As a tech person myself (whatever “tech person” means), it’s easy for me to see — I was there as the Hudson Valley Tech Meetup expanded from 50 members to 2,500, and when the influx of New York City tech talent began. But sometimes I doubt that anyone else can see it. Who would believe that our little patch of farmland and forest can become a viable alternative to the talent and energy of a New York City or a San Francisco?
The truth is, we’re not trying to compete with those places: Silicon Valley will always be Silicon Valley. We’re not the next Silicon Valley — we’re the first Hudson Valley. Our niche is different; we can be an oasis for a slower, more humane, more deliberate type of tech company.
Ten years from now, I won’t be surprised if the Hudson Valley is a byword for a startup culture with a particular ethos — small farms, slow food, good neighbors and thoughtful technology.
It’s one thing to believe that the Hudson Valley will someday be a draw for tech workers who want a change from the usual grind, but it’s another thing to see it validated by an organization as reputable as Grand Central Tech.
And yet, on Wednesday evening, that’s exactly what I saw happen. I was at the Senate Garage in Kingston for the Grand Central Tech North welcome event, inaugurating the summer when 150 participants in a prominent Manhattan startup accelerator will decamp to Ulster County to do their work in the Hudson Valley.
It’s a genius idea for both the accelerator and for Ulster County. The tech folks get a chance to escape the sweltering New York City summer and do their work from someplace with grass and sky. Ulster County gets to show off everything the Hudson Valley has to offer, in the hopes that some of the tech folks will discover that they really can do their jobs from a place like Kingston and decide to stay.
What is Grand Central Tech?
Grand Central Tech (which recently changed its name to “Company,” which will be much harder to Google) is a tech accelerator based in Midtown Manhattan, right across from Grand Central Terminal. Their mission: provide startups with the resources they need to succeed, from office space to legal advice to accounting services.
Accompanying their recent name change is a major expansion of their New York City presence: they’re currently renovating their 1.1 million square foot building, turning it into startup-friendly office space complete with a library, coffee shop, restaurant, and everything else a hip 2018 company populated by 20-somethings could want.
The lobby for Company (formerly Grand Central Tech), currently under construction.
Even more exciting is their outpost in Kingston. Rather than spend the summer in sweltering Manhattan, 150 employees of Grand Central Tech accelerator companies will be decamping to Kingston, where they’ll be working from coworking space in the Senate Garage. They’ll get to experience life in the Hudson Valley, as well as meeting local tech workers and attending talks every Wednesday highlighting the incredible creative energy in the region.
You already know about the incredible creative energy in the Hudson Valley. We have a growing tech scene, vibrant arts scene, incredible food scene. Bringing more talent into this pool strengthens the economy, introduces new ideas, and prevents stagnation.
I’m so excited to see what comes of Grand Central Tech North. Projects like this go a long way in demonstrating the Hudson Valley’s value as a viable alternative to the hustle and grind of city life. We’ve got good wifi, talented people, and plenty of trees﻿ — what more could a tech person want?
Summer is in full swing, and the event calendar for the Hudson Valley creative scene is looking wonderfully full.
New Paltz has long needed a solid coworking space for creative workers, and One Epic Place has answered the call in spades. From a single location just a few years ago, One Epic Place has expanded into four buildings throughout New Paltz, and caters to all kinds of work, both digital and physical.
From 11am to 4pm today (Sunday the 8th), they’re hosting their EPIC Pop-Up! Market, providing a venue for local vendors to share their wares in downtown New Paltz. Stop by to see what they’ve got!
Yep, this photo is from Google Street View.
Local businesses and artists will be selling their wares in downtown New Paltz.
Has a place ever become an institution as fast as Rough Draft in Kingston? The café/bar/bookstore draws a crowd, has events almost every night, and has been open less than a year.
This Friday at 6pm, Friend-of-Talentbase Aaron Quint and his Kingston Bread Lab are teaming up with Wild Arc Farm of Pine Bush and Home Rule Records to host a party featuring pizza, wine, and music. It’s sure to be a great time.
Local pizza and wine, plus music spun on vinyl, at one of the coolest venues in the Hudson Valley.
As a longtime space buff, this is right up my alley. Plus, it’s a rare opportunity to be on the Walkway after nightfall. They’re going to be turning off the lights, so flashlights are recommended, but I can’t imagine how gorgeous the view of the night sky will be from high above the river.
Each event is hosted by local astronomy experts who will be sharing their knowledge and expertise. The event is free, but they request that attendees register﻿ so they can get an accurate headcount.
Local astronomy experts will give a guided tour of the night sky from 212 feet above the mighty Hudson.
I’ve known plenty of people who say “there’s nothing to do in the Hudson Valley,” and I’m always shocked — there is so much to do﻿ here that it’s impossible to do everything.
Especially for those of us with a creative bent, the Hudson Valley is an embarrassment of riches. These are just three of the events happening this week; there are lots more!
Stay tuned — we’re going to be publishing a selection of great events for creative-minded Hudson Valley residents every Sunday from here on out.
For creatives, choosing how to recharge is just as important to creative work as the work itself.
Creative work can be draining — it asks a lot of us, and to make sure we don’t burn out, it helps to be deliberate in how we spend our time away. Thankfully, the Hudson Valley is full of places that foster healthy, restorative rest.
For me, one of those places is Minnewaska State Park, just outside of New Paltz. I’ve been going up to Lake Minnewaska my entire life, and breathing the mountain air while hearing the water lap against the shore is instantly calming to me.
My two favorite places in the park are probably the two most clichéd — these places aren’t exactly secret, but they sure are beautiful.
First is Awosting Falls, just down the path from the park entrance. The falls drop 60 feet into a small pond, and in the summer it kicks up a light cooling mist.
Second is the loop around Lake Minnewaska, a leisurely hike that shouldn’t take more than an hour. In addition to the views of the lake, it takes you past some soaring overlooks that offer stunning panoramas of the whole Hudson Valley. I’ve never been able to take a picture that adequately captures the vastness of the view, but suffice it to say it makes me glad to live nearby.
Hike the Hudson Valley has a thorough profile of Minnewaska that’s worth reading if you’re considering a trip.
On summer weekends and holidays, Minnewaska can get crowded, so it’s best to get there early. (I went right at opening this morning, hoping to beat the Independence Day crowds, and it was already filling up at 9:11.) It costs $10 per car, but if you have an Empire Pass you can skip the line and get in at no charge. If you’re local and have control over your schedule, you should consider going during the week — maybe work from a coffee shop in New Paltz (like Cafeteria, Mudd Puddle, or Commissary) and go up during lunch for a short hike.
Here comes the Hudson Valley heat wave, just in time for the beginning of July!
Hudson Valley Weather says it’ll be in the high 90s for at least the first half of the week, and supposedly the humidity will be bad enough that it’ll feel like 110°. Ouch.
There’s plenty going on this week, but one of the highlights will certainly be the classic West Point Independence Day Celebration. If you’ve never been to one, I highly recommend it — there’s nothing like celebrating the Fourth of July in one of the most American places possible.
It’s on Saturday, July 7th at 7:30pm at West Point’s Trophy Point Amphitheater. If you go, though, I highly encourage you to get there super, super early. It’s not unheard of to go two hours early and still not be able to get good seats — it fills up fast. Lots of people want to be front-and-center as the West Point band rocks the amphitheater in front of an incredible view of the Hudson.
Next weekend is the Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival! If you’re looking for a chance to ride in a hot-air balloon, or just want to get some great balloon photos for your Instagram feed, stop by the Dutchess County Fairground on July 6, 7, and 8.
The first Friday of every month, the City of Poughkeepsie holds a community celebration featuring local music, art, and food. On Friday, July 6, the theme is: American Rock﻿.
The free event goes from 5:00 to 8:30 and is being held on Crannell Street in downtown Poughkeepsie, just a few blocks from Mill House Brewing Company. In addition to the usual vendors, there will be live music and a car show!
Know of something else happening soon in the Hudson Valley that people should know about? Let us know in the comments!
The featured image of the West Point amphitheater comes from the “Life in the West Point Band” blog, found here.