July is SERIOUS summer business: crops are in full bloom, like juicy ripe berries, stone fruits, cherries, early corn, zucchini…and everything, even fruit, just seems to find its way onto the grill for smokey perfection. Late Sunsets are made for cocktails on the terrace. And its 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 a long weekend for the perfect “staycation” getaway at The Millbrook Inn. Spend July at local art and theater festivals, amazing public gardens, hikes, or a round of golf…and end it all with dinner on our romantic patio, followed by sunset s’mores and a glass of port around our fire pit. Ahhh…yes. July.
There are still a few rooms left this summer for our special 3-night Thursday which we shared with you last month: Include a Thursday in any 3-night stay, and get Thursday night 1/2 off, plus $30 off your Thursday dinner at The Vintage! So check in on Thursday evening and enjoy a relaxing dinner at The Vintage; then wake up Friday morning for a full summer weekend in the Hudson Valley!
Use the code THURSDAY when making your booking. Please note that this promotion is dependent on room availability.
WHAT TO DO THIS JULY IN THE HUDSON VALLEY
Wethersfield Estate
Open Fridays-Sundays through Mid-October
Built by banking heir Chauncey Stillman, this 1000-acre estate is on the National Registry of Historic Places for its signification contribution to architecture and landscape design. The architect led The Monuments Men during WW II; the landscape architects took Stillman’s interest in land conservation and plant preservation, and, over the course of 50 years, created 3 distinct spaces to enjoy:
The Classical Gardens, filled with sculptures based on Greek mythology; The Woodland Gardens, built in Renaissance style and filled with hidden vernal pools to discover; and The Trails, 20 miles of trails originally made for the family to take equestrian nature rides; now open for public enjoyment. Tours of the home and gardens are available via ticketed entry on their website.
Upstate Art Weekend
July 18th – July 21st
This annual arts festival celebrates the cultural vibrancy of upstate New York. This cultural phenomenon is in its 5th 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. The festival has been recommended by the New York Times, Art Net News, Chronogram, and beyond. To find out more or get a map of the event, visit their website or follow their instagram account @upstateartweekend.
Millbrook Horse Trials
July 25th – July 28th
The Millbrook Horse Trials is a premiere 4-day event for equestrians and horse-lovers alike, and draws Olympic-level 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 walk around the beautiful grounds, view all the events, shop, and eat great local food. Even if you aren’t “in” the horse world, its a fun day! Visit their website to find out more.
A PEEK INN-SIDE JULY: BLUEBERRY SHRUB
A distant cousin to a kombucha, the shrub is actually an early-American cocktail syrup: vinegar was poured over fruit—traditionally berries—which was left to infuse anywhere from overnight up to several days; afterwards, the fruit would be strained out and the remaining liquid would be mixed with a sweetener such as sugar or honey to make a syrup, which was then mixed with water and served as a soft drink, or a mixer in alcoholic cocktails. This sweet and sour concoction took foothold here in the Hudson Valley during the Colonial era, and is still extremely popular here today. In July, we serve our refreshing blueberry-shrub mocktail, which takes advantage of blueberry season.
Shrub Ingredients:
- 6 ounces (about 1 cup) of blueberries (can sub any dark local berry in season)
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 1 cup white vinegar
Shrub Instructions:
- Place fruit in a one-quart mason jar.
- Bring sugar and vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar.
- Pour hot vinegar mixture over berries and mix with a fork, crushing berries gently to release more flavor.
- Seal jar and store in a cool dark place for 4 days.
- Strain shrub through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a cheesecloth into a clean jar; cover and chill.
- Check shrub every week or so until vinegar flavor mellows. Shrub can be kept refrigerated for up to 6 months
Shrub Mocktail Instructions:
- Place 3 generous tablespoons of shrub at the bottom of a cocktail glass
- Fill with ice
- Fill glass with club soda, and garnish with a piece of lime.
- We serve the drink with a cocktail stirrer, and allow our guests to mix it together just before drinking.