Jeff McKinney

Toy Fair in New York City

screen-shot-2017-02-19-at-9-32-57-am I’ll be in NYC for a few days attending the 114th annual Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The American International Toy Fair is a toy industry trade show held in mid-February in New York City. The event is open to toy industry professionals, retailers, and press representatives. It is owned and managed by the Toy Industry Association. Toy Fair’s promoters describe it as the largest toy trade show in the Western hemisphere.

I’ll be posting pictures from Toy Fair on Instagram, so check me out there, instagram.com/jeffmmckinney.

I’ll also be tweeting from the show at @CoCoCurrent.

At The Crandell – The Eagle Huntress, Sunday Only

NOW SHOWING at the Crandell Theater in Chatham: The Eagle Huntress

This Sunday, The Crandell presents a matinee showing of the documentary, The Eagle Huntress. Here’s the official synopsis:

Aishol-pan, a 13-year-old girl, trains to become the first female in 12 generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter and rises to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries. While there are many old Kazakh eagle hunters who vehemently reject the idea of any female taking part in their ancient tradition, Aisholpan’s father, Nurgaiv, believes that a girl can do anything a boy can, as long as she’s determined.

TRAILER:

Rated: G
Genre: Documentary
Directed By: Otto Bell
Runtime: 87 minutes
Studio: Kissiki Film

SHOW TIMES:
Sunday, February 19, at noon

TICKET PRICES:
Chatham Film Club Members & Children $6.50
Non Members $7.50
Matinees, All Seats $6.50
Additional $2.00 fee for 3D

The Crandell Theatre is located at 48 Main Street in the Village of Chatham. Visit CrandellTheatre.org for more info.

For more happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com on twitter @CoCoCurrent.

Red Hook Public Library Midwinter Luau on February 21

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The Red Hook Public Library is hosting a Midwinter Luau on Tuesday, February 21. This all-ages event invites guests to put on their beach clothes, and take a break from winter’s chilly grip. The library’s event will feature Tropical refreshments, a limbo competition, indoor volleyball, hula hoop contest, and ocean-inspired crafts.

DATE/TIME:
February 21, 2017 at 4:30pm

ADMISSION:
Free and Open to the public.
No sign-up required.
Island attire is encourage, but not required.

LOCATION:
Red Hook Public Library
7444 South Broadway
Red Hook, New York 12571

MORE:
RedHookLibrary.org
Phone: 845-758-3241

Follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com on twitter @CoCoCurrent.

So Long Hamptons & Hello Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley region has frequently been referred to as the “Hamptons North”, but a recent article in BusinessInsider.com shows that our area is increasingly becoming The destination for vacations and second home purchases. According to the article, while Average home prices in the Hamptons have fallen, the luxury real-estate market in the Hudson Valley, which is roughly the area stretching north from New York City along the Hudson River to Albany, is accelerating. The article also points out an increase among travelers who are visiting the area to take advantage of our numerous hiking options, and real-life experience trips.

Here’s a section of the BusinessInsider article by Madeline Stone:

Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty in Nyack, New York, said he has witnessed a trend of New Yorkers buying property in the Hudson Valley over the last few years. Many vacation-home buyers he has done business with work in finance, have primary residences in downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn, and are in their mid-30s to 50s.

He has even worked with some clients who were specifically looking to trade in their Hamptons home for a quieter spot in the Hudson Valley.

“The lower Hudson Valley is certainly easier to get to than the Hamptons,” Ellis told Business Insider. “People who buy on our side of the river are not ‘keeping up the Joneses,’ so to speak. They’re looking to impress themselves, not others.”

These buyers value the proximity to Manhattan, outdoor activities, and stunning landscape that the Hudson Valley offers.

As a Realtor in the Upper Hudson Valley, I’ve been surprised by the large number of people house hunting in our area over the past few months. It appears as if people are trying to find, and buy homes during the winter, so that they can be ready to enjoy their homes in the nicer weather when it arrives in Spring. Chances are good that we will see an even greater number of people looking to buy in the region as the weather warms up.

You can see some of the homes that my agency has to offer on BeachAndBartolo.com. And don’t hesitate to email me, (jmckinney@beachandbartolo.com) if you are interested in finding a home of your own in Columbia County.

Check out the full BusinessInsider.com article by clicking here.

For more happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com on twitter @CoCoCurrent.

10×10 Real Art Party at Berkshire Museum, February 23

screen-shot-2017-02-13-at-9-26-14-pm Artists from the Berkshires and beyond are contributing 10×10 inch original works of art to be sold for $25 each during the 10×10 Real Art Party at the Berkshire Museum on Thursday, February 23, 2017. A $25 ARTtix guarantees the buyer to a work of art to take home the night of the party. ARTtix may be purchased starting February 11th at the Berkshire Museum admissions desk through the night of the 10×10 Real Art Party (or until tickets sell out). The doors open at 6pm and the drawing begins at 7pm. Tickets will be chosen in a random order and the bearer will be able to choose any work of art that is still on the wall.

The art show and party will benefit Berkshire County through BAA Fellowships for college art students, art field trip awards to Berkshire high school art departments, and free admission for art students to the Berkshire Museum.

The 10×10 Real Art Party is a collaboration of the Berkshire Art Association, Storefront Artist Project and Berkshire Museum. The 10×10 Real Art Party is being presented as part of Pittsfield’s 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival coordinated by the City of Pittsfield’s Department of Cultural Development and sponsored by Berkshire Gas.

DATE/TIME
February 23, 2017
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

ADMISSION
Admission is free.
Art Tix $25.

The Berkshire Museum is located at 39 South Street (Route 7), in Pittsfield, MA.

For more info, visit BerkshireMuseum.org

For more happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com on twitter @CoCoCurrent.