#bestofthecatskills

The Map.

As far as tech goes, I love my GPS and how it gets me from here to there. Thank you, GPS. That said, while it gets me there, it doesn't give me much perspective on where I am or where I've been. In the last year, as you know, I released an online guidebook to the Catskills. Why online? Well, it's a work in progress. It currently covers some back story -- how to get to the Catskills and some Inside Scoop on why it's so cool and who makes it that way -- plus over 150 destinatio

Glogg Your Way into Hygge

This year, I skipped Thanksgiving and went to Denmark where Noma has transformed the national food experience over the past 10 years to be more than just pickled herring (but yes, also pickled herring!). Farm to table is front and center there, with families of restaurants designed to focus intently on different parts of a farm and its products. A bakery to employ the grains and, oh, how the country knows good bread! A dairy or creamery for milk, cheese and ice cream. Meats,

Farm Girl's Guide to Holiday Shopping in the Catskills

I resist the urge to think about the holidays until Thanksgiving, but the other day I found myself singing along to Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" in the grocery store. Really? Well, I guess it's apropos because Berlin penned that iconic song in the Catskills hamlet of Lew Beach. If you're ever driving through there on a snowy day, you can see just how it happened. Following the release of Farm Girl's Guide in early November, I am giving you a little gift: a shopping guide

Cocktail Accessories & Foodie Fun at The Proper

Narrowsburg Proper 44 Main Street Narrowsburg, NY 845-252-3242 @narrowsburgproper The shelves in the front are stacked to the rafters with foodie treats good for a gift box or basket for the discerning eater. Caviar. Chocolates. French honey. Pastas and sauces. Cheeses and olives. Tidbits of all ilks. The back lures you in with proper items for the men in your life -- cocktail shakers, bitters and simple syrups, exclusive beard oil, clothes, humidors and other manly accessori

Brushed Alpaca Throws & Blankets from Buck Brook Alpaca Farm

Buck Brook Alpacas 99 Bestenheider Road Roscoe, NY 12776 (845) 807-3104 www.buckbrookalpacas.com @buckbrookalpacas Buck Brook Alpacas is a family run farm located in Sullivan County. The farm raises 150 alpacas, along with angora rabbits. Oh my! They strive to raise these adorable animals in a warm, clean and loving environment. Buck Brook harvests the alpacas' luxury fiber once yearly to create beautiful yarn and products for the home, family and crafters, which are availab

Borscht Belt Buckle from Catskill Carriage

Catskill Carriage Dry Goods Store catskillcarriage.com Back in the day (1920s to the 1970s), the Catskills were known as the Borscht Belt, a nickname that references the traditional beet soup made in Jewish communities. Mmmm! What better way to celebrate history than with your very own Borscht Belt buckle?! Raised antique brass with a sandblasted finish (2.5" x 3.5"). $25 plus shipping. Available on line only. XOXO Farm Girl #farmgirlsshoppingguide #holidayshopping #shoplocal

Give a Green Future with Support for Catskill Mountainkeeper

Catskill Mountainkeeper 47B Main Street Livingston Manor, NY (845) 439-1230 catskillmountainkeeper.org @mountainkeeper Stop in to Catskill Mountainkeeper's office on Main Street in Livingston Manor and make a $50 donation to give the ones you love a little slice of green, a little peace of mind, a little trickle of a fresh running stream. Pick up a stainless steel Keeper cup for your donation and give it as a token of your (and their) love for keeping our environment pristine

Style Up at the River Gallery

River Gallery 8 Main Street Narrowsburg, NY (845) 252-3238 rivergalleryny.com @therivergallery Leave it to Tony and Barry. Barry, a very busy real estate agent (on IG as @catskillhomes), can find you the country house of your dreams. And then you can just pop over and visit Tony who presides over the River Gallery to suit up your new home with just the right touch. Whether that special someone has a country house or not, the River Gallery has the perfect gift to accentuate a

Spread a Little Peace This Holiday from the Dancing Cat Saloon

Catskill Distilling Company at the Dancing Cat Saloon 2037 State Road 17B, Bethel, NY (845) 583-3141 catskilldistilling.com dancingcatsaloon.com @catskilldistill As a matter of fact, you can celebrate a White Christmas with a set of New York State white spirits from Catskill Distilling Company. But Peace Vodka is a good place to start. If your tastes run more toward whiskey, you are in the right place. Try Fearless Wheat Whiskey or Most Righteous Bourbon. Can't make up your m

Stoneware from Duke Pottery

Duke Pottery 855 County Road 93 Roscoe, NY (607) 498-5207 dukepottery.com @dukepottery Take a trip into Roscoe to find Carolyn Duke's ceramic studio and shop one flight up. This low-fired stoneware is hand-built and draws its inspiration from the surrounding natural beauty. All of her work is one-of-a-kind. Prices range from $20 to several hundred for her specialty pieces, especially her Raku work. Come get lost and found in the serenity of Carolyn Duke's creativity. Other ar

A Vintage American Flag for the History Buffs from State Park Vintage at the Red Rose Motel

Red Rose Motel & Tavern State Park Vintage 21677 County Highway 17 Roscoe, NY theredrosemotel.com @theredrosemotel @stateparkvintage A great choice for history buffs or fans of Americana decor, State Park Vintage stocks a broad selection of historic American flags ($75 to $450) as well as vintage travel pennants ($5 to $50). Antique flags range from 1896-1952 and can be found throughout each of the guest rooms at The Red Rose Motel. State Park is a small vintage and antiques

An Original MayerWasner Patchwork Skirt

MayerWasner 55 Main Street Narrowsburg, NY (845) 252-3828 mayerwasner.com @mayerwasner MayerWasner presents its very favorite skirt, which they made especially for the holiday season. It's got it all -- a bit of sleek leather, some essential sparkle, a sustainable ethos and it's fun to wear. Swish! It's signature MayerWasner perfection for $345. It's available both in-store and online. And guess what, let them know that Farm Girl sent you and you get 15% off of anything, in-s

Light Up the Holidays with Morgan Outdoors' Luci EMRG Lamp

Morgan Outdoors 46 Main Street Livingston Manor, NY (845) 439-5507 morgan-outdoors.com @morgan.outdoors These solar-powered wonders -- the Luci EMRG Lamp -- need just a few hours in the sun to power up and softly brighten your indoor or outdoor space. The red light is great for preserving night vision or for emergencies; the white for brightening tougher jobs. Super-cool lamp that inflates easily. Small enough to carry as a flashlight. The Luci EMRG Lamp is $14.95 at Morgan O

Give the Gift of Veggies from Somewhere in Time Farm

Somewhere In Time Farm 108 Somewhere In Time Lane Parksville, NY (845) 807-8702 somewhereintimefarm.com @somewhereintimefarm When you give a gift of fresh veggies, you also help a farmer. This holiday season you can make your favorite veggie lover veggie happy with a gift certificate for $25. They can go pick their own crudités at Somewhere In Time's weekend farmstand in Livingston Manor (see Insta for times). Go hog wild and give a month of veggies for $100. Fresh, crisp, gr

Callicoon Pop-Up Shop with The Farmhouse Project

The Farmhouse Project Pop-up Shop 43 Lower Main St Callicoon, NY thefarmhouseproject.com/shop The Farmhouse Project will host a pop-up shop to kick off the 2018 holiday season! You can find them poppin' in Callicoon for three weekends this December (12/8 - 12/23) with beautiful, locally handmade goods from their new collection, perfect for gift giving. Beautiful items include linen napkins, tote bags, wine bags, candles, butterfly vitrines and Catskills pennants. Gift prices

Give the Gift of Nature

The Outside Institute Based in Sullivan County, NY theoutsideinstitute.org @theoutsideinstitute The Outside Institute offers group and individual nature walks, foraging excursions and wildcrafting workshops, as well as products and gatherings that feature wild flavors and naturally healing properties. Prices range from $15 for Black Walnut Bitters to $25 per person for a group nature walk to $200 for a private foraging lesson. The Outside Institute's Gift Certificates (availa

Movie Night for Two or Two Hundred

The Callicoon Theater 30 Upper Main Street Callicoon, NY 12723 (845) 887-4460 www.thecallicoontheater.com hello@thecallicoontheater.com rentals@thecallicoontheater.com @callicoontheater Pick up some gift certificates at the box office! They make the perfect gift and can be used for brand new releases or toward any retro screenings. The theater is also available to rent for private events! Movie tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids. Mondays and matinees are $8 for adults

Cooking Class at Henning's Local

Henning's Local 6 Old County Road Cochecton Center, NY (845) 252-3008 henningslocal.com @henningslocal Cheryl Perry is a former restaurant and bakery owner who has been a culinary instructor on and off for 20+ years. She's a ceramicist and lead educator at Red Barn Studio. Cheryl and Henning go way back and have teamed up to offer a wide range of cooking and other culinary related classes at Henning's Local. A gift certificate here is a great idea for either the best cook you

Eco Print Scarves by Artist Alexis Siroc Exclusively at Domesticities

Domesticities & The Cutting Garden 4055 State Route 52 Youngsville, NY (845) 482-3333 thecuttinggarden.org @domesticities.thecuttinggarden Artist Alexis Siroc's silk and wool scarves -- offered exclusively at Domesticities for the holidays -- are crafted through the contemporary application of a natural dying process. Siroc collects flora from her gardens and creates a one-of-a-kind print -- using the tannins from the organics -- her luxurious scarves. They range in price fr

Menorahs in the Stray Cat Gallery

Stray Cat Gallery 2032 State Route 17B Bethel, NY (845) 583-3141 ext. 101 straycatgallery.com Visit the Stray Cat Gallery on Sunday, November 25 for a little wine and cheese (starting at noon, because it's 5 o'clock somewhere!) and peruse a private collection of Menorahs. Menorahs and other items from Judaica artist, David Klass will be on sale. The gallery is open throughout the holidays and features something for everyone: art, books, Woodstock memorabilia and jewelry. $5 o