It’s almost three weeks into the new year and here in the Northeast it’s freezing outside! So let’s explore a fun activity that’ll heat you up quickly. On the Hudson river about 35 miles away from Nyack is the town of Beacon, Ny. A booming hip town with numerous quaint shops and excellent restaurants. Beacon is also home to Hudson Beach Glass, a glass making studio that started back in 1987 and moved to it’s current location,162 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508, in 2003. The studio sells handmade glass art and functional objects and also has an art gallery upstairs where local artist can show their work. But the thing that I really love about Hudson Beach Glass is their glass blowing demonstrations and classes. You can take a class on making a beautiful paperweight or make your own Christmas ornament, and with a little help, you’ll come out with something pretty amazing that can be handed down to future generations.
It’s important to note that the blow your own ornament has become so popular that the weekend spaces from October to Christmas fill up very fast. This year all the weekend spots filled up in 30 minutes. If this is of interest to you I’d get on their mailing list to be informed as to when you’ll be able to sign up for an appointment in 2020. The ornaments cost $40 and this includes instruction and help. You will pick out the style and color and then one of their glass blowers will help you shape the ornament and do the more dangerous and critical elements to help you make your perfect ornament. I’ve been fascinated with glass blowing since I was a kid. When I got a chance to make my own ornament I couldn’t pass it up. There’s something amazing about working with a substance that is 2000 degrees and is a semi liquid . Then as you spin it and blow into it the object starts to take shape and still you won’t know exactly what it looks like until it cools completely, which must be done very slowly and takes about 24 hours.
What you create is a substantial, unique piece of art that actually contains your own breath! I like that part about it too. A little piece of me went into making each ornament. These are heavy, well crafted glass pieces and will last a hundred years or more if taken care of properly. It’s fun to look at the ornament hanging from your tree or as a friend of mine does, hang them in a window as sun catchers. Granted the glass blowing artisan does most of the hard work but you have a hand and say in how the final product will look.
Before or after you make your ornament, you may want to walk the streets of Beacon and grab a bite or have some refreshment. Most of the locals agree on a few places to eat, Beacon Bread, Beacon Pantry, Home Spun and Meyer’s Old Dutch. I opted to have a burger at Old Dutch, mostly because two of the other places were closing soon and I didn’t want to be rushed. Meyer’s Old Dutch does have amazing burgers and sandwiches along with local craft beers. The place isn’t very large but that adds to the charm. They have a wonderful crispy chicken sandwich and double patty burgers with a huge array of toppings to suit any taste. The fries were also very good but I’d skip the coleslaw as it seemed like an after thought, at least on the day I went. I added their secret fry sauce to the coleslaw and that made it much better. Next time I’ll try and eat a little earlier so I can go to one of the other restaurant favorites.
Beacon has a lot to offer , especially if you’re an art lover as the Dia Museum moved part of it’s New York City collection there in 2003 taking over the huge Nabisco box printing factory. This helped Beacon to revitalize itself into what it is becoming to this day. Beacon makes a great day trip even if you don’t go and make your own ornament, though I would suggest you give it a try just once. Where else do you have a chance at standing in front of a 2000 degree oven while spinning a metal rod containing a hunk of molten glass that will soon be a unique creation of your own?
If you’ve been to Hudson Beach Glass or Beacon and have things you’d like to add please do so in the box below. As always if you have any questions or comments please leave those in the box below as well and I’ll get to them as soon as I can. Stay warm and until next time Boone Appétit!
Hi, Charlie! You look right at home blowing that glass. I visited a glass place in Estes Park, CO this summer. Great fun to watch and shop, but not available for patrons’ handiwork.
Beacon sounds like a great town for some good eats, as well as art, too.
Keep ’em coming,
Jenn
Hi Jenn, I think you’d also enjoy a day in Beacon, the DIA museum is a great place to start and main street has much more to offer than I could write about.Thanks for stopping by.
Now, there’s another cool thing to do in the Hudson Valley that I didn’t know about. Great looking building, too.
The burger looks like the real thing– are those jalapenos peeking out, Charlie? The fries look home cut– the kind that come into the pub in ‘tater form. Again, the real thing. Yum.
Gonna have to get up there and noodle around!
Hi Barko,
yeah the building was an old fire house which seems appropriate for a glass studio that never shuts down their furnace, they turn it down at night to a chilly 1850 degrees.Beacon is having a restaurant renaissance so now’s a great time to check it out. Thanks for checking in.