HudsonValleyGoodStuff

The Hudson Valley Good Stuff Wish-list for 2012 Or 12 fun things you can do in the Hudson Valley

 

Here is a short list of things to do in the Hudson Valley that I haven't done yet, but would like to do in 2012.  

Monday night buffet at Garden Cafe in Woodstock. You need to make a reservation for this sought-after weekly vegan event. I'm not a vegetarian, but if I could eat here every day, I could be.

Dine at Peek-a-moose Restaurant on Route 28 in Big Indian. I have passed by it many times over the years, and it has always intrigued me. 

Walkway over the Hudson--I'm embarrased to say that I still haven't done this. I'm putting this on the HVGS to-do list for the Spring.

 Check out Chalet Fondue in Windham before the end of winter. It looks like a very cozy spot for German specialties. I only see one fondue dish on their menu though.

Go to a TMI Project at Rosendale. I love the idea of personal monologues detailing embarrasing situations. If I don't have the courage to be on stage, I can at least support these amazing women by buying a ticket to their show.

One of my resolutions is to lose weight this year. Another one is to eat more cupcakes. I definitely want to try one of JJ's Rockin Cupcakes, a new cupcake bar in Kingston. I'd also like to visit Moxie Cupcakes in New Paltz too.

Eat a cheap breakfast special at the revamped Village Diner in Saugerties.

Visit the Zen Monastery in Mt. Tremper. Well, this requires a bit of planning and focus, but it has been on my wish-list for 2 years now. I hope 2012 is the year!

Be a food judge at a local fair. I'm still badgering a few contacts about this.

Take a yoga class or an African dance class at Lalita Healing Collective in Chichester.

Go to the Good Stuff Cafe in West Shokan on one of their Thursday night BBQ nights during the summer if they are having them.

Visit more bakeries.

Go to The Castle Fun Center in Chester. 

Become a volunteer Weather Spotter through my local Skywarn program. (Check out my essay Snow Day in the digital edition of Green Door magazine Winter 2012 to read more about my weather obsession)

Find more Hudson Valley Good Stuff sponsors.

What is on your wish-list?

 

 

 

Family Fun alert: Hoppin Halloween Party at Fun-E Farm this Friday, October 28th!

Fun-E Farm will be having a Hoppin Halloween party on Friday, Oct. 28th from 5 -8pm with lots of bouncing, snacks, treats, and goodie bags for all kids who attend! They will also be raffling off a birthday party and gift cards too! Admission is $9.99 or only $7.99 if you wear your Fun-E Farm T-Shirt.

Fun-E Farm got a couple new bouncy houses since I last blogged about them. So very happy to have them on as a Hudson Valley Good Stuff sponsor. A bouncy house fun center was very much needed in this area. I have a lot friends who go here. The kids always leave here tired and happy! Happy Halloween!

Day trip: Accord: Family Fun at Kelder's Farm & Organic Pizza at Pizza Barn!

We had a lot of family fun at Kelder's Farm on Route 209 in Kerhonkson today! There are great farm U-pick stands along Route 209, but Kelder's Farm appealed to me because I heard it had a petting zoo and a bouncing area for kids. This "Jumping Pillow" turned out to be such a big hit for my kids that we didn't even get around to the hayride or the milking of the cow for $2. We bounced for an hour!  There is no time limit. You pay $5 per person for a wristband, but you can bounce all day if you like. 

It is a really beautiful place so if you go, don't forget your camera! You can also pick your own fruits and vegetables in season at Kelder's Farm. Due to the flooding from Irene though, there are no raspberries to be picked there now. You can pick apples and flowers though. I would definitely recommend Kelder's Farm for any child who loves to jump and bounce. There is also a small edible mini-golf course. The hardest part will be getting them off the jumping pillow! Also, just FYI, the restrooms are porto-potties so if you have a porto potty phobia, best to go somewhere else before you start the jump-a-thon.

There is also a nice gift shop with locally made goodies and ice pops.  For more info visit Kelder's Farm.  We ended up having slices of yummy organic pizza at Pizza Barn in Accord later. (Blog post to follow).

How could I forget to mention, they also have the world's largest garden gnome at the entrance! Makes for a great Hudson Valley photo opportunity! 

Cheap Indoor Fun: Indoor Pool at Bard College's Stevenson Gymnasium

I had a great workout yesterday at the beautiful Stevenson Gymnasium at Bard College, all for a $10 day pass. A Hudson Valley resident once told me that the indoor pool at Bard College was one of the Hudson Valley's best kept secrets. Since then I have been meaning to check it out. They also have squash courts. Bard College is about a 5-10 minute drive from Rhinebeck village. The schedule changes on a monthly basis so be sure to check the website, and I would even call to double-check the times. When I got there at 11:00 am, I was told the pool would be open at 11:30am although the online schedule said 9am. No worries though. I put in 20 minutes on the machines before I went for a swim.  The gym was very quiet. It was just me and other person.

The locker rooms are very clean. (Bring your own lock if you want to lock your stuff).  I forgot mine so I just brought my bag to the pool. The 25-yard six lane indoor pool is heated, and very well-maintained. The water wasn't hot, but definitely not freezing.  There are also flippers, kick boards, and other aquatic accessories you can borrow at now charge.  There are "Open Swim" times as well so be sure to check the schedule if you would like to bring your family of young children along.  If you are looking for a fun indoor diversion, the indoor pool at Bard College is a great place to have a good and safe swim. Be sure to visit the Bard College Athletics website for updated info before you go.

 

The Great Bed Race & Old Timer's Day in Saugerties Saturday, August 6th!

The Great Bed Race is coming to Saugerties this Saturday, August 6th. It is being held in conjunction with Old Timer's Day. It sounds like a blast! If you want to fit in here, don't bother getting dressed. You can just stay in your pajamas for the day!  Dutch Ale House will be having a Pre-BedRace Party starting at Friday at 9pm. The party is open to everyone, of course. For more information, email rae@luckychocolates.com.  Rae tells me that they are looking for volunteers to referee and keep things organized. You'll get a cool lime t-shirt, a whistle, and good karma. Good luck to all the bed racers!

Fun-E Farm at the Hudson Valley Mall: Bouncy houses & good times!

Fun-E Farm Barnyard Playhouse opened at the Hudson Valley Mall a few weeks ago. I have been wishing for a bouncy house place like this in the area for a long time! The winters are long here and kids need a place where they can jump and bounce off a lot of energy! There is The Little Gym, of course, but you can't just drop in there any time you want cheaply. At Fun-E Farm, kids can bounce all day for $9.50. A good deal! They are also working on special Drop and Shop and Date Night event times so parents will be able to leave their children their while the Fun-E Farm team supervise them.

I went there on one of their first days. The bouncy houses are very cool. One has a huge slide. There is a quiet lounge near the restrooms in the back, which is perfect if you need to feed a baby, or change a diaper, or catch your breath!

It takes a lot of power to run these bouncy houses and there is music playing in the background so it is quite loud. Just want to keep that in mind in case your kiddies are sensitive to noise. Mine are, but the fun of jumping won over! They also put on birthday parties here. I'm sure this is is one business that will prosper once the word gets out. A few of my friends are already regulars there. It is a great place for a play date. Join their Facebook page if you want to keep up to date with Fun-E Farm website happenings.

7 Fun things to do in the Hudson Valley 4th of July Weekend 2011

If you are lucky enough to be in the Hudson Valley this weekend, here are a few ideas of fun things to do. I can't believe 4th of July Weekend is here and the weather forecast looks flawless, so far!

Woodstock Animal Sanctuary's July Jamboree (July 2nd & 3rd) : I went to this last year and had a really great time. Don't forget to eat an organic grilled corn on the cob! There will be live theater for the family, yummy vegan food, and an awesome Woodstock vibe. 

Saugerties, 4th of July Parade on Monday, July 4th. Parade starts at 11:00 am, but I'd get there about 20 minutes early if you want to get a good parking spot. I went to the parade last year and seemed to go and on for a very long time. Get comfortable! Don't forget to stop by Lucky Chocolates to try out their new juices, or patriotic chocolates.

Fireworks at Cantine Field at dusk!  I haven't done this yet, but could be extra romantic for baseball lovers.

There will be an all day BBQ party at The Rhinecliff, the gorgeous hotel right near the Amtrak train station.

 The Roxbury Sidewalk Fair on July 2nd should be a blast. There is also a beautiful wooden playground right behind the church in Roxbury.  I never leave Roxbury without a huge jar of buckwheat honey. 

Check out a Hudson Valley Renegade Game. Didn't one of last year's team members make it to the majors? I can't remember who. Games on July 1, 2, and 3rd will be at home, also known as Duchess Stadium.

 Prefer to just be lazy and lounge on the beach? Check out Pine Hill Lake at Belleayre Mountain. At only $8 for a car load, it is bargain. 

If you want to celebrate the 4th of July with a Hudson Valley fireworks display, visit the Rhinebeck's Community Open Forum blog for a list of towns hosting fireworks display.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Have another great idea for 4th of July weekend in the Hudson Valley? Please post it in the comments.

Celebrating Father's Day in the Hudson Valley: Where to take Dad

 Here are a few fun ideas if you are celebrating Father's Day in the Hudson Valley this weekend. 

Skytop Steakhouse & Brewing Company, 237 Forest Hill Drive, Kingston, NY (845) 340-4277 Brunch Buffet- I went here 3 years ago. They always have a great spread with smoked salmon and an omelet station. You can also order off the menu. It's always a good place for beer lovers!

Hickory BBQ Smokehouse--743 Route 28, Kingston, NY (845) 338-2424. If your Dad is more of BBQ ribs kind of guy, take him to Hickory BBQ. Everything is pretty damn good here, even the salads! http://www.hickoryrestaurant.com/index.html

Big Healthy Breakfast--Sweet Sue's Phoenicia, 49 Main Street, Phoenicia, NY (845) 688-7852--It's one of the best breakfast places around.  The only thing you will not like about this place is the line outside to get in on weekends! Over-sized organic pancakes are their specialty.  They have a zillion different pancakes. Try their pancake sundae!

Dad would also like other Restaurants that I Love that I've mentioned in the blog as well.

Starting at 11 am on Sunday, June 19th the Rhinebeck Farmers Market will be offering Dads free strawberry shortcake. Where will you go to celebrate Father's Day?

 

Wing Fling Competition in Saugerties on Sunday, May 22nd! Worth the heartburn!

Here come the Chicken Wings! Don't miss the Wing Fling festival in Saugerties tomorrow if you are fan of hot chicken wings! A bunch of restaurants I have covered on the blog will be participating, including Dutch Ale House and Hickory BBQ. For more information visit the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce's website. Sunday, May 22nd, 11:30 am - 5 pm. Cantine Field in Saugerties. Happy wing tasting!

11 Things I Can't Wait to Do When Spring (Really) Arrives in the Hudson Valley

There are so many wonderful events and things to do in the Hudson Valley this Spring. I have been bogged down with to-do lists and endless Hudson Valley winter blues so I haven't had much time or mojo for blogging. A visit to the Village Tea Shop in New Paltz did cheer up me for an hour. I had a great time guest blogging for Small Bites for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.  I hope next year more restaurants in the Woodstock area will participate.

In the mean time, I am looking forward to so many things this Spring. I can't wait to:

1) Get my bike tuned up at Overlook Mountain Bikes in Woodstock, and go for a long bike ride.

2) Check out the olympic-sized pool at Bard. *This has been on my to-do list for 2 years!

3) Visit Woodstock Animal Sanctuary and give the gift of a membership there to two very special people in my life.

4) Try out the Good Stuff cafe in Stone Ridge. I also want to try the new Mexican restaurant in Rhinebeck.

5) Attend the Woodstock Writers Festival.

6) Cheer on the men and women participating in the 18th Annual Trooper Biathlon in Hurley. I did ita few years ago, and highly recommend it. I was not in biathlon shape though so I finished very last.  It is a beautiful, but challenging course.

7) Taste Jolly Cow ice cream on a warm day! This week's soft serve flavor is Yellow Cake Batter.

8) Run along Cooper Lake Road.

9) Go for a walk along the Walkway Over the Hudson.

10) Walk for Autism Walk on April 10th. Hopefully it won't rain this year.

11) Enjoy a mango Margarita at the Steel House.

What are your favorite Spring things to do/events in Hudson Valley?