This Month’s Featured Articles…
Book Clubs: A brief history and why they’ve stood the test of time
Born out of a desire to spend more time in third places – locations separate from home (first place) or work (second place) – this year, in the midst of winter, Lindsey and I created a book club with a few of her friends from high school. Part of the reason we started a book club was that we are all bookworms and recent grads between the ages of 22 and 23 years old who were searching for a low stakes, academic hobby that included [...]
Indie romance authors & the always altering universe of BookTok: Approaching tropes, cover designs, and piracy in today’s digital landscape
When August rolls around, I get to thinking about books. It simply can’t be helped – in past years, I’ve written about Romance Awareness Month and Read-A-Romance Month for our August issue, highlighting a vast selection of independent authors and their writing processes. Last year, I even expanded this inquiry to encompass plenty of other roles in the online book community, from readers and influencers to photographers and PR. So naturally, when the weather gets warm, my mind wanders to the book world. My goal [...]
Celebrating 50 years as a regional cornerstone: Reading up on the story & evolution of Oblong Books
Above: Dick with Oblong's billboard. All photos courtesy of Oblong Books. As the well-loved independent book shop commemorates 50 years in business, founders Dick Hermans and Holly Nelson, as well as Dick’s daughter and the store’s co-owner Suzanna Hermans, reflect on Oblong Books and its half-century of success. With locations in both Millerton and Rhinebeck, NY, the store’s presence and impact in the region has undoubtedly been extraordinary. As a true general bookstore, Suzanna highlights that Oblong stocks just about everything, but that their passions [...]
The Blue Olive: Crafting a special, illuminating olive oil & vinegar tasting experience in Dutchess County
All photos courtesy of The Blue Olive. The Blue Olive founder and owner John Canevari first conceptualized the idea for his business long before the shop’s opening date in July 2014. Indeed, a quite serendipitous connection led to John’s vision for The Blue Olive, an olive oil and vinegar tasting room with locations in Pawling, Cold Spring, and Poughkeepsie, NY. Developing a background in food For nearly 15 years, John had worked alongside a friend developing a Rhinebeck, NY, vineyard and eventually becoming growers for [...]
Much ado about java: Checking out local caffeine culture & understanding what it takes to make a coffee shop a true favorite
Above: Espresso at Twisted Sisters Coffee House. Here at Main Street, we love our coffee. It keeps us going both in and out of the office, and a morning at work for us feels utterly incomplete without a little caffeinated kick, whether that be a classic iced caramel latte, a foamy vanilla cappuccino, or even a non-coffee refreshment like a toasty chai or sweet hot cocoa. On some mornings, especially the chillier ones, I’ll even opt for a decaffeinated Harney & Sons tea and rely [...]
