History on sails

The Hudson River Ice Yacht Club will display up to 12 ice boats dating from the late 1800s outdoors in front of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park this week. Included in the exhibit will be world-championship winning ice yachts owned by John A. Roosevelt and his Hyde Park neighbor, Col. Archibald Rogers.

The exhibit runs through January 3 but will be closed on New Year's Day. (It also may close during inclement weather, so they advise calling ahead to confirm exhibit hours at 845-229-9115 or 1-800-FDR-VISIT.) When the display is open, Ice Yacht Club members will be there to talk about their boats, their sport and the history of ice yachting on the Hudson.

More than 20 years ago, I was a passenger on one of those magnificent old wooden ice yachts when it sailed from Rhinecliff to Tivoli Bay. It was an exhilarating trip which took us the better part of a winter's day and included an impromptu lunch while sitting on the ice under the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. I sailed with some of the same Ice Yacht Club members who are helping out with this display, so you can ask them if the river has frozen solid enough in frequent years for them to be able to recreate that trip.

In addition to this just being a nice display tied with the season, it's also one that you can use to get into the spirit of things for the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial. After all, ice sailing technology is of Dutch origin and FDR owned an ice yacht as a young man. FDR's uncle, Commodore John E. Roosevelt, started the club, which still exists today.

The Ice Yacht Display is sponsored by the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club in cooperation with the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library , the Hudson River Maritime Museum, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and Dutchess County.


Poughkeepsie Journal photo by Darryl Bautista

Blow your own ornament

The December issue of Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine features 72 ideas for wonderful (and local!) gifts. We've listed items for booklovers, fashionistas and foodies, among others. We included big gifts that will impress, small gifts that say "thank you" and many items that are unique to the region.

One suggestion that didn't make it into the article (only due to its timing) was this one: Blow your own ornament, with master glassblower John Gilvey at Hudson Beach Glass in Beacon. Wow, what a great idea for a unique present! It costs $25 (per) and the opportunity is taking place until the end of the year on Saturdays (from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and on Sundays (from 12:30 to 5 p.m.) Those ages 7 and older can participate. You must sign up in advance for a 15-minute slot by calling 845 440-0068 during the weekdays. Groups are welcome.
Hudson Beach Glass is located at 162 Main Street, Beacon.

A $15 steak meal?????

More special deals for folks who are watching their wallets but still want a treat ...

The manager of Shadows on the Hudson tells me they are still offering their fall special of a 20-ounce bone-in ribeye steak special, with garlic mashed potatoes and a mixed vegetable medley, and served with choice of house or Caesar salad, for $15 all day on Sundays through Thursdays. (Tax and gratuity not included.)

The beautiful restaurant is located riverside, at 176 Rinaldi Blvd. in Poughkeepsie (and has great views of the Hudson River and the Mid-Hudson Bridge.) Call 845-486-9500 for reservations and tell them you read about the special in the Hudson Valley CONNOISSEUR magazine blog.

Yum!

To laugh and to think

Another great Sunday event, with an old friend, no less. Oh, I'm torn between this and the free concert at Bard's Fisher Center ...

I highly recommend seeing this performance if you like to laugh and to think.

On Sunday, December 7, Inquiring Minds presents "Readings from the
Impermanent Collection," a reading/performance by Mikhail
Horowitz and Steve Clorfeine, at the Muddy Cup, 58
Main Street, New Paltz, at 5 pm. Horowitz and Clorfeine will
read/perform texts by Gertrude Stein, Samuel Beckett, Dylan Thomas,
and (a-hem!) Clorfeine and Horowitz, singly and in tandem, to breath
do them part. The event is free. For more info, call 255-8300.

Cheers, at 2008 prices ...

They've lowered the price (compared to last year's event) in recognition that many folks are evaluating their spending. That said, the 2008 version of the annual New World Champagne Dinner still offers a chance to spoil yourself (and your favorite friends). Hint, hint.

Feast on five courses of Chef Ric Orlando's "party peasant cuisine" and enjoy five bubbly wines selected by Michael Arthur Weiss (professor of wines at the Culinary Institute of America and HVC magazine's wines columnist.) It's a great party for $59/person, and Michael will also be signing his new book, Winewise.

It takes place at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 (Friday) at New World Home Cooking Co., 1411 Route 212, Saugerties. Click on the image above to see the menu, and call 845-246-0900 for more info. Cheers!

All that jazz, for free too!

And another opportunity for exceptional (and free!) entertainment this weekend:

The 22-piece Vassar College Jazz Ensemble performs at 8 p.m. Friday (Dec. 5) in Skinner Hall of Music, Vassar College, Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie. Free. 845-437-7294 or music.vassar.edu/concerts

Chill out with the classics, for free!

There are so many wonderful holiday-themed festivals going on this coming weekend. It's hard to pick just one to attend, and I know we're going to be spending a lot of time walking around outside. ... I have a feeling that by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around, my family is going to need some down time.

Here's one option, featuring fantastic music in a world-class setting on Sunday (Dec. 7) -- and it's FREE!

The Bard Conservatory Orchestra, conducted by Guillermo Figueroa, will perform the Vaughn Williams Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, the Brahms Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra in A minor ("Double"), Op. 102, with violinist Laurie Smukler and cellist Joel Krosnick, and the Beethoven Symphony No. 4. The performance begins at 3 p.m. in the marvelous Fisher Performing Arts Center on the Bard College campus.

No tickets or reservations are required.

Gals Night Out

Jaymark Jewelers sells some gorgeous natural-colored diamonds that I saw in their recent ad in Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine and have been wanting to check out in person. Here's a chance to do so -- while sipping Champagne and munching on treats!

Jaymark is hosting a fun, fabulous and free "Bubbles & Baubles" party for women on Thursday (Dec. 4) from 5-8 p.m. at its 3612 Route 9, Cold Spring store.

The shop is calling this "an evening out with friends, sharing complimentary gourmet treats provided by The Melting Pot, Champagne, tea and, of course, fittings of the finest jewels. Free of husbands, children and all distractions, ladies can spend a delightful few hours enjoying gourmet treats, good friends, a glass of Champagne or cup of tea, and the indescribable feeling of being draped in the finest jewels."

Wow, how fun is that? They also are offering some very nice door prizes.