KING'S INN

If you live in Kingston, you are probably familiar with the eyesore that is the King's Inn. It's that defunct motel on Broadway in midtown. It was probably pretty sweet when it was built in 1964...but the years have not been kind. Now it stands there...abandoned...just giving off bad vibes.

The city owns the property...and everyone and their mom wants to tear it down. But I guess there is some sort of big deal asbestos removal that has to happen first. So we're probably going to be looking at this thing for a while.

Our friend Tom Cingel contacted us about possibly getting in on some guerrilla beautifying and we were happy to lend a hand. His friend Adam Chalom designed and painted a mural for the site, and Justin and I were part of the rag-tag group of locals that helped to hang it.

Note: If you ever plan on putting artwork where you are not authorized to be putting artwork bring scaffolding and reflective vests. NOBODY will question you.

VOYAGE OF THE EAGLET

A couple weeks ago, Justin made the trip from New York City to Kingston BY SAILBOAT!

He sailed with our friend Randy on Randy's boat, the Eaglet. She's a 31-foot wooden boat from 1925.

The 100 mile journey took about 15 hours. They passed under 6 bridges (George Washington, Tappan Zee, Bear Mountain, Newburgh/Beacon, Mid-Hudson, and Walkway Over the Hudson), and went by West Point, the Indian Point nuclear power plant, and Bannerman's Island.

They got here at 1:00 am and docked the boat at the Rondout Creek in Kingston...just a couple blocks from our house. Then a day and a half later they turned around and sailed back to NYC.

Here are some photos from the trip...

Leaving New York City, early morning.



First Mate Nami (which means wave in Japanese).



The boys on their way back to NYC.

The Kingston lighthouse...where the Rondout Creek meets the Hudson River.

See that cabin? That was Randy's "apartment" for 4 years. Renting a slip in NYC is a lot cheaper than renting a studio. And I think living on a boat is pretty darn romantic.







Bright lights. Big city. The end.

THE QUARRY

I know...I know. ANOTHER swimming hole post?!

I can't help it! The last 6 summers I spent living in Brooklyn I barely ever saw water...and did very little frolicking outdoors...so when I find all of these amazing natural wonders up here I get REALLY excited and HAVE to share them with you.

These pictures are of an old quarry turned swimming hole. It is fed by a natural spring and the water is clear and beautiful. And it's right in Kingston...super close to our house. I have a feeling Justin and I will be seeing a LOT of this place this summer.

FIREWORKS FESTIVAL

On the Sunday before the 4th of July the city of Kingston hosts a fireworks festival down by the water,  just a couple of blocks from our house.  We watched it with our neighbors in their backyard.  What a view!  Fireworks look especially dreamy when they are behind a silhouette of trees.

KINGSTON FARMERS’ MARKET

Saturday was opening day of the Kingston Farmers’ Market.  Justin and I had been anxiously awaiting it since we moved in and it did not disappoint.  Lots of local fruits, vegetables, flowers, artisanal cheeses, breads, and delicious baked goods.  We walked away with strawberries, swiss chard, russian kale, chives (with purple flowers!), snap peas, arugula, easter egg radishes (so beautiful!), honey crisp apples, broccoli, cilantro, fromage blanc, fresh mozzarella, rhubarb bread, pane rustica, and two bouquets of dried flowers.  That's a picture of our haul above.  And below a close-up of the world's prettiest radishes.  

OUR BLOCK

We got our first package in the mail!  It was from the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission of Kingston and had all kinds of information about the four designated historic districts and a list of preservation and restoration guidelines for the homes that are within these areas. 

Our house is in the Chestnut Street Historic District.  It's a small area...only a few blocks long. And it's great because it means that nobody on our street...or the surrounding streets can do anything crazy to their house.  Any changes you make have to be consistent with the period and architectural style of your home. That means no vinyl siding, no crazy paint jobs, and most importantly no tearing down beautiful old buildings. 

The top photo is the view from our front porch.  Our street is a tiny cul-de-sac with only about 6 other houses on it and ours sits at the very end.  Here are a few of the other houses: 

And here's our house:

It's official. Justin and I are trading in our railroad apartment in Brooklyn for a three story Victorian in Kingston, NY. Our loan is approved, the contracts are signed, and our lawyer will be calling us this week to set a closing date. After years of fantasizing about moving upstate, we are about to actually do it. So crazy.