Sweet and Spicy Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Beacon 2016!

Y'all. You are in for a delightful weekend in Beacon again! Happy Valentine's Day! We have many gift ideas to warm your heart, because it will be chilly out! Quick, scroll down and see which idea works for your valentine, even if you are your own valentine! PS: Need a card?

Beacon Pantry

Beacon Pantry's owner, Stacey, is the queen of cheeses in Beacon. (She frequently takes trips to Europe to further educate herself.) Thanks to her obsession with flavors, Beacon Pantry is offering a fondue night on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm-9pm. On the menu is fondue, but they will also substitute a cheese and charcuterie plate if desired. Each couple receives bubbly fondue with all the trimmings, a bottle of bubbly and a dessert to share! Reservations are required.
Details >

After Ella's More Good Tasting Room

This Valentine's Day Sunday, Ella's Bellas and Drink More Good (we covered More Good's bitters here) have teamed up to introduce After Ella's: More Good Tasting Room for a very boozy Valentine’s Day brunch, which will run from 11am-3pm, followed by an evening of small plates and cocktails from 4pm-9pm. Guest Chef Brandon Collins will be serving up some fantastic food and More Good will be curating the cocktail menu. Normally they serve a light breakfast on the weekend, as seen in A Little Beacon Blog's Best Brunches Guide, but this special brunch opportunity is a treat. Yum.
Details >

A Room With a Heated Stone Floor

Watch out world...one of the sisters of Cedar Lakes Estates, and of the corresponding Instagram account "sistersofcedarlakes," has moved to Beacon, bringing with her the style of the unbelievably beautiful wedding and event venue from Port Jervis (off of I-84's Exit 2). You could book this room with its "heated stone floors, wood burning fireplace and like 100 furry blankets" and take a mini-vacation from Beacon. Just sayin'.
Details >

Beacon's airbnb scene offers many options, from romantic and country to city and lofty. Here are two you'll want to try:

A Room with Quite a View

Lambs Hill is a private equestrian estate on Mount Beacon, with 180-degree views overlooking the Hudson River and Beacon. This private guest house is part of a larger wedding destination spot. During your stay in a beautifully designed luxury suite, you can visit the estate's Icelandic horses and donkeys, or slip into the outdoor hot tub. One mile to Beacon's Main St. and 2 miles to train and Dia.
Details >

An AirBNB in Beacon Special

You can stay for a night in this mid-19th-century Italianate home. Owned by a sculptor, you have a built-in concierge as he is happy to advise you on the local arts and outdoor scene. Just half a block off of Beacon's Main Street, and minutes to the Metro-North train station.
Details >

Lacy Things!

You can thank Christina Faraj, The Bra Fit Expert for the sexy lead photo of this Valentine's Day Gift Guide, as she is selling that matching lingerie set in her shop, located in a permanent pop-up space in Echo Boutique on Beacon's east end of town near the mountain. Walk on down to her shop and you can buy the lingerie set seen here, or any lingerie item, and get a festive valentine gift bag to give your valentine. Pictured here is a matching set, with a black lace push-up demi bra from BTempted. Christina is a professional bra fitter and can get you in exactly the right shape for your body. She can see you on the spot if you need a quick fitting, but if she's not there, fear not, you can grab any style of bra you want and buy it at the sales counter at Echo. The Bra Fit Expert is a Featured Business in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide, and she always has something new up her sleeve!

Hot Stone Massage and Melt Those Cares Away

With all of the heavy shoveling you aren't doing this year, I know your body is worn out anyway, from getting your taxes ready, last minute Valentine's Day shopping and teacher card writing, and all of the other things during your day that make you tense. I'm not sure how you are going to make it to March without getting a therapeutic massage from Karen Meyer at River Therapeutic Massage, who has designed a special Valentine's Day massage just for you. Incorporating gently warmed and scented oils, the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage Experience is like no other. These polished stones have ancient healing energy to bring balance to the mind, body and spirit. Luxuriate in their warmth as they ease the tension out of your back, neck and shoulders.

Your session continues with an oil-infused Himalayan Salt Scrub for your hands and feet…and finally, complete your experience with a relaxing and rejuvenating Mini Facial Massage, enhanced with essential oils. Choose from rose, frankincense or several others.

While you’re still feeling the post-massage “glow,” enjoy a glass of wine or mineral water and a light snack. No rush to get back to real life!

River Therapeutic Massage is a featured business in A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide, and each month we are tempted with a new offering! So keep checking here to find out which special Karen will offer next.
Details >

Couples Massage

Maybe you did a couples massage on your honeymoon, or maybe you've never booked a massage with your honey at all. This may be your weekend! Terra Firma Massage is offering an educational twist to this, where you can learn some easy massage techniques to enhance your connection with each other and not feel like you don't know how to give a nice back rub. Giannetta Salon Spa always has available their couples room, which includes homemade banana bread for you to snack on. Amazing, I know! For other sources of massages, do see A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide for many more ideas.

Fun in a Photo Booth!

Adorbs, I know. You too can look this cute and fabulous in the photo booth at The Pfotoshop, who painted the backdrop pink for Valentine's Day! Pfotoshop is a boutique specializing in home decor and gifts and is a featured shop in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide. They're on the east end of Main Street near the mountain, one of a few shops in the old Matteawan train station. And if you need to pucker up for that photo like owner Jackie Foley is here, head across the street to The Blushery, where you'll find a fresh shade of pink or red lipstick.

Do treat yourself to these lovely aromas, the Pfotoshop's newest line of bath and body products.

Roller Skating Date!

I know, right? You're dying to go roller skating with your mate! Well now you can, in Hyde Park at Roller Magic. Hyde Park Roller Magic is also included in our Adults Classes Guide, should you be looking for hula hooping classes...

Going to a Dance

Those Howlands...they are always dancing! Every month,, the Howland Cultural Center has a dance event, and this month it is in honor of Valentine's Day on Saturday night at 8pm. Special refreshments will be served, along with chocolates. This night is also Beacon's Second Saturday, so after you see art by walking our Second Saturday Guide, drop into this dance!

Chocolate and Balloons

Sometimes you need to give balloons instead of chocolate or flowers. Maybe your recipient is not eating chocolate at the moment, or is overwhelmed by the scent of flowers. Balloons are the way to go. My secret balloon source is the little shop in the middle of town that is next door to Trendy Tots, the kids consignment shop. If you have never been inside of this little store, I know that you have walked by it several times. The window is nondescript with old flyers on it, but the woman inside is magical and very busy building flower arrangements and blowing up mylar balloons, and even has an air pump for those of you who need a sea of balloons on the floor or taped to walls for decoration. At the time of the publishing of this article, the photo of her storefront is buried in my files, but I will snap the shot and post it here.

A lot of chocolate was consumed for the writing of this Valentine's Day Gift Guide. These chocolate hearts in particular are from Alps Sweets Shop on Beacon's Main Street. The chocolate-covered Oreos below are famously from Gourmetibles.

Kids Activities

You knew Beacon's bakers were going to do something special for Valentine's Day! The Be Mine Pop UP  is your chance to buy baked goods from 5 Hens as well as sing and dance in Spanish with Lisa Marie and listen to bluegrass music from The Miller Brothers. This is a weekend event, running from Friday at 4pm until Sunday. So get up on it.
Details >

Friday afternoon at 4pm, make cards at The Beacon Bagel with The Beacon Craft Workshop to raise money for the Beacon Soup Kitchen. Kids 5 and up can attend without a parent, and kids 4 and under must be with a parent.
Details >

Work off the Chocolate

Maybe you forwent all of the gifts and went straight for dessert, as was recommended here in last year's Valentine's Day post with the seven sources of chocolates at that time. It's best you go to a boot camp or get some endorphin-producing exercise. All Sport's special Buddy Boot Camp is your chance to come with a friend and work out together in what will be a challenging morning, but so worth it in the end. And you can always relax in the hot sauna to sweat it out even more when complete. This is one of several special classes at All Sport that we keep track of here at A Little Beacon Blog.

This Valentine's Day Gift Guide was brought to you buy (typo intended!) A Little Blog's Shopping Guide. There are plenty more gift ideas out there on Main Street, and we have your full Shopping Guide for when you are out and about! Have A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide open on your phone as you look for gifts for Men, Women, Kids, Foodies, and more.

Where to Buy a Christmas Tree Near Beacon, NY

While the pictures taken below are from years ago when snow actually fell in December (not anymore it seems!), let them get you in the mood for where you can find a Christmas tree near Beacon, NY!

PS: Looking for Santa? Find him near Beacon, NY - we got advance notice!

Find healthy wreaths ready for you to decorate at Sunny Gardens.

Sunny Gardens Christmas Tree lot at  night.

We've got options, here in Beacon and in the surrounding areas. If you're a recent transport from NYC, then buying a Christmas tree from the lot at Home Depot on Rte. 9 (to the right off the I-84 ramp), or from the parking lot across from Walmart on Rte. 9 won't feel that much different from picking a tree from a lineup on Broadway at a pop-up Christmas tree shop. It's a convenient stop when picking up strands of lights and Martha Stewart shatter-proof house ornaments at Home Depot. You'll still be giddy putting it on top of your car.

However, if you want to go a more local route...

SUNNY GARDENS NURSERY
Buy a Christmas tree and wreaths from Sunny Gardens Nursery on 9D in Wappingers Falls. Sunny Gardens has a big selection of trees, wreaths, and hanging wreath balls with a woodsy decoration to them.


LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
TIP: Fortunately, these trees sell out fast!
Location: 60 East Main St. 
Beaconites can also buy a tree that benefits their fire department. To buy a tree from the Beacon Fire Department, you'll find the lot in Dogwood's parking lot, which is on the east end of town near the mountain, just over Fishkill Creek. And if the volunteers in the Christmas tree lot are in the mood, someone just might deliver it to your house! Perfect for a dinner or late lunch and a beer at Dogwood, followed by a Christmas tree pickup.
Open: 
Wednesdays - Fridays from 5pm-9pm
Saturdays & Sundays - 10am - 6pm 


ADAMS FAIRACRE FARMS
And of course, you can buy your Christmas tree from Adams Fairacre Farms Rte. 9 in Wappingers Falls. Adams offers a big selection of small or large trees, and walking through their tree nursery is always lovely at night.

Happy Holidays!

3 Pop-Up Shops Open Post-Thanksgiving - Don’t Miss Them!

Looking to pick up some one-of-a-kind gifts for your Holiday shopping list?  After Thanksgiving, there will be some great opportunities to do just that right here in Beacon and nearby!  We have a few Pop-Up shops opening this weekend from the East end of Main Street down to the West.  

This Saturday, check out Work:Shop Holiday Artisan Market at the Wickham Solid Wood Studio at 578 Main St. in Beacon. This annual market brings out some of the best artisanal crafters of jewelry, knits, glassware, ceramics, and beauty products, from Beacon and beyond. Also, of course, the renowned woodworking of Wickham Studio owner Jessica Wickham. Last year’s event included food, as well as raffles of many coveted designs.

Saturday is also the opening reception of Small Works Show at Catalyst Gallery (137 Main Street) featuring featuring paintings, drawings, photography, prints, mixed media and sculpture by more than 50 artists.  This Pop-Up will be here until January 3, 2016.

Nearby in Hopewell Junction at Arbor Ridge (17 Rt 376 - intersecting with Rt 52) on Sunday December 6 from 10 am to 4 pm will be the Rock & Shop Decemberfest Extravaganza.  This craft fair is a fundraiser for two Wounded Warriors living in the Hudson Valley.  Santa will be there with small gifts for the kids and the event will also include live music, food, and raffles.

Want more? Come back to Beacon for Second Saturday on December 12 and check out Makers-on-Hudson's 7th Annual Holiday Craft Fair at The Howland Cultural Center at 477 Main Street from 10 am to 5 pm.  This fair will feature members of the Hudson Valley Etsy Team and local makers and artisans from the Hudson Valley. 

Plan ahead and check out our full Pop-Up Shopping Guide.

Thanksgiving Menu Roundup for 2015 - Turkey, Desserts, Soups, Sides to Order

The weather is so unseasonably nice, that it is really hard to imagine that next week we'll be slowing down to a few days off from school and work, in order to help us unplug and enjoy our families. And if the rumors from folks in Chicago and Ohio are true, this region may actually get snow for Thanksgiving! Which would be a classic case of terrible weather for those who drive or fly to Grandma's - something always comes up.

For this year's Thanksgiving Menu Roundup, I had to plant myself at Ella's Bellas - one of the delicious sources of what may be several dishes served on your table this year - for my own pre-Thanksgiving slice of pumpkin cake and pumpkin fondue (which is not on their official Thanksgiving menu). It was a nice treat to have pumpkin and spice on the tip of the tongue - literally.

Pick and choose your Thanksgiving treats and serve a bounty of dishes collected from all over Beacon. Let us begin...(and order RIGHT NOW because some of these makers have ordering deadlines of Monday, or Tuesday, or maybe yesterday, but they might still accept last-minute orders).

HINT: Call ahead to see if the pie or bread of your dreams is still available to pre-order... While pounding the pavement for these menus, we saw several spots had order deadlines that had been scratched off and extended. So take a chance and call just in case... Websites can be a little trickier to update than good ol' pen to paper. Several sources list Sunday or Monday as the drop-dead day.

APPETIZERS

Cheeses...you are in luck because cheese platters are Beacon Pantry's specialty! These cheese plates are serious business, and include delightful bite-sized goat cheese tarts, stilton and cranberry tarts (stilton is a type of blue cheese), and a hand-selected array of artisanal cheese.

Because you cannot snack on cheese alone, dips and spreads are also on the Thanksgiving menu at Beacon Pantry. Select from hummus, dolmas, tomato bruschetta, mushroom bruschetta and olives. Beacon Natural Market has a tasty menu with a lot of options for various courses of your dinner. Select from tapenade (a dip made from black olives, capers and anchovies) or artichoke hummus, or surprise your guests with a seasonal pumpkin hummus!

What will you decide?

SALAD

Pumpkin Pie Spice vinegar from Scarborough Fare.

Stay light and healthy with an arugula/mesclun salad with goat gouda, toasted pepitas, butternut seed oil and maple vinegar dressing from Beacon Natural Market, or an Autumn quinoa salad.

ROLLS & BREAD

Time to get really fancy with the bread you'll serve to guests. And by fancy, I mean tasty. First, start with really salty, smooth butter from Kate's Homemade Butter from Maine or the Amish Roll Butter (a tad onion-y from the cows' diet of regional chives and such), which is easy to find at Key Food.

As for the bread, All You Knead Bakery has the largest selection of breads, from Sourdough to Challah to Olive to an Autumn Harvest - a sweet and chewy loaf chock full of cranberries, raisins and pecans. Baguettes are easy to find at other cafe restaurants like Beacon Pantry, where you may also be ordering cheeses or soups, while plain or rosemary dinner rolls dinner are warming in the oven at Ella's Bellas.

Special to Beacon Pantry this year are sweet breads, including include petite muffins in a variety of flavors, orange gingerbread, banana bread, pumpkin cranberry bread and apple raisin, brought in from the famed Cafe Le Perche up in Hudson.

SOUPS

Now come the toughest choices. There are a lot of good soups on these Thanksgiving menus. But here is the good news: Soups can totally transform leftovers into fresh, savory dishes when you make a sandwich and dip it into soup. So feel free to over-order here. While you may find frozen soups at your favorite source like Homespun, you need to think about these seasonal soups being offered special for Thanksgiving. Beacon Natural Market is offering a pumpkin soup with curry leaves. Ella's Bellas has a butternut apple soup, and Beacon Pantry also has a butternut squash soup.

THE TURKEY & WHAT GOES WITH TURKEY

Russell Samuel and Shivana Weathers
donate turkeys as part of the
I Am Beacon here in Key Food Beacon.

Beacon Natural Market and Key Food are your easiest sources to find turkey. Barb's Butchery cut their turkey ordering off a week ago. Key Food is also carrying out the annual turkey and food drive in partnership with I Am Beacon, and have so far reserved 95 turkeys, donated by various people, for families in need. If you usually pick up Murray's chicken from Beacon Natural Market, you can order their turkeys as well in 20lb or 22lbs range. There is a larger selection from Snowdance Farms, where you can buy a turkey from 11-24lbs. But order now, because they are accepting orders until the turkeys are gone.

A cranberry sauce with orange and spices can be found at Beacon Natural Market, and Beacon Pantry does have a cranberry chutney as well as your turkey gravy, sausage bread stuffing, and traditional bread stuffing. But if stuffed acorn squash is your thing, then Beacon Natural Market has a stuffed acorn squash stuffed with tofu, nuts, fruits and quinoa. If you're making your own stuffing but want a little help from Ella's Bellas, they are selling stuffing cubes in 10oz bags.

SIDES

Rosemary infused oil from Scarborough Fare.

Mashed potatoes get creative twists this season with a sage mashed potato or a sweet potato puree with toasted pepitas at Beacon Natural Market, and Yukon gold mashed potatoes or a mashed maple sweet potato at Beacon Pantry.

Veggies!! We must be healthy, right? Good luck with that, when we can order roasted brussels sprouts cooked in duck fat and bacon from Beacon Pantry. Regular roasted veggies are available at Ella's Bellas, and consider an order of string beans with sesame garlic seasoning from Beacon Natural Market.

If you are roasting your own potatoes or vegetables, infused oil from Scarborough Fare can put your dish over the top. A top recommendation for the Thanksgiving fixings is the rosemary oil. 

DESSERT

Pumpkin molasses turnovers with cheesecake filling
at All You Knead.

This is the moment when you need to get a cup of coffee and really think about your options. This is serious.

Among light and fruity options are tarts, like frangipane tarts in many flavors including apple, blueberry, raspberry, chocolate caramel pecan and mixed berry at Beacon Pantry. Stuffed apples with pecans, currents, brown sugar, butter and maple syrup are being baked at Homespun. Cranberry sour cherry pie, and a vegan apple or apple pie or a cranberry upside down cake can be found at Ella's Bellas.

Pretty much all of your usual bakeries are selling pumpkin pie and apple pies. You are covered here. You just need to get your order in.

Where you want to get dangerously delicious are in these other pies, special for Thanksgiving. Ella's Bellas is baking up a fudge pie, and a pecan bourbon version with Hudson Valley Bourbon. There is a chocolate malt pie at Beacon Natural Market. Homespun has outdone themselves with a caramel pecan tart pie, pumpkin cheesecake bars, almond dacquoise with pumpkin buttercream (gluten-free), and vanilla cranberry jam cake with pumpkin-spiced buttercream. You may also find pie ideas from Get Frosted Cupcakery, but call for options!

Traveling? 

The Pie Box, to travel with your pie, at Utensil.

For those of you traveling, pies are always the easiest contribution to bring to a gathering. The key will be in how sturdy the pie box is. Thankfully, Utensil is one step ahead of you with The Pie Box. This is a lucky find, as The Pie Box actually sold out last year around holiday time. For pie bakers, it's a great holiday gift because it makes pie delivery so much more secure.

Frozen soups are also easy to travel with, especially if you have a luggage rack on your roof, as it's usually cold in November. Well, hopefully it's cold in November.

This is all assuming you are driving, of course.

Please share your pictures of Thanksgiving meals with us at A Little Beacon Blog by tagging us on Instagram at @alittlebeacon! Looking forward to see how your dinner turned out.

Menus Used For This Article Include:

Beacon Natural Market

Beacon Pantry

Ella's Bellas (all gluten-free)

Homespun

PS: If you are a food source who wants to be included in next year's Thanksgiving Menu Roundup, be sure you sign up for our Advance Notice email by clicking here where we send out opportunities to businesses so that they can submit to articles we are working on.

Get Excited - Bake Sale and Holiday Shop Updates in Pop-Up Guide

We love to support local businesses and sellers here in Beacon and this year, we have a great list of Pop-Up Shops happening in town! Pop-Ups are a great way to find unique, one-of-a-kind gift items and maybe meet the designer in person to learn more about their products.

Starting this weekend, check out BAKE LOVE, NOT WAR at The Shambala Yoga Center on S. Chestnut Street.  All proceeds from this bake sale will go towards the Solidarity Through Humanity mission which aids in bringing life-saving supplies to Syrian refugees in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

Another great Pop-Up to mark down on your calendar for December will be the Makers-on-Hudson Holiday Craft Fair on Second Saturday at The Howland Cultural Center, featuring members of the Hudson Valley Etsy Team and local handmade artisans.

So get your Holiday shopping list ready and check out our Pop-Up Shop Guide for a full listing of events in Beacon and nearby!

Valentine's Day Chocolate Fix - Forget Date Night, Just Give Us Chocolate

Valentine's Day is really a religious holiday for chocolate, let's be honest here. You can go out on a date night, but where are you getting your chocolate, and just how deep and dark are you going? Get in touch with your cravings, because you've got choices right here in Beacon...

CHOCOLATE SNACKS

Praise be, Jeni's has arrived to Beacon, NY by way of Utensil!
This is a big deal, folks. I normally get it straight from Columbus,
which is a long 12hr drive! As a connesour of hot fudge on
ice-cream or brownie sundaes, I can tell you that this fudge
it bitter, dark, and hits the spot. It also is a perfect match with
Salty Caramel ice-cream, which good news for us -
is here in caramel sauce form!

Ask Instagram, and you shall receive the real deal for Yodels.
When we asked 5 Hens if she had her own version of the Yodel, she clucked back
"Yes, at Martha's in Newburgh!" These Chichi Ding Dongs are made from
Valrhona chocolate filled with whipped cream from a local dairy.
Pre-order for Valentine's Day, at Martha's Friday and Saturday
located at 105 Liberty Street in Newburgh. Find 5Hens in many
Beacon shops, including Dennings Point Distillery. Full list here:
www.fivehensbakedgoods.com

The chocolate cheesecake cupcake at Get Frosted Cupcakery
may give you immediate satisfaction as you're walking to
your next pedicure or to get a glass of wine at Oak Vino or Chill.
www.getfrostedcupcakery.com

GIFTS FOR TEACHERS & FRIENDS

Chocolate covered strawberries are a fancy treat for anyone on your list,
including a great idea for an office party or platter. Hand dipped in
Belgian or dark chocolate using fresh ingredients at The Chocolate Studio.
www.facebook.com/TheChocolateStudioBeacon

Chocolate covered Oreos from The Chocolate Studio, located
on the very East side of Main Street are an easy treat for
yourself, and a much appreciated gift for a teacher or friend.
www.facebook.com/TheChocolateStudioBeacon

And your box of chocolates will be coming from Alps Sweet Shop
of course! Beacon's local yet national chocolatier makes their
chocolate in their Main Street factory in the copper pots you
see pictured here. They can ship to wherever you like.
www.alpssweetshop.com 

DATE NIGHT WITH WHOEVER - JUST ORDER IT!

The espresso chocolate cake at Dogwood is a surprising
spot-hitter. It's surprising because usually for a cake,
icing or a fudge topping is required (or hint hint Dogwood: we'd love
a scoop of vanilla ice cream!). But this chocolate is so deep and moist,
that you'll want to take advantage of it while you're enjoying
yourself on date-night, I suppose, with a stout of some kind.
If you're enjoying this at home (yes...you have permission
to order dessert to go), enjoy with this recommendation from
Tim Buzinski of Artisan Wine Shop: "A glass of slightly fizzy red from
Italy works great, and one we have right now: Sangue di Guida Special."
www.dogwoodbar.com

There is a secret society of chocolate pastry chefs in Beacon,
and the maker of this Bliss Cake is one of them. JoAnne Meyer
is the Chocolatier & Pastry Chef at The Chocolate Studio,
and also bakes and delivers for local eateries. This Bliss Cake has
become somewhat famous, if not hard to find.  The Bliss Cake
is a decadent fudge cake topped generously with a deep,
rich dark chocolate mousse, covered in ganache, served with a
port wine reduction. Find it at the Piano Piano Wine Bar in Fishkill,
at an upcoming Ladies Night at the Chocolate Studio. You can
also order it directly on-demand from the Chocolate Studio directly.
(845) 765-1165

Christmas Tree Removal

Happy New Year! It’s that time of year for resolutions and clean slates. We make big plans to clean out closets and clear our minds in the process. For many of us it all begins with finally removing the big twinkly Christmas tree in the corner. 

The Highway Department is in charge of collecting trees after the holidays. According to Highway Superintendent Anthony “Zep” Thomaselli, curbside tree removal is currently in progress. Tree collection with occur during January, weather permitting. If you are a bit of a procrastinator or if you feel your tree has been overlooked, just give the Highway Department a call at (845) 831-0932 with your address and they will haul your tree away.

Christmas Lights! More Christmas Lights!

Driving around with kids in car seats during the holidays makes looking at holiday lights even more special. You thought you liked Christmas Lights as an adult? Well kids are enthralled by them and can't wait to see the next house. You could drive through a light festival, which would be amazing and you should check out Boscobel's), or you could drive around every night in Beacon to see the decorated houses of our enthusiastic citizens. Those who put on a show at Halloween often come through for Christmas as well.

Coming home after school has a new soundtrack now, and it sounds like this:

Kids (breathlessly): "MORE Christmas Lights!!! Backup, Mama, Backup! I see a light! The Santa is up!"

Here is a collection of Christmas Lights that you may recognize. Hats off to you folks for decorating! More photos will be added during this 2014 season.

You know this house - on Willow at the base of East and West
Willow. Much better in person, so drive the loop.

A house also on one of the Willow streets.

Again with Willow. Who is also a top trick-or-treating
destination! Not a surprise that they pull through for Xmas.

Yard art is a requirement in Beacon.
You can let your inner yard-art enthusiast out.

Beautiful.

The Firehouse on Main Street.

Beacon Falls at Fishkill Creek lit by The Roundhouse.