Annual Copake Bicycle Auction 2013

I always look forward to April and the arrival of the guests who return to my Inn each year for the annual Copake Bicycle Auction. They were here again this year for a special auction of Carl Burgwardt's Pedaling History Museum Collection. The collection is being sold over the course of three auctions, the last of which takes place next October, 2013.

You can view a video of the action at the first of the three Pedaling Museum auctions in December 2012 on the Copake Auction website.

As always, there are lots of gorgeous antique bicycles going on the auction block. Although I have no idea about their values, I can certainly appreciate their beauty.

This one, a ladies "safety bike" made of hickory wood caught my eye. This bicycle sold for $16,000. And I loved reading the signs behind it.

And this streamlined white bike was unexpectedly futuristic. I noticed in the video that one like it (or maybe it was resold) went for $12,000 in the December auction.

I also liked these brightly painted children's tricycles.

The highlight of the auction (which grossed $800,000 by the way) was this 1911 motorized Pierce shown here by auctioneer Mike Fallon in a photo I borrowed from their Facebook page. It sold for $145,000. That sale must have elicited some applause!

Photo Courtesy Copake Auction, Inc.

I have blogged about this auction in the past, so for more photos and information, see the April, 2011 post and the April, 2012 post which go into more detail about the Swap Meet that takes place starting at 6 am on Friday before the Saturday auction. And make your reservations at the Inn for the October 19, 2013 auction, the final one of this amazing collection.

Celebrate with a Cake

Guests often book a stay at the Inn at Green River to celebrate an anniversary or a birthday.

We can arrange to have a delicious cake ready and waiting for your special day. Wouldn't this little daisy decorated cake be just the thing for a birthday coming up this spring? A 4" double layer cake is $35 and you can choose a vanilla, lemon, almond, carrot or chocolate cake, iced with vanilla buttercream frosting and fondant on top.

Or, leave off the fondant.

You can choose the filling too - chocolate, vanilla or fruit jam. This one had a home made currant jam and the guests loved it.

Our baker is Vivian Wachsberger of Gateau Viv. She also makes wedding cakes. One like this one at the left could be arranged for an engagement! Or even an elopement!







A summer visit and birthday treat might be celebrated with this little chocolate frosted cake.

This one with the pink, white and rose colored flowers is almost too adorable to cut into!

You order these cakes when you book your reservation online, or just give us a call, and we can arrange it for you. And why not add flowers, chocolates and candy in a mug, too! Make this next birthday celebration a most special one with a stay at the Inn and a delicious home made cake.  

                                                                                                                   

"Country Living" Fair in Rhinebeck, NY

I am delighted that two very talented friends are exhibiting at the Country Living Fair, taking place, June 7-9, 2013, in nearby Rhinebeck in New York's Hudson Valley. This is the first time Country Living is doing a fair in the North East.

You can watch this fun video produced last year by Country Living Magazine about the 2012 Fairs. It will give you a good idea of what to expect.

As I mentioned, two friends will be among the many vendors. I have blogged about Franca Fusco before. She is the wonderful creator of Boxwood Linens. Her lovely shop is on the ground level of the Hillsdale General Store. I visit her store often to sigh over the beautiful, crisp linens - tablecloths, napkins, aprons, towels, shower curtains, etc. Also, I love the elegant hand made candles.

And I enjoy the singular vision of Chrisie Cordrey who is, as her website states, "inspired by the folky, edgy, historical piece of cloth [or] furniture, or really anything". I love her pillows, and re-imagined clothing and furniture.

Some famous folks, like the Beekman Boys, will be there too. Go to the Country Living Magazine website to read more about some of the talented people who will be at the Rhinebeck Fair, June 7-9, 2013. And don't forget to book a room at the Inn!

B&B Guest Reviews His Stay on Video

A recent guest, Ted Sabarese, who is not camera shy, was happy to let me video tape a quick, off the cuff review of his stay at my bed and breakfast in Hillsdale, NY.

It turns out Ted is quite comfortable in front of the camera as he is an artist, a photographer and a director. I enjoyed reading his blog and seeing some of his photography on the web site Behance.

Anyway, here is Ted's impromptu review!

Tell me if you agree! And if you have stayed at the Inn at Green River, and want to shoot a short video review, I'd love to post it. And if you are coming to visit soon, and like to get in front of a camera, I would love to add your review to this collection.

Planning a Wedding?

This weekend, April 13-14, the Hillsdale General Store and Boxwood Linens have teamed up to create a Love and Marriage event in their stores in the hamlet to showcase Hillsdale and Columbia County, New York, as the perfect place to have a wedding.

Matthew White, owner of the Hillsdale General Store, and Franca Fusco, owner of Boxwood Linens, are ready to help you register for gifts, and have put together a list of businesses that cater to weddings. You will leave with a packet of business cards of carefully selected partners - florists, cake makers, photographers, jewelers, musicians, tent rentals, caterers, and wedding venues, etc. Whether you want to be married in a field on a farm, in a beautiful 1799 Shaker barn, in a lovely garden at a bed and breakfast, or at a small country church, our region of the Hudson Valley has the spot to fit your dreams.

And speaking of dreams, look at the lovely table linens, glass ware and antique china displayed in both stores.

And the General Store also has many options for new and vintage glasses, china, kitchen utensils, bake ware... everything you need to set up your new home.

If you miss this event, don't worry. Just stop by either store for the packet of business cards to help you plan. And come stay at the Inn and let me also give you some ideas. It's never too early to start planning. The inn is already booked for a June 2014 weekend for a wedding that will take place in the Hillsdale's Roe Jan Park! And here is a photo of a summer wedding in that park.

Mother Nature was certainly cooperating that day!

Innkeeper Interviewed on Radio Station WSBS

I taped an interview earlier in the week which will be played on our local Great Barrington, Massachusetts radio station, WSBS, tomorrow morning, Friday, April 12th, at about 8:15 am. I will of course, be preparing breakfast for guests at the Inn, but I can still listen just by going to the radio's website and clicking on the Listen Live button in the upper right hand corner!

The interview was arranged by the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce (the Inn has been a member since we opened in 1989). Each week the Chamber creates a Member Spotlight, featuring a  local business member in a writeup on the Chamber website, and arranging for a 10 minute interview on the local radio station, WSBS, which can be heard on the 860 AM and 94.1 FM channels.

I stopped by WSBS this week and was ushered into a studio by radio host, Jesse, to tape the short spot. Jesse asked me questions about how I got into the bed and breakfast business, and how it has changed in the 24 years since I started out with just 3 rooms. I thought it was great fun. I always had a fantasy about having a voice over career so it was neat to be in the studio, speaking into the microphone. And we did it in one taping!

So please do listen tomorrow morning, and tell me what you think!

Innkeepers Lunch at the CIA

I was one of "the ladies who lunch" recently at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) in Hyde Park, New York. I took the afternoon off from the Inn to join two innkeeper friends for a birthday lunch at my favorite restaurant there, the Ristorante Caterina de' Medici.

Photo Credit: Culinary Institute of America

I love going to this restaurant, partly because I love Italian food, partly because it is a lovely space, and partly because of the Maitre d', Vincenzo Lauria. Actually Vincenzo is an Associate Professor, because of course the CIA is a cooking school, and the restaurant is a classroom. His official title is Lunch Maitre d'Instructor, and he is responsible for training in the front-of-the-house.

Here, and in the other four restaurants at the CIA, students staff the restaurants, both front and back of house. I always enjoy their enthusiasm. And their clear love of food, and joy in pursuing a career involved with food, makes taking a tour of the CIA great fun, too. It always strikes me as a happy place!

Although reservations are a good idea at the restaurants, if you haven't planned ahead, or can't get a reservation at one of the four more formal restaurants - the new Bocuse, American Bounty, Caterina, and St. Andrew's Cafe -  you can always drop in at the Apple Pie Bakery shown at left, for a sandwich, and a spectacular dessert. Also the Caterina has a more casual section called Al Forno where you can drop in and choose from a small menu of antipasti, panini, salad or pizza, for a very reasonable price.


On the CIA's restaurant page there is a great video about visiting the CIA and dining at one of its fine restaurants. And the CIA is just a 1 and 1/4 hour drive south of the Inn. If you are coming to me from the south, I suggest you stop in for lunch, visit one of the historic sites in Hyde Park, and then continue up to the Inn for more good food and wonderful places to explore. Buon appetito!