The Beat

Charming Enclaves, Steeped in Character, Renew Themselves with Craft Breweries, Restaurants and Shops

Orange County, N.Y. – If you haven’t recently explored the downtowns of Orange County, N.Y., now is the perfect time to see what you have been missing.

Orange County, N.Y.'s downtowns are vibrant hubs of classic charm and modern allure. These picturesque enclaves, adorned with preserved architecture and quaint storefronts, are brimming with unique treasures.

“Black Staatsburg”

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (7/8/24) — DeWitt the soldier. Helen the activist. Robert the freedom-seeker. Ivy the immigrant. What did the Gilded Age mean to these, and other, Black citizens of the Staatsburg village, beyond the walls of the Mills estate, Staatsburgh?

Join Staatsburgh State Historic Site staff for “Black Staatsburg: The Gilded Age Black Community of Staatsburg” on Sundays, July 28 & August 11 at 2:00pm.

Iconic Hudson Valley Suspension Bridge Will Celebrate 100 Years of Service on November 27, 2024

Multiple Events Planned & Limited-Edition Merchandise Available

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a slate of events to countdown to the upcoming centennial of the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River’s first vehicular crossing south of Albany. Activities between now and November include an online pop-up shop, guided hiking tours, an art workshop, an international engineering conference, and a dedication ceremony.

Hudson, NY - The Olana Partnership will hold its monthly FREE Third Thursday on July 18th from 12:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Olana State Historic Site. Olana Third Thursdays are monthly community days of free tours and programs for all ages. The July Third Thursday will feature an outdoor musical performance in addition to free tours, programs, and extended evening hours.

Yonkers, NY (July 8, 2024) — For the seventh consecutive year, the Hudson River Museum is proud to announce that we have won two Best of Westchester 2024 awards. This year, the Museum has garnered the Editor’s Pick for Best Exhibition (South County) for Kengo Kito: Unity on the Hudson, and Readers’ Pick for Best Art Gallery. Best of Westchester is Westchester Magazine’s annual survey of the best that Westchester has to offer, from food and drink, beauty and shopping, to fun and leisure.

Hillsdale, NY – The first annual Scenic Sips Fest will be held Saturday, August 3 from 4-8PM at the Roeliff Jansen Park on NY-22 in Hillsdale, Columbia County. This event combines craft beverages, specialty food, and crafts into a unique showcase for local producers. The setting is the Hilltop Barn, a popular venue for weddings and other celebrations known for its stunning views and rustic charm. All profits from this event will be donated to benefit the Park.

Screening features Q&A with John Cameron Mitchell, producer Howard Gertler, and cast member Adrienne Trustcott

Hudson, NY (July 1, 2024) -- Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House, Kasuri/Queer Ass Film Club present a special screening of the outrageously explicit cult classic Shortbus (2006) on Wednesday, July 10 at 8pm. The screening features a Q&A with writer/director John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig & The Angry Inch), producer Howard Gertler (How to Survive a Plague), and cast member and performance artist Adrienne Truscott (The Wau Wau Sisters), who will discuss the making of the film and the New York City queer/downtown performance scene that inspired it. Polaroid photographs that were used in the film - taken by Hudson-based artist Wolfy Part II - will be on display in the theater the night of the screening.

Cornwall, N.Y. - A popular and welcome sight in the summertime is the speckled red dome of a Ladybug, but there is more to them than meets the eye! Join the Hudson Highlands Nature Center on Saturday, July 13 at 10am for their  Ladybug Release at the Outdoor Discovery Campus, located at 120 Muser Drive in Cornwall.

September 13–15, September 19–21, September 28–29, and October 5–6

Tivoli, NY (June 24, 2024) —Kaatsbaan Cultural Park presents the 2024 Annual Festival in Tivoli, NY, from September 13 to October 6, 2024. The festival showcases various artistic styles and genres, from visual art to contemporary dance, in indoor and outdoor settings. September 13–15 focuses on film, literary, and visual art with an author reading and conversation with Francine Prose, an art walk with curator Hilary Greene and artists, and a screening of MERCE / MISHA / MORE, a film celebrating decades of friendship, mutual admiration, and collaboration between Mikhail Baryshnikov and Merce Cunningham.

New Paltz, NY (June 13, 2024) – As part of the organization’s commitment to telling the stories of the marginalized inhabitants of Historic Huguenot Street (HHS), the museum has partnered with the Witness Stones Project, Inc. (WSP), based in Connecticut. Similar to the German Stolpersteine Project that commemorates victims of the Nazis, the WSP works to restore the history of enslaved individuals who helped build this country, and honor their humanity.