I was just looking at these photos I took last February, and thought it would be fun to post them.  Driving by a farm near our house in Claverack, we saw a flock of sheep, with their babies, in a pen right by the road.  It was very early in the year for them to have been born, but there they were. So, to keep them cozy, each one had a sweater on, in several fashion colors.

They’re a bit hard to see, but if you click on each photo it will display more clearly.

Cocktail hour at the Opera House

This past Saturday we attended the 20th annual Movable Feast, a fund-raising event for the Hudson Opera House, a historic building in Hudson, New York that is in the process of restoration, and houses exhibit and performance spaces.  The Opera House also has art, music and theater programs for children and adults.

HOH website: http://hudsonoperahouse.org/

As always, the festivities began with wine and hors d’oeuvres at the Opera House, all donated by local businesses.

Marty Davidson tending bar

The upstairs performance space, still undergoing restoration

After nibbling and chatting with old and new friends, we moved on to dinner.  Dinners were hosted by 16 volunteers at their homes or businesses.  We had a lovely dinner at the home of architect Peggy Anderson, a spectacular two-story loft building directly behind the Opera House. Her good friend Darren Norris, visiting from Brooklyn, prepared a meal of Persian specialties.

We started again with cocktails – a special concoction following the Persian theme – and began to introduce ourselves to the other guests and the three rambunctious but well-behaved dogs.  There were four couples and four singles, with assigned seats at a long trestle table.  Architecture, graphic design, medical, real estate and non-profit administration (and one lone lawyer) were the dominant skill sets in attendance.  The first course was a pumpkin soup with pomegranate infusion. The main course was a duck stew with a sauce of ground walnuts and spices served with wondrously aromatic rice with a crust and mixed greens.

The idea is to return to the Opera House at around 9 or 9:30 for dessert, but this time, as has sometimes happened in the past, dessert was served – a selection of Persian pastries accompanied by cognac.   The conversation was so engrossing, the space so embracing, and the dogs so entertaining that we did not leave until almost 11, and thus did not return to the Opera House.

Standing on Peggy’s upper deck (which had just gotten its railings!), one could see the transformation in Hudson wrought by institutions such as the Opera House.  Every neighbor’s house was bright with lights and activity, vanquishing the gloom and fear of the past. One of our friends, who runs a B&B in Hudson, remarked that he stumbled upon a traveler sitting on his front porch, hoping there was a room available.  The last available hotel room in Columbia County that weekend was in Chatham, and the gentleman was sent on his way.

In the past, the Movable Feast has been held in April, but was moved this year to October to accommodate a shift in the date for the Opera House Gala.  Attendance was not as robust, but it was quickly noted the number of competing events and benefits (John Waters at Basilica Hudson, for example) that have made Hudson such a thriving hive of cultural buzz.  We are very happy to remain loyal to the Movable Feast.

The table, set for dinner at Peggy Anderson’s

UPDATE: Sale closed on 5/28/15 for $400,000

This is a perfect starter home or pied-a-terre with incredibly low maintenance!

To view, click on images below and enlarge as needed:

Please visit the web page to see photos and video:

http://www.wohlfarth.com/listing-details/coop-970042.html

Click on the image below to view, and enlarge as needed:

On Saturday we attended the second annual Hudson Valley Dance Festival in Catskill, sponsored by Dancers Responding to AIDS. Stanley and I were members of the host committee, so we had done our best to invite our sophisticated and culturally responsible friends to join in support. By four o’clock, the gratin of Hudson Valley society began to descend upon Catskill at historic Catskill Point, where the Catskill Creek meets the Hudson River. The weather was perfect, creating a splendid outdoor setting of Fall foliage along the Hudson River, expertly arranged by the volunteer set designers, for the pre-performance reception. The 350 seats were sold out long ago, but this year local business and major corporate sponsors began to answer the call, and the amount raised jumped from @ $75,000 to over $120,000.

Paul Taylor Dance Company – Photo by Daniel Roberts

Pontus Lidberg Dance
– Photo by Daniel Roberts

Keigwin + Company – Photo by Daniel Roberts

Gallim Dance – Photo by Whitney Browne

Dorrance Dance – Photo by Whitney Browne

Paul Taylor Dance Company – Photo by Daniel Roberts

After wine and snacks, we moved inside for the performance, which was riveting. Five superb dance companies participated: Pontus Lidberg Dance, Gallim Dance, Keigwin + Company, Dorrance Dance and Paul Taylor Dance Company. Pontus Liberg opened with Faune set to Debussy, wherein the cast cannily exchanged their pants, until the identity of the true faune made itself known. In Pupil Suite, Gallim Dance gave a hyper-energetic study in imitation and emulation that truly stretched the dancers’ limbs in awkward and humorous ways. Keigwin + Company hit the mattress in Mattress Suite which had the young honeymooners bouncing into one another. The razz-matazz came when Dorrance Dance out busby-ed Busby Berkeley in Boards and Chains, where the tapping feet of 42nd Street met the Dungeon. It all came to a rapturous conclusion in Paul Taylor’s Promethean Fire, the sort of modern dance that could make it at as a half-time show on a football field (if Bard and Oberlin had football teams). We are usually loath to indulge the modern madness for standing ovations for monkey organ grinders, but there was no way we could stay in our seats after all this.

After the spectacular performance, we moved on to the reception at the home of Mark Beard and James Manfredi, which rampages through a former church in downtown Catskill chock-a-block with their artwork and other fancies. We schmoozed with friends old and new and offered our thanks to all the vibrant young talent that had come to do this one-day wonder of a performance. If you weren’t there, you may have a good excuse this time. But next year . . .

To view the Hudson Valley Dance Festival website:

https://www.dradance.org/_events–tickets/dra-hudson-valley-dance-festival-2014

Recently opened at 6th Ave. and 11th St., Shu Han Ju doesn’t even have a permanent sign on the front yet.  Nor does it have a liquor license, so for now you will have to BYO.  I’d been waiting for it to open, but was a bit skeptical as the temporary sign says Authentic Chinese Food, Sichuan Style.  Did that mean it was really authentic Sichuan?  So once I saw the menu posted I took a look, and it seemed quite promising.  Lots of spicy dishes, many of them the same as what we’ve had at Szechuan Gourmet, so we decided to give it a try on Wednesday night, hoping it would turn out to be a good place to have around the corner from home.

I’m happy to report that we were very impressed.  The Chengdu pork dumplings were comparable to those at Szechuan Gourmet, and the ox tongue and tripe were even better.  Cumin lamb was the best we’ve had, tender and juicy, substantial pieces of lamb, again better than SG and way better than Legend.  The only dish that did not excite was the chicken with Chinese broccoli, which was supposed to be spicy but had no detectable spice (don’t know what went wrong with that one).  We added some chili oil and pepper which livened it up.

I am thrilled to have Shu Han Ju in the neighborhood, and hope they will be successful.  Even if you don’t live nearby, it is well worth a detour.

Website: http://www.shuhanjuchineserestaurant.com/

Last Saturday night Stanley and I celebrated his birthday at the Crimson Sparrow.  We have been there several times, the last being exactly one year ago, also to celebrate his birthday.  They’ve changed the tasting menu format slightly, for the better I think.  Last year, there were an amuse-bouche and 5 courses for $55, with the option of adding a foie gras course (with a glass of sweet wine). They also brought out an extra course for us. Dessert was extra, and we did not order one.  The new menu offers an amuse plus 7 courses, foie gras and dessert included, but no glass of wine, for $75. Pricey, but very much worth it.  Portions are not stingy, either.  We had an excellent bottle of 2011 Minervois for $39,

I can’t remember the details of every dish, but some highlights were fresh peas with cod and chorizo, squid cut into spaghetti-like strands and lightly cooked, New York strip steak, black bass, and chicken, egg and kimchi.  The flavors in each dish were intricate and worked perfectly together.  The chefs are extremely creative, and we felt the food quality had risen to a new level.

The beautiful garden is filled on a first-come, first-served basis, but we were able to move there from the dining room after the first course, and enjoyed sitting at the counter facing the glass-enclosed kitchen.  Service is close to perfect, and the serving of the dishes is very carefully timed, not too fast, not too slow.

All in all, a spectacular meal.

Website: http://thecrimsonsparrow.com/

This past Saturday, we did our semiannual drive from Claverack to Poughkeepsie to stock up on wine and beer (Arlington Wines and Liquors and Half Time, both great stores!).  I had read about Queen City Bistro on Chowhound, so we figured this would be a perfect opportunity to try something new, and the first time we have had lunch in Poughkeepsie.  Located on Main St., a couple of blocks from Route 9 and the train station, this fairly new place serves small plates, and is both creative and moderately priced.  It was a gorgeous day, so we sat in their lovely garden.  Photos below are of the interior spaces.

In addition to a brunch menu, the full dinner menu was available. We started with 2 plates to share, fried calamari and artichokes, and grilled duck breast with an arugula, fennel and pistachio salad.  The duck was done medium rare as requested, and the calamari were just to the point of being cooked, tender as can be.  We then each had a slider, one pulled pork and the other a salmon and crab cake.  Each was served with perfect French fries dusted with parmesan, with an aioli on the side.  We both had a Fire Island Brewery Sunken Ferry Stout from the well-conceived beer list.  There is also a wine list and a wide selection of interesting-looking cocktails.

Service was excellent, and the restaurant will reimburse you for public parking.  Definitely worth a detour.

http://www.queencitybistro.com/

Gato is a tough reservation to get if you want to eat at prime time, so I reserved far in advance and kept my fingers crossed that we would be able to make it.  So it was that we arrived for our 8:45 reservation to be told they were running “a bit late”, with the usual suggestion that we have a drink at the bar, which we had no desire to do.  We were finally seated at 9:10, after I made it clear that they should have a better handle on how long diners remain at tables and schedule reservations accordingly.

To their credit, they immediately brought out a platter of pita bread with 3 spreads for us to nibble while perusing the menu. The pita was obviously freshly baked and the spreads were excellent.  We ordered beers and then chose the octopus, the pizza with lamb sausage, the rabbit and the halibut.  All were delicious, with the octopus and rabbit being the standouts.  For dessert we shared a cake topped with sliced peaches and blueberry ice cream, very good.  They also gave us some really good biscotti and a glass of sherry.  Our server was very conscientious, attentive but not intrusive, just right.  Being seated directly opposite the bar, we did find the noise level high.  In future I would try to be farther back.

Despite his fame, Bobby Flay clearly cares about his restaurants and takes pride in the food.  Gato should be around for a long time.

Website: http://gatonyc.com/

The city of Hudson, New York has come a long way in the 24 years since we bought our house in Columbia County.  Beginning in the late 1980’s, it went from down-and-out to a center for the antiques trade, which filled many previously empty storefronts.  Each upturn and downturn in the economy resulted in the opening and closing of businesses, and over the years a more diverse group of  boutiques, galleries, restaurants, bars and cafes have joined the remaining antique shops, resulting today in a thriving downtown, a frenzied real estate market, and increasing cultural and recreational options.  One of these is the revival of ferries and sightseeing boats on the river, where we took a wonderful scenic cruise last weekend.

Since only beverages and snacks are served on the boat, we met our friends John and Andrew for a quick lunch in the beautiful garden at Ca’Mea, which opens at noon, giving us just enough time for panini and salad before heading down the street to the dock.

Leaving from the riverfront park in Hudson, we traveled South to Catskill, along the Catskill Creek, then back out to the river and North to Hudson. It takes just under two hours. Here is the website for Hudson Cruises:

Home

They also offer a ferry between Hudson and Athens, and other events such as a Poughkeepsie to Hudson cruise, and lighthouse tours.

This is a great way to see a beautiful part of the Hudson Valley.

The boat, Spirit On Hudson

The riverfront park in Hudson

The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse

Approaching the Rip Van Winkle Bridge

Catskill Point.  The building at right is where the Hudson Valley Dance Festival was held last October, and will return this year.

For information about the performance, visit the website:

https://www.dradance.org/_events–tickets/dra-hudson-valley-dance-festival-2014

Amtrak train leaving Hudson.

View of the village of Athens.

The captain carried on a stream of lively and informative banter, covering the history of the river and explaining the former economy and the many ruins along the shore.  He also gave shameless plugs for various businesses, including his own.  As we disembarked, one of the crew members encouraged us to come back during the Fall “foilage”  season.