September 22nd, 2026
Welcome in. Take a seat. Light your fire.
Today is the last day of summer and the first night of fall.
Autumn arrives at 8:04 PM.
Enjoy the edition and I hope to see ya out there.
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EQUINOX
THE TURNING OF THE LEAVES
When you look to the mountains or into the valleys, you can witness fall’s dramatic arrival with the ash turning vibrant yellow and deep purple.
Soon red maples, quaking aspens and birch trees follow. Then the sugar maples steal the show with their brilliant oranges, before the black cherries, hickories, and many more species take the stage, illuminating the landscape.
Each tree playing a larger role in a bigger story.
A single sugar maple may drop a couple hundred thousand leaves — collectively, billions blanketing the forest floor.
This process begins as the red maples pull their sugar and nutrients deeper into their branches — next, a thin layer of cells seals the point where stem meets twig.
This abscission layer is much like a perforated line, ensuring that when the fall winds blow, the leaves are not torn away, but simply released to begin their next chapter.
As they softly land on the forest floor, fungi thread their way through, the millipedes, springtails, and earthworms start to chew, and the leaves begin to break down.
“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.”
Meanwhile, the woolly bear nestles into the leaves to ride out the cold months ahead, and the luna moth waits it out, tucked into a cocoon hidden within the leaf litter.
A red-backed salamander and queen bumblebee burrow down below the layers, staying warm, awaiting spring.
As Ivy, our Chief Bug Officer, says, “leave the leaves” right where they lay. An entire world, a story unfolding just out of sight.
By this time next year, those red maple leaves will have been fully broken down, turning into the soil that brings nutrients back to the mother tree, continuing the cycle for another year.
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
THE REPORT
CONDITIONS |
|---|
SUNRISE 6:45 AM ↑ |
SUNSET 6:55 PM ↓ |
TOTAL DAYLIGHT 12 HRS 9 MIN |
MOONRISE 5:06 PM ↑ |
MOONSET 2:09 AM ↓ |
MOON Waxing Gibbous 82% |
AIR QUALITY Good 17 AQI |
FIRE DANGER Low |
PROPERTY: Valley View in Callicoon
PETS: Pumpkin a very sweet puppy, Hockey Puck the kitten, Perseus the ball python.
SKY: Saturday night brings us the Harvest Moon, our first full moon of fall. This moon goes by many names, including Barley Moon, Wine Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Nut Moon, Snow Goose Moon, or Singing Moon.
SIGHTINGS: White-Crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
PROGRESS
FINAL EDITS
The latest sample of the Murder in the Mountains has arrived. This is a classic take on the Clue board game, but completely reborn for the Catskills.
I’m making a few final design tweaks then I’ll finally be able to pull the trigger on a small production run.
yes an antler is a weapon
I wish this process was faster — but I’m a bit of a perfectionist and try as I might, I can’t shake that.
Given the size of my guest bedroom aka The Catskill Crew Warehouse, the initial run will be quite small.
So if you want to be the first to know when they arrive, just reply below. If you’ve done that already, you’re all set. I got you covered.
Do you want to be first to know about Murder in the Mountains?
MAKE SOME FRIENDS
KINGSTON
We’re ringing the dinner bell once more — this time in Kingston on October 8th at 6:30PM.
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.
A JOURNEY OF SOUND
THE STAGE
TOGETHER WITH RIVER VALLEY BAROQUE
After two sold-out concerts, River Valley Baroque is back, this time taking us on an epic journey that starts in the Renaissance and crescendos all the way to the legendary Leonard Bernstein.
The venue? The one-and-only Basilica Hudson, a reclaimed 1880s industrial factory with ceilings that soar and reverb that echoes for days.
From the angelic voices of the singers, to the virtuosos on piano and organ, to the rarely-performed music itself — September 27th is going to be a special one.
The bar begins serving libations at 3PM and the musicians take the stage at 4PM. Prepare thyself to experience acoustic transcendence.
THIS WEEK
HAPPENINGS
Catskill Crew is teaming up with MakerShip — the Hudson nonprofit makerspace — for a new series of hands-on workshops.
First up, on Saturday, October 3rd: Welding for Beginners. You'll learn to cut, prep, and weld, then build your very own coat rack out of old horseshoes and take it home. Sparks, grinding, the whole shebang — and cold beers from Hudson Brewing Co. when the work is done.
No experience necessary. Spots are limited. Come on out, and get ready to make some stuff.
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 | Lemonade Blessing
Catskill Community Theater at 7PM
roadshow edition
WEDNESDAY | All Vinyl Emo Night with my fellars DJ Harlan & Grand Format
Brunette Wine Bar, Kingston at 6PM
it’s not a phase, mom
WEDNESDAY | The Wailers: 50 Years of Positive Vibrations
Bearsville Theater, Woodstock at 8PM
oOoOoo this is sweet
THURSDAY | Trivia Night
Catskills Visitor Center, Mt. Tremper at 6PM
omg
THURSDAY | Edible Charcuterie Canvas Workshop
Guiding Green Thumbs, Chatham at 6PM
the teachers are called Gouda Giggles
FRIDAY | Relationships with Fungi
John Cage Trust, Red Hook at 3:30PM
john cage was a mushroom guy
★ FRIDAY | Mdou Moctar
West Kortright Center, East Meredith at 7PM
hendrix of the sahara
FRIDAY | Woodsist Fest Warmup
Tubby's, Kingston at 7PM
always stretch first
SATURDAY | EcoAction Cards Launch Party
1053 Gallery, Fleischmanns at 4PM
a deck of good deeds
SATURDAY | Foraged Flower Arrangements with Sara Gast
Spiral House Park, Saugerties at 1PM
leave some for the bees
SATURDAY - SUNDAY | 4th Annual Standing Stone Gathering 2026
Stone Mountain Farm, New Paltz at 12:30PM
all are welcome
SATURDAY - SUNDAY | Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Washington Avenue Extension, Saugerties
there can never be enough garlic
SUNDAY | Oktoberfest Preparty
Return Brewing, Catskill at 1PM
a preparty for a party
MONDAY | Captain January
Catskill Community Theater at 7PM
silent films
Every Tuesday, 52 times a year, you get an edition of spam-free Catskill gold. Researched, written, and sent by one human (yo) 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 the good times.
Can't or don't want to? Don't sweat it. I still <3 you.
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PARTNERSHIPS....... reach out here
PLAY RIVER LEGENDS....... tight lines
TROUT CAPS....... grab yours
SUBMIT AN EVENT....... right here
SUBSCRIBE....... join the crew
— No. 153 —
SEE YA OUT THERE.