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 16

Columbia Economic Development Corporation Governance & Nominating Committee Meeting – 8:30 am – 4303 Route 9, Greenport

Columbia Economic Development Corporation Executive Committee Meeting – 9:30 am – 4303 Route 9, Greenport

Columbia Economic Development Loan Committee Meeting – 1 pm – 4303 Route 9, Greenport

Columbia County Board of Supervisors .1 Committee Meeting – 2 pm – 401 State Street

Columbia County Health & Medical Services Committee Meeting – 5:30 pm – 401 State Street

Hudson Common Council Finance Committee Meeting – 5:30 pm – City Hall

Hudson Common Council Formal Meeting – 7 pm – City Hall

Wednesday, February 17

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Human Services Committee Meeting – 5 pm – 401 State Street

Thursday, February 18

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee Meeting – 5 pm – 401 State Street

Hudson Common Council Economic Development Committee Meeting – 6 pm – City Hall

Next Monday, February 22

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Economic Development Committee Meeting – 5 pm – 401 State Street

Hudson Common Council Fire Committee Meeting – 5:30 pm – City Hall

Hudson Common Council Police Committee Meeting – 6 pm – City Hall

Columbia County Environmental Management Council Meeting – 6:30 pm – 401 State Street

Next Tuesday, February 23

Columbia County Economic Development Corporation Board Meeting – 8:30 am – 4303 Route 9, Greenport

Hudson Development Corporation Board Meeting – 12 noon – 1 North Front Street

Columbia County Board of Supervisors County Government Committee Meeting – 5 pm – 401 State Street

Next Wednesday, February 24

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Airport Sub-committee Meeting – 4 pm – 401 State Street

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Public Works Committee Meeting – 5 pm – 401 State Street

Hudson Common Council Public Works Committee Meeting – 5:30 pm – City Hall

Hudson Common Council Legal Committee Meeting – 6:15 pm – City Hall

Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting – 7 pm – City Hall

Hudson City School District Board of Education Meeting – 7 pm – Hudson High School Library

ELLEN’S PICKS

Tuesday, February 16

The Old Lady of Clermont – A lecture by Kjirsten Gustavson on Margaret Beekman Livingston who was a key figure in the history of Livingston.  The mother of several prominent statesmen and shapers of the American Revolution, she has an interesting story of her own.  She was 18 years old when she married her Livingston husband, joining two prominent Colonial families and their fortunes.  Widowed at the age of 52, she led her family through the American Revolution and oversaw the two estates she inherited from both families.  Even when her home was burned by the English Army, Margaret remained undaunted and rebuilt before the war was over.  Gustavson has been the Curator of Education at Clermont for ten years.  More of her research can be found at www.ClermonstStateHistoricSite.blogspot.com.  Presented by Columbia County Historical Society Volunteers group – Information at www.cchsny.org or 758-9265 – 3:30 pm – McNary Center, St. Paul’s Church, 6 Silvester Street, Kinderhook

The Columbia County Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby is holding its February meeting in Hudson.  The agenda includes an update of the organization’s lobbying efforts, including strides made in the U.S. House of Representatives and plans for 2016.  Citizens’ Climate Lobby will step up its educational efforts in Columbia County this year, spreading the word on solutions to the climate problem, and showing ordinary citizens what they can do to help.  The organization’s ultimate goal is to convince Congress to take comprehensive action to protect future generations from the perilous and costly impacts of an unstable climate.  Their proposed solution, favored by most economists and by many conservative thinkers, is to put a steadily increasing price on carbon to motivate a shift away from fossil fuels, and protect the economy by returning all the revenues generated back to American households, which will shield the poor and working class from higher energy prices.  All those interested are welcome to attend and contribute their thoughts.  To learn more about the organization go to www.citizensclimatelobby.org or 672-7901 – Information at 917-282-2395 – 6 pm – Second floor, 209 Warren Street

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 18

Hudson Forward Monthly Community Meeting – All are welcome.  Agenda includes a Weighted Vote workshop, an update on the Learning FORWARD guide (hudsonforward.com/learning-forward/), and more  – 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm – Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, 1 North Front Street

Jackie Greene performs – with Hollis Brown opening – “Roots-rock singer-songwriter Jackie Greene is touring behind his critically acclaimed new album ‘Back to Birth,’ his first solo album in five years…Armed with a persuasive voice, a vivid songwriting skill and an instinctive mastery of several instruments, Greene has carved out a unique musical niche, and the album marks another creative landmark in his already compelling body of work.” – Information at 828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – 8 pm – Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street

Thursday & Friday, February 18 & 19

Tours of the new Senior Center space in the Armory building – Information at 929-0105 – 12 noon – Big brick building at the corner of Fifth and State Streets

Thursday-Sunday, February 18-21

Films at TSL:

Crazy About Tiffany’s – The first fully authorized documentary capturing how a simple jewelry store has woven itself into pop culture to become a global phenomenon

Rams – A hard-drinking Icelandic farmer and his estranged brother band together to save their sheep from authorities who want the animals destroyed – “The film lovingly captures a deeply rooted rural culture.”

Lamb – The first Ethiopian film to be chosen as a Cannes festival official selection – The story of a 9-year-old boy whose father leaves him and his sheep, from whom he is inseparable, to be looked after by distant relatives, far from his drought-ridden homeland – In Amharic with English subtitles.

Mustang – Five free-spirited teenage sisters accused of illicit behavior, are essentially imprisoned by their parents and subjected to endless lessons in housekeeping in preparation for marriage.  As the older sisters are married off, the younger ones bond together to avoid the same fate – The directorial debut of Deniz Gamze Erguven – In Turkish with English subtitles

Eisenstein in Guanajuato Directed by Peter Greenaway – The film explores the mind of Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein, “a creative genius facing the desires and fears of love, sex, and death through ten passionate days that helped shape the rest of the career of one of the greatest masters of cinema.” – In English and Spanish with English subtitles

Heart of a Dog – Artist Laurie Anderson’s “…wry, wondrous, and unforgettable cinematic journey through love, death, and language…”

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 19

Artist & Friends Community Potluck Dinner – To celebrate the artist community through monthly potluck dinners by sharing artwork and exploring creativity as a spiritual practice – Visual artists, writers, dancers, filmmakers and their friends are all welcome – Please bring a dish or a non-alcoholic beverage to share – Artists presenting this month are:  Dancer, singer/songwriter Abby Lappen, who will be performing; painter Richard Robinson will talk about his work, artist Marlene Vidibor will show her handmade poetry books, and two videos will be shown—one of Julian Schnabel and one of Philip Guston–for a discussion of the artist’s process  – If you would like to show your work at a future dinner, send examples to [email protected] along with contact information – The potluck dinner is held the third Friday of each month – 6 to 9 pm – First Presbyterian Church, corner of Fourth & Warren Streets (Use the side entrance on Fourth Street)

Staley B. Keith Social Justice Center Third Anniversary Dinner – Keynote address by renowned civil rights leader, Dr. Bernard Lafayette – In the 1960s Dr. Lafayette worked with SNCC, SCLC and various other groups fighting for racial equity.  He was a key figure in the Selma voting rights movement, participated in the legendary Freedom Rides, and went on to help coordinate the Poor People’s Economic Campaign – Former SBK Chairman Alan Skerrett will be honored at the dinner for his hard work and dedication in the community – Sponsored by Stoll, Glickman & Bellina LLP – Tickets at www.staleybkeith.org – 6 to 10 pm – Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street

Beautifully Twisted Takes: A Spoken Word Performance with Lydia Lunch and Bibbe Hansen – “Lydia Lunch is passionate, confrontational and bold…Queen of No Wave, muse of The Cinema of Transgression, writer, musician, poet, spoken word artist and photographer, she has released too many musical projects to tally, has been on tour for decades, has published dozens of articles, half a dozen books and simply refuses to just shut up.” –“ Bibbe Hansen is a performance artist, actress and musician.  She is the daughter of Fluxus artist Al Hansen, and the mother of artist Channing Hansen and the pop musician Beck.  A longtime participant in avant-garde  contemporary art communities, as a youngster Bibbe made films with Andy Warhol and Jonas Mekas and participated in her father’s ‘Happenings’ and Fluxus performances at such historical venues as La Mama, Circle in the Square and the Living Theater….” – Information at 671-6006 or www.thespottydog.com – 8 pm – Spotty Dog Books & Ale, 440 Warren Street

Saturday, February 20

Hudson Winter Farmers’ Market – The winter market is open and continues each Saturday through the month of April – You’ll find flowers and other gift ideas alongside local staples including bread, cookies, cheese, fair trade coffee and nuts, and more – 10 am to 1 pm – Parish Hall, Christ Church Episcopal, Union & East Court Streets

Bard at Beattie – The first concert of Beattie’s 2016 season presents Bard College Conservatory of Music student, violinist and composer, Matthew Woodard, accompanied by fellow student Mengying Wei on piano, performing  the Brahms Sonata in A Minor and works by Ysaye and others – Free admission – Reservations at [email protected] – 2 pm – Beattie-Powers Place, Prospect Avenue & Bridge Street, Catskill

Strings Sublime – Master violinist Eugene Drucker of the well-known Emerson String Quartet, cellist Roberta Cooper, and series Artistic Director and pianist Gili Melamed-Lev perform as part of the Concerts at Camphill Ghent series –The program includes the Chaconne from Bach’s Partita in D minor and the piano Trio in C minor by Brahms, two canons from the Art of the Fugue by Bach, a short one movement Trio by Beethoven, and a movement from Fanny Mendelssohn’s piano Trio – Information and reservations at 392-2760 – 3 pm – Camphill Ghent, 2542 Route 66, Chatham

Picturesque Transformations – Architectural historian Peter Watson presents Part 1 of a two-part lecture series on 19th-century architect Andrew Jackson Davis (1803 – 1892).  Davis’s sole surviving major work in Columbia County, The Dr. Oliver Bronson House in Hudson (a project of Historic Hudson), is part of a small group of related Hudson Valley commissions including Blithewood, Montgomery Place, Locust Grove, and Knoll-Lyndhurst.  In each of these often decades long projects, Davis and his clients transformed an existing Federal style house and grounds into a fully immersive Romantic environment organized into a series of “landscape pictures,” following the practices of English landscape gardening.  Watson argues that these Hudson Valley projects, which he calls “picturesque transformations” are the key to understanding Davis’s identity as an artist and designer and his self-identification as “Architectural Composer.” –The series continues on March 12 with Part 2— “A Tale of Two Houses: Two centuries of change at the Bronson and Vanderpoel Houses” – The lectures are sponsored jointly by Historic Hudson and the Columbia County Historical Society – Information and advance tickets at [email protected] or 828-1785 – 4 pm – Stair Galleries, 549 Warren Street

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Cabin Fever Cabaret – “…an intimately-scaled but grandly imagined variety spectacle…” A new lineup of circus and variety arts stars presented at Helsinki each month during the winter – Experience trapeze, contortion, acrobatic balance, sword swallowing, juggling, physical comedy, and oddball novelty turns –This performance features Peter Bufano, musical maestro for the evening, who has composed and performed for Ringling Brothers, Big Apple Circus, Circus Smirkus, as well as his own project, Cirkestra; The Ivory Fox—Pinup of the Pole, doing acrobatic twists and turns on the stationary pole; Cowboy AJ Silver with trick roping, bullwhip artistry and physical comedy; Carla Rhodes, the world’s foremost (and only) rock ‘n’ roll ventriloquist who has been throwing her voice since the age of 9; and Trixie Little, the Burlesque Hall of Fame’s reigning Queen of Burlesque.  All introduced by Bindlestiff founders Keith Nelson and Stephanie Monseu, aka Mr. Pennygraff and Ringmistress Philomena  – This performance is for adults only – A family performance for all ages will be performed on Sunday March 20 – Information at 828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – 9 pm, doors open at 7 pm – Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street

Saturday-Sunday, February 20-21

Clermont State Historic Site Exclusive Tour – For one weekend only, visitors to the site will be allowed to have unparalleled access to one of the region’s oldest historic mansions.  All of the barriers on the first floor will be removed.  For the first time ever, visitors may stand beside the front windows, gazing out at the icy Hudson River, or get a close look at the 1742 portrait of the house’s grand dame Margaret Beekman Livingston.  Curators will open cupboards and closets and give visitors a special look at key artifacts of importance to the Livingston family. – Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 537-4240 – 11 am to 3 pm – Clermont State Historic Site, 1 Clermont Avenue, off 9G, Germantown

Sunday, February 21

Back by Popular Demand! –A Divine Evening with Charles Busch – For one night only, get a special sneak preview of Charles Busch’s new show “The Lady at the Mic,” which will have its world premiere in late February as part of Lincoln Center’s acclaimed American Songbook series.  In this performance Busch pays tribute to four cabaret legends:  Julie Wilson, Mary Cleere Haran, Elaine Stritch, and Polly Bergen, plus Joan Rivers, all of whom were close friends.  Busch is backed by a trio of musicians led by long-time musical director, Tom Judson –            Presented as part of the Helsinki on Broadway series in association with Showstoppers New York – Information at 828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – 7 pm – Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street

 

Next Tuesday, February 23

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

Next Wednesday, February 24

The Soul Rebels – This dynamic New Orleans brass ensemble mixes horns, vocals and percussion on original compositions and covers, always laying down a dancing groove.  Called “the missing link between Public Enemy and Louis Armstrong” by The Village Voice, the Soul Rebels combine top-notch musicianship and songs with grooves that celebrate life in time-honored New Orleans style.  Information at 828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – 8 pm – Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia Street

MISCELLANEOUS

Spur-of-the-Moment Winter Hikes & Snow Shoeing –These events will take place when there’s enough snow, clear roads, and good weather for being outdoors.  Columbia Land Conservancy has set up an e-mail alert system to schedule the spur-of-the-moment treks.  You will receive a message saying, “Come join us for snowshoeing.”  Merely reply to RSVP and join the group at the designated site.  A limited number of snowshoes are available for lending, and beginners are welcome.  For information, and to register for the e-mail list, contact  [email protected] or 392-5252, ext. 214.

 “The Hudson Café” – After a guest DJ appearance on community radio station WGXC 90.7 FM, Maria Manhattan moves into a regular gig on the airwaves with an upbeat music show featuring the American songbook as interpreted by contemporary artists as well as the jazz greats in a diverse range of genres.  The show airs on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 11 am. This may be just the lift you need in the middle of the week.  Tune into 90.7FM or on the worldwide web at wgxc.org.  If you miss the show, look for it in the station archives at www.wgxc.org – Information at 697-7400 or www.wgxc.org

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

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Gallatin residents who have registered on the site may list events directly on the Gallatin Townhub calendar. See How to Post. If you would like to share events for listing on the site contact [email protected].

All content herein copyright 2016