Hudson Opera House :: Winter Walk

Photo by Peter Blandori

Photos by Peter Blandori

GRAND SPONSOR

Saturday December 3, 2011
5 - 8 pm
For a complete schedule click here.

15TH ANNUAL WINTER WALK KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON IN HUDSON, NY

Video Courtesy of

Help Support Winter Walk
Benefit Supper

Saturday, December 3, 2011
8 to 10 pm

Looking for somewhere to land after your Winter Walking? Come join us here in the calm after the storm at command central. Lasagna is on the menu this year-- traditional, sausage and kale, and vegetarian mushroom-- accompanied by mesclun salad and a fresh baked roll and topped off with a killer (trust us) Chocolate Mousse for dessert.

The whole operation is under the leadership of Chef Caite Whitbeck, a CIA grad who cooked on the line at the legendary Chez Panisse and the former Chef de Cuisine at the recently opened Buvette in NYC. Wine, coffee and softdrinks included, natch, and our go-to jazz guy Tim Doyle will be tinkling the ivories in the candlelit ambiance. Tickets are $50 per person, and all proceeds benefit Winter Walk.

Tucked in between Halloween and Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah comes the Hudson Opera House Winter Walk, now in its 15th year. The first Saturday in December is now treated as a not-to-be-missed additional holiday, duly noted on personal calendars all over Columbia and surrounding counties and places as far away as Boston to the East, NYC to the south, and the appointment book of an important resident of the North Pole.

This year, on Saturday, December 3 from 5 pm to 8 pm, visitors to Hudson NY will mingle with residents to celebrate the official beginning of the holiday season. At 4:30 Warren Street is swept clean of parked cars and traffic and a seeming calm falls over the usually busy street, until at 5 pm, the Coxsackie-Athens Community Band trumpet fanfare and the sights and sounds of the Santa Parade announce the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the elves (Cindy Tracey, Cindy Tuczinski, Tia Scrum, and Tracy), and the junior elves (Ally MacGiffert, Olivia MacGiffert, and Colin MacGiffert)and the official holiday season begins.

Winter Walk transforms the City of Hudson’s main commercial street into a festive thoroughfare with twinkling lights, brightly decorated shops, horse-drawn wagons offering rides, stilt walkers and marionettes, bagpipers and live reindeer. Look for Frosty the Snowman on the street, as well as Marley’s Ghost and Scrooge, the walking Grandfather Clock, the Tin Soldier, and a host of angels, snowflakes and elves of all sizes.

With a well-earned reputation as a premier Hudson Valley event, Winter Walk is unlike any other holiday festival. It takes place on the City of Hudson’s mile-long historic Warren Street, stretching from Front Street to 8th Street and spilling out to adjacent streets as well. It is well known for its quirky take on the holidays and for the diversity of entertainment provided.

Take music for example. Taking full advantage of Hudson’s reputation as a “music town,” Winter Walk provides music for every taste—from a lyre duo at Elijah Slocum (504 Warren) and a sitar player at Bodhi (323 Warren), to the Dented Fenders Barbershop Quartet, harmonizing seasonal favorites on the street, and the Eastern European band, Szelrosa, holding forth at Musica, at 17 North 4th Street. Mecca Bodega, the NYC subway percussionists, are back with hammered dulcimer and more. And, of course, Sax-O-Clause (the artist previously known as Saxophone Santa) is in his usual spot at Vince Mulford’s shop in the 400 block.

The Coxsackie-Athens Community Band presents its annual Winter Walk concert in the First Presbyterian Church at 5:20, followed by the 15-strong Capital Area Flute Club at 7 pm. Other less-likely places are transformed into performance halls for the evening. Find singer Abby Lappen in the Bank of America and the Taconic Hills Jazz Band at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

To our delight, there is diversity in dance as well. From belly dancers (Casa Urbana at 525 Warren) and the Can Can Girl (Carousel at 611 Warren and deMarchin at 620 Warren) to the Hudson Valley Performing Arts Center’s ballet troupe, the Hip Hop Chop Shop’s “Pop ‘n’ Lock,” and the Kuumba Latin Fever Dancers at 330 Warren.

For the 15th year, the Sternfeld Dance Studio’s “Dancing Doll” spins her way through the night. (That girl must be tired by now!) Find her this year at Historical Materialism (601 Warren) from 5:30 to 7 pm.

Vanessa Baehr, a local Spinstress who made her debut at last year’s Winter Walk, is back again and brings with her the Hudson Hoopers. Look for them at the Sorted studio (357 Warren) where you too can try out your skills as a hula hooper. Hudson’s Got Talent!

At FACE Stockholm at the corner of 4th and Warren, the charming, traditional St. Lucia Festival of Lights will take place every half hour, and is not to be missed!

Food? There will be plenty of it, both eat-as-you-go food from street vendors, and sit-down meals at Hudson’s growing list of restaurants—some with tented, heated outdoor dining areas for those who have thought to make reservations ahead.

Winter Walkers will not want to miss the goings-on at either end of Warren Street. Food and drink is the theme uptown above Seventh (the area sometimes affectionately called Seven-Up.). Parlor Coffee & Tea, Wasabi, Wunderbar (under new management), Park Falafel, and Grazin’, the new Animal Welfare Approved occupant of the diner, offer a respite for weary walkers. Have your photo taken at Photographics Solution (2 Park Place) or view the adorable adoptable kittens at Animalkind (721 Warren). On your way to a sweet treat at Vasilow’s Confectionery around the corner on Columbia Street, check out the Italian Market and Deli, and Taste of the Caribbean—both new to the neighborhood.

At the Northern end of the park, be sure to visit the Acres Co-op Market folks at 704 Columbia and learn what their plans are for the future, and then visit the WGXC community radio station’s open mic studio on the second floor.

Walkers will be drawn downtown by the giant video screen at Promenade Hill. Once below 3rd Street, they can sample eggnog at the 13 businesses participating in the Eggnog Challenge, then cast their ballots in BeLo3rd’s heated tent at 2nd and Warren.

On your way downtown take note of the four new businesses clustered together in the 200 block—Bruno’s take-out spot (227 Warren), Pampered Pooch dog grooming emporium (226 Warren), The Dakota (a branch of the popular Chatham shop) at 228 Warren, and Le Perche, the French bakery and café at 230. While on Front Street, stop in and take a peek at the newly renovated home of the Chamber of Commerce in the former Washington Hose Firehouse.

All in all, visitors will want to check out the 23 new businesses that have opened on or near Warren Street since last year’s Winter Walk. In addition to those already mentioned, notable among them are Red Chair on Warren, a new-to-Hudson antique store; the Roshkowska Gallery, moved here from Windham; two home furnishings stores—Lillie K. Traders at 444 Warren and Elijah Slocum at 504 Warren; the adorable hole-in-the-wall B’s Hats, selling original creations by Behida Dolic at 443; Nahual, selling African masks and Mexican folk art at 345 Warren; culture + commerce, featuring artist-made furniture, lighting and furnishings at 428 Warren; Kea, a small rug shop at 409 ½ Warren; and the comforting MOD Café, open for business on Front Street in the former Moxie’s spot.

Finally, if children are in your party, several things should definitely be on your schedule. A visit to Santa and Mrs. Claus, giving out free gifts in City Hall, is a must. The popular Tots the Clown, making balloon animals, Cynthia Mulvaney, painting faces, and the always entertaining Roger the Jester will all be at 623 Warren Street, at the corner of 7th Street. Finally, fireworks, launched at 8:15 pm from Promenade Hill, will be visible from most places on Warren Street.

Walkers are advised to dress warmly and arrive early to secure a parking spot. Please be aware that all of Warren Street, from Front Street to 7th Street, will be closed to traffic and parking during Winter Walk. Only 7th Street and Front Street will be used for through traffic.

Trucks will be re-routed around the city for the evening. Between 5 pm and 8 pm, cars can use all entry points to the City, but must use Union Street or Columbia Street to head toward 7th Street or Front Street to cross town.

Cars can park in municipal lots on Warren, Union or Columbia Streets, and in other City- owned lots, including the public parking lot at the Consolidated Firehouse at 7th and Washington Streets and the waterfront parking lots at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. Paid parking is also available at the Amtrak long-term parking lot on Front Street, across from the station.

Free Trolleys will run in both directions on Columbia Street from 5 pm to 8:30 pm, and will make stops at the waterfront parking lots and the Consolidated Firehouse lot.

Winter Walk is produced and presented by the Hudson Opera House, a multi-arts center and major downtown anchor, housed in an 1855 building that was once City Hall.

Winter Walk is made possible with support from the event’s Grand Sponsor, Taconic. Benefactors include Hudson Development Corporation, Columbia Hudson Partnership, Café Le Perche, Columbia County Tourism, Hudson River Bank & Trust Co. Foundation, Stewart's Holiday Match, and 98.5 The Cat.

Winter Walk Patrons include Ca' Mea Ristorante, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Hudson Home, Wunderbar and Bistro, Weaver’s Trolley, Dreaming Tree Farm, Hudson Catskill Newspapers, The Register Star, The Columbia Paper, Berkshire Home & Style, and Metroland.

Winter Walk Sponsors include Baba Louie’s Sourdough Pizza, de Marchin, Elijah Slocum, Inc., Gary DiMauro Real Estate, Hudson Rotary Club, Karp, Ackerman, Skabowski & Hogan, Lili and Loo, Mulhern Gas Co., O&G Industries, and WGY Christmas Wish Fund.

Other support was received from Carousel Antiques, Columbia Tent Rentals, EP Nevins Insurance, Eustace & Zamus, Family Eyecare Center, Fingar Insurance, Hudson Valley Ophthalmology PLLC, Kinderhook Bank, Koweek, Cranna & McEvoy, Marx Home, Peter Jung Fine Art, Red Dot, The Cascades, The Inn at Hudson, The Second Show, Inc.,Vasilow's Confectionery, Cold Spring Tree Farm, Hudson Cruises, Park Falafel & Pizza, The Law Office of Brian J. Herman, Hudson Town & Country Realty, Lillie K. Traders, Davis Orton Gallery, Stuart Associates, MOD Restaurant, Hedstrom & Judd, Club Helsinki Hudson, and Tanzy's.