New Hudson Valley Performing Arts Center Hosts Stories of the Hudson River

Catskill, just across the river from the very popular Hudson, has a charm all its own. It has history, architecture, a walkable downtown area and now a brand new performance venue.

Lumberyard, a non-profit film and performing arts center, launched its first season in Catskill this summer and celebrated the opening of its downtown space this September. The new venue includes studio, performance and exhibition spaces and the inaugural fall season includes music, film and dance.

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This weekend, Lumberyard is hosting a screening focusing on the river that has been crucial to the development, history and artistic vision of the surrounding communities across the centuries.

“Hudson River Stories,” on October 7, will feature four short films about the waterway along with a panel discussion. The panel will be moderated by Carolyn Kormann of The New Yorker and feature Jen Bensen of Riverkeeper, Maija Niemesto of Clearwater and Brook Pickering-Cole of Farm Hub.

Among the films shown will be “PCB’s: A Toxic Legacy,” a cautionary tale about the Hudson Valley’s massive Superfund site, and “Restoring the Clearwater,” the uplifting story of the year-long restoration of the sloop originally built under the leadership of activist and folk singer Pete Seeger.

The screenings take place on Sunday, October 7 at 5 p.m. at Lumberyard, located at 62 Water Street in Catskill, N.Y. To purchase tickets or learn more about other programming, visit their website here.

Catskill is about 2.5 hours from Brooklyn and Lumberyard is located just a few blocks off Main Street and the center of town. The commercial center is peppered with 19th and early century buildings with local shops and restaurants. There are also plenty of other spots for a bit of culture, like the Catskill Community Theater, the Bridge Street Theater and Cedar Grove, the home and studio of Hudson River School painter Thomas Cole, just to name a few.

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