The staff at Liquid Mercantile (Photo: LACE Photo Media).
In the last issue (Gardiner Businesses Win Best Of The Hudson Valley, Fall 2017) we neglected to mention that Gardiner Liquid Mercantile won “Best Barn-To-Bar,” and the non-profit organization, Sunflower Art Studios, won “Best Artist Co-op,” joining McMahon’s Contracting (Best Contractor) and Whitecliff Winery (Best Winery) in being local businesses we can be very proud of.
Gardiner Liquid Mercantile, at 127 Main Street in the Hamlet, is a local hotspot founded by Gable Erenzo, and it has everything: a socially responsible, local-first mission, great drinks and eats, cool people, and dare I say, a strong “spirit” of adventure. Its mission is to showcase the bounty of local farms, distillers, brewers, wine makers, cider makers, coffee roasters, craftsmen and women, and to develop into a hub for all farm beverages and food produced within 20 miles of Gardiner’s Hamlet.
So, sampling the “liquid,” whether cocktails (or mocktails), is an adventure in local mixology. The General Manager, Zoli Rozen, designs cocktails that are seasonal and aligned with the style of the establishment and prepares many house-made syrups, tinctures, bitters, and other ingredients. The Culinary Team, headed up by Patti Lowden, has created a delicious menu that caters to both meat lovers and vegetarians alike, a rare thing in these parts, and just another forward-thinking touch that helped this Gardiner hotspot rise above the rest in their award category. For more information: www.gardinerliquidmercantile.com, (845) 633-8764.
A sign for Sunflower’s many offerings (Photo courtesy Sunflower Art Studio).
And for Sunflower Art Studios, think PASSION in capital letters! Gardiner-local artist and social entrepreneur Liz Glover Wilson founded this organization in memory of her late sister, Esther, in 2015.
Liz is committed to bringing visibility to the arts in the Mid-Hudson Valley and seeks to create experiences for the community and collaborate with a broad scope of local artisans of all ages. Through various programs, the organization strives to provide art classes for children from every socio-economic strata, and accepts donations to provide scholarships and art materials for those children who could not otherwise attend, thus promoting art without economic barriers to the community.
Sunflower Art Studios is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization, so if readers want to donate and support their mission, it’s fully tax deductible. Thus far, over 300 children have been enrolled, 90 of which attended on scholarship; a donation of $150 sponsors one child in a five-week course.
Adult classes are also offered, as well as other creative experiences, classes, workshops, and art festivals throughout the year. Their community creative space is located at 2694 U.S. 44/55, Gardiner. For more info: www.sunflowerartstudios.community, 845 419-5219.