Beacon Girls Softball (BGS) has announced their 2020 Winter Softball Clinic dates and you can sign up right now! Clinic will be held Tuesday nights, beginning January 14, and continue through April. Beacon Girls Softball has been a long-standing Beacon institution for more than 40 years, educating 4 to 13 year old girls on the skills and rules of fast-pitch softball. This program has given back to the Beacon community by spearheading additions and improvements at Memorial Field, built the concession stand and new field house, added backstops, renovated the bathroom facilities, and has even donated to Beacon’s Independence Day fireworks. They also hold a softball tournament each year that raises thousands of dollars to benefit a local person in need. Learn more about this program by clicking here.
Wee Play Drop Off Dates
Also added to the Kids Classes Guide: more drop-off dates with Wee Play Community Project through the Beacon Recreation Center. You can drop off your child at Beacon Recreation Center, 23 West Center St., Beacon, NY, on Mondays, January 6 or 13, between 9 am and 12 pm. Block Party Fridays are also held at this location, 9:30 to 11 am. When dropping off, please leave a donation with a Wee Play volunteer.
Continue to check our Event Listings, Guides, and Kids Guide for regular updates!
Pictured here is Lovingly co-founder Ken Garland, with a flower recipient. Photo Credit: Lovingly
Remember those days (what feels like) so long ago, back when the sun shone, casting those especially steep fall shadows toward the dimming of the day? Back in October, Lovingly, a national tech company based in a nondescript office building in Fishkill, wrote into A Little Beacon Blog to let us know of a time where they randomly walked the streets of Beacon to hand out flowers.
Pictured here is co-founder Joe Vega, left, and Steven Duckworth, right, with flower recipients. Photo Credit: Lovingly
It was Lovingly’s way of stepping out from digital life to get the word out and meet people in real life, to see their reactions to randomly receiving flowers, which is what Lovingly is all about.
As a tech company, Lovingly has a unique approach to flower delivery: They make it easy to order online, but they really specialize in crafting your moment and translating that into a flower arrangement. Meaning, if you’re sending flowers for a message of love, or sign of sympathy, you select that category before you even shop for any bouquets and get lost in options. Lovingly hooks you up with a local florist who is going to curate your bouquet.
There are several florists in Beacon you could call directly to get your flower on (Tin Shingle did when finding a dried flower arrangement for the new Mini Meeting Space that people can rent in Beacon), like Batt’s Florist, Raven Rose, Flora Good Times, and Junko’s place next to the Kumon Learning Center (yellow house building that was formerly Trendy Tots; it’s best to walk into that florist for on-the-spot ordering, but is a great source for helium and air balloons).
This seems a neat concept, and it’s really neat that Lovingly is a tech company based in the Hudson Valley. Travel company Via Hero is another local tech company, based in Beacon on Main Street, who we featured before when they posted a Job Listing with A Little Beacon Blog and promoted their “Hello, We Want To Meet You!” party in the fall.
Graphic designer Ken Rabe of Rabe and Co. captured Beacon’s historic dummy light on the east end of town near the mountain. Photo Credit: Ken Rabe
The gray mist has enveloped Beacon for the past several days, the only benefit of which can be seen via local photographers who have captured its special lighting and mood. We caught a few of them on Instagram, and are pulling them up to the surface for you to see. With rain in the forecast for the next few days, you can bet that the next sunny day will have people bouncing out of their houses to get back outside - if they haven’t already been getting fresh air with their slickers and rubber boots on despite the rain.
On Monday, December 23, three pedestrians in Beacon were hit by a car at the intersection of Main Street and Route 9D (aka Wolcott Avenue), which is across from the police station, and near Bank Square Coffee, according to a press release issued by the Beacon Police Department and reported by local news outlets.
According to the reports, at 4 pm, police and emergency medical service personnel responded to the accident, transporting the three pedestrians to a local hospital where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
As reported, the driver was a 17-year-old who fled the scene after allegedly hitting the people. The identity of the driver has not been released because of their minor age. The driver was charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury auto accident, as well as other vehicle and traffic citations, according to this article, and then was released to the parents on an appearance ticket.
There are two major crosswalks on Route 9D at Main Street, with a third crosswalk a little further up Main Street, across from the Beacon Creamery and Bank Square Coffee. All crossings are dangerous at that intersection, as traffic crosses out onto 9D from Main Street, and seeing pedestrians crossing on the far side of the crosswalk from the train station is unexpected, unless you are slowing down and first looking really closely.
The left turn from 9D onto Main Street often involves fast turns and clipping the double-yellow line on Main Street, nearly missing hitting cars stopped on Main Street at the red light. South Avenue empties onto Main Street at that point as well, with cars either making the left onto it, or cars making the right out from it. Not to mention the cars who make the illegal left turn out of South Avenue.
The details of this car accident have not yet been reported.
“The reservoirs continue to refill,” explained Anthony, with some still being below normal. But the Melzingah Reservoir (the city’s smallest) is “running over,” he said. In 2018, the drought proclamation was lifted in February.
Sundays usually offer regularity at the Beacon Farmers Market, but sometimes different vendors show up offering something new. Will they be back the next week? One never knows. We’ll highlight some of the details found recently within the vegetable baskets and on the tables of the Farmers Market, which is inside of the VFW Hall/Memorial Building during winter.
This bouquet of what looks like a school of stingrays swimming through the ocean is really a mushroom colony grown from a bag from Sugar Shack Farm, who specializes in growing oyster, shiitake, reishi, lions mane, pioppino, chestnut, maitake and other mushrooms. The bag requires almost no care - or light. Just stab a hole into the plastic bag, and the mushroom growth starts. You can eat these gourmet mushrooms.
The other bouquet is the traditional wildflower bouquet from Diana Mae Flowers.
Barb’s Butchery has been finding ways to go more whole-body of the animal, and has been using the beef tallow (rendered fat) to make scented candles and balms, with lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, mint and cedar fragrances to start. Similar to using butter fat, this other fat has its benefits. Barb is particularly lit up about the surprise wicks she has hidden in the mini-cast iron candle holders for extra hours of burning. Ask her about it when you go into her shop on Spring Street (the other side of Fishkill Creek near the mountain). Don’t forget to pick up some soup when you’re visiting the table at the market.
And of course, you can’t go to market without picking up a blueberry and banana muffin (or whatever flavor of the day), the famous chocolate croissant, and cherry turnover from All You Knead’s table. Stock up on these bakery items, including the chicken pot pie, because the storefront is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Sunday at 2 pm is your last chance for the week! Well, for two whole days, at least, until Wednesday.
What day is it?
Have you emerged from your house?
Thank goodness for routines, as we get this weekend edition of A Little Beacon Blog out on Fridays.
The sidewalks in Beacon are packed, as lots of visitors have come to Beacon for their holiday vacation, and are combing the sidewalks. Take a long walk, either in downtown Beacon or along the Hudson River. The second pavilion area at Long Dock Park is pleasant and gets you close to the water. There is plenty of seating on benches and tables, as you can see in this mini-video we made for you.
Hayden Wayne's Cirque de la Lune
Day: Saturday, December 28, 2019 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Serious Comedy Theatre's YEAR-END HOLIDAY VARIETY SHOW
Day: Saturday, December 28, 2019 Time: 8 to 10 pm Location: Story Screen, 445 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Closing Reception: INCLUSION
Day: Sunday, December 29, 2019 Time: 2:30 to 4:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
New Year's Eve -- A Different Way to Ring in the New Year
Day: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 Time: 9 pm to midnight+ Location: Beacon Zen, 473 Main St., Suite 2, Beacon, NY Information >
New Year's Eve Deal In Newburgh
Newburgh Partners With Lyft To Offer Discount On Drop-Offs and Pickups Read all about it >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
First Day Hike
Day: January 1, 2020 Time: 2 to 3 pm Location: Walkway Over The Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY Information >
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
PTACEK Home/LLTO
146 #2 Main Street www.livelighttraveloften.com www.ptacekhome.com
Step inside PTACEK HOME/LLTO and you will see this bench - or table - you decide. The furniture inside of PTACEK Home is made by Tom Ptacek, a master homebuilder and designer who has his own tree milling and molding capabilities, which allows his team of craftspeople to repurpose salvaged materials and storm-downed trees. Says Tom about about this piece: "I view the Gamma Outie Bench as a Brutalist wood sculpture as well as a piece of furniture! Look at it, sit on it, enjoy it!" WHERE IS THIS STORE? You'll find it located down the new path just before the kayak station at Mountain Tops.
Darryl's Women's Clothing Boutique
155 Main Street www.darrylsny.com
Now is the time to stock up on gorgeous sweaters from Darryl's. The styles and textures are all different, so you can get comfy/cozy/fuzzy, or a thin knit for shapely fit. The colors are bright, making for a crisp look on gray days. Pair with a blouse underneath, and a pompom hat on top! PS: Do see our mini-video of this storefront so that you can get a close-up of the dress and sweater jacket in the window! In our Insta-Stories now.
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com
Theo frames are for the playful modernist. The Theo frames pictured here are at Luxe Optique right now, and look super-sharp. There's still time to take advantage of your Healthcare Spending Account! It is a good time to squeeze in an eye exam or get a new pair of frames. Check our your options at Luxe Optique. PS: Those of you who are Luxe regulars will miss Julia, whose last day is Saturday. She has been studying to be a nurse, and is ready to fly. She hopes to be an ER nurse. Stop in and wish her well!
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light)
We are in absolute awe of this dramatic gown shot. There are no words. Photo taken by Lamont Aulet for the #LambsHillBride Abbey Armstrong. The gown is of beaded lace by Justin Alexander Signature. Call (845) 765-2900 to book your appointment with Lambs Hill.
33 Davis Street, Beacon, NY 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom
From the street view, this house looks shorter than it is. You'll want to do a drive-by or walk around the neighborhood to get a real feel for this property. Located near Melzingah Tap House on the east side of town near the mountain. Call Gate House to schedule a viewing. From Gate House Realty: "A stunning classic brick beauty in the heart of Beacon. An open palate for your design and restorative touch." Price: $399,900 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
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
Beacon Dental
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666
Beacon Dental is currently expanding to further suit 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.
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
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In these gray days, it is important to get out of the house and take a walk. The new pavilion at Long Dock Park, a park by Scenic Hudson that began construction in 2017, is quite pleasant. The city’s historic gateway known as Long Wharf (constructed in 1815), this area used to be a drop-off point for cargo and passengers when Beacon and Newburgh relied upon manufacturing and the Hudson River as an economic waterway, according to signage at the park. The wharf used to have buildings, and then it became a dumping ground for industrial debris.
Today, it is a park for your enjoyment, featuring paved walkways, picnic tables and benches. Parking is available near the Metro-North train station, but is slim. In the summer, food trucks may be out and about. Scenic Hudson is taking applications for food trucks, which you can learn about here. See Scenic Hudson’s website for more information.
A phone scam posing as Central Hudson is in full force, and this one is pretty sneaky. The scam phone call comes in as a recorded message with the voice of a woman, similar to the female recorded voice at the actual Central Hudson when you call for help or to pay your bill via phone. The message advises you that your house is scheduled to have the electricity shut off today because of nonpayment on your account. The details are below of what to expect and how to avoid this scam, but first, a poem:
‘Twas the day after Christmas, when all through the house, The children were running, even the mouse; The bills were arriving, put away with care, In hopes that the money soon would be there; The bill pile and to-do list were spread on the bed, While visions of what would get paid when spun in parents’ heads, Mama with her coffee answered a phone call with a snap, And heard "This is Central Hudson - your electricity is scheduled to be shut off today" causing her to spill her coffee on her lap. She arose with a clatter, To call the recommended number to see what was the matter. And almost paid the bill in a flash, But thanks to a technical difficulty, they didn't get her cash.
How The Scam Phone Call Works
The phone call comes in, and “Central Hudson” flashes up on your phone screen’s caller ID. If you answer, because why wouldn’t you answer a call from Central Hudson, the recorded voice that sounds like the usual recorded voice at Central Hudson tells you that electricity to your house is scheduled to be shut off today due to nonpayment, and to call this number: (800) 503-2410.
A few things might run through your mind, which helps this scam work. These are mentioned here to remind you to ignore those assumptions when a phone call like this comes in while you are in a vulnerable place, like after the holidays or at tax time:
“I thought I just got my bill… Don’t they wait like two billing cycles before going down the cut-off-your-power route? How can they do this the day after Christmas?”
“I guess I better call the number… When people are late - wait, but am I late? - do they put your ability to make payment in a special place, like with a special billing department who is connected to the guys in the trucks going around shutting off people’s power? I don’t know! I better call immediately!”
The phone number at the time was working. The recorded voice sounded just like the regular recorded voice at Central Hudson. They have options to press numbers to report a power outage, or pay a bill. Fortunately, the option to pay a bill didn’t work, and disconnected the call.
Hang up immediately when a deceptive phone call like this comes in, and call Central Hudson directly to inquire about your account, and report the scam.
Hours later, the scam phone number had been disconnected.
Central Hudson’s Tips On How To Spot A Phone Scam
Central Hudson can confirm in their call logs if they called you or not. When you call directly to pay your bill, they can confirm that your bill is indeed not even late, that they did not call you, and that your payment was received, if you made it directly through their own phone system.
In addition, there are phony peddlers going around front porches of homes to tempt people into leaving Central Hudson for a “clean energy source.” This is also a scam, and A Little Beacon Blog will be following up with an article and pictures about the scam shortly.
This New Year’s Eve, people using Lyft to get to or from a destination in Newburgh can get $10 off two rides, with a maximum of $10 per ride, thanks to an initiative put together by local officials and Lyft. Newburgh is one of three areas across New York State engaged in the effort, according to a press release issued today by Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson’s office.
According to the press release: “Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley), Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh), and City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey partnered with Lyft to provide discounted rides on New Year’s Eve to ensure riders in the City of Newburgh can access affordable, reliable transportation. The initiative is part of a shared commitment to reduce impaired driving as people celebrate the holiday season.”
How To Use The Lyft/Newburgh Discount
The discount is good from Tuesday, December 31, 2019, to Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Riders can use the promo code NEWBURGHNYE to receive $10 off two rides, with a maximum of $10 per ride. The code will work as long as one of the locations, drop-off or pick-up, is in the City of Newburgh. A rider must have the Lyft app installed on their phone, which they can get from their phone’s app store for free.
What Officials Are Saying About It
In the press release, Mayor Torrance Harvey said: “Senator Skoufis, Assemblyman Jacobson and I agree that public safety is Newburgh’s #1 priority and we thank Lyft for offering a great discount to our residents to ride on New Year’s Eve. We don’t want people drinking and driving. Celebrate smart!”
"Our community's safety, both on and off the road, is of the utmost importance to me," said Senator James Skoufis."That's why I was grateful to partner with Lyft to establish two discounted rides for anyone traveling to and from Newburgh on New Year's Eve. I hope our community takes advantage of this and everyone celebrating the new year with their loved ones has a safe and warm ride home."
"New Year's Eve should be fun, but safe,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson.“I applaud Lyft for encouraging people not to drink and drive. The discount they are offering will help keep the roads safer for everyone.”’
“We are grateful to Senator Skoufis, Assemblymember Jacobson and Mayor Harvey for their partnership on this important initiative,” said Jen Hensley, director of public policy at Lyft.“Since 2017, Lyft has provided affordable and reliable transportation throughout Newburgh, helping people to get to work, school, and home responsibly after a night out. This New Year’s Eve, we are proud to work together with thoughtful leaders to ensure Lyft riders celebrating in Newburgh have no excuse to drive impaired.”
Maybe you’re done with your holiday shopping (but that depends upon your definition of “done”), so here are a few stocking stuffer ideas you will find on Main Street in Beacon. We don’t call this “last-minute” shopping, because buying stocking stuffers is our favorite part of the gift-curating experience.
This is also the most dangerous time to shop, because you will see loads of ideas for other people that you hadn’t thought of. Pad that budget.
Manic Panic Hair Color
This temporary vegan-based hair color has been available at Play (167 Main Street) for years and years. Perfect for the hair expressionist in your life. Buy a rainbow series for wild experiments, or one or two contrasting colors for a striped design.
The color is temporary, yet stays in decently well post-shower. However, if you wanted the vibrancy to stay, then you would not wash the hair. However, there is a dry bar shampoo at SallyeAnder at the other end of town. We haven’t tried it, but it’s an option.
Art and Socks
Zakka Joy (177 Main Street, formerly Dream in Plastic) is the destination for stationery lovers who also love kitchen decor, Pusheens, stickers, socks, water bottles, pencils, sketchbooks, journals, planners, etc. With glitter pens to match. Socks make great stocking poppers - the part sticking out of the stocking that adds that visual excitement. Most of the themes of these socks are for the sarcastic ones in your life who like a little bit of dicey language, though not all. Sometimes you just need to wear a pretty sock that says: “Delicate f*ing flower.”
Books
Depending on the size of your stocking, for the protesters in your life, this Posters for Change book from Princeton Architectural Press keeps on giving with 50 rip-out-able quote posters that can be hung somewhere. Available at Binnacle Books (321 Main Street). Pro tip: Binnacle Books can order any book for you if it is not on their shelves. Any book!
Hygiene
Alright. So with cancer being rampant, and the quest for deodorant with no whatevers in it grows stronger with each friend who is diagnosed, the answer to an odor-blocking shield is at SallyeAnder (1 East Main Street) is the Deodorant Stone. The stone itself is odorless, and has bacteria-fighting minerals in it (find synthetic-chemical-free perfume and lotion at Beacon Mercantile just up the street, located in the old train station).
To apply it to the skin, you wet it and rub it on. The easiest way to store the stone is in a dish, which you can also find at SallyeAnder, or at most any shop in Beacon (check RiverWinds Gallery for an artisan-made one), or an unused dish in your house that is ready for prime time.
Bonus perk with this deodorant: It uses hardly any packaging. So this is one less piece of plastic you are putting into the trash (or recycling? not sure if plastic deodorant containers are actually recyclable these days). SallyeAnder products are made in Beacon on the west side of town in their manufacturing center, located in the same building as Brett’s Hardware. The 1 East Main Street location is SallyeAnder’s flagship retail shop.
Continuing with the bath theme, Beacon Bath and Bubble has all the bribery you need to get a child into a bath. If the deodorant stone is going to be introduced to the new 9-year-old who needs odor blocking - but you don’t want to hurt her feelings telling her this so why not make it more fun and unusual with the stone and pretty dish - the colorful bath products at Beacon Bath and Bubble will get them into the bath. The soap is made right in the store, so you can expect good ingredients in here as well.
Denise Gianna Designs Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Interior Design
While these chairs and lamps won’t fit into a stocking, walking by the design store Denise Gianna Designs (494 Main Street, formerly Utensil before they moved to the other end of town) will be one of the perks of walking around finding stocking stuffers IRL (in real life) vs clicking online. Gianna is a longtime Beaconite and interior designer who opened up shop in various other shops (you may remember her from her Chocolate Studio days, which is now occupied by the beef jerky shop, The Village Jerk). Stop in to see what kind of furniture may fit into your space, and if she can help you visualize.
Your Eyewear Game
Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog
An easy and flat gift that can slip into a stocking is a gift certificate from Luxe Optique. Especially if you have HSA Flex Spending to use before year end, Luxe can help with that. They also make filling your out-of-network insurance claims easy - they do it for you. So if you haven’t tried Luxe yet, walk in this time. If you collect shoes or jewelry, having the same perception of your eyewear is similar. When you go to Luxe Optique, your adjustments are complimentary, as your vision is their top priority. As featured in last weekend’s newsletter edition, ask about the end-of-year specials they have running, including the 50% off shelf.
Darryl’s Clothing Boutique in Beacon always has a good sale running, and right now is no exception. Perfect for matching sweaters! If you once went all out on Christmas morning with family PJs, now you can with sweaters if that’s your thing.
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique has the sample sales you want to tell your friends about. Not that a dress fits into a stocking, but you may find an accessory or two in the store. You know what would make a great stocking topper? A tiara.
One of the things that make the holidays so wonderful is the FOOD! The special meals that bring us all together. Some families have their big meal on Christmas Eve while others have it on Christmas Day. If there is a day you plan on dining out, A Little Beacon Blog’s Restaurant Guide is always here at your service. In this case, we saved you some time in finding out who on Main Street will be open and closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Editor’s Note: If you are a Beacon restaurant not on this list who is open, please email us at editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. Our researcher, Teslie, called every restaurant we could think of to acquire this information. You might not have been able to answer the phone when we called. So please let us know. Thank you, Teslie!
When we do projects like this, it is with the help of all of our advertisers and sponsors that make this happen. Special thanks to those restaurants who do sponsor our Restaurant Guide: Barb’s Butchery, Eat Church (the food truck in the parking lot of Industrial Arts Brewery), and BAJA 328.
Who’s Open Christmas Eve?
Barb’s Butchery, 11 am to 6 pm Bank Square Coffee, until 6 pm BJ’s Soul Food and Restaurant, 7:30 am to 6 pm Tito Santana’s, until 4 pm Homespun Foods, until 3 pm Isamu Sushi, regular hours Ziatun, regular hours (until 8 pm) Max’s on Main, until 6 pm Enoteca Ama, until 9 pm Cafe Amarcord, regular hours Yankee Clipper Diner, until 3 pm Ella’s Bellas, until 3 pm Brother’s Trattoria, until 10 pm Beacon Falls Cafe, until 3 pm Sukhothai, until 9:30 pm Melzingah Tap Room, until 9:30 pm Beacon Bread Company, until 4 pm Roma Nova, regular hours Beacon Hotel Restaurant, regular hours Trax Espresso Bar, regular hours Roundhouse Lounge, 3 to 8 pm (limited menu); main dining room closed.
Who’s Open Christmas Day?
BJ’s Soul Food Restaurant, 7:30 am to 9 pm Isamu Sushi, regular hours The Roundhouse Lounge, 3 to 9 pm (walk-in only, full menu); main dining room closed.
Who’s Closed Christmas Eve/Day?
We are not going to run the Closed list this year because we don’t want to leave anyone out. If the restaurant is listed in the Open list, then we know that for sure, and most everyone else is closed.
If you are a restaurant in Beacon who is in fact open, please reach out to us and we will amend this list: editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com
If you haven't been into the Hudson Valley Food Hall yet, you are missing out. If this is not a regular stop on your regular Sunday Farmers Market circuit, then you need to throw a wrench into your weekly habits, and treat yourself to a mac and cheese/pulled pork bowl from Miz Hattie's Southern BBQ, which is one of the eateries inside. We got the scoop from Miz Hattie herself (who lives nearby in Beacon) on how growing up on a farm in North Carolina shaped her BBQ and pecan pie-making dreams. PS: If you follow our Instagram, you know that we love a good mango lassi, which you can also get at the Hudson Valley Food Hall.
Last-Minute Shopping
You may have a few winning items on your Holiday Gift List. Use A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide that highlights the shops in Beacon. From men's shirts to packaging-free deodorant (it's a mineral rock with no synthetic chemicals), you will find it on Beacon's Main Street.
Christmas Trees For Sale From Firefighters
Days/Time: Wednesday to Friday, 5 to 8 pm Days/Time: Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm Location: Parking lot at 60 East Main St. (across from Dogwood and the Beacon Engine Fire Company)
This year, according to the Beacon Free Press, the firefighters are donating the proceeds of their tree sales to a fund that provides Christmas gifts to families. A separate agency selects the families.
Holiday Dance Performance
Day: Friday, December 20, 2019 Time: 6 to 7 pm Location: Rombout Middle School, 88 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY Information >
Tis The Season with Tony DePaolo & Russell Cusick
Day: Saturday, December 21, 2019 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Holiday Party at Hudson Valley Food Hall
Days: Saturday, December 21, 2019 Time: 1 to 6 pm Location: 288 Main St., Beacon, NY
Celebrate the holidays at the Hudson Valley Food Hall. There will be free photos with Santa, cookie decorating, food samples, and a raffle.
1-3pm Gingerbread Cookie Decorating
3-6pm Photos with Santa Information >
Truman Capote’s Holiday Classic - A Christmas Memory
Day: Sunday, December 22, 2019 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 ourEvents Guide.
Sleepwalker Textiles Days: Ongoing through Tuesday, December 31 Location: 438 Main St., Beacon, NY (next to the Beacon Hotel)
Read more about this pop-up in this article.
Vintage Pop-Up at Zora Dora's
Days: Daily Location: Zora Dora's, 201 Main St., Beacon, NY
Holiday Crafts Pop-Up at CreateSpace
Days: Saturday, December 21, 2019 Time: 11 am to 7 pm Location: CreateSpace, 145 Main St., Beacon, NY
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
LLTO/PTACEK Home
146 #2 Main Street www.livelighttraveloften.com www.ptacekhome.com
Now available at Live Light Travel Often (LLTO) - beautiful as an object and useful as a tool, this ceramic mortar bowl is carefully shaped to catch and bring ingredients down to the center of the bowl while having a design that is sophisticated enough to go straight to the table. This mortar bowl is made using traditional Iwami clay, known for its excellent durability. The hand-combed base efficiently grinds your ingredients firmly and the silicone base keeps this mortar from slipping. A perfect gift of beauty and purpose. Pro tip: The shop is located down the new path just before the kayak station at Mountain Tops.
Darryl's Women's Clothing Boutique
155 Main Street www.darrylsny.com
Here is a great gift idea that will you not find (yet) in her closet! Darryl's is known for this lace-up-the-back sweater with a slouchy hood. Right now, it is available in a brightly colored plaid. This is one of Darryl's most popular items this season! SALE: Look for offers of up to 50% off already reduced pricing! Located across from Hudson Beach Glass.
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com
There's still time to take advantage of your Healthcare Spending Account! It is a good time for an eye exam, or get a new pair of frames. Check our your options at Luxe Optique. SALE: Select frames are on sale for 50% off. Find out which ones!
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light)
Who needs Fifth Avenue when there are beautifully decorated holiday windows right here on Main Street! ❄️ Have you seen Lambs Hill's holiday windows display? Take a walk down and get swept away in this bridal fantasy.
Call (845) 765-2900, or book your appointment online through their website!
389 Main Street, Beacon, NY From Gate House Realty: "Fantastic opportunity to own and operate a popular and well-established wine bar right on Beacon's Main Street." Price: $195,000 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
The official start of winter is Saturday, and Antalek & Moore is here to share some tips to help keep everyone safe on the road: *Slow it down - adjust your speed down to help with the lower traction you have when driving on ice and snow. Don't try to take off in a hurry and take extra time to stop for lights. *Give extra room - increase your following distance to 5 to 6 seconds. The longer distance will allow for the extended time needed to stop. *Keep moving - don't stop if you can avoid it. It takes a lot less effort to get moving while still rolling vs. from a full stop. This is true, especially with hills to help carry you to the top.
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
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Pictured here is Miz Hattie (left) and one of her employees, Christasia Jones (right). Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The sweet tea with the crunchy ice. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
I first had Miz Hattie’s Southern BBQ 10 years ago during an early nice weekend in spring after a harsh winter when one of the worst blizzards hit (30” of snow and three days of no power). A neighbor had organized a block party, and we met all kinds of people while eating spoonfuls of mac and cheese and scooping remnants of pulled pork sandwiches, coupled with fried chicken.
Little did we know that Miz Hattie, who lives in Beacon, was famous for her Southern BBQ, but that BBQ was only available at catered events, parties and festivals. The next time we got to eat her food was at the Spirit of Beacon Day parade, where she had a long table of deliciousness.
And now, for the first time ever, anyone can get Miz Hattie’s Southern BBQ any time they want - in the Hudson Valley Food Hall on Beacon’s Main Street, just past the public library, near the Subway. Featured in this article is the mac and cheese bowl with pulled pork, the sauce for which has a slight hotness to it, but even people who don’t like spicy things will be just fine with this. Paired with the generously cheddary mac and cheese, this is one of the best food bowl combos in Beacon.
The menu. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Yes. Inside that unobtrusive door of the Hudson Valley Food Hall is a whole lot of food creativity (but have you seen the back of the building?) - including Miz Hattie’s Southern Sweet Tea. The Hudson Valley Food Hall is the perfect destination for finding a variety of street food to eat there at their tables, or on the go. Find soups, salads, BBQ, and even seafood (hello, fresh Shrimp Cocktail!). When you’re walking to the Beacon Farmers Market on Sunday, add this to your list of warm lunch/snack options.
About That Sweet Tea…
Thankfully, Miz Hattie adds her Southern Sweet Tea to the mix on Main Street - with crunchy ice. One must get the sweet tea to wash down the Southern goodness, even if one gets a pecan pie.
Miz Hattie’s famous pecan pie. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
How do you know if you’ll like sweet tea? If you are a Snapple drinker, you already drink sweet tea, but that is imitation, and you may as well abandon that, and just go to Miz Hattie’s to get real sweet iced tea.
What Made Miz Hattie Expand To A Main Street Storefront From Her Catering Truck?
This is Miz Hattie’s first spot in a storefront ever. How did it come to be? “The opportunity came to me,” she recalled, while packing mac and cheese for a catering order. “I am in a book club, and everyone was talking about the food hall coming. Friends were telling me to open up there. Once a week, I sit with an elderly woman for lunch. One afternoon, we went to Brothers Trattoria, and as we entered, I saw a pair of keys on the floor. I picked them up, and showed them to the next person in front of me - the building inspector for Beacon. They were his keys, and he and I go way back. I asked him if he knew about this food hall. He did, and put me in touch with the owner right away.”
Miz Hattie’s Southern Secrets
Where does Miz Hattie’s Southern cooking come from? “I grew up in North Carolina on a small farm. I was one out of nine kids. I loved being in the kitchen with my mom cooking. When my father would roast a pig for all the farm workers, I would love hanging out with him and learning, I sat up all night watching. Cooking is just something I love doing.”
Miz Hattie moved to Beacon in the 1980s to attend CIA for pastries. “Baking is also my passion. But when I moved here, I always knew I would start doing BBQ at some point.”
What is the secret to her pecan pie and corn bread? “My sister sends me pecans from Texas. My aunt told me how to make the sugar sauce. The corn bread I just tested until I got it the way It is - lots of work!”
The front of Miz Hattie’s spot in the Hudson Valley Food Hall. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The decor is unique to the Hudson Valley Food Hall. All of the food venues are, actually. Miz Hattie’s is wooden, rustic, and Southern. “My setup is all the things I had collected over the years,” Miz Hattie told A Little Beacon Blog.
The Hudson Valley Food Hall is open seven days, and so is Miz Hattie’s, open Monday to Thursday, 11 am to 8 pm for now (or until the bar closes), and Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm.
The Hudson Valley Food Hall is located at 288 Main St., Beacon.
At 10:32 pm on a Thursday evening, right before bed, I checked Facebook for any updates. A link was shared in a Moms group I’m part of. The link was to an article at Medium by a 37-year-old mom who works for BARK who posed as an 11-year-old girl in order to catch and trap any online lurker trying to send sexual content to children. BARK uses AI (artificial intelligence) to alert parents and schools when children are experiencing issues like cyberbullying, depression, threats of violence or targeting by sexual predators.
I reluctantly read the article, learning how easy it was for a sexual predator to find and talk to young people using Instagram - like, in seconds thanks to hashtags and selfies - and begin a conversation with an 11-year-old who doesn’t know much about birds and bees. I made a mental note to think about how to make my kids aware of this reality, as we constantly navigate their use of devices, which in many cases, make online social interaction required in order to play them (Nintendo Switch and XBox, etc.).
This morning in this week’s issue of the Highlands Current, editor Chip Rowe reported on a related story of what I read about at BARK - but IRL (In Real Life) - in Cold Spring. A former mayoral candidate, Charles E. “Chuck” Hustis III, who served two terms as a Village of Cold Spring trustee and worked as a substitute teacher who last was in a Cold Spring classroom in 2016, was arrested by the FBI on Monday and charged with “attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity,” according to federal officials, the article stated. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. He was released to home confinement on a $150,000 bond, as reported in the article.
The article went on to expose how the man was caught - from the first report by a 16-year-old male who received solicitations from the accused - who was one of his substitute teachers - via Facebook Messenger.
The rest of the details of this step-by-step almost-encounter are made clear in the Highlands Current in this week’s edition of the paper, or any time after the print issue is gone it’s published online. After the teenager reported it, an FBI agent took over his Facebook account to pose as the teenager. The FBI agent was able to get photos and other evidence that were sent by the accused, and agree to meet (while posing as the teenager). The suggested meetup by the accused was to take place at the Foodtown parking lot, where he has been a manager.
The article suggested that anyone with relevant information should contact the agency at (800) 225-5324.
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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.
