People always make fun of me for planning things so far in advance. Ill send a save the date two months ahead and an invitation a month ahead. Obviously these people simply aren’t as busy as I am. But Lucy is. We planned this trip in July to visit her parents in Kinderhook. With all her weddings to attend and my social swirling this was the only time to squeeze it in!
Alas, it was well worth the wait.
Her parents moved up here from Bedford last February and love every minute of it. Their house is the Old Columbia Academy, built in 1797 and was later turned into a residence. Tina has done a fab job with the interiors with nary a corner untouched with something creative and cozy (and I mean that with the utmost respect! Copper candle sticks and vintage family photos abound!). And the yard has the best garden in town, so I discovered last night at dinner.
We drove up yesterday morning and it took us no time to drop off the bags and walk into town for a fall festival. There was kettle corn, local produce and a banjo/kazoo crew jamming out in the town square.
In case you didn’t know, Henry Hudson named Kinderhook when he dropped anchor in his now Namesake river in 1609 and a gaggle of Native American kids perched at the corner of the river to watch- hence- Kinder Hook- Children’s Corner. This is also the birthplace of Martin Van Buren, our countries 11th President. We didn’t have a chance to visit his house but we did pop by his grave on our morning walk.
After our time in town and a quick meal of hamburgers, hotdawgs, cheese soup (score!) and apple muffins, we headed back to the house to collect Lucy’s father and headed over to Hudson. As you all know I am quite familiar with Hudson and adore it. We tooled around the shops, found some great finds (shhh Christmas presents!) and even stumbled upon Hunt Slonem’s auction of his upstate mansion. Hunt is a favorite painter of mine and I’ve always ogled at images of his densely furnished Gothic Revival homes. Randomly we found a pile of Henry Hudson mask's commemorating his sail up the Hudson. He was a great addition to dinner!
Around 6pm we headed home, popped open some wine and started cookin.
Pork Tenderloin
Brussels Sprouts from the garden
Kale and Spinach from the garden
Purple potatoes from the market.
Yum!
Afterwards Lucy and I read our Vogue’s together commenting on errant fashion choices and layouts before having a good goss before heading to bed in the comfy country at 11pm.
This morning I peeled myself out of bed to watch my favorite show in the world- CBS Sunday Morning before downing another apple muffin and then taking a speedy walk through orchards and farmhouses and graveyards (Hey Martin!) with Lucy for an hour.
Not people to sit on our Laurels we bathed, dressed and popped by their neighbors home for a Bloody Mary. Tim and Nik have an amazing house, and in keeping with my Hunt Slonem moment yesterday, have decorated in a Neo-Gothic period (maybe with a splash of Gothic Revival?!). THEN we made a big ole frittata from last nights leftovers, imbibed a bottle of white and then headed out with Tina and Stephen to the Thomas Cole home.
Ole Cole was one of the founders of the Hudson River School movement (with Frederick Church, whose home Olana is another fave up here). It wasn’t as grand as Olana but interesting all the same. And the views he had of the Catskill’s are quite enviable. The house just received a big grant so they will be rebuilding old studios, revamping gardens and sprucing up the interiors. Can you believe after all that we had to dash to the train station for the 4:40? There we ran into a gaggle of gays who I know from Manhattan who have houses up here. We boarded, sat down and passed out.
I know, I know, it doesn’t sound like a relaxing weekend to most, but hey, I can watch the leaves turn from my urn one day!
Thank you La Lang’s for a most pleasurable weekend away. Can’t wait for the next.
