Super Bowl 2014 is Coming to Our Area!

Temps may still be in the 70s and the fall football season just kicking into gear, but before you know it the big day will be here. And this year, Super Bowl 2014 is in our backyard! The New York/New Jersey area is abuzz in Bowl business. 

Usually the NFL ends its season in a warm, sunny locale, but 2014 is all about winter fun. Just think, a weekend full of football, coupled with skiing, skating and icy cool outings. 

Fans, we're ready! The Waterstone Inn in Greenwood Lake is only 40 miles from MetLife Stadium. See the city, go to the game, but stay at the Lake. It doesn't get better than that. And if you want to have a go at skiing, snowboarding or tubing, Mt. Peter and Tuxedo Ridge are just 5 minutes away. 

Summer Wrap-Up

We had an amazing summer, which is partly the reason I've neglected the blog. The word is getting out about Greenwood Lake and we had the chance to share "Life at the Lake" with a lot of wonderful guests.  

We're still in high gear forging into the Fall season. The Warwick Valley is a prime destination this time of year for apple picking, wine tasting, foliage peeping and more!  

The famous Applefest is October 6, 2013. More than 35,000 guests are expected this year! Check out what that's all about here: http://www.warwickapplefest.com

American Memorial Triathlon

The American Memorial Triathlon is celebrating it's 17th year here at Greenwood Lake on Sunday the 8th of September. The triathlon will include a half mile swim, 16 mile cycle and a 4 mile run! It is shaping up to be an exciting day here at the lake and if you are thinking about taking part or wish to cheer on friends and family, check out the Waterstone Inn!

Located right on the lake, it is the perfect spot to rest before and after the big event. For more information, call us on 845-477-3535 or visit our website www.waterstoneinn.com.

Hopefully see you on the big day!

Life on the Lake

Im finally getting used to being on 'lake time' as the saying goes here in Greenwood Lake. Everything and everyone is so chilled out and I love it! This week i've been getting stuck into a project for the Waterstone Inn and I'm enjoying learning new things. So far this week I have had the chance to use the paddle boats and perfect my balancing skills! I also had a go on the kayak out on the lake which was fun. Along with the Mulcahy family, we all enjoyed a night down at Charlie's cove with the BBQ! This week has been so much fun and I am already excited to see what next week brings!

4th July

So I just celebrated my first ever 4th July and I got to go see the Macy's fireworks show in the city, it was the most accelerating thing I've ever seen and I will never forget it!  On Saturday I also got to see Greenwood Lake's own firework show which was also nothing short of amazing, all of the boats on the lake looked like little stars glittering in the night sky, it was beautiful. On Saturday morning I had the opportunity to take part in the town parade and march for Project Children with some of the other interns, it was a privilege and I loved seeing the whole community getting together and celebrating the 4th of July as well as each other! Here a picture of myself (left) and another intern watching the Macy's firework show!

Settling In

I started work this morning at the inn and during my time here I will be carrying out Marketing and Public Relations activities as well as helping out around the inn as much as  I can. I have met some lovely people so far who have all made me feel so welcome here at the Lake. I am super excited to get stuck into a project and do as much as I can to promote business here at the Waterstone Inn and in Greenwood Lake.  So far I have been on the Jet Ski and paddle boats on the lake; it’s been so much fun! I will be updating my experiences on the blog regularly so keep checking in to see what I’m up to!

Alabama Heat

Hello there!
My name is Niamh O’ Neill and I’m from Belfast, I am interning in Greenwood Lake this summer for six weeks at the Waterstone Inn with the Mulcahy family! Before I arrived here I spent one week in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with Habitat for Humanity and the other interns doing repairs on houses and rebuilding homes that were affected by the tornado. It was hard work in the heat and coming from Ireland I’m not used to this type of heat at all! But overall it was great fun and a very rewarding experience when handing over the house to its owner at the end of the week.  Below, you can see a picture of the whole crew down in Alabama! Now I'm back at the lake and ready to work, come say hello if you see me around the lake :)

Feels like Summer

After a very chilly May I think everyone is ready for some fun in the sun. With temps close to 90 today I couldn't  resist taking the boys to the beach after school. The water is still a bit brisk, but no one seemed to mind.    We have the first swim of the season under our belts, summer has officially started. 

Memorial Day Weekend

It may have been a soggy start to our summer kick off, but things are heating up in Greenwood Lake. We were the featured destination in the Living section of paper. Woo hoo!

By Monday there were people tubing out on the lake. And this week temps are forecasted to be in the upper 80s, the restaurants are in full gear and this coming weekend is the East Arm Rowing Club's Regatta, as well as the Spartan Race at Tuxedo Ridge.

Unwind on the Deck



Late afternoon/early evening is one of the best times at the Inn. The sun shines down on the deck, the water sparkles and the crew boats glide by. Our deck bar with its high stools are the perfect place to perch to take it all in. Many of our guests that spend the day exploring the local wineries enjoy bringing back a bottle of their favorite vintage and unwinding on the deck.

Are You Tough Enough?

Maybe you've done some 5ks, a marathon, or even a triathlon, but have you conquered the Spartan Race? This wildly popular event held each year at Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center (just 4 miles from the Inn) is building steam, so much so that a second weekend was added. The weekend of June 1st & 2nd is sold out to racers, but spectators are welcome. There is still limited availability for the June 8th race. Want to be inspired? Check out www.spartanrace.com.

Bike Weekend

Greenwood Lake may not have "Bike Week" like in Daytona, but if you're into Harleys and Hare Scrambles the weekend of May 3-5 may be the time to come for a visit.

On Saturday, May 4 at 9am the Greenwood Lake Merchants Guild, along with The Southern Cruisers Riding Club, will be hosting a Bike Blessing at Grace Lutheran Church (25 Waterstone Road, GWL, NY. Just down the road from the Inn). This is a free motorcycle event that will provide riders with a blessing for a safe and happy riding season. A group ride will follow the blessing through Orange County and end back in Greenwood Lake where local merchants will be available for lunch specials.

If you stay overnight, on Sunday May 5 at Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center they're hosting Hare Scramble races. If you don't know what this is, like me when I first heard this term, it's basically motorcross racing on the ski slopes and surrounding wooded trails. Not up for the challenge to be a racer? It's a whole lot of fun to go as a spectator. Food and drink are available and it's an exciting day of racing. We went as a family last year and had a great time. There was a huge turnout of racers from around the country.

Just in case you need more of an incentive to come up for Bike Weekend, the Waterstone Inn is offering a 10% discount on an overnight stay if you arrive to the Inn by Bike!

Outdoor Dining on the Lake

Nothing better than mid-70s in early April. It was the perfect day on the deck at Emerald Point, just down the road from the Inn. If you've stayed with us before you know that it's a great restaurant and bar that's walking distance (just in case you decide to have a couple drinks). After all, if you're staying with us chances are you're here at the Lake for a little R&R.

Home Brewing

I love that there are so many local microbreweries and wineries cropping up in our area. It seems crazy that we're only an hour outside of Manhattan, yet we're in the middle of wine (now brew country). Maybe that TV show Moonshiners is inspiring people to get back to the basics of brewing. Either way there are a ton of fun classes and tastings to do. The next beginner/intermediate brewing class at Mistucky Creek (in neighboring Warwick) is on April 20, 2013 from 10-1pm. The cost is $35/person. Topics covered will be everything from sanitizing through bottling, and you'll actually be brewing a batch. Classes fill up quick. To sign up email info@mistuckycreek.com or call 845-988-HOPS.

Make a weekend of it and stay at the Waterstone Inn. If you'd like to indulge in the local products we can arrange for a car service to and from the Inn.

Spa for Spring

Once again I've offered myself as a guinea pig for the sake of our guests. It's tough, but someone has to do it:) After a super busy week I finally took some time out for myself and went for a microdermabrasion session at Deirdre's Day Spa, which is right here on our little main street. To my surprise, Deirdre Rafferty, the owner, had formerly had a location in NYC then moved her business to downtown Greenwood Lake. I'm glad she did, because I enjoyed it so much that I signed up for the six-week plan in an effort to prep my skin for spring. I'm working on creating some spa & stay packages for the Inn. Stay tuned . . .

Book Early for Summer

I'm trying to catch my breath after this past weekend's World Fishing and Outdoor Expo. The Waterstone Inn exhibited as part of the Greenwood Lake Merchants Guild. Here's the long and short of it: over 30,000 people attended the show! We received an overwhelming response to what Greenwood Lake has to offer. We were in the mix with tourism boards from Maine, Alaska, Lake Ontario etc and I'll tell you this: People were shocked that we have pretty much everything that these other locations have, AND are less than 50 miles outside of NYC.

There's also been a lot of interest from journalists from the Outdoor Writer's Association that would like to feature Greenwood Lake in upcoming articles. All I can say is that we rocked it at the show and I'm sure it will be a busy summer season. My advice: Book Early. See you at the Lake!

Ice Boat Baby

On our first broadcast of Greenwood Lake Radio this past Friday, Village Attorney Bob Krahulik talked about the thrills of ice boating. I haven't done it yet, so had to do some investigating. I came across this vintage 8mm YouTube video and had to share. It's oh so 70s, but what a great, classic sport. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkpGBSQTNhE

Greenwood Lake Radio is on the Air!

You never know where life is going to take you. If someone told me a year ago that I would be
co-hosting a radio show I would have never believed it. In somewhat of a random twist of fate, I'm now  the co-host, along with Kevin Sweeney, of Greenwood Lake Radio on WTBQ 93.5. As an endeavor of the Greenwood Lake Merchants Guild, of which I'm the VP, Greenwood Lake Radio as it's name suggests, will showcase everything and anything Greenwood Lake. We went live this past Friday and will continue to air every Friday 11am-12pm. After the initial panic of live radio subsided, I have to say that it was a great time. So if you want an insider view of "the Lake" tune into your innkeeper on Greenwood Lake Radio. If you're outside of Orange County you can go to wtbq.com to listen.

Lisa

Winter at the Beach

I never tire of looking out across the Lake, even in the dead of winter. This past weekend I took the boys down to the beach to do some sledding. I say this all the time, but I love where we live. As we were sledding the ice fishermen were getting set up, cross country skiers took to the frozen Lake and snowshoers strolled across the Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park to check the ice conditions. Looking at this photo you would never guess we're only 50 miles out of NYC!

Bracing for the Blizzard

Just got the call that Greenwood Lake schools will be closed tomorrow due to the impending snow storm headed our way. It may be a bummer if you have to commute to work, but for those of us who get to stay at the Lake it's play time. Driving around town today I saw people pulling out the snowmobiles, quads and sleds. If we get the foot or so of snow that's forecasted the lake will be prime for some winter sports. The snow will also be a welcome sight at the local ski resorts as they gear up for Valentine's Day and President's Weekend next week. Come play with us!

Lake is Frozen!

It's been long awaited, but the lake is finally frozen. After a record warm winter last year everyone was anxious to get out there. This weekend we got the first glimpse of snowmobiles, ice fisherman and hockey players. This photo was taken just across the lake from the Inn. 

Romance at the Inn

It's amazing when we can, in some way, play a part in major life events. We've had many guests celebrate special birthdays, anniversaries, and even a funeral of sorts where an entire family brought their loved one's ashes back to Greenwood Lake for a last hurrah at the Lake where she had honeymooned in the 1950s. But with Valentine's Day coming I had to share a guest story from this past weekend. A couple came to the Inn to get engaged! It was a surprise trip for this lucky lady from Manhattan. Her boyfriend told her they were going to dinner and a show at Carnegie Hall. When dinner was ended a limo pulled up outside the restaurant and picked up the couple. Instead of Carnegie Hall, Greenwood Lake was the destination. On arrival at the Waterstone Inn, the girlfriend recognized this as the first place where the two had traveled together. The thoughtful boyfriend reserved the same room that they had stayed in 2 years prior and had a stunning ring and bottle of Dom Perignon to seal the deal. Congratulations to Phil and Linda. We're honored to have been part of your love story!

Play Hooky on a Thursday

Be spontaneous again, sneak away on a Thursday. Spend Valentine’s Day with the one you love at the Waterstone Inn.

To help you impress your significant other we’ve put this package together so you don’t have to.

1-night stay on February 14^th, 2013

Champagne toast and chocolate strawberries on arrival

In-room fresh floral arrangement

Candlelight gourmet breakfast 

$199+tax

Add the night of February 13 for only $99!

Corn Hole

Have you ever heard of corn hole? It's a simple game of bean bag tossing that's highly additive and fun. It seems to be catching on. There are ongoing corn hole tournaments at one of my favorite local places, Pennings Farm Market. Here's what's going on tonight via Pennings' Facebook page:

Corn Hole tournament tonight 8pm! Come down for some great beer tap, dinner from the grill, and some friendly competition! Now serving: Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, Founders Red Rye Pa, Keegan Ale's Old Capital Golden Ale, Weyerbacher Verboten BPA, Southern Tier IPA, Greenport Harbor Black Duck Porter, PBR, and Hard Cider.

Snow on the Way

Glad to hear we have some snow and colder temps in the forecast, just in time for the holiday weekend.

Now that our two boys are a bit older (3 & 6) we've been able to get out on the mountain more. I say this ALL the time, but I love where we live. The video above is of my husband and 3-year old son and is only 3 miles away from the Inn!

~Lisa

On the Radar

If you're reading this then you've probably already discovered Greenwood Lake, so I'm going to let you in on some insider info. The Greenwood Lake Merchants Guild (of which I'm, the vice president) is about to embark on some exciting marketing and promotional projects to boost tourism in Greenwood Lake. The plan is to get major name recognition within the tri-state area as a premier Lake destination that is amazingly close (50 miles) to NYC. And with the devastation that's occurred in the resort communities of New Jersey from Superstorm Sandy, we're expecting some new found interest in Greenwood Lake as vacationers seek alternative destinations. So book early and brag to your friends that you knew that Greenwood Lake was going to be the next Hamptons.  ~Lisa

Ski Season is Here

It's a new year and time for some New Year's resolutions. One of mine is to blog more often about what's going on at the Inn and in Greenwood Lake. So here goes.

The local ski resorts are in full swing. With a decent amount of natural snowfall last week and freezing temperatures that allow for round-the-clock snowmaking, so far 2013 is shaping up to be a good season. Once again the Waterstone Inn is an official hotel partner of Tuxedo Ridge. Which means if you're a guest of the Inn you'll receive a 25% discount off the list price of lift tickets and rentals. We're just 4.5 miles from the base of the mountain and if the freezing temps continue, we should be able to get some ice skating going on our lakefront.