Motel Room-Stephen Shore

Sometimes you just want to share some cool images. This is by photographer Stephen Shore. I love old motel rooms.

Spruce

Last week, when I left Jack and Luna’s, I was off to High Falls. Spruce, one of my favorite stores has moved and their new space is absolutely phenomenal! I didn’t confirm the wood species, but it seems that they chose to line the walls in unfinished, lapped boards of pine. The whole look is so Rocky Mountain chic. Was I in Aspen?

While there, I discovered two amazing local artists. First, Sean Sullivan of Rosendale; his work is complete eye candy. I literally walked in to the shop and was consumed by an entire wall of his work (pictured above). Quite simply, Sullivan, paints, draws, collages and scribbles on anything he finds and makes you, the viewer, want to buy it.

The other thing that really stood out for me at Spruce was the Urban Forest chandelier by Gwen Carlton. Absolutely fantastic! As the website explains, its design merges nature and industry flawlessly. According to their website, this fixture was inspired by Inwood Park in Manhattan. I see something other than branches of trees, here. I see veins and arteries. But either way, I absolutely love the mayhem of the branches set off by the simplicity of the very necessary and pin-straight, electrical core.

The Urban Forest fixture is offered in a variety of finishes: including black and red enamel. It is also available as a sconce.

Spa and Lunch

I went for a facial this weekend at One Body Spa. This is a very necessary thing for me. My skin needs lots of love and attention. I believe everyone should take great care of their skin being that it’s a giant organ…a giant organ that everybody sees! One Body Spa uses an all natural, holistic approach. They are specialists in my preferred brand of beauty products Dr. Hauschka.


When I finished there, I discovered Jack and Luna’s Café.
This is a little gem of an eatery on Route 209 in Stone Ridge, NY. The atmosphere is contemporary and airy with high ceilings. Their menu boasts an amazing selection of sandwiches in addition to quiche and salads. They also had 4 types of soup the day I was there. The website states they were awarded “Best Soup” by Hudson Valley Magazine. Judging by the soup I had, a mushroom barley, they definitely earned that title.

Road Trip Through the Chathams

My little adventure this Sunday, technically began in mid-October. I went to the Rhinebeck Antique’s Fair and I discovered Sandy Klempner and her amazing selection of antiques. She was very friendly and offered to provide me with more places to shop if I ever wanted to visit the part of the Hudson Valley that bordered the Berkshire Mountains. I have always wanted to go and thought Sandy Klempner Antiques would be a fantastic place to start my trail through this region, but as it turned out, it was the perfect end to the perfect day.

My day started in Beacon, of course. I was grabbing a cup of tea at Bank Square and was about to hit the road when my photographer friend, Tom Moore, contacted me and wanted in on gettin’out. He needed a change of pace and decided to join me.

He wanted to know where we were going and I said, “I have one place in Canaan, NY I am aiming for and the rest is up to fate.” Fate began when we landed in East Chatam, to respond to nature’s call. We used the bathroom inside the most quaint and perfectly merchandised shop, called Classic Country (pictured below). And classic country, it was. I had kinda wished I wasn’t done with my holiday shopping already. They had the cutest hand-blown glass chickens, a huge selection of bath products, home décor, chocolate and jarred gumbo. If you’re in the area, I’m sure you could shop for almost everyone you know here. Classic Country is located at: 2948 County Route 9, East Chatham - (518) 392-2211

Tom asked the owner which direction to head in and she mentioned the Old Chatham Country Store. She said it was run by two Culinary grads and described a ham sandwich like it was her boyfriend. She was obviously in love with the place and it was the perfect lead as it was time to eat some lunch.

Tom and I had just about the same meal. We both got a soup/sandwich combo. He got the split pea and it was veggie chili for me. We each ordered the Thanksgiving Day Sandwich. Yum! Complete with stuffing and cranberry mayonnaise. (shhh! I secretly love mayo, Helmann’s, but I use veggie mayo at home to be good).We also had an apple tart that was really good (above).

When we were done, we were off to Chatham, Chatham…no old, east, north, etc. On our way we discovered the many sheep who help make Old Chatham cheese and yogurt at the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company. We thought we were trespassing when we entered the property, but there was a sign on one of the buildings that said “Cheese Store.” Two refrigerators and a money slot. That was it! This is probably the only place open within 20 miles for midnight munchies.

Just up the road, I saw herds of alpacas at Spruce Ridge Farm. Tom had no idea what he was looking at. So we turned in. They also, had a little store. This one was operated by humans. They sold products made of Alpaca fiber. I bought a finger puppet for my friend’s daughter and was considering a hat for another friend. For those unfamiliar, the fiber is akin to wool and is much softer.