The Beacon Pool and the River Pool Open in Beacon! Grab Your Swimsuit!

Summer is here and it is just the right time to go swimming. We have a couple of great options for places to swim right in Beacon, starting with The Beacon Pool opening TODAY! Be sure to sign up to the Beacon Pool's Facebook Group for weather closures, Lost and Found postings, and group picnic opportunities.

The Beacon Public Outdoor Pool

The Beacon Pool reopened last Summer after years of sitting idle, and its first season was a big hit.  Once the city announced the pool was reopening for 2016, people anxiously waited for opening day to arrive and bought season passes early.

Season passes are still available and you can also purchase day passes at the pool for you and your family.  Day passes will be $3 for kids and seniors, $4 for adults.

The River Pool At Beacon - Floats In The Hudson River

The River Pool at Beacon will be returning in early July and will be located just off the north shore of Pete and Toshi Seager Riverfront Park.  As is tradition, the pool will be open to the public and free of charge, but you can make donations at any time.  This is a unique chance to say you swam in the Hudson River.  The pool is circular and is really a floating net, with benches lining the brightly colored perimeter under water for you to sit on, or small children to walk on. Lifeguards will be present during pool hours which will be Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 6:00 pm (weather permitting).

Speaking of swimming in the Hudson River, the 13th Annual Great Newburgh to Beacon Swim will take place on Saturday, August 6, 2016.  This is good for experienced swimmers to help raise funds to keep The Beacon Pool afloat (get it??).  The distance of the swim is about 1 mile from Beacon to Newburgh, which is 72 lengths of a standard 25 yard pool.  Pre-registration is required as they will not be able to accommodate walk-ups the day of the swim.

Don't forget, there's also always room for you to take a dip in Fishkill at All Sport's outdoor pool.

Beacon Bees Unite and Call for New Bees for Battle of the Books withthe Howland Public Library

The kids might be signed up for a week of camp or four, but maybe you can help them squeeze in one more summer enrichment activity. Starting next Thursday, June 30th, those entering grades 6 through 9 can join other kids from around our city as the Beacon Bees prepare to defend their 2015 Battle of the Books title! Battle of the Books is a nationally recognized literature contest in which young people answer trivia questions based on specific books that they have read during the summer.  The goal of the program is to promote a love of reading in students by exposing them to titles and authors that they might not encounter in school, and to inspire teamwork and good sportsmanship while engaging in friendly competition. The middle school program is entering its 12th year of participation in 2016, and Beacon's high school division is set to join in next year. (Ten regional libraries started a high school division this year, but it will take some time for Beacon's to get up and running.)

“It has always been a challenge to libraries to get middle- and high school-age students to read for pleasure and enjoyment. Yet it's so important to keep up with reading skills during the summer,” says Ginny Figlia, head of youth services for the Howland Public Library. “This is a great way to introduce them to great books and give them a feeling of teamwork and accomplishment.”

Reading is so hot right now.

For the past eleven years, Beacon's Howland Public Library has sponsored a team that competes with two dozen other library teams in the Mid-Hudson Valley for summer-reading supremacy. The Beacon Bees took summer reading first-place honors in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Beacon students in the middle-school grades gather Thursday evenings from 5 to 7 pm at the library to read and discuss eight books on a reading list. Head coaches Kristen and Tom Rigney put students through their paces as they prepare for game-show-style trivia quizzes about the assigned books.

Support for this article comes from our sponsor Savage Health.

Kids can represent Beacon proudly all summer in mini-battles against teams from Poughkeepsie, Fishkill and Cold Spring. According to Ginny, “By making it a friendly competition where good sportsmanship is encouraged, it enables kids who might not otherwise be part of a team, experience the camaraderie it induces.” The Battle is not just for born bookworms, either: The selected books span a variety of genres such as mystery, fantasy, classics, historical fiction, adventure, sports, and contemporary fiction, and this year even includes a graphic novel.
There really is something for everyone.

The program culminates with each library team’s all-stars battling in a regional competition, to be held September 17 at Columbia Greene Community College in Hudson. “It's a huge, all-day event consisting of almost 300 players, coaches, and a huge audience supporting the kids,” Ginny says.

To get involved, talk to Ginny and get your Beacon readers signed up. (Did we mention there will be pizza?) Give her a call at 845-831-1134, extension 103, or e-mail her at youth@beaconlibrary.org.  

If the Battle of the Books doesn't fit your needs, the Howland Public Library does offer the Summer Reading Program through Wandoo Reader that is worth looking into.

Arm yourself for battle - with bookworm knowledge!

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PS: We are using this moment to highlight another program at the library that parents will recognize:  the Box Tops program, where you can clip the little pink Box Top image from some of your favorite brands, like Land O'Lakes Butter, Cheerios, and more, and drop that box top in this collection box at the library. General Mills will donate funds to our local schools from the box tops collected! Usually kids do this in their school, but with school being out, a box will be available at the library. You don't have to be a kid to donate. Anyone who buys groceries and clips the box tops can participate in this donation program.

June Happenings at All Sport Health & Fitness To Start The Summer Off Right! (Sponsored)

Happy first day of Summer! Now that the pool and outdoor park at All Sport are open, this is the perfect time to visit All Sport Health & Fitness this Summer! With long summer hours, the pool and outdoor park are open to you to cool off in the hot afternoon sun! In addition to their outdoor and pool activities, All Sport is hosting special events and classes throughout the Summer.

Check out what is scheduled for the remainder of June. It includes outdoor classes like Aqua Boogie, H2O Body Blast, Yoga For Tennis Players, and live music!

As you may have heard, the New York Blood Center is in need of donations. All Sport will be doing their part by hosting a Blood Drive today from noon to 6 pm.

Summer Camp registration at CampFIT is still open and includes Summer Day, Teen Travel and/or Tennis Camp.

Let All Sport be a part of your family's Summer fun!

All Sport is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created with them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight program. It is with the support of businesses like this, that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a Sponsor or Community Partner, please click here for more information.

June's Second Saturday Guide for Beacon Art Showings

 Second Saturday Happenings on June 11, 2016!

The BeaconArts Official Logo
for Second Saturday.

"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses arts on the second Saturday of every month. According to Dan Rigney, current president of BeaconArts, the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events, says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday is a great reason to "walk" Main Street and beyond and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure eating and drinking your way through Beacon, so this guide will help you know where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:

• This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in a gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
• Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
• Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
• Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. Click here for A Little Beacon Blog's Free Public Parking Guide, with pictures and cross streets!
• Live-tweet your way through Second Saturday by using the hashtag created by BeaconArts: #2SAT, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
• If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night Spots to Eat and Drink (After 9pm): 
After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink!
See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9pm in our Restaurant Guide. 

Bank Square 129 Main St.
Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
Poppy's Burger and Fries 184 Main St.
Max's On Main 246 Main St.
Baja 328 328 Main St.
Quinn's 330 Main St.
The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St.
(Call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served!)
Draught Industries 394 Main St.
The Vault 446 Main St.
Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
The Hop 554 Main St.
(It's a good idea to have reservations if you hope to order food.)
Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
Dogwood 47 East Main St.

There's so much going on - keep your eyes on our Things To Do In Beacon Guides for all dates!
Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone.

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NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET

Dia:Beacon

Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100

Special for Second Saturday: For the monthly Gallery Talk: Paula Deitz on Michael Heizer. Deitz, editor of the Hudson Review and an author, will discuss the works of Heizer, a Nevada-based artist best-known for large scale and land art. Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon take place the second Saturday of every month at 2 pm. Focusing on the work of a single artist on view at Dia:Beacon, these one-hour walk-throughs are led by curators, art historians, and writers. Free with admission to the museum. (Don't forget: Beacon residents get in free on weekends!)

More details at Dia:Beacon.

Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

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THE WEST END

(Close to the train station)

Catalyst Gallery

Catalyst Gallery 
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY

(845) 204-3844

The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.

Special for Second Saturday: "Elijah Wheat Showroom: Petrichor," photographs by Liz Nielsen. At first glance, the works might not read as what we normally think of as "photography," but Nielsen manipulates handmade negatives in an analog color darkroom to come up with dynamic prints. Her work has been shown around the country, as well as European capitals and Mexico City.
Hours: 1 pm to 6 pm; reception, 6 pm to 10 pm

Watercolors at Colorant 

Colorant
145 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Enjoy some art, wine and bites as you check out "Totally Awesome!" watercolors by Craig Zeolla. Zeolla's love for ’80s film and music pop culture is the inspiration behind his work. Beyond Colorant's textiles colored with natural dyes, you'll find selected works from Zeolla's vast catalog of rock 'n' roll watercolors and hand-painted papier-mâché busts.
Hours: Opening reception, 4 pm to 8 pm

Theo Ganz Studio

Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(917) 318-2239
Theo Ganz Studio, the little gallery with the big windows in Beacon's west end, was founded by artist Eleni Smolen as a venue for contemporary artists working in all media. Recognizing the importance of exhibitions in an artist's career, Smolen concentrates on presenting actively engaged emerging and mid-career professionals in either solo or group exhibitions.
Second Saturday: Korea-born artist Jayoung Yoon returns to Theo Ganz Studio for a solo show. "Ephemerality" blends painting, sculpture, and video in performance meditations. She learned traditional embroidery and other fiber arts from her mother and aunt; such skills are reflected now in her exquisite pieces of woven hair.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 8 pm

Marion Royael Gallery

Marion Royael Gallery
159 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Mr. Yard Presents the Knock Knock Underground Emoji. Gallery owners say you'll just have to stop by, if you want to learn more about the doors...
Continuing this month is "VICTORYdotCONbackslashFUSE," described at the gallery's site as "finely executed visual perspectives..., woven together into a singularly connected Directed Migrating Installation." Painting, photography, sculpture, mixed-media, and jewelry are all represented in this show, which is set to run through July. Artists include Kathleen Erin Lee, Rick Hutchinson, Hy Suchman, Brian Edwards, Jens O Bille, Joe Zarra, Dave Dziemian, Mary Giehl, Barbara AG Riddle, Alexander Percy, Steven Paul Riddle, Ivan Suchman, and more.
Hours: Noon to 7 pm

At Fovea Exhibitions

Hudson Beach Glass / Fovea
162 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0068
A glass studio casting functional and sculptural objects for over 20 years. A truly special establishment to have in Beacon. Stop in to find blown-glass objects of all kinds, from lights to bowls to wind chimes. Sometimes on Second Saturday you can watch them blow glass.
Special for Second Saturday: Upstairs in the gallery space, witness the return of Fovea Exhibitions' photojournalism showcase. Photographer Aliza Eliazarov, whose work has appeared in Modern Farmer magazine as well as in galleries internationally, here takes on the national food waste epidemic. These still lifes turn a critical eye on what happens to unsold, leftover food, or food left on the street.
Hours: Opening reception, 5 pm to 9 pm; artist talk at 7 pm
 

Clutter Magazine Gallery

Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Works are a variety of sizes.
Second Saturday: The hits keep coming! Clutter presents "Le Rêve du Lapin," another show in which artists use a common base piece as a blank canvas onto which they project their own incredible visions. This time, the starting line is artist Peter Kato's Bedtime Bunnies. Check out variations on a theme with pics of works in progress! Kato is set to attend; artists include Aica, Ally Burke, Amos Hemsley, Artmymind, Blake Neubert, Candie Bolton, czee13, Double Parlour, Gary Ham, Gretchen Lewis, Jason Limon, Jenn and Tony Bott, Jeremiah Ketner, Kristina Drake, MJ Hsu, Muxxi, Odd Fauna, Peca, Peter Kato, RXSeven, Sabrina Elliott, ScarecrowOven, Scott Wilkowski, Seulgie, Simona Candini, StickyMonger, Tomodachi Island, UAMOU, Valency, Yu Meda, and Zard Apuya.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm

RiverWinds Gallery

RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.

Special for Second Saturday: Jamie Grossman presents her "Hudson Valley Hues," plein-air paintings. The work depicts scenes from around the Hudson Valley, across the seasons. Grossman will be bringing an extensive notebook with studies for each painting, so visitors can learn about the process and work that went into each piece. 

Hours: Opening reception, 5 pm to 8 pm

Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries 

Beacon Institute

199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses the Institute’s gallery, Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, and its administrative headquarters. The gallery showcases river and environmentally themed art and educational exhibits. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: The historic Mount Beacon Incline Railway gets a spotlight in this exhibit, which features large-format photography, digital renderings, animations, and infographics, all exploring the Incline Railway's early origins in shaping Beacon. The exhibition delves into the initiative to bring back the Incline Railway, through the lenses of a historic narrative and an eye toward the future. 
Click here for more event details.
Hours: 11 am to 3 pm

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THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"

The start of The Middle, aka "Market Square"

Howland Public Library

Howland Public Library
313 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-1134

Each month, the library features the work of Hudson Valley photographers and artists. (Please note, the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs.)

Special for Second Saturday: In Beacon resident Joe Radoccia's larger-than-life "Portraits: Works on Paper," the artist uses pencil, acrylics, and paper to deliver incredibly intimate expressions of his subject-inspirations. 

Hours: 10 am to 4 pm (library hours); reception 5 pm to 7 pm

Beacon Soundworks

Beacon Soundworks
395 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-9000
Special for Second Saturday: New to Second Saturday last month, Beacon Soundworks continues to showcase art. Visit the recently opened Beacon Soundworks, near Teller Ave., the diner, and Beacon Pantry, to see the work of Scott Prater, continuing for another month. Also known as ThroughGlassEyes, he explores landscapes both outdoors and in, often around the Hudson Valley and the broader reaches of the Northeast. His moody work is also up at The Vault, Newburgh Brewery, and Beacon Bagel.
Hours: Call for details!

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THE EAST END & BEYOND

(Close to the mountain)

The start of the East End of Main Street and beyond.

Matteawan Gallery

Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.
Special for Second Saturday: "Wind & Rain" is a deceptively simple title for this show featuring sculpture, drawings, and more by Kazumi Tanaka. Born in Osaka, Japan, she has lived in New York (both the city and Beacon) for more than two decades. Organic materials are used throughout, from hair, to coffee, to small animal skulls that become instruments, as all the works on exhibit evoke memory, loss, and cycles of nature.

Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm; performance in gallery at 7 pm

Morphicism Gallery

Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames - art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

  

At Blackbird Attic

Blackbird Attic Boutique
442 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 418-4840
Special for Second Saturday: The earth is warming up around us and days are almost as long as can be... Come celebrate this exciting time of year with Jessica Nash, a Beacon resident, traveler, teacher, and mixed media artist, with her "Under the Glow: Light & Landscapes" continuing this month at Blackbird Attic. Recent trips to Iceland and Germany, when sometimes just finding a bright spot of light was cause to rejoice, inspired these meditations on light and land. Nash works with oil and watercolors, but thin glazes atop the pigments lend an intriguing luminosity.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

3B Gallery

3B Gallery
458 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6782
Special for Second Saturday: Check out delights for the eyes as well as the nose! Amid the refreshing scents of Beacon Bath & Bubbles' selections, you'll find sophisticated art from students at Beacon High School, including this painting from Rachael Ng.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm

Jeffrey Terreson and his daughter, also an artist, make

major transformations to prepare his new gallery space.

TERRESON BEACON Gallery
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Get a sneak peek of Bedford native Jeffrey Terreson's newest gallery in the former Back Room Gallery, joining his studio in Westchester and exhibitions in Manhattan. Terreson will be in the gallery setting it up during Second Saturday, confirming "There's still a bit of sprucing up to be done," but he'll have several paintings up Saturday in advance of his official grand opening on Thursday, June 23, 2016 from 6 pm to 9 pm. Even a newcomer to Main Street knows Second Saturday is a must-do! His paintings are in the collections of various Fortune 500 companies, as well as the United Nations. Terreson's work is inspired by 20th-century post-war masters such as Julian Schnabel, Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko and Joan Snyder. See our sneak peek article here for more pictures!
Hours: Stop in and find out!

Howland Center

Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource.
Special for Second Saturday: In "Seeking Permanence," Connecticut photographer and filmmaker Avery Danziger explores the inside of the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, once a hospital in northeastern Dutchess County that closed only in 1994. His images skip the lurid aspects, and instead reflect the sense of "terrible beauty" and peace he found within decay as nature reclaimed a man-made space.
Hours: 1 pm to 5 pm

BAU Gallery

BAU Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members and artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. BAU builds a vital link between the activities at bau and the community.
Special for Second Saturday: Bau 138! In the Main Gallery, David Link's "Formas Geometricas" include whimsical Minimalist-inspired shapes with angles and proportions drawn straight from the natural world. A broad variety of sizes creates an interplay among all of the pieces. In the Beacon Room, new works by Vivian Altman marry a variety of media, united by bright doses of color.
Hours: Noon to 6 pm; reception from 6 pm to 9 pm

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BEACON near RT. 52

(Beacon's part of Rt. 52 that heads into or out of town.)

Niche Modern lighting

Niche Modern
310 Fishkill Ave., Unit 11
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Do. Not. Miss. Niche Modern's annual factory sale is the spot to score nearly perfect, hand-blown glass pendant lighting. Even if you're all set on the home-illumination front, it's worth checking out the sale (which continues Saturday, Sunday, June 12, from 11 am to 4 pm) to see the factory and witness expert glass-blowing demonstrations.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

Beacon Music Factory

Beacon Music Factory
629 Route 52
Beacon, NY
(845) 765-0472
Special for Second Saturday: Head just a little out of town - not even to Route 9! - for this Family Hootenanny! Kids (babies to age 10) and their caregivers are welcome to bring their own instruments for this merry-making and singalong with Beacon Music Factory's Emily Ellison. An added bonus: You get to say "hootenanny." (Go on, say it out loud. That's like music unto itself!) $5, no reservations necessary.
Hours: 10 am to 11 am

Don't forget to check out these two other Guides as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!