Quote Of The Day

"The Catskills region possesses a beauty not loud or theatrical, but one that creeps into you slowly, like something half-remembered from a dream."

— John Burroughs

Bluegrass lovers, mark your calendars. The Ashokan Center is throwing open its doors for the Bluegrass Open House 2026, a community dinner and concert on the final night of Ashokan's Bluegrass Camp.

Dinner kicks off at 6pm, followed by a 7:30pm concert featuring Bluegrass Campers, staff, and camp organizer Kimber Ludiker performing at the Esopus Lodge Performance Hall.

After the show, stay for an open jam session or simply soak in the sounds. Tickets are available on a sliding scale — but be sure to register in advance so the team can plan accordingly.

Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley (MAHV) is a privately owned, multi-specialty practice serving Ulster, Dutchess, Greene, and Columbia counties, with offices in Kingston, Woodstock, and Phoenicia, NY.

The practice emphasizes patient-focused care, teamwork, and accountability — and local residents on Nextdoor have taken notice, with several praising specific physicians by name for their dedication and skill.

Whether you need a specialist or a primary care provider, MAHV is currently accepting new patients with several nurse practitioners and physician assistants available. It may be worth a look if you're searching for care in the Hudson Valley region.

Woodstock School of Art has an ambitious lineup of workshops and studio classes running from August through December 2026, offering something for artists at every level.

Offerings span an impressive range of media — including encaustic painting, stone and wood carving, lithography, silkscreen, monotype, watercolor, figurative sculpture, plein air, and collage — led by dozens of working artists and instructors.

Multi-week studio classes provide ongoing practice, while shorter intensive workshops let participants dive deep into a single technique over a weekend or just a few days. A handful of online live courses are also available for those who can't attend in person.

Registration is open now for all sessions.

Interesting Facts

Ulster County, New York holds some genuinely unexpected stories hiding beneath its Hudson Valley scenery.

• A cement empire's birthplace: The town of Rosendale in Ulster County was once the natural cement capital of the world — its distinctive "Rosendale cement" was used in the construction of the base of the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument, and the local mines produced it for over a century before Portland cement overtook the industry
  
  
• America's oldest street: Huguenot Street in New Paltz, Ulster County, is widely recognized as one of the oldest surviving streets in the United States with its original stone houses still standing, with some structures dating to the late 1600s when French Huguenot refugees settled there after fleeing religious persecution in Europe.
  
  
• Bob Dylan's creative retreat: After his 1966 motorcycle accident, Dylan retreated to a house called "Big Pink" in the hamlet of West Saugerties, Ulster County, where he and members of The Band recorded the legendary Basement Tapes — recordings that were only officially released in full by Columbia Records in 2014, nearly five decades later.
  
  
• A county older than the United States: Ulster County was established in 1683 by the colonial legislature of New York — nearly a full century before American independence — making it one of the original twelve counties created when New York was still an English colony under the Duke of York's governance.

When the noise of constant news and buzzing phones becomes too much, sometimes the best remedy is the simplest one: just go for a walk. A writer in the Hudson Valley discovered this firsthand after spending a week caring for two energetic dogs, who dragged her into the woods every day — and quietly changed her mood in the process.

The Hudson Valley, she reminds us, is filled with trails, rivers, and open roads that people travel hundreds of miles to see. Cooper Lake, the Ashokan Rail-Trail, and quiet country paths are right there, and most of them are free.

"If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk." That's the prescription — no phone required.

Joke Of The Day

A tourist stopped a local in Ulster County and asked, "Is it true that people here are unusually attached to this place?" The local thought for a moment and said, "Well, I was born at Kingston Hospital, went to school in Woodstock, got married in New Paltz, and I plan to be buried in Saugerties."

"So you've never left?" "Oh, I leave all the time — I just always end up back on the Thruway exit wondering why I thought anywhere else was a good idea."

Jolly Cow, a beloved ice cream spot in Shokan, NY, is winning hearts across the Hudson Valley — and a recent change in ownership has only added to the excitement.

Long-time employees took over the reins earlier this year, keeping the legacy alive while giving the place a fresh look. Fans rave about the generous scoops, the soft and hard ice cream selection, and a pistachio flavor that's earning serious devotion. Some locals even call it the best ice cream in the entire Hudson Valley.

Q/A Questions

"The Catskills region possesses a beauty not loud or theatrical, but one that creeps into you slowly, like something half-remembered from a dream."

— John Burroughs

Shakespeare is coming to the great outdoors this summer, and it promises to be a season of laughter, love, and loyal friendships put to the test.

Two Gentlemen of Verona — one of the Bard's earliest comedies — follows two lifelong friends whose bond fractures when they both fall for the same woman, sweeping audiences from the glittering courts of Milan to wild forests beyond the city.

Expect mistaken identities, witty banter, and romantic chaos, all wrapped up in a story about compassion and forgiveness that has delighted crowds for more than 400 years.

The Boscobel Chamber Music Festival returns this September for its fifth season, bringing world-class performances to the breathtaking Hudson River setting of Boscobel House and Gardens in New York's Hudson Valley.

Led by celebrated violinist and Artistic Director Arnaud Sussmann, the festival spans September 4–10 with four public concerts featuring works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák, and more — plus a free pop-up concert at the Cold Spring Farmer's Market.

A standout event is the Music in Motion Concert, where musicians roam through the audience, dissolving the boundary between performer and listener — ideal for first-timers and families with children 12 and up.

Tickets range from $15 to $85, and the festival welcomes both newcomers and devoted chamber music fans alike.