today

new vintage

Deer Vase, made in Bavaria. $28.


Lotus Platter, made in Minnesota by the Red Wing Pottery Co. $25.


Speckle Ashtray, made in USA. $44.

catskill mill

On the north bank of the Catskill Creek here in the village sits the Union Mills building, a former textile factory. The building is connected via a sky bridge to a smaller one which faces Main Street. After the site's various uses through the years, ending in a furniture store, plans were underway in 2010 for a condo conversion. The project never materialized and the building was later sold to Etsy founder Rob Kalin and a partner.

Mr. Kalin's plan is to turn the property into a crafting ecosystem, with a nod to the village's industrial past. The larger Water Street building will house a restaurant and teaching kitchen, a brewery, condos for resident artists and a small number of hotel rooms. The Main Street building will contain crafting studios for wood, glass, metal, textiles and ceramics. The idea is that everything used to outfit the restaurant's dining room will be made on site. The storefront will contain a general store where the same wares will be sold to the public, along with raw materials.

catskill creek

On the ride back from Oak Hill, along Route 23B in Leeds.

oak hill

Bryan has been curious about the Greene County hamlet of Oak Hill, within the town of Durham. We took a drive up there on Saturday. It's about 20 miles northwest of Catskill, just below the Albany County line. We were glad and a little surprised to stumble upon Dope Jams, a record store that specializes in dance music. The old storefront it occupies is beautifully built out with custom shelves and cabinets, and a large dj stand. The owners founded the shop on Myrtle Avenue in Bed-Stuy in 2005, got priced out, then opened their Oak Hill store last summer. We can't wait to go back for one of their monthly parties.

I.U. Tripp is an antique shop housed in an old general store, from where it gets its name. All of the original built-in cabinets still remain. In one of the drawers we found books of sales receipts from the 1880's store! We weren't in the market to buy anything on the day we visited, but we'll surely return. They have a pretty vast selection, a friendly owner, and a pair of cats who guard the front windows.