JULY. It’s 4 weeks of real, unadulterated summer. If you have kids…they are probably in camp and keeping busy out of your hair. The office is on early-Fridays, or no-Fridays, or Fridays from home. Between slow Fridays and late sunsets, weekends feel longer and slower. Summer crops are in full bloom, so your senses start telling you its really summer: juicy ripe berries, watermelon, early corn, zucchini…and everything just gets thrown onto the grill for a smokey perfection. And its hot so hot. So hot, you don’t need an excuse to eat ice cream! Yes, there is really nothing like July.
And there is nothing like July in the Hudson Valley! Take advantage of those longer weekends, and come up for some great bbq, arts festivals, amazing gardens and hikes, a round of golf… and end it all with dinner on our romantic patio with sunset as your backdrop. The Millbrook Inn’s celebrated Union Vale Burger, accompanied by local corn on the grill, and served alongside a Hudson Valley craft beer…well its the perfect end to a beautiful July day in Millbrook.
Here are some of our favorite things to do in July:
POWERHOUSE THEATER IN VASSAR
For 5 weeks every summer, the Powerhouse Theater brings people from near and far for a chance to see the next “hot” play or musical, before its “hot”. Hamilton, for instance, played here while it was working out the kinks just before its Broadway debut, as do dozens of other pieces, some ready for prime time, some still in development. Located on Vassar’s campus, its just a short drive away from the inn, and we can give you a special pre-theater dinner or post-theater snack, just speak to our innkeeper to work out the details. This year’s season runs through July 30th, but tickets run out fast, so act quickly!
UPSTATE ART WEEKEND
This annual arts festival event will take place July 21-24th this summer, and celebrates the cultural vibrancy of Upstate New York. The Upstate Art Weekend is in its 4th year, and over 130 galleries, museums, concert halls, and artist venues participate: many within a short drive from the inn, several in Millbrook itself and just beyond. The festival features live performances, artists in residence talking about their art, live poetry readings, outdoor sculpture shows, and much more. UPAW, as it’s called, has been written up in the New York Times, art net news, Art Newspaper, Chorongram, and beyond. To find out more, visit their website or follow their Instagram account @upstateartweekend.
MILLBROOK HORSE TRIALS
The Millbrook Horse Trials is a premiere 4-day event for equestrians and horse-lovers alike, and draws riders from all over the world to compete in dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping. Best of all, its free for the public to enjoy, with lots of opportunities to view all the events, shop, and eat great local food. This year’s event runs July 27-30th.
A PEEK INNSIDE JULY: S’MORES MARTINI
July is a time for the campfire in everyone! And why should S’more’s only be for children? We came up with a Martini version, that we serve at our bar at The Vintage…and its on fire…literally!
Ingredients:
- 1.5 ounces of Coopers Daughter Cacao Maple Vodka or your own chocolate vodka
- Marshmallow simple syrup (we made our own, but you can also purchase)
- Graham crackers
- Marshmallow on a skewer
Instructions:
- To make the glass rim: Crush your graham crackers into a fine crumb in a blender or by
hand. Lightly dip your glass in simple syrup, and then roll the outside of the glass in the graham
cracker (you don’t want the cracker on the inside, or it will get soggy when you drink the
cocktail). - To make the Martini: Shake the vodka and simply syrup until ice cold: Pour into rimmed
glass. - To finish: Roast your marshmallow over a stove fire, or with a hand lighter. Leave it aflame as
you place over the glass to serve.