ESOPUS WAR

In the late summer of 1659, our beloved Kingston — then called Wiltwyck by the Dutch — became ground zero for a violent clash that would shape the Catskills' colonial history for generations.

The trigger? Well, there are differing accounts, but on September 20th, Dutch settlers had hired Esopus Natives (part of the Lenape people) to help with farm work, paying them with brandy. That evening, some say the settlers grew irritated by the noise and opened fire — Others claimed that a musket was fired in celebration, which the Dutch misinterpreted as a threat, prompting them to attack. In either case, one Esopus Native was killed by a Dutch musket and any goodwill between the communities was shattered.

The Esopus response was swift and calculated. They targeted Dutch farms outside Wiltwyck's walls, burning buildings, destroying crops, and killing livestock. Soon, they laid siege to the settlement itself, hoping to starve out the settlers who huddled behind their wooden stockade walls.

Inside Wiltwyck, the Dutch fortified their defenses while desperately sending messages to New Amsterdam (modern-day New York City) for reinforcements. Both sides settled into a grim war of attrition — the Dutch launching small raids to burn Native fields, the Esopus maintaining pressure on the settlement through strategic ambushes.

By July 1660, after months of hardship, the Esopus tribe agreed to negotiate, trading land for food. But this wasn't peace — just a temporary ceasefire. The underlying tensions of cultural misunderstanding and competing claims to the land remained unresolved. Just three years later, in 1663, the Second Esopus War would erupt.

Walking through Kingston today, it's sobering to consider that these streets were once the front lines of this colonial conflict. The First Esopus War represents more than just a territorial dispute; it was a fundamental clash between cultures with lasting consequences that shaped our region's development. As we hike these mountains and fish these streams, we're moving through landscapes that bear silent witness to this complex and often painful history — a chapter of our local story that deserves to be remembered with both honesty and respect.

PUZZLE

The sample for the 1,000-piece puzzle has shipped, and she's on her way to the mountains. I'm a bit concerned that I may have accidentally created the hardest puzzle ever to exist - it could be the photos from the manufacturer, it could be the simple truth. I've purchased a few bottles of wine for the brave Crew Members who have volunteered to test it out - I've also lined up a therapy hotline if things go poorly. I'll report back soon. Thoughts and prayers for the puzzlers.

REPORT

We've got a total lunar eclipse headed our way March 13-14 and if Mother Nature cooperates we will have one heck of a show. Things kick off at 11:57 PM as the penumbral shadow creeps across, but the real magic happens between 2:26-3:31 AM when totality transforms our moon into that deep coppery "Blood Moon."

ADOPT PETS

Meet Amadeus, a mixed breed hound and social butterfly that lives for tennis balls and adventure. Then there’s Thomas Rudy, a male domestic short hair white-bellied brown tabby (quite a prestigious title). And don’t overlook Ronnie, a 2 year old guinea pig… really hope someone gets this little fella.

LAND

The vote to keep messing around with this section has been approved by almost 80% — I’ll see how it goes for a few weeks and if it’s not fun for me, it’ll be axed. In the meantime…

I stumbled across an off-grid cabin in Andes, a sweet seasonal spot which would need some serious insulation with high R-value to push it to all-season. The cabin sits on a few acres of land, great hiking trails right there, and close to some glorious fly fishing waters. I think we should all go in on this. Crew Member only hangs, I’ll buy the margarita maker.

GAMES

Last Week: What 1753 expedition first documented the Catskills’ diverse tree species? The answer was John and William Bartram’s Journey. In 1753, John Bartram, a prominent American botanist and the “King’s Botanist” for North America, embarked on a journey to the Catskill Mountains with his 14-year-old son William to document trees and study the region’s flora.

If you want a Featured Event, reach out and say hi.

TUESDAY

Oda Wine Garden, Margaretville - Industry Night from 5-10pm info

Belvedere Inn, Stamford - Cat Lady Bingo, a fun night to support Heart of the Catskills Humane Society at 6:30pm bingo

Rough Draft, Kingston - Night School: A Rough Draft Reading Series from 6-7:30pm read more

Keegan Ales, Kingston - Trivia Tuesdays at 5:30pm

Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock - Leprechaun in Space at 8pm awesome

Colony, Woodstock - Karaoke in the Ballroom at 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Performance by Joanna Mattrey, a NYC and Dublin based violist, composer, improviser, and multimedia artist performing at 8pm tix

The Half Moon, Hudson - Half Moon Karaoke from 8-12am enjoy

The Pines, Mount Tremper - Music Night with Todd Adelman from 7-9pm cheers

The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg at 7pm tix

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Gayli-A Queer Irish Dance Party at 7pm check it out

THURSDAY

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Rubblebucket performing at 8pm tix

Tinker Street Tavern, Woodstock - Major Mayhem Karaoke at 8pm info

People's Place, Kingston - Herbal Circle: ‘Ethical Foraging’ with AnnMarie Tedeschi from 1:30-3:30pm info

West Kill Supply, Kingston - Trivia starts at 6:30pm cheers

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - The Moral Panic Variety Hour presents: An Electronic Requiem at 8pm tix

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown - Trivia at the Tap House from 6-8pm

The Local, Saugerties - Introspective Folk-Pop with Singer / Songwriter Josh Rouse at 7pm tix

The Common Good, Ellenville - Open group for textile projects 6-7pm

FRIDAY

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown - Luau Brew-tal Murder Mystery Dinner from 6-9pm love it

Muddy River Taphouse, Oneonta - Vinyl DJ Night from 6-9pm

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Future Sounds of Nature Presents: Lola Villa and Eli Soul Clap at 8:30pm tix

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Joe Russo’s Selcouth Quartet at 7pm tix

Skatetime, Accord - Friday After School Special Skate from 3-7pm get after it

The Local, Saugerties - John Street Jam at 7pm sweet

Tubby's, Kingston - Dominick And The Family Band, Ongoing, Kissing Well at 7pm tix at the door

White Feather Farm, Saugerties - Full Moon Kundalini Yoga, Meditation + Gong Immersion with HariPrakaash from 6-7:30pm zen

Nellies, East Durham - Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations all month have a guinness

SATURDAY

Wayside Cider, Andes - Glockabelle’s 3rd Annual Love Fest at 6pm more info

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock - Midnight Ramble ft. Leslie Mendelson at 8pm tix

Monument, Kingston - Dog Park: Music & Poetry at 7pm check it out

Art Omi, Ghent - Raising Super: A Barn Raising in Two Parts (Part One) with food by Enoki from 1-3pm learn more

Citiot, Catskill - An Ides of March Benefit Reading & Concert at 6pm details

Gallery 495, Catskill - Janus: A Dual Exhibition Featuring Daniel Sierra and Mike McManus info

Starlite Motel, Kerhonkson - Starlite Supper Club from 6:30-8pm info

RMV Cellars, West Park - DJ Harlan Spins Vinyl from 6-9pm harlan

Station Bar, Woodstock - Cabin Fever Party from 9pm-2am info

Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Narrowsburg - “Conversations In Chi” with Jane Ira Bloom and Kazzrie Jaxen at 2pm learn more

Basilica Back Gallery, Hudson - Photography Exhibition "Going Places" an exhibition of photography by artist Rebecca Conroy from 6-8pm

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - God Street Wine at 7pm tix

Roxbury Arts Group, Roxbury - A/Symmetrical Worlds Artist Talk from 12-2pm info

West Kill Supply, Kingston - The Classic Band from 2-5pm have a brookie

White Feather Farm, Saugerties - Little Seedlings: Spring Sprouts from 11-12pm deets

Scribner's Lodge, Hunter - Mini Market info

SUNDAY

Wayside Cider, Andes - Amateur Cider Making Contest at 2pm check it out

Ashokan Center, Olivebridge - Winter Animal ID: Tracks and Traces from 2-4pm very cool

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Tribute to The Pogues and Shane MacGowan with County Hell at 7pm tix

Colony, Woodstock - Boston Blackthorne St. Patrick's Day Bash at 7pm details

Keegan Ales ,Kingston - Shamrock Run Day at 10am info

The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Ski – The Greatest Ski Tour Of All Time at 5pm tix

Christman’s Windham House, Windham  - Maple Fest Fundraiser from 9-12pm

Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Catskill - Thomas Cole: Talk and Wine Tasting from 2-4pm info

MONDAY

Saltbox, Kingston - St. Patricks’s Day Fun at 8pm game on

West Kill Supply, Kingston - Live Music Melanie Beth Curran and Corned Beef Pop Up have a brookie

Tinker Street Tavern, Woodstock - St Paddy's Day Party & Live Celtic Music at 7:30pm drink guinness

Scramble Answer: FIRE TOWER