When November arrives, my nesting instinct starts to kick in: my kitchen becomes a flurry of activity, and all kinds of breads, cookies and cakes, not to mention hearty soups, stews and gratins start to appear on the table. From an evolutionary psychology point of view, this flurry of activity makes a lot of sense: my body is preparing for the long, cold months ahead by (gasp!) gaining a few pounds, and I’m getting my nest ready for the long nights I will spend in front of the fireplace, curled up with my sweetheart, my cat and a good book.

November, for me, is about home. It’s also about family and friends, and celebrating the joy that they bring to my life. This issue of the Guide is dedicated to the celebration of friends and family; we’ve included lots of articles on gift giving and holiday parties to help you show your appreciation and love.

Like many people during this economic downturn, I too am searching for ways to show my friends how much they mean to me without breaking out the checkbook. Sometimes just coming together in community to talk and share is a tremendous opportunity to express love. “The Neighbouring,” by Tara Collins is a description of a modern-day version of an age-old gathering of sheepherders: “Once assembled, the group shared in the work at hand, shearing animals en masse, mixing in camaraderie, good food, music and storytelling.” That sense of community, of belonging, is a wonderful gift that costs nothing but means a great deal.

But everyone likes a present, wrapped with a big shiny bow, every now and then, and the holidays are a time to splurge a little, aren’t they? What better time to throw a fabulous shindig for your friends and family?

I used to live just down the road from Margaretville, so I am well aware of the great shopping and dining available in that Delaware County village. If you’ve never been to Margaretville, I highly encourage you to visit; a holiday shopping trip is perfect, when the streets and shops are decked out for the holidays—it’s a true, good old-fashioned American small town. Check out Jonathan Ment’s article for some ideas about where to go once you get there.

While I love to cook for my friends and family, I understand that for many people the kitchen is a scary place, and the idea of throwing a party fills them with dread. For those people, Jonathan has contributed “Plan Your Party in Someone Else’s House (And Enjoy Yourself)” . If you want to throw a holiday party, but don’t want to decorate, cook, or clean up afterwards, this article will give you some great ideas for venues that will take care of all of the work for you. Large or small, casual or elegant, the Catskill Region has lots of places for your perfect holiday gathering.

And for all of your gifts this season, consider shopping local: our Holiday Gift Guide will give you some great ideas for everyone on your list.

But what do you do if you have someone on your list who seems to have everything, and is just a little bit different? What you do is visit Sean Scherer at Kabinett & Kammer in Andes. Sean’s passion for finding the slightly offbeat has resulted in a truly one-of-a-kind store, where you are sure to find something for that impossible-to-shop-for person on your list. Read more about the shop in this issue.

Happy Holidays! See you in the mountains.

Yours sincerely


Sarah Taft
Managing Editor
tafts@catskillmtn.org