A lighthouse gala, pink parties, and mahjong nights.

For 24 hours I’m making myself available as your personal Hudson Valley community concierge.

The project that is Makers & Lovers exists to solve a problem: everyone is looking for community and connection, yet no one is finding each other. Fifty seven percent of readers say they’re looking for connection, friends, community, and like-minded people to connect with.

Why the fuck is this so hard?

Blame silos, echo chambers and the algorithm. I sure do! Not because they’re actively keeping us from information. But because they’re part of this insidious shift towards the expectation of frictionless delivery. AI and the algo serve us so well that we hardly need to ask for something, let alone seek it out. Sadly, I think many people have lost the capacity for discomfort required to go on that journey.

But not us! Indeed, we are making the effort. Earlier this week on Reddit I asked where are people finding fun clubs? Part of the question was true curiosity, part of it was some low-key social engineering. Would people with the same question make connections with the people who had answers?

Sure did. There’s some pretty heartwarming stuff happening right now with folks finding clubs and communities to join. There are just so many people asking “where do I sign up?”

As an experiment, I’m going to try to answer that question for anyone willing to ask.

Reply to this email or send a message to [email protected] with whatever you’re looking for: a kickball league, crafting circle, book club, music discovery, political action, you name it. I’ll do my damndest to find you at least one organization or event to meet your need.

[[SOMETHING TO LOVE — PRODUCT NAME PLACEHOLDER]]

Founder and master distiller of Matchbook Distilling in Greenport, Long Island, Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski’s approach could be described as “be so good they can’t ignore you.”

Leslie has done what no one else has: Produced nearly every category of spirit, created a few new ones, and made them all exceptionally well. Since co-founding Matchbook in 2016, she's released spirits that had never existed before — an aperitif from fermented local peaches, a single malt smoked with North Fork seaweed, a pechuga-style corn whiskey finished in mezcal casks. She does it all by hand, sourcing highly specific ingredients from local farmers, driven by a philosophy of championing local agriculture and biodiversity one bottle at a time.

You can often find Metamodernity at Kingston Wine Co or purchase directly through Matchbook’s website.

Thursday, July 30

Sponsorship Drive: Catskill Animal Sanctuary Benefit at Tubby's in Kingston — Tubby's turns the night over to Catskill Animal Sanctuary for its 25th anniversary — a live set from ONGOING, DJs Kyle (King in Yellow), Manny Fresco and Nathan Aguilar donating their time, and a Little Rye Bakehouse vegan pizza pop-up. 100% of tickets go to the animals.

The Ball-Off: A Newburgh Fringe Fundraiser at Industrial Arts Brewing Company in Beacon — Hit House Creative hosts THE BALL-OFF at Industrial Arts — a Lucille Ball pageant and Newburgh Fringe Festival fundraiser. Give us your best Lucy, Ricky, Ethel or Fred. $20 advance/$25 door, 7pm.

Breaking the Algorithm IRL at Avalon Lounge in Catskill — The last of WGXC's pledge-drive nights: a conversation with Craig Chin about getting off the feed and back into a room, then a DJ set from Marcos Cabral to prove the point.

Wild Mixology with Laura Chavez Silverman at Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville — A hands-on botanical drink workshop — tinctures, bitters, and ferments built from foraged black walnut, sweetfern, magnolia, nettle and ramps, cocktails and spirit-free both. $125, space limited.

Mahjong at Dassai Blue Tasting Room in Hyde Park — Hudson Valley Mahjong Club takes over the tasting room for a HK and Filipino-style mahjong night — teachers on hand for beginners, open play tables for everyone else, and a free glass of sake for winners. If you ask me about where to find mahjong I’ll know you didn’t read the email.

Friday, July 31

Connections: A Mixer for Queers New to the Area at Unicorn Bar in Kingston — Unicorn Bar holds space during happy hour for queer folks who just landed in Kingston and don't have their people yet — free and low-key. Great time to decide your “signature question.”

Night Swim: DJs Nicer Days & Carly Flower at Night Swim Kingston in Kingston — Night Swim turns into a proper club night — DJs Nicer Days and Carly Flower on pumping house music, tasteful lighting, and french fries at the ready. $10 at the door, 8pm till late.

Leo Dance Party in Gardiner — Josh Towers throws a Leo season dance party at Full Circle in Gardiner — DJ Shaman Vybez, saxophonist DJ Akbar, a live improvised opening set, visuals by B.A. Miale, and free oracle readings all night.

Freckled Fork Pop Up at The Catskills Cocktail Club in Kerhonkson — A seasonal celebrational vegan pop up from private chef The Freckled Fork in honor of the newly neatly trimmed Freakout Rob. Come early if you want to eat!

Saturday, August 1

Andes Community Day at Wayside in Andes — Wayside's favorite day of the year — an old-fashioned Andes Community Day with a parade, DJs all afternoon, and the Chez Shaye Community Cabaret at 5pm, which only happens if you get up and do something. Bring a party trick.

Goosefeather Pink Party & Barbecue in Tarrytown — Goosefeather's annual Pink Party returns to the King Mansion lawn — a resident DJ, endless rosé, and a BBQ spread of smoked pork, pulled pork, mac and cheese, and hot honey cornbread. Exactly what you want to be eating while sweating glitter onto your crop top. 6-9pm.

Free Plant Swap at Morning Sunshine Market in Ellenville — The Hudson Valley Plant Exchange sets up in downtown Ellenville — bring seeds, seedlings, or houseplants you're over, trade for something new, 100% free and no invasives allowed!!

Beach Disco: All Nite Summer Vinyl Party at Shorties in New Paltz — DJs Ryan and Rausch turn Shorties into a tiki bar fever dream for one night — sun-kissed grooves, tropical tunes, and drinks with little umbrellas in them. 6pm.

Summer Pleasure Party at Unicorn Bar in Kingston — Crush Shop takes over the lounge at Unicorn Bar for their first Summer Pleasure Party — flash tattoos, new toys, and leather stamping with Barbed Briar. I’m still waiting to hear from someone who got a spontaneous flash tattoo!!

Fermentation Gathering with Aya Hirata Kimura at Yesfolk Tonics in Troy — A funky ferments-and-starters potluck with author Dr. Aya Hirata Kimura talking Japanese pickles and microbial foodways — bring a home project to taste and swap, or just show up to graze.

Mountaintop Record Club WKS Record Fair at West Kill Supply in Kingston — West Kill Supply's first record fair: crates to dig through, a tattoo bus parked out front, Galo Kitchen on food, and DJs Rye and Bread spinning 2-5. Grab a record, maybe some flash.

Sunday, August 2

Magic On The River: Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Gala in Athens — The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society throws its annual fundraising gala at The River Grill in Athens, with performances from Dust Bowl Faeries, Peter Daniel Straus, and Jim Snack. Every ticket goes toward keeping a 150-year-old lighthouse standing on its pilings.

For The Girls Market at Blue Duck Brewing Co in Kingston — A new women-owned market takes over Blue Duck Brewing: vintage and Y2K racks, a flower cart, permanent jewelry, matcha, hair tinsel, nails, and Blue Duck's lagers to shop with. Free to browse, 21+ to drink.

Wednesday, August 5

The Art of Connection: Postcard Writing Workshop at The Spark of Hudson in Hudson — A free postcard-writing workshop at the Spark — they supply the cards, the prompts, and the stamps. Just write something. Everyone loves getting mail.

June Farms Snacky Hour: DJ TruMastr + Frozen Margaritas in West Sand Lake — The Dishing's August Snacky Hour heads to June Farms for DJ TruMastr and frozen margaritas across the property, 5-9.

Four Tet does not live here. Probably. But he surfaces around these parts often enough that he’s become my personal Catskills mountain lion — the DEC insists there aren’t any, and yet everybody’s got a cousin who swears they see ‘em. Reader, I am that cousin.

My first sighting was winter 2023 during an experimental noise show at the Old Dutch Church: Tyondai Braxton, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Ben Vida, Booker Stardrum, Yuka Honda, the full endurance package. Four Tet and his kid (??) were sitting in the pew next to us. Somewhere in the middle of one of the harsh noise sets, the kid stood up and evacuated with his hands clamped over his ears, a child who had simply had enough and possessed the courage to act. Amy watched him go like a woman watching the last helicopter out. [Sure did. - Ed.]

The following summer I spotted him in Woodstock with his mom I think (?) and briefly wondered if I was having a small stroke. Shortly thereafter he announced a show at Griffin House in Palenville, a boutique tavern on 23A with a few hundred people in the yard. This is a man who plays massive drill fields in Belgium. Who has headlined Coachella. Who has sold out Madison Square Garden. He also plays in a tiny backyard on the way up to Kaaterskill Falls. Sure!

Griffin House changed hands this year and I assumed the streak was toast — new owners, new calendar, no more inexplicable drop-ins from British electronic royalty. But here we go again. I have no idea what he gets out of a tiny backyard three summers running, but I am not here to question it.

Tickets still available as of the time I filed with my editor. Get to steppin’.

Take a cutting from whatever's thriving on your windowsill, walk it next door, and hand it to a neighbor whose name you don't know yet.