A selection of meetings and events in and around the City of Hudson by Ellen Thurston. All phone numbers are in area code 518 unless otherwise indicated. All addresses are in Hudson unless otherwise indicated.

MEETINGS

Tuesday, February 2

Columbia County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Board Meeting and Audit, Finance & Governance Committee Meetings – 8:30 am – 4303 Route 9, Greenport

Columbia County Capital Resource Corporation Board Meeting and Audit, Finance & Governance Committee Meetings ? 9 am ? 4303 Route 9, Greenport

Hudson Conservation Advisory Council Meeting – 6 pm – City Hall

Wednesday, February 3

City of Hudson Industrial Development Agency Board Meeting – 2 pm – City Hall

Hudson City School District Community Conversation re details of proposed capital projects – 6 pm – Cafeteria, John L. Edwards School, 360 State Street (behind Hudson Area Library)

Hudson Common Council Youth & Aging Committee Meeting – 6 pm – City Hall

Second Hudson Elder Community Meeting to get community input on programming for Hudson senior citizens – 6:30 pm – Solaris, 360 Warren Street

Hudson Common Council Arts, Entertainment & Tourism Committee Meeting – 6:45 pm – City Hall

Next Monday, February 8

Hudson Common Council Informal Meeting – 7 pm – City Hall

Next Tuesday, February 9

Hudson City School District Community vote on the sale of the Claverack School and on the proposed Capital Project – Polls open from 12 noon to 9 pm – Call 828-4360, ext. 2101 for information on polling places – (See also Information Meeting on Wednesday, February 3)

Next Wednesday, February 10

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Full Board Meeting – 7:30 pm – 401 State Street

ELLEN’S PICKS

Tuesday, February 2

Helsinki Open Mic – Try out new material on the big Helsinki stage – Hosted by Cameron Melville and Ryder Cooley – Information at 828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – Sign-up begins at 6:30 pm – Performance from 7 to 10 pm – Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street

Thursday, February 4

Civil Rights: Show and Tell – The Hudson Area Library is hosting a discussion for those who took part in, or have first-hand knowledge of the tumultuous events of the 1960s. Participants are urged to come tell their stories, bringing mementos, photos and clippings to share. The evening is being held in advance of a performance and residency inspired by Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom, a memoir of Lynda Blackmon Lowery’s experiences, including participation in the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. A play based on her book will be performed at MC Smith Intermediate School on February 13. Those who would like to participate in the forum on Thursday evening, February 4 are asked to let the Library know at 828-1792 or by e-mail to [email protected]. 6 pm  Hudson Area Library, 400 State Street.

Donna The Buffalo: This group is still led after all these years by founding songwriter-vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins. When the New York-based group began performing at folk and roots-music festivals in 1989, there wasn’t even a genre called Americana. They are still appealing to a fanatically loyal base of followers called The Herd. Information at 828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – 8 pm – Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street.

Thursday-Sunday, February 4-7

Films at TSL:

Aferim: Set in early 19th-century Romania, a policeman is hired by a nobleman to find a Gypsy slave who has run away from his estate after having an affair with his wife.

Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art: Set in the desolate spaces of the American southwest, the film unearths the history of land art during the tumultuous late 1960s and early 1970s. The film is ultimately a story of renegades and firebrands all willing to risk their future careers on radical change and experimentation, a marked contrast to the hyper-speculative contemporary art world of today. Featuring rare interviews with a veritable Who’s Who of American Art of the twentieth century.

Room: Held captive for years in an enclosed space, a woman and her five-year-old son finally gain their freedom, allowing the boy to experience the outside world for the first time.

Rosenwald: The story of Julius Rosenwald, who never finished high school, but rose to become the president of Sears. Influenced by Booker T. Washington, this Jewish philanthropist joined forces with African-American communities in the Jim Crow South to build over 5,300 schools. He used his wealth to become one of America’s most effective philanthropists.

Oscar Shorts: Animation and Oscar Shorts: Live Action.  Most of the short films nominated for Academy Awards in 2016, plus a few Highly Commended titles.

Information and schedule at www.timeandspace.org or 822-8448 – Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia Street.

Friday, February 5?

Exposition Auction: English, Continental and American furniture, decorations, art and textiles, along with a large offering of fine and costume jewelry and pocket watches – Information at 751-1000. Online catalogue at www.stairgalleries.com – 3 pm – Stair Galleries, 549 Warren Street.

Friday-Sunday, February 5-7

The Ghent Playhouse presents The Weir, by Conor McPherson.  At the local pub–The Weir–jovial banter and friendly gossip take a spellbinding turn to the supernatural world of spirits, fairies and Irish Gentle Folk, as four longtime mates vie for the attention of the village’s newest resident. Directed by Aaron Holbritter. Information and reservations at 1-800-838-3006 or ghentplayhouse.org. Fri/Sat at 8 pm; Sun at 2 pm. Ghent Playhouse, Town Hall Place, Ghent.

Saturday, February 6

Chocolate Valentine: A pre-Valentine chocolate-making and tasting with pastry chef Madeline Delosh. Chef Madeline will prepare two of her favorite creations – a heart-shaped chocolate mousse with chocolate glaze on a chocolate sablee, and a chocolate millefeuille with raspberry mousse. She will demonstrate the steps and request hands-on assistance along the way. Chef Madeline is the proprietor of the pastry shop Mado Patisserie in Chatham. Information and reservations at www.valleyvariety.com or 828-0033. 10 am to 12 noon. Valley Variety, 705 Warren Street.

Ice Boating on the Hudson River Then and Now. Part of Olana’s Armchair Travel Series. An afternoon of traveling the Hudson River by ice from the comfort of your chair. Brian Reid from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club will present historical photos of ice boats and set up his wooden ice boat for viewing. Against the Wind, a documentary, will be screened, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers, Tomasz Gubernat and Christopher Nostrand, and the producer Rahul Chadha – Hosted by The Olana Partnership in collaboration with The Friends of Clermont. Information at www.olana.org. Snow date Sunday, February 7 – 3 to 5 pm – Wagon House Education Center, Olana State Historic Site, Route 9G, Greenport.

Exhibition Opening: A Way of Seeing: Recent Work by Hannah Mandel. Live Jazz by George Mandel. Also exhibiting recent work by gallery artists. On view through February 28. Information at 822-0510 or www.510warrenstreetgallery.com – 3 to 6 pm – 510 Warren Street Gallery, 510 Warren Street.

Author’s Reading/Discussion: Todd Brewster, author of Lincoln’s Gamble, an account of the tumultuous six months that gave America the Emancipation Proclamation and changed the course of the Civil War, will read from his latest book. The book is described as a riveting account of the 180 days leading up to the signing of one of America’s most historic documents, as seen through the eyes of Abraham Lincoln. On July 12, 1862, Lincoln spoke for the first time of his intention to free the slaves. On January 1, 1863, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. During the period in between Lincoln fought bitterly with his generals, disappointed his cabinet, and sank into bouts of clinical depression. It was a great gamble, with the future of the Union, of slavery, and of the presidency itself hanging in the balance. Brewster is a longtime journalist, television news producer, and writer. This event is in honor of Lincoln’s birthday and Black History Month. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Information at 822-1438 or www.hudsonoperahouse.org. 4 pm – Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street.

Poetry Reading by Wayne Koestenbaum, Christian Schlegel, and Rebecca Wolff: Koestenbaum has many books, exhibitions, and musical performances to his credit. He has taught at Yale in both English and art classes and is a Distinguished Professor of English at the CUNY Graduate Center in NYC.  Christian Schlegel was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He studied German at Princeton and received an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop. His first book was published in 2015. He is an English PhD student. Rebecca Wolff is the author of four books of poems, a novel, a chapbook, and numerous prose pieces. She is the founding editor of Fence, a small press, and is a fellow at the NY State Writers Institute at the University at Albany. Information at baileygallery.com or 828-6680 – 4 pm – Jeff Bailey Gallery, 127 Warren Street.

Exhibition Opening: Paintings by Carrie Waldman using egg tempera – 5 to 7 pm – Information at 828-3000. Hudson Clothier, 443 Warren Street.

Exhibition Opening: Paintings by Joel Longenecker – I am interested in how the painting process, applying, drying, scraping and reapplying, parallels the processes of growth and decay, buildup and erosion in nature?.? ? Information at johndavisgallery.com or 828-5907 ? 6 to 8 pm ? John Davis Gallery, 362 ? Warren Street.

Winter Blast: In honor of Mary Gail Biebel. Food, drink. an all-star rock group paying tribute to Steely Dan, and a silent auction. Snow or shine. To support Columbia Memorial Health. Information at 828-8239.  6:30 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street.

Botanica with DJ Ephraim Asili Vinyl Healing & Good Vibes. Guest DJ Wet Magic. Special Tribute to Bob Marley. Information at 828-1562 or The Half Moon facebook page – 9 pm – The Half Moon, 48 South Front Street.

Sunday, February 7

Live in HD. The Metropolitan Opera production of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers. Reservations and information at 822-8448 or www.timeandspace.org – 1 pm – Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia Street.

King David – A Dramatic Oratorio by Arthur Honegger – Also chamber works by Francis Poulenc. Performed by The Broad Street Orchestra & The Broad Street Chorale. David Smith, Artistic Director and Conductor, with soprano Amanda Boyd-Grout, mezzo soprano Vicki Smith, tenor David Rudnick, speaker Wendy Spielmann and Benjamin Luxon as special guest Narrator. Off-site reception follows. Reservations and information at www.concertsinthevillage.org  The School will be open to concertgoers as of 1 pm – Concert at 2 pm – Jack Shainman Gallery: The School, 25 Broad Street, Kinderhook.

Thomas Cole and the Ohio Statehouse: For a number of years Thomas Cole National Historic Site has presented a Sunday Salon series, featuring distinguished speakers on subjects related to the Hudson River School. This year the lectures are being held in a new building – the reconstructed New Studio, which Cole himself designed. To celebrate the studio’s rebirth, the 2016 schedule addresses the topic of architecture. Cole is known to have been involved in the design of the State Capitol in Columbus, Ohio. Robert Loversidge, this Sunday’s speaker, is an award-winning preservation design architect, and was principal-in-charge of the ten-year renovation and restoration project of Ohio’s National Historic Landmark Statehouse, where he has served as Architect of the Capitol since 1988. His lecture discusses the level of involvement Thomas Cole had in the design of the Statehouse. Although Cole’s entry in the competition to choose its architect won third prize, he is widely credited with the finished building’s design. However, given the way architecture and construction were practiced in the first half of the 19^th century, can Cole be considered the designer if he never visited the construction site. The talk will be followed by a reception with the speaker. Information at www.thomascole.org or 943-7465 – 2 pm. The New Studio, Cedar Grove, Thomas Cole National Historic Site, 218 Spring Street, Catskill.

Next Tuesday, February 9

Helsinki Open Mic: Try out new material on the big Helsinki stage. Hosted by Cameron Melville and Ryder Cooley. Information at 828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – Sign-up begins at 6:30 pm. Performance from 7 to 10 pm. Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street.

For more information on Columbia County events, visit www.columbiacountytourism.org

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