Cat'n Around Catskill 2007: A Summer Long Celebration Throughout Catskill, New York

Visitors to the Village of Catskill, New York are asking: what are those painted cats that have been exhibited all around town for the past few months? And why is the pavement of Main Street covered with colorful painted paw prints?

It's all a part of Cat'n Around Catskill 2007, a summer long celebration of art, music and entertainment going on throughout the Village and Town of Catskill, New York. The festivities continue through September, so there's still time to check out the cats and experience all that Catskill has to offer.

Cat'n Around Catskill

One of the main attractions of the celebration are the 50 fiberglass painted cats displayed on Main Street and throughout town, installed on pedestals in front of local businesses that sponsor each cat. Last year, local and national artists submitted their ideas for decorating the cats, and patrons chose which design they would like to see transform their sponsored cat.

The result is a riot of colors and textures. Each finished piece has its own "theme" that reflects the artist's own unique vision, and many of the painted cats depict the history and flavor of Catskill.

On a recent stroll through Catskill one sunny late summer afternoon, I noticed a variety of fun, fascinating felines keeping watch in front of the businesses along Main Street. If you are visiting Catskill this September, pick up a Cat'n Around Catskill brochure from one of the local businesses and follow the "Cat Mappin," a list with details about all 50 displayed cats and where to find them around town.

Several of the intricately painted cats are inspired by the Hudson River School of Landscape painting, including "Hudson River School Reflections" by Elizabeth Giordano-Sullivan. It is fascinating to see quite a detailed landscape rendered on the back of "Old Kaatskillian Cat," painted by Jim Cramer.

The artists are only limited by their imagination, and the cats are designed in a variety of ingenious ways. Artist Kate Chodor created "Catskill Diva," an unusual mosaic cat made out of colorful shards of glass. "Rip's Stompin' Ground" by Pamela Quick pops with brilliant blue colors; it is a stunning landscape that depicts the local Rip Van Winkle Bridge and surrounding area.

"Cat'n Around Catskill" you will find many cats inspired by pure whimsy. Perhaps the most whimsical is "Tempuss the Time Cat" by Lex Grey, a glorious red cat adorned with fanciful wings. "Sophisticat" by Karl T. Anis wears a feather boa around its neck, and "Glitz and Glamurr" by Susan C. Heath is decorated with colorful jewels and glittery accents.

Themes of fashion and art are seen in the designs of several cats. The surreal "Picatso" by Sabine Baeckmann-Elge and "DaVinci Cat" by Mary Szmidt and John Golick are inspired by Picasso and DaVinci. Cat couture is represented by "The Huntress", a work by Maj G. Kalfus, an artist who has worked in the fashion industry for Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

Perhaps "the grooviest" cat is "Feline Groovy" by artist Tina Gagliardy. This fun, psychedelic looking cat has a retro feel, and will be the prize in a raffle drawing, one of the events at the Cat's Meow Auction & Gala happening in late September that is the culmination of the summer long celebration.

Catlendar of Events

The festival of fun painted cats is only one part of the Cat'n Around Catskill Celebration. Saturday June 9, 2007 heralded the official unveiling of the cats and was the kickoff for the summer celebration; however, there is still a lot to see and do in Catskill this fall.

Earlier this summer, the theater company "Classics at the Point" presented Tennessee Williams' classic play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Historic Catskill Point. As part of the celebration, Dutchmen's Landing Park in Catskill hosted a summer of "Music in the Park" during the months of June, July and August.

Those summer events are over, but there is still time to enjoy some of the events that make up the "catlendar." At The Thomas Cole National Historic Site, "Intimate Observations," a new exhibition of the work of Hudson River School painter Asher B. Durand, runs from May 20 to October 28, 2007.

Second Saturday Strolls on Main Street occur through the end of the year. On the second Saturday of each month, restaurants, galleries and shops stay open until 9 p.m.; it's the perfect time to view the cats and explore the Main Street Area.

The Riverside Farmer's and Artisan's Market at the Historic Catskill Point is a popular attraction for visitors and locals. The Market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays through October.

The Cat's Meow Auction and Gala

Cat'n Around Catskill 2007 reaches its conclusion during the Cat's Meow Auction and Gala, to be held on Sunday September 23, 2007 at the Historic Catskill Point. On that afternoon, there will be a viewing and brunch, followed by a live auction of 49 painted cats, a raffle drawing for the cat "Feline Groovy," and a silent auction of the "Flat Cats" (created by local students and community members) that are on display at various businesses around town.

Cat'n Around Catskill 2007 proceeds benefit: The Greene County Council on the Arts, The Catskill Community Center, The Heart of Catskill Association/Catskill Chamber of Commerce, Animalkind, and the participating artists.

Animalkind is a not-for-profit located in Hudson, New York, dedicated to the welfare and protection of abandoned cats. According to Animalkind's recent newsletter, the organization hopes that someone at the auction will buy them a painted cat to exhibit at the Animalkind adoption center located on Warren Street, Hudson.

The "New" Catskill

Catskill, New York, a sleepy little Hudson Valley town located about two hours north of New York City, has a rich and varied history. Artist Thomas Cole, the father of American landscape painting and the founder of America's first art movement, the Hudson River School of art, was a Catskill resident. His home Cedar Grove is considered "the birthplace of American culture"; his house, studio and grounds are part of The Thomas Cole National Historic site located at 218 Spring Street.

A century ago, Catskill was a thriving community that enjoyed a healthy industrial economy. The Main Street area was active and filled with shops, restaurants and businesses. (For an online self-guided walking tour of historic Catskill that details the history of the buildings on Main Street, go to: catskillny.org/tour.htm.)

In a decline similar to the one experienced by nearby Hudson, over the years the economy faltered and by the nineties, Catskill began to resemble a ghost town, with empty shops, boarded up storefronts, and beautiful old Victorian residences in desperate need of restoration.

The efforts of concerned local residents and city officials, along with the enthusiasm of new transplants to the area, sparked the city's rebirth, which occurred right around the millennium. Government funding also helped Catskill's revitalization, and businesses once again came to life on Main Street, giving visitors and locals a variety of options for dining and shopping.

A number of galleries and antique stores opened in Catskill, drawing artists and art lovers to the city. (For more information about art in Catskill, visit the websites of The Catskill Gallery Association at catskillgalleryassociation.com and The Greene County Council on the Arts at greenearts.org.) All over town, residents are renovating the lovely old houses that are such a reminder of Catskill's past, restoring them to their former glory.

Change is definitely in the air these days in Catskill. Strolling along Main Street, visitors can experience the sounds of jazz and popular music gently playing in the background, as they shop, people watch, or take a break at one of the quaint outdoor cafes. The feeling here is very much "small town USA," with touches of urban sophistication added by the art, the antiques, and the funky creative vibe.

Catskill is still in the midst of a revival, similar to the one experienced by Hudson, its neighbor across the river (Hudson enjoys the unofficial title "the antiques capital of the Northeast;" the Warren Street area has over 70 antique stores and is a mecca for antique lovers.) Cat'n Around Catskill 2007 is a celebration of all that the "new" Catskill has to offer, and its display of unique painted cats and calendar of events are designed to promote awareness of Catskill, and encourage visitors to take a fresh look at the city.

Where to Eat and Stay

As a perfect complement to a day of viewing the Cat'n Around art exhibit, stop by the Muddy Cup on Main Street. An outpost of the Hudson Valley chain that includes coffeehouses in nearby Hudson, Kingston, and Poughkeepsie, the Muddy Cup offers a bit of refreshment after a long day of strolling and shopping. Since its opening in January 2007, The Catskill Muddy Cup has been a local favorite and a hangout for the artistic community. This artist friendly restaurant encourages musicians, writers and artists to promote and perform their work (visit muddycup.com/catskill for a calendar of events and photos of the coffeehouse.)

There are a variety of dining options in Catskill: Wasana's is popular for its authentic Thai cuisine, Retriever Roasters has the "the best coffee in Catskill" and homemade baked goods, and the Catskill Point Restaurant and Bar, located at the foot of Main Street on the Hudson River, is a hot spot for great food and entertainment. Near Main Street, Tatiana's Restaurant features Italian cuisine, and its terrace and lounge overlook views of The Hudson River School Art Trail (thomascole.org/trail.)

Legendary resorts have long been a part of the folklore of the Catskills. Some options to consider are: Wolff's Maple Breeze Resort, a 300 acre complete family resort with luxury accommodations and many different activities; Pollace's Vacation Resort; and The Friar Tuck Resort, Spa and Convention Center.

For visitors looking for a motel or hotel, Catskill offers The Quality Inn and Conference Center, Carl's Rip Van Winkle Motor Lodge, and Astoria Motor Court, all located near Exit 21 of the New York State Thruway. (Anthony's Restaurant and the Logsider Restaurant are also conveniently located near Exit 21.) The Catskill Motor Court, B&B Lounge, The Red Ranch Motel, The Catskill Mountain Lodge, and The Inn at Leeds are other options for lodgings. Peloke's Motel is close to Catskill's Main Street area.

Just across the river in nearby Hudson, there are a number of historic bed and breakfasts, like The Union Street Guest House and Hudson City Bed and Breakfast. Caleb Street's Inn, and The Day House Bed and Breakfast, are two bed and breakfasts located right on Main Street, Catskill.

Another bed and breakfast option is Mount Merino Manor, a restored Victorian mansion located in Mount Merino near Hudson. The Manor was the home of Gustavus A. Sabine, the private physician of artist Frederic Church's wife Isabel. Church, a landscape painter and student of Thomas Cole, built his Persian fantasy castle Olana high atop a hill in Hudson. Both Olana and Cole's home Cedar Grove are worth a visit for their architecture, paintings, and stunning views of the landscapes that inspired the Hudson River School painters.

Discover Catskill

September is a perfect time to see the cats before they're gone. Come check out Cat'n Around Catskill 2007, and discover all that the "new" Catskill has to offer!

Call 800-355-CATS (2287) or visit greenetourism.com for more information about things to see and do in Catskill. For Gala and raffle tickets, go to cat-n-around.com or call 518-943-0989.