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Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy

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Devil’s Tombstone Campgrounds: Upstate Overnights

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The Low-Down

This is a little different from the other brick-and-mortar places – we’re talking about good ol’ traditional camping. Devil’s Tombstone is one of the oldest campgrounds in the Catskill Forest Preserve. It’s a small campground with wooded sites, a small shallow lake – Notch’s Lake – and spots for boating, fishing, and hiking. There are 24 tent and trailer sites, two picnic areas with tables and fireplaces or charcoal grills, a playground, a volleyball net, horseshoes, and firewood for sale. Swimming, boating, and showers are available at North-South Lake Campground – 8 miles away. 

What Gabby Loves About This Spot

Camping is a very affordable option and provides that rustic feel that many nature lovers crave. This campground provides hiking access to the 21-mile Devil’s Path Trail. This is a haven for serious hikers! It offers breathtaking views of the Central Catskills from the Buck Ridge Lookouts.

The Details

Book quickly and easily here! Find more info: Website / FB

DEVIL’S TOMBSTONE CAMPGROUND

NYS Route 214, Hunter, NY 12442

Phone: (845) 688-7160

CapNY CoWorking Tour: Hone Coworks, Albany

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The Lobby

Co-working and monthly-lease office space is exploding in the Capital Region! Flexibility, socially-distant camaraderie, and services abound. Come on a sneak-peak tour of art-filled, high-tech Hone Coworks in Albany, and we’ll fill you in on all of our favorite perks.

Hone Coworks is located inside the wooded, shady Great Oaks office park in Albany. It’s close to Crossgates Mall and I-87, but it’s also near to the urban amenities — restaurants, museums, nightlife — of downtown Albany. AMPLE and easy parking is a big plus to this location.

Stylish, Decked-Out Shared Spaces

The Kitchen

After entering through the very welcoming Lobby (seen in the photo above right), you’ll come upon the large, open Kitchen section (seen in photo to the right). The color palette is bright and sophisticated — orange, teal — and the furniture and vibe are modern and vibrant. AKA, I wish my place looked like this.

Make custom seltzers from an app!

Hone Coworks is tech-ed out and touch-free throughout. You can make a custom cucumber-infused seltzer using an app! Reserve and unlock your conference rooms, make copies — all contact-free.

Hold on, I’m not done with the Kitchen deets, though. There’s Clif Bars and RxBars and fresh fruit! Microbrew coffee by Brewtus, a small batch specialty roaster in Delmar. And wait — there’s Oatly Creamer in the fridge! I know, I’m gushing, but (cue Julie Andrews) these are a few of my favorite things!

One of the many Meeting Rooms

Tech-Friendly Workspaces

Now that’s we’ve covered the creamer, we’ll move on to the workspaces. Happily, you’ll find tech-friendly Meeting Rooms of all shapes, sizes and designs, which can be rented by the hour (members’ access is included in their monthly fees). There’s a hip / corporate vibe to these spots, and they’re more than able to handle six-feet-apart spacing.

Another luxe touch is the one-touch feature that turns your desk from a sitting to standing space, AND the Herman Miller office chairs that grace every workspace. Hmm, does a Henry Miller chair beat my sofa? Let me think. Yes, it does.

Artwork All Around

Floor-to-ceiling artwork and triptych by Samson Contampasis

But of all the things to love about Hone, my favorite is the artwork. The artwork that fills the halls and walls is a combination of permanent pieces by regional artists like Samson Contompasis and Lori Kochanski, as well as a rotating gallery wall curated in partnership with Albany Center Gallery.

Hone Community Manager Sarah McDonnell

Okay, and one last shout-out, because Hone Coworks Community Manager Sarah McDonnell set up a jar of Neutrogena make-up wipes for emergency touch-ups. “Masks really screw up your make-up,” she said. “We really try to think of everything you’ll need, and have it here.” Now that’s thinking of everything!

HOW TO FIND HONE COWORKS

Address: 300 Great Oaks Blvd, Suite 300, Albany, NY 12203

Website: https://honecoworks.com/

Call: 518-250-4855

Email: hello@honecoworks.com

Getaway: Upstate Overnights

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Yes, every one of their tiny homes has a window like this!

The Low-Down

Getaway is a modern cabin rental service that’s facilitated completely online. You can find their tiny homes all over the country, deep in the woods. They sleep up to four people and are dog-friendly! Aside from the basics, the homes include a kitchen, snacks, a firepit with fire starting materials, and a little library.

What Gabby Loves About This Place

Not only does the idea of renting a modern tiny home in a naturesque bubble in the Catskills sound like a lovely adventure, but I love what they’re all about. Getaway encourages their guests to completely unplug from the everyday hustle, to spend the time connecting with loved ones (or yourself, if you’re a solo traveler like me), and to simply enjoy the beauty of nature. Oh, and another perk of booking a stay with them…they will make a donation to Feed America on your behalf!

The Details

How it works: book your stay, get an email and text with your cabin address, name and key code, and enjoy. Simple as that! Curious about the price? I’ve seen these homes range from $179-$299 a night. IMPORTANT!!! Book fast. The Catskill homes are booked through the end of September, so don’t wait to reserve your fall getaway!

IG / FB / Website

CapNY is a perfect fall getaway destination. You deserve a vacation. Book, enjoy, and relax. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos! We’d love to share. @UpstateCreative

ACE Creative: Karina Wojnar

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Some of you may recognize Karina Wojnar, as she is the Development & Membership Manager at Albany Center Gallery. In this position, she fills her time writing grants, planning programming, increasing community outreach efforts, and working with ACG members.

Karina at work, Albany Center Gallery

She wants our readers to know her as a daughter, a sister, and friend – someone who prioritizes amplifying the voices of the unheard in the CapNY community. ACE’s Gabby Fisher has been following her on Instagram for quite a while and reached out to feature her for this week’s ACE Creative feature because of her evolving style as an artist. She’s a creative millennial powerhouse.

Karina, where are you from?

Artwork by Karina

I am originally from Northern NJ, a small lake town called Ringwood. Currently I live in Albany! I went to Siena College and loved the area, so I decided to stay after graduation. Why? The people. The energy of the people. The architecture. The quirks. The random cobblestone streets and historical buildings. Running into people you know in cafes and farmer’s markets. The fact that there are people dedicated to community and positive change. How active people are in politics, human rights, and deeper conversations.

How did you get into the creative field?

Karina’s a yogi too!

I’m lucky. My parents value art as essential, so it was always my path to be in the creative field. I grew up dancing, participating in theater, writing, reading, and prioritizing art classes. I applied to colleges with the intention of getting a business degree with a focus in the arts. Throughout my time at Siena College, I fell in love with social justice and the overlap between humanity and art.

Human beings use art to emote, to share facts, to evoke, to connect with one another. I believe art to be how humans use their VOICE. Everyone has a voice and a different way of expressing it, whether through music, visual art, performance, writing, fashion, etc. We all deserve to be heard.

Painting

In a prior conversation between the two of us, you mentioned you feel like you haven’t necessarily found your creative “voice” yet. Can you talk a little bit about that? I feel that many people can relate.

I’m still experimenting. For the past couple years, I’ve been combining complementary colors and mixing embroidery into paintings. I’m still learning and figuring out technique. People say that once you can become decent at replicating a piece or style of yours over and over– you’ve found your voice.

I’ve been reading “Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic” by Lisa Congdon. It’s been encouraging and affirming to know that my voice matters and it’s all a part of the process. This journey; experimenting, actively listening to my fellow creatives, research…it will all shape my voice, my art, and my life.

ACG hosted a public art bike tour in downtown Albany

What is it like being part of an arts community in CapNY? What has it been like working with local creatives?

In one word…inspiring. Communication and dialogue with fellow creatives is so important. We inspire each other, help each other out, lift each other up. It’s been rewarding. Working with the local arts community is the reason I want to stay in the area.

If you could leave our readers with a word of advice or positivity, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself and your art out there. Your voice matters. Black Lives Matter. Black Art Matters.

Connect with Karina!
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