October 13th, 2026
The leaves are falling
and the brown trout are running.
Hope you enjoy the edition
and I’ll see ya out there.
⁂
156
NEW ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
Today marks 3 years of Catskill Crew. Three freaking years.
As I tap away, sipping my 4th coffee — I’m simply grateful for this amazing community.
As I reflect on the journey of the last three years, I want to thank the 42,000 of you who now read the weekly edition.
I’m proud of the conservation and community causes we’ve all contributed to. I’m amazed by the friends we’ve made and the parties and gatherings we’ve thrown. I’m delighted to continue working with talented local contributors (shout out to Sandy, Jackie, Ivy, Hannah, Ashley, and Corey).
And you can bet I’m still conjuring up fun products and weird concepts for us to go forth and enjoy.
Suffice it to say — It’s all been incredible.
Whether this is your first edition or 156th, thank you for reading, coming out, and sending me lots of messages (it takes a long time to get through 1,000+ emails a week, but I try my best).
Looking forward, my passion remains intact and I hope to run Catskill Crew until the day I hit the dirt. Here’s to 156 more editions, to many more gatherings, and to many more new friends.
THE REPORT
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
CONDITIONS |
|---|
SUNRISE 7:09 AM ↑ |
SUNSET 6:19 PM ↓ |
TOTAL DAYLIGHT 11 HRS 10 MIN |
MOONRISE 10:26 AM ↑ |
MOONSET 7:29 PM ↓ |
MOON Waxing Crescent 9% |
AIR QUALITY Good 27 AQI |
FIRE DANGER Low |
PETS: I received word that the Saugerties Animal Shelter is in serious need of adoptions. So with that in mind, I introduce you to Hazel the English bulldog, Jolene the very small kitten, along with the Tick and Tack duo.
SKY: The Southern Taurids are quietly ripping across the night sky. With only 5 meteors per hour, you’ll have to be lucky to spot them — but if you do, expect slow, bright fireballs, especially the night of the 13th + 14th.
SIGHTINGS: Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
HIKING GUIDE
FIELD GUIDE
If you are unaware of The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, let me properly introduce you.
They are a volunteer-powered organization that maintains and protects 2,100+ miles of public trails in the Northeast — including more than 300 miles in the Catskills.
I sat down with their staff to put together a Field Guide of their favorite hikes — from tranquil rambles to wilderness adventures.
Every mile of every trail in this guide is cared for by Trail Conference staff and volunteers.
Words of wisdom they leave you with:
“No matter where you roam, hike smart and be prepared! Know your route, carry the 10 Hiking Essentials, including water, food, a compass, and a trusty map, and always practice Leave No Trace principles to protect the lands you love. Happy hiking. We’ll see you on the trail!”
P.S. If you’d like to join their community, they’d love to have your support. You can learn more here.
VOTE
NEXT UP
The time has come once again to cast your vote.
I’m currently working on our next workshop so we can get our hands dirty — let me know which workshop intrigues you the most down below.
What workshop do you want next?
DINNER CLUB
MAKE SOME FRIENDS
I’ve heard a lot of feedback that folks want Dinner Clubs in some of our quieter towns and hamlets.
So the next one will be a bit of an experiment in Livingston Manor. Instead of 120 people across a dozen restaurants, this one will be only 40 seats in just a handful of establishments.
HOW THIS THING WORKS
▲ Take a quick quiz about interests, food preferences, and what types of folks you are looking to meet — you know, that kinda thing.
▲ Get matched with five other Crew Members based on the result.
▲ Receive your invite the morning of the dinner and discover which restaurant your group will be dining at.
▲ During dinner, everyone across town will receive a notification with the secret location of an afterparty. This is optional, so if you’re in a food coma, you can go home and sleep it off.
☞ NOTICE ☜
PARTNERS WANTED
Catskill Crew only teams up with folks we'd tell a friend about. Apply within for features, collaborations, and schemes.
HAPPENINGS
THIS WEEK
THE AUTUMN HOWL
The Autumn Howl will be a grand gathering to celebrate the season, eat too much, and drink some good drinks.
We’ll have six breweries and cideries from near and far coming to town.
The fires will be lit. The steinholding competition will be fierce. The food will be bountiful. The bouncy castles will be inflated (please bounce prior to eating).
▲ West Kill Brewing - West Kill, NY
▲ Bunker Brewing Co. - Portland, ME
▲ Oxbow Brewing Company - Newcastle, ME
▲ Threes Brewing - Brooklyn, NY
▲ Wild Fern Brewing - Frenchtown, NJ
▲ Occam Fine Cider - Beacon, NY
Hope to see you at Urban Cowboy Lodge in Big Indian on Saturday, October 24th.
There are hundreds of events going on this week. Here are some of the most interesting that I came across.
★ this week’s favorite
TUESDAY | Offline Club
Starr Library, Rhinebeck at 7PM
ditch the phone
WEDNESDAY | ScreenTalk Live with Carrie Coon & Guy Nattiv
Woodstock Playhouse at 3PM
a live podcast taping
FRIDAY | The Catskills Comedy Festival Opening Night
Downtown Catskill at 7PM
18 shows, seven venues
FRIDAY | Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions
Ulster Park at 7PM
thirteen attractions
FRIDAY - SATURDAY | Historic Graveyard Tours
St. James' Church, Hyde Park
by lantern light
FRIDAY - SATURDAY | Hyde & Shriek Ghost Tours
Hyde Hall, Cooperstown
candlelit and allegedly haunted
SATURDAY | Aziz Ansari: Hypothetical Tour
UPAC, Kingston at 7PM
master of none
SATURDAY | Graft x Boscobel Cider Night
Boscobel House and Gardens, Garrison at 5PM
apples from their own orchard
SATURDAY | Subversive Oktoberfest 2026
Subversive Malting and Brewing, Catskill at 12PM
beware the lager goblin
SATURDAY | Wayside Birthday Bash - A Decade of Tapping
Wayside Cider, Andes at 3PM
ten years of cider
SATURDAY | A Halloween Market w/ 84 Retro
Return Brewing, Hudson at 1PM
vintage halloween haul
SATURDAY | Paint Main Pink
Market On Main, Saugerties at 12PM
pink tee included
SATURDAY | Cornhole For A Cause & Community Festival
Dutchman's Landing Park, Catskill at 12PM
compete for the house cup
SATURDAY - SUNDAY | All-Day Oyster Party
Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor at 12PM
oysters, lobster rolls, caviar
★ SUNDAY | Thomas Cole Harvest Festival
Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Catskill at 1PM
tintype portraits
SUNDAY | Tales from Hudson's Crypts: The Tour
Hudson City Cemetery at 12PM
history, six feet under
SUNDAY | Ashokan Rail Trail 7th Anniversary Walk & Ride
Boiceville Bridge Trailhead at 12PM
epic leaf peeping
Every Tuesday, 52 times a year, you get an edition of spam-free Catskill gold. Researched, written, and sent by one human (hey) who hunts down the events, does the moon math, and eats 20 breakfast sandwiches to find you the best one. All 100% free, forever and always.
If the Crew has earned your love, make a contribution of any size and receive my eternal gratitude plus a handshake, a hug, or a tip of the cap at a future event. Every dollar goes right back into gatherings, games, and good times.
Can't or don't want to? Don't sweat it. I still <3 you.
⁂
PARTNERSHIPS....... apply within
SUBMIT AN EVENT....... right here
PLAY RIVER LEGENDS....... tight lines
TROUT CAPS....... grab yours
FIELD GUIDES....... dig in
SUBSCRIBE....... join the crew
— No. 156 —
SEE YA OUT THERE.