A Word from the Co-Publishers
Sun makes me happy and rain does not, especially not in the abundance with which we’ve been experiencing it at the time of this writing. So I’m impatiently awaiting the sun’s appearance this season. Maybe by the time you’re reading this, the rain will be a vague memory and we’ll all be soaking up the much-needed vitamin D responsible for lifting our spirits. I keep telling myself that the flowers and trees are benefiting. They are in fact gorgeous—when you can see them through the rain. I’m still a bit gloomy. My friend who calls herself a pathological optimist left town for sunnier places.
Openings and closings: It’s a bit stunning to drive past the now-defunct Red Hook IGA and see the blockades. In spite of this past year’s signs of “Don’t listen to what they say, the IGA is here to stay!” its dwindling stock was evident. Rumors about what will happen to the space have yet to become concrete plans. On a different note, EB’s Hudson Valley Finds opened in Rhinebeck and has a wonderful selection of local products. I received a beautiful, locally made bag for Mother’s Day from there. Another wonderful addition to Rhinebeck is the new knitting garage in the back of Stickle’s Variety. And for a great selection of wines at reasonable prices (also wine tastings) check out the new Red Hook Wine and Liquor in Upper Red Hook.
One of the best parts of the summer are the outdoor farmers’ markets. There are so many awesome choices. The RustyTractorFarmMarket.com even offers an online farm market, with pickup and delivery service. There is a new community garden in Red Hook across from Rusty’s. Farmer John-Paul and chef Joe Baldwin have joined forces to offer free garden plots and will be hosting dining events this summer. And don’t forget you can find suggestions for interesting summer reading on our book blog, Hudson Valley Bookshelf. Sign up for email notices and post a comment. We love hearing from you, so tell us what you think. Go to abouttown.us and click on the link.
Enjoy summer!
—Gail
This year for the first time I went to the Millbrook Book Festival. I was both an observer and honored to participate as author of a recently published book (Dear Mrs. Kennedy). What an enjoyable and encouraging cultural bonanza right in the middle of Dutchess County! The day-long event was low-key, yet loaded with impressive authors from Michael Korda to Liza Donnelly to John Darnton. Most important, the festival came through on its promise of inclusivity (both teenagers and nonagenarians read from their works) and enlightenment (local authors have universal concerns and local subjects implicate global ones as well). I was particularly taken by the panel subtitled “Listen to Your Mother”—mothers who are also authors of books—and with Nina Shengold and the group of authors she assembled from River of Words, her book of Hudson Valley writers’ portraits. In upcoming weeks we’ll be adding to the Hudson Valley Bookshelf blog reviews of several of the books by authors I heard at the festival; there’s also a philosophical continuation of this piece, for those who are interested.
—Paul
