Chatham Area Business and Arts Blog

Chatham’s 14th Annual WinterFest To Be Held Saturday, December 10, 10am-4pm

[CHATHAM, NY] Chatham’s fourteenth annual WinterFest will be held Saturday, December 10. Storefronts and display windows are decorated and plans are underway for special events, activities and holidays sales.

Entertainment highlights include a storybook reading, free film screening for kids, and live music. Judy Staber and Thomas Chulak will read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Chatham Bookstore, 27 Main Street, at 11:00am. “Lost in the Woods,” a 4-piece recorder and string ensemble will perform at the North River Gallery at 34A Main Street, from 1:30 to 3:00pm. The Crandell Theatre will present a screening of the classic holiday film “Home Alone” at 2:00pm.

Returning for the second year is “Winterfest Word Hop,” a free game where participants collect words that are posted indoors throughout the village. All correctly completed forms get entered in a free drawing for a holiday gift basket of donated items from local merchants. Pick up a Winterfest Word Hop form at participating merchants and return the completed form to Beach & Bartolo Realtors, 34 Main Street.

In addition to holiday sales throughout the village, other activities will include a craft project and activities, a photo booth, and live music. Check the Winterfest Page of our website often to keep abreast of the latest developments.

FBI data shows safest NY cities, towns

Chatham Area News

Times Union October 2016
Chatham, NY was ranked the safest. Violent crimes per 100,000 residents: 0
Read the article.

Final OctoberFeast Schedule of Events

Chatham Area News, OctoberFeast

The first annual Octoberfeast will be held Saturday, October 1 from 11:00am to 10:00pm in the village of Chatham. Local food and family fun will be the highlights of this festive harvest celebration. Enjoy live music and outstanding fall food all day, enter the “Get Crocked” Cooking Contest, and participate in a cornucopia of family activities.

Events are planned for kids and adults alike:

11:00am

Our Daily Bread Gluten Free Bakery. For sale: stuffed pretzels, Octoberfeast knishes of mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and corned beef. 54 Main Street

Our Daily Bread Deli. Smokers will be fired up! For sale: smoked turkey legs, pastrami on a stick, sausages and all the trimmings. Chatham Brewing’s Oktoberfest brew, and other beer. Music from Noon-2pm and lawn/deck will be available for lawn games (bocce and more). Discounts to those in traditional lederhosen, and free draft to those who purchase a beer stein from Van Alstyne Fine Jewelry. 116 Hudson Avenue,

11:00am-5:00pm

Chatham Café & Deli. Cider, hot chocolate, seasonal pastries and more will be sold as well as the full menu inside with specials featuring a seasonal flavor. 41 Main Street

SomethinsGottaGive. Artists serving refreshments, 5 Main Street,

Van Alstyne Fine Jewelry. Beer steins for sale. 42 Main Street

Chatham Wine & Liquor. Wine and cheese sampling. 53 Main Street

Chatham Brewing. Pig roast. 59 Main Street

People’s Pub. Duck tacos and lamb sliders. 36 Main Street

Friends of the Tracy. Selling beer mugs with their logo

Face-painting

Mando Fights Back. Selling bows and pies

11:00am-7:00pm

Prepared. Grilling bratwurst and sauerkraut in the Beer and Wine Garden in the Prepared Plaza outside 20 Main Street.

A La Mode. Selling ice cream and root beer floats street side.

Noon

Musicians Laura Flemming and Phalen McGreal in the Beer and Wine Garden in the Prepared Plaza outside Prepared at 20 Main Street

Noon-12:30pm

Unicycling

Noon-2pm

Live Music TBA at Our Daily Bread Deli, 116 Hudson Avenue

1:00-3:00pm

Get Crocked: Crockpot for a Cause Cooking Contest. First prize is $100.00. Second prize is $50. Dominic Guiliano, chef at Blue Plate and Prepared, will be the judge. The public can buy a Get Crocked tasting pass which will allow them to try a sample of each entry and the most popular dish will be awarded “People’s Choice.” Proceeds from “Crockpot for a Cause” will benefit Tina and Rich Powers and family. For more information about the cooking contest, please email or call 518.336.5254. Location TBA

1:00-2:00pm

Eric Thee Illusionist on the Brewery Stage

2:00-3:00pm

Balloon Art on the Brewery Stage

3:00pm

Ceremonial Keg Tapping on the Brewery Stage

3:00pm

Games and Contests at Chatham Brewing, 59 Main Street

Breezy Grass Band on the Brewery Stage

6:00pm

Sitting Plush Band on the Brewery Stage

8:00pm

Side Show Willie on the Brewery Stage. This is the band’s 100th performance.

Chatham’s Family Friendly OctoberFeast To Be Held Saturday, October 1

Chatham Area News, OctoberFeast

Chatham’s first annual OctoberFeast will be held Saturday, October 1 from 11:00am to 10:00pm. Celebrate the harvest with local food and family fun throughout the village of Chatham. Enjoy music all day, enter the “Get Crocked” Cooking Contest, enjoy outstanding fall food, and participate in a cornucopia of family activities.

“We’re combining the fabulous fall flavors and colors of the harvest with the joy of being outdoors this time of year,” said Melony Spock, OctoberFeast co-chair. “We’re working with local restaurants to present an all-day event that brings our community together.”

In preparation for this special day, events are planned for kids and adults alike. Saturday, October 1 there will be live music including Laura Flemming and Phalen McGreal, Breezy Grass Band, Sitting Plush Band, and the 100th performance of Side Show Willie. At 1:00pm magician Eric Thee Illusionist will perform a free one-hour show, followed by a balloon art demonstration.

The Get Crocked Cooking Contest (Crockpot for a Cause) will take place Saturday, October 1. First prize is $100.00. Second prize is $50. Dominic Guiliano, chef at Blue Plate and Prepared, will be the judge. The public can buy a Get Crocked tasting pass which will allow them to try a sample of each entry and the most popular dish will be awarded “People’s Choice.” Proceeds from “Crockpot for a Cause” will benefit Tina and Rich Powers and family. For more information about the cooking contest, please email or call 518.336.5254.

OctoberFeast details are still being finalized. For more details or to keep up with the latest developments, visit the OctoberFeast page.

Learn About the CABA Reinvention

Member News

For the past three decades the Chatham Business Alliance, subsequently called the Chatham Area Business Alliance has been connecting businesses in the Chatham Area, promoting the area and its businesses, representing and advocating for local economic development, and organizing festivals for the community. In May of 2015 the CABA Board entered into a year-long process of reinventing itself, believing that the organization could become more effective. The following is a draft proposal that came out of those meetings to Reinvent CABA.

About the CABA Reinvention Plan

I. Name

It is proposed that we keep CABA as our acronym, but the letters shall stand for Chatham Area Business and Arts. The Chatham Area shall be defined by the boundaries of the Chatham Central School District.*

II. Mission

CABA is an organization of organizations that exists to vitalize the Chatham area.

III. Vision

To connect the organizations, support their development and attract people to the area

IV. Specific Goals (3 years)

Secure Federal Tax exempt status 501c3
Secure broader base of funding:contribution, grants,membership dues
Engage with the full CABA membership through twice-yearly gatherings
Actively and regularly communicate with the membership through digital media
Develop a brochure promoting the Chatham Area updated every other year
Coordinate the continued development and presentation of Summerfest and Winterfest and add an Octoberfest
Hire a part-time executive director

V. New Opportunities

Explore through various means collaboration and cooperation with other community organizations and initiatives including but not limited to:

An educational program with Columbia-Greene Community College that convenes in the Chatham Area. Develop a partnership with Chatham schools focused on applied learning
Creation of Chatham Area branding and signage
Expanded lodging options
Economic development consistent with the comprehensive plans in all 5 municipalities in the Chatham Area
Outreach to Art Stakeholders as an affiliate of CABA; Harlem Valley Rail Trail; historical societies; projects for proposed visitors centers and home businesses.
_______

* The Chatham Central School District includes The Village of Chatham and parts of the towns of Austerlitz, Canaan, Chatham and Ghent.

SummerFest 2016 A Success!

Chatham Area News, Summerfest

Thank you to everyone who helped plan SummerFest 2016! We are so pleased the weather cooperated as well as it did. Thank you also to the hundreds of people who attended. And finally, thank you to everyone who participated – all our vendors and entertainers. The event would not have been possible without you all.

Visit our Facebook page and let us know what you thought, how we can make it better even next year. Also, be sure to check out our photo album from the event.

CABA Announces 2016 Chatham SummerFest Entertainment Schedule

Chatham Area News, Summerfest

The Chatham Area Business Alliance hosts Chatham SummerFest Saturday, July 9 from 10am-4pm. In celebration of its 40th year, organizers have planned the biggest and most exciting SummerFest yet. In addition to the popular village-wide sidewalk sale and Artisan Faire, more than 60 food and merchandise vendors and not-for profits organizations will be set up along Main Street, Park Row, and Hudson Avenue. Topping it all off will two stages of entertainment, one on each end of town.

Free Entertainment will include:

11am-Noon Magician Jim Snack
Renowned magician and master of sleight-of-hand Jim Snack will perform on the Spotlight Stage, located outside Chatham Brewing.

Noon-12:30pm Big Head Parade
This uniquely Chatham event features a parade of individuals wearing giant handmade papier-mâché heads that cover most of their body. In addition to the heads will be adults and kids in festive costume, musicians, floats and other surprises. All are welcome to march or watch. The parade kicks off from the Morris Memorial.

12:30-1:00pm “Three Billy Goats Gruff” in the Crandell Theatre
“Three Billy Goats Gruff” is a reworking of the classic children’s tale performed by The Columbia County Youth Theatre, directed by Edgar Acevedo, with musical arrangements by Paul Wyatt. This will be the first time that there has been a live performance on the Crandell Theatre stage since the early 1950s.

1:00-2:00pm So Percussion
This internationally-acclaimed, Brooklyn-based, modern percussion quartet will perform on the Spotlight Stage, located outside Chatham Brewing. Champions of innovation and curiosity, they produce original music, as well as collaborate with others, and are well known for using original and exotic instruments including the glockenspiel, bowed marimba, aluminum pipes and an amplified cactus.

2:00-4:00pm Rich Hallenbeck and Friends music jam
Will be performing on the Spotlight Stage, located outside Chatham Brewing.

Throughout the day Mac-Hadyn Theatre will perform in the village

For more information, please visit the website ChathamSummerFest.com. If you are interested in volunteering to help this community event, please contact Suzanne Knights at (518) 369-0541 or .

Chatham SummerFest will take place on Main Street, Park Row and Hudson Avenue. The street fair regularly draws hundreds of visitors and showcases many varied local organizations as well as performers, artists, and vendors. The Chatham Area Business Alliance (CABA), a coalition of individuals, businesses and organizations, works to promote the Chatham, New York region as a vibrant, positive environment for shopping, dining, enjoying the arts and conducting business.

More than 20 Chatham Businesses Earn “Best of Columbia County” Awards

Best of Columbia County, Chatham Area News, Member News

The third annual Best of Columbia County awards ceremony was held Thursday, June 23. More than 20 of the 90 categories were awarded to businesses, organizations and individuals from right here in Chatham, NY. Thank you to everyone who took the time to cast a ballot.

Congratulations to all of Chatham’s “Best of Columbia County 2016” Winners!

We invite you to come visit our little town and see why so many of our businesses were voted “Best in the County!” The awards were announced Thursday, June 23, 2016. See the list of all 90 winners.

Local Shopping

Building Supply Store: Ed Herrington, Inc. (Herrington’s)

Clothing, Shoes and/or Accessories: Browns Emporium, Inc.

Florist: Chatham Flowers & Gifts

Jewelry Store: RH Van Alstyne Fine Jewelry

Local Book Store: Chatham Bookstore

Lodging: Inn at Silver Maple Farm

Specialty Food Store: Bimi’s Cheese Shop

Local Food & Drink

Baked Goods: Our Daily Bread

Farm Stand: The Berry Farm

Local Beer: Chatham Brewing, LLC

Local Wine: Hudson-Chatham Winery

Nightlife

Happy Hour Spot: Destino

Community

Block in the County to Shop: Main Street in Chatham

Community Event Spring: Sean’s Run

Community Event Summer: Columbia County Fair

Managed Town: Chatham

Wedding Venue: Chatham Fairgrounds

Arts & Culture

Artist: Roger Mason

Local Live Theater: The Mac-HaydnTheatre, Inc.

Local Movie Theater: Crandell Theatre

Services

Alternative Energy: SunDog Solar

Architect: Kate Johns AIA

Financial Advisor: Edward Jones

Realtor: Beach & Bartolo, Realtors, Inc.

Web Developer: Trevellyan.biz

40th Annual Chatham SummerFest to be held Saturday, July 9

Chatham Area News, Summerfest

Please join us in our celebration of Chatham SummerFest’s 40th anniversary Saturday, July 9th, 2016 from 10am to 4pm. The event will take place on Main Street, Park Row, and Hudson Avenue in Chatham.

Chatham NY has always been one of the most architecturally beautiful towns in Columbia County. Each summer Main Street, Park Row and Hudson Avenue turn into a lively ‘food, shopping and music’ festival and this year we hope to make it our best yet. We think that 40 years is a very big deal so we plan to make it a great event.

There will be live entertainment on two stages and the streets will be lined with over 70 artisan vendors such as woodcrafters, jewelry makers, textile artists, makers of apothecary products and more. We’re sure there will be a little something for everyone. And we’ll have farm animals and face painting for the kids.

Between the food trucks and our town’s great cafes, restaurants and brewery you’ll have lots of good eats to choose from such as Mexican, East Indian, and great American classics. Chatham is fast becoming a serious FOOD town!

“SummerFest is an event for people of all ages. There’s lots of socializing with good food and fun. My favorite part of SummerFest is the parade which anyone can jump into and march along with!” – Tom Curran, mayor of Chatham

“This year’s SummerFest should be better than ever. There is a great group spearheading it and there will lots of new vendors and merchants introducing themselves.” – Rita Van Alstyne, owner of R.H. Van Alstyne Fine Jewelry

We can’t wait to kick-off summer and celebrate this special anniversary with you all. Hope to see you all at SummerFest 2016.

In Town for the Weekend: Chatham, NY

Chatham Area News

JMS Collective March 2016
Located about a half-hour up NYS Route 66 from Hudson, lies another of Columbia County’s great towns to explore, Chatham. Set among bucolic hillsides, the village of Chatham has seen a major resurgence in local businesses joining its longstanding community pillars, and is a destination for cultural, culinary, and conservation-minded tourists alike.
Read the article.