November 10th, 2026
Come in, my friend. Take a seat.
Enjoy the edition and I’ll see ya out there.
⁂
FRESH BISCUITS
BREAKFAST QUEST
After hearing whispers of a great breakfast sandwich along 28A, I set forth to try it for myself.
The target: Good Friend, a Southern-inspired spot in West Shokan that Lone Star State transplants Jeremy and Marta Baumann opened inside a c. 1917 country store.
It’s part cafe, part local market — milk, eggs, the essentials — and a sweet snack shack slinging all types of candy and ice cream out front.
Upon arriving with my own good friend Sam (hi Sam), we were greeted by the friendly faces of Jeremy and Marta and their esteemed colleagues, Kamaryn and Sydnee.
Kamaryn was wearing the cracked egg dunce cap — a sign of making an oopsie in the kitchen. Soon Sydnee had it on. Then Jeremy. The threshold and definition for a mistake were wonderfully low.
As one would expect, I ordered the BEC with the suggested spicy pepper jelly, made my way outside, and unwrapped something truly beautiful. First bite: the herb biscuit was soft and buttery, the bacon crispy and crunchy, then the pepper jelly showed up — sweet with a soft spice.
I think I made some weird moaning sounds before muttering something along the lines of “holy crap.”
I knew right then we had a new good friend joining the ranks of BREAKFAST QUEST glory.
After I inhaled the sandwich, I chatted with Jeremy, who shared the laborious process of love that goes into that biscuit. The room temp butter. The herbs and raw garlic being slowly incorporated. The biscuit springing to form in the steam, which cooks said garlic… I could barely follow, which indicated I was speaking to a true craftsman.
Welcome to the family, Good Friend. Now go there and try it for yourself.
Pro move: get yours with the spicy pepper jelly and do not leave without a fresh-baked cinnamon roll.
This message has been approved by the Better Breakfast Bureau.
THE REPORT
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
CONDITIONS |
|---|
SUNRISE 6:42 AM ↑ |
SUNSET 4:41 PM ↓ |
TOTAL DAYLIGHT 9 HRS 58 MIN |
MOONRISE 8:16 AM ↑ |
MOONSET 5:06 PM ↓ |
MOON Waxing Crescent 2% |
AIR QUALITY Good 19 AQI |
FIRE DANGER Low |
PETS: Biggie the pup, Queenie the cat, and Maeline the goat — someone please adopt this sweet goat girl.
SKY: The Northern Taurids peak around the 12th. Expect about five shooting stars per hour, and the odd fireball. With the moon just a sliver, you may see some biggins streak across the sky.
SIGHTINGS: White Ibis Eudocimus albus
V2 of the Big Bug Energy dad caps have arrived for Crew Club Members. This time in limited edition Hazy Pink. Nice.
Not in the Crew Club yet? Directly support this quirky local operation and unlock merch, daily games, leaderboards, events, freebies, and whatever else I can conjure up for y’all.
QUICK UPDATES
CALENDAR
I received a bunch of feedback that Crew Members want to be able to search the Calendar by county. So, now you can do just that. Search by county or search by town. Hope you find something good.
DINNER CLUB
MAKE SOME FRIENDS
The next Dinner Club is happening in Newburgh — first time ever. Hope you can make it out.
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.
HAPPENINGS
THIS WEEK
WELDING 102
The metal shop at MakerShip is firing back up. The first welding class came and went, and now we introduce… Welding 102: Four straight Wednesdays of metalworking fundamentals, November 18 through December 9.
Evan Collier — fabricator and founder of MakerShip — will walk a small class through the whole arc of welding: Measuring and layout, cutting, running a plasma torch, MIG welding with a first taste of TIG, then grinding and finishing your work so it looks like you meant it. Cut, fit, weld, finish. Class is capped at 10, so everyone gets heavy torch time.
HUDSON VALLEY HULLABALOO
One of the most beloved maker markets is back for the holidays. More than 70 handpicked makers and vintage vendors are gathering in Kingston on November 21st and 22nd.
There’ll be food from Samosa Shack, Hole in the Wall Donuts, and Phoenicia Diner, plus music, tintypes, hand-drawn portraits, print-your-own holiday cards on a tabletop letterpress, and a whole lot more. Sponsored by Ulster County Tourism.
BECOMING DUSK
It’s time to bid farewell to the light and to embrace the darkness of the season.
On November 21st at 4:23 PM we will gather at Cavalli under a waxing moon where bonfires shall be lit as the evening begins. Our night will be filled with live music, poetry, walks through the fields, crafting, and performances inspired by the growing darkness. Bring your blanket and dress warm. See you at dusk.
THE LONG PATH
Come experience the story of New Jersey runner Kim Levinsky as she sets out to break the record for the 358-mile New York State Long Path. A journey that begins at the George Washington Bridge and brings her through the Catskills.
The film screens on Saturday, November 14th at 5PM over at Hilltown Commons. Stick around afterward for a panel and Q&A with Kim and the filmmaker — plus you’ll get a sneak peek at their next film.
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 | This Is a True War Story with Robert K. Brigham
Millbrook Library at 6:30PM
a historian finds his father
TUESDAY | Hudson Valley Speed Dating
Zeus Brewing Company, Poughkeepsie at 7PM
twelve dates, one night
THURSDAY | Ani DiFranco
Bearsville Theater, Woodstock at 8PM
the mother of diy
FRIDAY | Sleep
Basilica Hudson at 7PM
doom metal
FRIDAY | Judy Collins Farewell Tour
Bardavon, Poughkeepsie at 7:30PM
both sides now, one last time
FRIDAY | Bog Queen’s Anna North
The Hound Books, Roscoe at 6PM
a body in the bog
SATURDAY | Clearwater Open Boat
Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston at 1PM
bring a potluck dish
SATURDAY | The Grammar of Olana: Talking Cyanotypes
Wagon House Education Center, Hudson at 3PM
olana in cyanotype blue
SATURDAY | Benefit: Rondout Valley Growers Association
Tubby’s, Kingston at 7PM
dance for local farms
SATURDAY | Streamside Fall Harvest Dinner
Antrim Streamside, Livingston Manor at 6PM
suckling pig and mob history
★ SATURDAY | A Tribute to Julia Child
Strickland Hollow Farm, Delhi at 6PM
beef bourguignon in delhi
SATURDAY | Community Photo Show Reception
Headwaters Arts Center, Stamford at 3PM
your neighbors’ best shots
SATURDAY | Pro Wrestling & Live Music
Assembly, Kingston at 8PM
body slams and noise rock
SUNDAY | Beeswax Candle Making Workshop
MEEC, Wurtsboro at 1PM
roll your own candles
Every Tuesday you get an edition of spam-free Catskill gold. Researched, written, and sent by one human (howdy) who hunts down the events, does the moon math, throws the gatherings, and eats 50 breakfast sandwiches to find you the best one. All 100% free, forever and always.
If the Crew has earned your love, consider joining the Crew Club. You’ll get the daily games, leaderboards, merch drops, and the occasional gathering — plus my eternal gratitude and a handshake, a hug, or a tip of the cap at a future event.
Can’t or don’t want to? Don’t sweat it. I still <3 you.
⁂
PARTNERSHIPS....... apply within
SUBMIT AN EVENT....... right here
TROUT CAPS....... grab yours
FIELD GUIDES....... dig in
SUBSCRIBE....... join the crew
— No. 160 —
SEE YA OUT THERE.