Cream of the Crop
Chris Bick's Picks: The Best of Ulster County, Vol 1
Sweet Sue’s: 49 Main St, Phoenicia, NY 12464. Their hours might be early for those who like to sleep in on the weekends (Breakfast/Brunch only: Fri - Mon, 8am-1pm) but the food SERIOUSLY is well worth the early alarm call, trust me. Pancakes as big as your head crafted with Sue's secret recipe… 'Nuff said!
Hot Spot Yoga: 218 Plaza Rd, Kingston, NY 12401. Tucked in the elbow of the Kingston Plaza, this haven of heat (A Bikram Yoga series in a steamy 105° room) has been my ultimate savior for the past few years. Don’t miss their Black Light Class on Black Friday.
Uptown Coffee: 288 Wall St, Kingston, NY 12401. Truly the best chocolate chip cookies in the universe. I'm Cookie Monster so I know. Soft, warm and chocked full of melted chocolate chips. I could just go on and on... Oh, and I'm totally addicted to their coffee and relaxed vibe too!
Sacred Traditions Healing: 530 High Meadow Dr, Kerhonkson, NY 12446. Owners Tammi Price and Steeven Lall Price have created a gorgeous haven of healing and tranquility. Steeven’s “bone setter” massages are incredible and NOT for the faint of heart. Mind, body and spirit healing.
Tender Land Home: 64 Main St, Phoenicia, NY 12464. Store owner Dave Pillard is one of the sweetest, kindest and hottest guys you’ll ever meet. He’s stocked his store with great gifts, accessories and home decor items for every occasion. And if you want to know anything about the Catskills, just ask Dave… He knows!
Bluestone Basecamp: 4170 US-9W, Saugerties, NY 12477. Mark Dunbrack and Ryan Jennings have created this chic yet casual Bed and Breakfast in a beautifully restored brick manor. Downtown NYC LGBTQ performer Justin Vivian Bond is a besties of the guys and and frequent guest star at the basecamp.
Half Moon Books: 35 N Front St, Kingston, NY 12401. Need a book outlining the feminist philosophy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Just ask store owner Jessica DuPont… I’m sure it’s on her shelves! And who the heck does those amazing window displays?!?
Antique Barn at Water Street Market: 10 Main St # 501, New Paltz, NY 12561. Where else can you get lost in the various vintage worlds of the past and wind up with a box full of classic mid-century Christmas ornaments, a light up globe lamp and a mushroom yard sculpture... All before 11am?
Woodstock Playhouse: 103 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock, NY 12498
I think it’s amazing that we can live this far out in the country and still have such talented performers entertain us with incredible Broadway standards. When I saw Spring Awakening there, it changed my life... Forever!
Old Dutch Church: 272 Wall St, Kingston, NY 12401. I love this place. The history, the architecture, the steeple, the catacombs, the gravestones… They’re all symbolic of the rich history we have here in Ulster County. I also love the spooky stories they tell in the graveyard at Halloween time. A total treasure.
ABOUT ME: Hi, I’m Chris Bick, the owner of Pioneer Agency in Kingston, NY. Hope you enjoyed my list. I do marketing, social media, web development, retail window display installations and architectural drafting. I know, it’s a wide array of services but I love the variety. I owned a successful online store in NYC for over 15 years but wanted something more… A quieter life surrounded by nature and authenticity. Hence Ulster County. Now I live in Mt Tremper with my 2 cats Charlie and Vern and I thoroughly enjoy using my marketing experience to help small Hudson Valley businesses fulfill their dreams. You can catch me this fall playing the Subway Ghost at The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck's adaptation of Ghost The Musical.