Spring Upstate: Cider, Cabins, and Indie Movie Theaters
Seminary Hill’s cider fest, a mountainside cabin near Livingston Manor, and Hannah’s favorite indie theaters.
Howdy, and happy Friday!
We’ve been pretty lucky with the early spring weather so far. Aside from one surprise snow flurry this past week, it’s been easy to picture what the next six months might look like: sunny skies, warm temperatures, late sunsets, and Upstate New York in full bloom. While the Catskills aren’t green just yet, a few early flowers have started to pop up — and after the winter we had, that feels like a win.
We’re leaning into the seasonal shift by gathering a fresh batch of exclusive discounts for our paid subscribers, set to drop this Wednesday at noon.
For anyone considering joining Escape Club, it’s a good moment to jump in — especially with spring and summer getaways on the horizon. Memberships are $6/month or $60/year, tend to pay for themselves pretty quickly – plus help support our small, women-owned and run team.
In between prepping April’s promos newsletter, we’ve been spending time with two of our Escape Club partners: Seminary Hill and Mountain Terrace.
Seminary Hill leans boutique hotel, with a MICHELIN Key distinction, an on-site cidery, and a restaurant that shifts with the seasons. Their spring programming is especially appealing right now, with new menus and the return of their Catskills Cider Fest. Mountain Terrace, recently named one of the best Upstate Airbnbs by Vogue, offers something quieter — a more private, mountainside stay that feels easy and unfussy.
I (Hannah, EB’s resident winter-lover and newsletter writer) also had the chance to be featured in our latest Ask an Expert list. While I’ve been a movie obsessive for as long as I can remember — I was raised on everything from Heathers (1988) to Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), and went on to study cinema and photography in college — this week’s feature isn’t about what to watch, but where to watch it.
I pulled together a list of my five favorite independent movie theaters in the Hudson Valley (and beyond), spotlighting the small, thoughtfully run spaces that make going to the movies feel like an experience. It’s a list close to my heart, and well worth planning a trip Upstate around.
That’s all for this week. See you at the movies!
– Hannah + the EB Team
Seminary Hill: A MICHELIN Key-Awarded Cidery, Orchard, and Boarding House
At Seminary Hill — a MICHELIN Key-awarded cidery, orchard, and boarding house in Callicoon, NY — spring is starting to settle in. Apple trees begin to bloom across the orchard, and ramp season takes hold in the on-site restaurant’s kitchen, making April’s menu feel especially seasonal.
In May, the focus shifts to cider. On Saturday, May 9, Seminary Hill hosts its second annual Catskills Cider Fest, bringing together producers from across New York State for an afternoon of tastings set against the Delaware River Valley. The event runs from 1–5 PM, with live music and a casual outdoor food menu available throughout the day. That evening, The Tasting Room offers two prix-fixe dinners designed with cider pairings in mind, with seatings at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
For those staying the weekend (or looking for a spring getaway), The Boarding House offers 17 guest rooms spread across two restored historic buildings. Interiors draw from Shaker design, with a pared-back approach that lets materials and light lead. Apartment-style layouts include details like kitchenettes, clawfoot soaking tubs, and dining tables, making it easy to settle in for a longer stay.
For more local recommendations, see the Escape Brooklyn Guide to Callicoon.
🔐 Escape Club Members save 25% at through the end of June at Seminary Hill! This offer is one of several exclusive partner discounts available through Escape Club. Members receive new deals on the 1st of each month, plus exclusive travel and real estate content each week.
Memberships are $6/month or $60/year, and most members earn that back in a single stay.
Mountain Terrace: Vogue-Featured Mountainside Rental in Parksville, NY
Tucked into the woods just outside of Livingston Manor, Mountain Terrace offers a quiet mountainside stay with a strong connection to its surroundings. Recently featured in Vogue’s roundup of the best Airbnbs in Upstate New York, the home sits at the end of a quiet road, with an open-plan layout centered around a cozy wood-burning stove and a wall of windows that frames expansive views of the surrounding landscape.
In spring, the focus shifts from the home’s interiors to its impressive exteriors. The wraparound deck opens up to sweeping mountain views — an easy setting for aperitivo hour as the light fades — while the backyard and fire pit extend the living space into the warmer evenings. A separate yoga studio (or artist cabin) offers a quieter place to reset before heading back inside for the evening.
Three bedrooms accommodate up to six guests, making it well-suited for small groups or a low-key weekend away. Summer availability is already tightening, with August nearly booked and only a handful of weekends remaining in June and July. April and May still offer some flexibility for a spring stay.
Parksville sits just outside of Livingston Manor — an easygoing Catskills town that works well for a weekend upstate. Grab coffee and breakfast at Main Street Farm, then head to Catskill Art Space for its rotating contemporary exhibitions, including works by James Turrell and Sol LeWitt. From there, browse shops like Homestedt, Seasons, and Corners, grab a beer at Upward Brewing Company or Catskill Brewery, and head to Threshold for dinner.
For more local recommendations, check out the Escape Brooklyn Guide to Livingston Manor.
New in Our Ask an Expert Series: 5 of Upstate’s Best Independent Movie Theaters — According to Escape Brooklyn’s Hannah Crisafulli
Our readers may recognize Hannah Crisafulli as the voice behind From the Group Chat, Escape Brooklyn’s biweekly real estate roundup — or as EB’s resident ski enthusiast and winter loyalist. Beyond real estate, she’s also a lifelong movie buff.
She grew up in a household where watching “the most important movies ever made” was practically mandatory — many of which shaped her taste for cult favorites and offbeat classics — and later studied cinema and photography at Ithaca College. Safe to say: she knows her way around a screening.
With a strong focus on cinematography and lighting, Hannah pays close attention to the full moviegoing experience. Smaller theaters — or the atmosphere of a classic drive-in — tend to offer a more immersive, considered way to watch a film.
For this week’s installment of our Ask an Expert series, we turned the spotlight inward to get her top five independent movie theaters in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Her picks range from nostalgic drive-ins with throwback snack bars to historic theaters known for thoughtful programming.
🔐 Paid Escape Club members can access Hannah’s full Ask an Expert list, while free members can preview the series and explore past features — including Top 5 NYS Wines, Top 5 Saunas in the USA, and Top 5 Upstate Music Venues. To browse the full archive, hit the button below.
That’s all for this week. Feeling a little generous? You can leave a one-time treat in our tip jar! Promise we’ll notice. 🖤
