Age: Old enough!

Hometown: NYC

How long have you lived in Woodstock: 15 years in the same house (I bought the house I was renting after looking at many houses)

How long have you been doing real estate: 9 years as a top producing agent in UC earning my ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative, CRS Certified Residential Specialist, Luxury Home Marketing and Green designations)

Why did you decide to become an agent: I can’t tell you because I’m a secret agent

What is your favorite thing about working with buyers: Getting to know them, being part of that moment when they find the “one.”

What are some things that can help buyers be better clients:

1. Defining & articulating their wants & needs

2. Asking questions

3. Asking for help

4. Working with an agent they trust

5. Being able to make me laugh and keeping a sense of humor (more…)

Soaring beamed ceilings atop a great wall of mountain views are the bones and backdrop for this warm and cozy retreat in Accord on 6+ acres.  The result of the architecture is a modern chalet, complete with a unique 3-sided centralized fireplace.  With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, this home is large enough to accomodate a family, or family of friends- yet not overwhelming in square footage to keep your utility costs down. Although it appears to be move in ready, a few small updates could really make this property shine. I can also see a pool on the property to soak in the rays and views in the summer on that open land.

GMAP

Beds:3 Bed

Baths:3 Bath

House Size:1,680 Sq Ft

Lot Size:6.40 Acres

Some people want a tree house, some people want a house on the water. This house seems to be both! Residing on 6.46 acres, this MCM home has some dramatic architectural features that allow it to seemlessly blend with its surroundings, which include a gorgeous clear quarry pond. Amazingly, you can walk to town from this location, and it includes a guest house on the opposite shore of the pond. The light seems to fill in the large wood beamed ceilings, offering a warm, cozy feeling despite its 4,000 square feet. Stone, brick, wood, glass: this house is full of natural elements and then placed in a gorgeous setting on the water. For all of you MCM buffs, after speaking with the listing agent I learned that the home was originally built in the 60s, although the year built states: 1980 (when it was remodeled).

Additional photos and full listing details here

Beds: 4
Baths: 3
Size:4,000 Sq Ft
Lot Size:6.46 Acres
Year Built:1980

Listing Agent: Nina Schultz-Terner of Westwood Metes & Bounds Realty

As much as I love wine- and I do, I also enjoy a cool brew.  Especially when the weather warms up! This Festival is huge, and even those that are car-free, can enjoy the weekend with a bus trip from the city to the fest, and back again, via Urban Sherpa and Tapped Enterprises!

For the past 15 years, TapNY has highlighted thousands of craft brews in New York State, and offered up a platform to taste test samples from these breweries as well as local chef’s fare.  It all began with a couple hudred beer fanatics and a handful of craft brewers from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. This year, April 28th and 29th- there are over 70 invited breweries and 200+ samples of beer to wet your whistle.

TapNY is a beer competition, and there will be trophies and plaques to the breweries and brews that most impress the qualified panel of judges. This is not a frat packed kegger party with the prime objection of the day to get wasted. (Don’t get me wrong, last year there was a little of this cheese in the festival, but they did not make up the whole pizza) These breweries are professionals, who take their product seriously and many of the attendees do as well. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a good time though- with music, and food demonstations and some tasty treats to keep you from tipping over from the beer, it is a good way to ring in the spring season with friends. This year The Christine Spero Group will be performing their Brazilian Pop music live on stage, and there will be cooking demos from one of my favorite chefs Ric Orlando of New World Home Cooking, Marcus Guiliano of Aroma Thyme Bistro, and Michael Connolly Jr. from Hyde Park Brewing Company.

You can purchase designated driver tickets if you aren’t drinking, and I recommend comfy shoes and layers. It can be a quite a bit cooler up on the Mountain than it is elsewhere. For a full schedule of the two days worth of events click here.

4/28 thru 4/29 at Hunter Mountain

Ticket Prices:

Advance Sale:

• Saturday: $64
• Sunday: $52
• Two-Day: $105
• Designated Driver (Sat. or Sun.): $20

Doors open on Saturday at 1:00pm and close at 5:00pm  -  Doors open on Sunday at 12:00pm and close at 4:00pm

These two cottages have so much potential! You pass over a cute little bridge over the creek and find two charming chocolate gingerbread cottages, that would make ideal rentals or a weekend home for an artist with studio space…there are many possibilities. As cute as they are, there is even more potential left to really make these places sing with your personal touch.  There is a screened porch, stone fireplace, and a large deck making this a great, cozy romantic retreat.

Price:$229,000

• Beds:3 Bed
• Baths:2 Bath
• House Size:1,420 Sq Ft
• Lot Size:0.73 Acres
• Year Built:1945

Click here for the full listing

Located ON the bus line, and within walking distance to town for groceries, entertainment, restaurants, and bars- this home is the ideal weekend retreat for those looking for that car- free weekend home. Sure it isn’t on the train line, but why would you want it to be since the bus is cheaper anyhow and would drop you off in front of your house? There is a 2 stall garage if you wanted to park a beater, or use it for a studio! This could also be an ideal rental property. Also, I have to mention that it is practically ON the golf course for those who are into that.

This cute 1948 cape has 3 generous sized bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and is a great deal for the location and size of the home. The dining room has built-ins that could be great with some paint, plus a nice screened in sun room for plants and sipping tea. With a bit of freshening up and new appliances, this could be an adorable home. You could spend as much or as little as quick fixes for the updates. Picture painting those kitchen cabinets a sunny yellow or pale country blue with stainless appliances and checkerboard floors.  The living room is move-in ready with the brick fireplace and warm wood paneling. The bathrooms just need new lighting, shower curtains, and linoleum tiles. If I had the extra cash right now  we would be rushing over for a tour. This home had been on the market previously, and is back with a more aggressive price.  My guess is they are serious about selling, and I would reach out to the listing agent for more information if you are interested in car-free escape.  I am guessing with the price reduction, this will go quickly. Click here for the full listing.

Beds:3 Bed Baths:2 Bath House Size:1,324 Sq Ft Lot Size:0.84 Acres MLS: 20121423

As most everyone knows, one of the joys of living upstate is the bounty of farmers’ markets! Last year I happened upon the Acorn Hill Farmstead stand at the Kingston Farmers’ Market on Saturdays in the Stockade District, and had a transformative experience with their goat cheese. I had never tasted better goat cheese in my life, and I gorge on have had my moderate share of goat cheese. This cheese was different, and it was evident from her “family photo” book of her “kids” that these goats were producing delicious cheese because of the way they were being raised and fed.  Joyce knows her goats and knows her cheese. Their small herd of dairy goats provide milk for cheese, fudge, and goat milk soaps and are managed with organic methods, love and respect.

This Spring, for anyone who has ever had the inclination to try cheesemaking at home, Acorn Hill is offering two workshops. The first on April 28th (a Saturday) and the second on May 20th (a Sunday) and run from 11:00am to 4:30pm at their farm in Walker Valley, NY.  I am going in May

Their cheese and also "Demi" one of the favorite milkers: a big girl with a lot of sass!

The workshops will help you learn the basic principles of cheesemaking while making several cheeses in their cheese production room. Geared to the beginning home cheesemaker or owners of the family milk goat, you will gain hands on experience making simple cheeses, take home recipes and cheesemaking supply resources, and have the opportunity to discuss any aspects of cheesemaking that are of interest to you.

Details:

$125 per person with $50 deposit to hold a space includes sampling of Acorn Hill Farmstead cheeses.

Please bring bag lunch.

Email acornhillfarm@yahoo.com for registration information.

Find them on facebook!

I love New World Home Cooking and Ric Orlando. Even before we bought a weekend home nearby, and then finally became full-time Upstaters, we would always go to New World in Sauger-stock when we would visit the area. The atmosphere and the food are always consistently and casually amazing. We also have tried a few of their events. In 2011 we did “Hell Night,” which was a wine and dinner menu featuring some seriously hot and spicy food paired with wines to taper the flame on your tongue and bring out the flavors of the ingredients. It was a terrific experience with Ric leading the night, unique and delicious dishes, and a Sommelier that taught us a thing or two about some fantastic wines.

This Friday, vegans rejoice! Ric is putting together a six-course meal with a vegan wine pairing that sounds so good, I bet I could get my red meat-loving husband to go. Make your reservations today to assure a seat and a desert of German Chocolate sauerkraut cake with candied kumquats. There were still seats left as of last night.

The event is $60/per person and begins at 6:30pm. So tell your boss you may need to leave early to get to New World  make it to your doctor’s appointment in time!

Event: 6-course Vegan Dinner and Wine Pairing

Time: 6:30pm

Location: New World Home Cooking
1411 New York 212  Saugerties, NY 12477

Reservations: (845) 246-4822

In January, my husband and I purchased a full-time home in Woodstock after being weekenders for two years. After searching for a few months, we finally found a home that interested us. It was a modernist, unique hyperbolic roof home that was directly above the Sawkill Creek. The grounds and landscaping were amazing, and it had multiple levels of bluestone terraces, one of which wrapped around the upper level and each bedroom had access to. We were told it was built in 1970, and from what we could find, had two owners since being built. (The current owners at the time we purchased) and the owner they purchased from (who coincidentally built/owned Skytop Steakhouse in the 70′s). I thought it was out of character for a 70′s home. The architecture and some of the materials (down to the 1000 square feet of salmon pink terrazzo 20×20 tile) were so 1950′s modernist in style, that I figured it must have been someone trying to replicate a home from that decade. (more…)

Hey all you MCM buffs. There is a diamond in Middletown right now for 289K. Plucked from our own listings here on Upstater, this is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home with an attached garage. With large open windowed spaces and an exposed basement for extra square footage, you don’t have to just love MCM architecture to be impressed with this home. Modest from the front, this home has some serious visual impact awaiting you inside and from the back (see above).

The house has been renovated recently, and although the taste may sway more masculine than feminine to some, it is move-in ready nonetheless. The beamed vaulted ceilings opening out onto a balcony deck are just a few of it’s great features. It is in an established neighborhood near a park, and seems like it would make a great full-time family home for those looking to make the jump from city to suburbia/country life. Convenience, plus the bonus of Orange County school district, which is noted as one of the best in New York, should all be appealing to young families. I see major potential here, and if I hadn’t just took the plunge in Woodstock I would be booking an appointment to view this property. For the full listing, click here.