ELENA & KEVIN’S WEDDING HOOHA

Parking Update

we just got back from the Town Hall on the errand of the marriage license, drove by the Mid-Hudson Overhead Door Co., and found that they had taken the sign off the building…woopsie.  and the lot is a bit uphill from the schoolbus lot as opposed to right across the street as KB had previously mentioned…my bad.  so.  a couple new landmarks for knowing the right place to park: gray building with green trim and a bunch of space around it where you might park a bunch of cars, SW (Downhill & toward the creek) corner of Center St and Clinton Ave, across the street west (downhill) from the Seventh Day Adventist church.
also, we noticed that there is no street sign at the Center St/Canal St split as you come down the hill.  so just bear left to stay on Center toward the parking lot.

Weather Update

it’s lookin’ like we’re gonna get a magnificent autumn day for our festivities!
the forecast for Friday and Saturday is nothin’ but sun with temps in mid 40s-low 50s range…0% chance of rain.  Course, it’s good to remember that we do live in the mountains, so anything can happen any time.  So we recommend bringin’ your rain gear just in case (Sunday is showin’ some clouds), and packin’ your long johns as well.  We’ll have a couple of patio heaters on the lawn, a heater in the barn, and of course a fire out back.  The house is nice & toasty too now that we had our heating system retooled, so there are plenty of options for warmth.  But if you intend to spend as much time by the creek as KB does, a nice underlayer will do ya good.
http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/Ellenville+NY+12428:4:US
is a link to the forecast for your viewing pleasure.

THE TIME IS RIPE!

as you’ve seen on your beauteous invitation that Lena put together, we’re shooting for a 2pm start on Saturday October 13.  (215 Center St., Ellenville, NY)  this is partly due to the Metro North, Port Jervis line schedule which drops off at Middletown at 12:59pm.  please chime in on the comments if you are taking the train up so we can get a rough head count of how many folks need a ride up, and of course back down again.
http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/planning/schedules/APR1_2012WOH.pdf
is a link to the MetNo schedule page.  FYI:  last train back is 9:18pm

LODGING

Single     Double
Deluxe                $130       $130
Executive            $145       $145
Suite                   $160       $160

Standard/Deluxe – sleeps two
Executive – could sleep four in one room
Suite – sleeps four, two in each room (cd sleep five if one is on a cot). Has fridge in room.

MAKE SURE TO MENTION HOLY-BARTLETT WEDDING WHEN BOOKING

• Emerald Forest (aka Jakes Place) – www.emeraldforestbungalows.com – 845-647-9543 – This is a renovation of one of the ubiquitous old camps around the catskills.  Their bungalows will be closed for the winter by then, but they have 2 chalets that will sleep 6 for $180/night (50% deposit).  They are in the woods about 10 minutes west of town.  I spoke to Mike Jacobsen, so you might mention the wedding & sweet talk him into a discount.
• Harvest Inn –  http://www.harvestinnmotel.com/ – 845-744-5700 – This is a schnazzy place in Pine Bush…about 15 minutes over the pass on the other side of The Gunks.  The view of the Catskills coming down into Ellenville is spectacular! Their rooms start at $85/night (single/king bed)
• Days Inn Wurtsboro –  http://www.daysinn.com/hotels/new-york/wurtsboro/days-inn-wurtsboro/hotel-overview – 845-888-2727– This is about 20 minutes south of town, just north of the intersection of highways 17 & 209.  We stayed here when we came up for our home inspection last fall.  nice little place, The website said $100/nite, but i know we didn’t pay that much.

Speaking of not paying that much, you can probably get a better deal for the last 2 options on your favorite discount booking site.  I’m sure that’s how Lena got the deal we got at the Days Inn last fall.  If all of these options are out of your price range, there are a bunch of motels on Rte 211 in Middletown,  We pass these on the way to the train station, and have seen $59. rates on the signs.  Middletown is 30-40 minutes from our place.

TRANSPORT

Directions to our little slice of the Pie

From The Airports:

LGA & JFK:  you wanna get yourself to I-678( the Van Wyke Parkway) headed North, to go over the Whitestone bridge.  From JFK it’s among your 1^st options.  From LGA you need to go East on the Grand Central Parkway to get there.  Once you get over the Whitestone, keep heading North on the Hutchinson River Parkway for about 9 miles.  Head West on the Cross County Parkway (Exit 13) a short distance to the Sprain Brook Parkway (Exit 6) and go North on that.  The Sprain turns into the Taconic Parkway at Hawthorne, NY, keep going through one of my favorite spots on the planet…Fahnstock State Park.  Shortly after you pass through Fahnstock, you’ll come to I-84.  Take that West over the Hudson River, and soon after you will exit at Highway 52 West (Exit 8)…That is our street, although we’re still about 40 miles away.  Drive on through Walden, then Pine Bush and Walker Valley, on up over the Shawangunk Ridge and on down to our house.  Please Note:   if you are going to Middletown to check in to your hotel, continues on I-84 past Highway 52 all the way to Middletown.  Then when you want to come to our place, find your way to Highway 17 West (toward Binghamton).  Go 2 miles to Exit 119, and turn right on Highway 302 to Pine Bush.  Then turn left (West) on Highway 52.

Newark (EWR):  Follow signs to the NJ Turnpike North.  Take the turnpike to I-280 West.  Merge onto I-80 West and go a couple o’miles to I-287.  Go North on 287 to NY, and merge onto I-87, the NY State Thruway.  Take the Thruway up to Harriman and Exit 16 to get on Highway 6 & 17 West.  Go about 25 miles through Middletown and on to Exit 119, then turn right on Highway 302 to Pine Bush.  Then turn left (West) on Highway 52.

From anywhere else:

we believe that those driving in from other places have been here before so do not need directions.  but just in case we’re dropping in a Google map to help you find the plantation.

View Larger Map
Driving into Ellenville is a thing of beauty, no matter which way you come, but we prefer Highway 52, cause our little homestead sits right on it, and the pass over the Shawangunk Ridge is always pretty spectacular.  please allow time to stop at the turnout after you come over the pass…great view of the valley and the Catskills across the way.

We have arranged parking at the old Mid-Hudson Overhead Door Co. on Center St, at the corner of Clinton Ave.  Wave as you drive by, then veer left around the bend, and you’ll see it on your left. If, for whatever reason, you see fit to take Highway 209 up, turn right on Center St (at the Getty Station), cross over the Sandburg Creek, and you’ll see the spot on your right.  By the Graciousness of Phil Vallone at the Rolling V Bus Corp, all y’all can drop your cars there, and it’s just a 3-5 minute walk depending on how spry & gay you are.   Feel free to drop off anyone who can’t make the walk at the house before parking.

PRESENTS

Your presence is the gift we desire.  The joy of our union is wrought in the understanding that all we truly have to give is our time & energy, passion & verve.  We are simple folks, and we simply want you.  The party will be an open non-mic event for those of our peoples who like to share via song or spoken word.