Hi Friends,
Let us consider the Newburgh Waterfront.
On Monday night, Mr. Gunks and I were enjoying the end of a long weekend the way only locals can: By running a very boring, adult errand and rewarding ourselves with a nice dinner while laughing at everyone headed home on the Thruway.
We landed on Beso, a tiny, stylized Mexican restaurant with a nice horseshoe bar and entirely serviceable food. It sits on the waterfront between 2nd and 4th St, alongside the “promenade” better described as a glorified sidewalk.
The view from that sidewalk though…I tell ya. As golden hour was washing over the Beacon cliffs we saw herons, swifts, seagulls, cute couples - both human and Mallard - and something that was either an otter or muskrat (river raccoon?). Also a few very cool men on jet skis.
Not a hot take to say waterfront dining is lovely. Unfortunately, the quality of the view often has an inverse relationship to the quality of the food. Newburgh has some OG favorites on Front St, but the vacant spaces along that strip speak to a struggle despite vigorous patronage on warm weekends.
There are also some gorgeous views and quiet moments to be enjoyed. Skip the Saturday crush and make yourself a weeknight date for a 7:30pm martini and fries (or margs and tacos) at one of the restaurants holding strong on the Newburgh Waterfront. You’re sure to find a table with a great view.
Sponsored by our friends at Boutique Wines, Spirits and Ciders
BOTTLEROCKET SPRITZ
Last weekend I celebrated the birthday of a friend who is a Champagne fiend. We spent the day in the beating Andes sun at Putt Putt Van Winkle with Mr. Gunks and her own husband, a notable stoner. Type A Virgo that I am, I’d loaded the cooler up with many canned bubblies and THC bevs plus water and iced tea.
As this was a birthday somewhere in the north 40’s, I don’t mind telling you that after one round of golf and two rounds of drinks we were all ready for a nap.
Sadly my discovery of Bottlerocket Spritz, the perfect mini golf accompaniment to suit all of our tastes, was a week too late. But right on time to save your summer!
Made from a blend of sparkling Rosé, botanicals, blood orange, and sativa terpenes - Bottle Rocket has been described as “euphorically delicious and absurdly satisfying”.
These terpenes come from fruits and vegetables other than cannabis, so this spritz is THC-free. Supposedly these alternate extractions still bring the good vibes.
The flavor is Mimosa meets that Aperol Spritz, with citrus, fruit notes and integrated bitterness to balance the experience. At just 9% ABV with minimal sulfites added and carbonated to a Prosecco level, you can surely knock back a few glasses of on a hot summer day.
Not convinced? Need a taste? This delicious bottle, along with a couple dozen others, will be tasting out at Boutique Wines Spirits & Ciders Kickoff to Summer on Friday June 5th 4:30 - 7:30pm in Fishkill NY.
Friday, May 29
Field + Supply's Spring MRKT AT Hutton Brickyards in Kingston: 275+ makers, designers, artisans, and workshops across a full Memorial Day weekend. It’s going to be chaos and you’ll spend $200 on linen napkins or a hand stitched dog toy.
Color Me Gay! Queer Mixer at Unicorn Bar: Wear the color that matches your relationship status and let the organized icebreakers do the rest — a thoughtfully structured mixer for those who like to know what they’re getting into.
Saturday, May 23
Mountain Top Arboretum Spring Plant Sale in Tannersville: Thousands of locally grown natives, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and woody cuttings propagated for the Catskills climate — plus Barkaboom Native Plant Nursery.
Pride Hike: Franny Reese State Park + Walkway in Poughkeepsie: Kick off Pride Month with a 4.7-mile queer hike through Franny Reese State Park to the Walkway Over the Hudson, culminating at the Ulster County Festival.
Pride in the Sky Festival from Highland to Poughkeepsie: Big Gay Hudson Valley’s signature annual Pride kickoff is bigger, gayer and earlier than ever! Thousands of folx will carry massive rainbow and Trans Pride flags over the Mid-Hudson bridge, with parties at both entry points. 😊
Grill Time with Chef Noah Galuten in Kingston: James Beard Award winner Noah Galuten grills his favorite recipes in Eliza's backyard — drinks from West Kill Brewing and Spindrift, plus a signed copy of Grill Time! Book on Resy.
Kest Fest at Kestrel Tavern in Kingston: Hudson Valley breweries converge on Kestrel's backyard for a $5-a-ticket beer festival where 100% goes to Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. Beer, food, and good cause energy. 1–5pm.
Amazing Soups! Fundraiser at Chaseholm Farm in Pine Plains: A big one — community fundraiser with incredible soups from a rotating crew of local chefs, breads from Mel the Bakery and Little Rye Bakehouse, and beverages from Return Brewing, Kingston Wine Co., and Current Cassis. Plus flash tattoos, dancing, and raffle bundles. Proceeds benefit Ulster Rapid Response and CCSM. It’s not going to be that warm AGAIN, so enjoy some soup while we wait for summer to move past mid-week.
USPCA Benefit at Tubby’s in Kingston: A stacked lineup of local DJs, including your favorite #vegandj Grand Format, spinning until midnight while you have a cheeky cig in the astroturf back garden.
AFTERGLOW Pride Kickoff at Unicorn Bar in Kingston: Bambi Luvs U and Nosferthotu kick off Pride at Unicorn Bar with DJ PrettyWoman. Dance it out and tip the girls on the gogo box!
Sunday, May 22
Rest Stop at Quittner Home in Germantown: Quittner transforms their space into an opportunity to de-optimize with this rather woo-woo sounding month long show offering love spells and botanical snow cones with artist Lilah Friedland. Opening party 2–5pm; open weekends all June.
Source Material: Creative Practice in the Hudson Valley A panel and reception at Available Items' Sense of Place exhibition — Lila Allen, editor of Wrong House, moderates a conversation creating in the Hudson Valley. After, wander the exhibition of Hudson Valley furniture, sculpture, ceramics, and painting. Very sexy, very for-sale contemporary home.
Monday, June 1
Let’s Cook Cookbooks! at Hudson Valley Brewery in Beacon: For this edition of the monthly cookbook club, bring dishes inspired by your ancestors. Bring a plate and an open spirit. 6–8pm.
Tuesday, June 2
Night Moves Chess Social at Kestrel Tavern in Kingston: Kestrel Tavern's new weekly chess social hosted by Marco Frey — come as a grandmaster, a swindler, or the hopelessly untalented. Nurse a beer, get forked, and blunder in public. Every Tuesday night.
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT BENEFIT CONCERT
It's Gala season, baby! That lovely time of year where you can tell exactly which local rich person each local nonprofit wrangled for their board. Regrettably I am not really a rich person so the nonprofit I work with breaks its pencils in half to meet budget. We don't do a gala but you should give us your money anyway.
Shoutout to the Hawthorne Valley School though, they appear to have landed all the rich people, or at least those with kids in school in Columbia County. Saturday at Basilica Hudson is their benefit, featuring MC Walton Goggins (??) and performances by Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole/The Smashing Pumpkins), Joachim Cooder and his dad Ry who you should definitely look up, Aaron Dessner (The National), Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie's bassist,) HAERTS (who I think I saw at Coachella in the last decade), and Rachel Loshak (who I'm sure is lovely.) You should go and help buy these kids a new saxophone. It would be rude not to.
MAKE LOVE THIS WEEK
Remind everyone they need to reapply sunscreen during the day. Be annoying! They’ll thank you later!
Cheers,
Amy
A Maker and Lover