Ulster County Real Estate Blog

Luxurious Brick Victorian Majestically Sited Overlooking The Hudson River

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:18:12 -0500

When looking for homes for sale in Upstate New York, the Ulster County Real Estate market offers a variety of choices; from charming country retreats, to beautiful historic properties and outstanding luxury homes, and everything in between! There are so many wonderful locations and properties throughout the Ulster County and Hudson Valley area, with rolling meadows, gorgeous farms, sweeping mountain views and stunning river views. This historic and luxurious home is just one of my favorites! Located in Kingston NY, this spectacular second Empire Brick Victorian, that was previously on the market, features outstanding Hudson River views, 13 park-like acres, a carriage house and a caretaker's house, a gazebo and fountains add to the beauty that all of the lush green trees provide. The 11,500 square foot home features 5 fireplaces as well as multiple parlors, an outstanding formal dining room, 30 rooms, 9 bedrooms, 5 baths, a conservatory, second story terrace, tower and widow's walk overlooking the Hudson River with spectacular views! This home is on the National Register of Historic places and is one of the finest pieces of property in the Hudson Valley Real Estate area. Every detail of this home is going to make you all in love with it. From the front of the home to the back and from top to bottom this home is as rich in history as it is in color. This historic home offers beauty, serenity and privacy with unmatched quality! There are many unique properties and homes for sale throughout the Ulster County Real Estate market. Whether looking for a new home, a second home, weekender, country retreat or a luxurious historic home, let Murphy Realty Group help you with all of your real estate needs!

Fun Holiday Events Happening Throughout Ulster County

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:09:50 -0500

Ulster County, has been referred to as the heart of the Hudson Valley area, featuring outstanding majestic mountain views of the Catskills and Shawangunks, as well as incredible Hudson River views. With the charm of quaint small towns, beautiful meandering country roads, historic towns and diverse culture, the area thrives and shines all year round. And during the Holiday season, festivities are in full swing. Below is just a short list of the many different events and activities taking place around the area. So, if you're out and about, stop by and check things out, you'll have a blast! Uptown Kingston Snowflake Festival & Open House Friday, December 7th from 5-8PM: Stockings and little stuffers to first 1,000 visitors. Follow the balloons for complimentary goodies. Parade starts at County Courthouse, Wall St. Meet Santa Claus! Strolling carolers, roasted chestnuts and horse & buggy rides at the Senate House State Historic Site, refreshments, raffle (drawing 8:15pm at Dreamweavers) – all sorts of fun happenings throughout uptown Kingston. Frosty Fest Spectacular Festival of Holiday Lights. Enjoy the spirit of the holiday, with Frosty’s Enchanted Forest (drive thru or Hay ride) with beautiful animated light displays. Cafes, food, gift shops, more. $10/Adults, $8/children over age 1. Headless Horseman, 778 Broadway (Rt. 9W), Ulster Park. Visit the website for more details and hours: www.afrostyfest.com Catskill Mountain Railroad Holiday Train Sat, 12/08/2012 - 1:00pm - Sun, 12/09/2012 - 5:00pm Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like a train ride! Get caught up in the magic of the season with a ride in our decorated train as it chugs through the historic city of Kingston. Warm up next to the caboose's wood stove, or enjoy the festive atmosphere of the open-air car. Santa Claus is even aboard. Trains run round trip every hour starting at 1 PM from station at Westbrook Lane and Kingston Plaza, Kingston. Last train 4 PM. Free parking. Handicapped accessible. www.catskillmtrailroad.com Highland Tree Lighting Fri, 12/07/2012 - 5:30pm - 8:30pm Hot chocolate, candy, toasted marshmallows, games, giveaways, caroling, tree lighting & a visit from Santa Claus. Vineyard & Main Streets, Highland. Kate, 845 691-2144 x100, Town of Lloyd 12th Annual Holly Berry Trail Sat, 12/08/2012 - 11:00am - 4:00pm Tour private Kingston-area homes decorated in holiday splendor inside & out. Many are historically significant to the Hudson Valley. Refreshments. Tours 11am-2pm or 1pm-4pm. Tickets: $30. Sponsored by Junior League of Kingston. For reservations, email: jlkkingstonny@gmail.com; www.juniorleaguekingston.org Shawangunk Wine Trail's Wreath Fineries At The Wineries Sat, 12/08/2012 - 11:00am - Sun, 12/09/2012 - 6:00pm Start at any winery and receive a etched souvenir wine tasting glass and a handmade grapevine wreath. Then travel the Wine Trail receiving an ornament to decorate your wreath with and complimentary wine tasting at each stop. This is a self guided tour. A two-day ticket is $44.94/person or $71.20/couple. One-day tickets $37.40/person or 59.4/couple. Designated drivers can join in on the wreath decorating fun too for just $16.20. www.gunkswine.com Phelonious Phunk Holiday Show at The High Falls Cafe Sat, 12/15/2012 - 9:00pm - 11:30pm Phelonious Phunk returns to The High Falls Cafe for a special holiday concert. Join Danny Louis, Machan Taylor, Charlie Kniceley, Randy Ciarlante, and Stew Cutler for a night of funky sounds and great music. Bring your dancing shoes and let you Phunk Phlag Phly. The High Falls Cafe at The Stone Dock Golf Course, 12 Stone Dock Road (off Berme and Canal Roads, one mile off Route 213) in High Falls. Please call 845-687-2699 for reservations and visit www.highfallscafe.com for more information and directions. This is just a small list of the various events and activities happening around the beautiful Ulster County area. It's great fun for everyone of all ages, and lots of great family fun and things for the kids. I'll be out around the area myself over the weekend and will be posting some pictures to our Facebook page, if you're out, and feel like sharing your experience, grab your phone, take a few pics, and feel free to share on our Facebook page!

Fun Fall Activities In Ulster County, New York

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:46:59 -0400

Located in Upstate New York, Ulster County is a place that is known for its natural beauty and quaint charm, making it the crown jewel of the Hudson Valley. The beautiful quaint towns throught the Ulster County area has always been a popular weekend travel destination for many people who live in New York City because it offers a relaxing retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Aside from being a great place to visit, Ulster County is also a great place to live. Whether it is spring, summer, fall, or winter, Ulster County has a variety of unique activities and events for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. One of the best seasons for fun activities and events in Ulster County, though, is fall. Fun Fall Activities And Events In Ulster County, NY - Headless Horseman Hayrides And Haunted House. For those who want to have a frighteningly good time, there is Headless Horseman Hayrides And Haunted House. This Halloween attraction mixes the innocent fun of hayrides with the ghoulish good times of a haunted house to create a fall event in Ulster County that can be fun for all who love to celebrate Halloween. - The Barn Of Terror. Year after year, The Barn Of Terror continues to scare visitors. Not only does The Barn Of Terror offer a frightening and fun haunted house, but they also have a giant corn maze and a haunted mine. For those who love haunted houses, there is no scarier fall activity than The Barn Of Terror. - Ulster County's Heritage Week. In its second year, Ulster County's Heritage Week is a celebration of the history and diverse culture of Ulster County. Ulster County's Heritage Week is the perfect fall activity for those who are interested in learning more about a truly interesting county with a rich history. - Celebration Of The Arts. For those who want to participate in a fall activity that involves art in all of its many forms, there is the Celebration Of The Arts. This fun fall time activity features over 100 different artists expressing their creativity through paintings, sculptures, dance, and poetry readings. This is only a very short list of the many fall activities that can be enjoyed throughout the area. While Ulster County is a great place for a weekend getaway, it is also a great place to buy a home. There is a variety of Ulster County homes for sale to fit a variety of price ranges, and it can be the perfect place to live. For those who want to live in a beautiful and historic part of New York, there is nothing quite like Ulster County. Browse through the Ulster County MLS to search for ALL the available homes for sale; and find your dream home, or that perfect country retreat!

Stage Your Home for Increased Value and Faster Sales

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:31:20 -0400

Your home is one of your most valuable assets. Getting it ready to put on the market takes time and work from both you and your real estate agent. An Ulster County MLS Top Producing agent can guide you in all the steps to ensure that you put your best foot forward when staging your home. Money spent staging your home translates to a quicker sale and a higher selling price. There are many levels of staging from simple painting and new curtains to a full-blown interior decorating makeover. The decision regarding how to stage your home should largely be driven by the type of buyers that you expect to be shopping for a home like yours. Hiring an agent who is familiar with the Ulster County real estate markets is your best bet for getting the information you need on statistics and demographics for your neighborhood, as well as getting insight into what buyers are looking for. Stage For The Buyer, Not Yourself When thinking about the type of staging you want for your home, you need to consider the most important factor, the buyer. Everyone has their own style, when it comes to staging or decorating, you have to keep this in mind. Although you may "love" a specific style or color, a potential buyer may not. Keeping it simple, and straight forward is always the best way to go. The first rule of thumb, is to clean, clean, and clean! Keeping in mind that everyone has their own taste and style, buyers look at all aspects of a home, and weigh everything differently, but on average, buyers pay close attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. Stage The Kitchen To Wow Buyers For many prospective home buyers, the kitchen is considered the focal point of the home, as people spend a lot of time in their kitchens, so a nicely staged kitchen will help them see themselves in the home. Kitchens also have a lot to do with resale value, so the buyers will want to be impressed with this area of the home. Kitchens are notorious for being full of clutter. Show off as much space as possible, clean the countertops and clear them off, organize appliances and utensils, hide boxes or bags, replace burnt out light bulbs, handles or knobs. Clean like the sale of your home depended on it ... because it does! Pay extra attention to the sink, counters, stove, etc. Keep everything neat and organized. Remove pictures, notes, the kids drawings, etc. from the refrigerator. Consider making minor updates / repairs. If you’re not handy, consider hiring a handyman to come in and adjust that cabinet door that doesn’t close properly, or to tighten that kitchen sink faucet, or to update handles, knobs, or other fixtures. Freshen up the paint. Try and stay as neutral as possible. If the kitchen is connected to the family / living room, use the same color paint -- or one shade lighter or darker. This will make the eye flow from one room to the next, making the entire place seem more spacious. Have an eat-in kitchen? If the room is tight to move around in, take a look at your current furniture. Does the table and/or chairs take up too much room? Accentuate your eat-in kitchen by setting a small table. Don't leave it up to the buyers to envision the eat-in kitchen — show it to them! Staging Bathrooms For Function The plan-of-attack for bathrooms, is simply to clean and update. Bathrooms should be sparkling clean and well-lit (but not overly bright). If you want to score extra points with home buyers, make simple, but tasteful updates that will make your bathroom clean, bright and luxurious. Before getting too involved in any big projects, start by de-cluttering, organizing, and clean, clean, clean. We understand that you live in the home and use these rooms, but try to keep everything as neat and organized as possible. If needed, you can pick up a small condiment bag at your local drug store to pack up hair brushes, razors, makeup, etc. Hide or neatly organize used towels, bathrobes, clothes, etc. Clean around the tub, shower, drains, tiles, etc. Remove hard-water deposits on shower enclosures with a solution of white vinegar and water. Add 1 cup liquid fabric softener to 1 quart warm water, and use to loosen and clean soap scum from shower doors. Take a good look at the fixtures (lights, handles, spigots, etc.). If anything looks cracked, missing, or outdated, replace them with sleek and modern fixtures. Stay away from brass fixtures — they bring the 1980's to mind. You can find some great deals at your local home improvement store. If you’re not comfortable changing these fixtures yourself, it’s definitely worth hiring a handyman. If you have the budget and you really want to increase your home's appeal, consider installing a pedestal sink. They are very popular with buyers right now, and they make the bathroom seem larger by freeing up space! Add warmth and color to the bathroom by putting some plush towels on the towel rack. Color-coordinate them with the bathroom's color scheme (matching them to the rug, flower arrangement, etc.). Fresh flower arrangements do a lot for a bathroom, both in appearance and aroma. Neutral and Nice There is something to be said about a neutral staging style. If you shoot for neutral but nice, buyers can bring their own imagination and personality to the scene. Some buyers may feel overwhelmed by an aggressive staging style. A simple table with a vase of wild flowers, white ceramic canisters in the kitchen and decorative towels in the bathroom can all be neutral elements that make a home look well cared for and appealing. Lighting the room with lamps, rather than strong overhead lighting, will create a peaceful ambience. Arrange an art or travel book on the table in front of the sofa, and pile a few birch logs next to the fire place. All of these small details will make a buyer want to spend extra time in your home. They may already be lighting a fire in their mind and imagining themselves kicking back on the couch.For more advice and guidance in selling your home, ask your Ulster County Real Estate professional at Murphy Realty Group!

What Is Zillow's Zestimate?

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 08:51:24 -0400

Many websites are available to view Ulster County real estate, such as realtor.com, homes.com, trulia.com & zillow.com. These national real estate websites have become more and more popular over the years, especially Zillow which displays their own estimated value (Zestimate) on each home for sale. The value of a home is an important number to both buyers and sellers. Both parties need this number to be accurate. If the number is understated, the buyer is likely to push for a price close to this number while the seller will probably not agree with the number. If the value is overstated, the seller likes the number and the buyer does not.Zillow calls its home value number a Zestimate. Both home owners and home buyers can see this number and while it often makes buyers happy, it has the opposite effect on sellers. The truth of the matter is that both parties must realize that a Zestimate is not a number that is determined by realtors but rather is a number that is determined by a proprietary formula developed by Zillow.Zestimates for the Ulster County real estate market are prepared using complicated algorithms that take into account data and sales prices of Ulster County homes. Some of the information that is considered consists of property sales tax amounts, location, square footage, and sales prices of nearby homes. Real estate agents use some of the same information, but they will do so with a level of subjectivity, as well as additional information provided through the MLS, that is not found on Zillow or in Zestimates.In order to get an accurate home value, several steps should be taken. You may seek the advice of a professional real estate agent, who can provide you with a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis). Your agent will look at the subject property, do research, and pull comps from the MLS to give you a better idea of value. An appraisal by a professional licensed appraiser is in order. Appraisers are able to take into account special features and construction that add to or subtract from the value of a home. Finally, a visit to the property is important. Most website pictures of properties are of only the property itself. Without a visit, there is no way to know what is next door or in the immediate area that might affect the value of the property.A Zestimate is certainly a place to start when considering the value of Ulster County homes. However, due to its objectivity, a Zestimate will not take into account the subjective items that must be considered in order to get an accurate home value. The only way to get a value that is fair to both buyers and sellers is to take advantage of the services of a professional appraiser and a professional and reputable real estate agent that is familiar with the area the property is in. To learn more about home values and the current real estate market, contact an Ulster County Real Estate Agent today!

Woodstock, NY is a Wonderful Place to Live

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:26:57 -0400

If you're thinking about buying a home, and you are not currently looking at Woodstock NY homes for sale, you need to. Woodstock is a place of fun and excitement as well as being rooted in history. Woodstock, kown as the "Colony of the Arts", is a hot spot destination for many "Manhattanites", who enjoy a peaceful, serene setting, yet convenient to everything! From weekend rentals, to second homes, and country retreats, many visitors to the area love it so much, they have made the move! A Brief History Woodstock, NY was founded in 1787. Hudson River School painters began moving there in the late nineteenth century. Sick of industrialization, Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead and Hervey White arrived in 1902 and the arts and crafts community of Woodstock was born. From 1915 to 1931, Maverick festivals were held at Hervey White's Maverick Art Colony. Each summer hundreds of free spirits gathered at the festival for music, art and drink. With the reputation of Woodstock as an art colony and "Sound Outs" from 1967 to 1970 the area was tapped for the, now famous, Woodstock Festival. As a result, Woodstock real estate, is even more coveted today than ever before. Woodstock Today With the past guiding their future, Woodstock currently has more than 15 art museums and galleries in operation. Even the park benches of Woodstock have stories to tell. When checking out Woodstock NY homes for sale do a quick search and look at Opus 40. Opus 40 is an abandoned bluestone quarry a few miles from Woodstock, turned artistic marvel. More than six acres of ramps and terraces, of finely fitted stone with pools, trees and fountains made of and on the quarry rock bed. This life's work took a man, Harvey Fite, 37 years to create. What to Do and Where to Go Every summer Woodstock has concerts on the green. Held on Saturdays these summer concerts feature local musicians and are a great opportunity for your family to get out, enjoy some local music, and meet the neighbors. Woodstock offers dozens of area restaurants as well. Depending on your taste, or mood, there is everything from fine dining to a more quaint local flavor, for the whole family. Also a local spas are available for pampered day trips, to relax your cares away. If you are looking at Woodstock real estate and have a spiritual nature, Woodstock most likely has a match for you. Locally there are Christian churches, 2 different Buddhist temples and many other forms of spiritual guidance are available. If you are into fitness there are yoga studios, marshal arts studios and fitness centers for your convenience. Are you more of an outdoors type of person? There are many local parks for picnics and family outings, as well as many small lakes and the huge Ashokan Resovoir.Woodstock, NY offers an interesting history and a variety of activities for people of most every taste. If you are looking at Woodstock NY homes for sale, start your search for Woodstock NY Real Estate here!!

The Time for Buying a Luxury Home Has Greatly Improved

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:58:42 -0400

The recent real estate report of May 2012 has given a boost of confidence to companies associated with real estate. The people who sell luxury homes across the land have even more reason to celebrate. Improved conditions in the market are enticing more transactions for properties priced at $500,000+. Defining Luxury Home Loans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two largest conventional mortgage lenders, have long held in place some guidelines about loan amounts. One rule is the maximum mortgage that they will underwrite. As of this writing that maximum rests at $417,000. For all intent and purposes, that amount would seem more than fitting for the vast majority of American looking to buy a home. But you might be surprised to learn that there are lots of luxury homes available in the market. Between the states of New York, Texas and California there are over 73,000 homes currently for sale priced at $500,000 and higher. Clearly, these properties will need another type of financing in order to consummate the deal. Jumbo Mortgage to the Rescue A jumbo mortgage provides an opportunity for homeowners to acquire homes in the higher price range while enjoying an interest rate competitive with a conventional loan. However, the jumbo loan has some unique rules. First, all jumbo loans currently require the buyer to pay 20% of the purchase price as a down payment from the buyer's own funds. These funds can be savings, retirement accounts or simply cash on hand. Secondly, the owner's proof of their main income, along with the aforementioned funds, will require sufficient documentation. Finally, the buyer will need to meet some strict credit requirements. The Luxury Market The good news is that this segment of the market has shown real signs of improvement. Although homes above $1,500,000 account for only 1.6% of the properties sold in all of 2011, there is another statistic. Homes that were priced in the $500,000 and up have represented 10% of all the real estate sales for 2011. People are indeed buying these luxury homes and this part of the industry is outpacing the rest of the market. Advantages of Purchasing Luxury Home Besides owning a wonderful home, there are several advantages to buying a higher priced property. Faster buildup of equity due to the large down payment and better appreciation. Owning a luxury home places the homeowner in an elite status level. Current low mortgage rates will allow the homeowner to use their funds and income on building up assets rather than have all of it tied to a real estate purchase. Eddie Stanfield is the owner of Central Coast Real Estate, the premier real estate agency in central California.

How Ulster County Stacks Up!

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:48:44 -0400

Is the Ulster County Real Estate Market improving? This infographic shows Ulster County Market trends as compared to the entire New York State real estate market. See how Ulster County stacks up in new listings, closed sales, inventory and median price. Statistics show May 2012 compared to May 2011. Put this graphic on your site:

For more Ulster County Real Estate Stats visit MurphyRealtyGRP.com

Home Staging - Curb Appeal AND Pix Appeal

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:26:40 -0400

Everyone has their own individual taste and style, and when trying to sell your home, there’s one common factor, you want the home to show the best it can, make it as appealing as possible, and draw the potential buyer in. This has been more commonly known as “curb appeal” or the first impression a property conveys to potential buyers as they pull up in front. A house that looks unattractive from the street won't sell, as the mantra goes. As the internet keeps growing, with social media websites exploding and more and more people browsing the web, a properties "pix appeal," or attractiveness in photos posted in online listings, is equally important. The latest study by the National Association of Realtors® revealed that more than 90% of home buyers started their search for properties online. In another study, more than 85% of the time, photos are the first thing looked at, and most important part of the listing, and poor quality pictures tend to turn people away. Photographs are powerful. Good ones can lure buyers in; poor ones can do the opposite. Within recent years, the latest craze is all about home staging, as seen on some popular shows on HGTV. Many home staging tips include minor repairs and touch ups, re-painting if needed, or choosing neutral colors rather than too vibrant, or too dark, depersonalizing the home, cleaning up the clutter, and re-arranging furniture to keep the emphasis to showing the room size, rather than comfort. Now that you’ve got that done, you’re only half way there. The next step is to take all of your hard work, and convey it in pictures for online marketing. One of my personal favorites is to look at a home for sale online, that has a never ending write up, yet only has one picture, or a small handful of photo’s, where it looks like the camera was zoomed in and face first to the wall or cabinets. This doesn’t do the home justice. In fact, many would say it does the home harm. If you’ve spent your time, money, and hard work into making your home sparkle, then it must be conveyed in the pictures posted to the listing online. Murphy Realty Group puts your home in front of more potential buyers on the internet than any other Ulster County real estate broker. We understand the importance of online marketing and the power of “pix appeal”. We are always at the forefront in finding new places and methods to make your home stand out. If you’re interested in learning more, or thinking of selling your home, give us a call & see what an experienced, MLS Top Producing agent and our comprehensive marketing plan can do for you.

Ulster County - Heating Up The Calendar Of Events

Info@MurphyRealtyGrp.com (Murphy Realty Group) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:11:08 -0400

If you haven’t noticed, summer is here! Some of us love it and think it’s about time; others can’t seem to function in the heat. Either way, it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend here in Ulster County NY and throughout the Hudson Valley. Even in the sweltering heat, Ulster County offers something for everyone. Some may decide to take a relaxing weekend, stay inside and soak up the air conditioning, while watching the kids run through the sprinklers. Others may decide to hop in the car, blast the air, or role down the windows and take a scenic drive down one of the many beautiful country roads throughout the county, from winding country roads through the beautiful Blue Mountains and the Catskill Mountains, to beautiful scenery along the Hudson River or along the Ashokan Reservoir, there is so much to take in! Along with everything that’s happening throughout the Hudson Valley area, there are several other family fun options for staying cool. Hit up one of the local water parks, there’s Zoom Flume in East Durham, or Splash Down Beach in Fishkill. Or take a quick drive up Route 28 and along with the breathtaking scenery, stop by and take a dip in the Esopus. Cool down and experience whitewater tubing and Kayaking on the Esopus! And if you’re out and about, stop by and check out some of the great local events happening this weekend, some of which are…… Saturday / June 23 Kingston Farmers Market - More than 30 vendors offering organic and natural fare such as meats and cheeses, fruits and vegetables, breads and other baked goods, honey, fresh-cut flowers and so much more. FMNP and EBT accepted. Kingston Farmers' Market is on Wall Street between John and North Front Streets. Bearsville Theater –Kinky Friedman “the Frank Zappa of country music,”: Doors 8 pm, Show 9 pm. $30 seated, general admission. Bearsville Theater, 291 Tinker St., Woodstock. Breeding Birds & Butterflies Guided Nature Walk. 8am. Saugerties Village Beach parking lot/Rte 9W/esopuscreekconservancy.org Jin Shin Jyutsu for animals & people. 10:30-11:30am. Julianne Dow introduces the basics. Saugerties Library/91 Washington Ave/246-4317/saugertiespubliclibrary.org Wethersfield Mansion & Garden Tour. 11am car pool from Deyo Hall/18 Broadhead Ave/New Paltz Garden Club/255-8856/newpaltzgardenclub.org Esopus Meadows Lighthouse Tour. 12:30-3pm. Reservations recommended. $25, $20 members, $15 8-15 yr olds. Leaves from Hudson River Maritime Museum/50 Rondout Landing/Kingston/848-36619/esopusmeadowslighthouse.org Concert on the Green. 1-6pm. Local musicians, free family event. Woodstock Village Green/679-3224/woodstockchamber.com Opening Reception. 5-7pm. Dear Mother Nature: Hudson Valley Artists 2012. On exhibit through November 4. The Dorsky Museum/SUNY New Paltz/257-3844/newpaltz.edu/museum Swing Dance Party. 8pm. 7:30pm beginners workshop. Music by Swingology and Lindy Hop Heaven. $15, $5 ages 12 & under, free under 5. Ashokan Center/477 Beaverkill Rd/Olvebridge/657-8333/ashokancenter.org Sunday / June 24 Dog Days of Summer Hike. 1-3pm. Bring your favorite furry friend for a romp! All well behaved dogs on short leashes welcome. Ages 10 & up. Free. Mohonk Preserve Spring Farm Trailhead/Upper 27 Knolls Rd/High Falls/255-0919/mohonkpreserve.org Historic Hurley Walking Tour. 2pm. $3, under 12 free. Hurley Heritage Society Museum/52 Main St/Hurley/338-1661/hurleyheritagesociety.org 7th Annual Tour de Kingston. 5 mile bicycle tour with stops at the Senate House, Fireman’s Museum & tour of Forsyth Nature Center. Cookout at the end of the ride. Free. Start and end at Forsyth Nature Center/157 Lucas Ave/Kingston/331-1682/tourdeulster.com National Theatre Live from London. 3pm & 7:15pm. Frankenstein, a new play by Nick Dear based on Mary Shelley’s novel. $12, $10 members. Rosendale Theatre/408 Main St/Rosendale/658-8989/rosendaletheatre.org Cleoma’s Ghost: Old Time & Traditional Cajun music. 7:30pm. Harmony Music/52 Mill St/Woodstock/238-8663/cleomasghost.com 27th Annual Big Indian Car Show: Presented by Catskill Mountain Classic Car Club. Gates open 8 am, Awards Ceremony 3:30 pm. Food & Refreshments. 50/50 Drawing. Big Indian Valley Park, Big Indian. There’s always something fun and exciting happening throughout the Hudson Valley area. Whether you get to stop by any of these events, or decide to take a stroll down some of the Village streets such as Woodstock, Saugerties, or New Paltz, taking in the unique shops and boutiques, or stopping into one of the various restaurants, there’s never a shortage of things to do. Ulster County can feel so much like home for weekenders that many have made it official. Whether looking for a new home, a second home, weekender, country retreat..... start your search for Ulster County Real Estate here!