Hidden Gems in Beacon, NY

While working the maker’s market circuit all over New York state these past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some really wonderful people doing the same. One of them is Aimée de Simone of Berte, who’s so warm and friendly, has great taste, and is ALSO a champion of handmade makers. Her booths at markets were always brimming with the most beautiful, covet-able things from squishy throw pillows, to burn-all-the-time incense, to handmade ceramics that you just want to show off.

The lovely Aimée, photo by Jennifer Young Studios

And last October she made a major upgrade, opening a real live shop in Beacon! It’s full of even more treasures now (I didn’t know I needed cashmere socks in my life until I picked up this pair) and I’m lucky enough to have a few of my own pieces there. There’s even an occasional cameo from her corgi, Bowie.

Since Aimée has been a long-time Beacon fan I wanted to ask her more about her chosen home town and some of the places she considers its hidden gems. Read on for why she chose Beacon, and her insider recommendations for your next trip:

WHAT ORIGINALLY ATTRACTED YOU TO BEACON?

The post hike brewski. My husband and I used to go to Beacon after hiking Fishkill Ridge. We'd grab a beer and a burger at the local gastropub (which was then called The Hop, but now it's Melzingah's Tap House). I also just loved strolling along Main Street, it just seemed to go on and on and on. Fun fact - I worked in TV for 10 years and filmed B-roll of countless Main Streets in this country. I have to say....I think Beacon's Main Street is the best there is ;)

IS THERE A PLACE YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

Artisan Wine Shop - they have the most amazing selection of natural wines. The staff is super knowledgeable and so very nice. Also I'd be remiss not to mention a new spot (that's close to Berte!) - Miss Tea - they have the BEST tea selection EVER.

BEST CUP OF COFFEE? WHAT’S YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE?

I love the ambiance and the beans at Kitchen & Coffee (it's all about the beans). Big Mouth and TRAX are tied for a very close second IMHO. Beacon has a lot of coffee shops...it's honestly tough to choose! My drink of choice varies - I usually drink black coffee at home, but if I'm feeling fancy I'll get an oat milk latte...or a matcha latte with oat milk. I like oat milk.

FAVORITE SNACK SPOT? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO GET?

Hummus and pita from Ziatun's. I've been trying to find out where they source the olive oil that they drizzle all over their yummy hummus, but they won't tell me (wahhhh!!!). Also - a cheddar and scallion corn muffin from Kitchen & Coffee is *chef's kiss*

WHEN YOU WANT TO DISAPPEAR INTO NATURE, WHERE DO YOU GO?

Fahnestock Park. It's massive and there are SO MANY trails. I also love going to Bowdoin Park when it's just my dog, Bowie, and I.

YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND?

Well my perfect weekend these days involves (wo)manning the shop and chatting with all of my lovely customers ;) But before I opened the storefront (and before the pandemic), the perfect weekend usually involved a hike, visiting a nearby Hudson Valley town, a delicious meal (I miss eating out!), plenty of natural wine, friends, and a fire pit.

THE RESTAURANT YOU’RE GOING BACK TO ONCE THE PANDEMIC IS OVER? WHAT CAN’T YOU WAIT TO ORDER FROM THEM?

Brava in Lenox, MA. All of their Italian tapas and pizzas. Literally all of them.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING AT YOUR OWN STORE, WHAT’S ANOTHER SHOP YOU LIKE TO POP IN TO?

Flora Good Times, King + Curated, Afton Road, Hyperbole, Reservoir, Colorant, Solstad House. And yes, I mostly go to these shops because I'm friends with the owners, but I also love what they sell!

Your guide to birthstones

Birthstone Star Necklaces featuring amethyst for February and turquoise for December.

Humans have always been enchanted by gemstones — Biblical legend says that the Devil tried tempting Eve by turning flowers in the Garden of Eden into jewels. We’ve been so hypnotized by them that we’ve ascribed specific powers to different stones, wearing them as protective talismans. The same is true for birthstones, stones associated with specific months and said to become even more powerful when worn during your birth month.

To channel a birthstone’s power, or even just wear a little piece of sparkling magic, check out this handy chart:

I love a good chart.

Looking for options? Here’s the full list with some alternatives, too:

• January: Garnet

• February: Amethyst

• March: Aquamarine, bloodstone, jade

• April: Diamond, crystal quartz

• May: Emerald

• June: Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite

• July: Ruby

• August: Peridot, spinel, sardonyx

• September: Sapphire

• October: Opal, tourmaline

• November: Citrine, topaz

• December: Turquoise, blue zircon or topaz, tanzanite

Wear your favorite, or wear someone else’s (like your children or your spouse’s) as a way to keep them close even when they’re far away.

Egyptian Asps

Watching the incredibly glamorous and over-the-top Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor, sparked something in my brain. The costumes! The culture! The love story! Though much of it was 1960s Hollywood applying its shiny veneer to history, I wanted to know more about this woman, Egypt’s final ruler, and all the stories we still tell about her.

Image credits, clockwise from top left: Snake rings from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection; Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra; Snake bracelet from Phoenix Ancient Art’s collection; Detail of “Death of Cleopatra” by Francesco Cozza; Illustration from John Edwards Holbrook’s “North American Herpetology”

Most tragically, her final story is one of star-crossed lovers meeting their end. She and Marc Antony, co-ruler of the Roman empire back in 30 BC, fell in love and joined forces against Octavian, Rome’s other co-ruler and eventual emperor. When Octavian’s forces defeated Marc Antony’s in a civil war, she and Marc Antony made a pact to end their lives instead of submitting to a new ruler. Marc Antony acted first, and upon hearing the news Cleopatra locked herself in a tomb with her two maids, using an asp’s poisonous bite to end her life.

Painters, sculptors, and playwrights have depicted Cleopatra’s life, with asps prominently featured every time. These snakes are especially meaningful considering how important they were in ancient Egyptian culture, represented by the goddess Wadjet and symbolizing a pharaoh’s divine authority. Worn as talismans, they were said to grant protection and health. Snakes have been important in other cultures, too, featured in creation myths, symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings, and said to bring good luck.

Left: Asp Bangles and Asp Rings from our Egyptian Asps Collection; Right: Snake bracelet from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, photo by Kenneth Garrett

What started as an obsession with Cleopatra turned into an urge to make this ancient symbol into modern, wearable amulets. I hope you enjoy wearing these new versions from our mythically-inspired Egyptian Asps collection.

Your jewelry care kit

Don’t let a bent ear wire or small smudges get in the way of you wearing your favorite jewelry. With just a few basic “tools,” you can put together your own emergency care kit and fix your jewelry right up.

YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 flat-nose plier

• Spare earring backs

• Lint-free eyeglass cloth wipe (for gold plated jewelry) and a regular polishing cloth (for solid gold and silver jewelry)

• Small cloth bags
  

I find that earring backs love to go missing because they’re so small, and having spares means you don’t have to swap them out every time you want to wear a new pair. After recently losing a few myself, I added a few different kinds to the shop.

Why flat-nose pliers? Lots of earring posts (including on most of my earrings) are made of sterling silver, a pretty soft metal that can bend easily. To straighten a bent post, you can use those flat-nose pliers to very gently close the whole post between the jaws of the pliers. Open up the pliers, slightly rotate the earring, and close the pliers again. Repeat this a few times and the post will straighten out.

Cloth wipes are great for cleaning up any surface dirt on your jewelry. I recommend an eyeglass cloth for plated jewelry, since it’s soft enough not to scratch through the plating. Regular polishing cloths, meanwhile, are best for solid silver and gold. For both kinds I recommend gently rubbing in a circular motion; rubbing too hard and in just one direction can create a shiny patch of metal.

Lastly, pick up a few small cloth bags for storing your pieces. Cloth bags, like the black velveteen ones I include with all my jewelry, are a great way to keep your jewelry together and to prevent scratching. Ideally, every piece of jewelry gets its own bag, or even better, upgrade to a cute monogrammed case like this one.

These few items, stowed away in a bathroom cabinet or in your travel bag, will get your jewelry looking great again in no time.