At last, the holiday season is upon us! We’ve composted our farm-picked pumpkins and gourds, cleared off our Thanksgiving tables, and now it’s time to start checking off that December bucket list. First up, picking out and cutting down your very own Christmas tree! It’s not as daunting as it may seem – New York state is filled with Christmas tree farms within a couple hours from the city. Grab some hot cocoa, jump in the car, crank up your favorite holiday tunes and make a day out of it! See below for a list of farms just a hop, skip and a jump from NYC. POSSIBLE TREE SHORTAGE: Please visit the individual websites and/or call ahead for farm hours, tree availability, and tree-cutting regulations. DUTCHESS COUNTY Battenfield’s Christmas Tree Farm 856 Rte 199, Red Hook, NY 845-758-8018 Primrose Hill Farm 203 Fiddlers Bridge Rd, Staatsburg, NY 845-889-4725 Saltsman Tree Farm 214 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 845-876-8801 WESTCHESTER COUNTY Stuart’s Fruit Farm 62 Granite Springs Rd, Granite Springs, NY 914-245-2784 LONG ISLAND Dart’s Christmas Tree Farm 2355 Main Bayview Rd, Southold, Long Island, NY 631-765-4148 Elmwood Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Farm 1500 E Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 631-368-8626 Lewin Farms 812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 631-929-4327 Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm 30105 Main Street, Cutchogue, NY 631-734-8641
At last, the holiday season is upon us! We’ve composted our farm-picked pumpkins and gourds, cleared off our Thanksgiving tables, and now it’s time to start checking off that December bucket list. First up, picking out and cutting down your very own Christmas tree! It’s not as daunting as it may seem – New York state is filled with Christmas tree farms within a couple hours from the city. Grab some hot cocoa, jump in
EscapeMaker is hosting a series of local food and craft beverage tasting showcases inside Fulton Stall Market as a fundraiser to benefit the shop and invite the South Street Seaport community to discover the market open daily (11am-6:00pm), and its CSA. To celebrate their Plate & Escape blog series, which launched in the fall of 2017, the EscapeMaker team is bringing together local farmers and producers, along with their artisanal sips and bites, to inspire guests to visit these hard-working and impressive artisans in action at their farms and destinations upstate and around the Northeast region. The 3 events in the series are: Thursday, February 8th (6:00pm - 9:00pm): Local Food & Wine Tasting Evening Showcase - $49 Thursday, February 27th (6:00pm - 9:00pm): Local Food & Craft Beer Tasting Evening Showcase -$39 Thursday, March 15th (6:00pm - 9:00pm): Local Food, Cider & Spirits Tasting Evening Showcase - $39 Cozy up to the bar and enjoy a wintry night filled with new tastes and live music! Each event will feature 6-8 food and beverage tastes from local producers, information on local vacations, like where to go apple picking and how to visit a farm! Attendees will have the opportunity to shop the market, network and start planning their spring escapes. Live folk and jazz music by Amos Rose. 70% of the ticket price includes a donation to Fulton Market Association, a non-profit 501c3 supporting local farms and producers. Admission includes drink and food samples from each of the stations, free local travel info and a goodie bag of locally produced artisanal samples. Local agritourism destinations within a few hours of NYC represented include Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley, Sullivan County and Delaware County in the Catskills, Ithaca/Thompkins County in the Finger Lakes, and more! Showcase vendors include Prohibition Distillery, Union Grove Distillery, Black Duck Cidery, Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, Riss' Knishes, Mama Lam and more! Tickets are non-refundable but transferable. Your donation is tax
EscapeMaker is hosting a series of local food and craft beverage tasting showcases inside Fulton Stall Market as a fundraiser to benefit the shop and invite the South Street Seaport community to discover the market open daily (11am-6:00pm), and its CSA. To celebrate their Plate & Escape blog series, which launched in the fall of 2017, the EscapeMaker team is bringing together local farmers and producers, along with their artisanal sips and bites, to inspire guests to visit
It always feels like there is a very short period after that Thanksgiving feast where you can rest and fill up on detoxifying veggies and wholesome foods in preparation for the onslaught of holiday cookies, cocktail hours, treats, and sweets that descend upon you each December. I try to take advantage of the wintry assortment of vegetables the NYC Greenmarkets have to offer this time of year. My go-to dish is roasted root vegetables. Warm, toasty, juicy, and satisfying, you can mix and match any root veg with an array of spices and flavorings to trick you into thinking you're eating something rich and sinful. I took a walk through Brooklyn's McCarren Park Greenmarket on Saturday and was immediately drawn to the vibrant orange carrots from Garden of Eve Farm. Parked right next door was Nature's Way Farm, with all of its delicious local honeys and honey products. The perfect (and absolute simplest) recipe came to mind: Honey Roasted Carrots. I grabbed a bunch of carrots ($4) and a honey bear jar of honey ($6.25) and I had everything I needed! You won't believe how easy this recipe is... INGREDIENTS: 1 bunch whole carrots, peeled salt & pepper to taste approx. 2 tbsp honey (you may use more or less for desired sweetness) 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 350F. Place washed and peeled whole carrots onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper. Toss to coat carrots evenly and spread them out into a single layer. Drizzle the surface of the carrots with honey. Bake until desired tenderness, 40 - 50 minutes. Cooking up these honey-roasted carrots will surely inspire you to get out there and support these amazing farmers who bring you fresh, flavorful carrots, sweet sticky honey, and
It always feels like there is a very short period after that Thanksgiving feast where you can rest and fill up on detoxifying veggies and wholesome foods in preparation for the onslaught of holiday cookies, cocktail hours, treats, and sweets that descend upon you each December. I try to take advantage of the wintry assortment of vegetables the NYC Greenmarkets have to offer this time of year. My go-to dish is roasted root vegetables. Warm,
With Mother's Day fast approaching, we know what's going through your mind: breakfast in bed? That book she mentioned she'd like to read? A trip to her favorite nail salon? Family gathering over brunch? Flowers again? While all these gestures are lovely and universally mom-approved, maybe it's time to switch it up and give the moms in your life something new, like a weekend getaway! Flowers wilt, but experiences create memories that last a lifetime. Hop in a Zipcar or grab a train ticket via Amtrak or Metro-North Railroad and take a special lady to do something unique this year! Fresh out of ideas? You've come to the right place! Check out some Mother's Day inspiration below... Visit Ithaca on Saturday, May 13th for the Honey Bee Jubilee at Varick Winery & Vineyard. Taste wines and enjoy honey-inspired foods! Or head up on Sunday, May 14th for a Mother's Day Supper Club with Northland Sheep Dairy. $55 per ticket include cheese and cider pairing in the pasture and a 4-course supper with Good Life Cider pairings. If there's one thing most moms can agree on, it's CHOCOLATE! Visit Dutchess County this Mother's Day weekend and enjoy wine and chocolate tastings at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. The tastings take place on Saturday, May 13th and Sunday, May 14th with two tasting reservations at 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Prepare to be dazzled by Oliver Kita Chocolate from Rhinebeck, NY and a handful of Millbrook wines. Is your mom an outdoor adventurer? Hop on the train to Westchester where you can hike, bike and walk through trails offering picturesque scenery, parks, picnic spots, restaurants, historic sites and nature preserves along their routes. Pack a special picnic to celebrate Mother's Day and enjoy the spring season! Or maybe she's up for a fishing adventure!? Getaway
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, we know what’s going through your mind: breakfast in bed? That book she mentioned she’d like to read? A trip to her favorite nail salon? Family gathering over brunch? Flowers again? While all these gestures are lovely and universally mom-approved, maybe it’s time to switch it up and give the moms in your life something new, like a weekend getaway! Flowers wilt, but experiences create memories that last a lifetime.
It's maple season, Escapemakers! When cold wintry days start to transform into spring, northeasterners know that this short and sweet (yes, pun intended) season is upon us. This rings especially true for the state of Vermont. Vermont maple syrup -- rich in flavor, rich in heritage -- is a signature agricultural product in the Green Mountain State. The sugar makers of Vermont care deeply for the high quality maple syrup products they create, building relationships with their communities and their customers. Vermont maple syrup is so much more than a topping for pancakes. Its unique flavor is unparalleled and allows it to be used in baked goods, savory foods, and many different cuisines. And it's as a healthy a sweetener as you could hope for, easily surpassing cane sugar, corn syrup, or honey in its level of macronutrients and antioxidants! Get up to Vermont via Amtrak this spring to experience the sugaring season for yourself!
It’s maple season, Escapemakers! When cold wintry days start to transform into spring, northeasterners know that this short and sweet (yes, pun intended) season is upon us. This rings especially true for the state of Vermont. Vermont maple syrup — rich in flavor, rich in heritage — is a signature agricultural product in the Green Mountain State. The sugar makers of Vermont care deeply for the high quality maple syrup products they create, building relationships
DID YOU KNOW over half of the country’s maple syrup comes from Vermont and New York State? Celebrate the maple sugaring season this March at a Maple Weekend, Open House or festival near you via Amtrak, Metro-North, Zipcar or bus! Hudson Valley, New York: Crown Maple at Madava Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.crownmaple.com White Oak Farm + Hilltop Hanover Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.whiteoakfarm1.com Soukup Farms Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.soukupfarms.com Finger Lakes, New York: Wellspring Forest Farm & School Maple Weekend: 3/18-3/19 www.wellspringforestfarm.com Catskills, New York: Roxbury Mountain Maple Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.roxburymountainmaple.com Vermont: Smugglers’ Notch Resort MapleFest: 3/18 – 4/2 www.smuggs.com/maple Woodstock Village Green Maple Madness: 3/25 – 3/26 www.woodstockvt.com/upcoming-events St. Albans, VT Vermont Maple Festival: 4/28-4/30 www.vtmaplefestival.org Town of Poultney MapleFest Craft Fair: 3/25-3/26 www.poultneyvt.com Sugarhouses Statewide Maple Open House: 3/25-3/26 www.vermontmaple.org/openhouse
DID YOU KNOW over half of the country’s maple syrup comes from Vermont and New York State? Celebrate the maple sugaring season this March at a Maple Weekend, Open House or festival near you via Amtrak, Metro-North, Zipcar or bus! Hudson Valley, New York: Crown Maple at Madava Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.crownmaple.com White Oak Farm + Hilltop Hanover Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.whiteoakfarm1.com Soukup Farms Maple Weekends:
EscapeMaker.com will partner with Dutchess Tourism Inc. to run popular Farm Fresh Tours program with Metro-North Railroad through 2017. EscapeMaker.com, NYC’s guide to local getaways since 2000, announced today that it has secured a contract with Dutchess Tourism, Inc. to administer the development and operation of their successful Dutchess County Farm Fresh Tours program through 2017. For 10 years, Dutchess Tourism, Inc. has operated the Farm Fresh Tours program, which offers guided day trips to local farms and producers in and around Dutchess County by providing bus shuttle service to train passengers arriving at Metro-North stations in Poughkeepsie and Beacon, among others. The objective has long been to encourage car-less travelers to hop on a train from New York City and spend a day exploring local agriculture, a driving economic force and way of life in the Hudson Valley. Many Dutchess farms are family-owned and welcome visitors to “pick-your-own” produce, make purchases from their farm stands, or join them during family-oriented festivals. Apple picking, wine making, visiting breweries or learning about cheese making are all examples of agritourism, which supports local farmers and producers. “One of our major focuses for the past several years has been to seamlessly connect the dots between customers eager to learn about where their food comes from and the local farmers who work tirelessly to produce goods to the region,” says Caylin Sanders, founder and CEO of EscapeMaker.com. “Having worked with the amazing team at Dutchess Tourism for 12 years and with our expertise for bringing New Yorkers out of the city to experience the endless offerings of the Hudson Valley, jumping at the opportunity to take over the program was an obvious and organic choice for us. Our missions are aligned.” EscapeMaker.com will continue to offer many of the existing farm and destination itineraries,
EscapeMaker.com will partner with Dutchess Tourism Inc. to run popular Farm Fresh Tours program with Metro-North Railroad through 2017. EscapeMaker.com, NYC’s guide to local getaways since 2000, announced today that it has secured a contract with Dutchess Tourism, Inc. to administer the development and operation of their successful Dutchess County Farm Fresh Tours program through 2017. For 10 years, Dutchess Tourism, Inc. has operated the Farm Fresh Tours program, which offers guided day trips to
Shoppers at GrowNYC’s Union Square Greenmarket will be greeted with a special treat on March 17th, 2017 when EscapeMaker.com, New York’s guide to local getaways and farm escapes, hosts its second annual Maple Fest. The event will run from 10am – 4pm on the north side of the square and will feature maple product samples, dancing maple trees, competing pancakes and more. Attendees will get to taste maple yogurt, maple candy, icy local treat “sugar on snow,” and compare a variety of syrups at a maple tasting bar. The event kicks off the 2017 series of agritourism-themed events designed to promote Greenmarket farmers, producers and winemakers within a day’s drive or train ride of New York City. EscapeMaker will be on hand with general agritourism info on how to visit farms, farm stores, breweries and wineries whether by car, bus, ZipCar, Metro-North Railroad or by Amtrak. Beginning at 10am, market-goers can listen to live music, watch maple-inspired cooking demos, and enjoy free samples of a variety of local maple products from New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. There will also be an opportunity to learn about agritourism getaways through literature and conversations with the representatives from a number of tourism regions. Attendees can find information about Maple Weekends via Amtrak in Vermont, craft beverage trails in the Finger Lakes, charming bed & breakfast stays in the Hudson Valley, Farm Fresh Tours via Metro-North Railroad in Dutchess County, and more. “We’re thrilled to be back for our second year of special agritourism-themed events with GrowNYC,” said Caylin Sanders, President and Founder of EscapeMaker.com since 2000. “Our 2016 events were a huge success in terms of interacting with Greenmarket shoppers, providing agritourism education and inspiring local getaways and vacation packages. We look forward to building upon that enhanced shopping experience – beginning with
Shoppers at GrowNYC’s Union Square Greenmarket will be greeted with a special treat on March 17th, 2017 when EscapeMaker.com, New York’s guide to local getaways and farm escapes, hosts its second annual Maple Fest. The event will run from 10am – 4pm on the north side of the square and will feature maple product samples, dancing maple trees, competing pancakes and more. Attendees will get to taste maple yogurt, maple candy, icy local treat “sugar
It's the sweetest time of the year, EscapeMakers! Every spring for a few short weeks, maple sugarmakers across the Northeast open the doors of their sugarhouses for maple weekends, inviting visitors to discover the sweet flavors and traditions involved in making maple syrup. Between Vermont and New York State, more than half of the country's maple syrup production takes place just a train ride away from NYC via Metro North Railroad or Amtrak! And with the days getting warmer, now is the time to start planning for your escapes to the long list of sugarhouses within reach. Vermont is the nation’s leading producer of maple syrup. Producing over 1.3 million gallons of syrup, Vermont generates 42% of the country’s maple syrup from more than 1,500 sugar houses statewide. In 2014, Vermont produced 1,230,000 gallons of the sweet, sticky goodness. Vermont Maple Open House Weekend takes place this year on March 25-26. The sites and activities at the many sugarhouses in the region range from tours to pancake breakfasts to maple tapping demonstrations to samples of maple syrup, candy, creams and more. Check out some hot spots like Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm, Corse Maple Farm, or Green Mountain Sugar House...or get the full list of all participating Vermont sugarhouses here and plan your maple weekend escape! New York is second leader in maple production in the USA, following Vermont. In 2014, New York produced 546,000 gallons of maple syrup, which makes up over 17% of the entire country's supply. With locations at approximately 160 farms and museums, Maple Weekend across New York State takes place March 18-19 and March 25-26. Visitors will find sugarhouse tours, free samples, activities and so much more! Check out Roxbury Mountain Maple in the Catskills (Sullivan County), or the Hudson Valley's White Oak Farm (Westchester County),
It’s the sweetest time of the year, EscapeMakers! Every spring for a few short weeks, maple sugarmakers across the Northeast open the doors of their sugarhouses for maple weekends, inviting visitors to discover the sweet flavors and traditions involved in making maple syrup. Between Vermont and New York State, more than half of the country’s maple syrup production takes place just a train ride away from NYC via Metro North Railroad or Amtrak! And with
