Louise R. Black
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The pavilion-style theater at Hudson Valley Shakespeare.
Alec Linden
During a recent performance of “King Lear” on a spectacular July evening, actors materialized from and faded into the stunning backdrop as if it were no longer the Hudson Highlands, but the wild hills and dales of Celtic Britain.
The company opened its satisfyingly direct rendition of Shakespeare’s dark and expansive meditation on love, family and human nature on June 12, and will run the show through Sept 17.
A much lighter Shakespeare classic, “As You Like It,” is also running through Sept. 18, as is the non-Shakespearean late-20th-century classic “Les Misérables,” which runs until Sept. 28.
In “King Lear,” the audience was not so much transported as localized by the performance, which takes place on the floor-level stage and expansive lawn behind it, both of which boast one of the best views lower New York State has to offer.
Alec Linden
The pavilion-style theater, with naturalistic curves and a low profile, mirrors the topography of the prominent hill it sits atop. The landscape that frames it all, centered on the dramatic passage of the Hudson River as it meanders between peaks of Storm King Mountain and Breakneck Ridge, serves not just as a background, but as a living, breathing part of the action as Lear and his kingdom descend into madness. When darkness fell across the ridges in the distance, the body count rose.
It’s not all doom and gloom at Hudson Valley Shakespeare, though. Just hours before the murders and betrayals, the same lawn hosted dozens of happy picnickers enjoying the evening in true high-summer fashion, complete with live music. As is tradition at the theater, which was previously hosted at nearby Boscobel House and Gardens for 34 years under a tent, guests are invited to arrive early and enjoy the grounds with a meal.
For those who’d rather not pack their own food, pre-made picnic sets are available for advance order. Alternatively, theatergoers can dine at the expansive, regionally-sourced buffet offered at the venue’s restaurant, aptly named Folio ($35 for adults, $25 for children 5-12 and free for children under five).
For schedules, tickets and more information, visit hvshakespeare.org.
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Skip “Whitecap” Fredericksen at his trail magic setup in Sharon. Whitecap keeps a log of the thru-hikers who stop for refreshments.
D.H. Callahan
Since 2022, Whitecap has been a volunteer with the Appalachian Mountain Club, clearing downed trees and other debris from his designated section of trail. It’s an assignment that’s proving particularly challenging this year, with the Northwest Corner’s Fourth of July storm requiring an estimated 130 hours of sawing alone. But Whitecap doesn’t let persistent obstacles get in the way of his role. In fact, he sees the increased challenges as a reason to give more. And Whitecap knows a thing or two about challenges.
In 2021, at the age of 67, Whitecap and his two daughters, whose trailnames are Nocs and Zazu, hiked the entire Appalachian Trail together, from Georgia to Maine. As a senior hiker, Whitecap faced obstacles with a patience and grace that weren’t required of the younger, faster kids. It was early in their journey when Whitecap first felt the power of trail magic for himself.
“You could be having a really rotten day, and there are a lot them, cause it can feel like the trail is just there to beat you down. But you turn a corner and find somebody who’s passing out free food, and it brightens your whole outlook.”
Two Appalachian Trail thru-hikers who walked here from Georgia. D.H. Callahan
Throughout his 2021 hike, Whitecap encountered countless run-ins with trail magic, including a couple of men who hiked out to a campsite far from the nearest road carrying a big camp stove and enough hot food to feed several tired thru-hikers. People have set up RVs with phone charging stations and flush toilets, while others bring homemade cookies and granola bars in individual baggies to pass out on day hikes. No matter the method, the act of giving is always magic.
A year after his 205-day hike, he and Zazu decided to give back to the trail. They set up tables and chairs at an AT road crossing in Sharon and laid out bags of chips, fruit, water, Gatorade and a little camp stove to make hot dogs and veggie dogs for exhausted hikers. Though his offerings are carefully considered, he knows full well that the specifics are secondary.
“It doesn’t even matter what the food is,” he said. “It’s the kindness of people who really care about the hikers, and that’s what makes the difference.”
You might think trail maintenance and trail magic would be enough of a tribute to the challenges and community of the Appalachian Trail, but Whitecap doesn’t stop there. He’s turned his love of the trail into a musical slideshow performance, with tongue-in-cheek songs about his journey set to musical classics. He calls it “AT: The Musical.” It’s just another way he’s spreading the gospel of kindness and nature throughout Connecticut.
Get a preview of “AT: The Musical” at bit.ly/4wEb09v
A full table at House of Books’ Salon at Swyft in Kent.
D.H. Callahan
The series is based on the 19th-century tradition of the artistic and academic salons, which were seen as cultural hubs for the upper echelons of society. There, writers, artists, dancers, musicians and actors would gather in intimate settings, often the parlors of the wealthy and aristocratic patrons. While House of Books isn’t exactly equipped for such an event, the restaurant it is affiliated with, Swyft, certainly is. Known throughout the region as being one of the most consistently delicious and innovative restaurants, Swyft shares a common owner with House of Books, making for some seamless collaborations.
The menu for cocktails and family-style dinner at Swyft.D.H. Callahan
After pausing for a few years, Rybeck believed the time was right to revive the series, so he invited Hannah Lillith Assadi, author of the new novel “Paradiso 17,” for the first Salon of the season. The novel is based on the story of her late father’s life, beginning with his family’s expulsion after the Nakba of 1948.
Israeli-Palestinian relations are a particularly sensitive subject these days, often leading to passionate arguments between opposing sides. But the well-read literature enthusiasts at the salon weren’t interested in the politics of the book so much as they were the art of it. Over a family-style dinner of fresh salads, pizza and specialty cocktails, the conversation was surprisingly civil and curious. The group discussed structure and narrative, sense of place and the feeling of transience.
The whole evening was a wonderfully refreshing departure from the vitriolic divisiveness of today’s online discourse. While the anonymity of the internet can frequently lead to heated rhetoric, the act of sitting down with like-minded individuals to share food, and talk with each other seems to do the exact opposite. It’s at once calming, intellectually satisfying and culinarily enriching.
The next Salon on Aug. 27 will feature Natasha Stagg, author of the new novel “Grand Rapids,” and painter Sam McKinniss, whose art is featured on the book’s cover.
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