Eric Steinman’s Insider Guide to the Hudson Valley This Summer
Magical sunsets over the Hudson are on full display from Hutton Brickyards.
By Eric Steinman
Like “ice cold beer” or “three-day-weekend,” “Summer in the Hudson Valley” is one of those phrases that requires little convincing of its immediate appeal. It conjures images of leisure, culture, and adventure. It’s true that three-day-weekends are always over far too quickly, but every Hudson Valley summer remains memorable and unique, and this coming season promises to be no exception.
Hutton Brickyards is the ideal launching pad for any summer excursion. And so here is a curated rundown of the best the region has to offer this season, brought to you by longtime local and former Editor-in-Chief of Edible Hudson Valley Magazine, Eric Steinman.
Arts & Culture
STORM KING ART CENTER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
To call it a sculpture park would be doing a great disservice to this monumental, yet pastoral, showcase of contemporary site-specific sculptural art. Five hundred acres of rolling green hills and leafy glens also boasts the heavy hitters of the last century of sculptural art, including works by Sol LeWitt, Louise Bourgeois, Martin Puryear and Maya Lin. This summer, the Center is expanding its offerings with an outdoor concert series, launching on June 20 with solo artist (and former Sonic Youth member) Kim Gordon. The concerts remain eclectic throughout the season — later in June there’s Black Country, New Road with Horsegirl, and they conclude in August with the legendary celestial avant-jazz ensemble, Sun Ra Arkestra.
UPSTATE ART WEEKEND
If there was one good thing to come out of the Covid-19 lockdown, it may have been broadening the focus of the New York art world to include more of the Hudson Valley. In the summer of 2020, Upstate Art Weekend (UAW) was born — a now-annual itinerant art fair/exhibition that is hitting its sixth year as a jam-packed weekend of visual and performance art. It takes place in some traditional venues and some not-so-traditional (think a converted apple barn) throughout the Hudson Valley, and attracts an array of talented artists, as well as various art types hell bent on making the pilgrimage. The extended weekend runs from June 25-June 29, and each year it becomes more expansive, inclusive, and popular.
See site for maps and specific information
HUDSON VALLEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
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About to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival moved a few years back into a beautiful 15,000 square foot new home, designed by renowned architects Studio Gang. The new building frames Storm King Mountain and the Hudson River, but while the venue is exceptional, the performances are truly the annual draw, and this season boasts top-notch productions of Les Misérables, King Lear, and As You Like It.
2015 Route 9, Garrison, (845) 265-9575
HUDSON RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL
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Last year the region got another music festival, but this one, positioned at Croton Point Park riverside, and dedicated in spirit to the local folk music legend Pete Seeger, is a new standout addition to the summer music scene. The Hudson River Music Festival, which takes place on June 21 (Father’s Day) will feature contemporary folk star Jesse Welles and Margo Price, among many others. Hutton Brickyards is hosting two notable music festivals later in the summer, both of which promise to be unique and unmissable. The Stateside Festival, with headliner Noah Kahan and Gigi Perez makes a splash on July 4 (yes, there will be fireworks!) and later in the summer (August 14-16) it will play host to the first ever Broadway Festival, featuring a laundry list of celebrated Broadway stars, including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Taye Diggs
Samuel H. Scripps Theatre Center - hvshakespeare.org
Shopping & Commerce
RED OWL COLLECTIVE
Housed in a former bowling alley, this 10,000 square foot artisan and vintage treasure trove offers everything from rare vinyl records to handmade sweaters and stylish baby clothes. There are no less than 30 unique vendors, giving the place a sort of immaculate, but still funky, flea market feel, and yes, you could still net a bargain if you put in the time.
HUDSON VALLEY FARMSTANDS
If you are not frequenting various Hudson Valley farmstands during your adventures in the area, then you are just simply doing summer wrong. There is no shortage of exceptional farm stands lining both sides of the river, offering sour cherries, stone fruit, summer squash, and all manner of cultivated syrups and shrubs, but there are a few stand-out favorites:
MX Morningstar Farms is a favorite of local chefs and has everything from freshly cut flowers to an assortment of local baked breads and wildly sweet strawberries.
5956-NY 9H Hudson, (518) 918-7774
Montgomery Place Orchards is a family-run farmstand in Red Hook, and is always filled with fresh corn, local berries, preserves, and amazing produce throughout the summer. This is a nexus point for weekend crowds, so get there early.
4283 Route 9G, Red Hook, (845) 748-5476
Golden Harvest Farms in Valatie is a large roadside farmstand at the foot of an expansive apple orchard, and the goods reflect such a bounty. While the apples are great, the apple cider doughnuts are, to many, the very best cider doughnuts in the entire valley. See for yourself.
3074 Route 9, Valatie, (518) 758-7683
KAIGHT
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Kaight is billed as a sustainable boutique, and it’s filled with meticulously curated, but not overly fussy, clothing items for those who value both design and environmentally conscious production. It’s a must-visit addition to Main Street Beacon, for men and women looking for that unique and singular garment that could become the outfit for your summer.
512 Main Street, Beacon, (973) 337-6111
GRAINS OF PARADISE
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Whether you are a fanatic home chef, or someone just looking to (literally) spice up your pantry, Grains of Paradise is your one-stop shop for spices and culinary provisions right in the heart of Catskill. From black garlic to jasmine buds, this tightly packed culinary destination is a sensory explosion, and will likely keep you from ever ordering spices online, or purchasing some unsavory dried spices from the local grocery store.
Eats, Bars & Liqour
MERKIN
Announced this past April 1st, Merkin, which was the craft project of James Beard-nominated Cafe Mutton owners, seemed like an April fools joke on first blush (for some background read this) but jokes aside, this small eatery, occupying a converted garage in Hudson, is very real and will satisfy many with more than a laugh. The menu is meat forward and somewhat whimsical, with a country pâté sandwich, fresh oysters, and a bologna sandwich with homemade mustard. It’s an ideal spot to stop for lunch while shopping in Hudson.
SORRY, CHARLIE
Just a hop, skip and a jump from Hutton Brickyards, this pizza and cocktail destination is a true hidden gem of Kingston. The pizzas are solid and no nonsense, much like the place, but the cocktails are the true stand out and extremely well balanced, and strong. For those looking for something less robust, there is a wide selection of local draft beers and an array of NA cocktail options including the perfect for summer drink, the Pathfinder Amaro Spritz.
523 Delaware Avenue, Kingston, (845) 481-4708
CASA SUSANNA
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Named after a storied camp which served as a refuge for the transgender community in the Catskills during 1950s and ‘60s, this widely hailed Mexican restaurant, helmed by Chef Efrén Hernández, is as unconventional as its namesake. Hernández draws from his Mexican heritage, as well as his family’s cooking history to create vibrant Mexican dishes utilizing the very freshest Hudson Valley produce and products. This is definitely a destination restaurant, considering the numerous James Beard nods it has received, so be sure to make a reservation beforehand.
Outdoors
SAM’S POINT TO VERKEERDERKILL FALLS HIKE
At Sam’s Point, which is centered in Minnewaska State Park Preserve, there is a weather-battered sign which reads, “You are visiting one of Earth’s last great places.” While such platitudes are up for debate, standing at such great heights overlooking the expanse of the Hudson Valley (and on a clear day, well into New Jersey) it is easy to believe that. This is a semi-rigorous hike (anywhere from 5-8 miles, depending on the route you take) and is rife with waterfalls and truly awe-inspiring views every mile or so. It is a workout, but a well earned one at that.
ASHOKAN RAIL TRAIL (CYCLING)
Ever wonder where much of New York City’s water originates? The Ashokan Rail Trail opened in 2019 and provides a paved 11.5 mile path that one could run or ride and get a close-up view of the expansive Ashokan Reservoir, which is the source of the City’s water supply. You will ride (or run) through forest glades and rocky outcroppings and likely spy raptors, and maybe even a bald eagle, hunting along the waterside.
Plan Your Summer Escape
Hutton Brickyards is your ideal base camp for all of the above - sitting right on the Hudson River in Kingston, minutes from the best of what the Valley has to offer this season.
