BREAKFAST QUEST

We’re back with another edition of Catskill Goodness. Take your time, enjoy, and I’ll see ya out there.

In our quest for the best burger in the Catskills, I traveled near and I traveled far — across rivers, up mountains, and through valleys. I ate smash burgers and pub burgers, potato buns and stale buns — moving quietly and shrouded in anonymity.

The stretchy pants were my trusted steed and you were my guides. Crew Members submitted 126 different burgers and I tasted the Top 20, ultimately crowning the best burger our champion. If you missed it, you can read about the BURGER QUEST RESULTS HERE.

Now, we enter the next chapter. The hunt for the best breakfast sandwich in our lands. Aptly named, BREAKFAST QUEST.

Crew Members will submit their favorites and the TOP 20 will be selected for the running. The rules and requirements for eligibility are clear and binding:

Before I dust off and don the stretchy pants, you must cast your vote. If this gets approved, we move forth. If it gets declined — the words Breakfast Quest will never be uttered in these lands again.

PROPERTY: Callicoon Victorian

PETS: Cogsworth the pup, Romi the cat, Cupid and Cosmo the baby cows.

SKY: Astronomers spotted a new asteroid — 2026 JH2 — on May 10th. Eight days later, the ancient rock threaded the needle between Earth and the moon, coming within 56,000 miles of us. She is still up there and may be spotted if you've got a small to medium telescope.

SIGHTINGS: Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi

RIVERS: The trout have been biting and the caddis and March Browns have been hatching. I’ve found the most action around 1-6PM with caddis emergers and streamers. Photos I took of some friends on the river.

The next Dinner Club is coming up fast and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Woodstock on the 28th.

HOW THIS THING WORKS:

✦︎ You take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and what types of folks you are looking to meet — you know, that kinda thing.
✦︎ You get matched with five other Catskill Crew Members based on those quiz results.
✦︎ You’ll receive your invite the morning of the dinner and discover which restaurant your group you’ll be dining at.
✦︎ During dinner, everyone across town will receive a notification with the secret location of an afterparty to keep the good times rolling. This is optional, so if you’re in a food coma, you can go home and sleep it off.

TOGETHER WITH KEEP GOOD COMPANY RECORDS

I come bearing good news. The Third Annual Waterfall Sessions is returning to the Catskills once more — and it’s about to be the best one yet.

Founded in 2024 by Keep Good Company Records, the concert series is dedicated toward bringing together the holy trinity of music, nature, and sustainability — all through live performances and our great outdoors (yes, there will be a waterfall).

The concert will star local legends Ginger Winn - who has become one of the Hudson Valley’s most compelling new songwriters and Lost Leaders, with Byron Isaacs (of The Lumineers) and Peter Cole (of Lava Baby).

From a stage made of upcycled pallets to sustainably pressed vinyl records, this event is designed to be environmentally conscious. A portion of the proceeds go directly to the good people at Sound Future to support Billion Oyster Project through the Surf and Turf program which restores oyster reefs in our beloved Hudson River. This event will directly restore 42.5k oysters, who filter over 2.5 million gallons of water in a single year, mitigate coastal erosion, and support dozens of native fish species.

So come on out on June 13th to Woodstock Way Hotel for one heck of a good time.

GA and VIP tickets are available. Matt and Tina from Keep Good Company Records are hooking up Crew Members with 10% off with the code CATSKILLCREW.

Turn the screens off, take a seat and enjoy some snail mail. The Spring Quarterly is shipping out — directly to your mailbox. P.S. one tree planted for every letter mailed

LINE COOK WANTED: Foxfire Mountain House is looking for a full-time line cook with experience and passion — if that’s you or perhaps someone you know, you can LEARN MORE HERE

CARPENTER’S ASSISTANT: Spring House Carpentry LLC is seeking a full-time laborer to assist with all phases of construction, from framing to finish carpentry, in the northern Catskills. Experience is preferred, but not required. You must, however, have an interest in carpentry and/or the desire to learn the trade in pursuit of a career in it. Must have a driver’s license. Bonus if you like to fly fish. Pay is between $21-$25 per hour depending upon experience. EMAIL BILL.

BIG BUG ENERGY LIMITED DAD CAPS: SIX ARTHROPODS

SPRING EDITION OF THE CATSKILL CREW QUARTERLY: ORDER YOUR SNAIL MAIL

MOUNTAIN MEMORY GAMES: TEST YOUR SKILLS

CATSKILL PUZZLES: HAVE SOME FUN

LAST WEEKS SCRAMBLE: QUARRY

Your contributions go directly toward keeping Catskill Crew alive and well so we can have more fun and build a stronger community. I appreciate any and all support my friends! - Michael

ADD AN EVENT

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock – The Levin Brothers at 8PM get tickets

Tubby's, Kingston – Open Turntables at 7PM

Pines, Mt. Tremper – Music Night with Calder the Destroyer at 7PM

Tubby's, Kingston – Mint Field and Glimmer at 7PM mexico city

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – Sketch & Burlesque at 7PM risqué

Half Moon, Hudson – Karaoke night at 8PM

Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Catskill – Close Looking at Art at 12PM rsvp

Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook – Live Music with Otiis at 3PM burgers

RMV Cellars, West Park – The Mashup at 5PM local creatives

Return Brewing Outpost, Catskill – Good Mood Foods BBQ Pop-Up til sunday

Basilica Hudson – Music with The Wallflowers at 8PM tix

Y Farm Kingston – Annual Seedling Sale at 3:30PM come around

Fleischmanns – Summer Fridays at 4PM hbd harold

MJQ Irish Centre, East Durham – Irish Festival bangers and mash

Chicory Naturalist, Kingston – 4th Anniversary Weekend weaving wild baskets

Surface & Shape, Barryville – Grand Opening Weekend at 10AM have fun

Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor – Oyster Party at 12PM yum

Radio Kingston Park – Community Barbecue Kickoff at 12PM open to all

Dandies, Windham – Movie Night and BBQ at 7PM biergarten

Glen Falls House, Round Top – Swim Club with Good Bar at 2PM

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown – Fire Pit Fridays at 6PM follow the muse

Skate Time, Accord – Adult Skate at 8PM

Wild Hudson Valley Eco Camp, Cairo – Birdwatching Walk at 7AM birbs

Mountain Top Historical Society, Haines Falls – History Hike: Rails on the Escarpment at 10AM cool

Local Goods, Boiceville – Dirty South Kitchen slinging Kolaches at 10AM they are apparently very good

Radio Catskill, Liberty – Music Yard Sale at 9AM enjoy

Scribner's Catskill Lodge, Hunter – Edible Garden Workshop at 10AM get dirty

Spiral House Park, Saugerties – Celebration of Trees schedule

Avalon Lounge, Catskill – Mycelia Presents: Isabella Koen, Yessi, Waste, DJ Deflector & DJ Headphones Girl at 8PM tickets

Cochecton Pump House – Summer Kickoff Dance Party from 7-10PM

Roscoe Community Center – 14th Annual Angler’s Market at 10AM register

Stamford Coffee – Mediterranean Dinner at 6PM reserve

Art Omi, Ghent – Long Light: Live Music with Wendy Eisenberg and Elori Saxl at 5PM rsvp

West Kill Brewing – Live tunes with Northern Ramble at 2PM

Van Dusen’s, Lexington – Mountaintop Record Fair at 10AM niceee

Tinker Street Tavern, Woodstock – Woodstock Backgammon Club at 1PM doubling cube

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock – The Helm Family Midnight Ramble - Birthday Weekend at 8PM low tix

Catskill – Memorial Day Parade see sched