GIVEAWAY

Welcome back to another edition of Catskill Crew. I’m currently stranded in Pray, Montana with no car but I’m right on the Yellowstone River so it ain’t so bad. Hope you enjoy the newsletter and I’ll see ya out there (eventually).

I have an idea and I’m interested to hear what you all have to say.

First things first, Catskill Crew will always be 1,000% free. I’m not interested in pay gates or reserving content for paid subscribers. But what does interest me is good ol’ snail mail.

I’m imagining a physical letter that arrives at your door at the start of every season. I’d like you to be able to put your devices aside, open a wax-sealed envelope, and sit down with a periodical that offers a deep dive into our local nature, tells stories from our amazing historical societies, and contains a grab bag of recipes, stickers, tickets to events, foraging guides, and who knows what else.

Four envelopes a year, jam packed with Catskill goodness. I’m unsure of pricing yet but as always, if you like it, we can explore more and if you don’t - we carry on.

CONTRIBUTOR

Tl;dr We’re having a giveaway for two free nights at one of our two new Curious Guesthouses properties in Eldred plus a BOATLOAD of local goodies! Just head over to Instagram to enter.

And now… Megan here. I’m the head of the Upstate Curious Team at Compass but I’ve got a side hustle that I wanted to share with you here. As Catskill Crew folks, I already know that you love this region and exploring different corners of the Hudson Valley and Catskills. So do I!

We’ve got eight properties - the Curious Guesthouses - that we offer to clients and partner agents… and to everyone else when they’re available. I want you give you the opportunity to explore the Barryville/Eldred/Narrowsburg area that I love so very much with:

Gooood luck! — Megan Brenn-White, head of Curious Guesthouses and the Upstate Curious Team at Compass powered by PLACE (the two businesses are not legally affiliated, btw, just partners!)

PS if you also love this area, we’ve got a handful of listings to share: a stylish new build in Narrowsburg plus a vintage commercial property and historic riverfront home in Barryville!

CONTRIBUTOR

And now a note from your friendly neighborhood hedge witch, Ashley.

My favorite part of a spit poultice is the sting. When I first slapped a freshly chewed, green mess of plantain on an already unbearable mosquito bite it surprised me – the tiny jolt of affirmation, telling me the medicine is finding its way in.

The cooling sting met and matched the bite’s screaming itch, and invited it to quiet. My skin absorbed the viscous green, and plantain absorbed the mosquito saliva. It was an exchange, a dialogue on a cellular scale, as all spit poultices go.

Plantain, not to be confused with plantain banana, is a humble perennial, native to Eurasia, introduced to the Americas during the 17th century. It spread so quickly that Indigenous peoples came to know Plantago major as “white man’s foot.” Plantago major is one of the two most common Plantago species you’ll see around - the other being Plantago lanceolata. They peek up through concrete cracks, thrive in fields and yards, and squeak a little when walked on.

These low lying friends offer the same medicinal benefits and may be used interchangeably. Among Plantago’s numerous healing actions, they are astringent and vulnerary, meaning they draw out splinters, dirt, stings and poisons, lending to their traditional usage in treating snakebites. What is it like to meet and work with this medicinal powerhouse? Joyful! And grounding. They tell me just how the wind is moving, their leaves wiggling and tall white stamens swaying from their patch. Their vibrant green is a friend waiting to hear how my day has been. Might I have any bumps, bruises or bites to mend?

But naming constituents of Plantago major is only one type of knowing; linking the taste of plantain to the sensation of it healing your skin is quite another.

Braid the intellectual with the visceral by trying a spit poultice! Find some Plantago*, and consider them with all your senses. What is it like to be them? Are there insects or other plants nearby? Share a few words in gratitude and leave an offering in exchange for their medicine. Inside this mindful moment, pinch off a leaf with your thumbnail. Let it rest in your mouth, familiarizing its taste before biting into it. Then, chew! Be open to how the flavor may change when you break it open and the constituents begin to combine with your saliva.

Slap or spit the chewed plant right onto the area that seeks support. The more spit, the better the herb will adhere to the skin, expanding the surface area for the medicine to do its job. Get curious - how does it feel? Do you find the acknowledging sting? Every plant, every wound, every body will tell a different story.

There is an entire realm at the edges of our periphery. If you feel called to work with plantain, you may realize that you recognize this more-than-human ally on a subtle, subconscious frequency. You almost assuredly cross paths with them too many times to count; they’ve only been waiting for you to slow down and introduce yourself.

Safety Notice: When working with plants, be sure to identify them correctly, especially when ingesting or touching them. Peterson field guides are spectacular. It takes more time than using your phone, but taking that time is the way to learn. You’ll build the muscle to identify plants correctly, mindfully, and respectfully.

Meadowlark at the Barn with Laura Stevenson, Cut Worms, Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage This Friday August 22nd, the Hudson Valley’s own Meadowlark Festival is taking a trip from the orchard to the barn, with a festival pre-show at historic Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock. Friday’s lineup features Laura Stevenson, Cut Worms, and Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage, on the same barn stage as Levon’s famed Midnight Rambles. A few reserved seating tickets are still available at LevonHelm.com. Gates: 6:30PM / Doors: 7:30PM / Show: 8:00PM

Root & Ramble lets you spend more time enjoying your home and less time managing it. We are your full service property manager for everything your property needs from handyman repairs and maintenance, to pool care, landscaping, and more. We can coordinate your existing vendors or bring in our trusted team, ensuring every detail is taken care of Learn more here.

A summer tomato is something to celebrate! Hudson Valley Seed Co is hosting their 1st Annual TOMATO FEST on Saturday August 30th from 1-4pm. Join for arts, crafts, games, vendors, garden tours, and, of course, tomatoes! This event is free and open to all ages; some activities have an additional cost. Celebrate the mighty tomato!

Hart’s Upstate was created to share the best of made and grown goods from the Hudson Valley. Seasonally minded, they work with the region’s top farms and makers to gather our area's finest food products and deliver them to your door. Order the Gather Box for a light meal alfresco or the Breakfast Box for a lazy Saturday morning over pancakes & eggs. Catskill Crew Members get free Delivery with CATSKILLCREW. Stock up before for Labor Day Weekend here.

Unleash your creativity at the Photo Retreat in the Woods, a four-day immersive experience at AutoCamp in Saugerties. You'll learn from eight all-star instructors and work with three on-site models and build a unique body of work. This all-inclusive retreat features catered meals, beer and wine, and expert-led sessions on everything from on-location shooting to bookmaking and Adobe Lightroom. Locals, use code CREWSAVE100 to save $100 on any ticket. Learn more here.

Adopt Pets: Drum roll please! I’d like to introduce you to Luna, the web-footed German Shepard and Lab mix, Louise the cat, and Norbert the red iguana.

Property of the Week: c.1695 stone home.

The Sky Report: Before sunrise on August 20th, the Moon and Pollux will be in conjunction. Look to the eastern horizon around 5:05 AM to see them rise together. Pollux, the brighter of the Gemini twins, is an orange giant star about 34 light-years away.

Sunrise 6:09 AM
Sunset 7:50 PM
Fire Danger [moderate]
Air Quality [good]
Moon Phase [waning crescent]

Want to add an event? Use this link.

The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - 15 Year Anniversary Celebration: Free Screening and Party at 7pm to 100 more years

Salt Box, Kingston - Queer Kingston Open Mic with dogs from Yeah Dawg at 6pm

Tubby's, Kingston - Live tunes with Billy Wakeman, Hazy Rhythm Wonder Band, and Qwip at 7pm have fun

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Danny Blume's Big Red Flag at 8pm enjoy

The Pines, Mt. Tremper - Music Night with Aaron Dugan at 7pm smash burgs

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Happy Hour with Woodstock Sanctuary at 5pm

The Falcon, Marlboro - HV Jazz Jam in the Underground at 7pm

Catskills Visitor Center, Mt. Tremper - Trails and Gardens Volunteer Day for Pollinator Fest Kickoff: at 9:30am get out there and Catskills Nature Explorers: Geology of the Catskills at 10:30am for the kiddos

Roxbury Arts Group, Roxbury - John Moreland at 7:30pm this is really sweet

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel - Tyler Hubbard at 7:30pm get a ticket

Inn Way Art Co-op, Ellenville - Dream Seed Sound Bath at 5pm gongggg

Lost Book Shop, Delhi - Book Discussion: Ragtime at 6pm read more books

Rough Draft, Kingston - Trivia with DJ Maxwell at 6pm

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Booker T. Jones at 7pm tix

Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock - Local Album Release “Komarov’s Return” Played to Solaris at 7pm very cool

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

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Sketch & Burlesque at 7pm details

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock - Meadowlark at the Barn with Laura Stevenson, Cut Worms (solo), Jeffrey Lewis and The Voltage at 8pm it’s gonna be good

The Caboose, Hudson - A Voice from Heaven at 7pm more baroque

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel - Bonnie Raitt at 7:30pm nice

The Common Good, Ellenville - Talking Heads: Never Seen, Never Heard - The Metropolis Recordings at 7pm rsvp

Catskill Mountain Railroad, Kingston - Twilight Limited train Ride at 7:30pm all aboard

Ashokan Center, Olivebridge - Summer Hoot 2025 3 days long

Catskill Center, Mount Tremper - Hike for the Catskills: Guided Natural History Hike at the Catskill Visitor Center at 10:30am hit the trail

Laugh it Up Comedy Club, Poughkeepsie - Yannis Pappas at 7pm tix

Grahamsville Fairgrounds, Grahamsville - The Secret Life of Streams: Exploring Aquatic Insects at 1pm long live the mayfly

Gilboa Museum, Gilboa - The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond at 4:30pm catskill gansters

Seminary Hill, Callicoon - Line Dancing at 6:30pm cut rug

Pine Hill Community Center, Pine Hill - Concert with Yolanda Bush & The Cool Water Collective at 7pm

ArtPort Kingston, Kingston - 2025 Summer Film Series with Emerging Hudson Valley Filmmakers at 7pm tix

The Loft at The Foothills PAC, Oneonta - Prog Metal Night in the Catskills at 6pm thrash

Farmiture, Davenport - Farmiture Jam 3:Cowboys and Hippies at 4pm have fun

Rip Van Winkle Lake, Tannersville - Turtle Jam at 12pm love the event poster

Hunter Mountain Resort, Hunter - 4x4 Off-Road Adventures at 12pm full send

Opus 40, Kingston - Yoga on the Rocks at 9:30am down doggy

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - David Cross at 7pm funny dude

Assembly, Kingston - Grown: A Beyoncé Dance Party at 9pm get it

The Pines, Mt. Tremper - Field Market with Von Salad Wood Fired Pizza at 12pm rachel makes the best martinis

White Feather Farm, Saugerties - Cattail Community Harvest Day at 10am go see renee

Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook - Daytime Disco from 3-9pm this is going to be good

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel - Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts at 7:30pm oh yeah

Tusten Community Heritage Garden, Narrowsburg - Pollinator Plants at 10am the outside institute

Night School, Athens - Bluegrass Slow Jam at 6pm

ArtPort Kingston, Kingston - Eco-Art Workshop For Youth at 2pm the kiddos

Oliver's, Mt. Tremper - Hideaway Comedy Presents: an Evening with Ethan Simmons-Patterson at 7:30pm enjoy yourselves

Big Indian Park, Big Indian - Shandaken Summer Concert Series at 1pm

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Tunes with Katy Pinke, The Shivers, The Fascinating Chimera Project, and Sarah La Puerta at 8pm love something on mondays