Fall for Art -- tonight!

It's never too soon to start thinking about holiday gift giving ... and here is an opportunity to find some unique items.

The Jewish Federation of Ulster County holds its 12th annual Fall for Art Juried Art Show, Sale and Cocktail Reception fundraiser tonight (Thursday Sept. 4) at Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston, from 6-9 p.m.

Admission is $35 advance/$40 at the door. Call 845-338-8131 or visit www.ucjf.org for more info. Fall for Art’s donation recipient is The Children’s Annex, which will develop a visual arts program for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Today I appreciate

Today I appreciate

Being here. At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader for the Hudson Valley, I really appreciate that I live here. I spent last week vacationing in the Midwest (meeting wonderful people, eating way too much good food and in general, having a great time in a really nice part of the country.) But I’m still so happy to be home in the Hudson Valley. Not only is it my home, it’s just a good place to be. We have gorgeous views; great schools and colleges; excellent restaurants, farms and food producers; good shopping; and stellar recreation, entertainment and cultural offerings. Our weather’s not too bad either!

Local apples. Having been raised in a local apple-growing community, I can’t enjoy anything called “apple” that is shipped from elsewhere in the country (or world) and sold in our grocery stores. No matter the variety, Hudson Valley apples just taste better. A farmer told me once that he thought it might be our acid soils that make the local apples taste so fine. Whatever the reason, I am happy it’s apple season now! Do you have a favorite variety or local farmstand?


Only two more days until the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck. Did you see the official program and taster’s guide inserted in last week’s Poughkeepsie Journal? Saturday, September 6, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, September 7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food concessions. Music. Chef demos. Art and crafts vendors. Kids activities. And of course, wine from all over New York state to sample and purchase. Visit www.HudsonValleyWineFest.com for ticket prices and options. I’ll be there on Saturday – stop by the Journal table and say “hi!” You can tell me if you spotted my photo in the program. ☺

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.


And I can’t forget that the fest’s Grand Reserve Wine Tasting on Friday (Sept. 5) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. benefits the Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation. The dinner that accompanies the tasting celebrates "The Bounty of the Hudson Valley," featuring Hudson Valley products prepared by eight of the area's most well-respected chefs. Eight wineries, (from the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, and some international locations) will pair wines with each chef's creation. The dinner will be take place in the Horticultural Building at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. Michael Green, (Wine and Spirits consultant to Gourmet Magazine), will speak and will be on hand to offer wine pairing advice to guests.

Here is more from the press release:

George Verrilli, MD, Chairman of the NDH Foundation will be attending the Grand Reserve Dinner with his wife, Christine. "We are so grateful to Michael Babcock and his team for all the effort they have put forth in creating this special event for the benefit of Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation. We are honored to have been chosen as the recipient of proceeds from his event, and we look forward to seeing many community members -- from wine novices to connoisseurs -- there that night to help us celebrate," said Dr. Verrilli.


Tickets may be purchased online at www.HudsonValleyWineFest.com or by calling 1-888-687-2517. The price is $80 per person, and the ticket price includes a half price admission ticket to the Festival, good for either Saturday, September 6th or Sunday, September 7th (with purchase code HVGR08). All proceeds benefit Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation.

And I’m especially happy that school started today!!

Wine & food, short & sweet ...

Mark your calendars for the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck.

Saturday, September 6, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, September 7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food concessions. Music. Chef demos. Art and crafts vendors. Kids activities. And of course, wine from all over New York state to sample and purchase.
www.HudsonValleyWineFest.com for ticket prices and options.

On the fast track

One of the articles in the August issue of Hudson Valley Connoisseur looks at clubs for owners of FAST cars, where they can try out their machines legally and safely. If you're interested in watching fast cars, then you should head to the historic Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut this weekend.

This weekend (from August 29 to September 1), you can discover the glamour, glory and style of historic and vintage sports cars on the track, in the open paddock and during the prestigious Sunday in the Park Automotive Extravaganza at the Rolex Vintage Festival presented by BMW. Tickets range from $15-80. Lime Rock is at 60 White Hollow Road, Lakeville, Connecticut. 860-435-5000 or www.limerock.com

Friends & Neighbors

Local residents and legendary musicians Jack DeJohnette and Pat Metheny team with acclaimed bassist Larry Grenadier for two nights of music Thursday and Friday (August 28 and 29) in a benefit concert for the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), and Family of Woodstock, a service agency providing food, shelter, advocacy and counseling in Ulster County. Both shows start at 8 p.m. at the Bearsville Theater, 291 Tinker Street, Woodstock. Tickets at www.bearsvilletheater.com/events-calendar or 845-679-4406.

I'm writing this post ahead of time (as I was away earlier this week) so I'd suggest that before heading to Woodstock you should call first to make sure tickets are still available. This sounds like a great opportunity to see some world-class music in a wonderful venue.

Real time wine

The 2008 New York Wine & Food Classic competition took place this month at the Mohonk Mountain House. I caught up with the group on Wednesday August 20 during a special event to unveil a new Web site promoting Hudson Valley wines, and had a chance to finally meet (in person) Hudson Valley Wine Goddess (and Poughkeepsie Journal wine blogger) Debbie Lessner-Gioquindo. Now, the Internet is great (please -- keep reading our blogs!) but there's nothing better than having a real glass of wine with a new friend!

Santo Stefano Wine Club

Catching up with August -- it's been a busy month.

I was at the August 8 ribbon cutting ceremony/grand opening of the Santo Stefano Winemaking Club in Wappingers Falls ... My understanding is that it's a club where you can buy a membership and then oversee the blending of your own barrel of wine. It's based at a beautiful event facility. This looks like an interesting and fun activity to share with friends who are "into" wine or a unique gift for your favorite wine enthusiast -- and the wine we tasted that day was pretty darn good. :-)

Here's a video of that day.

Today I appreciate

Milkshakes from the 4H booth at the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck. Yes, I know EVERYONE writes about these, but they really are *that* good. And today is the last day to get them (this year). Have fun at the fair if you go.

Fresh tomatoes from my garden, finally! Tomato sandwich for breakfast was heavenly!

The sunflowers lining the fields along Route 299 leaving New Paltz. I saw them last week when I was heading towards Rivendell Winery but didn't have time to take a photo, so you'll have to take a drive to see them for yourself.

Bright Horizons at Casperkill summer camp in Poughkeepsie. This is the third summer my child has spent here, and I'm still amazed at the super facilities, varied programs and especially, the wonderful counselors and counselors-in-training.

Whitecliff vineyards nabs honors ...

Whitecliff Vineyard in Gardiner won an award for its 2007 Traminette during the 2008 New York Wine & Food Classic competition, which took place this week at the Mohonk Mountain House. I caught up with the group on Wednesday during a special event to unveil a new Web site promoting Hudson Valley wines. But more about that later ...

I toured Whitecliff with Slow Food Hudson Valley last year and was impressed not only with its wines but also with its knowledgeable owners and especially, with its scenic location under the Shawangunk Ridge. I recommend it for a visit!

Debbie the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess has more on her blog about regional producers that did well during the Classic.

And here is the official press release:

Swedish Hill Winery from the Finger Lakes won the coveted “Governor’s Cup” trophy at the 2008 New York Wine & Food Classic competition, held on August 19 & 20 at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. The “Winery of the Year” award also went to Swedish Hill Winery.

The elegant Governor’s Cup, a large silver chalice, recognizes the “Best of Show” or top prize of all 775 entries in the Classic, known as “The Oscars” of New York wine. The “Winery of the Year” award is presented to the winery with the best overall showing based on the level and number of awards in relation to entries.

This year’s competition included 775 New York wines from the Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie, and other regions of New York State. The 2007 Vidal Blanc was also voted Best White Wine, and Best Vidal Blanc on its way to the ultimate award. Swedish Hill Winery received 2 Double Gold, 2 Gold, 11 Silver, and 7 Bronze awards on its way to that honor.

A new “Specialty Wine Champion” award was added this year to recognize consistent quality among the increasing number of wines made from fruits other than grapes, or honey. The 2008 winner was Earle Estates Meadery, with 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 5 Bronze awards.

The awards were based on blind tastings by 25 expert judges—7 from California, 11 from New York, and 7 from other states. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators. Four-judge panels determined the initial awards, with top-scoring wines evaluated by all 25 judges for Best of Category and Governor’s Cup awards.

Celebrating its 23rd year, the Classic is organized by Teresa Knapp of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and is open to all 242 New York wineries from all regions. In 2008, a total of 14 Double Gold, 62 Gold, 198 Silver, and 266 Bronze medals were awarded. In addition, “Best of Category” and “Best of Class” designations were awarded to wines rated as the finest in various areas. Double Gold medals require unanimity among a panel’s judges that a wine deserves a Gold medal, whereas Gold medals require a majority vote.

The “Best of Category” awards, all eligible for the Governor’s Cup, went to Swedish Hill Winery NV Spumante Blush for Best Sparkling wine, Swedish Hill Winery 2007 Vidal Blanc for Best White wine, Anthony Road Wine Company 2007 Dry Rosé for Best Blush or Rosé wine, Bedell Cellars 2006 Musée for Best Red wine, Earle Estates Meadery Creamy Apricot for Best Specialty wine, and Casa Larga Vineyards 2005 Fiori Vidal Ice Wine for Best Dessert wine.

The “Best of Class” awards for different varietals or proprietary blends, which were tasted off for “Best of Category” awards, went to Swedish Hill Vineyards Spumante Blush wine for Best Native Sparkling wine, Lakewood Vineyards 2007 Dry Riesling for Best Dry Riesling wine, Hosmer 2007 Riesling for Best Semi-Dry Riesling wine, Paumanok Vineyards 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling for Best Semi-Sweet Riesling, Castello di Borghese Vineyard 2006 Chardonnay for Best Chardonnay wine, Macari Vineyards & Winery 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Katharine’s Field for Best Sauvignon Blanc, McGregor Vineyard 2007 Rkatsiteli-Sereksiya,Estate Grown for Best White Vinifera Blend, Whitecliff Vineyards 2007 Traminette for Best Traminette, Swedish Hill Winery 2007 Vidal Blanc for Best Vidal Blanc, Rooster Hill Vineyards 2007 Silver Pencil for Best White Hybrid Blend, Arbor Hill Grapery 2007 Vergennes for Best Other Native White Varietal, Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars Liquid Wisdom for Best Niagara, Anthony Road Wine Company 2007 Dry Rosé for Best Blush or Rosé, Torrey Ridge Winery Blue Sapphire for Best Concord, Barrington Cellars Baco Noir for Best Baco Noir, Swedish Hill Winery Viking Red for Best Red Hybrid Blend, Red Newt Cellars 2005 Cabernet Franc for Best Cabernet Franc, Osprey’s Dominion 2005 Reserve Merlot for Best Merlot, Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled for Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Bedell Cellars 2006 Musée for Best Red Vinifera Blend, Earle Estates Meadery Creamy Apricot for Best Mead, Heron Hill Winery 2006 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc for Best Late Harvest wine, and Casa Larga Vineyards 2005 Fiori Vidal Ice Wine for Best Ice Wine.

Complete results of the 2008 Classic will soon be posted under “New York Gold” at www.newyorkwines.org, which also includes Gold medal New York wines from other major competitions.

The Quad & the fair

Our area is going to be marking a major anniversary next year, the upcoming Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial as well as the planned opening of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge walkway project. During 2009, communities along the Hudson River and Lake Champlain will mark the 400th anniversary (or quadricentennial) of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain's voyages along the river and lake that bear their names and the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's successful steamboat voyage and establishment of steam commerce on the Hudson River.

Also, the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Walkway Over the Hudson project is slated for a fall 2009 completion. The project, spearheaded by the nonprofit Walkway Over the Hudson, will connect communities on both sides of the river by providing public access for pedestrians, hikers, joggers, bicyclists and people with disabilities.

The Poughkeepsie Journal recently launched Hudson Happenings, a Web site about what's going on as the Hudson Valley gets ready to celebrate these events. The site has an events calendar and tourism info, as well as breaking news and feature stories, photos, podcasts, interactive Web features and videos about the river valley and its inhabitants, its history and its environment

A companion blog on the Hudson Happenings site, Quad Updates, will provide frequent bits of information about the events, including breaking news from some of the key people involved in that planning as well as a few folks here at the newspaper who are keeping tabs on what's going on.

Since I am involved with coordinating Quad info for the Poughkeepsie Journal, you're likely to see my name popping up frequently as the author of Quad Updates posts. Occasionally, I might write about the same things here on this blog and over there at Quad Updates.

Like last night, when during my visit to the Dutchess County Fair, I saw a Quadricentennial display in one of the main buildings. On the wall is a Hudson River mural celebrating the Quad created by resident-artists in the Fine Arts Program of the Northeast Center for Special Care in Lake Katrine. The Ulster County-based center serves those who are challenged by traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and related conditions.

The charming and colorful mural depicts the Hudson River and several local landmarks in Dutchess, Ulster and Greene counties. (I photographed a small section of it, above.) It is tucked away in a corner of the building that houses the Grange cafeteria, but on the opposite end closer to the carnival rides. It's well worth checking out.

It's FAIR time!

When I am done with work today, I'll be heading out to the Dutchess County Fair, one of my favorite events each year! I'll be there with kids, so we'll be doing kid things (rides, rides, carnival games, rides, and fried fair food, of course.) 4-H milkshakes. Fried dough. Fried 'shrooms. Tomorrow we may regret it, but today we eat!

One exhibit I always try to see is the horticultural building, where amateur and pro gardeners strut their stuff. I LOVE to see what other gardeners are up to -- and if I can talk the kids into going along (or if I can sneak away), I'll get some photos of the floral exhibits to share on my gardening blog at poughkeepsiejournal.com tomorrow. (If not, I'm going back another day!) I also love the fairgrounds' landscaping, which has improved immensely over the past 10 years and is the work of the local Master Gardeners program, I believe.

By the way, those are my photos from last year's fair. The Poughkeepsie Journal just put up a gallery for folks to post their fair photos -- I LOVE looking through those. I believe the newspaper has a booth that has info to help folks post their photos.

See you at the fair!

Talking tomatoes

Great article at poughkeepsiejournal.com by my colleague Barbara Gallo Farrell about Amy Goldman, who is a longtime garden writer acquaintance of mine and who creates lovely books ... and coincidentally, I just got this note from Laura & the crew at Gigi's Trattoria in Rhinebeck: Celebrate the release of The Heirloom Tomato (Bloomsbury USA, 2009) by Rhinebeck's own Amy Goldman -- at Gigi Trattoria, from August 11th - 17th, enjoy Amy's delicious recipes on our daily lunch and dinner "specials". A limited number of signed books will available for purchase.

Today I appreciate

Fresh local corn and peaches from Migliorelli farmstand, on the east side of the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge

Lifehacker.com (neat blog about time management tools and just fun things on the Web)

Fresh basil and tomatoes from my garden

Yo-Yo Ma -- Schumann Cello Concerto on my iPod. I don't think I will be able to visit Tanglewood this summer so it's the next best thing.

Nalgene drinking water bottles from the Filter for Good program partnership with Brita water filters. I bought a few for my family at the local Hannaford market. Quality bottle at a good price that came bundled with drink mix packets (though I might not use the packets myself, I do know someone else who will use them). Who needs to buy bottled water when you can tote your own?

Short & sweet

Had a late-night dinner at Terrapin Bistro in Rhinebeck last night ... the grilled Coleman natural beef hangar steak, bistro steak fries and horseradish steak sauce (their own -- tomato-based, I believe) were all delicious!

Cheers!

Cecelia Madden, the owner of Madden's Fine Wines & Spirits at 65 Broadway in Kingston, has invited everyone age 21 and over to a tasting of Whitecliff Vineyard's wines on Friday, August 15, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. I toured Whitecliff during a Slow Food Hudson Valley event and I think its products are great. I especially like the Sky Island Red, which Whitecliff describes as "an elegant Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc is full of body and soft flavorful tannins." Madden's, a beautiful new shop in the city's Rondout waterfront area, carries eight Whitecliff wines. There are also several good restaurants nearby -- this sounds like the recipe for a great night out!

Madden's is also having a tasting of Skyy Cherry Vodka, Skyy Grape Vodka, Smoking Loon Wine, and Hazlitt (New York) Wine from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, August 9. The shop's phone number is 845-340-wine.

Cheers!

Equine enthusiasm

I found good food, good company and interesting art at last evening's Equine Art Gala & Exhibitor Mixer sponsored by Horse Shows in the Sun Saugerties (HITS) and New World Home Cooking Co.

The elite riders are back in our area. Show jumping at HITS Saugerties resumed this past Wednesday after a mid-summer break and there will be three consecutive weeks of competition, with two Grand Prix classes each week this summer. On Thursdays, the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix will take center stage and on Sundays, riders will compete in the $50,000 Grand Prix. Every Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties is a qualifier for the $100,000 USGPL Invitational, which will take place at HITS Culpeper (in Virginia) on September 28.

The USEF Junior Hunter National Championship for the East Coast will return to HITS Saugerties on August 5 and 6. And the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and its all-new $5,000 Pony Commotion take place on Thursday, August 8 during Week VI. On August 10, HITS presents World of the Horse, with numerous equine breeds represented in a parade along with special exhibitions and demos. The HITS Web site has information on times and admission.

The Equine Art exhibition last night featured quite a few artists from the Hudson Valley. Well worth checking out their work ... here are their bios (as provided by HITS):

Gretchen Almay is one of nine new artists participating in this year's Art Gala. Almay, of Middleborough, Massachusetts, is an accomplished equine and canine portrait artist with collectors across the United States. Her specialty is highly detailed graphite portraits and oils that capture the animals' unique personalities. Originally from Connecticut, she spent her summers at the family farm, in Westport, Massachusetts. Learning to ride at five, what her parents had hoped was just a childhood hobby turned into a lifetime passion and vocation. She still continues her love of riding on her Thoroughbred, Skye. Almay has a BA in Fine Arts from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Through her company, Gretchen Almay Designs, she produces commissioned portraits in graphite, oil, digital color renditions and photography as well as a custom gift line.

Mary Bridgman, www.marybridgman.com, is one of four returning artists to this year's event. Employing painting, drawing and photography, Bridgman’s work draws upon a broad range of cultural influences from Renaissance paintings to Modern approaches to traditional artistic subject matter. Bridgman’s equestrian paintings represent her long term relationship with the horse, both as creative inspiration and her favored form of transportation. Her work has been included in exhibitions in New York City, the Hudson Valley, Kentucky, Colorado and Virginia. Bridgman, on the faculty at the Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, freelances as a designer in the fashion industry and resides in Manhattan.

Jean Campbell of Saugerties, New York is another fresh face to this year's line up. Campbell’s work reveals a love of materials and drawing, with the added dimension of words, to add detail and an often humorous look at the world we live in. Over the years, she has developed a separate, more commercially viable business of doing animal portraits, particularly dogs, cats and horses. Her folk art style captures the essence of the pet, while the words enhance and personalize the painting. She enjoys working with the clients and getting to be privy to their relationships with their animals. She sells these portraits locally as well as in Connecticut, Westchester, Manhattan and Martha’s Vineyard. Although most of her work is in acrylic on irregularly cut wood with a painted border, Campbell has also brought her inimitable style to printmaking, sculpture, encaustics and ceramics. Most recently, she discovered the beauty of watercolor painting while working on an on-site mural on Martha's Vineyard this past spring. She now has integrated this medium into her milieu with much success.

Maria D'Angelo, www.mariadangelo.com, like many artists, believes there's something so beautiful and magical about the horse. Growing up in Staten Island, New York, she never had the opportunity to own one of these magnificent creatures. Capturing them on paper, she says, made her feel closer to them. D'Angelo studied art in college, but attributes her skills to natural ability and self-teaching rather than formal education. She has spent many hours watching horses, learning how they move and understanding their muscular structure. Learning every tiny detail, including veins in their faces and whiskers on their muzzles, is fundamentally important to her as an artist. Graphite is the medium of choice for D'Angelo, due to the amount of control a pencil provides. Recently she has begun exploring the utility of colored pencils. Aside from horses, D'Angelo also does portraits of dogs, cats and children. She also enjoys using her work to help raise money for different animal-related charities.


Phyllis Frazier, www.pfrazier.com, joins the exhibit from New York City and was selected as this year's HITS Saugerties Official Program Cover Artist. Frazier's paintings reflect her lifelong interest in both art, nature and the animal world. In addition to receiving a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from New York University, she has studied with noted wildlife photographers (to learn how to take her own animal references for study), natural history filmmakers, wildlife conservationists, artists and animal trackers (to understand animals in their own environments, from movement to camouflage). Mesmerized by the complexity of forms in the animal world, she explores the infinite variety of textures, shapes, and colors of feathers, skin, and fur. With oil as her primary medium, she endeavors to not only accurately portray the animal’s physical appearance, but also to reach an inner quality—the essence of the individual—its inner life.

Jean Haines , www.littleshopofhorses.com, is a native of Kingston, New York, and has studied, drawn, painted, photographed and sculpted horses since earliest memory. Since 1995, she has been Assistant Manager of the Coffey Gallery in Kingston and an active volunteer for A.S.K. (Arts Society of Kingston). In 1996, she became a member of the Horse Artists Association (HAA), based in Tucson, Arizona. Haines' work has a unique linear, colorful, swirly semi-abstractness, sometimes resembling stained glass. She works purely from imagination, made possible by a lifelong observation of horses. Her main medium is oil on canvas or paper, but also drawing, clay sculpture, and photography.

Juliet Harrison www.lechevalthehorse.com,
is one of three photographers in this year's exhibit and is a resident of Red Hook, New York. Harrison was given her first 35mm camera for her college graduation. From that point on, she saw herself in the images caught in the viewfinder. Living in New York City in the late 1980’s, Harrison spent a great deal of time photographing the buildings around her, becoming absorbed in the textures, light and geometry of the city. She photographed the peeling paint, the shadows of fire escapes, the edges and corners. Harrison works in 35mm, color and black & white and was greatly influenced by the works of modernist photographers, painters and sculptors. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, Harrison honed her skills and learned to speak with her camera. And it is also there that she started a fledgling interest in photographing horses.

Lenny Marks, www.lenmarksequine.com, is also a photographer who, after 19 years as a wedding and portrait photographer, turned his photographer's eye towards his passion, horses. His passion for these animals has been the inspiration for several trips to remote parts of the west to photograph horses in the wild. As a result, he has produced magnificent works of art that have generated several gallery shows including his own "Mustangs". Not only does Marks photograph mustangs, he has been commissioned to photograph and create works of art for private owners throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area and has traveled as far as Colorado. His award-winning photograph "Cold Morning Run" has won first place at the WPPI National Competition and fourth from the Equine Photographers Network, also a national competition. He is from Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

Deborah O'Sullivan, www.artofthehorse.net, utilizes her 35 years of experience in the horse industry to create equine art that appeals not only to the collector but to the horseperson. Her years of dedicated work as a trainer and rider and, always, student of the horse has given her an extensive working knowledge of rider and equine biomechanics, movement, behavior and anatomy. O'Sullivan has had a lifelong passion for horses and strives to engage the viewer with use of bold and vibrant color, brush strokes and an eye to correctness of equine biomechanics, anatomy and detail. Her passion for the horse is evident in her ability to capture the essence of the horse in her portrayal of this timeless subject. She is from Pawling, New York.

Karen Ruoff's 15-year career as an artist follows closely a lifelong passion for working with horses. Ruoff attended the Equestrian Studies Program at Lake Erie College in Ohio where she began her serious exploration of fine art. That exploration continued at the Cleveland Institute of Art and flourished at Louisiana State University's College of Design, culminating in a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing. Ruoff's work is inspired by a love of horses and the silent communication that can happen between animals and humans. She aims to capture some sense of that experience: a moment, a look, an expression or mood, and enhance it through her own vision, use of color, light and composition. Watercolor is Ruoff's medium of choice these days. She enjoys incorporating other elements such as colored pencil, glitter, glass beads and more. The finished product is often a mystical mix of brightly colored horses in highly stylized and textured landscapes. She is from New Paltz, New York.

JoAnne Sullam, www.daydreamsinnature.com,
has been producing quality artwork for more than 15 years. Having worked closely with horses and the equestrian community, Sullam has extensive knowledge of horse anatomy, behavior, and personality that she learned by going to horse shows and following her long time friend, a horse vet, making her rounds. Last year the artist set up on the show grounds of HITS to sculpt, completing her latest bronze "The Prophet" so named after the artist was told a story of an imprint of the angels thumb on the horse, which brings the riders luck. Her award-winning wildlife paintings and sculptures are a result of years of up-close study. Sullam offers fine equestrian art that ranges from highly detailed to loosely surreal and dreamlike. She is from Saugerties, New York.

Kristen Vetterl, www.kristenvetterl.com, another returning artist, resides in Manasquan, New Jersey. At a young age she showed an artistic talent and an obsession for horses. After receiving her Bachelors of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting, lithography, and graphic arts in 2007 from The University of Rhode Island, she moved back home and continued to do the two things that inspire her most, ride horses and paint them. Her medium of choice is lithography, but she continues to paint in her second favorite medium, oils. Vetterl has become distinguished for her vivid use of color and expression in her equestrian artwork. She paints the horse world in a style very different from classical portraiture. Her lithographs, too, capture the same vivid imagination and expression with line, creating movement and contrast in black and white.

Barbara Widmann, www.barbarawidmann.com, grew up watching her grandfather paint his large, vivid, expressive, contemporary oil paintings, and was influenced to paint and draw at an early age. Fueled by the joy of creating, Widmann was enriched by art classes in school, and was recognized with many awards. Her artistic path took her from expressing her art through graphic arts, to architectural illustration and design, to equine art and portraiture. While she paints mostly with watercolor and her subject is mostly equine, Widmann is also skilled with acrylic paints, pastels, charcoal, pen and ink, graphite pencil and color pencil. As a horsewoman, and a local artist in upstate New York, Widmann grew up around horses and at an early age developed a sense of the equestrian form, movement and spirit. Combining her artistic talent and admiration for horses, she reveals the beauty of horses in art. Although there are many subjects that inspire Widmann, it has always been the horse that takes center stage in her mind, and in her paintings. She is from East Greenbush, New York.

A highlight for me was New World chef-owner Ric Orlando's special Zephyr Gin-Cucumber Lemonade, which was refreshing and perfectly complemented his spicy ethnic-inspired fare -- especially the chef's famed pan-blackened string beans. You should see the lines of folks waiting to buy the beans every year at his booth at the Saugerties Garlic Festival ...

So many choices

reminder -- two great food & wine festivals coming up this weekend in our area:

Two days celebrating Hudson Valley wines at the Shawangunk Wine Trail’s Bounty of the Hudson Food and Wine Festival July 26 & 27. The host is Benmarl Winery in Marlboro, which is up on a hill with lovely views overlooking the Hudson River and is known as “home to America’s oldest vineyard.” Read more ...

and

Meet the chefs and farmers at Columbia County Bounty’s first “Taste of Columbia County Bounty” takes place on Monday, July 28, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham. This first-ever fundraiser brings together the finest chefs, growers, farmers, producers and processors from Columbia County and the Hudson Valley for a summer’s evening of great food featuring the finest local products. Read more ...

PLUS tonight is Thursday, which means that it is barbecue-and-live-music night at The Garrison ... Read more ...
And Saturday is the Rhinebeck Antiques Fair Summer Magic show

So much to do .....

Hudson Valley locavore heaven

Had a fantastic visit to the Rhinebeck Farmers Market on Sunday, which had some nice music and its always-fab vendors. It was THE place to be on Sunday – I even ran into one of my colleagues, Barb (the Dish 'n' That blogger).

Best of all, I picked up the ingredients to make a quick, easy, delicious and LOCAL meal back home. Our supper that day consisted of bison burgers from Highland Farms in Germantown, garlic sautéed green beans and garlic-roasted potatoes from Brittany Hollow Farm in Rhinebeck, and rustic Italian bread from Our Daily Bread in Chatham. For dessert, we went over to Leonardo’s Italian Market (located in the little plaza on East Market Street near the farmers market) and picked up a cannoli to share – heavenly and it’s not SO decadent if we all share it!

The entire meal cost less than $20 (sans wine) and was enough to feed four. I had leftover beans and potatoes to make a great salade niçoise to enjoy the next day. By the way, Taliaferro Farms of New Paltz was selling its first new garlic of the season.

There are so many benefits to being a locavore (one who looks first to buying locally produced food) -- it helps the regional economy and the environment, the farmers who we want to help stay in business, and us, because I think the the food just tastes better.

Mass gas benefits

Here's incentive to take that New England vacation this summer -- Tanglewood, Gulf Oil, and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority have teamed up for a promotion at Gulf gas stations along the Massachusetts Turnpike between Boston and Tanglewood. For every $50 of gas purchased at participating Gulf gas stations, travelers can earn a free lawn pass to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). The promotion will run through August 22.

Wow! Does anyone know of any similar promotions in the Hudson Valley?

Here is more of what Tanglewood's media reps say about the promotion:

To redeem lawn passes, travelers need only to bring in their receipts to one of the eleven participating Gulf station stores along the Mass Pike. Each lawn pass permits one person to a regularly priced Shed or Ozawa Hall concert at Tanglewood. With the recent rise in gas prices, nearby residents can collect enough tickets to spend a cost-effective weekend enjoying the music at Tanglewood. The eleven gas stations participating in the promotion are located in Lee, Blandford, Ludlow, Charlton, and Natick eastbound, and in Lee, Blandford, Ludlow, Charlton, Westborough and Framingham westbound along the Mass Pike.

The lawn passes can be used for concerts taking place up to August 24. Blackout dates include Boston Pops (July 8 and July 26), cellist Yo-Yo Ma (August 3), Wilco (August 12), and the Jazz Festival (August 29, 30 and 31).

Highlights from the Tanglewood 2008 season include violinists Midori (July 19) and Joshua Bell (August 1) and the family-friendly Tanglewood on Parade on August 5, featuring maestros Keith Lockhart (a Dutchess County native!) and John Williams, Sir Andrew Davis, and André Previn, but not James Levine.

As I assume everyone has heard by now, Levine (BSO's music director) had to withdraw recently from the balance of the 2008 Tanglewood season to undergo surgery to have a kidney removed. His anticipated recuperation period is six weeks -- leaving time to prepare and conduct the season openings of the BSO and the Metropolitan Opera in September.

UPDATE JULY 22: More about James Levine's condition from the Boston Symphony Orchestra:

Boston Symphony Orchestra Managing Director, Mark Volpe, reported today that its Music Director, James Levine, was released from the hospital this past weekend. According to Mr. Volpe, Maestro Levine was hospitalized on Tuesday, July 15, for surgery to remove a growth in his kidney. Tom Levine, James Levine's brother, reported to Mr. Volpe that doctors "found the growth to be malignant, but it was very small and confined to the central area of his right kidney, which was then removed. Fortunately, as the growth was discovered early enough, it had not spread to the surrounding tissues, blood vessels, or lymph nodes. Doctors reported the surgery was completely curative and no further treatment is necessary." Tom Levine also stated that his brother was very relieved by the doctors' report, is in very good spirits recuperating at home, and looks forward to conducting the opening events of the 2008/2009 seasons of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera in September. Maestro Levine is Music Director of both institutions.

Tasting Columbia’s Bounty

The food festivals are popping up all over. Here is a great way to explore our region by dining on the bounty of Columbia County all in one place -- from 20+ local restaurants, caterers and chefs, 30+ local farms, plus local beer and wines. Meet the chefs and farmers! Columbia County Bounty’s first “Taste of Columbia County Bounty” takes place on Monday, July 28, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham. This first-ever fundraiser brings together the finest chefs, growers, farmers, producers and processors from Columbia County and the Hudson Valley for a summer’s evening of great food featuring the finest local products.

This event is an outgrowth of the all-volunteer Columbia County Bounty’s phenomenally successful “Bounty of the County” suppers, which started as harvest dinners to allow chefs and restaurateurs to cook and create dishes using local ingredients from the bounty of local farmers and producers. This year the group is opening the event to the general public to raise funds for the non-profit advocacy, educational and networking programs of Columbia County Bounty.

Here is more info from the organizers. Some great food names are included in here:

Imagine enjoying ice cream from the cream from Gumaer Farms, south-of-the-border delights from Mexican Radio, artisan garlic from Scarecrow Farm, delicious preserves and chutneys from Beth’s Farm Kitchen, regional delicacies from Chef Jeff Loshinsky, gorgeous, expertly prepared farm produce from Braeburn Farm and the Farm at Miller’s Crossing, creative dishes from Bezalel Gables Fine Catering & Events, tasty Tuscan-inspired food from Vico Restaurant, Black Angus beef from Grazin’ Angus Acres, plus sample fare from some of our newest restaurants and chefs. For special treats, don’t forget the popcorn with local butter, fresh-spun cotton candy, a 3 1⁄2 foot fountain of chocolate featuring local berries for dipping, free balloons, and much more!

Enjoy live music, including the jazz stylings of the Peg Delaney Trio. Floral designs using locally grown flowers and plants from Stem Life by Stephen Bruce Design – floral designer for this year’s Lincoln Center Film Society Tribute to Meryl Streep and floral designer for Vera Wang.

Come and taste the best of the county, featuring locally grown and produced products paired to some of our local star chefs. It’s a “must” for foodies, passionate cooks, and home gardeners!

Tickets are $75, which includes a $25 one-year membership in Columbia County Bounty. Tickets are $50 for folks who are already Columbia County Bounty members. Tickets for children 1 to 6 years old are free and for children 7 to 12 years old are $25. Call Columbia County Chamber of Commerce at 518-828-4417 for tickets, or purchase tickets at the door (cash or credit cards only at the door).

Columbia County Bounty sponsors are: Columbia County Chamber of Commerce; Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia County; Columbia County Tourism Department; Columbia County Board of Supervisors.

Art from the heart

Jennifer Axinn-Weiss, the Rhinebeck artist who creates the Gourmet Giggles cartoon in Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine, has been busy working on two shows this summer.

If you’re up in the Brattleboro, Vermont area this month or until the end of August, be sure to check out her exhibit, "Intermediaries For Mobilization" at the Gallery in the Woods … looks like some great stuff.

Jen’s work will also be on display at the Kubiak Gallery at Wilber Mansion, home of the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts in Oneonta. The exhibit is called "Homage To Home" and runs from August 22 through September 20.

“I paint beings who I have delegated as intermediaries between worlds, and I imbue them with magical abilities, to protect and translate forces of the natural world. They provide me with an antidote for this time, fighting the forces conspired to immobilize, helping to mobilize power,” she says. I love the colors she uses and the emotions her art evokes. If you get the opportunity – check them out for yourself!

Sublime Thursday nights

Thursday night barbecue and music on the lawn are back at The Garrison for six more weeks this summer! Wow – although it's a bit of a drive for me, I am going to try very hard to get to this some time this summer, because The Garrison has a couple of great chefs and one of the most beautiful views in the Hudson Valley. (It also has an awesome golf course and the incredible Valley Restaurant.)

On Thursdays through August 21, you can enjoy an alfresco barbecue under the stars along with an evening of live music. A barbecue buffet will be served from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with barbecued chicken, brisket and ribs, all the delicious trimmings, and desserts such as just-baked blueberry cobbler. A cash bar is available for beverages. Music begins at 7 p.m.

It all costs $25 per person for food and music, and $12 for children age 12 and under. No admission charge for children age 2 and younger. You can also come after 8 p.m. to enjoy just the music and dancing and skip the barbecue (I don’t know why anyone would …) for a $10 cover charge. Neat, informal summer attire is requested (shorts are OK).

To purchase tickets, please call 845-424-3604 x 27 or email martiajello@thegarrison.com. Garrison is located at Route 9 and Snake Hill Road in Garrison. For directions, visit www.thegarrison.com.

Thursday Barbecue and Music Schedule
July 17th: Soulsystem Orchestras Presents: DEAN SCALA BAND
July 24th: Soulsystem Orchestras Presents: SOUL II
July 31st: Soulsystem Orchestras Presents: HOT ROD BAND
August 7th: Soulsystem Orchestras Presents: BRIAN TICE BAND
August 14th: NEW YORK CITY SWING
August 21st: Soulsystem Orchestras Presents: SOULSYSTEM

Cheers along the Hudson!

Get ready for two days celebrating Hudson Valley wines at the Shawangunk Wine Trail’s Bounty of the Hudson Food and Wine Festival July 26 & 27. The host is Benmarl Winery in Marlboro, which is up on a hill with lovely views overlooking the Hudson River and is known as “home to America’s oldest vineyard.”

According to its organizers, this event is the largest festival that features only Hudson Valley wines. There will also be great food, fresh local produce, and live music by The Bernstein Bard Quartet on Saturday and Andrew Holtz on Sunday.

Here is more info:

Wines being tasted this year come from the banner crop that was achieved during the 2007 growing season. The 2007 growing season was the best growing season the Hudson Valley vineyards have seen in many years. Visitors will enjoy side-by side tastings of the region’s array of wines. Dry, complex, locally grown Seyval, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, to sweeter apple and strawberry wines. This is the best opportunity to experience the range and quality now achieved by the wines of Hudson River Region.

Event tickets are $25 plus tax in advance and $35 at the door. Event hours are noon to 5 p.m. each day. This year there will be transfers available from the Poughkeepsie Metro North Station, with bus service between the train station and the festival on the following schedule: Will meet arriving trains at 12:37, 1:38 and 2:38 p.m.; Will depart festival at 4 and 5 p.m. to catch the 4:31 and 5:31 trains back to NYC. Transfer cost is $10 round trip and must be purchased in advance.

Directions and more information are at www.gunkswine.com

Shawangunk Wine Trail members include: Adair Vineyards & Rivendell Winery, New Paltz NY; Whitecliff Vineyards, Gardiner NY; Benmarl Vineyards, Glorie Farm Winery & Stoutridge Winery, Marlboro NY; Baldwin Vineyards, Pine Bush NY; Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville NY; Applewood Winery & Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, Warwick NY.

New work as Beacon gallery celebrates

RiverWinds Gallery at 172 Main Street in Beacon is celebrating its first five years in business by showing new work by its three owners – painter E. Virginia Donovan, and photographers Mary Ann Glass & Linda T. Hubbard. The gallery is open on Wednesdays through Mondays, from noon to 6 p.m. The exhibit runs until August 4. Above, Sunset Cedars, oil by E. Virginia Donovan.

Here is more about each of the owner/artists:

Known best for her Hudson River scenes, Linda Hubbard is taking the opportunity to highlight her love of water in images that range around the globe, from the Hudson River to Cape Cod to New Zealand, Australia and England. Whether on land, by boat or leaning out of a helicopter, Linda has a zest for capturing the many changing colors and moods of the places where land meets water.

For Mary Ann Glass, when she lived in New York City, Coney Island was her beach of choice. She would ride the subway to the end of the line, bringing along with her towel & sunscreen, her camera with black and white infrared film. She was intrigued by the juxtaposition of this classic all-American scene with the dark European imagery on many of the rides that seemed inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and old circus sideshow themes. All this has disappeared, replaced by cartoon and animation signage, so this portfolio celebrates what used to be and is no longer.

E. Virginia Donovan continues her investigation of light and shadow in oil with her evocative, moody landscapes. “I find painting to be a great enhancement to my life,” she says. “It can be consuming yet freeing, somewhat relaxing and even sometimes frustrating. But in the process, everything else becomes distant and I can be totally inside the painting. This happens whether I am painting en plein air or in studio. Sometimes the colors get me excited; sometimes the shapes and occasionally, as in Sunset Cedars, both. I feel truly blessed that I have found this path of growth and fulfillment in my life.”

Kit rocks!

Along with Jess the American Girl doll and the dog Coconut (in photo), we attended the American Girl Kit Kittredge movie on Wednesday (its national opening and the first day playing in our region.) The theater (Red Hook Lyceum) was FULL of other moms and daughters (and the occasional dad and brother.) And I'd say about two-thirds of the girls had brought along their American Girl Dolls.

I've written before about my appreciation for American Girl (with which I have a very slight connection, in that its founder and I share an alma mater.) I have to say that I've become a fan of the brand -- even though it's somewhat pricey, it does offer up thoughtful and high-quality entertainment for girls to counter the Miley, Bratz and Jamie Lynn-mania.

And finally, with Kit there is a movie this summer that is appropriate for a 9YO girl AND entertaining at the same time! We need more girl characters in entertainment like this, who can be strong and true to their beliefs without having to be written into the plot as eccentric or social outcasts. And I loved that the plot revolved around 10-year-old Kit's desire to not only work towards her dream of being a journalist but also to use her writing/reporting talent for social good.

The plot centers on how Kit's suddenly-no-longer-upper-middle-class family and her neighbors struggle to make ends meet during the Depression and about how easy it is to scapegoat one group of people when times are tough. Homes are being foreclosed on and fathers are losing their jobs.

There are elements in the story that can be used to talk to your kids about our Hudson Valley history as well as past (and current) events -- Kit admires Eleanor Roosevelt (and has her photo in her clubhouse). There's discussion about FDR's New Deal and the Civilian Conservation Corps. And one of the characters is from Poughkeepsie!