This content originally appeared on our Weekend Inspiration newsletter, mailed on 10/4/24. Want to get news like this, straight to your inbox? Sign up for the Escape Club, where upgraded paid membership also gets you exclusive discounts on Upstate getaways you won’t find anywhere else.
Howdy, all,
My first week of October absolutely flew by – how about you? I’m thrilled to report the Catskill Mountains are at/near peak foliage and we have a gorgeous weekend ahead – plus we’re getting another round of Northern Lights!
In the foreground, the spa at Hemlock Neversink includes a heated pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, and an expansive treatment area – plus a yoga center. In the distance, the main lodge, plus two of its lodging buildings. Photo: Erin Lindsey/Escape Brooklyn.
I spent this week shooting Hemlock Neversink, a wellness resort where time simultaneously slowed down but also sped up (it went by too fast.) I was joined by couples, some friend trips, a corporate retreat, and few fellow solo travelers. Even with the spattering of other guests, it felt like I had the place all to myself, empty pool and all.
With a spa you can float in and out of, programming (yoga, guided hikes, etc.), an art center, and three meals a day, I was never unbusy – even if I was busying myself with a book in the sunroom. Other highlights included phenomenal food (including 4-course pre-fixe dinners), a 90-minute massage, hiking with goats, the heated pool, and melting in the steam room.
If you can swing it, midweek is delightfully quiet at Hemlock Neversink – plus you’ll enjoy lower nightly rates. Photo: Erin Lindsey/Escape Brooklyn.
I truly can’t say enough good things about Hemlock Neversink, and should you be tempted to visit, it’s worth mentioning that Escape Club Members get a $75 spa credit when booking with our exclusive code this month. Get that here!
Speaking of codes: this is a great time to become a paid subscriber. In case you’re new here, on the 1st of each month we send out exclusive discount codes to some of our favorite getaways – this month, we’ve got 10. Preview it here, and become an $8 monthly subscriber to unlock the codes, plus support our tiny (2 person) team.
Now open: the Livingston Manor Fly Fishing Club! They’ve just opened their booking calendar for events in 2025 and 2026 – but before then, you can stay at the its Clubhouse, a riverside home sleeping up to ten guests. Photo: Peter Crosby.
Last but not least, a mention to the Livingston Manor Fly Fishing Club, where I spent the back half of last week shooting the revamped space. (You may recall its blockbuster sale a few years ago; it’s now under new ownership of Audrey’s Farmhouse.)
I was there long enough for some R&R but also to preview its first wedding in the new event space – and I must say it was absolutely spectacular.
Since it’s still new, their wedding season didn’t book out this season, so they’re allowing weekend rentals at this magical riverside location. If you’re looking for a group trip, or just a weekend in the woods, this is your spot. (Of note: they’re taking bookings at their other new venue, Friends & Neighbors in the Hudson Valley, before that gets booked up with weddings and events too.)
Have an amazing autumn weekend, and thanks for being here!
-Erin, Founder & Creative Director + the EB team
Plan a Last Minute Trip, Easily:
It’s going to be a gorgeous weekend, there’s loads of stuff going on, and rumor has it we’ll be getting yet another Northern Lights show this weekend. Need some last minute trip ideas? We got you.
Our October Deals & Promos newsletter has 10+ exclusive deals for Escape Club members: up to 10-25% off our hand-picked getaways, bonus extra nights, spa credits and dining vouchers.
Also check out our recent 25+ Upstate Ideas for Fall.
Real Estate: The Craftsman in Jeffersonville, NY
Walk into town from this 1930’s Arts & Crafts style home in Jeffersonville, NY. Photo by Clay Banks.
It’s weird to say, because I stopped into this house to shoot it myself: photos somehow don’t do it justice. The Craftsman, as the kids say, ~a whole vibe~.
In Jeffersonville, NY, this 1930’s Arts and Crafts style home filled with rich, warm tones, original woodwork and stained glass windows. Blending simple clean lines with fine detail work and modern updates throughout, the home was meticulously maintained while still preserving its historic character. It’s got three bedrooms, and 1.5 bathrooms, including the cutest vintage yellow bathroom I’ve ever seen, complete with a working heat lamp.
Further adding to the appeal of the home, Main Street Jeffersonville is less than a minute’s walk from The Craftsman. An alley on the side of the house leads to the doors of Sullivan Sundries, where you can grab a Bloom Coffee, stock your pantry and fridge, and soon, shop for natural wine.
Check out the full listing here, and visit its open house this weekend, Saturday, October 5 from 12-2 pm at 18 Jefferson Ave., Jeffersonville, NY 12748.
Real Estate: Cortland Manor Farmhouse
This farmhouse 50 miles from NYC is about as close to the city as we’ll go on Escape – but we’re listing it here with very good reason. In Cortlandt Manor (that’s Westchester), the home is at the gateway to the Hudson Valley – and within very easy reach of NYC, with its nearest train station getting you to Grand Central in 45 minutes. (A saltwater pool doesn’t hurt, either.)
Inside, the open floor plan connects the living spaces, enhanced by vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the home with natural light. The oversized windows provide panoramic views of the surrounding landscape – including its in-ground saltwater pool. Solar panels offer an eco-friendly energy solution, promoting sustainability while maintaining comfort.
Check out the full listing here, and visit its open house this weekend, Saturday, October 5 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 48 Apple Hill Drive, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567.
On Our Radar/Upcoming Events:
Experience Opus 40 at night at its second annual gala, October 19. Photo from last year’s event by China Jorrin.
- This weekend, we’re packing a daytrip bag and heading to Bovina for its annual Vintage Baseball Tournament – AKA the Annual Cowtown Scramble Vintage Base Ball Festival. Grab snacks or a sandwich at Russel’s General Store, and visit u-pick Maplewood Farm and Orchard for pumpkins and apple picking. If you’re sticking around for dinner, make a reservation at Brushland Eating House.
- On October 19, join the Opus 40 Gala, where art and nature come together in the most dramatic fashion. The annual event in its second year invites guests to peruse the magnificent stonework of Harvey Fite, surrounded by beautiful fall foliage at sunset. A locally sourced farm to table dinner is provided by Camp Kingston, followed by a breathtaking light show, music under the starry sky, and drinks or s’mores by the bonfire – all while supporting the arts.
- O Positive: the countdown is on for O Positive, a weekend-long festival of music and art in Kingston, NY. Beginning Friday October 11, catch the O Positive kickoff parade, and then head to one of the many venues (including Keegan Ales and The Old Dutch Church) for music, drinks, and food. All weekend long, catch musical performances, art installations (including Kingston’s famous O Positive murals), word performances, and wellness pop-ups throughout the city.
- Field & Supply: Field + Supply’s Fall MRKT is coming up at Hutton Brickyards, October 11-13. This modern maker’s market features over 275 design-forward vendors set on the banks of the Hudson River. Enjoy food from a vendor, grab a drink at the outdoor bar, and attend events like clay workshops, tattoo pop-ups, and permanent jewelry fastening.
- Woodstock Film Festival: celebrating its 25th year, the annual Woodstock Film Festival takes place from October 15-20. A haven for those who love independent and challenging cinema, the festival features world, U.S. and North American premieres of inspiring feature films directed by distinguished and emerging directors. See the full schedule here, and choose from a variety of passes from weekend deluxe/VIP, discounted six packs, and student pricing.
