All phone numbers are in area code 518 unless otherwise indicated.  All addresses are in Hudson unless otherwise indicated.

The Month of July

From July 1st – 31st, thirty-five Hudson businesses will be participating in a Find Waldo Hudson scavenger hunt.  Children can pick up a “passport” at any participating business, identified by an iconic “Where’s Waldo” on the window or door.  Once inside, the hunt begins.  A miniature Waldo will be hidden somewhere in each of the thirty-five businesses.  When found by the child, his or her passport is marked for that particular business.  After visiting each business and finding Waldos all over town, the completed passport can be entered in a drawing for a basket of “goodies” donated by Hudson businesses.  The drawing will take place at a party for all those who completed their passports.   The party will be held on July 31st at Spotty Dog Books & Ale, 440 Warren Street.

Wednesday, July 5

Just when you notice the cupboard is bare, Upstreet Market rides to the rescue, filling the gap between weekend markets – A great lineup of vendors is in the park every Wednesday afternoon selling meats, cheeses, freshly picked vegetables, bread, butters, eggs, prepared foods, and more.  Held every Wednesday from now through the end of October – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Information at [email protected] – Upstreet Market, Seventh Street Park (aka the Public Square) between Columbia & Warren Streets.

Thursday, July 6.

Yes, In My Backyard, ––A film screening of a documentary by Tracy Huling, Founder/Director of the Prison Public Memory Project – The film presents a portrait of Coxsackie, NY, a rural prison town in Greene County – Following the screening, the filmmaker, who is currently working in Illinois, will be available via video to answer questions.  – The screening is the second of four Thursday evening programs being presented as part of PRISON, an exhibition of photography and special programming presented  by the Davis Orton Gallery in partnership with the Prison Public Memory Project/Hudson.  The program presents opportunities for thoughtful dialog about incarceration, prison towns, reentry, and community justice—the prison’s impact on individuals, families and towns.  The exhibition and these Thursday programs are free and open to the public, but space is limited and an RSVP by email to [email protected] is appreciated – Information at 518-567-4056 or by email to [email protected]  – The screening is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Davis Orton Gallery, 114 Warren Street.

Thursday-Sunday, July 6-9

TSL Films – Time & Space Ltd. (TSL) is taking some time off.  There will be no movie screenings this week.  Movie screenings will resume on July 13th.  Watch this space!

Mac-Haydn Theatre opens Saturday Night Fever, “the most requested show of the season” – “…a disco inferno of a show that will have you dancing down memory lane for three happy

weeks…” – The show runs from Thursday, July 6th through Sunday, July 23rd – Performance dates and times vary – Information and tickets at 518-392-9292 or www.MacHaydnTheatre.org  –

Tickets available for both matinee and evening performances – Mac-Hayden Theatre, 1925 Route 203, Chatham.

Friday, July 7

HWM Friday Wine Tasting –Free tastings of rye, bourbon and whiskey from Ancram’s powerhouse distillery– Hillrock Distillery.  Nosh, sip and learn how these gems are made.  “With their persistence of flavor and long finishes, they are not to be missed.” – Information at www.hudsonwinemerchants.com or 828-6411 – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Hudson Wine Merchants, 341 Warren Street.

The Town of Hillsdale hosts a summer celebration concert featuring award-winning singer-songwriter John Farrell, Grammy-winning keyboard player Jeff Miller, and local harmonica wizard Jeff Neumann – Farrell is a dedicated musician who works with children and families around the world.  He has performed in 25 countries and is the author of three books for children.  His songs are inspiring, humorous, and educational – Adults enjoy his songs as much as children do.  – Roe Jan Park is “a community center for all ages.”  It is host to the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market, the library gala, and a number of local weddings and special events – For information about the Park and its programs, go to www.hillsdaleny.com – 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Roeliff Jansen Park, State Route 22, a mile south of the intersection of Routes 22 and 23, Hillsdale.

Friday-Saturday, July 7-8

The Hudson-Athens Ferry runs on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer months, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., leaving Hudson on the hour and Athens on the half-hour.   See details under HUDSON CRUISES below.

Hudson River Sightseeing Cruises are available on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the summer months.  See details under HUDSON CRUISES below.

The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre season begins with The Trials of Alice in Wonderland – In this new telling of the fanciful tale, Alice is on trial for daring to grow and change.  With the Cheshire Cat as a guide, she revisits Wonderland to gather evidence of her innocence.  The Mad Hatter, White Rabbit and caterpillar testify before the judge—The Queen of Hearts.   Tweedledee and Tweedledum are attorneys, if only they can decide which side they are on! The songs—“Off With Her Head,” “Always Time For Tea,” “Somewhere In A Dream,” and others add to the fun and help tell the story – 10:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through July 15th – Season subscriptions and group rates are available – Information and tickets at 518-392-9292 or visit www.machaydntheatre.org – 10:30 a.m. – Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1925 Route 203, Chatham

Saturday, July 8

The Hudson Farmers’ Market –Now in its 21st year of operation – Meet this year’s new vendors:   the fishmonger Pura Vida, Dairy Direct, Atina Foods, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, and Jacuterie.   The Destino Taco Cart is also on hand. – Bob Sheets is at the market the first Saturday of each month to sharpen knives, scissors, shears, and loppers –Information at http://www.hudsonfarmersmarketny.com – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Parking lot at Sixth and Columbia Streets

Chatham Summerfest – An annual street fair that draws hundreds of visitors and showcases  varied local organizations as well as performers, artists, and vendors.  All events are free – In addition to the popular sidewalk sale and Artisan Faire, three stages throughout the village will accommodate a variety of entertainers – Sponsored by the Chatham Area Business & Arts (CABA) Organization – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Takes place along Main Street, Park Row, and Hudson Avenue – Village of Chatham

Athens Street Festival – In case you haven’t had enough fireworks – This is an annual event, ending in a fireworks display that can be seen from certain points in the City of Hudson.  Try Promenade Hill Park at the foot of Warren Street – The festival includes national, regional and local entertainment on three stages, a parade, carnival rides, a car show, food booths, exhibitors and vendors including 150 booths selling everything from crafts and jewelry to T-shirts and more – Information at 518-945-1551 or  https://festivalnet.com/25457/Athens-New-York/festivals/Athens-Street-Festival – 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Riverfront Park, Village of Athens

Photographer Michel Arnaud will be signing copies of his newly released book Detroit: The Dream is Now – The Design, Art, and Resurgence of an American City – The book is a visual essay on the rebuilding and resurgence of the City of Detroit – Light refreshments – Information by email to [email protected] – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – TK Home and Garden, 441 Warren Street.

Strawberry Festival – Sponsored by the UMW of Trinity United Methodist Church – Featuring a turkey club sandwich, and home-made strawberry shortcake with REAL whipped cream – Children under three are admitted free – 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Trinity United Methodist Church, (handicapped accessible) 555 Joslen Boulevard, Hudson.

Volume Reading & Music Series – A free series featuring prose, poetry, and a short DJ set,  presented every second Saturday at Spotty Dog Books & Ale – The featured writers this month are Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, Courtney Maum, and Christopher Bollen.

> Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich is the author of The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir, named one of the most anticipated books of 2017 by Buzzfeed, BookRiot, and Huffington Post. She lives in Boston where she teaches at Grub Street and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

> Courtney Maum is the author of the acclaimed novels Touch and I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, and the chapbook Notes from Mexico. Maum’s work has also been published in The New York Times, O Magazine, Tin House, Electric Literature, and Buzzfeed.

> Christopher Bollen is the author of the new novel The Destroyers, as well as Orient and the critically acclaimed Lightning People. His work has also appeared in GQ, The New York Times, New York magazine, and Artforum. He lives in New York and is the Editor-at-Large at Interview magazine.

> The readings are followed by book signings and DJ Amanda Taylor.  Volume is hosted and curated by Hallie Goodman and Dani Grammerstorf  French. – Information at Volume’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/volumehudsonn — 7 p.m. — Spotty Dog Books & Ale, 440 Warren Street

Saturday-Sunday, July 8-9

Art Omi Open Studio Weekend – Celebrate with 30 resident artists who hail from 28 diverse countries – This is an annual event attended by hundreds of art professionals, art lovers, neighbors and friends.

> Saturday – Dancing Under the Stars – Enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres and live music overlooking Omi’s  firefly-lit sculpture park – Dance to the exuberant music of Nkumu Katalay in the company of Omi’s artists-in-residence and the upstate arts community –  8:30 a.m. to 12 midnight – Benenson Visitors Center, 1405 County Route 22, Ghent.

> Sunday – Country Brunch –  Omi honors its international artists-in-residence and celebrates with a country brunch (mimosas, French toast, and fresh fruit), on the lawn of Ledig House –  11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Ledig House, 59 Letter S Road, Ghent.

> Sunday – Open Studios – After Country Brunch, stroll down to the studio barns, and see what the resident artists have been working on for the past four weeks, along with additional events and installations. – Open and free to the public – 1 to 5 p.m. – The Studio Barns, intersection of County Route 22 and Letter S Road, Ghent.

> Information and tickets for Dancing Under the Stars and Country Brunch at www.artomi.org

Sunday, July 9

Conversations with Neighbors: Join the Garden Revolution: Natural Landscapes Workshop – Learn how an ecological approach to planting can lead to beautiful and healthy landscapes with experts Linda Horn, Heather Grimes, and Barbara Hughey – Information by e-mail to [email protected] – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Spencertown Academy Arts Center, 790 Route 203, Spencertown.

Next Monday, July 10

Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) holds its monthly meeting in the back room of The Wunderbar in Hudson, hoping to attract interested people from southern Columbia County and from Greene County. CCL is all about how citizen lobbyists can exercise their political power to create a livable world.  The organization discusses strategies for creating public awareness about and support for pricing carbon and returning that money to American households, thereby reducing carbon emissions while growing the economy and creating jobs.  The work of the organization  consists of lobbying with members of congress, writing letters to the editor, doing public presentations on climate issues, and reaching out to the community through events and individual outreach. The regular meeting starts at 6 pm, with orientation for newcomers at 5:30 pm – Following the usual information sharing, national call, and skill building, the meeting will break into action groups, with a wrap-up at the end of the meeting. – For information send email to Karen Frishkoff at [email protected] or call 518-672-7901 – All are welcome – Orientation for newcomers at 5:30 p.m.; Full Meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Back Room, Wunderbar Bistro, 744 Warren Street.

Next Tuesday, July 11

Helsinki Open Mic – Try out new material on the big Helsinki stage – Hosted by Cameron Melville and Ryder Cooley – Information at 518-828-4800 or helsinkihudson.com – Sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m. – Performance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street.

HUDSON CRUISES, INC.

*Hudson-Athens Ferry – Hudson Cruises provides a regular evening Hudson-Athens Ferry service on Fridays and Saturdays  during the summer months beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and sometimes beyond – Roundtrip tickets available on the boat for cash only – No one-way tickets are sold. – Advance purchase of 10 tickets available at a discounted price on the boat  – Bicycles are allowed on the ferry if room permits – Information at hudsoncruises.com or 518-822-1014 – The ferry departs Hudson on the hour and Athens on the half hour from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. – (Last return from Athens at 10:30 p.m. – Don’t miss the boat!) – In Hudson, via Broad Street grade crossing past the Amtrak Station on Front Street.

*Hudson Cruises’ Sightseeing Cruises are offered on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months through Labor Day weekend and beyond – Views of the Catskills, Mount Merino, Olana and the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse are always on the route. – Information and tickets at www.HudsonCruises.com or call 888-804-9716 – Tickets may be purchased onboard, if there is room – Boarding at 12:30 p.m., cruise from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – City dock behind the gazebo, Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Water Street, access via Broad Street grade crossing past the Amtrak Station on Front Street.

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

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