When Ice Was King: Frozen Gold

Before modern refrigeration, the Catskills were New York City's natural ice box. Places like North-South Lake weren't just scenic spots - they were industrial powerhouses churning out massive blocks of ice that kept the big city's food and drinks frosty cold.

Every winter, hardy mountain crews armed with horse-drawn tools and giant saws harvested 200-pound ice blocks in brutal conditions. These slabs got packed into massive icehouses with sawdust to keep them from melting, then were shipped off to the city via train or wagon, where they'd end up in everything from food storage to the earliest ice cream parlors.

The work wasn't for the faint of heart. One worker's diary tells about his buddy taking an unexpected polar plunge and getting fished out with a hooked pole before nearly succumbing to frostbite. But winter jobs were winter jobs, and this one paid.

Fancy estates built huge icehouses that could store enough blocks to keep things cool all through those sweaty summer months. But Mother Nature had other plans - warmer winters in the early 1900s meant thinner ice, and eventually the whole industry melted away when electric refrigeration showed up in the 1920s.

Next time you're hiking around North-South Lake, think about those tough-as-nails ice harvesters who kept the city cool when "refrigeration" meant grabbing your saw and heading out onto the frozen lake. Check out this footage I found from 1902.

Vote: Crew Member Hat Designs

We got a ton of great hat designs from Crew Members over the past week. I went through all of them and grabbed a few favorites - and now it’s your turn to vote. The winner will earn a cash prize, a big hug, a hat (of course), and the glory of being the Chosen One.

The winning artist and I will fine tune the final product and do a limited run of these bad boys based on demand to avoid any waste. Anywho, enough lollygagging, it’s time to vote.

Burger Quest: Your Guide

I’m deep into the burger trail, checking off those Top 20 spots you all nominated. Grand Prize Trophy and medal designs are in the works, but for now, print this list, tuck it in your wallet, and keep it handy. Your next favorite burger might be right around the corner.

Jetty: Trout Unlimited

Big thanks to everyone who came out to Waves to Woods at West Kill Brewing. Together, we raised $1,000 for Trout Unlimited to help protect our rivers. That's what community is all about, folks. And hey - if you're still looking to snag some of that limited edition Jetty collab gear head over to their site before it's gone.

Night Sky: Asteroid Amphitrite

The asteroid Amphitrite reaches opposition on February 12, glowing at magnitude +9.2 and offering primo viewing conditions for seekers with binoculars or telescopes. During opposition, Earth sits between Amphitrite and the Sun, making the asteroid appear at its brightest as it's fully illuminated and at its closest approach to Earth. Look for Amphitrite in the constellation Leo, which rises in the east after sunset.

Trivia: River Delta

Adopt Pets: Root Beer & Eustace

This week we have two mysterious buddies - Eustace, a one-year-old little pup fella who really wants to be your best friend, along with Root Beer, a 24-week-old feline friend who is absolutely itsy. No bunnies, chickens, or mice this week! If you know of any orgs that I can team up with, reach out.

Colony, Woodstock - Karaoke at 6:30pm
Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock - Snowbeast (1977) at 8pm tix
Tubby's, Kingston - Chess Night from 6-10pm
Red Owl Collective, Kingston -Midtown Business Alliance Meetup from 6-8:30pm

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Upstairs Wednesdays: Bram Kincheloe and Nico Soffiato from 7-8pm tix
Darlings, Tillson - Paint and Hang at 7pm details
The Pines, Mt. Tremper - Music Night with Catskill Harmony Guild from 7-9pm have fun
Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Queer Trivia at 7:30 and Pleasure Salon: Rethinking Romance from 6-8pm details
Tubby's, Kingston - Kingston Echo Club #2 from 7-11pm check the lineup
The Half Moon, Hudson - Karaoke Night from 8pm on
Pearl Moon, Woodstock -  Acoustic Supper Club with Triad at 6:30pm info
The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Movie Night with Summer of Soul at 7pm tix

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - "It Was Like the End of the World" | The Creation and Destruction of the Ashokan Reservoir from 8-9:30pm should be awesome
Assembly, Kingston - Impact Concerts presents Rayland Baxter with Al Olender at 8pm tix
Left Bank Ciders, Catskill - Community soup night to benefit the Greene County Animal Alliance from 5-8pm soup for a good cause
Camp Kingston, Kingston - Pleasures Karaoke with UPCO from 6-9pm get it
Doctorow Theater, Hunter - Kate Hamill's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes at 7pm tix
Roxbury Arts Group, Roxbury - Role Playing Game Night from 6:30pm-10pm roll a d20
Griffin House, Palenville - Happiest Hour of Yoga at 5:30pm down dog
People’s Place, Kingston - Herbal Circle: ‘Effective Herbal Formulation’ from 1-3:30pm craft
Neuland, High Falls - On the Mend, a mending worshop from 6-8pm RSVP

Laugh it Up Comedy Club, Poughkeepsie - Love Bites: A Valentine's Comedy Dinner & Show tix
Skatetime, Accord - Valentine’s Day Party from 4-9pm check it out
Harana Market, Accord - Valentine’s Dinner: Romantic Baboy yes plz
Citiot, Catskill - A Strange Kind Of Love, a reading and concert at 5pm info
Sunshine Colony, Livingston Manor - A Valentine’s Pop Up from 5-10pm have fun
Upward Brewing, Livingston Manor - The Gabriella Tranchina Quartet at 6:30pm cheers
Ole Savannah, Kingston - 4th Annual Winterfest starts at 3pm details
Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Julie's Girls Club: Valentine's Gay from 6-8pm info
Night Swim, Kingston - Valentine’s Salsa Night from 5-8pm boom
Gem Mercantile, Windham - Valentine's Day Party at 10am-8pm enjoy
Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Gothic Valentine’s Party starts at 7pm tix
Bashakill Bazaar, Wurtsboro - Valentine’s Sip & Shop from 11-5pm info
Hall Space, Eldred - Sharin Spiak’s art for Romance Novels from 4-7pm Oooo
The Common Good, Ellenville - Valentine's Day Square Dance from 7-8:30pm oh yeah
Colony , Woodstock - Strangehouse Presents: Cupid's Cabaret at 9pm check it out
Phoenicia Diner, Phoenicia - Valentines’s Day Supper Club: Beer Dinner & Collab Release more info
Darlings, Tillson - Super Glou and live tunes by Kyle Miller from 6-9pm have fun
The Local, Saugerties - A Very Jazzy Valentine’s Day: Rachel Z “Sensual” Trio with Omar Hakim & Jonathan Toscano at 8pm deets

North River Electric House, Stone Ridge - A New Trade Route: North River Passage, learn more and hang with the crew from 3-6pm sweet
Old Souls, Livingston Manor - Variable, a film by local filmmaker Jamie Kennard at 6pm check it out
Ashokan Center, Olivebridge - Hot Chocolate Fest 2025 from 10-2pm more chocolate
Athens Cultural Center, Athens - Paper Bouquet Making from 1-3:30 get crafty
Enoki, Catskill - Together Pho-ever, a Valentine’s Pop-Up at 12pm why yes please
Mountain Top Arboretum, Tannersville - Carla Rhodes: From Comedy to Conservation at 1pm info
Catskills Candle Studio, Tannersville - Candle Pouring Workshop at 4pm make more stuff
Roscoe Beer Company, Roscoe - Paint and Sip at 5pm cheers
Blue Fox Motel, Narrowsburg - Line Dancing Night at 6pm alright alright alright
The Parlor, Narrowsburg - Quickie Booths
Art Fair from 12-4pm details
Belvedere Inn, Stamford - Open Mic Comedy Night at 7pm laugh more
Pine Hill Community Center, Pine Hill - Live music with Brian Mitchell from 7-9pm info
Spillian, Fleischmanns - Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: A Bohemian Valentine at 1pm reserve
The Open Eye Theater, Margaretville - Tragic Appalachian Ballads With Live Music, Dance, & Puppetry from 6-7pm check it out
The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Shrek at 11am donkey
Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Real Estate: More Tour at 8pm tix
All Sorts, Hancock - Sandwich Pop Up with Deli Cat (new deli opening soon??) from 11am-4pm eat more sandwiches
Tubby’s Kingston - Impact Concerts presents: Early James at 8pm tix
Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Glockabelle’s 3rd Annual lovefest at 5pm deets

Domes, Kingston - Sunday night music series at 7:30pm info
The Common Good, Ellenville - Interactive kids’ circle reading from 10:30-11:15am
Stamford Coffee, Stamford - Afternoon of Jazz from 1pm-3pm check it out
Left Bank Ciders, Catskill - 4th Annual Seed Swap from 1-4pm awesome
Orpheum Theatre, Saugerties - Hinterland Film Club from 2-6:30pm rsvp
Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Oh He Dead at 8pm tix
Hotel Lilien, Tannersville - Live tunes with Amanda Addleman at 5:30pm

Foxfire Mountain House, Mount Tremper - Trivia Night at 6pm