Oktoberfest @ Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain State Park is the flagship of the Palisades Interstate Park System situated only 30 minutes away from Greenwood Lake. Beginning the weekend of September 15 -16, 2012 and every consecutive weekend through the month of October, authentic German foods, music, crafts and plenty of beer will be available throughout Bear Mountain State Park. Our fantastic fall offers at the Inn will make this festival even more fun!

Facilities include playing fields, picnic groves, rowboat docks on Hessian Lake, swimming pool and bathhouse, nature trails, an ice-skating rink, basketball court,Trailside Museums and Zoo, Iona Island Estuarine Reserve and Bird Refuge, Perkins Tower, and the Merry-Go-Round and pavilion. Oktoberfest hours are from 12:00 Noon to 6 PM accompanied by authentic German bands for entertainment! 

Rock the Mountain

We're gearing up for the Rock the Mountain Music Festival coming this weekend on Sept. 29 & 30.  Two days of music, camping, food vendors, craft beers and full bar in beautiful Sterling Forest at Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center. This year pays tribute to the Allman Brothers. So if you like outdoor festivals, but aren't the camping type, we still have a couple rooms left. For a full event calendar go to www.rockthemountain.eventbrite.com 

Lucy Look-Alike Contest & Grape Stomp

 Nothing like kicking off the Fall harvest season with a little I Love Lucy nostalgia at Palaia Vineyards. This is one of my favorite wineries that you can always count on for a good time and unique events. Today is the annual Lucy look-alike contest and grape stomp. Contestests dress their best and reenact the famous I Love Lucy episode. Usually there are a couple Ricky look-alikes to root on the ladies. If you're in the area go check it out. The grape stomp starts at 3 pm.
Palaia Vineyards
10 Sweet Clover Rd.
Highland Mills, NY
www.palaiavineyards.com

 

 

Lots of excitement around the inn this weekend! The annual Irish Night hosted by the Gaelic Cultural Society is being held at the beach on Saturday at 7.30pm and it's sure to be loads of craic!

Music by The Billy Kennan band, Marie McVicker, bagpipe band, all topped off with Irish dancers and a raffle draw with prizes including a 42 inch TV...your in for a great night so come along.  Now we just need another beautiful sunset to top it off!

Back on Irish Soil!

Never a truer saying...time fly's by when your having fun! I can't believe my time in Greenwood Lake has come to an end. I have had a fantastic time working at the Waterstone Inn and spending my stay with the Mulcahy family who sent me off with a great dinner at the Breezy Point Inn and delicious cake from The Creamery. All the interns spent the final night in NYC at a special dinner that was organised for us. Everyone had the same story to tell, the internship taught them a lot and the host family where amazing. Thank you Project Children for a great experience, it was a privilege.

Warwick Winery has a great line-up of events for the weekend. From their Pane Bakery Cafe which serves all homemade produce and local ingredients, the wine tasting room which includes six different types and a free glass for $5, to their live music during the afternoons. I suppose it’s not really a place that you would think of immediately going to spend an afternoon however this place makes for a great day out. This weekend 11/12th the Blues festival begins from 12-5pm on Saturday followed by a Tribute to Johnny Cash taking place on Sunday also 12-5pm. The music series continues if it’s rain or shine so this may be the perfect place to pop into this weekend!  

Checking out the local grub...

This week I got to check out some local restaurants and cafe's and I have to say I am very impressed. Pennings orchard was great for lunch, sitting out in the sunshine with their tasty fish n' chips and some of their home brewed cider-perfect for a sunny day. The inn at long pond had a great menu and the veggie burger was tasty! Yesterday, I went to the Ermerald for dinner. The portions were huge, definitely getting your money's worth and also very good. Heading now to Cape Cod for the weekend so I will be looking for some of their local seafood. Sadly, next weekend will be my last in Greenwood Lake. Will fill you in more about that next week! Have a good weekend x

Clam N' Jam

Penning’s orchard provides a family friendly atmosphere, outdoor seating, live entertainment and great food. Putting all these things together, Penning’s have devised a great night out for all the family....Clam N’ Jam! The event which take's place on a Friday evening includes a fresh clam and seafood bar and live music until 11pm. I had a great lunch here yesterday and would recommend people to go check it out. The area is very child friendly and they have enough room, inside and out, to have a right old knees up!

Catching the rays!

The past week on the lake has been very chilled out and I got a few days in the sun to try work on some sort of a tan. I have to say with this Irish skin it's difficult to get any substantial amount! Yesterday was a great day spent out on the boat, firstly, with my friend Christine who I have to give a shout out to and then a lovely BBQ on Charlie's Cove with the Mulcahy family. I got to try tubing-which was hilarious and also spin about on the Jet Ski. As you can see from the pic above I got to get a ride on the Harley which was amazing-once on it you can totally understand what they say about getting out in the open and feeling free. I caught Elvis last weekend on the beach, not bad at all! Still trying to catch The Waterstone Inn up on their social media however im finding it a tad difficult to reach new people since I don't know anyone around this way. However I will push with it, pass the word and get liking! Amy x

Boat safely!

The Greenwood Lake Police Department is hosting a safe boating course on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th August. This is a great course to brush up on safety issues and also gather new information about your boats and how to keep you and your passenger’s safe at all times. It's easy to forget the simple things that can easily put your safety under threat; therefore this course is a good reminder. At the Waterstone Inn, boat and lake safety is no.1 for our guests and our family and we encourage responsibility when out boating. Don't let a happy day go bad by not being careful!

Reservations are now taking place by bringing a $35 cheque to the Police Department on 16 Church Street or calling 845-477-9211.

Nitrite-Free at Breezy Point

This past week I had the chance to spend some quality time here in Greenwood Lake with my cousin, his wife and their two young daughters. The best thing about  family and friends coming to visit is that you have an excuse to break from routine and play tour guide for awhile. After a couple of days here at the Lake, I think they can see why I chose Greenwood Lake as home. 

We ended their visit with a fabulous lunch at Breezy Point. I haven't been there with my own kids in awhile,  so I was happy to see that they now have nitrite-free hot dogs on the children's menu. I've tried to cut out all nitrites at home and it's nice to know that there's a local restaurant with an awareness and dedication to offering healthy food. Thank you Breezy!  ~Lisa

The bright lights of the city!

I spent a few days in the city last week which was amazing to see! NYC at night is stunning-between the brightness of the lights and the sheer size of the buildings it seemed quite surreal walking around. My first experience there was helping with the food kitchen at the Aishling Centre in the Bronx. The volunteering work that they do is admirable and they help out so many people, it was great to be able to participate. I also got to help at an event on Stone St. and on the weekend I met up with some other interns and hung around Times Square. By chance I got to go see a Yankees game-what a stadium and the atmosphere was great fun! After getting dazed by the lights I am back settling into Greenwood Lake this week and enjoying the tranquility that it brings (that doesn’t include the thunder and lightning storms) and look forward to a weekend looking at the stars rather than the signs :-)

Air Show, WW11 Showcase & Car Show

The 2012 Greenwood Lake Air Show produces three great shows in one and is sure to be a great event. This year’s show is taking place on August 18th-19th and will headline the Twin Tiger Aerobatic Team, which features Buck Roetman and Mark Sorenson and their identical Tiger Yak 55’s plane. They will perform an aerial demonstration of precision and skill at they perform spectacular formation aerobatics. Live bands, a car show and WW11 living history displays will also be ongoing at the event. Sounds too flying good to miss!

Tickets can be bought in advance from www.greenwoodlakeairshow.com.

Garden centre day out!

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming! What an ideal way to enjoy the best of summer by going to the Greenwood Lake Garden Centre and joining in on their day of activities. The garden centre on Windermere Avenue is holding a free cooking demo and wine tasting on Saturday 21st July. It is sure to be a pleasant day out for all the family whilst picking up some new culinary tips!

Enjoying the local activities!

What an amazing fireworks display on Saturday, everybody should get the chance to see Greenwood Lake lit up under the stars! So just incase you missed it I have posted a video of the show on our Facebook page;

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waterstone-Inn/123424657723165

I got the chance to go to Warwick drive-in to see a movie which was cool to see the old school screens that they have. I have been told that it is one of the few drive-inn's left in America so I would defiantly encourage you to go and check it out. It was nice to see families and children also hanging out there and playing football etc. Let me know via facebook if you have been there before or have any photos. I also went and checked out Woodbury Common Mall, what a selection of shops! A good day of retail therapy! I’m heading into check out the bright lights of NYC this weekend and do some sightseeing with some of the other interns who are over with Project Children. Cross your fingers that we don't get lost!

Living the American Dream..

So my week in Greenwood Lake has been fun filled between getting stuck into my internship, welcoming and hanging with guests at the Inn and of course celebrating 4th July! The day began by taking part in Greenwood Lake’s annual parade with some of the other Project Children interns. The local people of GWL lined the streets and cheered on all those taking part adding to the great community spirit that exists within the village. After I spent the day chilling by the pool and enjoying the American hospitality with BBQ’s and beer. I have already learnt so much from my internship and how to conduct various marketing campaigns through the Waterstone Inn. Check us out on our Facebook page to keep updated on upcoming events and activities.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Waterstone-Inn/123424657723165 

 Tomorrow night I will be out continuing the Independence Day celebrations by joining a Fireworks display along the Lake! Will keep you posted, hope you all have a good weekend x

Our Irish Intern Arrives

Hi there! My name is Amy Conway and I have come to Greenwood Lake from Co.Tyrone to undertake a six week internship with the Mulcahy family. I will be carrying out Marketing and Public Relations activities and during this time will be updating my experiences on the Waterstone Inn blog. So far I have taken a boat ride on the lake-which can be described as too beautiful for words, met a few of the locals-which have all been exceptionally friendly, and spent time at the Waterstone Inn relaxing and taking in the views. I am ‘totally psyched’ for the rest of my stay and look forward to exploring more of the village. If you see me, come say hi! Chat soon x

It’s going to be ‘Bedlam’

Preparations are underway for the 4^th of July celebrations where Greenwood Lake will hold the annual bed race starting at Windermere Avenue at 1pm. Traditionally old beds are converted into a theme, wheels are added and a team is organized to push the bed through the street which is filled with locals and tourists cheering with excitement! Prizes and medals are given to the best bed racer. Prior to the bed race, a spectacular parade commences at 11am to begin the celebrations. A fantastic day out for all the family!

In the Mood for Mango's

If you've been to Greenwood Lake then you know we're a small town with lots of character. Each of our eateries offers something unique.

During the past few weeks, I've been watching work underway at a new Tortilla Grill called Mango's. To my delight the OPEN sign lit up this week, so I had to give it a try.  All the food is prepared in front of you and everything looks tasty. I decided on the shredded beef tacos and was able to pick and choose toppings. The beef had great flavor and the fresh pico de gallo had all the right jazz. I definitely give it a thumbs up and was sure to pick up menus for our guests at the Inn.

Greenwood Lake's Movie Debut!

For guests that stayed with us last summer it was a very exciting time in Greenwood Lake because our little village was the shooting location for Rob Reiner's new film, Magic of Belle Isle. Morgan Freeman was in our midst, as well as Virginia Madsen, Fred Willard, and an extraordinary up and coming actress Emma Fuhrman. We hosted cast and crew here at the Inn and can't wait to see the end result tomorrow night when the Village of Greenwood Lake holds its red carpet movie premiere at the beach. 

Hiking in Sterling Forest

  

This past weekend I finally had the chance to go on one of the guided hikes in Sterling Forest. My husband and I did the Fire Tower hike, which is about a 4-mile loop that begins at the Sterling Forest Visitor Center. Built in 1922, the fire tower affords an impressive view of Sterling Forest and the surrounding area. Sterling Lake is in the foreground to the northeast, Cedar Pond may be seen to the south, and a potion of Greenwood Lake is visible to the West. 

On the way to the tower there are ruins of the old iron mines and remnants of buildings that used to comprise the mining town of Lakeville. It was really interesting to see how much history is here (the first anchor ever forged in NY was made here) and amazing to be able to experience a part of the 22,000 acres of protected state forest. Can't wait for the next hike. 

Lilac Season

The sweet smell of spring is in the air around the lake. I had to capture it and bring it into the Inn. Lilacs are in full bloom everywhere. Some celebrate the coming of the cherry blossoms, but for me it's all about the lilacs. Maybe it's because I was born at the peak of lilac season (tomorrow is my birthday:) If you love them as much I do and you're in the area, at 10am this Saturday there's a presentation called "Lovely Lilacs" happening at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens (just 10 minutes from the Inn). 

We're Sponsoring the American Open Pro Squash Tour

Once again I'm amazed by the amount of activities that happen in our area. Our friends at Live Technology in Tuxedo Park  are hosting the American open of the Pro Squash Tour. We've signed on as an event sponsor for this year and we're excited to check out some of the best squash players in the world on April 25-29. For more info go to www.prosquashtour.net

Magic of Belle Isle

Greenwood Lake's long awaited Hollywood moment is almost here! The trailer for the Magic of Belle Isle has just been released and the movie will be opening in theaters July 6. This is the Rob Reiner film starring Morgan Freeman that was filmed here last summer. We had a blast hosting some of the cast and crew at the Inn and can't wait to see the finished product.

Here's the sneak peak http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ECo5Tbnd4Q

And I must admit, Greenwood Lake does look that amazing in real life too.

Fellow Innkeepers

Last night we had the pleasure of hosting the April meeting of the Orange County B&B Association at the Waterstone Inn. It's been a great organization for us to be a part of. There's a wonderful camaraderie between fellow innkeepers and I truly appreciate the kind words and advice people are willing to share. The best nugget of info that I learned from this meeting was how to use Facebook to link your Inn to area attractions. I will certainly be working on making this happen on our site.

B&B App for iPhone

Waterstone Inn is going mobile. We're now featured on I Love Inn's iPhone App, Inn Touch. If you're a traveler that enjoys staying at B&B's download it from the Apple App Store.

Spring Golf Deal

What an amazing start to Spring! The great weather has prompted some of the local golf courses to open early. Hickory Hill, which is less than 5 miles away from the Inn, is offering a round of golf with a cart for $25. That's a great excuse to dust off the clubs and get out there. To sweeten the deal, we'll take 10% off your stay at the Waterstone Inn if you golf at Hickory Hill in March and April.

Geocaching in Greenwood Lake

Has anyone heard of geocaching? This is something I just discovered yesterday and have become completely fascinated. In case you're wondering, like I did, geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. At its simplest level, geocaching requires these 8 steps:

Register for a free Basic Membership.Visit the "Hide & Seek a Cache" page.Enter your postal code and click "search."Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name.Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your GPS Device.Use your GPS device to assist you in finding the hidden geocache.Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location. Share your geocaching stories and photos online.

I didn't realize just how popular this has become. Apparently there are over 1200 caches in the Greenwood Lake area!! If you're into it, come on up to the Inn and let the treasure hunt begin.

Irish Events to Celebrate the Season

The St. Patrick's Day events are kicking off this Sunday in Greenwood Lake with Irish Day at the American Legion 12-6 pm. Hosted by the Mid-Hudson Parade Committee, there's a jam packed schedule of Irish entertainment, raffles and fun. Groups performing include: The Parting Glass, Chris Turpin Band, Irish Step Dancers from McLaughlin's School of Dance, Pipes and Drums of the AOH of Orange County and the Mike O'Sullivan Band with the Latimer Brothers. Adults $8, kids under 12 with an adult are free.

Next Saturday, March 10th, the Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society will be holding its St. Patrick's Day Dinner Dance at the American Legion. This year the organization will be honoring Celts of the Year Nancy and Floyd DeAngelo, as well as our very own Bill Boss as Grand Marshall of the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick's Day parade in Goshen on Sunday, March 11. Come join in the fun. Here's a secret discount for our loyal blog readers: If you attend the Dinner Dance on the 10th we'll give you a 10% room discount at the Inn for the night.

New Studio Available

Renovations are now complete and we have a new private studio to offer guests! Due to demand for furnished vacation rentals in the area we've added The Studio at the Waterstone Inn. Complete with a queen bedroom, brand new bathroom and kitchen, The Studio is ideal for extended stays at the Lake.

Organic Amenities are Here

After much testing and trying I've finally found amazing bath products for the Inn that are organic and paraben free! We're now featuring Sprout Out shampoo, conditioner and body lotion from Gilchrist & Soames. I'm thinking of ordering a gallon of the shampoo for myself :) It definitely has that "I went to the spa today" smell.

We've Joined the Wine Trail

The Waterstone Inn is proud to announce that we've joined the Shawangunk Wine Trail as an associate member. Look for us in the 2012 brochure and soon to be on the trail's website www.gunkswine.com. Just minutes to many wineries, the Waterstone Inn is the perfect place to perch on the lakefront deck with a bottle from your favorite winery.

This warm winter weather has me thinking of Spring so here's a fab event coming up in April. The Shawangunk Wine Trail is hosting Pasta Primo Vino on April 14 & 15. Celebrate Spring with a tour of the wineries as they pair their tasty wines with delicious pasta recipes. This is also an opportunity to taste the new releases for 2012.

Free BBQ Every Friday Night!

Just in case you need another excuse to make it to the mountain, here's a great one. Every Friday night in January and February 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuxedo Ridge ski resort will treat its customers to a free BBQ complete with hotdogs, hamburgers, side dishes and more. All you need is a paid lift ticket for that day or a season pass. Couple this deal with the Waterstone Inn's Ski for Free Friday promotion and you've got an afforable little ski trip. Forecast is for snow tonight. Finally!

Foot Spa Tea Bar

One of the many perks of running an Inn is that it's part of my job to "research" things to do in the area that would be of interest to guests. I recently discovered a nearby Foot Spa Tea Bar! It's a wonderful little place tucked away on a side street that offers reflexology sessions. For $40/hour it was an absolute bargain for the treatment I received. It's a tranquil environment complete with soothing music, herbal teas, and a warm foot soak complimented by a neck and shoulder massage. When the reflexology treatment begins you lounge back in an amazing leather recliner and are tucked in to a fuzzy blanket.

You can even organize a private "girls' night out" type event and bring in your own wine and appetizers.

It was hard work, but our guests are worth it :) I'll continue to check out places like this to reccomend.

Ski for Free Fridays is Back!

Just in time for the 2012 ski/snowboard season the Waterstone Inn is again offering Ski for Free Fridays. Simply stay Friday and Saturday night and we'll pick up the tab for 2 full day Friday lift tickets at Tuxedo Ridge. Check out http://www.waterstoneinn.com/ for ski and stay rates.