Pho King ingredients, from Eat Church. Photo Credit: Eat Church
I’m not gonna lie (and why would I in the presence of a church?!): For the longest time I did not know what Pho King was (some ingredients are pictured at right), but a lot of you do, and it seems to have a lot of big-time loyal fans. I’m happy to report: I have finally tried Pho King, it’s good, and I want it again.
Meet Eat Church, the little food truck on the campus of Industrial Arts Brewing that packs a powerful punch to your palate. Eat Church is quite possibly the eatery furthest from the center of Beacon, in true fringe style on the far end of the Route 52 strip, up a hill, and to the left of the new Industrial Arts taproom with the pinball game room.
This little truck serves roasted chicken, roasted pig, pad thai, pork belly, crunchy noodles, Korean fried chicken, red curry with coconut rice, and many more creations.
The Industrial Arts Brewery sign on Route 52 near John Deere. The Eat Church food truck is on the brewery’s campus.
If you’ve driven down Route 52 a zillion times and never seen Industrial Arts or Eat Church, well, that’s understandable. The sign for Industrial Arts isn’t quite as lit up as the neighboring John Deere sign. All you need to do is turn at the Industrial Arts sign, drive up the winding driveway, and beer and food await you.
The food truck is outside, and plenty of seating is inside Industrial Arts, either at the bar, or at long tables in the common area, or or within heated tents.
The mountain view is spectacular - unobstructed by anything. It’s just you and the mountain and the Pho King and the Torque Wrench, which The Valley Table has recently dubbed very hard to find. There is a case of it up on this hill. (You can also find it on Main Street at Beacon Craft Beer Shoppe next to Key Food.)
The view from the Eat Church food truck at Industrial Arts Brewery. Photo Credit: @jwhittz
While we have not yet been to Eat Church during the day, we did visit at night. Here is what you can expect to see in the dark at Eat Church. Just so ya know, Eat Church is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog’s Restaurant Guide. The winter months are the hardest for our restaurant friends, so we are giving them an extra boost with this much needed field-trip style profile. Plus, Eat Church just started delivering via Seamless!
Enjoy this series of mini videos that give you a feeling of Eat Church and Industrial Arts Brewing - at night!
Before the representative from ReCommunity (acquired by Republic Services), Steve Hastings, presented his in-depth “Recycling Has Halted and Here’s Why 101 Class” to City Council back in May 2018, it was easy for people to say: “My recycling bin is full! I recycle everything! It’s great!”
Thing is - it wasn’t great - and all that extra stuff that may have been thrown into the recycling bin - like a kids’ toy, a dirty bottle of liquid laundry detergent, or a yogurty yogurt cup - was and is contaminating the recycling batch, rendering it useless. And while Steve never committed to saying what happens to disposed of matter that is not recycled, you would need to just think about where the recycling goes when it can’t be recycled - straight to the trash. Wherever that is, and in whatever form that takes.
After the de-brief and the resulting feelings of “Horrors! This is awful! Nothing I am recycling is probably being recycled!” people wanted clearer guidelines. The Beacon Green Coalition heard that call loud and clear, and developed a nifty new flyer in 2019. You may still see it hanging around. Ask the city to email you one if you want to print it out at home. Here’s what it says:
“Wish-cycling” - When You Think You’re Recycling But Really You’re Just Messing It All Up
Steve the recycling professional stressed the harmful effects of “Wish-Cycling.” That moment when you empty the applesauce jar and you toss it into the blue bin. Or when you just finished a sushi meal and you toss all of the soy sauce- and wasabi-covered plastic plates into the blue bin. Or when you’re cleaning out your kid’s toy room, and you recycle about 20 little plastic toys and lone battery backs.
“When In Doubt, Throw It Out”
Steve actually said this during the presentation in 2018. Several times. He begged people to throw away things if they weren’t sure if it should be recycled or not. But how do you know? How would you know that soggy cardboard or a meat juice-soaked paper bag was not eligible anymore for recycling?
In the past, the only way to know what to throw into the recycling bins were noted on the labels affixed to their lids but after some time, those labels tend to fade in the elements.
The Easy-Peasy Recycling Guide
Here’s the breakdown of everyday items that can or cannot be recycled, as produced by the Beacon Green Coalition:
Rigid Plastic
YES (rinse everything) Beverage containers: jugs, bottles, cups. Food containers: clear clamshells, tubs, laundry detergent bottles (but rinse it 100% - if you can’t, then switch to powder)
TIP: If it’s paper or plastic and smaller than a credit card, throw it out.
NO Plastic bags, straws (they always slip out of the recycling batch - too small), plastic utensils (forks, knives, spoons), caps (smaller than a quarter - just screw it back onto the beverage container), plastic wrap, Styrofoam, items smaller than a credit card.
Paper & Cardboard
YES Newspapers, magazines, brochures, paper bags, mail including junk mail, envelopes with plastic windows, phone books, waxed cartons (e.g. juice and milk), shredded paper in a clear tied bag, corrugated cardboard and paperboard boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, foil-lined cartons (for soup stock, etc).
NO Soiled paper, food-soiled paper plates, pizza boxes, tissues, paper towels, coffee cups or lids.
Metal
YES Aluminum and metal cans, metal jar lids and caps, empty aerosol cans, rinsed foil wrapping, pie plates, and trays.
NO Hangers (return to dry cleaner), scrap metal (bring to a scrap metal recycler), foil juice pouches.
Glass
YES Bottles and jars, other food containers, beverage containers, all cleaned glass products (even broken ones),
NO Pyrex, ceramics, light bulbs, window glass.
Don’t Recycle These Household Items:
Batteries, electronics, cords (can be recycled at Best Buy - even Christmas lights!).
Plastic bags (take them to any large grocery store).
Plastic children’s toys
Handy Tips
Rinse rinse rinse! It’s a total waste if you don’t. You might as well not throw it into the recycling bin. It contaminates the entire batch. China won’t buy it, and we’re sunk.
Don’t bag the recycling - loose loose loose! Unless it’s shredded paper. And then put it into a clear plastic bag.
When in doubt, throw it out. :(… But let’s just know what to recycle in the first place, thanks to this handy guide from the City of Beacon and Beacon Green Coalition!
Just last month, it used to be hipsterish to carry your tote bags to a grocery store. Forget about pulling them out at any other type of store, like a gas station, Rite Aid, or big-box store. You would just look plum “alternative” if you did (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Plenty of people carried the tote bags with pride, and showed off their tote bag collections from different magazines and brands they love, while others sometimes remembered to bring their totes stored in their cars. Now, thanks to the statewide ban on the single-use plastic bag (those plastic bags you see whipping around roads and catching on trees), everyone is carrying whatever bags they can remember into stores. Or maybe they are still carrying nothing at all.
“My husband came home the other night with groceries falling out of his arms,” recalled one Beacon resident. “Now he is trying to remember to bring the reusable bags in the car.” Common stories include people forgetting their reusable bags stashed in the car, only to dash out of the store to quickly grab them. Grocery stores like Key Food are making the paper and plastic reusable tote bags available at checkout. New York did not require stores to charge for the paper bags, as a deterrent to using any single-use bag, but many stores are charging 5 cents for the paper, and another rate for the reusable plastic tote. Key Food is charging 5 cents for their paper bags, and 99 cents for their reusable plastic bag, while Stop and Shop in Poughkeepsie is charging $2.50 for their reusable plastic bag. Beacon Natural is charging 5 cents for the paper bags, and does sell their cloth tote bag for $10, but has flash sales for $3.99 from time to time.
According to an article in the Poughkeepsie Journal, the cost of paper bags to a retail shop has increased. Nicole Wronga, owner of Simplicity, a consignment store, told the newspaper that the cost of 250 paper bags has increased from $42.50 to $47.50 (that equals 19 cents per paper bag, so even selling it at 5 cents is a loss for some who don’t order in huge bulk). It has caused Nicole to begin charging 5 cents for a paper bag, with 3 cents being donated to the state environmental budget, to encourage customers to bring their own bag.
Over here at A Little Beacon Blog, we sell tote bags, and now with the flooded market of totes (because we all need them), the price you might pay just plummeted. So, it costs us $7.50 to produce the bags locally in Newburgh, and we’re charging $10 right now.
BYO Bag - Bring Your Own Bag
New York State is branding this ban as BYO Bag (Bring Your Own Bag). Do you remember back in the 1990s, when the giant yellow plastic bags with blue handles were the rage? They were so giant, hardly anyone could really carry a full one. They equaled about three paper bags of groceries. Typically associated with Ikea bags, but sometimes sold by the Girl Scouts at grocery stores to encourage people not to use paper bags. The reusable bag has been tried before, but now it’s officially locked in. At least we know that paper bags are recyclable, but only if they are 100% dry, clean, and not wet with food.
When word was coming down of the plastic bag ban, some retailers didn’t believe it would happen. And then Marc Molinaro, County Executive for Dutchess County, signed it into law in December 2018. Dutchess County’s ban went into effect January 1, 2020. Ulster County’s County Executive signed theirs into law in October 2018, while Suffolk County added a 5 cent charge to single-use plastic and paper bags in January 2018. And then New York State brought it all down with a state ban, set to go into effect in March 2020, which will eventually make it all less confusing. No single-use plastic bags anywhere in the state.
Plastic Bags In Trees, In Streets, In Recycling
Recycling executives have cited plastic bags as one of the most disruptive contaminants to their recycling production, which adds to the taxpayer cost of recycling in Beacon. During a 2018 presentation from Beacon’s recycling facility, ReCommunity (acquired by Republic Services), Steve Hastings explained to the City Council about how the single-use plastic bags are one of the biggest disruptors to their production, when they get loose and float up and get stuck in the machines.
A year after Suffolk County’s plastic bag ban, a study released revealed that 1.1 billion fewer plastic bags were used in the county since that ban, and the number of bags found polluting shorelines fell steeply compared with 2017, as reported by Newsday.
How The Plastic Ban Works For Retailers
You can read all about the plastic bag ban rules for Dutchess County here in this legislative resolution (aka law). Retailers or wholesalers who are engaged in the sale of personal, consumer, or household items must stop providing the single-use plastic bags. Paper bags that are provided must be 100% recyclable, be made from at least 40% recyclable material, and display the word “Recyclable” on the front.
Retailers could be fined $100 for their first violation, $250 for their second violation, and $500 for their third violation, and violations thereafter.
So how about getting more cloth tote bags? A Little Beacon Blog and Antalek & Moore have got some for you! :)
Our Writerly Happenings column is back! Back to get you out of the house and into a book or a writing group. Columnist Phoebe Zinman reveals a bunch of great recommendations to add to your reading list. She'll also share where you can address your writing bug.
Mark your calendar all the way into February, as Binnacle Books has a special book release event coming Saturday, February 15, with author Jenny Offill. Jenny will be discussing her new book, Weather.
So grab your favorite blanket and a warm beverage, then curl up and read ahead with what's happening this weekend!
Beacon Performing Arts Center presents "Frozen Kids"
Days: Thursday to Sunday, January 16-19, 2020 Time: See below Location: The Theater at Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY
Tickets available online or at the door one hour before each show. Seating is general, no seats are reserved. Doors will open approximately 30 minutes before the show.
Adults, $10; students 18 and younger, $5; children 2 and under, free.
Friday, January 17 at 7 pm - Anna Cast
Saturday, January 18 at 2 pm - Olaf Cast
Saturday, January 18 at 7 pm - Elsa Cast
Sunday, January 19 at 12:30 pm - Anna Cast
Sunday, January 19 at 3:30 pm - Elsa Cast Information >
R.J. Storm and Old School-Bluegrass Band
Day: Saturday, January 18, 2020 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Martin Luther King Day Celebration and Parade March
Bring a Peace Sign!
Day: Monday, January 20, 2020 Time:See the full schedule Location: Springfield Baptist Church, 8 Church St. (aka Mattie Cooper Square) Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Darryl's Women's Clothing Boutique
155 Main Street www.darrylsny.com
Meow...! This sexy leopard print dress is an easy fit for an important night out, or even an office presentation. You will be at the top of your game and will hold the attention in the room. Pair with a pair of chunky gold earrings, which you can also find in Darryl's. Need a coat? Also at Darryl's. That's right, girl. They got you.
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com
sabine be is at it again with the cleverest looks. The illusion on these frames is different with each color. Which color would match your eyes? The tortoise shell is an obvious YES as it goes with everything. Now, do you want a pop of blue? Only in Luxe Optique will you find quirky designs like this.
226 Main Street, Beacon, NY 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathroom From Gate House Realty: "Gorgeous high-end loft with polished concrete floors, with radiant heat throughout." Price: $799,000 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Perhaps you have noticed, when visiting your favorite store in Dutchess County, that there are no longer plastic bags available. The countywide change went into effect on 1/1/20 to ban single-use plastic bags. Don't worry, Antalek & Moore has got you covered! Stop into their offices at 340 Main Street, Beacon, and say hi to Thomasine for one our reusable shopping bags!
A Little Beacon Blog Tote Bags
Add A Little Beacon Blog tote bag to your collection! It can hold two dozen eggs comfortably. Shop Now >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory
Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join here today. Learn More >
MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include:
Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer
Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor
Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide
Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog
The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way.
WHAT: Services + Parade March WHEN: Monday, January 20, 2020 WHERE: Springfield Baptist Church, 8 Church Street (aka Mattie Cooper Square)
On Monday, January 20, 2020, for the 42nd year, a daylong celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. is planned at the Springfield Baptist Church from the Southern Dutchess Coalition (SDC). For the seventh year, the Pete Seeger Community “Dr. King Parade” will commence with a march around the block in the morning, with people returning back to the church for the performance pieces and service. Last year, the event was postponed due to an unexpected ice storm. This year, the snow(/ice) date is Monday, February 17, 2020.
Themes & Performances For The MLK Birthday Celebration
According to the organizers: “The 2020 SDC Birthday Celebration promises to be another glorious example of Beacon’s Unity, Community and Diversity!”
This year’s main theme is: “If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?” Continuing the celebration of future leaders, the Southern Dutchess Coalition will present the seventh annual essay contest, which will take place after the parade. The theme of the annual essay contest is: “Injustice Anywhere Is A Threat To Justice Everywhere.”
Schedule For The Day
Here’s how the day is going to go on Monday, January 20, 2020 (snow date is February 17, 2020):
8 am: Dr. King Continental Breakfast (rolls, assorted buns, bagels, coffee, tea) 9:30 am: Opening Session 9:45 to 10:30 am: 7th Annual Pete Seeger/SDC Community Dr. King Parade. Participants are encouraged to bring peace signs. 11 am to 12:50 pm: Annual Celebration Dinner (turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, toss salad and dessert, courtesy of sponsors and contributors) Annual Youth/Adult Talent MLK Essay Contest Winners/Presentations - Theme: “Injustice Anywhere Is A Threat To Justice Everywhere.” 1 pm: Annual Celebration Service, from the Rev. Dr. Ronald O. Perry Sr., Pastor. Persons Of The Year Awards presented to Judge Peter Forman, Beulah Jackson, Patricia White and Goldee Greene.
Organizers for this event include Jennifer Baker-McClinton, Executive Chairperson of SDC; Sharlene Stout, Vice Chairperson & Music Coordinator of SDC; and Bonnie Champion, Parade & Essay Contest Coordinator.
Sponsorship Opportunity For Future Years
“There has never been or will be a charge for any food served to our participants and guests,” exclaim the organizers. If you ever wondered how all of this gets pulled off each year, with two meals being served for free and other organizing event details paid for, it is with contributions from patrons and sponsors. Contributors are listed in the program.
To contribute to or sponsor the following year, please contact the Chairperson via email prazingaljenny@gmail.com or (845) 454-2059. Your name will be listed in the annual program as one of the organizations or individual sponsors.
Great article in this week’s Highlands Current by Alison Rooney about ballet class for adults at Beacon’s Ballet Arts Studio. It features three students who are former dancers who stopped dancing after they had children, and have taken up the practice again to reclaim sanity through the meditation that is ballet for them.
One featured dancer/student is Juliet Harvey of Beacon Pilates, who steps out of her own fitness studio as the instructor, to be the student in another part of town, in another person’s studio. All of the women featured share what the ballet class means to their minds. According to the article, Patrice Shea, 58, who also stopped dancing when she had children, says about the ballet class that it is “the only thing I do for myself all week; I make every effort to get here. As an adult, I feel it’s important to feel strong, flexible and balanced. This class is a judgment-free zone.”
Further down the street, the owner of the new cryotherapy center, Cold Fit Cryotherapy, is also a dancer who pulled back due to injury. While she still dances, she credits cryo treatments that healed her toe and other body parts to keep her moving and doing some dance.
PS: The Highlands Current is seeking readers to hear from in a focus group they are hosting in Beacon here at A Little Beacon Space on Saturday, January 18. Find information on how to participate at the Highlands Current’s form.
Happy New Year sweet readers! Have you been reading anything good, or just floating around on a graham cracker raft in a sea of egg nog? I’ve been busy recovering from surgery and have been reading nonstop in the absence of anything else to do besides “heal.” Feel free to send me a pillow with an inspirational message on it if you like, OR just tell me what to read next.
Top Picks
Here are my top picks from an array of genres: Garments Against Women by Anne Boyer (poems); Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh; Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock; The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner; Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister; and I reread the still-transformative Women Who Run With the Wolves for good measure (by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.). And I’m reading Dr. Dolittle with my kids in anticipation of the movie coming out next week. It’s still funny. Chapter 8 is basically a feminist manifesto.
What is ALBB up to in the reading department these days? Well, magazine devotee Katie Hellmuth Martin is turning those mags into 2020 foresight with Vision Boarding at the A Little Beacon Space. Check back for more workshop dates!
Happening In January
On Saturday, January 11, there’s another amazing edition of The Artichoke at the Howland Cultural Center. It promises to be “a superb evening of storytelling with Sam Dingman (The Moth Grand Slam Winner & host of Family Ghosts), Micaela Blei (The Moth Radio Hour), Erin Barker (The Story Collider), Sandi Marx (Stories from the Stage), Mike Cho (Risk!) and Beacon's own Mike Burdge (Story Screen).” 8 pm; $17.50 in advance, a cool $20 at the door.
On Saturday, January 25, the Spring Street series kicks off the new year at Atlas with an evening of international writers and translation. “The writers are: Mercedes Roffe, whose wonderful book Ghost Opera was translated by Beacon's own Judith Filc. Also appearing that night are Pierre Joris, whose translations of Celan and Adonis will be featured along with his own work. Jeanne Bonner will be reading her translation of the amazing work by a Hungarian writer who actually wrote in Italian, and, following up on the terrific discourse on cheese in The Odyssey at our last food fest event, we have Charles Stein, who will be presenting from his translation of The Odyssey and maybe even the Iliad.” 6:30 pm; donations appreciated.
Writing Workshops Galore!
Did you resolve to write more, even at the risk of harming your social standing and neglecting your family? Well, we support you 100 percent! There are a number of workshops you can join that are starting soon. Find a group to make you accountable!
Danielle Trussoni, writer and organizer of the fantastic Newburgh Literary Festival in October, is leading a writing workshop that will begin Sunday, January 26, 4 to 6 pm, and go for six weekly sessions. “This course is a reprisal of the sold-out course that I taught at Hudson Valley Writers Center, in 2019. It was designed to offer another opportunity to participate - especially for the people in and around Newburgh who could not make the trip, or were closed out.” RSVP to danielle@danielletrussoni.com to reserve a spot.
Ruth Danon is offering live writing poetry-centric workshops beginning in early February. She’s planning to run a “six-week session, take a break and then run another six-week session, the second of which would culminate in a reading by the workshop participants. The fee for the six-week session is $250 and will include private conferences.” Email Ruth for details about time and day: ruthdanonpoetry@gmail.com.
Also in Beacon, Donna Minkowitz is offering a memoir-writing workshop starting Wednesday, January 22, at 7 pm and it “goes for eight Wednesday nights, [until] March 11. The focus is on craft, especially on using the senses, lyricism, emotion, critical thinking, and storytelling to create meaningful and relatable works of memoir. Students get frequent feedback in a supportive atmosphere, and all levels of writers are welcome.” The cost is $275, and people who are interested can write her at Minkowitz46@gmail.com.
Split Rock Books in Cold Spring is rolling into 2020 with a cute new baby, some great book clubs and events and a writing workshop with Lynn Seeger Strong, author of Hold Still. The course is described as a “hybrid craft and reading seminar/workshop.” Spend the first three weeks reading short stories and excerpts, and generating work. The second half will be a more traditional writing workshop: Each student will submit up to 25 pages of work and get written feedback from the instructor as well as from the class. Cost: $395 for six weeks. Meets consecutive Mondays. Capped at 12 people. Sign up at the store. Check out their website (www.splitrockbks.com) for book club info!
Coming In February!
In Beacon, Binnacle Books continues to tempt me with all their beautiful instagram photos of books I want, as well as the promise of a book release event for Jenny Offill (author of Department of Speculation) and her new book Weather. She'll be in conversation with Lynn Seeger Strong, leader of a workshop above. It'll be in the evening of Saturday, February 15, and we’ll be writing more in depth about that soon.
No. 3 Reading Room is wisely hibernating for the rest of January, but you can make an appointment or get in there in February to check out works by a legion of talented artists and writers, as well as the latest book of poetry by Edwin Torres and photobooks by Ronnie Farley, both of whom reside in Beacon.
Deeper into the winter we go, my loves; let’s leave a trail of bookmarks behind us.
The first Second Saturday of the year is a busy one! Clockwise from top right: Thomas Van Winkle’s exquisitely cut paper art at Oak Vino Wine Bar; Jo Ann Chaus in Sympathetic Eye at the Howland Cultural Center; Evan Turk at Clarkson University’s Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries; Casey Inch at Industrial Arts Brewing Co.’s taproom out on Route 52; and Aaren Vittoria Connolly’s many media, including paintings, at Big Mouth Coffee Roasters.
Happy Second Saturday weekend, Beacon! You might expect the first #2Sat of 2020 to be sleepy, but it's actually quite busy! A couple of galleries are mostly hibernating (including Mother Gallery and No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works; call them for details) but other venues (Beacon Historical Society, Bank Square Coffeehouse, Big Mouth Coffee Roasters and Oak Vino Wine Bar) have surprise shows to make up for it. Looking to plan your itinerary? We’ve got the whole roundup in our Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide.
Full descriptions of all of these shows - and so very many more! Once you've figured out where to park, what's next? If you're in need of a bite to eat, check out the Restaurant Guide. Itching to show local shopkeepers some love? We've got a Shopping Guide at your fingertips. Thank you for supporting the businesses that help support A Little Beacon Blog! We couldn't do this without you — or them. Happy Second Saturday strolling!
You know what is the most convenient cool thing you have right now? The knowledge of what is going on inside of each art gallery in Beacon this weekend for Second Saturday - all. in. one. place.
That's right. A Little Beacon Blog's Second Saturday Guide Editor Catherine Sweet hunts and gathers for what is opening where, and then tells you the inside story about it. She even knows what gallery might have disappeared into a hiatus (like Mother Gallery this month), but who is showing upstairs at Parts & Labor Beacon at 1154 North Avenue (next to the twinkly lit windows of Giannetta Salon Spa when you're coming up from the train). Catherine even knows which coffee shops are hosting an artist on their walls (like Bank Square and Big Mouth Coffee Roasters this month). And even what brewery.
How do we do this? With the support of sponsors like No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works located in the coziest little spot on Main Street near Brothers Trattoria. With sponsor support of our Guides, we can bring you these projects. Thank you to all of our advertisers!
TOP LEFT: Industrial Arts Brewing Co. keeps pushing the boundaries of what we expect when visiting a brewery. First, they scored a resident food truck with Eat Church. Now, there’s art up on the walls. Industrial Arts welcomes Casey Inch, who was born in Brooklyn and raised in Connecticut. He went out to Colorado to earn his BFA in Painting, then in 2007 he moved to Brooklyn to deepen his painting and drawing studies pursuing an MFA at Pratt Institute. Inch exhibits his work nationally, and continues to work in his Brooklyn studio. TOP RIGHT: The River, pastels from Croton-on-Hudson artist Evan Turk continues at Clarkson University’s Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries in their Main Street gallery. Turk created the series of more than 150 pastel paintings in the span of an entire year, through all four seasons, reflecting on continuity, impermanence, and change. BOTTOM LEFT: A trio of pretty-new openings at Dia: Better known for her work with sculpture and light, Marian Zazeela instead brings to Dia her works on paper, which ”showcase the range of materials and motifs that stem from the artist’s deep interest in calligraphy and ornamental forms,” according to Dia’s press release. It’ll be interesting to see how those more ornate pieces leap out from the less-decorative works that Dia’s known for. BOTTOM RIGHT: Whispers from the Castle Keep, an exhibit of memorabilia from the Bannerman Castle Trust is on display at the Beacon Historical Society. It includes small artifacts from the Civil and Spanish American wars. Paintings, photographs, catalogs, and rare artifacts will tell the story of the Bannerman arsenal and castle.
Classics for Kids presents Pianist Fei Fei
Day: Saturday, January 11, 2020 Time: 12 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
The Artichoke Storytelling Series
Day: Saturday, January 11, 2020 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Piano Festival Day: Sunday, January 12, 2020 Time: 4 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.
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Darryl's Women's Clothing Boutique
155 Main Street www.darrylsny.com
We know you're iced over with this cold weather, but it's coming out great in colors for your wardrobe. This ice blue stretch pant goes with any season - pair with the whimsical paisley print shown here, or top with a black sweater or a super sharp jacket. We have a couple - you do too! You'll turn heads in this outfit. Find it at Darryl's now and let their stylists dress you.
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com
Check these itty-bitties! Staying on theme with the bright winter blue/greens, Luxe Optique has a fresh collection of eyewear for kids in the store right now. Luxe Optique is known for their kind and patient treatment with kids - both in the doctor's office for the exam, and for the fitting once you find a style that works. Make your eye appointment today - even if you think your kid doesn't need it! You'd be surprised (some of us at ALBB have had glasses since third grade).
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light)
"The details are what brings the look all together, and we love it!" says Lambs Hill about this photo. Not only are they a bridal boutique, but they can connect you with the other components you need to create and capture a beautiful wedding.
Photo by @the.ramsdens⠀
Flowers: @maple_field_floral ⠀
Dress: @madisonjamesbridal
Call (845) 765-2900 or book your appointment online through their website!
Vision Boarding With Magazines
Day: Saturday, January 11, 2020 Time: 11 am to 2 pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY Price: $10 per person, All You Can Clip Ages 6 & up (kids must be accompanied by adult)
It's Vision Boarding Season! Come to A Little Beacon Space to collect your clippings from Tin Shingle's magazine collection, and take your collage to your next Vision Board event or party. You can Vision Board anything, but now is Resolution time. Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Adult Classes Guide.
50 Mountain Lane, Beacon, NY 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom From Gate House Realty: "Sitting on almost a half-acre, perched on a rolling hill landscape, this cottage strikes the perfect balance between Old World charm with a touch of contemporary upgrades." Price: $294,000 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Perhaps you have noticed, when visiting your favorite store in Dutchess County, there are no longer plastic bags available. The countywide change went into effect on 1/1/20 to ban single-use plastic bags. Don't worry, Antalek & Moore got you covered! Stop into their offices at 340 Main Street, Beacon and say hi to Thomasine for one of our reusable shopping bags!
A Little Beacon Space
Book A Little Beacon Space for your next board meeting or business retreat. Perfect for small fundraiser functions, or a business cocktail party! Located in the heart of Beacon, the room is designed for easy and inspiring conversations. Pricing & Availability >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory
Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join here today. Learn More >
MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include:
Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer
Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor
Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide
Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog
The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way.
According to a press release sent by Air Nonken Rhodes, a new City Council Member representing Ward 2, grassroots activists plan to gather at Polhill Park (corner of Main Street and Route 9D) at 5 pm on Thursday, January 9, to make visible a “No War” message as part of a national day of grassroots action in opposition to escalation of war with Iran.
The protest will take the form of visual elements such as anti-war signs and a bucket-drumming brigade.
WHO: “People who live in the Beacon area who are concerned about Trump’s apparent rush to war with Iran,” according to the press release. WHAT: ‘No War’ grassroots visibility action WHEN: 5 pm, Thursday, January 9, likely through ~6:30 pm WHERE: Polhill Park (corner of Main Street and Route 9D, near the Visitors Center, adjacent to Bank Square Coffee House) VISUALS: Neighbors holding colorful anti-war signs HASHTAG: #NoWarWithIran
The Howland Public Library is pleased to present Art is Elementary, the fourth annual exhibition of student artwork from the Beacon City School District elementary schools. A reception for the students and teachers will be held on Saturday, January 18, from 2 to 4 pm. All are welcome. The exhibit will be on view in the Community Room through Saturday, February 1.
One of the library’s most colorful exhibits, Art is Elementary features work from students at J.V. Forrestal, Glenham, Sargent, and South Avenue elementary schools. The annual exhibit is organized in collaboration with art teachers Sallie Farkas, Cathy Pezzo and Susan Wurtz. Eight pieces of art were selected to represent each of the four elementary schools. The exhibit is just a small sample of the wonderful art being done by students of all ages throughout the Beacon City School District. Stop by the reception to show your support for the young artists and see their creative works.
The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main Street in Beacon, N.Y. The Community Room is open during regular library hours. Please note the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs. Please call the library at (845) 831-1134 or consult the library calendar at beaconlibrary.org before planning your visit.
It’s that time… Maybe you were on the ball and did it on January 1, or maybe you’re thinking of doing it today. The time has come to dispose of your Christmas tree, and here are best ways to do it. The City of Beacon’s Highway Department will pick it up for free, but you need to meet their requirements:
Nekkid: Strip that tree down of all ornaments, lights, bows, anything that is not the tree. These trees go to the Transfer Station to be mulched, so they can’t have any other element on them, other than natural nature. If you’ve moved from New York City, where putting out a fully decorated tree is the norm (there was some good trash/decoration picking to be had off those wasted trees!), well, you can’t do that here.
Sidewalk - in view: Leave that tree in plain sight on its side. If the workers in the trucks can’t see your tree, then they won’t stop to pick it up.
Give ‘em a call: If your Christmas tree has been out on the sidewalk for weeks and weeks, give the Highway Department a call to tip them off that your end of town could use a run. According to our article in 2017, the Highway Department divides the city into grids, and travels through the grids looking for trees to pick up.
Leaf bags are still being picked up, too. If you’ve got piles of leaves or aging grass clippings in your backyard, you could use this time to bag it, and put it to the curb before the next snowfall.
Photo Credits: We put out a tweet call for reader photos of Christmas trees they found on the sidewalk to be used in this photo. Thank you Vicki Raabin and Erin Giunta for your submissions!
The Food for Fines program at Beacon’s Howland Public Library is going on now through Friday, January 31. Library patrons can erase or reduce their library fines and help their neighbors in need at the same time. This program benefits local food pantries. Donated items must be nonperishable, labeled, undamaged, and unexpired. Food for Fines does not apply to fees for items that are lost, damaged or from other libraries. Donations cannot be applied to future fines.
Although the program is called Food for Fines, the library encourages you to donate personal-care items too, like tampons, adult diapers (Depends), and even new socks. People do a lot of walking, and it’s hard to do in run-down socks! Conveniently, Rite Aid is located almost across the street, where you can find a lot of these items!
These items will be donated to the Tiny Food Pantries and Beacon Community Kitchen. Items must be donated at the library's circulation desk to qualify for the Food for Fines program. St. Andrew’s food pantry has requested that when donating canned items, low-sodium items are preferred and items like peanut butter, tuna, canned chicken, and Parmalat milk are in demand. The library will be donating pasta and other staples like spices and broths to the Community Kitchen.
PS: Our column Writerly Happenings is coming back! In these cozy times, you need to know about the reading and the writing. If you have anything writerly related, submit it here. Take this seasonal downtime to make an appointment to visit No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works near Brothers Trattoria, and Binnacle Books. Binnacle can order any book you want if they don't have it.
Opening Reception: The Sympathetic Eye
Day: Saturday, January 4, 2020 Time: 2:30 to 4:30 pm Location Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Live @ The Howland: Abby Feldman’s Life Is Amazing
Day: Saturday, January 4, 2019 Time: 8 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.
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Darryl's Women's Clothing Boutique
155 Main Street www.darrylsny.com
#AllTheDresses... That's what is happening inside of Darryl's right now. Plus coats and jackets that will really streamline your look. Find long, fleecy jackets for comfortable chilly days, and fitted crop jackets for a day at the office or smart evening out. SALE: The storewide sale is on. Check the tags for pricing.
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com
If the pictures you've been seeing on the walls of Luxe Optique have a familiar feel to them, it is because they are your Beacon neighbors. From Luxe stylists themselves, to Mr. Arnoff of Arnoff Moving and Storage. Even Gertie the famed pattern-maker is a Luxe model now!
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light)
We always enjoy the little sneak peeks from Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique's #dressoftheweek. It really makes you appreciate the beautiful work and detail put into these gowns. Follow their Instagram if you want to be dazzled.
Call (845) 765-2900 or book your appointment with Lambs Hill.
Vision Boarding With Magazines
Day: Saturday, January 4, 2020 Time: 11 am to 2 pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY Price: $10 per person, All You Can Clip Ages 6 & up (kids must be accompanied by adult)
It's Vision Boarding Season! Come to A Little Beacon Space to collect your clippings from Tin Shingle's magazine collection, and take your collage to your next Vision Board event or party. You can Vision Board anything, but now is Resolution time.
Vision Boarding is when you have an idea or a direction you’d like to go in, and you need help shaping that concept with pictures, words, or letters. When using a magazine for Vision Boarding, you open the pages of the magazine and explore the imagery inside - imagery that you have maybe never imagined before, but speaks to you. Fabric, makeup applications, nail polish drips, trucks driving through golden fields of wheat, strawberry shortcakes, etc. Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Adult Classes Guide.
1 East Main Street, Unit 301, Beacon, NY 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms From Gate House Realty: “One of a kind, spacious, SoHo-style luxury loft in heart of Beacon. Stunning mountain views, light-filled open floor plan, exposed brick, wide plank oak floors and original historic beams highlight the architecture in this industrial space.“ Price: $1,150,000 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
Beacon Dental
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666
Beacon Dental is currently expanding to further meet your needs at their facility. They have expanded next door by 2,500 square feet and offer brand new equipment and furnishings! Their team now includes an associate dentist, an orthodontist, and a periodontist. Says Beacon Dental: "We are dedicated to constant and never-ending improvement to provide many more treatment options at one convenient location." Visit their new office and check out their new services.
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
340 Main Street, Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4300
Planning a big event? Insurance will be the last thing you want to think about. Let Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency handle that for you. They will do the homework to find you the best coverage for the best price. Call them to get started: (845) 831-4300
A Little Beacon Space
291 Main Street, Beacon, NY First Floor, First Door of the historic Telephone Building
A Little Beacon Space is an event venue in Beacon that can accomodate up to 25 people in different seating configurations. Tables, chairs, a bar, and even a projector with screen can be used for your meeting, movie, or presentation. Pricing & Availability >
MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include:
Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer
Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor
Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide
Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog
The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way.
Beacon’s new mayor, Lee Kyriacou, was sworn in on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, along with two new Council Members: Air Rhodes (Ward 2) and Dan Aymar-Blair (Ward 4). Lee had served on Beacon’s City Council for nine terms, and defeated Randy Casale, who led the city for two terms. You can read Randy’s reflections here at the Highlands Current.
As for the first piece of legislation he would like to see passed, Mayor Kyriacou told the Beacon Free Press in an article by Kristine Coulter: “Clearer limits and requirements for when a fourth floor is allowed on Main Street.” During the last year, the City Council had been restricting zoning throughout the city, with an emphasis on limiting buildings to be three stories, with a possible exception for a fourth story if special permission is requested and granted for specific reasons, which is being considered now.
As for his visions for Beacon’s future, Mayor Kyriacou told the Beacon Free Press: “I am committed to preserving the history, physical beauty and small city feel of Beacon, while preparing the community to thrive in the 21st-century economy.”
In the article, the new mayor also encouraged newcomers to Beacon to “participate actively in defining our community’s future.”
Students from Beacon High School performed “This Land Is Your Land,” by Woody Guthrie, part of the legend of Pete Seeger, whose spirit remains throughout Beacon to preserve it and the Hudson River.
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.
Luxe Optique
