
Frank Gehry’s Fisher Center is reason enough to make a trip to Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., and the Bard College campus, but there are also concerts and performances there throughout the summer. Photo of Fisher Center by Peter Aron/Esto
Distances seem to become daunting, even insurmountable, here in the Tristate region. Perhaps it’s because we’re all so comfy in our country homes — although I think actually what happens is that, emotionally, we all begin to set up Boundaries that Must Not Be Crossed.
People who live in Salisbury, Conn., rarely venture down to Kent, Conn., and vice versa, for example. And yet, the 40-minute travel time is really not that significant; doesn’t it take that long to travel by surface roads from the Upper West Side to SoHo? Even the subway isn’t much faster.
The same prejudice applies to travel between Litchfield County and the Hudson River Valley. Come on folks, it is not really that hard to get to Red Hook, N.Y. (the one up here, not the one in Brooklyn) — especially when you think about all the benefits that a scant 40-minute car ride will bring.
First, there’s the beauty. In autumn and winter, it’s nice to travel to Red Hook at sunset; the views are crushing they’re so gorgeous. But this is summer, and the sun won’t set until after dinner.
So you’ll just have to be content with endless views of farm fields and forest, with birds wheeling around the sky. Sorry that there won’t be a lot of honking cars and traffic; you’ll just have to be alone with all that beauty and bird song for three-quarters of an hour, or maybe a little less, depending on where you live and how you drive.
And what is so special, you ask, about Red Hook, other than that it shares its name with a hip section of Brooklyn? Red Hook is the home of Bard College (although the official literature refers to it as Annandale-on-Hudson). Bard offers super interesting cultural events throughout the academic year, with talks and concerts in an intimate setting by artists and writers (I personally have seen Fran Lebowitz, Neil Gaiman and Alan Cumming there).
The campus doesn’t go to sleep in summer, which is when the multifaceted Bard Summerscape explodes, with classical concerts, chamber music, drag performances, the Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle concerts, the more offbeat programs in the Spiegeltent and opera, ballet and more — most of it in the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center, which is worth a trip to Red Hook (I mean Annandale-on-Hudson) in its own right. The Bard campus has beautiful gardens, plantings and buildings, most of them in a classical vein; and then there is the wobbly metal design of the Fisher Center. It’s amazing and definitely worth the drive.
Summer music
This summer’s chamber music series started on June 4 with the Emerson String Quartet, going on their farewell tour in anticipation of retiring with a concert at Alice Tully Hall in New York City in October 2023.
But the beat goes on, quite literally, with a concert by Sō Percussion on Saturday, June 18, at 7 p.m. in Olin Hall (which is a Bard College auditorium; it’s not the Fisher Center but it’s two minutes away by car, you can visit it before your concert begins).
I am not personally familiar with Sō Percussion, described by The New Yorker as offering an “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam.”
A restful interlude follows on Saturday, June 25, also at 7 p.m. in Olin Hall with a concert titled “Beloved Piano Quartets.” Although the focus is on the piano, the star of this show might well be violinist Jaime Laredo, who is described as “one of the top violinists of the late 20th century.”
A more contemporary menu comes up at the Bard Spiegelent at the Fisher Center, which offers events from June 24 to Aug. 13, beginning with the Black Roots Summer weekend. There will be a concert by Mwenso and the Shakes on Saturday, June 25, at 8 p.m. and continuing into the next day, from 4 to 7 p.m. with a an all-ages, all colors, all body types party hosted by the Black Roots Summer cohort. There will be live music, DJs, dancing and more “for a late afternoon of joy, hope, healing and BBQ.”
Swinging back again toward the classical, there will be a new translation of Moliere’s “Dom Juan” performed from June 23 to July 17 at the Fisher Center.
Bard College President and orchestra conductor Leon Bottstein presents a deep dive into the world and work of Sergei Rachmaninoff for the 32nd Bard Music Festival (Aug. 5 to 7 and 12 to 14).
And there will be a performance of a Richard Strauss opera, “The Silent Woman,” from July 22 to 31.
That’s not even all that’s offered. Certainly it’s worth a 40-minute car ride through some of the most beautiful parts of Dutchess County to get there.
But what
about dinner?
There was a famous restaurant near Bard’s campus called Mercato that closed down early in the COVID-19 pandemic. It has reopened, with a new name, in nearby Tivoli, N.Y.
Now called GioBatta Alimentari, the cozy farmhouse-style restaurant serves Italian classics, exquisitely prepared with Hudson Valley ingredients.
I personally love arancini, the Italian fried rice balls that are so hard to find, but are on the menu here, along with all the beloved favorites: meatballs, lasagna, panini, antipasti, pasta and the kale salad that was made famous at Mercato (lacinato kale, lovingly massaged with lemon juice until it becomes tender, served with currants, pine nuts, pecorino cheese slivers and a simple dressing of olive oil and more lemon juice).
Get the address and see the full menu at www.giobatta.com.
I also really like a large, bustling, somewhat rowdy Italian restaurant in nearby Kingston, N.Y., called Savona’s. The food is also very good, but the atmosphere is at the other end of the spectrum from GioBatta Alimentari.
After two years of COVID, I’m particularly nostalgic for good sushi. There are a few small but high-quality Japanese restaurants in the area. In Red Hook there is Hana Sushi (www.hana-sushi.com). In nearby Rhinebeck, N.Y., there are two more upscale sushi eateries called Momiji (www.momijiny.com) and Osaka (www.osakasushi.net).
To find out more about Bard College’s many summer culture offerings at the Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., campus go to www.fishercenter.bard.edu/whats-on/programs/summerscape.
LAKEVILLE — After receiving ARADEV LLC’s new application to expand the Wake Robin Inn earlier this month, the Planning and Zoning commission decided at its May 19 regular meeting to table its scheduling of a public hearing for the project until its next meeting on June 2.
The decision was made to allow the town’s Water Pollution Control Authority time to review the application sewer survey and render its own decision, as well as await a verdict regarding ongoing legal action against the Commission.
P&Z is currently opposing a restraining order against a May 2024 amendment to its regulations surrounding hotels in the “rural residential 1” zone, within which the Wake Robin Inn is located. The litigation was filed in February by Wells Hill Road residents and neighbors to the proposed development Angela and William Cruger, who opposed ARADEV’s first application as intervenors during the extended public hearing of its first application in late 2024.
P&Z Vice Chair Cathy Shyer acted as chair at the May 19 due to Michael Klemens’ absence. She said she wasn’t sure if the court was likely to issue a ruling before the next meeting.
“I don’t have any experience with that,” she said. “I don’t think any of us would.”
She did indicate, however, that scheduling a new hearing is “likely to be subject” to the court’s decision.
Land Use Administrator Abby Conroy stated the timeframe still works with the statutorily-defined 65 day window for the Commission to schedule a hearing after receiving an application. The last day to schedule the hearing would be the June 16 meeting, giving the Commission two more meetings to do so.
Several Commissioners agreed that the application’s extensive traffic report should undergo third-party review, and Cockerline suggested that a sound engineer be contacted to look over the detailed acoustics report that ARADEV filed with its application.
As for the town’s decision on the application’s sewer plans, WPCA Superintendent stated on May 20 that “the study has been received and is being reviewed.”
Celebrating food, wine and the spirit of giving, the community invited to a festive social evening at the Litchfield Community Center at 421 Bantam Road, on Wednesday, May 28 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for the 7th annual “A Tasteful Event” fundraiser to benefit FISH/Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwestern Connecticut, recognizing efforts for those facing food insecurity and the homeless of the Northwest Corner for more than 50 years.
Several area restaurants, caterers, bakers, and spirit distillers have volunteered to prepare savory and sweet treats for event supporters. Attendees will enjoy music from Jacque Williams Entertainment.
Supporters will also have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction featuring gift baskets, a variety of wines, picnic fare, a dinner for six delivered to your home, an Energy Fitness membership, children’s books, toys and numerous gift certificates to area restaurants and for services.
Celebrity “Food Tasting” Judges are Julia Scharnberg, Lisa Ferris, Matthew Daly, Jeff Geddes and Jack Sheedy, who will be awarding trophies to the event's food providers for best savory and best sweet treats, favorite distiller and event newcomers, and for best in show presentation/display.
Showcasing favorite specialty and ethnic dishes include: The Venetian, DaCapo of Litchfield, Espresso 59, Ciesco Catering Company, Litchfield Distillery, Noujaim’s Bistro, The Nutmeg Fudge Company, Love It Vegan, Vera Roma Grille and Bar, Red Horse Bakery, Kaylan’s Kitchen, Café 38, Clevelands' Country Store and La Guera Mexican Grill & Cantina – some entering in both categories.
All ATE patrons will have the chance to cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award favorite. More than thirty area businesses and individuals have generously donated as event sponsors and will be recognized, including Title Sponsors: Northwest Community Bank, Torrington Savings Bank and the Allan Borghesi family; Platinum Sponsors – Thomaston Savings Bank, Brooks, Todd and McNeil Insurance and Arbella Insurance; and Gold Sponsors – Aflac of Litchfield County, O&G Industries, the Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, Sullivan Automotive and Hartford Healthcare/Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.
Tickets are $40 per person, and are available at www.fishnwct.org, by phoning FISH at 860-482-7300, or at the door. The event will also feature wines and other beverages to please attendees.
Lime Rock Park is slated to host the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Friday and Saturday, June 27 to 28 in Lime Rock, Connecticut.
SALISBURY — At a special meeting Thursday, May 15, the Board of Selectmen tabled the issue of approving a permit for traffic rerouting on Route 112 Friday and Saturday, June 27 to 28.
Lime Rock Park is hosting a weekend of NASCAR events. In anticipation of a large crowd, estimated between 12,000 at 15,000 in attendance, LRP has asked to have one-way traffic on Route 112 (Lime Rock Road) from Route 7 to White Hollow Road and the main track entrance between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and again between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on both days.
Tom Burke, Director of Facility Safety at Lime Rock Park, told the selectmen that this option was chosen because it does not involve detours on local roads. At their regular monthly meeting Monday, May 5, the selectmen had expressed dismay and concern at an earlier proposal to route traffic over narrow and windy Brinton Hill Road.
Burke said there will be at least two electronic variable message boards used and traditional “hard” signs.
And there will be state troopers deployed to assist motorists.
Public comment was negative. Victor Jermack said the entire idea seemed unreasonable to him, and Michael Klemens, who chairs the Planning and Zoning Commission, voiced concern about what he called “programmatic creep” at the track.
Sarah Wolf, who lives on White Hollow Road, wanted to know how people in the neighborhood were supposed to go about their usual business during the periods of one-way traffic on Route 112.
First Selectman Curtis Rand asked if the track’s representatives had been in touch with the neighbors. Burke said no, because they are waiting on final approval before informing the neighbors.
“That’s a lot of pressure on me,” Rand replied, adding he is wary of signing off on the plan without much input from the public.
He also asked why he has to sign off on the plan at all, since the traffic disruptions take place on a state highway. He said he was going to call the state Department of Transportation and ask the same question.
Selectman Kitty Kiefer pointed out that there is another event Thursday, June 26, that the selectmen could not discuss because it was not on the special meeting agenda. By state law special meeting agendas cannot be modified, whereas regularly scheduled meeting agendas may be amended at the start of a meeting.
The Lime Rock Park website lists the Thursday event as a “Pit Stop Party and Hauler Parade” at the White Hart Inn in Salisbury, with details to come.
Selectman Chris Williams said that while it doesn’t help the immediate situation, the town and track need to consider the town’s infrastructure, or lack thereof, when planning events that draw large crowds.
Ultimately the selectmen agreed to table the matter and resume at another special meeting. Rand said he was going to consult the town attorney in the interim.
The selectmen will have another special meeting Wednesday, May 21, at 2 p.m.
FALLS VILLAGE — The Board of Finance will hold a public hearing on the proposed spending plans for 2025-26 Wednesday May 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Emergency Services Center and on Zoom.
First Selectman Dave Barger will present the municipal plan and Board of Education Chair Pat Mechare will handle the plan for the Lee H. Kellogg School.