Winter Breather Getaway Package: Unwind Your Mind
Beat the winter “blahs” with an escape to the heart of the Hudson Valley! The Dutchess County Hospitality Industry Council has twelve participating member hotels that have created a terrific offer just for you! Stay overnight and you’ll receive 25% off their current, regular room rates. As part of your overnight package, you’ll receive coupons for discounts and specials at area restaurants, wineries, and even our historic site gift shops.
All it takes is one call to the participating hotels to find out their rates and you’re your reservation. Mention the “Unwind Your Mind” package and code HIC-07A when booking your room, and just present the e-coupon upon arrival at the hotel. Visit for a list of participating hotels, information about related discounts and specials, and to get the e-coupon. This offer is valid through March 31, 2007. http://specials.dutchesstourism.com
Our online centralized reservation system lets you easily check lodging availability for the dates you’re interested in visiting. Other Getaway Packages are listed at www.DutchessTourism.com
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Warms Up Winter
The CIA offers many delicious reasons to explore culinary tourism this winter! Recover from those holiday bills with their Winter Prix Fixe Promotion. Order a three-course meal from the prix fixe menus in any of the CIA's four award-winning restaurants from January to March. You can enjoy dinner for only $30 and lunch for just $20.
The Culinary Institute of America is also in the midst of the 2007 CIA Dining Series, a festival of lunch and dinner events. Themed menus, food authors, acclaimed chefs, vintners and brewers offer lectures and demos at the renowned Hyde Park culinary arts school. For brochures call 845/451-1554; make reservations at 845/471-6608. www.ciachef.edu/restaurants
Valentine's Day Dinner Dance
On Saturday, February 10, cut the rug with your sweetheart at Le Chambord's Valentine's Dinner Dance, featuring music by the Metro Orchestra. The holiday fun includes a cocktail hour and open bar, with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Then you'll be impressed with a delicious buffet. Highlights are roast sirloin shell with bordelaise sauce, roast leg of lamb with rosemary lamb jus, accompanied by chicken, fish and eggplant dishes. The grand finale is a sparkling Viennese dessert table. Reservations are suggested and the fun begins at 7 pm. It’s $79 per person (tax & gratuity additional). Accommodations are also available at the Le Chambord Inn & Conference Center, located on Route 52 in Hopewell Junction. 845/221-1941, www.lechambord.com
Gallery Talks at Dia: Beacon
If you were excited about your visit to Dia: Beacon when it opened, but haven’t been back, here’s a great reason to return! Four noted art experts share their perspectives on the work of the artists in Dia’s collection. These one-hour presentations are given by curators, art historians, and writers, and take place in the museum’s galleries. Here’s the winter/spring schedule:
1/27: Norton Batkin on Bruce Nauman;
2/24: Molly Nesbit on Robert Smithson;
3/31: Chrissie Iles on Michael Heizer;
4/28: Bennett Simpson on Blinky Palermo.
Reservations are suggested. All talks begin at 1pm and are included in the regular museum admission of $10. 845/440-0100 x4, www.diaart.org
Valentine’s Tea Party for Children
Mount Gulian Historic Site hosts a Children’s Valentine Victorian Tea Party, Sunday, February 11 from 2 pm until 4 pm. Introduce a new, yet old, tradition to your children, relatives and little friends. Children ages 4 to 14 will enjoy the experience. It’s a fun, informative and relaxing way to spend time together.
The tradition of Victorian ladies and their gentlemen meeting in the afternoons for tea and conversation was popular at many Hudson Valley homesteads, including Mount Gulian, home of the Verplanck family to 1633 to 1931. Guests are served traditional crust-less sandwiches, desserts, tea, and punch. Dining tables are set with linens and fine china. Young guests are invited to play 19th century games, learn etiquette of the times, and participate in making a Valentine sachet.
Pre-paid reservations are required by February 7. The cost is $10 and $8 for children. Mount Gulian is located off Route 9D in Beacon, just north of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. 845/831-8172, www.mountgulian.org. |
Wine Tours and Tastings
Cold? Come on inside and let a little vino warm you up! Follow the Dutchess Wine Trail to heated tasting rooms at award-winning wineries. Clinton Vineyards and Millbrook Vineyards are open year round, with Alison Winery reopening in the spring. Clinton and Millbrook are proud that their wines were selected to represent the Hudson Valley at the January 1 inauguration celebration of New York State’s new Governor Eliot Spitzer. Area wines have been honored with silver and gold medals at competitions nationwide.
Clinton specializes in growing the Seyval Blanc grape, bottling sparkling varieties as well. Their dessert wines, Romance, Embrace, Desire, Rhapsody, Duet & Cassis, are exceptional, pure fruit dessert wines –don’t they sound perfect for Valentine’s Day? Their Cassis won gold medals and "Best in Class" at the 2006 Los Angeles International Wine Competition.
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in Millbrook has been consistently rated as one of the top New York State wineries for the last seven years by wine critics and consumers alike. Specializing in classic French varietals like Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir, you'll taste world class wines that are only a short drive away.
Combine a tasting with lunch, or visit a highly rated restaurant or inn for refueling and renewal. 845/266-5372, www.dutchesswinetrail.com
Area Arts Venue Uses Grant To Book Stellar Concerts
The Bardavon Opera House received a $195,000 grant from The New York State Music Fund to support 36 performances of contemporary music from January 2007-March 2008 in Poughkeepsie and Kingston through the Bardavon/UPAC Main Stage Series, their Hudson Valley Philharmonic Symphony Concert Series, and the free Hudson River Arts Festival in September.
What this means is three exciting new concert dates have already been added: acoustic and slide guitar master Keb' Mo', nominated for the "Best Contemporary Blues Album" Grammy Award for “Suitcase”, performs on March 17 at the Bardavon; two need-I-say-more legends David Crosby and Graham Nash harmonize on March 30 at UPAC in Kingston, just off their fantastic reunion tour; and the return of five-time Grammy Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy on April 15 at the Bardavon!
The Fund was created when the New York State Attorney General’s Office resolved investigations against major record companies that had violated state and federal laws prohibiting “pay for play” (“payola”). The settlement agreement stipulated that funds paid by music businesses would support music education and appreciation for the benefit of New York State residents. Arts organizations state wide applied, with 218 of 402 applications receiving funds.
For ticket availability and a season brochure, 845/473-2072, www.bardavon.org or 845/454-3388, www.ticketmaster.com
Adirondack Mountain Club Hikes
This winter has been more about hiking the mountains than skiing them! The Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club runs local outings for the public at no charge. It’s a great way to get out and stretch, and keep those New Year’s fitness resolutions!
Take advantage of the Bimonthly Mid-Week on the first and third Thursday of each month. Meet others for moderate 3-4 hour hikes to different areas in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Hikes are followed by either a late lunch or early dinner at area restaurants. Call if you want to go and find out where by Tuesday. Contact the leaders, Jane, 845/677-9909 or Lalita, 845/592-0204, LalitaMalik@aol.com.
There are plenty of weekend hikes, all winter long! On March 18 in Fahnestock Park, will it be a hike or a snowshoe? Only time will determine that, but the Young Member's Group of ADK will brave the uncertainty and lead the event anyway. It’s geared for those in their 20's and 30's, but not restricted to those ages. www.midhudsonadk.org
Coming Attraction: St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day comes early in Dutchess County - on March 3, to be exact! The annual Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Day Irish parade marches through the Village of Wappingers Falls two Saturdays before the official celebration. Many of the participants also march in St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York City and Albany later in the month. Ring in spring at a real parade with floats, music and marchers – everyone is Irish today! The parade steps off from St. Mary’s Church on Main Street and heads down South Avenue at 1pm. 845/297-8773.
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