Saturday in Saugerties with Laura Stevenson
What’s the best way to spend a Saturday in Saugerties? In celebration of Laura Stevenson’s upcoming show at Opus 40, we asked the Saugerties-based singer-songwriter to talk us through a perfect weekend day in this quaint Hudson River town.
My description of Laura’s music (mesmerizing, heartbreaking, transcendent!) is a little biased because she is my friend, but Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus are also fans so maybe you can take their words for it! If you are a Boy Genius fan, you’re gonna want to give Laura a long listen. When she isn’t on tour, Laura studies music therapy and cares for her 3-year-old daughter, and all of her recommendations are very kid-friendly.
Laura Stevenson, who is playing Opus 40, shares tips on visiting Saugerties with kids. Photo by Rachel Brennecke.
Read to a Dog at the Saugerties Library:
Every other Saturday at the Saugerties Public Library, you can visit Philo, a licensed therapy dog. Look for the calendar entries marked “Read to Philo” — he usually shows up from 10:30 to 11:30am. (If your kids can’t read yet, they can still pet the puppy.) The incredible Mid-Hudson Library System serves Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, and Ulster counties and has 66 member libraries, and wherever you go in the Catskills and Hudson Valley, you should locate your local library for a rainy-day back-up plan. We’re particularly fond of the beautiful Mountain Top Library in Tannersville. Also, recommended for book-loving Saugerties visitors: Inquiring Minds Bookstore and Coffee House.
Shop the Farmers Market:
From 10am to 2pm on Saturdays, make your way to 115 Main Street for to check out the Saugerties Farmers Market stocked with local seasonal food and much more. Celebrating their 22nd season in 2023, they’ve got fresh produce (strawberries and sugar snap peas in June!) from area farms, grass-fed beef, steelhead trout, baked goods, live music, a kids’ art corner, and non-food items from vendors like Catskill Mountain Lavender, providing all kinds of of lavender-infused goodness.
A scoop from Alleyway Ice Cream. Photo by Kara Zuaro.
Get a snack at Alleyway Ice Cream:
We are all big fans of this tiny ice cream shop, which is really more of an ice cream pick-up window with outdoor seating nearby. All the flavors are delicious, and Laura recommends the extremely dark chocolate sorbet with a warning: “If you eat it after 4pm, you’re not gonna sleep.” You can check out their current flavors on their website and read more about it on this old blog post with a particularly goofy title. (Sorry, everyone.)
Our first visit to Opus 40! Baby Archer! Photo by Kara Zuaro.
Visit Opus 40:
Curious kids need to stay under careful supervision at this awe-inspiring sculpture park, which is slightly treacherous for toddlers. There are no safety rails getting in the way of the art here (here’s picture of my feet and a very steep drop). Laura got a babysitter to cover kid duties during her show. If you’re concerned about bringing your kids, check out the post I wrote after visiting with a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old. They’re 8 and 12 now, which puts them at very safe ages for Opus 40—though the park makes it clear that “all children under 15 must be with a guardian on the sculpture.” We’re all super excited to attend Laura’s show—we’ll be arriving early to revisit the sculpture park and see Allie Young’s opening set.
You can’t bring outside food into Opus 40, but chairs and picnic blankets are welcome, and every show has a couple of food local vendors onsite as well as drinks provided by the Stockade Tavern barcart. Krupa Brothers Pierogi Company and First Capital Poke Bar will be there for Laura’s performance.
Opus 40 Sculpture Park and Museum is located at 356 George Sickle Rd, Saugerties, NY. (845)246-3400; info@opus40.org. Ticket link here.
