The Hudson Valley, a bucolic stretch that begins just above Manhattan and extends toward Albany, is the sort of green, friendly place where city dwellers take weekends and relish in the peace and quiet that come along with it. On September 12th and 13th, however, things are going to get a little less peaceful when BasilicaSoundScape takes over the town of Hudson. It’s a two-day program of music and art featuring bands including Swans, White Lung and Deafheaven and work from artists including Sterling Ruby.
Melissa Auf der Maur, the musician who’s played with The Smashing Pumpkins and Hole and collaborated with Rufus Wainwright and Ric Ocasek, is creative director of Basilica Hudson, a local performance space, and runs the annual festival alongside her husband, Tony Stone. But even she’ll admit there’s more to a weekend in Hudson than just music and art. Here, Auf der Maur shares her favorite local haunts.
Bonfiglio & Bread
“Luxury for your taste buds in Hudson. This place is counter style, with just a couple outdoor tables, and is the best in town. The baker-chef couple, Rachel and Gabby, started baking in their home basement a couple of years ago, and it has turned into my favorite treat in Hudson. Get the poached eggs over avocado, yogurt with lardons, croutons, chili oil and lime zest.”
Chaseholm Farm Creamery & Remedy Farm
“A family-run dairy farm plus a newly initiated herbal remedy farm. It gives you hope that the world of farming can be re-born and sustained by passionate, hard working young women.”
Alimentary Kitchen
“Nicole Lobue left the Slow Food movement in San Francisco to educate young people through amazing food and cooking. The Kite’s Nest program is Hudson’s first alternative to the poor public school options here in Hudson. They are located in our Basilica Hudson building and offer home school, after-school and summer programs for young kids and teens, to learn via passionate practitioners. When Nicole’s not teaching and mentoring, she is the best chef I have ever encountered, anywhere.”
Catskill Mill Food Truck
“These people heard our prayers for Asian noodles in Upstate New York! We were deprived. They just opened a month or so, and are located six minutes from Hudson in our sister town of Catskill. Thank goodness!”
John Doe Hudson
“The place to go for records, vintage objects, great taste and surly attitude.”
Ecosystem
“I never knew how much I love and need linen in my life until this shop opened up on Warren Street. A great, curated collection of jewelry and handmade objects made in Hudson.”
Laetitia Hussain
“My favorite Hudson-based artist and the only one-woman show we’ve had so far at Basilica. She filled the 7,000-square-foot space, but her Hudson home studio is a work of art in itself.”
MORE:
Jane Rosenthal’s Guide to Tribeca
DJ Ruckus’ Guide to London
Edy Ganem Shows Us Around Atlanta
