This Week in the Hudson Valley: Dec. 16-23
An unbearable week as Tubby's and Brian Dewan celebrate, and Kingston and Catskill legislate. Plus, new singles from Kendra McKinley and Columbia County's Wild Weeeds.
This past Sunday I was driving into Hudson on Route 9G, at the top of the last hill overlooking South Bay, near a house still under construction, before the descent into the city with its new 35 mph sign. Halfway through December, not quite officially winter yet, a medium-sized black bear darted across the road, apparently not ready for a long nap just yet. Jeremy Hurst, the head of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Wildlife Bureau Section told Hudson Valley One in 2022 that, “Typically, females with cubs den first, then females without cubs, then male bears. On average, most female bears in southern New York will be in dens by the end of November and males by mid-December.”
Likewise this week with the Hudson Valley culture scene this week: there’s a lot of denning going on already, but a few stragglers are still out and about causing a ruckus. The Almond Milk Hotel experiment at the Unicorn Bar in Kingston and the performances in the new book store in Hudson on Saturday are especially worth noting. Continue below for more things you can do this week.
Monday
The third and final City of Hudson Community Visioning Workshop for the Comprehensive Plan update is today at the Spark of Hudson (502 Union St) between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to provide input on draft recommendations. Children are welcome and pizza and drinks will be provided.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Turn out and add your voice.
Set in Mumbai, the film All We Imagine as Light just received two Golden Globes nominations, for Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language, and for Best Director for Payal Kapadia. It makes its way to Rhinebeck’s Upstate Films this week, with screenings Dec. 16 and Dec. 18.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Get tickets here.
A new restoration of Federico Fellini’s film “And the Ship Sails On” screens at TSL in Hudson on the afternoons of Dec. 16, 21, and 23. Cahiers du Cinéma ranked the movie seventh on its Top 10 Films of the Year List in 1984.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Get tickets here.
Tuesday
The Wilbur Free Fridge in Kingston at the Blackbird Info Shop (at 587 Abeel Street at Dunn St.) is open around the clock for donations, or community needs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Go here for more information on the free fridge.
Wednesday
Kingston holds a public hearing on a proposal to lower the limit in the city's definition of affordable rents. This will, like the Good Cause Eviction law, will be repeated at various municipalities if it passes here.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: The public hearing on the housing issue is at 5:30 p.m. Kingston also webstreams their meetings here.
Meanwhile, in Catskill, and the Greene County Legislature can watch you, but you cannot watch them. The year is 2024 and yet the Greene County Legislature still cannot provide its own citizens with a live webstream of public hearings and public meetings that should be made widely available to the public. It turns out, though, that Greene County has the time and the money to install cameras outside their building so they can watch you. But you cannot watch them. Weird. The Greene County Legislature holds its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. with three public hearings (two about giving away tax exemptions) beginning at 6:15 p.m.
WHAT YOU CAN’T DO: Watch the Greene County Legislature webstream, because it does not exist. Go to 411 Main Street, Suite 403, to attend in person.
Thursday
“Almond Milk Hotel” come together at the Unicorn Bar in Kingston to perform Neutral Milk Hotel’s album “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.” The band lacks a saw but includes Pete Crotty on vocals/guitar; Lara Hope on vocals; Pat Robinson on drums; David Budd on percussion; Auggie McGillicuddy on bass; Dor Heled on keyboards; Ethan Klee on guitar/vocals; and John Ackerman on trumpet.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Buy tickets here.
Friday
Tubby’s holds a free holiday party for all, mostly with DJs, but also with a live set in the front room from Booker Stardrum and Ben Vida and Will Epstein.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Turn out to Tubby’s in Kingston.
Columbia County-based Wild Weeeds have a new single, “Rockslide,” to enjoy below. It was recorded at Basement Floods in Catskill. The band performs tonight at Half Moon in Hudson with TS Tadin, Pale Mara, and Ice Box Cake.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Turn out to Half Moon in Hudson.
Saturday
Pete Nolan of the Magik Markers comes around with his solo Spectre Folk act, Gray/Smith and Speer opening at the new Old Books in Hudson. Spectre Folk have a forthcoming new LP, “Quabbin Winter,” from Sophomore Lounge / Arbitrary Signs on January 3.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Turn out to Old Books in Hudson.
Sunday
Catskill’s Brian Dewan gives his annual holiday performance, bringing along a cast of song characters worthy of a Rankin/Bass production.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Turn out to The Avalon Lounge in Catskill.
Hudson Valley Sounds
Hudson Valley-based songwriter Kendra McKinley released this single on Dec. 12.
Donald Drumpf Theatre: Retribution or I'm Waiting for The Man
This week the coyote feels the moment the ground falls beneath his feet, and the two presidents continue to duel pardons on the “Donald Drumpf Theatre” radio show episode "Retribution or I'm Waiting for The Man." Opening theme includes clips from Rod Serling; Bill Cosby; Donald Drumpf; Eric Cartman; Richard Nixon; Kent Brockman; and Jon Stewart. Thanks for the songs from Golden Earring ("Twilight Zone"), In Order to Survive (“Posium Pendasem #3”); The Velvet Underground (“I'm Waiting for The Man”), Lynn Anderson (“Rose Garden”), and Bruce Springsteen (“I’m Goin’ Down”). Clips and excerpts from Lewis Black; Coyote and Roadrunner; The Onion News Network; Mika Brzezinski; Joe Scarborough; Jesse Dollemore; Brian Stelter; Abby Phillip; Stephen Colbert; Kristen Welker; Jim Acosta; Jimmy Kimmel; and Seth Meyers. Episode 216.
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