Your Guide to Field + Supply’s Spring MRKT and Memorial Day Weekend Upstate

  |  April 18, 2019

Field + Supply, the maker and artisan fair is what design-savvy people mean when they say something is “curated” or “edited.” You will be able to buy a butter churn–but it will be because you are purposefully going off the grid for your dairy needs. You could buy an axe, but it will be one that you could proudly display on the wall of your Bushwick loft. The event, founded in 2014 by New York designer Brad Ford as an upscale riff on a typical crafts fair, will kick off its first spring fling this Memorial Day weekend, starting at 2pm on Friday, May 24, and running through Sunday, May 26.

With some 144 exhibitors, the Field + Supply Spring MRKT will sell you everything (except the vowels)—from a burnished coal coffee table (furniture designer Jim Zivic makes pieces for the likes of Kylie Jenner and Lou Reed) to an “Upstate and Chill” mug (from Hamilton & Adams). The artisan extravaganza, which hosted about 7,000 visitors last fall, will be held located at the Hutton Brickyards, a reclaimed former industrial site right smack on the Hudson River.

The New York Times recently called the Hudson Valley the new Hamptons. Trendy, design-forward festivals like this one, set to a splendid natural backdrop (and with plenty of parking), are the sweet spot Upstate offers.

Field + Supply’s usual fall vibe (the event historically happens on Columbus Day weekend) is replaced by a decidedly summer-leaning ethos. The riverside venue will be filled with groupings of high-design Adirondack chairs and lounging hammocks, plus lawn games like horseshoes. Food and drink vendors (Bread Alone bakery, Rosie’s Empanadas, Raven & Boar, Village Coffee, Aba’s Falafel, Oyster Party, and more.) will be clustered at one end, near an expanse of picnic tables with water views. From there, you can dive into a a PB Krispie ice cream sandwich from artisanal creamery Nancy’s of Woodstock, or, for a grown-up desser, try a Stonecutter Spirits cocktail or a refreshing draught from Aaron Burr Cider.

A stylish crowd flocks to Field + Supply, much to the consternation of their friends stuck back in the city. Follow our guide to Field + Supply to impress those at home with the sublime Instagram-ability of your weekend—from lodgings to dinner plates to shopping haul. The Field + Supply site offers loads of nearby ideas for where to stay and eat—but we’ve compiled our own list, plus some of our favorite can’t-miss vendors—to help you make a weekend of Field + Supply Spring MRKT.

Where to stay

You have plenty of lodging choices, as Kingston is not too far from tourist-friendly destinations such as Rhinebeck (11 miles), Hudson (30 miles), and Tivoli (15 miles). However, your the downside of that proximity is that many city-dwellers choose Memorial Day weekend to kick off their summers, so many accommodation favorites are already full up (like The Forsyth B&B in Kingston). We asked proprietor Tamara Ehlin for her tips on scoring a hotel room on such a sought-after holiday. “My best advice is to book early and always book directly with the hotel (not through an online travel agency like booking.com),” she says. “If you don’t [get in], call and ask to be placed on a waiting list in case there are cancellations.  And, if you miss that window, call on Thursday before the long weekend to see if there have been any cancellations.” (She says that October is their busiest month, so consider booking ahead for next fall’s Field + Supply.)

Here are some nearby Hudson Valley hotels and inns worth checking out.

Hotel Tivoli

Get a taste of creative hospitality courtesy of artist-owners Brice and Helen Marden at this spot in a century-old building. The decor at Hotel Tivoli is bright and eclectic, with purple-tinted wood floors, Murano glass lamps, sputnik chandeliers, and furniture by the likes of Jean Prouvé and local artisans, not to mention all the eye-catching art by the Mardens and their friends (Francesco Clemente, Rene Ricard, etc. etc.).  As of now, it still has some availability (there’s a two-night minimum on weekends), such as Room 1, with a queen bed in a pink metal Parsons frame topped with luxe bedding from ABC Carpet & Home.

The Hudson Milliner

This guesthouse and inn on Warren Street, Hudson’s main drag, offers four beyond-charming guest suites (The Cloche, The Top Hat, The Bowler, The Fedora) in a former hat factory—and still has room. The decor at Hudson Milliner is a mix of Victorian claw-foot tubs and plaster moldings, sleigh beds and exposed beams, farmhouse tables and original paintings. The kitchenettes have vintage cooking stoves and retro fridges (like a canary-yellow mid-century Philco), making it easy to entertain in a home-y atmosphere.

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge

If you love a good woodsy lodge experience, this 38-room inn in Hunter is about 33 miles from the Brickyards. Go to Scribner’s if you like sweeping views of the Catskills Mountains, rain showers [in the bathroom], pristine white beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, dark wood floors, and the occasional wood stove. There’s also a farm-fresh restaurant, Prospect, onsite and a deck off the bar with a fire pit for late night fun.

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge

…and there’s always Airbnb

A dog-friendly woodsy cottage (studio-style, sleeps two) with an enclosed deck and (swimmable!) river access is still available in nearby Woodstock (about 15 miles away) for $225/night with a $25 per-dog fee.

If you don’t mind moving and want to stretch your weekend, some stellar Kingston Airbnb Plus listings may be booked Friday through Saturday nights, but a few we found open Sunday and Monday. For example: this entire 1735 landmark townhouse in the walkable Stockade neighborhood with sleek, simple decor is $120 a night.

Also open Sunday and Monday: A one-bedroom apartment in an 1890s home combines loads of original details like tin ceilings and ornate moldings with pop-y modern furniture (plus a deep soaking tub) for $86/night.

Where to eat and drink

You may have fully noshed and slurped on-site, but, if not, there are loads of fun places in Kingston proper, as well as in nearby towns.

Outdated

This charming Kingston shop, which F+S founder Ford lists as one of his faves, will have a stall at the fair and bills itself as “an antique café.” In addition to Outdated’s huevos rancheros or jalapeno scone breakfast sandwich, all the vintage art, objects, and furniture in the bakery/cafe is for sale.

Brunette Wine Bar

In Kingston’s Rondout district, a well-curated selection of natural wines, beer, and cider are served alongside thirst-making delicacies such as smoked whitefish salad, “petite sandwiches,” ramen, burrata, and charcuterie plates. The interior of Brunette is an Instagram dream come true, with a wraparound marble bar, white walls, vintage art, and fresh flowers.

Lis Bar

Dark, textured walls create a cozy lounge vibe that is illuminated by antique brass-toned light fixtures and accented by thoughtfully configured nooks of plush armchairs, bookshelves, rugs, and lamps in this new-ish Midtown bar. Lis Bar specializes in Polish-inspired cocktails and small plates, and there is outdoor drinking on a Brooklyn-worthy patio.

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Lis Bar patio. Photo by Peter Crosby.

Rough Draft Bar & Books

The many publishing and media types who flock to Field + Supply will not be able to resist this bar-bookstore combo (another Ford pick). Located in a historic stone building in Kingston’s Stockade District, Rough Draft serves beer, cider, and wine by the glass, and they also have a full espresso bar. Weekend mornings feature a Kingston Bread Lab popup, plus you can always order savory Down Under pies.

The Corner

Even if you couldn’t snag a room at Hotel Tivoli, you can always pop into the hotel’s equally charming farm-to-table restaurant, The Corner. Eat an elevated Kinderhook Farm beef burger at a small table in the bar room or have tea (in a colorful Moroccan glass) in a thoroughly modern sitting room on a chaise upholstered with pink teddy-bear fur. At the bar or on the dining patio, sip a summer-y cocktails like the aperol and gin Queen’s Hive. The restaurant is open for dinner Friday through Sunday, and brunch Saturday and Sunday. Whatever meal you pick, reservations are probably a good idea.

Dog Days of Spring

One of the major pleasures of attending F+S is the people- and dog-watching opportunities. Organizers attribute “the extreme dog friendliness” of the event to the vast plein air venue, with its open-sided pavilions. People bring their whole families, and hipsters bring their effortlessly cool dogs—think Frenchies, terriers, shiba inus, regal Goldens, flopsy doodles of all kinds, and, for variety, the requisite unidentifiable shepard-whatever mix. (Note: I will be adding my Puerto Rican hurricane rescue Frankenterrier to the mix.) There are a few vendors with pet things, too:

Found My Animal

Leash up your furry one with a signature spliced fisherman rope lead from this vendor, that has a mission of encouraging pooch adoption.

Love Thy Beast

If Atticus (that’s your dog’s name) gets tired, pick up (and pick him up in) a sturdy canvas pet tote from this shop, which also sells animal accoutrements like treats and toys and attire.

What Else to Buy

Many of the event’s regulars are back for the spring outing, plus some fresh blood. These are a few of our faves for kicking off a summer vibe.

Ichiche

It’s nearly beach coverup time, and this stall has lovely floaty crinkle-cotton dresses, tunics, and kaftans that are pre-wrinkled for your warm-weather pleasure.

Mohinders

This brand uses traditional techniques and sustainable practices to create the ultimate chill, woven-in-India leather sandals, slides, and espadrilles for women and men.

Nudo Hammocks

Put the hang back in hang out with these handwoven hammocks and swings, made with natural fibers or nylon. We like the colorblocked vibrant peacock blue and white cotton Vero, with brass and ash rods for a sleek summer style.

Brookes Boswell

Get a festival-worthy packable straw hat or a sophisticated Panama straw from this high-end hat purveyor.

Hort & Pott

Bespoke stuff for the home and garden from this charming Oak Hill, NY, shop.

Ollie + Squish

Outfit your beach-bound offspring for sun and surf with rashguards and swim trunks so cute you’ll wish they came in adult sizes.

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