Graphic Design: Katie James, Inc.

From time to time, we hear laments from business owners who saw an opportunity to be involved in an event, or to sponsor something, but didn't know about it in time to apply. Therefore, when we are able to and if we know about it, we'll share a sponsor opportunity with our readers in case you might be interested. A Little Beacon Blog is not affiliated with this event; we just thought you might like to know about it, as we are advocates for local businesses getting the word out, and for fundraising for a good cause.

Sponsorships for Golf Outing at Beekman Golf Course

Stinson’s Hub is fundraising for the Episcopal Church of St. Mary’s in the Highlands in Cold Spring. They "are in desperate need for funds to keep their doors open," says Wendy Stinson, owner of the hub. Stinson's Hub is holding its annual golf outing on Friday, June 8, 2018 at Beekman Golf Course, and is looking for businesses who are interested in sponsorship at different levels. You can learn more about the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church here. The church's parish hall is also home to the Philipstown Reform Synagogue.

The sponsoring establishment’s information would be posted at the outing, and signage would be posted on the hole/tee that is sponsored by the business. According to Wendy, "Every year our golf outing grows bigger and bigger, and we are very excited to see what this year will bring." 

If you are interested in sponsoring a hole or tee, please call Wendy at 845-234-8807 or email wendelrina69@gmail.com.

Sponsor Options:

• Sponsor a $200 hole or $100 tee.
• Sponsor the purchase of golf balls with your establishment’s logo on them to be given out at the outing
• $200 per 5 dozen golf balls with your logo on them (taken)
• Sponsor for 15 dozen golf balls with your logo on them
• Sponsor the Par 3 Challenge - $300 (taken)
• Sponsor the Par 5 Challenge - $400
• Sponsor the Hole in One Challenge - $600 (taken)
• Sponsor a Car Giveaway (Car Dealership)
• Dinner Sponsor - $800
• Lunch Sponsor - $300
• Sponsor Refreshments Station - $200
• **All sponsorships will have their establishments advertised at the event

Latest Changes to Draft Legislation for Airbnb in Beacon, NY (Short-Term Rental)

The Beacon City Council has made changes to the proposed legislation it is currently considering, to regulate short-term rentals by homeowners, commonly referred to as Airbnb-ing one's home. These changes are being discussed today in a City Council workshop meeting. The topic is #4 on the workshop agenda, which includes a dozen other areas for discussion. You can see all of the changes here at the city's website in red underlines and strike-throughs in the link called "Short Term Rentals LL."

The city has received a lot of public feedback about short-term rentals and Airbnb spaces in Beacon. The topic was first discussed in 2014, and with the city's skyrocketing popularity, addressing lodging space has only become more urgent. Since the City Council began to revisit potential short-term rental legislation, the following major changes have appeared in the public draft of the proposed city law. It would be the first of its kind for Beacon, and will be discussed at tonight's City Council workshop.

• Language was removed from the overall introduction of the law that implied that short-term rentals in and of themselves cause bad behavior and disruption to neighborhoods at large.
• "Non-owner" specification added to the determination that short-term rentals are inconsistent with the use of a residence for residential dwelling purposes.
• Campers, garages, sheds, and other structures not approved for residential use - temporary or permanent - remain un-rentable in short-term residential situations.
  Editor's note: Just as an FYI, businesses that rent campers on their property, such as Kate's Lazy Meadow in the Catskills do exist, and require their own sets of business and insurance filings.
• "Owner" has been more refined to exclude "entity corporation, limited-liability company, partnership," in addition to other forms of entities like a trust, or guardian of an estate.
• Spaces available as rent-able have been more defined.
• Requirements of the owner to show where the house has been advertised have been reduced.
• Owner-occupancy remains the required status, which means that people would not be able to rent out a second or third home they owned on a short-term basis. The home would need to be the primary residence of the owner.
• Weddings, concerts and other commercial uses of a property would remain unlawful for short-term rental.
• The 100 days per year maximum amount of rental days has been removed. Nearly everyone who spoke at the public hearing for short-term rentals was opposed to that maximum. At that meeting, Council Member John Rembert voiced a request to "revisit the 100-day" maximum.
• Permits would be required once the law is signed, and those who already rent out would have "45 days to file an application to obtain a short-term rental permit and 90 days to receive such short- term rental permit before any violations are issued" by the Building Department, unless the Building Department gets delayed.

The entire proposed law, called "Short Term Rentals LL," is here for you to read." The document at the link includes more changes not highlighted here.

RELATED ARTICLES

Airbnb Paid Over $220K in Taxes to Dutchess County in 2017

Photo Credit: Screenshot from Airbnb listings, A Little Beacon Blog.

As the City of Beacon considers legislation for short-term rentals in residential houses, everyone involved is looking at their finances. During a public hearing for the legislation, homeowners who rent their homes out on a per-night, short-term basis, came out to speak in favor of continuing to allow short-term rentals in their homes. Many of the homeowners discussed financial implications they would face if Beacon legislated against short-term rentals or limited the amount of nightly rentals to 100 per year per house (the City Council has since scratched out that maximum from the draft legislation currently being discussed at City Council's Workshop meeting on 4/30/18), or imposing a New York State fire code law for Bed and Breakfasts that requires a sprinkler system or special windows installed in the home.

Other Areas of Economy Impacted by Airbnb

A Beacon resident and Airbnb user, Eileen O'Hare, shed light on another economic area that is impacted by Airbnb rentals, and that is the service industry. According to Eileen's presentation at the public hearing, Airbnb recommends for homeowners to pay for house cleaning and lawn care in order to attract good and consistent bookings. She then posed this question to the City Council at that meeting: "I pay my cleaning lady $25 per hour. What do you pay yours?"

Tax Revenue Going to Dutchess County Generated by Airbnb Bookings

People who make money from Airbnb bookings, like house cleaners, also attended the meeting to request that the short-term rentals be allowed to continue. This got us to thinking about the wider economic impact of short-term rentals on the area, and so we reached out to Dutchess County Legislator Nick Page to get some answers about any revenue generated by the Bed Tax. That tax, as well as sales tax, goes straight to Dutchess County and does not directly get paid to the City of Beacon. Here are some economic statistics derived from tax revenue raised for Dutchess County through Airbnb short-term bookings, according to Nick's understanding, from conversations with the Dutchess County Department of Finance:

• Airbnb paid a total of $221,918 of the 4% Bed Tax to Dutchess County for 2017. 

• Dutchess County began collecting the 4% Bed Tax from hosts using the Airbnb platform on March 1, 2017. 

• The payments to the county are not broken down by municipality (i.e. city, town, or village) and the county does not have access to the host addresses from Airbnb.

• Airbnb remits one payment to the county by the 20th of each month for the preceding month's activity.

• Dutchess County is about to begin tracking other short-term rental sites as well. Currently, Dutchess County only collects from Airbnb.

The discussion continues, as the City Council meets tonight to go over the latest changes to the draft legislation based on feedback from the community. On the public agenda for tonight, this topic is filed under "Short-Term Rentals" and is currently #4 out of 12 topics to discuss. Bring your coffee.

RELATED ARTICLES

Found Some Red Dot Beacon Open Studios and Saw This

While out perusing the studios, we happened to find the original artwork used for the Beacon Open Studios brochure map this year! The artist, RoArt, was showing at Spire Studios, and we featured her last year as well! She works at a foundry, and after finishing some painting work on a sculpture, she laid the paintbrushes down in a circle. She was captivated by the fanned-out arrangement and colors, so she captured the brush scene, then painted them vibrantly.

The tools in the picture are from metalsmith Kit Burke-Smith. She brought her tools down from her upstairs studio to show and tell curious visitors what they do and how they were used to create different pieces of jewelry.

The next house was on Orchard, but we were too late to go inside. Lucky for us, plenty of work was on display in the window! Then we headed over to see Stanley Lindwasser’s house/studio, down Lafayette Avenue opposite Tompkins Terrace, but the sky grew so ominous that we vowed to return tomorrow.

Where did you hop? 

Happening This Weekend 4/27/2018

Double, even triple the usual Beacon fun! Guess what you get to do this weekend: Beacon Open Studios, Beacon Dog Parade, and the Ree-Play Tag Sale. There's no wrong answer! This weekend, four-legged friends are celebrated with the Beacon Barks Parade & Street Festival. While you are out, watch for the red signs everywhere - they mark where an artist's studio is, and you're invited to come in to see how they work! Pick up a map showing all of the artists, here at A Little Beacon Blog's office at 291 Main Street, or at other shop locations. A Little Beacon Blog is a proud sponsor of Beacon Open Studios this year. It's one of our favorite outdoor/indoor events that identifies Beacon. BTW: It's so beautiful in Beacon right now! Despite the rain. Everything is blooming!                   Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. The Annual Beacon Barks Parade & Street Festival Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 11 am to 3 pm Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY, starting at Polhill Park (corner of 9D and South Avenue across from Bank Square Coffee) Information > 14th Annual Ree-Play Sale Benefiting Community Parks in Beacon Day: Friday to Sunday, April 27-29, 2018 Time: 9 am to 1 pm Location: 724 Wolcott Ave., Beacon NY (use the same driveway as the Beacon Pool) It's time to shop and score great deals on kids' clothes, gear and toys! The Ree-Play Children's Tag Sale is a fundraising effort from Wee Play Community Project, that impacts your life in Beacon. Not only will you score a major deal on some gear that just might change your children's lives forever (ok, maybe for five minutes), but your purchase helps buy equipment for three parks in Beacon (Tot Park at Memorial Park, Green Street Park, and Riverfront Park) in addition to funding kids' programming at the Howland Library and other initiatives around the city. Beacon Open Studios Weekend Days: Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29 Time: Noon to 6 pm Location: All. Over. Beacon!) It's a citywide exploration of artists in their studios. Studios can be in an artist's home or in a different location. Pick up a printed map/brochure of where to find each artist in Oak Vino Wine Bar, A Little Beacon Space, and other storefronts. Information > Wickham Wood Scrap Sale Days: Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, 2018 Time: Noon to 6 pm Location: Wickham Solid Wood Studio, 578 Main St., Beacon, NY 3rd Annual Newburgh Urban Farming Fair Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: Noon to 4 pm Location: 80 Broadway, Newburgh, NY Information > Hudson Valley Mac and Cheese Festival Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 1 to 5 pm Location:  Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery - 100 Brotherhood Plaza Drive, Washingtonville, NY Information > Expansion - Art Auction Fundraiser Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 5:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 447 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Niche Modern’s Semi-Annual Factory Sale Day: Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, 2018 Time: Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm Location: 310 Fishkill Ave., Beacon NY Information > Classics for Kids presents “The Joke’s On You” Day: Sunday, April 29, 2018 Time: Noon Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Meet An In-Shop Artist, In Person Day: Sunday, April 29, 2018 Time: 1 to 4 pm Location: Wares, 2 Tioronda Ave., Beacon, NY Information > Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Harlem String Quartet with Michael Brown, Piano Day: Sunday, April 29, 2018 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.     Make & Take Workshop Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 1 to 3 pm Location: Knot Too Shabby, 155 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > A Mother’s Stove: A Four-Course Cooking Class & Dinner Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 6 pm Location: Beacon Pantry, 382 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Moneta Dress (Advanced Beginner) Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 1 to 5 pm Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Quilting 101 with Katy Hope (four sessions) Day: Sundays: April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 2018 Time: 10 am to 1 pm Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Chalk Paint 101® - The Annie Sloan Method Day: Sunday, April 29, 2018 Time: 9 am to noon Location: Knot Too Shabby, 155 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Sewing School for Beginners with Katy Hope (four sessions) Day: Mondays: April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 2018 Time: 11 am to 1 pm Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide. Fun with Science - 3D Printer Meet & Greet Day: Friday, April 27, 2018 Time: 3 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Camp FIT Open House Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 11 am to 2 pm Location: All Sport Health & Fitness, 17 Old Main St., Fishkill, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.   Miles of Hope 15th Annual Family Fun 5K & Kids Run Day: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Time: 8 am (registration), 10 am (kids), 10:30 am (5K) Location: Tymor Park, 8 Tymor Park Road, LaGrangeville, NY Information > 17th Annual Autism Walk & Expo Day: Sunday, April 29, 2018 Time: 8:30 am to 1 pm Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Ave., Rhinebeck, NY Information >   Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!     BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Luxe Optique's very own Christos is sporting transition lenses in his Eyevan aviators! This spring season, finally upon us, is perfect for trying transition lenses, which tint darker or lighter depending on the light. Built-in, automatic protection from the sun's rays.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) Coming soon: outdoor bridal photo shoots at the stunning Lambs Hill venue! Visit Lambs Hill's bridal boutique, just down the hill/mountain on Main Street, to see this Justin Alexander gown, which is perfect for winter brides. The back of the dress is stunning... but you'll need to go into the store to see for yourself!   Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! Wares, Luxe Optique, and Lambs Hill. Where can you get your hair done in Beacon? Or have a beard trim? Find out in A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! TIP: Up the hill from Lambs Hill Bridal is The Blushery, a makeup counter and laser hair removal boutique all in one, serving men and women. SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency The insurance agents at Antalek & Moore are independent agents. This means that they go out and find a great rate and fit for your car insurance needs. You don't need to do the homework - they do. Give them a call today if you are buying a car and need new insurance or you're interested in switching. Call (845) 831-4300, or visit their location on Main Street! Or contact them here. Rhinebeck Bank A Little Beacon Blog just met with these ladies from the Beacon branch of Rhinebeck Bank! They are new managers there, and are digging into the Beacon community to get to know you better. Meet Rosa Hoag (left), Business Development Officer, and Carolyn Manfreda-Haines (right), AVP, Area Branch Manager. Learn more here in our Instagram >   Katie James, Inc. Hi. Meet Katie James, Inc., the design company behind A Little Beacon Blog and Tin Shingle. You may remember the name InHouse Design Media in this spot. A rebrand is going on, and we're excited to share more about it with you over the coming weeks. Tin Shingle Tin Shingle's business and artist member meeting is held the last Monday of every month. We talk marketing strategies, what's working and not working. Agenda: The Cupcake Festival is May 5. How will you market to 10,000 people whizzing by your shop? Join Tin Shingle's Community Level 1 Membership and Come to the Meeting > BeaconArts Our most favoritest artist holiday of the year! Beacon Open Studios is NOW - this weekend - April 28 and 29 in studios all over town! Beacon Chamber of Commerce Attend the Beacon Chamber of Commerce May Member Meet-Up. Meet and mingle with other businesses in Beacon and beyond, as the chamber's membership expands to include other communities who want to work together. You don't have to be a member to attend. When: Tuesday, May 1, 2018 Time: 5:30 to 7 pm Location: Max's on Main, 246 Main St., Beacon NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog A Little Beacon Blog gets more than 14,500 views per month, with over 3,100 followers at Facebook and 2,700 at Instagram, as well as our 1,100 newsletter subscribers. The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps get local news produced. You can be part of what makes it happen, and get your business in front of the community. Click here to reach our readers > Until next week!

Hunting for Beacon Open Studios! Follow the Red Dots

Part of the thrill of experiencing Beacon Open Studios is finding each studio somewhere in Beacon. Similar to how we hunt for Christmas lights at night, we drive or jog around town looking for the red dot in yards and sidewalks, signaling that there is an artist inside waiting to show you their actual studio and finished (or unfinished) art. Step inside to see the studio in this picture, and you'll discover the metalsmith Kit Burke-Smith at 5 Orchard Place.

You can pick up an actual map in different shops around town, or here at our office at A Little Beacon Blog. Once again, we are a proud sponsor of this event, as it’s one of our favorites of the indoor/outdoor events that define Beacon. Or you can get the map on your phone, by going to the Beacon Open Studios website, for a really slick experience to help you hit the artists' studios you want. 

Ambling is encouraged! 

Kablam - Spring Has Sprung in Beacon!

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

It happened! Finally!

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

We can leave our houses (is that safe to say without jinxing?) without coats and the sun is shining! Must get sunglasses from Luxe Optique or Style Storehouse!

After four solid snow days, one each week during March (possibly every Wednesday in March was an official snow day for the school district), the sunshine and tree blossoms are amazing.

Spending time down at Dia:Beacon while everything is in bloom, and taking in the spectacular view of the Hudson River is so special in Beacon.  

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

HOT THING TO DO TIP: Beacon residents get to enjoy free admission each Saturday and Sunday down at Dia:Beacon, so get your plans on. Like this tip? Find others like it in A Little Beacon Blog’s Repeating Event Guide. If you find yourself on a Wednesday wondering what to do, check out that Guide for an easy list of suggestions.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Windows On Main Street 2018 Seeking Submissions For Artists and Sponsors - Deadline June 1st

Are you planning to take part in this year's Windows On Main Street here in Beacon? Get your submission ready, because the deadline to sign up as an artist or sponsr is Friday, June 1, 2018. The opening party will be held Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Oak Vino Wine Bar at 389 Main St.

A Little Beacon Blog is a proud sponsor of this event, and we look forward to seeing how it will turn out, and what kind of conversations it will start. Remember yarnbombing?

And the 2018 Theme Is...

There is no theme this year! Artists are encouraged to make this year's installation truly their own, with organizers' encouragement to share the best representation of the artist's work. Says Diana Currie, organizer of WOMS, "Our hope is that the freedom of having no theme this year will push participants to create some exceptional work."

Sponsorship packages  are open now and range from $25 to $250, which includes online and print advertisement options. Businesses who are interested in making their storefront windows available for the exhibition can email windowsonmainstreet@gmail.com. Participating artists can apply here. Artists must install their work at the partner business between Monday, August 6, and Friday, August 10.

Visit www.windowsonmainstreet.com or email windowsonmainstreet@gmail.com if you have questions or would like more information.

Buying a Home With Local Bankers at Rhinebeck Bank (Sponsored)

Financing Your Home With Rhinebeck Bank

When you buy a home, it's common to experience feelings after the initial baby step excitement, like "Ohmygosh I love this home!" which (fingers crossed!) turns into "ohmygosh they accepted my offer!"

And then begins the rest of the process of buying a home. Lucky for this happy couple, they worked with mortgage lender Susan Utter of Rhinebeck Bank. They could barely contain their excitement after closing on a house, and praised Susan: "What an adventure this whole crazy home-buying process has been! You calmed the wild mortgage jungles with grace, patience, and expertise, helping us navigate through the financial waters... Thank you for everything!"

Rhinebeck Bank has been committed to the home purchasing experience in the Hudson Valley for decades. Sound interesting? You could check online right now to see if you're approved for financing. Or visit a local branch, like the one in Beacon near Dutchess Stadium, or the big white branch in the New England-style building on the way into Fishkill. Applications can be completed in as quickly as 15 minutes.

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

Photo Credits: Photos came from Rhinebeck Bank Mortgage Lender Susan Utter's Facebook page. Screenshot of "for sale" sign came from Rhinebeck Bank's Welcome Home video.

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Dispose of Cords and Batteries at Best Buy in Poughkeepsie

Bummed out by dusty cords and batteries in your basement graveyard? Dispose of them here at Best Buy in Poughkeepsie.

Personally, we love shopping and walking into brick-and-mortar stores - both mom and pop, and the big box type. Both kinds employ our neighbors and let people connect, in person. And they can also create opportunities like this to recycle.

We've been mourning the loss of Babies R Us and the knowledgeable people who worked there for years and years. So we're happy to hear that Best Buy locations are holding up. Shopping in person is such a different experience than shopping online. That’s why Amazon is looking to buy shells of fallen big box stores - possibly at Amazon’s expense. If you want to see a store succeed, go inside, not online. Though online shopping can benefit small local favorite retailers - hit up local favorites Dream in Plastic and Style Storehouse online! - it is usually way more fun inside.

See A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide for ways you can shop all of Beacon.