September 29th, 2026
The nor’easter has come and it has gone.
The power went out for about 12 seconds.
Hope you fared equally as well as I did.
Anywho, enjoy and I’ll see ya out there.
⁂
UPDATES
HOUSEKEEPING
Quick note: I’ve been making a significant number of updates to the Crew Calendar to make it even easier to find out what’s going on across the region.
So don’t be surprised if you pop in there and it looks different. There is more in the works.
Go find something to do and have some fun.
THE REPORT
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
CONDITIONS |
|---|
SUNRISE 6:54 AM ↑ |
SUNSET 6:42 PM ↓ |
TOTAL DAYLIGHT 11 HRS 50 MIN |
MOONRISE 7:52 PM ↑ |
MOONSET 10:22 AM ↓ |
MOON Waning Gibbous 90% |
AIR QUALITY Good 13 AQI |
FIRE DANGER Low |
PROPERTY: My friend’s place
PETS: Indy the pup that was rescued down in Texas, Sky who came in from Kuwait, and Trip a retired racehorse who is ready for his next chapter.
SKY: Saturn reaches opposition on Sunday — its closest and brightest showing of the year. Visible with the naked eye but if you want to spot the rings you’ll need a trusty telescope.
SIGHTINGS: A near threatened Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) was spotted near the Hudson. That’s awesome.
INTO THE WILD
LET ME KNOW
Quick question… Are you interested in a Wilderness First Aid Course?
It'd be a two day experience, and in the end you’ll get your Wilderness First Aid certification, which is pretty cool.
For anyone who spends time in the outdoors — which I hope you do — knowing how to handle a backcountry emergency will be a big old boost to your confidence.
If this gathers enough interest, I’ll start putting something together. Naturally, there will probably be a certification afterparty with a band and cold beers.
⛑️ Want to get your Wilderness First Aid Certification?
A FEW SPOTS LEFT
MAKE SOME FRIENDS
The next Dinner Club is filling up for Kingston on October 8th at 6:30PM. Sign ups close next Tuesday so we can start matching and making those reservations.
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.
ARTICHOKES IN THE CATSKILLS
TOGETHER WITH SANDY
Hey folks — Your humble gardening correspondent returning here; delighted to say it’s been over a year now I’ve been doing these Garden Reports. As we head into autumn — and what’s looking to be a spectacular fall foliage season — I wanted to tell a bit about one of my gardening projects over recent years: growing artichokes.
Firstly, just explaining myself: The why attempting to grow artichokes in the Catskills, in the first place. I’m from Northern California, going back a several generations on one side. We just ate artichokes growing up; this was normal.
And: Nothing like fresh artichokes. We’d eat them steamed, perhaps dipped in mayo or melted butter. Ideally, on a few special occasions a year at least, we’d have artichokes with Dungeness crabs, with sourdough. Artichokes are just a big thistle, we’d explain to visitors, those uninitiated who’d been presented with a big steamed flower apiece on their dinner plates, their eyes sometimes about as wide.
Living here in the Catskills, I’d seen plenty of thistles, hence a few years ago I began wondering, can I grow artichokes here? I found a purveyor of artichoke seeds out of state, online. I have ever since found the resounding answer to can one grow artichokes in the Catskills to be: Totally. Just start them inside, early.
The plants themselves are a marvel to all who encounter them IRL — their striking height, their enormous angular leaves, the at-first-miniature buds (the part we eat) emerging from within. Folks are regularly incredulous learning I’ve grown artichokes here, locals included. And I’m like: Why not though? Artichokes are just a big thistle.
I encourage you to play around and try whatever in your own gardens, however improbable and/or nostalgic. For myself, again, there’s nothing quite like a fresh picked, steamed artichoke (with aioli) and a fish sandwich. I had this the other week for dinner and it sent me back to my tiny hometown on the Pacific.
PSA: Artichokes are glorious fried.
Happy experimenting! Sandy
GET YOUR BREAD
TOGETHER WITH MOULTON SOURDOUGH
My friend Meg just launched Moulton Sourdough and it’s very-very-very good.
In her tiny home bakery tucked up near Belleayre Mountain, Meg is turning out naturally leavened, ultra crusty artisan loaves in small batches.
Want some? You can find Moulton loaves at Doolittle’s in Fleischmanns on weekends, or skip the rush and pre-order for pickup near Belleayre Mountain.
There are classic sourdough batards, rotating seasonal loaves, and currently, a pumpkin cinnamon swirl (I ate an entire pumpkin loaf to my face over the weekend. 14 out of 10 stars ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪)
Pre-order and pickup your loaf →
☞ 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
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
THURSDAY | Craft Club Felted Scarf Workshop
Wayside Cider, Andes at 5PM
yarn yarn yarn
FRIDAY - SUNDAY | Catskill Fall Foliage Adventure
Catskill Mountain Railroad, Kingston
leaf peeping by locomotive
FRIDAY - SUNDAY | Gray Willow Oktoberfest 2026
Crystal Brook Resort & Mountain Brauhaus, Round Top
schuhplattler dancing is real
FRIDAY - SUNDAY | Country Living Fair
Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
bring the truck
SATURDAY - SUNDAY | Fall Festival
Belleayre Mountain, Highmount at 10AM
stay hydrated
SATURDAY | Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Catskill Fly Fishing Center Museum, Livingston Manor at 3PM
rosenbauer
SATURDAY | Peter Pan in the Catskills and other Historical Essays with Bill Birns
Mountain Top Arboretum, Tannersville at 1PM
purple mnt press
★ SATURDAY | Cougars in the Northeast: Exploring the Science of Reintroduction with the Cougar Research Collaborative at Panthera
Catskills Visitor Center, Mount Tremper at 12PM
mountain lions, pumas, catamounts
SATURDAY | Hudson Oktoberfest
Upper Depot Brewing, Hudson at 12PM
have fun
SATURDAY | Land In Black Hands Harvest Gathering: Of Seeds and Soils
Land In Black Hands, Kingston at 12PM
good land, good people
SATURDAY | 18th Century Autumnfest
Senate House State Historic Site, Kingston at 11AM
time travel, basically
SATURDAY | Autumn in the Meadow
Shandaken Inn from 10AM to 4PM
a fine meadow indeed
SATURDAY - SUNDAY | Grape Stomping Festival
Robibero Winery, New Paltz
bring a towel
SATURDAY | Catskill Food Festival
Dutchman's Landing Park, Catskill
stretchy pants encouraged
SATURDAY | Oktettafest
Tetta’s Market, Olivebridge at 6PM
the small-batch oktoberfest
SUNDAY | DATURA
Unicorn Bar, Kingston at 6PM
not your average sunday stories
SUNDAY | Red Owl Flea
Red Owl Collective, Kingston at 10AM
go find a treasure
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.
⁂
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. 154 —
SEE YA OUT THERE.