NY – Sharon's Iconic Travel Photography Blog

Sinterklaas

What is a kid-friendly event leading up to Christmas? What event would anyone feel comfortable at? It combines traditions of multiple cultures and appeals to all age groups? It is Sinterklaas.

The original tradition of Sinterklaas was imported by Dutch settlers to the Hudson Valley over 300 years ago. Rhinebeck and Kingston, NY, which both had Dutch settlers back in the day have modern takes on the festival that are nondenominational and inclusive. All are welcome.

When

Both Kingston and Rhinebeck, NY have this festival and parade. In 2019 Kingston’s festival and parade is on Saturday, November 24th from 12 to after dark. Rhinebeck’s Sinterklaas festival is on Saturday, December 7th. They close down Market Street most of the day in Rhinebeck for this event.

They sell a variety of items in tents along the street including luminaries and head wreaths.

Events

Activities abound throughout the day. There are many events for children at both locations. Some involve crafts. In Rhinebeck they had story time, The Pocket Lady, the Snow Queen and King, and other activities. I attended the event in Rhinebeck in 2018. There were events happening simultaneously at different locations around Rhinebeck so I could not catch everything. That gives you options to choose from. Check the calendar of events when it comes out.

Batala performing in front of Beekman Arms, America’s oldest operating inn.

They also had a variety of music events in churches around town and outside along Route 9 and other locations.

Performers in front of Beekman Arms on Route 9.

One of the performances held inside a church

Food

Rhinebeck has some nice restaurants that are open all day to stop in. Last year an Italian restaurant on Route 9, Gigi Trattoria, had some amazing hot chocolate. Another restaurant, Foster’s , had a food truck with London Broil sandwiches, clam chowder and other items. I had no issues eating a late lunch at an Indian restaurant on Market Street. There were tables available.

Parade

Everything culminates after dark with a parade. Many objects are illuminated. Different cultures and traditions are represented.

Chinelos Dancing from Mexico- This is event is multicultural and inclusive.

This event is worth driving to and seeing as much as you can. I was there most of the day in Rhinebeck. If you have children, its a can’t miss event. I highly recommend it for people from NYC and elsewhere looking to have a day or weekend escape from the rat race in the country.

Sinterklaas in the Dutch tradition. He wears bishop like clothing.

More Information

For more information check these websites out or search for another closer to the event. As of when I posted this only the dates were listed not the schedule of events for 2019.

For Kingston’s Sinterklaas: http://www.sinterklaashudsonvalley.com/sinterklaas-kingston/

For Rhinebeck’s Sinterklaas: http://www.sinterklaashudsonvalley.com or check out their Facebook page.

Walkway Over the Hudson

Where is the longest pedestrian only footbridge in the world? Are you thinking in the Andes or the Alps? Actually it is in New York State and its called The Walkway Over the Hudson.

The Walkway Over the Hudson was built as a railroad bridge in the 1800s. It is 1.28 miles long, 212 feet above the river, and it connects Highland to Poughkeepsie. It was abandoned in 1974 after a fire. Work was done on it and it reopened in 2009 as a state park that is free to enjoy.

View from the Poughkeepsie end – Poughkeepsie and the Mid Hudson Bridge

Near the middle looking at the Highland side

The Walkway isn’t just for walking. People can cross on bike, jog, and bring their dog. It is wheelchair accessible on booth ends.

While there continue your hike. On the Poughkeepsie side of the bridge it connects with the Dutchess Rail Trail. This is a 13 mile rail trail running from the Walkway to Hopewell Junction Train Depot. It is paved the whole way with wide shoulders that are gravel or sand. Bicyclists may prefer riding on the paved area of the trail while runners may prefer jogging on the unpaved shoulder.

The Walkway hosts different events. On January 1st they host First Walk- an organized first hike of the year. Other state parks have similar events.

First Walk- Not sure why, but I hear donkeys are part of the tradition at the start.

During Memorial Day weekend they are open late one night and have luminaries lining the bridge in honor of those who died in the service of their country. It is a fund raiser for veteran’s groups and people can sponsor luminaries. On July 4th they charge admission to watch the fireworks from the Walkway. The money helps sponsor the fireworks and upkeep of the Walkway.

A pipe band from Staatsburg, N.Y. performed as veterans crossed the bridge on the Highland side.

People could write personal remembrances of loved ones.

Hours and Days

They are open all year. A regular hiker told me they plow after snowfall, so don’t let a recent snowstorm hinder you if you enjoy winter strolls. They normally close at sunset, but are open late for special events. They also put up on the announcement board the temperature of the concrete in warmer weather so you know when to avoid bringing your canine hiking buddy.

Concessions and Restrooms

There are food carts and restrooms on both ends of the bridge. If you go early and the food carts are not open there are businesses nearby that sell food. Food carts may not be open during morning hours. As of now there are vendors selling bottled drinks, Italian ice, ice cream and kettle corn.

Getting There

If you are traveling from New York City by train take the Hudson Line and get off at the Poughkeepsie stop. Follow the directions on the Walkway’s website to get to the entrance. If you are traveling by car it may be easier to park on the Highland side. The turn off Route 9W is north of the Poughkeepsie Bridge.

For more information go their website at: https://walkway.org

Do you want a scenic hike? Do you want to have stunning views of the river? Make the journey to the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Cinco de Mayo at Casa Villa

On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish for a day. Another ethnic holiday that is starting to be celebrated by many, not just those who are from where it originates, is Cinco de Mayo. At Casa Villa everyone is invited to experience the food and culture of Mexico.

Besides food they have live music, folk dancing, bouncy houses for the kids, and vendors. I was only there for about 40 minutes and it was back to back entertainment.

I was able to see a more contemporary Mexican music group when I arrived.

Then, Folklorica of Poughkeepsie performed four dances from Oaxaca, Mexico. First, a man and a woman performed a dance known as Mixteco.

Dancing the Oaxaca Dance the Mixteca. At this point he had a rose in his mouth.

Next, the Folklorica of Poughkeepsie performed a dance with puppets called Chinas Oaxaquenas.

A group of girls from the same group then performed a folkloric dance.

Lastly, a dance called El Torito, with a bull puppet, was performed.

The food was delicious. They had food and drinks being sold outside, but during the celebrations a limited menu was offered indoors if you preferred less action.

The party started around lunchtime and went into the night. Some stay most of the day, while others stop in for a short visit. Again, I was only there for about 40 minutes. I understand I missed other performances before I arrived and I am sure others went on after I left.

I wish I could have stayed longer. From what I experienced I highly recommend stopping by Casa Villa around Cinco de Mayo. You can experience the food and culture of Mexico.

Check out their Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Tex-Mex-Restaurant/Casa-Villa-Mexican-Restaurant-1442301769167523/

Beacon Barks

In the United States people raise money for many various causes in different ways. Some events that benefit charity include : walk-athons, running races, and dinners. How would one raise money for an animal charity? In Beacon they have an event called Beacon Barks.

Beacon Barks is a parade and street festival. They close down a portion of Main Street from 9D for a few blocks. After a short parade of dogs and their owners, people hang out on the street. Some dogs are rescues and some are not. People mingle on the street, lined with vendors selling canine-related items, charities, and different animal rescues. The animal rescues bring a few dogs each that are up for adoption. and you can interact with the dogs. The vendors carry a variety of gourmet dog biscuits and other doggie treats. Some vendors sell canine attire such as ties, bandanas, and sweaters. There are food vendors as well for humans. Costumes are judged and live music is provided. It is a fun event for dogs and their people.

This dog rides with his owner on his Harley.

This guy carried candy to give out along the parade route.

Several organizations sponsor the event and it has one beneficiary: Safe Haven Animal Shelter and Wildlife Center. Safe Haven has currently started construction on a new building. Besides sheltering dogs, when they finish they will add to their responsibilities rehabilitating birds and other animals such as turtles with the goal of releasing them back into the wild.

One of the dogs that were up for adoption.

To learn more about Safe Haven Animal Shelter and Wildlife Center follow this link: http://www.safehaven4animals.org .

If you are a dog lover, put Beacon Barks on your schedule for next year. Bring your dog or go to see the ones escorting their humans. Besides having a good time, you will be supporting a worthy cause.

Kingston’s Murals

What happens when prices rise so high in New York City that renting or buying is out of the question for the average person? What happens when the cost of goods can be up to twice that national average and New York City has the highest income taxes in the country? If you said there would be an exodus, you would be correct. Many upstate communities have benefitted from this exodus, Kingston being one of them.

Town that Supports the Arts

Kingston has benefitted so much so that some are calling it the new Brooklyn. Artists and others have moved up to Kingston due to the town’s much lower real estate prices and cost of living. Also, there are people who make the long commute from the Kingston area.

Kingston promotes art and it has a very active art community. There are several galleries and a gallery hop takes place on the first Saturday night of each month. The Midtown Arts District is trying to promote art tourism to the area. The put on an O+ festival in which murals are created. This fall festival brings in art muralists from around the world.

Uptown behind a building on North Front Street

On the back of a building that faces North Front Street. You can view this from the city parking lot on the side.

Where the Murals Are Located

Many of the murals are in the uptown and midtown areas of Kingston. In the midtown area some can be seen on the sides of buildings along Broadway and on streets that run parallel to it or interest it. In the uptown area, otherwise known as the Stockade District., the murals can be seen on streets that run parallel to North Front Street and on ones that intersect it.

The Kingston area saw a marked decline after the closing of the IBM plant in the 1990s. It is now making a resurgence. A more creative vibe is appearing. It affects other areas such as the restaurant industry. NYC’s loss is Kingston’s gain.

The YMCA is on Broadway. If you go to their back parking lot behind the building you will see this one and another.

This is between buildings on Broadway in Midtown.

Pandorica

Are you familiar with the phrase “It’s bigger on the inside?” Do you know about a time traveler known as the Doctor? If so, you probably are a fan of the British TV show, Dr. Who, that airs on BBC and BBC America.

In Beacon, N.Y. there is a Dr. Who-themed restaurant run by a British ex-pat. The establishment on Main Street is decorated with show memorabilia and artwork related to the show. (The art is for sale by local artists). The restroom/ water closet resembles a Tardis inside and out, and, yes, it is bigger on the inside.

Exploding Tardis from the Van Gogh Episode

Door to the restroom decorated like a Tardis

There are a variety of items on the menu at Pandorica. Some traditional British fare includes: Bangers and Mash and Chicken or Beef Cottage Pie. Other items include pierogies and Caribbean spiced salmon. In homage to the show, some dishes have Doc Who inspired names that include: Are You My Mummy Meatloaf, Madame Vastra Clev’r Boy, WHOmmus (hummus), and Gallifreyed Potato Pancakes. Pandorica carries some salad choices on the menu as well as some gluten-free and vegan items.

Broiled Caribbean Spiced Faroe Islands Salmon with Coconut Rice and Broiled Mango

Madame De Pompadour Cake with Blueberries and Mascarpone Filling

How to get there From Manhattan take the Metro-North Hudson Line to the Beacon station. You could either walk up to Main Street or take a cab from the station. The restaurant is only a block or two from the corner of Main Street and 9D. See more details on the restaurant website.

If driving, there are parking spots on Main Street and side streets off Main Street. Parking in Beacon is free. The address of Pandora is 165 Main Street.

Are you a fan of Doctor Who? Do you have friends or relatives who are fans of the show? This would be a great destination to experience. You don’t have to be a fan of the show. If you are looking for a spot with a different atmosphere and great food, pop on over to Beacon. For more information check out Pandorica’s websites at: https://www.thepandoricarestaurant.com and https://www.facebook.com/thePandoricaRestaurant/ .