Big Gay Hudson Valley Magazine | Winter 2012, Issue 1

! BGHV Magazine Winter 2012 |!1 WINTER 2012 | vol. 1 P

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Issu

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2 | Big Gay Hudson Valley Magazine Winter 2012

! Big Gay Hudson Valley Magazine Winter 2012 | 3

5 hey gurl, hey!6 new & now

10 cityguide17 local color

TABLE OF CONTENTS

20 in season23 out & about24 parting shot

the BUTIK & KAFÉat Scandinavian Grace [Shokan]


Patrick DeckerCo-Editor-in-Chief & Designer

[email protected]

Stephan HengstCo-Editor-in-Chief & [email protected]

Maureen SheehanAdvertising Manager

[email protected]

ContributorsJay Blotcher

Todd Michael Thomas

General [email protected]

Stay A ‘Mo in the KnowJoin our mailing list today.

/biggayhudsonvalley

/bghv

On the Cover Winter movie series at Poughkeepsie’s Bardavon Opera House


Five years ago this coming February, we started Big Gay Hudson Valley (or “BGHV” as we call it) so that we could use it to help unify the Hudson Valley’s LGBTQ community. We all knew that our community here was diverse and wide-‐spread, often making it difIicult to know what we were all doing.

We needed to come together as neighbors and friends to share our ideas and our creativity; resources like Big Gay Hudson Valley.com, the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, the Hudson Pride Foundation, White Plain’s LOFT, and so many others have been -‐ and continue to be -‐ a criti-‐cal part of keeping us all connected.

So now it’s time for us to grow a little bit more (don’t worry, the website is not going anywhere). Sharing information, news, resources, and connections is what has made Big Gay Hudson Valley the dynamic community that it is today. Flip through the pages of Big Gay Hudson Valley Magazine and Iind -‐ whether you are a visitor to our area or a long-‐time resident – something new to share or explore in our own backyard.

This Iirst issue has so much in store; including the Iirst BGHV City Guide on page 10 and a community proIile of everyone’s favorite Park Ranger, Allan Dailey, in our Local Color feature on page 17.

So dive in, Ilip through our ‘pages’, and enjoy!

HEY GURL, HEY!

Welcome to this first edition of Big Gay Hudson Valley’s new online magazine!

P.S. - Please help us to make sure everyone stays a ‘Mo in the Know by sharing this publica-tion on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

P.P.S. - We really want to know what you all think of this new project of ours! Send us your thoughts to [email protected] or visit us on Facebook.


Cozy up to a

cup of hot cocoa made

with Shokan’s locally roasted

Fruition Chocolate

(tastefruition.com)

1

NEW & NOW

2

Warm up with a hot toddy.

Steep your favorite tea in 6 ounces of water. Stir in 1 ounce each of whisky and lemon juice. Sweeten with honey.

(Repeat.)

5

Evergreen Farm! ! evergreentree.com Millbrook

cut down a local christmas tree

Catch up with the

theatrical ghosts of holidays past, present, and future at the Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck

(CenterForPerformingArts.org)

is the perfect time to...

3

Wright Family Farm ! wrightfamilyfarm.com Warwick

Hellers Farm!! ! hellersfarm.com Germantowntr

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Winter

Holiday shop from a local crafter at

etsy.com/shop/thefancybear

4


6 7

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Experience Winter Walk in the City of Hudson (hudsonoperahouse.org) on Sat Dec 1st

See legendary gay film-maker, raconteur, and best-selling author John Waters’ one-man eponymous holiday show. Twice*.

Poughkeepsie Sat Dec 1st (bardavon.org)

TarrytownMon Dec 3rd (tarrytownmusichall.org)

(*John would prefer you attend both)

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Celebrate the Hudson Valley’s Old World Dutch heritage with Rhinebeck’s classic Sinterklaas parade (sinterklaasrhinebeck.com) on Sat Dec 1stSi

nter

klaa

srhi

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See the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park deck’d out with vintage holiday gaiety through Mon Dec 31st (nps.gov/vama)St

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elev

enMake dinner from

the bounty of a Winter Farmer’s

Market (rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com)

Roast a sustainably raised beast from Kingston’s butchery experts at Fleishers (fleishers.com)

(or give the meatiest gift of them all with their hit book, photo-graphed by the Hudson Valley’s own Jennifer May).

Polish your poissonier skills (or just pick up a knife for the first time, that’s OK too) with 1-day weekend classes at The Culinary Institute of America (CIAchef.edu) in Hyde Park.

Go “Behind the Meat Counter” to learn the techniques of master butchers

Make your own decadent “Chocolates & Confections at Home”

Taste a trip abroad with “Spain and the World Table”

tentw

elve


A Holiday Burlesque Cabaret

WITH CARE.

Sponsored by

BB Heart

Starring

Go-go harder

...and many more!

For more info and tickets visit BigGayHudsonValley.com

Save $5 off your ticket by using

code BigGayMagazine when

checking out!

special offer!


CITYGUIDE

New Paltz Rosendale & High Falls

For the most part gay life here has been quiet and understated; but the historic 2004 New Paltz wed-dings changed everything, creating a cultural seismic shift that brought the LGBT community out of the shadows and into the light throughout the region.The gay weddings, which commanded interna-‐tional attention, set off a chain reaction of events: the next year saw the founding of the Hudson Val-‐ley Pride March and Festival. This Iirst celebration took place in New Paltz to honor the site of the

weddings and drew 2,500 people. The message was clear: the Mid-‐Hudson Valley LGBT community was poised for mainstream visibility and accep-‐tance. Two years later, another milestone: the opening of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center in Kingston. New Paltz, Rosendale and High Falls may not be Homo Ground Zero (they don’t offer gay bars or clubs). But this is not about ghettoization; these three towns boast a healthy percentage of the region’s gay and lesbian population. Whether they come for the hip college town vibe of New Paltz or the small-‐town joys of High Falls and Ro-‐sendale, a great number of lesbian and gay folk are Iinding their way to this part of Ulster County for a weekend away or even “Home, Sweet Home”.

by Jay BlotcherWhere the mountains meet the sky [clockwise from left] The iconic Shawangunk ridge of New Paltz; 87 Motel’s vintage thruway beacon; Rosendale’s cultured dairy emporium, The Big Cheese.

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Where history and culture commingle [clockwise from top left] Main Street Bistro in New Paltz; HudsonValleyAppleTrail.com; Rosendale’s colorful lodging; High Falls’ center-‐of-‐town map; The Green Cottage’s florescent fauna greet HIgh Falls visitors.


Retail Therapy [from top to bottom] The seasonal gifts table at Spruce Design + Decor in High Falls; Cocoon’s colorful facade in New Paltz; jewelry adorns a mannequin at the High Falls Mercantile.

shopUlster County is home to many artisans and craftspeople, from woodworkers to bead necklace makers, from home bak-ers to t-shirt tie-dyers. If you prefer one-of-a-kind items rather than Big Box goods, you’ve come to the right place! If you like supporting gay merchants with your gay money, come to High Falls, where many stores in this 600-person hamlet are owned by GLBT couples!

Cocoon at Home [New Paltz]Funky and fashionable housewares and snazzy gift items for the house-proud homosexual. Be sure to visit their sister store, Verde, located right around the corner.

Fox and Hound Wines & Spirits [New Paltz]Located just outside of the downtown core, this wines and spirits shopped is the area’s only gay-owned and operated liquor store. Looking for something special? Give Tom, or his husband, Nick a call, and they’ll help you find it.

Water Street Market [New Paltz]Whether you have a yen for Mid-Century antiques, designer dog food or a perfectly brewed cappuccino, you can find all of these items and more in the stores located here. The bonus is the marvelous mountain view.

Green Cottage [High Falls]Longtime partners Dennis and David have created a style queen’s para-dise in their elegantly homey store. Whether you are enchanted by David’s handcrafted jewelry or Dennis’s masterful floral creations, there is beauty everywhere you look.

Spruce Design + Décor [High Falls]Partners John and Jamie offer a variety of vintage and modern objets d’art, crafts and delightfully stylish and bizarre one-of-a-kind items to decorate your Manhattan home or country getaway.

High Falls Mercantile [High Falls]Small wonder why high-powered Manhattan interior decorators find their way to High Falls Mercantile; life partners Jeff and Larry have an exquisite eye for housewares and gift items.

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Belly Up! [from top to bottom] A stocked case at Rosendale’s The Alternative Baker; tantilizing treats at Moxie Cupcakes in New Paltz; High Falls’ eclectic luncheonette; festive colors at The Eggs Nest in High Falls.

eatMaybe it’s the Ulster County mountain air that works up an appetite for both food and excitement. Or maybe it’s just all that delicious locally grown food. Either way, If your palate is finicky or adventurous, there are numerous eateries for every type of diner and for every budget.

Bacchus New Paltz [New Paltz]Passable pub food, more than 400 beers from around the world and a clien-tele composed of those skinny, sexy, Frisbee-playing, tie-dyed, crunchy boys & girls from SUNY New Paltz. Hoist a pint and consider the possi-bilities.

Karma Road [New Paltz]This hole-in-the-wall paradise for conscientious eaters offers tasty organic vegetarian foods that prove that eating healthy need not be a punishment. Extensive juice bar, prepared foods and tasty desserts.

H.D. Dick’s Hot Dogs [New Paltz]Offering a delicious assortment of hot dogs and burgers, this newly opened restaurant is a great find for a cheap, inexpensive eat in town.

The Rosendale Café [Rosendale]The venerable vegetarian eatery offers robust sandwiches, stews, salads and indulgent desserts in a laid-back setting.

Twisted Foods [Rosendale]Best known for their pretzel rolls, this café's perfect for a light breakfast or brunch whether you’re on-the-go or you decide to sit and stay at the bakery/bistro’s historic building.

The Alternative Baker [Rosendale]Essell Hoenshell-Watson works magic with teacakes, muffins, scones, sticky buns, breads, rolls and his signature lemon cakes. So ecstatically good. Bonus: Hoenshell-Watson’s menu includes dairy-free, sugar-free, gluten-free and organic items for those with allergens or dietary restric-tions.

The Egg’s Nest [High Falls]Comfort food with an eccentric twist, from soups to salads to chicken fin-gers, from calamari to quesadillas to sinful desserts. The landmark restau-rant’s décor is an evolving art installation, created by bon vivant owner Richard Murphy, who has operated the restaurant for almost four decades.

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A place to call home [from top to bottom] Captain Schoonmaker’s signature red door; the Mohonk Mountain House as seen at night; A Little Guest House’s serene patio and gardens.

stayLodging options in and around this region range from elaborate hotelsand resorts, to intimate bed and breakfasts, or even youth hostels for those traveling on a budget. House rentals are also great options, as there are many short and long term rentals available in either these quaint towns or in the more secluded woods and mountains that surround these communities.

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ation The Mohonk Mountain House [New Paltz]

Recently named the #2 Resort Spa in the United States by Travel + Leisure Magazine, the Mohonk Mountain House is one of the region’s most legen-dary lodging destinations. It’s not an inexpensive option, but if you’re looking to splurge, this all-inclusive resort is a great option.

Captain Schoonmaker’s Bed and Breakfast [High Falls]Named for a famous local family who settled here before the Revolutionary War, Captain Schoonmaker’s occupies a 1760 house adjacent to extensive woodland and streams.

A Little Guest House [High Falls]Situated in an 1850 farmhouse, this b&b offers emotional and physical escape with a delightful eye for detail. Spouses Rob and Gillian offer homemade breakfasts in addition to creature comforts; he is a chef and she a graphic artist and their combined talents make this a memorable stay.

The Arbor Bed & Breakfast [High Falls]This is another gem in the often-crowded over-cutesy b&b scene, situated in newly renovated 1890 farmhouse and managed by a thoughtful artist named Nancy.

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History: up close & personal [from top to bottom] High Falls “5 Lock Walk” puts you feet-‐first in history; The recently restored Rosendale Theater;

Rosendale’s claim to fame; High Falls’ D&H Canal Museum chronicles the role of locks and shipping in the village.

playFor history buffs, this part of Ulster County is steeped in fascinating lore. New Paltz was the home of French Huguenot settlers and then Dutch immigrants whose influence can still be seen in extant buildings and museum collections. Rosendale made the map due to its cement mines, which supplied the raw materials for manmade marvels such as the Brooklyn Bridge and The Washington Monument. High Falls thrived in the 19th century due to the creation of the Delaware & Hudson Canal, which hauled coal from the mines of Pennsylvania through Ulster County to the Atlantic.

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ation Historic Huguenot Street [New Paltz]

The everyday lives and contributions of the 17th century French settlers to New Paltz are celebrated in exhibits mounted in the remaining stone houses that line this street. Re-enactments and special educational events occur throughout the year.

Century House Historical Society [Rosendale]Situated in the historic Snyder Estate, the Society mounts periodic exhibi-tions that explore the cement industry that brought Rosendale international renown for generations and turned this town into a main street of bars and bordellos to cater to the stonecutters that came here from Europe to find work.

The D&H Canal Historical Society and Museum [High Falls]The colorful past of High Falls and the heyday of the canal are explored in exhibits. The Society also holds a not-to-be-missed Sunday flea market from May through October.


Francine Divine, CLTCRepresentativeDavid C. Whelly Division Office

2649 South Road, Suite 200Poughkeepsie, NY 12601845 452 4870 ext. 238 fax 845 452 5970cell 845 853 [email protected]


LOCAL COLOR

Tell us about your life here. Well, my partner, Patrick Flood, and I spent the last 11 years in Rhinecliff , although we’re planning to move to the Southside of Poughkeepsie – they new ‘gaybor-hood’ - where we’ll soon be closing on a home. When I’m not busy in the National Parks, or preparing for a move, I love a night out on the town as much as the next guy.

What attracted you to the Big Gay Hudson Valley?I came to work at the Vanderbilt Mansion unit of the park because I have a background in historic architec-ture and wanted to work in the McKim, Mead and White country place designed for Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt. The home is considered to be one of their finest and was gifted to the National Park Service at the request of President Roosevelt. My office was once Frederick’s bedroom and has amazing views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains beyond.

What's the #1 question asked by visitors?Believe it or not, more people ask us to identify the Holy Cross Episcopalian Monastery across the river.It can be seen from most points on the Vanderbilt es-tate.

The new film ‘“Hyde Park on Hudson” is all about FDR - Are you looking forward to a boom in visitors from it? That whole story actually revolves around FDR hosting the King and Queen of England at his home, where there was a ruckus about serving franks to the Queen at the “hot dog picnic.” If the film does well we certainly anticipate it will drive tourism at the Roosevelt proper-ties in Hyde Park. While the film offers a highly fiction-alized story, visitors will have the opportunity to see for themselves the places where the extraordinary visit oc-curred.

Allan DaileySupervisory Park Ranger at the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site

“I oversee the visitor experience at the Vanderbilt Mansion and FDR’s retreat home Top Cottage.


**the big gay

*holiday guide

********

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Founded in 2003 by John Krenek and Jamie Niblock, this locally-‐owned busi-‐ness represents an unexpected blend of 20th Century furnishings, art, lighting and decorative objects. The eclectic mix includes an ever-‐changing vintage selec-‐tion by both American and European mid-‐century masters, along with many hand selected pieces that simply have incredible style. This High Falls shop is the result of two men’s passion for col-‐lecting and seeking out the rare and unique. Featuring a wide variety of gifts

for the holiday season, Spruce Design + Decor is a great place to shop.

The success of Spruce led John in 2005 to begin offering inte-‐rior design services. John’s in-‐teriors projects have been fea-‐tured in New York Home Maga-‐zine, Domino Magazine, ID De-‐sign Magazine, Hudson ValleyMagazine, and in December 2007, a ten page feature in Elle Decor. The scope of current pro-‐

jects is varied and ranges in location from New York City to the Catskills, to Westchester County and the Hamptons.

Spruce Design + Decor offers an excep-‐tionally styled experience for those look-‐ing to add a new piece to their home or redo an entire space.

SPRUCE Design + Decor1209 State route 213High falls

Sprucedesigndecor.com


**the big gay *holiday guide

****

***

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Located in the historic hamlet of Rhine-‐beck, bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy has blazed a trail of innovation, fusing utility & design into a well merchandised spe-‐cialty kitchen experience. At bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy they pride themselves on ]inding the most unique and classic quality goods with an all budget friendly understanding.

Their categories include professional cut-‐lery, cook & bakeware, culinary tools &

gadgets, barware, tabletops, stem-‐ware, small appliances and select provisions that best represent their brand. Their clientele is local, from surrounding towns, weekender and abroad based, food enthusiasts and professionals in the culinary ]ields. At bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy they strive to be inspira-‐tional, informed, courteous and never underestimate their custom-‐ers.

Featuring a wide variety of gifts for the chef, food lover, or simply those that en-‐joy entertaining, bluecashew is another great example a locally owned business to support this holiday season.

Bluecashew kitchen pharmacy6423 Montgomery Streetrhinebeck

Bluecashew.com

Photo JoJo Ans


IN SEASON

Pick up a little something special for everyone in the family. Four-‐legged friends will love the selection at The Beacon Barkery (BeaconBarkery.com). Bookworms covered with one of Oblong Books & Gifts (OblongBooks.com) two loca-‐tions in Rhinebeck and Millerton. Fashionistas Ilock to the all men’s lines at Changes (ChangesForMen.com) in Rhine-‐beck and Woodstock. Lust over Shana Lee’s (ShanaLee.com) hand-‐crafted jewelry creations (for men & women) at her studio in Hudson.

One stop shopping for all things creative in the Hudson Valley begins at ArtAlongTheHudson.com. We are huge fans of the modern installations at Dia: Beacon (diaBeacon.org), which also happens to be housed in a fabulous old Nabisco factory. Looking for something a bit more classic? Check out the ever-‐rotating (and eter-‐nally fabulous) collection at Vassar College’s Francis Lehman Loeb Gallery (Illac.vassar.edu).

THE SHOPPING BUG

We’re always saying that the Hudson Valley has “something for everyone”. Check out these locally-‐owned, must-‐see spots to satisfy whatever mood you’re in.

THE ART ENTHUSIAST


That’s right folks, January 1st means once again set-‐tling up with Uncle Sam. For those making end-‐of-‐year donations, consider giving to a local GLBT nonproIit like the Hudson Pride Foundation (HudsonPrideFoundation.org), Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center (LBGTQCenter.org), GLSEN Hudson Valley (GLSEN.org/HudsonValley), or The LOFT Community Services Center for the Lower Hudson Valley (LoftGayCenter.org).

Escape the frosty winter air with a self-‐indulgent day at the Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa (ButtermilkFallsInn.com) in Milton. Sip on a classic cocktail, hand-‐crafted by the aIicionados at Stockade Tavern (StockadeTavern.com) in Kingston. “Good for the Soul” coffee and heavenly baked goods await at gay-‐owned Cafeteria in New Paltz. Savor the best tiramisu you’ll ever have at Newburgh’s Caffe Macchiato (CaffeMacchiatoNewburgh.com)

THE TAX CONSCIOUS

Warm-Up Spots


Wake up your inner thrill seeker with ice climbing and mountaineering classes at the EMS Climbing School (EMSExploration.com) in New Paltz. You could also gear up at Potter Brothers (PotterBrothers.com) in Kingston for a day on the slopes of locally-‐acclaimed Windham (WindhamMountain.com), Belleayre (Belleayre.com), or Hunter Moun-tain (HunterMtn.com) ski resorts.

Take things a bit easier with a mellow day of ice skating at the beautiful Mohonk Mountain House (Mohonk.com) in New Paltz. Strap on your snowshoes and explore the trails and Hudson River views at the Locust Grove Es-tate (lgny.org) in Poughkeepsie. Enjoy an eve-‐ning of cheeky family-‐fun with Frosty Fest (AFrostyFest.com) in Ulster Park.

ADVENTURE SEEKER PRO

ADVENTURE SEEKER LITE

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OUT & ABOUT

On September 9th, more than 500 people packed Shadows on the Hudson for the 2012 Hairdressers' Disco Ball & Fantasy Hair Show. Presented by Four Star Salon Services and Belvedere Red, the event bene-‐Iited ARCS' (arcs.org) services for Hudson Valley residents living with HIV/AIDS. Ph

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This is only the beginning...

Coming up in our Spring 2013 issue:

➡ Our 5th Annual Pride Preview Party (mark your calendar for memorial day weekend!)

➡ A “cityguide” look at beacon, fishkill & wappingers falls

➡ Spring road trips & getaways

➡ Loads more Big gay fun

Check in with BigGayHudsonValley.com to “Stay A ‘Mo In The Know”

Big Gay Hudson Valley Magazine | Winter 2012, Issue 1

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Transcript of Big Gay Hudson Valley Magazine | Winter 2012, Issue 1