Hi Friends,
How many Upstate Art Weekend shows did you see last weekend? Were you looking to buy a piece of original art for yourself? Did you even think you could??
Last weekend I was accompanied by My Brilliant Friend Cait McCormack, a fiber artist from Philly who rose to international fame with their intricately crocheted three dimensional bat skeletons and pizza, among larger works. They had work in “Stay Frosty” at Art Port, so we had a little sleepover and visited several shows around southern Ulster County. I had the opportunity to eavesdrop upon the gallery cognoscenti of Upstate Art Weekend as they talked business.
According to curators: Artists are lowering their prices because no one is buying.
According to r/hudsonvalley: No one is buying because original art is still too expensive.
Our whole thing is connecting producers, including artists, to audiences who want to hear from them. Now I’m thinking, is there a way to help? Artists - from Thomas Cole to Ryan Cronin - to are a fundamental part of Hudson Valley culture. We don’t want to lose them to luxury lofts. Not more than we already have.
Do you lovely people out there, who care about locally made food and drinks, want to connect more the local art? Do you wish it was more affordable? Easier to learn about? More fun?
Let me know. Maybe we can figure something out.
Sponsored by our friends at Boutique Wines, Spirits and Ciders
FORT HAMILTON NEW WORLD GIN
New packaging, same wonderfully juicy taste. Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton Distillery — owned by Alex and Amy Clark — makes a whole range of bourbon, rye, vodka and, of course, gin.
With America’s 250th birthday landing on Saturday, this is the bottle to talk about. The distillery is named for the army base near where the Battle of Brooklyn broke out in 1776 — a fight that reportedly kicked off when American rebels caught British soldiers raiding a watermelon patch for food. Alex is a history buff, so it’s no surprise this gin’s key ingredient is “cannonball watermelon,” alongside cucumber and classic juniper.
Pay homage to Alexander Hamilton, the army base, and the birth of the country the best way we know how: a classic gin & tonic or a gin martini made with Fort Hamilton New World Gin.
Available at Boutique Wines, Spirits & Ciders in Fishkill. And if you want to meet the man behind the brand, Alex Clark will be pouring his spirits and talking distillery history this Thursday, July 2, from 4–7pm at Boutique.
Thursday, July 2
Wine + Snacks with Molly Smith of Les Lunes at Eliza Bistro in Kingston — Kick off Fourth of July weekend with a winemaker visit from Molly Smith of Les Lunes Winery — a flight of five, snacks, and a meet-and-greet with one of the most thoughtful natural winemakers working in California right now.
Love Feast Pop-Up: July Happy Hour at Camp Kingston with Upstate Color in Kingston — Upstate July Happy Hour welcomes Love Feast, a new vegan Caribbean pop-up slinging curried chickpeas and veggie fritters, with HudsyTV filming their documentary on the ground. 6–9pm.
K.I.S.S. Lounge Pop-Up Dinner at 27 Cafe in Catskill — Chef Gabriele Gulielmetti takes over 27 Cafe for a first-come, first-served pop-up dinner series — limited seats, no reservations, just show up and eat well.
Harvest Dinner Series at Wildflower Farms in Gardiner — The Art of Abundance harvest dinner returns — bespoke four-course family-style menu under the sky, sourced from Wildflower’s farmers and cooked by their chefs. If you want to feel like you have a Blade helicopter membership, or you do, check it out.
Friday, July 3
The OH BOY! Market at Wayside Cider in Andes — The OH-BOY! Market’s biggest year yet — 90+ artists, makers, designers, collectors, and curators plus food and drinks from regional producers. July 3–4, 11am–6pm .
Orchard Disco: Independence Weekend 2026 at Bad Seed Hard Cider in Highland — Big Gay Hudson Valley’s Orchard Disco is back for the holiday weekend — early evening eat-and-chill with Bad Seed’s food truck and a full bar, then disco, pop, and mashups from Haireola Grande and Bright Light Bright Light under the stars. You’ll be sweating through your sequins!
Starlite Motel 4th of July Weekend Kick-Off BBQ in Kerhonkson — Starlite teams up with Phoenicia Diner and Diego’s for a Fourth of July weekend kick-off — hot dogs, burgers, tacos, cocktails, and Gunks Grooves’ favorite-ever Miami Vice. Be advised they are VERY STRONG.
Looking for a 3rd? Dance Party at Flying Goose Tavern in Kerhonkson — A she/theys & gays dance party with multiple DJs, music inside and out, and food by Mill and Main to keep everyone grooving. 6–10pm. I cannot with this name, Jaclyn.
Saturday, July 4
Basilica Farm & Flea Summer Market at Basilica Hudson in Hudson — The beloved Hudson bazaar returns for two days — part flea, part farmer’s market, part 21st-century craft fair. Throw a pot, dig through vintage, eat a popsicle, drink a cocktail. Best 4th of July plan in town.
Catskill Crew Third Annual 4th of July Party at Deer Mountain Inn in Tannersville — Unlimited BBQ from James Beard nominee chef Colin Kave (while it lasts), an oyster and cash bar, vinyl DJ, lawn games and some of the best mountain views around.
Chleo Fourth of July Wine & Oysters in Kingston — Chleo is open 11am to 4pm on the Fourth for all your wine, oyster and small-plate needs before you head to the barbecue.
Sunday, July 5
Bovina Farm Sunday Roast at Bovina Farm and Fermentory in Bovina — Sunday Roast at Bovina is exactly what it sounds like — long table, big spread, farm everything, Catskills farmhouse vibe. Coincides with Farmaganza weekend at the Bovina Center.
Foxfire Mountain House 10th Annual Summer BBQ in Mount Tremper — Foxfire’s biggest BBQ yet — two days, smoke in the air, vinyl DJs on the lawn, cocktails, lawn games. Last year we got trapped in the greenhouse with a very nice lesbian couple during a downpour. 10/10!
Tuesday, July 7
DJ Takeover at Tubby’s with Kingston Bread + Rough Draft in Kingston — Kingston Bread + Bar and Rough Draft take over the decks at Tubby’s — your favorite bookshop and bakery folks moonlighting as selectors. Kicks off at 7pm.
Wednesday, July 8
Jess Strunk: Meditation + Ambient Set at The DRAW in Kingston — Good Neighbor’s Dream Come True series hosts a meditation and ambient musical set by Jess Strunk at The DRAW, Kingston Midtown. Sliding scale $0–$15. 6:30–7:15pm.
((Local Waves)) at The Local hosted by Chosen Family in Catskill with the ethio-jazz-violin stylings of K8A (@k8a.sounds) free! 8pm show, all ages
[[ PHOTO TK — Joe's photo from Music Box Village, New Orleans — needs manual upload, see email from Joe ]]
Rusty Lazer & Chore Boys in Catskill
(Hi! - Intrepid Ed.)
That's your intrepid editor up there, operating one of the playable structures at the Music Box Village in New Orleans. We're running the photo because the guy who dreamed up that madcap contraption is DJing in Catskill on Friday. He also happens to be the person who made bounce music escape containment from New Orleans. Big Freedia screaming on a Beyoncé track? Doesn't happen without Rusty Lazer. And he pulled it off by building community, not by helicoptering in and appropriating a culture. That matters, because they will shank you in NOLA if you don't come correct.
Rusty Lazer has done more to put New Orleans on the map this century than just about anyone (ETA: fuuuuck Juvenile and Cash Money was 2000 so I stand marginally corrected), and he's out touring his new Chore Boys project — a wackadoo live-remix thing with Messy, who produced Beasts of the Southern Wild and has a heavy hand in Bonnaroo's programming. Two guys with absurd résumés, improvising behind the decks like it's a garage jam. And the map they pull from is the whole city: Mardi Gras Indians, hot jazz, sixties soul, brass band, then the fresh-off-the-street bounce, all stitched into one sweaty run. It's fun, like if early 2000s mashup culture got a UTI in the pool at Country Club. And how often does a group who played Glastonbury just casually slide into Catskill?
MAKE LOVE THIS WEEK
Build community at this weekend’s barbecue. Introduce two strangers who should know each other, then get out of the way.
Cheers,
Amy
A Maker and Lover