Pick up or delivery? A Wine Lover’s Dilemma (c/o Hullabaloo Sponsor Kingston Wine Co.!)

Thanks to Kingston Wine Co., you never have to leave the house for wine again…We’ll get to that in a minute, but first, let me tell you why you’ll want to anyway…

Stepping into the beautifully designed and well-stocked shop at 65 Broadway in Kingston, one could easily be immediately overwhelmed. But owners Michael and Theresa Drapkin know their stuff and are eager to share their knowledge, recommending the perfect wine for any occasion, offering tastes, and engaging in conversation.  All their wines are carefully chosen based on their philosophies on agriculture, historic normalcy, context, collaboration, and beauty. The shop is available for tastings and private gatherings as well. The space is a beautiful, unique setting for your next intimate event, and as gracious hosts, they really put together memorable evenings.

And wine isn’t the only thing on their radar—a chalkboard wall lists all the local happenings of the week, and Theresa and Michael get involved in lots of local initiatives and projects. Their shop even serves as the meeting place for Sunday Hikes on the Kingston Greenline (return for an apres-hike libation and conversation), and Theresa is one of the organizers of the Kingston Night Market downtown, which takes place on the third Friday each month between May and October.

When Theresa and Michael moved upstate and opened their fabulous shop, we knew they had done so because they loved Kingston…Loving Kingston has become the cool thing to do, but these two know that talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. In less than two years, they’ve not only built a successful business, they’ve shown Kingston some serious love—becoming active members of the community and familiar faces in the neighborhood! And the neighborhood (and Hullabaloo!) is happy to have them!

A gorgeous space, well-stocked with wines hand-selected by knowledgeable owners who are warm, friendly, and eager to share their sommelier smarts with you? That experience is what makes it totally worth the trip.

But here’s why you don’t need to venture out in the cold: They even offer a monthly wine share program (YES! Like a CSA for wine!)—complete with wine profiles, stories, and recipes—to help you explore and enjoy new wines. You can purchase the share (for pick up or delivery!) right from the online shop on their website, www.kingstonwine.com to make sure you always have wine on hand for those snow-bound winter nights. Our advice? Save the shares for the storm…because you really should stop in as often as you can!

Thanks, Kingston Wine Co., for your support again this year! 

Sponsor Shout-Out: Bike Friendly Kingston Offers Free Bike Parking at Hullabaloo!

Picture this: You’re coming home from Hullabaloo. You’ve got a basket mounted on your handlebars (or maybe behind your seat) filled to the brim with all sorts of handmade treasures for everyone on your guest list (and strapped in safely, of course). You feel the cool autumn breeze in your hair and the sun on your face (because it’s going to be a gorgeous weekend, we promise!). Pedestrians, vehicles, and bicycles are successfully and safely sharing the road. Kingston is such a great place to live, shop, and ride!

Biking is a convenient, economical, and earth-friendly mode of transportation, but many cities are lacking the infrastructure to safely support travel by bicycle. Bike Friendly Kingston is an association of individuals whose mission is “to make Kingston a safer, more bike-able city.” They meet monthly in person, where they advocate for better bicycle infrastructure and policies, educate residents about the benefits of safe and responsible biking, and promote biking events and activities—including Bike to Work, Bike to School Day, the Annual Feast on Wheels dinner, and more. Their website includes resources like the plan details for the city’s “Building a Better Broadway” initiative, and a Google bike rack map (there are probably more than you thought!). Join their Facebook group(https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikefriendlykingstonny/) or visit www.bikefriendlykingston.org for more information.

And on the weekend of Hullabaloo, there will be even more bike racks on Broadway! Bike Friendly Kingston will be setting up their portable bike racks for free bike parking at the Murphy Center during Hullabaloo! We encourage you to bike to Hullabaloo, and say hello to their volunteers who will be on hand to talk to visitors about their initiatives. Because doesn’t the scenario above sound like SUCH a great way to spend the day?

Invitation/Sponsor Shout-Out: The Anchor Hosts Our Arty After Party

If you’re anything like us, after the first day of Hullabaloo, you’re going to be a little tired…but too happy and wired from all the excitement to go home!

With that in mind, we’ve got the perfect spot to hang out and wind down after a long and exciting day…The Anchor (744 Broadway, Kingston) is hosting a Hullabaloo After Party after we close on Saturday evening!  Hullabaloo continues on Sunday at 11 a.m., but it’s a long night before morning and we wanted to hang out with our vendors, sponsors, and friends a little longer! It’s even open to the public, so our shoppers are more than welcome to come and hang with their favorite Hullabaloo artists and makers! It’s the perfect place to relax and celebrate a successful first day of Hullabaloo with all your new friends!\

The Anchor will be running a Hullabaloo special for us from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, with $1 off drafts, $4 well drinks, and a $6 appetizer menu. Their regular menu will be available as well.  They’ve got over 20 American craft brews on tap, awesome grass-fed burgers (with some tasty—and some unusual—toppings), incredible sandwiches and snacks, salads and vegetarian options, and more…all served in a laid back but vibrant cozy space with a lot of character.  Get a look at their menu here: http://theanchorkingston.com/menu/

They also have a great schedule of music, open mic nights, special events, and even burlesque shows lined up to keep you entertained (as well as well-fed) all through the winter.  Sometimes our official Hullabaloo musical genius, DJ Mr. Chips, spins old-school hip-hop there! Check it out here: http://theanchorkingston.com/events/ or like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theanchorkingston to keep up on things.

No need to RSVP—just take the quick trip up Broadway from the Murphy Center after you wrap up. The Anchor is at the top of Broadway, on your right, just before that weird veer off toward Albany Avenue/the Thruway.  You can park across the street at the Probation Office (we promise it’s ok) but don’t forget to designate a driver if you plan on hanging out long…(or if you’re tempted to try ALL the great beers they have on tap)…and be sure to get a good night’s sleep to be ready for Hullabaloo Day 2!

We want to thank The Anchor for hosting us and hooking us up with these great specials! We’re looking forward to grabbing a burger and a pint and celebrating with you all! Hope to see you there!