HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Scenes from Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Tour of Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern in Saugerties

Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern hosted a fine Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for local media and supporters on February 7th. Owner Tom Struzzieri, Mayor of Saugerties Bill Murphy, County Executive, Mike Hein, Kenneth Adams, president and CEO/Comissioner of Empire State Development gave brief speeches about the journey of constructing Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern.  Adams suprised them with an eagerly awaited check for $780,000.00, apologizing that it wasn't one of those huge super-sized cardboard checks that make for a good photo opportunity. It was the real thing though, which is what matters most.

After the Q & A, owner Tom Struzzieri and Brigid Walsh, the director of marketing and special events, gave us a tour of the hotel. I have dined at the Tavern before, but I had yet to see a room, let alone the Tower suite, so I was eager to follow along.

"It's cozy and sophisticated," said Kelly Myers, Town Supervisor of Saugerties upon entering a standard room. Bob Yerick, former Saugerties Mayor also joined us, adding his humor at every opportunity. "I could fall asleep here!" he said as we ooh and ahhed over the bed int the Tower Suite. Every room has a stunning view of the falls over the Esopus Creek.

 Walsh showed us a conference room that can be rented for workshops or meetings, and gave us a sneak peek through the kitchen. All in all, it was a fun event. The speeches weren't too long, and it was a great chance for me to check out the new hotel and meet other media and tourism professionals  who happen to follow Hudson Valley Good Stuff too.

If you would like to see more photos I took of this event, friend me on Facebook using vanessa@hudsonvalleygoodstuff.com to find me as HudsonValley GoodStuff.com. 

 

 

The Tavern at Diamond Mills: A delicious flatbread, gourmet burger & a Manhattan vibe in Saugerties

My husband surprised me by taking me to Diamond Mills, the new luxury hotel in Saugerties for our wedding anniversary. I have seen Diamond Mills in all phases of construction over the past few years. My first impression when I set foot in the Tavern at the hotel was, "Wow! Where the heck am I? Where did all these people come from?" My husband told a staff member that he felt like he was in the Twilight Zone. "You're not the first person who has said that," she said with a smile.  I think she knew that he meant that in a good way. You feel like you are in a chic Manhattan steak house, without all the pretention that goes along with eating in a fancy Manhattan steakhouse.  

To start I had a small plate seared scallops. They melted in my mouth. I also ordered a small plate of crab cake. The crab cake was small, but very tasty. Tom ordered the Tavern Salad. I ordered the flatbread with potato and asparagus as my entree. It was very filling! Tom had the Burger, which he was very impressed with. He kept oohing and ahhing about the burger sauce. For dessert, we shared the Hudson Valley sampler. It felt like everyone knew it was our anniversary which made the meal extra special.  

Our server Victoria was very friendly and patient with our questions.  A few of the food runners seemed a little stressed out, but first week jitters are to be expected at any new restaurant or hotel, especially an ambitious one like Diamond Mills.

As we were leaving, I spotted a local politician entering the bar there. By summer time, the Tavern plans on offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Right now, they are only serving dinner. For more information visit the Diamond Mills website.  

 

Saratoga Springs revisited: Hilton Garden Inn vs. Hampton Inn & Suites

My family went on a mini-vacation at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Saratoga Springs recently thanks to a relative's generous Hilton Honors points donation. In the past, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn when we went to Saratoga Springs for an overnight with the kids, but this time we decided to try something new.  

The Hampton Inn won us over. The hotel has a beautiful heated pool, which is much larger than the one at HGI. The breakfast which was included had more to offer than the HGI one, and the location is more convenient. It is close to the center of town. We somehow got upgraded to a suite room. I slept very soundly in the comfortable bed. My husband didn't sleep too well though.

He claims there were a group of middle-aged women having a girls night who had a bit too much to drink and were yelling in the hallway. I heard a little bit of this too, but I was so relaxed from the mineral bath, I guess I just slept through the fun. This aside, I would definitely come back to the Hampton Inn & Suites in Saratoga Springs, NY.

I had a great time at the Gideon Putnam several years ago. The hotel is more formal, and has much more character, and is home to the Roosevelt Baths & Spa.  (I'd recommend the Gideon Putnam if you are looking for a couples getaway without kids or a low-key honeymoon).

New Luxury Hotel in Saugerties: Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern is now open for Hudson Valley tourists!

 

I was very excited to find out that the The Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern opened officially on December 9th. The Tavern part of it will open on December 31s, 2011. I am looking forward to checking out the Tavern, and getting a tour of the hotel soon. In the meantime, here from Diamond Mills:

Saugerties' first luxury hotel is a 30-room boutique hotel, which features stellar accommodations, fine-dining at The Tavern restaurant and full-service events at a state-of-the art Special Events Center all overlooking the picturesque waterfall of the Esopus Creek.  The new hotel is also a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World ^TM, an unsurpassed collection of over 520 luxury hotels around the world.

 

"As long-time residents of the Hudson Valley, my family is committed to supporting economic growth in the region and especially in the town of Saugerties, where we've resided for the past 14 years," said Thomas G. Struzzieri, Owner of Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern.  "With the new Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern we will not only provide lodging for the popular summer horse show HITS, which was in high demand, but also help position Saugerties as a year-round destination.  This town is not only charming with a rich history, but its beautiful waterfall has gone long underutilized as a tourist attraction.  We hope to change that with the opening this unique hotel."

 

Since breaking ground late last year, contractors, craftsmen and design teams have been hard at work taking great care to construct a modern structure while preserving the look and feel of historic Saugerties.  From the stacked stone foundations to the red brick facades and paned windows, every effort has been made to evoke the Martin Cantine Paper Mill that had anchored the site for 100 years. While remaining true to the look of the past, the interiors will have all the modern expectations of a world-class boutique hotel; wireless internet, flat-screen TVs, gourmet mini-bars and more.

 

Each of Diamond Mill's 30 guest rooms has a private balcony and stunning views of the Esopus Creek falls.  There are also two spacious King Suites that offer living areas and rustic fireplaces.  All rooms come with many in-room amenities, including flat-screen televisions with premium movie selections, iPod/iPhone docking stations, gourmet mini-bars with hand selected local items and complimentary wireless internet.  The rooms are all luxuriously appointed with European-inspired furnishings, a natural color palette, overstuffed duvets and linens of the finest Egyptian cotton.  The elegant, tiled bathrooms feature radiant heat and over-sized walk-in showers, balanced by hand-crafted antique vanities and chrome and white porcelain fixtures.  

 

At the Tavern at Diamond Mills, Executive Chef Giuseppe Napoli offers an amazing menu of world-class cuisine highlighting the best of the Hudson Valley, paired with high-quality meats, fish, house-made pastas, breads and pastries. The Tavern will also offer local craft brews and hand-crafted cocktails using spirits from local distilleries and the finest wines from New York State and around the world.   The Tavern will officially open on December 31, 2011. For more information visit Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern website

 

Hampton Inn in Kingston: Friendly, comfortable, indoor salt water pool & good power!

 

 
On Day 2 of the post-Irene power outage, my husband had an epiphany. To salvage our sanity, we could treat the family to a night stay at the Hampton Inn in Kingston. My brother-in-law stayed there with his family a few weeks ago, and had a good experience. We got one of the last available rooms!  Due to the high demand of stranded weekenders and stressed out locals , the hotel was later sold out for the night.  The front desk staff were very friendly, and didn't seem fazed by all the activity in the lobby or the relentless phone calls.

Our room was available about an hour before the 3pm check-in, which was great since we were all eager to get in the pool, shower, watch TV, and go online.  I love having a refrigerator in the room too. The pool is small so it is perfect for the little ones. (No lifeguard though). 

The breakfast spread was better than I expected: bagels, bread, yogurts, cereals, muffins, juices, eggs, and sausage.  I was very grateful to be able to go wait out part of the power outage at the Hampton Inn. One night stay with 2 queen size beds & breakfast for a family of four was $159. I never thought I would have a "stay-cation" on Ulster Avenue at the Hampton Inn, but it turned out to be just what we needed! Starbuck's Drive-thru, Barnes & Nobles, Hudson Valley Mall, Ruby Tuesdays, 5 Guys Burgers & Fries, Panera Bread are all within 2-5 minute car ride from the hotel. 

The next morning, the NYS thruway was clear so we went to Long Island to visit family and wait for Central Hudson's robo-call. 

Tropical Storm Irene sends me into the Twilight Zone

 

Tropical Storm Irene woke me up at 6am on Sunday. The power went out at my house at 6:15am just as the first few drops of coffee were starting to brew. It was surreal hearing the crack of the trees breaking, watching the trees swaying violently like they did in the Bahamas. Neighbors ventured out of their houses in the afternoon, some with wide-eyed kids in pajamas, surveying the damage. 

By Monday morning, 24 hours into the power outage, we decided to take Central Hudson's advice and "make other arrangements" as it could be several days.   We booked one of the last available rooms at Hampton Inn on Ulster Avenue. (A nice hotel I never payed much attention to. Blog post to come shortly!)  It was a splurge, but well worth it! We moved in with family in Long Island Day 3 of the power outage. When my neighbor emailed me yesterday to say that the block had power, I couldn't wait to get back home. It felt extra good to be driving west on the LIE on Labor Day weekend. 

There is definitely a different post-Irene vibe in Southampton. Like it never happened! I only overheard one man complain that he still didn't have power. (His kids had endured a week of sleepovers). There are still a few trees and wires down, but compared to what I've seen around the Hudson Valley, just a scratch.  It will be sad to see the flood damage in Phoenicia, Shokan, Boiceville, and Catskill in person. I'm used to seeing devastation on TV everywhere else, not in my own backyard. I look forward to going to Wenchell's in Shokan again for the best pizza around!

Jo Ostrander documented the devastation really well in this video.  I will post a few photos I took that day tomorrow. 

Omega Institute in Rhinebeck: Rest, relaxation, and vegetarian buffet

Omega Institute in Rhinebeck invited me to spend a day experiencing their beautiful campus yesterday. The day after, I am feeling very relaxed and invigorated. The Omega Institute offers a "R & R" package for visitors who want to visit for a 2-night minimum, without registering for a holistic workshop. I experienced a mini R & R yesterday: ate a huge vegan breakfast at their dining hall, relaxed on the grounds, took an open Dancing/Movement class, browsed through the zillions of of popular and obscure self-help books in their library, and had a delicious vegetarian buffet lunch. I wasn't able to stay for dinner due to my schedule, but I still left feeling very relaxed and re-invigorated from this Hudson Valley escape.

The quiet was very calming. (In fact, some workshop participants walk around with "In Silence" badges hanging around their neck so there is little pressure for making small talk with strangers here, and that I found, was very refreshing, as I'm terrible at small talk anyway). The Dance movement class was a very different experience. The instructor cranked up 5 different kinds of very danceable music and all ten of us, strangers except for one lovey-dovey couple, danced freely around the room. At one point we were grouped into "tribes" and one person had to come up with a dance move for the others to follow. This is not as easy as it sounds! I was a lot happier just dancing, as weird as it felt at first. There is also a Wellness center and spa on the campus, which includes a co-ed sauna, which I didn't venture into. (They do have women's only hours).

Overall, it was a very relaxing and uplifting day for me. I would definitely return. Has anybody stayed at Omega for a workshop? What was that like?

For more information, please visit the Omega Institute website.
   
 

Hudson Valley Green Drinks: Eco-curious network with the Eco-serious

 I attended my first Hudson Valley Green Drinks eco-schmooze event at The Rhinecliff Hotel. The Rhinecliff is a really beautiful historic railroad hotel right next to the Rhinecliff Amtrak train station. It recently became an offical "green certified" hotel. Before the live webcast ("The State of Local Food"), one of the owners gave a group of us a tour of the hotel, noting all the green remodeling that took over five years to complete. We also got to see a cozy romantic standard room there (one of the 9 rooms). Ear plugs are available in every room for those guests who might be bothered by the train whistles though that is definitely part of this hotel's charm. It was nice to meet a few green drinkers. I fall into the "accidental vegan" category, but I'm trying to be greener these days. It's good to know where the eco-serious folks go. The next Hudson Valley Green Drinks event will take place at The Would Restaurant in Highland on June 9th. 

Tarrytown DoubleTree Hotel: Sweet, sleek, and cozy retreat!

Back in the late 1990s during our courtship, my husband and I used to escape to Tarrytown when we needed a break from the city. We stayed at the Tarrytown Hilton, which has recently been remodeled with new ownership and goes by "Doubletree Tarrytown" and let me tell you, it is doubly improved!  I liked the old Hilton, but the food at the restaurant was always bland and stale. The new lobby is very sleek-looking with high ceilings. For the holidays, a Christmas tree stood by a menorah.  The atmosphere was very festive with lots of well-behaved children milling about. We booked a room here so that we would have a place to crash during the blizzard of 2009. The rooms were very comfortable. I love fluffy beds, flat-screen TVs, and we were given 4 warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in.  The biggest improvement has been in the dining experience. Breakfast buffet was very generous--smoked salmon, hot dishes, yogurt, cereal, etc. The indoor swimming pool is heated and a good size. We had the pool to ourselves at one point. The jacuzzi is gone though, and the gym has been moved to a separate room which makes sense. The only thing I miss are the puffy cushioned lounge chairs that used to be by the pool. The new lounge chairs look expensive, but they are rather spartan and not comfy.  I highly recommend this hotel to anybody who wants to be close to the city, but doesn't want to pay the big bucks. For a Saturday night, we paid $135 (tax included) for a double room. For more information, go to www.tarrytown.doubletree.com or call (914) 631-5700.

Sinterklaas Festival in Rhinebeck--Aliens, Giant Cookie Tree, and Sword-fighters!

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I had a great time at the annual Sinterklaas Celebration in Rhinebeck even though our timing wasn't too good. We arrived too late for the indoor story-telling at the Beekman Arms so we just had fun walking around with friends and watching the live entertainment. We stopped off at the Reformed Church for snacks, and the highlight of the day was watching the aliens perform in the snow! The kids really loved that. I thought we saw part of the Children's Starlight Parade, but after looking at the schedule I realized we missed it!  It started at 6 pm. Next year I will make it a point to study the schedule before going!  Anyway, we had a nice meal at Foster's Tavern too, which I will blog about later. We were thinking about going to the Spaghetti Dinner at The Church of the Messiah, but we couldn't wait until 5pm and our toes were cold. (Next time!) The Sinterklaas Festival is a huge event in Rhinebeck, and everyone involved really puts their hearts into it. What are other must-see Hudson Valley holiday celebrations?