Let’s face it: For many of us, life in the 21st century is busy, busy, busy. We juggle jobs (if we’re lucky), childcare, after-school activities, a motley assortment of pets, family responsibilities, endless online friends — and still, we’re supposed to find time to keep a perfect home and be personally fulfilled. No wonder our weekly to-do lists grow longer each month. But in this issue, we offer you one list that won’t make your stomach drop when you think about all the things that haven’t yet been crossed off. In fact, I’m pretty sure that “25 More Things Every Valleyite Must Do” will rank as one of your favorite to-do lists of all time. Three years ago, we outlined 20 things that are de rigueur for anyone who calls the Valley home. Now — from visiting Olana to taking in a show at the Bardavon to touring a Valley vineyard — we give you 25 additional must-do activities. Just like you can’t go to Paris without visiting the Louvre, you can’t live in the Hudson Valley without going to Dia:Beacon. Whether you plan to check out one of these special spots each week or once a month over the next two years, use this list to plan some fun time for yourself and your family. You deserve it.
Also in this issue is our one-of-a-kind photo essay, “Forever Young,” featuring some of the hottest musical talent in the region. We’ve paired noteworthy up-and-comers (dare we call them prodigies?) with some of the most established performers living in the area. When Woodstock’s Kristen Capolino, once dubbed “a teenage heavy-metal guitar phenomenon” (she’s now reached the ripe old age of 20) got in front of the camera with legendary guitarist Earl Slick, it was pure rock and roll magic. So move over Rolling Stone, HV’s got the music scene covered.
And finally, it’s time to toot our own horn a little bit. Hudson Valley recently won the top award for Civic Journalism reporting from the national City and Regional Magazine Association for our November 2009 article “A Resident Outraged.” In this compelling story, former staffer Greg Ryan chronicled the work of Debra Hall, who became a community and environmental activist after discovering that illegal dumping of a toxic substance had contaminated the water supply at her Hopewell Junction home. This was the first time the magazine had ever been recognized by the CRMA (we were also nominated for our 2009 redesign, thanks to the exceptional efforts of Creative Director Bob Supina). But the win was particularly exciting: We bested several other, much larger magazines — including Texas Monthly and Los Angeles — which have more staff, bigger budgets, and usually dominate these awards. So, here’s one for the little guys!
Enjoy the issue, and the rest of the summer.
Cheers,
Olivia J. Abel
Editor In Chief
