HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Snow Day Trip: Great Snow Photo Opportunites in Hunter Mountain

 I went to Hunter Mountain today to see the crazy snow totals in the Hudson Valley. The town of Tannersville had a nice tourist buzz today. I'm very happy for the ski resorts as this epic storm is good for business I think. I thought Willow and Mt. Tremper were impressive, but Hunter is insane.

This is most snow I have seen in my life. I stopped in at Last Chance cafe for a snack and a cup of hot cocoa. My husband insisted I get the special butterscotch hot cocoa with butternut schnapps since I had had a rough morning. It sure did give me a boost. I don't know how long it's going to take all this snow to melt. The owner of the house pictured above told me that she measured 68 inches at her house in Hunter so far.

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Winter wonderland alert: Beautiful Snow Scenes on Route 212

There are really beautiful winter wonderland scenes if you drive down Route 212 through Willow and Mt. Tremper. Woodstock only got a few inches of snow so when I heard a girl from Willow brag about her 2 ft accumulation I thought she was making it all up. Willow is about 15 minutes away from Woodstock. So, I decided to go for a drive today and see if she was being honest. Wow!  I was amazed. It felt like I was driving in a different world--a kind of Twilight Zone moment. "How much snow did you get? Did you lose power?" There is nothing else to talk about, but the weather here. These photos don't do the place justice. Here photos from my snow hunting adventure in the Hudson Valley.

Snow, snow, and more snow for the Hudson Valley!

While some folks I know got 2 feet of snow, here in Woodstock we only have a few sloppy inches on the ground. I took this photo on Wednesday, February 25th. A lot of snow has melted. I think I'm going to relax and just boycott the Weather channel today. I'm counting my blessings that our power is on since we lost it for 12 hours on Wednesday. According to Central Hudson Gas and Electric 150,000 customers have lost power as of Friday. 
 

Panera Bread in Kingston: Coffee, Wi-Fi, and Weather-proof!

Everyone in the Hudson Valley is still talking about The Big North Easter storm ("February Fury" as the Weather Channel calls it). As I write this the lights are flickering a bit, and who knows if my computer will make it to the end of this post. Today started off with brief heavy snow shower around 9 AM, but then it soon turned into rain and slush. It was too wet to sleigh in, and I didn't want to drive on slushy roads. A girl from Willow told us that she got 2 feet of snow today. (That's only about 20 minutes from Woodstock, but has a higher elevation she said). By the time 4 o'clock rolled around the whole family was going stir crazy so we decided to go to Starbuck's Drive-In. To our shock, it was closed. A note on the door said "Closed due to inclement weather--don't blame us, blame the weatherman"--Barnes & Nobles was also closed. So, we decided to go to Panera Bread, a great lunch spot that has free Wi-Fi. Here is a website that lists Panera Bread's gluten-free menu items too.They were also planning on closing early. Panera Bread,1165 Ulster Avenue, Kingston, NY (845) 336-5371. 

Charity Ski Race at Belleayre Mountain on February 27th

I'm happy for the ski resorts today! Belleayre Mountain promises 2 days of powder! If you like to ski and want to help raise money for a worthy cause, join the Radio WKNY Race on Saturday at Belleayre Mountain. The race begins at 11 am. See link below for more info visit Belleayre Mountain's website

Ro-Lin Lanes Bowling: Indoor family fun in Red Hook, NY

 
I found a great place to take the family on a cold day or a day when you just don't have any plans in the Hudson Valley. Ro-Lin Lanes Bowling is very easy to get to. When you get off the Rhinecliff/Kingston bridge just go to 9G and go about a mile north. It's a grey non-descript building, but inside it's clean and cheery. We played a full game and rented shoes. The total damage was $28. It wasn't that crowded when we arrived there around 2pm, but by the time we left it looked like every lane was busy. There was also a birthday party in progress. This is a great place to take the kindergarten and tween/teens. There is a snack counter there too, but I didn't sample anything there. There is also a redemption arcade, and a miniature golf course, which is open April through October. Check out the Ro-Lin Lanes website for more info.

Foreigner to rock UPAC in Kingston this Sunday!

If you love Foreigner and don't have any plans for Sunday night, you can still get tickets to see them perform at UPAC in Kingston. I can't go, but I will be there in spirit. They are one of my favorite rock bands. They just don't make them like that anymore. As much as I loved their music in the 1980's, I never followed the lives of the band members, and I'm embarrassed to say that I'm only learning now that the lead vocalist has changed. Kelly Hansen joined Foreigner in 2005.  I just whiled away an hour on YouTube comparing the two, and I have to say no one can sing "Head Games" like Lou Gramm, but there is something I really like about Kelly Hansen. Maybe it's the hair? He's got good energy. 

I wonder if Foreigner will play "Luanne" (see video above). I never understood why this song didn't become a hit. Please report back if you go & post comments about the show here. For more info go to the Bardavon/UPAC website

 

 

JC Penney Salon in Kingston: Fabulous Hair by MJ

Today I finally got around to getting a haircut. I don't make the time to go often so when I go it feels like a real treat!  When I first moved here 6 years ago, I used get my haircut when I had to go into Manhattan for to meet someone. (I loved Salon Ziba on West 57th). I really wanted to find a hairstylist I liked up here though. An acquaintance recommended JC Penney Salon at the Kings Mall.I asked her, "Well, who should I ask for?" and she said, "Oh, they're all good over there!"

By chance I got MJ for my first appointment a few years back, and she's been cutting my hair every since. It's a very friendly full-service salon. MJ does weddings, and other special events. She goes to a lot of trade shows and she is very savvy when it comes to hair. JC Penney Salon, Hudson Valley Mall, Suite 210, Kingston, NY. (845) 336-4300. 

13th Annual Chili Bowl Fiesta in Rosedale on Feb. 27th!

If you are in the market for a new ceramic bowl, and happen to love chili this is the place to be on February 27th!  For more info visit WSW Chili Bowl. Rosendale Rec Center, Route 32. There will be live music performed by Dog on Fleas too!

Valentine's Day Literary Weekend treat: Woodstock Writers Festival

I'm so excited about the first Woodstock Writers Festival. I went to a wonderful reading tonight called Loved Bites with Ruth Reichl. Reichl is the former NY Times restaurant critic and author of Tender at the Bone, and Garlic and Sapphires. The first Woodstock Writers Festival celebrates the memoir so Reichl read snippets of her memoir and talked about the challenges of the food memoir writing process. I hope this is the first of many writers festivals in Woodstock. It looks like many of the Sunday events are open. I didn't sign up for any of the workshops this time, but maybe next year! For more info visit http://www.woodstockwritersfestival.com