Favorite Eats from My Catskills

As I eat my way through the Catskills, I've has some very tasty grub. It seems that comfort is key! That means leave your diet at home and simply dive in.

BAKERS TAP ROOM

II

Some might pull up to this country pub and think it's just another local tavern, but once inside you immediately feel happy to be there. Shane and Melissa are serving up great pizza, burgers and lobster rolls, to name a few key items on the menu.

HENNING'S LOCAL

Recently Henning's relocated about 20 miles from their original post and we think it was a great decision. There's lots of good comfort food here, but they especially do trout well. The menu changes daily and seasonally, and you will never go wrong.

The Heron

A favorite among visitors and locals alike, they serve up a mean brunch and some of the best comfort food this side of the Hudson. Definitely order up the crispy eggs with cheesy jalapeño grits, a specialty from Chef Paul Nanni.

Benji & Jake

Two brothers from the area who left to pursue life's adventures only to return to open up one of the finest wood-fired pizza joints north of NYC. Live music, craft beers, an outdoor fire pit and a line out the door.

The Dancing Cat Saloon and Catskill Distillery is so much in one!  They serve up good food, fun drinks and have a distillery right on premise. They make some darn good Fearless Wheat Whiskey and Peace Vodka in the barn next door and host live music regularly. You'll often find a group outside around the biggest fire pit you've ever seen, kicking back and enjoying the sounds.

These are just a handful of fun, delicious restaurants offering good grub.  I'll include more in upcoming posts, especially as I uncover new food establishments.

The Best Burg: Narrowsburg

One of my favorite towns in the Catskills is Narrowsburg. It is situated on the western edge of Sullivan County along the Delaware River. As with many of the nearby towns, Narrowsburg has approximately 600 year-round residents with almost half as many second home owners and visitors arriving on weekends, particularly during summer months.

The sweet little downtown Main Street has a great mix of shops and restaurants, as well as the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance and Tusten Theater Many of the shop owners are transplants from NYC who were once weekenders and are now permanent residents.  Each brings an eclectic mix to their businesses and together make Narrowsburg a wonderful place to be.

• Narrowsburg Fine Wines and Spirits, offering small batch and locally made spirits among traditional labels

• MayerWasner, original designer-wear for women, including apparel and accessories

• Dyberry Weaver, handmade woven tapestries, accessories and fashion, including custom orders

• River Gallery an extensive collection of art and home furnishings, including antiques from various periods

There are also several great restaurants including Gerard's River Grill, The Heron and Maggie's Coffee Creations. Whether you are looking for a wonderful brunch spot, coffee and a muffin to go or an outdoor seat with river views, there is something here for everyones taste palate.

Coming up next: the calendar of events that make Narrowsburg a must-stop for all!

A Country Pig Roast & Veggie Fest

In 2011 a festival call Pig Mountain kicked off in Jeffersonville, NY, and included four chefs from NYC. The aim was to bring people together to eat, drink and listen to good music with the proceeds going to Farmhearts, a non-profit helping family farmers in the Catskills. There were around 475 people that gathered that first year, which grabbed the attention of local papers and residents, from rural to city limits.

Pig Mt became something of a tradition and moved over to Narrowsburg, NY for the 3 years that followed. By 2014, the size of the crowd grew to 2,500+, the number of chefs increased to 15, and with many vegetarians to accommodate, the chefs included veggie sides to satisfy all. Something for everyone!

This year, Narrowsburg will not play host to its annual Pig Mtn Fest. Between the size that it grew to and all of the work that goes into preparing a top quality event, a year off is much needed for all. The folks that participate also run full-time businesses and lives. The good news is that there will be fun smaller events throughout the year in the area, which I will write more about soon. In the meantime, I'll be keeping tabs on the return of Pig Mountain in 2016.

Welcome to Jeffersonville

I have been writing about various places to visit in The Catskills and today I will share a bit about Jeffersonville. It is a small village in the western part of Sullivan County, approximately 2 1/2 hours drive from NYC. The year round population is approximately 500, which isn't much different than it was back in 1898. Funny but true!

The good news is that there are a good amount of weekend home owners and visitors who flock to the area regularly.  Jeffersonville's Main Street is a sweet mix of restaurants and small shops among local businesses. Whether you are looking for locally made or repurposed items, there are shop keepers for every style and taste.

• The Rustic Cottage is an interesting mix of new and old finds for the home. A rich blend of woods that resemble the wilderness and sometimes include taxidermy.  They offer that rustic cabin sensibility that only a rural setting could pull off.

• Samba Cafe is not just a place to dine, but is also an Inn.  The style here is kitsch all the way! Open for lunch and dinner, Thursday through Sunday, you will find a nice assortment of country comfort foods. 

• Jeffersonian Bed and Breakfast, a charming historic house, was built in 1922. It is conveniently located within walking distance of Main Street restaurants and shops, and offers easy access to nearby hikes and biking paths, a dip in the Delaware River or picnic riverside.

Jeffersonville is another wonderful stop on an excursion to The Catskills. Even if you don't chose to stay overnight, a lovely meal and evening of chamber music under the stars will delight you!

Exploring Callicoon

There are many hamlets that comprise The Catskills and Callicoon is one of them. Similar to most of the towns nearby, it has a small residential population and a Main Street to provide basic needs to the community. In addition, there are a few restaurants, furnishing stores, a brewery and a charming old theater, which also accommodate the weekenders and visitors. When visiting the area, here are a few landmarks not to miss!

• Villa Roma, one of the famous resorts still standing, is located in Callicoon. It still plays host to many regularly visiting families year round and has even expanded to include a time share designation. With an indoor pool, golf course, spa and full calendar of events including dinner shows, it is a great location for those looking to keep it all under one roof.

• Sullivan County Farmers Market sets up every Sunday from May-November in the heart of town. There you will find many local farmers and artisans selling all kinds of veggies, fruits, honey, bread, woodwork, cheese, eggs, and even coffee! A delightful group of hardworking people who are happy to chit chat and share their knowledge.

• The Callicoon Theater was built in 1948 and is still a classic single-screen movie house that primarily shows independent films. While the 380-seat theater holds onto its 1940's post Art Deco accoutrement style, the projection and sound system is state-of-the-art and can accommodate a wide range of selections.

Callicoon is a special little town worth visiting when you make your way through area. Next up: Jeffersonville.

5 Films from The Catskills

Many films are set in one location yet made in another. But even when landscapes are recreated, it is the storytelling that sets the tone. Rural settings are as interesting, fun, creepy and dark as any, and here are five films that showcase how true that is.

1. Dirty Dancing (1987), set in a summer resort, it tells the story of a young guest who falls for the handsome hired help.  Love has no boundaries and neither does Frances "Baby" Houseman.
2. Heavy (1995), Life suddenly changes for a rural overweight cook who falls for a beautiful girl when she suddenly appears in this small country town. Shyness keeps Victor from making a move, but his sparked desire takes him further than he knew he could go.
3. Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene (2011), a woman damaged after fleeing from a cult continues to have flashbacks and fears that keep her unsettled. Martha struggles to assimilate into normal life, which is anything but.
4. A Walk on the Moon (1999), a couple and their family go to their annual summer camp retreat, only this year Pearl finds herself wandering outside of her marriage while her husband is busy following the first man to walk on the moon. Dreams lost, found and lost again.
5. The Cake Eaters (2007), two interconnected families come to terms with love in the face of loss. Ceci's death exposes the love gained and lost through a series of grief and new chances from her husband and sons.

These films span 24 years between them and what they continue to share is a countryside that begs to be visited and explored. Thankfully film makers agree, as they scour new locations nearby that will help them set the stage for the stories they want to tell. 

Culture in the Catskills

The Catskills have many historical landmarks, but its growing culture over the years has been a significant expansion to the region. There are fine arts displayed in galleries and museums, local troupes performing in small theaters, outdoor stages and churches, and the return of film festivals.

When I googled for things to do while visiting The Catskills I found a handful of local sites, but I inevitably ended up on Wikipedia, as they have the market on search these days. Each of the hamlets within the county are listed and provide very basic information on their own pages, with the Sullivan County page providing a bit more on tourism as you can see below:

Sullivan County has been a popular vacation spot since the 19th Century, with mountain climbing, boating, and other outdoor activities, and the Monticello Raceway being among the attractions. The majority of the tourism occurs in the summer months. It was the site of the hundreds of resort complexes of the Borscht Belt (with their golf courses, social events, and entertainers), between the 1920s and 1970s. It was the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Many famous comedians tested their material and performed regularly at Borscht Belt hotels, including Milton Berle, Mel Brooks and Henny Youngman. Eddie Fisher performed often at Grossinger's, where in 1955 he married Debbie Reynolds.
During the period August 15–18, 1969, some 500,000 people gathered in Sullivan County's Town of Bethel at Max Yasgur's farm to attend the Woodstock Festival. The entertainers included The Who; the Grateful Dead; Jefferson Airplane; The Band; Canned Heat; Joan Baez; Arlo Guthrie; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Janis Joplin; Santana; Sly and the Family Stone; Blood, Sweat and Tears; Jimi Hendrix; and Richie Havens.
Today the site of the original Woodstock concert is the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which includes a museum of the sixties and holds many concerts and other events.
Other notable cultural destinations include the CAS Arts Center, a multi-arts exhibit space and education center run by the Catskill Art Society in Livingston Manor, New York, and the NaCl Theatre, a professional regional theatre company focusing on experimental work in Highland Lake, New York.

While accurate, it doesn't include the cultural activity that has sprung up over the years. Knowing there were a couple of important mentions to add, I went ahead and edited the page. Here is my version:

Sullivan County has been a popular vacation spot since the 19th Century, with mountain climbing, boating, and other outdoor activities, and the Monticello Raceway being among the attractions. The majority of the tourism occurs in the summer months. It was the site of the hundreds of resort complexes of the Borscht Belt (with their golf courses, social events, and entertainers), between the 1920s and 1970s. It was the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Many famous comedians tested their material and performed regularly at Borscht Belt hotels, including Milton Berle, Mel Brooks and Henny Youngman. Eddie Fisher performed often at Grossinger's, where in 1955 he married Debbie Reynolds.
During the period August 15–18, 1969, some 500,000 people gathered in Sullivan County's Town of Bethel at Max Yasgur's farm to attend the Woodstock Festival. The entertainers included The Who; the Grateful Dead; Jefferson Airplane; The Band; Canned Heat; Joan Baez; Arlo Guthrie; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Janis Joplin; Santana; Sly and the Family Stone; Blood, Sweat and Tears; Jimi Hendrix; and Richie Havens.
Today the site of the original Woodstock concert is the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which includes a museum of the sixties and holds many concerts and other events.
Other notable cultural destinations include the CAS Arts Center, a multi-arts exhibit space and education center run by the Catskill Art Society in Livingston Manor, New York, and the NaCl Theatre, a professional regional theatre company focusing on experimental work in Highland Lake, New York. 

Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, founded in 1976, serves as Arts Council for Sullivan County, New York. They present programs in the visual, performing, literary, and media arts and service a county-and valley-wide constituency of artists, arts groups and the general public. The staff advocates for advancement of the arts on the local, state, national, international level. As a catalyst for events not generally available, DVAA sponsors an outstanding variety of arts and cultural programs in its facilities, the Delaware Arts Center, on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Tusten Theatre, a fully-renovated 160-seat facility.
Liberty Museum and Arts Center, The Building, built in 1894 as the modern Poellman Hotel, had seen periods of occupation by plumbing and heating retailers, a furniture store and last by Katz Bakery, a famous local institution. Long abandoned, the building was nearly irreparable with a collapsed roof and leaks everywhere. Into this dire challenge came this group of community minded citizens lead by Robert Dadras, Gene Barbanti and Ron Gozza. They organized volunteers to remove tons of debris, repair the roof and begin renovation. With a few grants as seed money and construction help from a Sullivan County BOCES building class, a miracle was underway. With dedication and much hard work a major portion of the building was completed. On Friday, June 25th, 1997 a Grand Opening ribbon cutting was celebrated at 46 South Main Street, which was temporarily closed for the occasion.

 I took the liberty of adding two important art alliances that provide an enormous amount of diversity in expression, whether in fine arts or literary works.  Both of these centers showcase the work of artists in the region along with many who have contributed to supporting art programs, including educational services.  This is yet another wonderful attraction when visiting The Catskills!

The Most Historic Music Venue

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is the original site of the Woodstock Music Festival of 1969. The 600-acre dairy farm was host to people from all over the area, as an initial idea to raise money to build a music studio retreat in the country. Tickets were printed and then sold in mostly record stores in the month prior. The plan was to have 50,000 people attend. With a mixed bag of experience organizing an event of this size, things quickly went awry for the four men behind it. A few days before the August festival, and entry fences were put in place, 50,000 people were already on-site camping in front of the stage. They had come in before the organizers were ready. The event team immediately realized they were in over their heads and declared it a free event. This of course would be their biggest mistake as over 500,000 people would find their way to this tiny town in the Catskills.

The three day festival turned into four as well known artists took the stage. These legends included Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana,  Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead and The Who among many others. Thankfully over the long weekend, the crowd would dwindle down to only 25,000 on the fourth day. It would go down as the most historical music festival ever, full of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll and a whole lot of mud.

Today, Bethel Woods is a well manicured and efficiently run site that celebrates its origins and brings worldwide talent to its stages each year. As an outdoor concert venue, there is a great lawn as well as covered seating to accommodate every kind of attendee. Indoors there is space for more intimate shows including musical artists, creative artist exhibitions and a museum. They even have an educational program to inspire, educate and empower people. Throughout the summer and fall season the calendar includes harvest festivals, wine and craft beer festivals and a holiday market.

At first the lawn is empty and then it fills up. Thankfully the max these days is around 10,000!

The upcoming season of musical talent is sure to bring in a great crowd. It includes performances by Train, The Frey, Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flats and Van Halen, plus others. I've attended many shows at Bethel Woods and can say first hand that it's one of my favorite music venues. The average ticket price is $35 for the lawn with an extra $5 for a lawn chair. The sound system is amazing, there are food and drink vendors sprinkled around the entire place along with ample restrooms. It beats an indoor coliseum any day!

Slow Down and Enjoy Your Visit!

When that trip is booked, to get away from the daily grind, we tend to get very excited at the idea of escaping!  Often it goes something like this:  I. Can. Not. Wait!!  Some of us look deeper into the events calendar and others decide to just let it all unfold once they arrive.  Either way, it is incredibly meaningful to plan a road trip to new scenery.

I have noticed that many people don't have an easy time "turning off" their adrenaline rush or high demand mode when they arrive in a place like the Catskills.  Ideally the point is to kick back and let go, however, this does not always happen.  Thing is, you are actually visiting someone else's home town.  It really is a sleepy, laid back vibe and it's the way rural folks do it.  It's also the reason you left the hustle of your urban surroundings, for a temporary slice of their heaven.  It's important to everyone, especially you, that it all unfolds as planned.

There are some easy guidelines to being a gracious guest when you visit.  While I am a bit surprised that people need reminding, I also understand this is just the way it is.  I have a feeling this happens in many places by the way, when busy people travel to calmer towns.

While the speed limits on country roads tend to be 55 mph, there are some areas where it slows down.   The locals are the first ones to push the limits, so follow their lead, they know better than most where the local police are staked out.  They also have an unwritten rule called "country distance".  It means keeping a 5 car distance between you and them.  The only people tailgating are the visitors and it sure is rude to the locals.

When you dine at a restaurant, they too are making food to order like you're used to.  The difference here is that they don't travel at your speed and they are not cooking for a crowd that needs to get to the theater.  They love that you selected their place and they want you to enjoy every bit of your time.  Sit back, have another drink and you will be pleasantly surprised at the culinary skill of these country chefs.

The message here is to relax and slow down.  The residents of these communities are happy you have come to visit, but they are even happier when you leave your edge at home... along with your car alarms!

Take advantage of the ease in moving about, the sound of nature and look up at the incredible light show in the sky.  The stars are like magic on most nights.  Don't miss it because you forgot to remove your super charged battery.

A Region Rich in History

As with many regional clusters of towns, Sullivan County has a tremendous history that dates back to the late 17th century.  Once known for lumbering, the lustrous forests were plenty full of pine and hemlock trees, the later providing a superior base for tanning leather.  Both timber and tanning were big industry back in the day until they pretty much pillaged most of the available resources.  Thankfully, today we see much reforesting that has since taken place, despite the ongoing development of new homes being built.

The good news is the third "T", for tourism.  During the late 1940's with the influx of Jewish immigrants, many summer resorts and bungalow communities were built in what we referred to as the Borscht Belt.  If you have seen the film Dirty Dancing, you will know what I am referring to.  These retreats played host to families from all over, especially suburban Long Island and NYC, and were a place where friends and even marriages were made.  It was an annual ritual to visit any one of the many hotels in the area up until the 1990's, when sadly they started to see a major decline.  As the economy and personal tastes shifted, a very special era eventually came to an end.

Fast forward to 2015 and there is new life permeating in the form of second and rental homes along with recreational activities to fill more than just summertime fun.  There is locally made vodka and bourbon at Dancing Cat Saloon & Catskill Distilling Co, hand-crafted beer at Catskill Brewery and a lovely vineyard that produces pretty nice wine, Eminence Road Farm Winery.   Do you love maple syrup?  Then you wouldn't want to miss a visit to Catskill Mountain Sugar House, they will even give you a tour to show you how it's made.

Many people think the area is great for either canoeing or skiing, but the Catskills are full of exciting, interesting happenings and businesses.  I personally think the dynamic mix of local-born and city-transplants, that produce much of the products here, deliver a huge bang for the buck and your time.  The adventures are plenty, as I will continue to share all that there is to do and see!

A Delightful Escape

Welcome to Capturing the Catskills, an informative guide for those looking to relax and enjoy a quick getaway from urban living.  In just 90 minutes to 2 hours from NYC, that is if you aren't attempting to leave the city during rush hour, you will find the lovely rural country of Sullivan County.  There are many small towns scattered about the region, full of antiques, locally made goods and just a simpler, slower, sleepy way of living.  It's really the perfect getaway for the busy city person.

Whether you are visiting for a weekend, week or plan to stay longer to write a book or screenplay, there are plenty of accommodation options to select from.  The Nest Inn is conveniently located in the heart of Narrowsburg where a summer bus service has just been added for those who prefer not to drive; a beautifully restored church at Hillside Schoolhouse located in Barryville is a delightful choice; or simply select a home from AirBnB, such as the Cutest Little House in Narrowsburg.  

The real secret is to disconnect from your harried weekday life and enjoy the peace and stillness of the Delaware Valley.  Whether your jam is yoga and meditation, fishing, hiking, kayaking or canoeing, the area is chock full of adventures waiting to be had.  Or perhaps you'd just like to sleep for 11 straight hours with only woodpeckers in the background?  No problem.  It'll be the best sleep you get, no doubt.  There is something for everyone! 

I will continue to share festivals and regional events along with cool recommendations on restaurants and markets to purchase locally made goods or stroll a farmers market or two.  The point of this blog is to provide a wonderful option to unwind and have some fun!