July is SERIOUS summer business: flowers are in full bloom all around the property; crops like juicy ripe berries, stone fruits, cherries, zucchini are making their way into the kitchen and onto our menu. Late Sunsets are made for cocktails on the terrace or over a game of bocce ball on our new bocce lawn. 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 with sunset s’mores and a glass of port around our fire pit. Ahhh…yes. July.
THE LATEST NEWS AND HAPPENINGS THIS JULY
VASSAR POWERHOUSE THEATER
VARIOUS SHOWS AND DATES IN JULY
Vassar College is home to the prestigious Powerhouse Summer Theater Program, a collaboration with New York Stage and Film, which is a vital incubator for developing new plays and musicals, and offers professional workshops and readings. Many successful Broadway shows, including Hamilton, had their beginnings at the Powerhouse.
Only a 30 minute drive from the inn, it’s a great activity for theater lovers. Schedules and tickets available on their website.
UPSTATE ART WEEKEND
JULY 17th – JULY 21st
This annual arts festival celebrates the cultural vibrancy of upstate New York. This cultural phenomenon is in its 6th year, and over 130 galleries, museums, concert halls, and artist venues participate all through the valley, and Millbrook is no exception.
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a curated exhibit at the Millbrook Arts Project at the Millbrook Library and 11 open studios showcasing artists across the village. On Saturday evening at 6pm, there will be a free outdoor concert by local musicians STRAWBERRY RUNNERS & SHE KEEPS BEES at the Millbrook Bandshell. 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 24th – JULY 27th
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: Vermouth Spritzer
As popular as high-octane, hand-crafted cocktails are these days, there is another trend toward low or no alcoholic cocktails. This is especially popular in the summer, when the heat makes it hard to drink high sugar, high alcoholic concoctions. Welcome vermouth spritzers. In Spain and Italy, vermouth is typically sipped on the rocks or with a spritz… and with lots of distilleries now making hand- crafted vermouth in the US, we thought it was time we enjoyed them, too.
These are not difficult drinks to make: but it’s crucial you find a hand-crafted, botanical vermouth with lots of depth like the ones made by our friends at Klocke Estate, a gorgeous Hudson Valley distillery making Spanish style vermouths and apple brandies from fruit grown right on their estate.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of complex red vermouth, made for Sipping (we use Klocke’s Brevis Vermouth)
- 3-4 ounces of seltzer, to taste
- Slice of fresh orange and olive
In a white wine glass (stemmed or stemless), fill with ice and add the vermouth. Add seltzer to fill glass. Add the orange slice and olive.