Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1525926
C O U R T E S Y O F H E M M E L I G R O M /JA S O N KOX VO L D ; S T I S S I N G H O U S E /C H R I S M OT TA L I N I disappears into the landscape. "When I first moved to New York, I didn't think super hard, and I just assumed it was skyscrapers all the way to Canada," he jokes. "The Catskills have a reputation for having similar beauty to the Hamptons, but without all the pomp and circumstance." Certainly, the east of the river, anchored by towns like Rhinebeck and Millbrook, has always been a tonier area of upstate, thanks to the legacy of those wealthy families—FDR's Presidential Library and Museum isn't far from the whimsical Olana, Frederic Edwin Church's folly-like former home. Scarani likens this side of the Hudson to Tuscany, both for its rolling valleys and the artful combination of rustic and rarefied. Scarani and Creel, who also have homes in Tangier and Paris, had long stayed with family nearby, before finally deciding to showcase their inventory of art and design curiosities here in early 2021—a nod to the injection of new, wealthy residents relocated to the region as a result of the pandemic. Scarani raves about the restaurant Canoe Hill in Millbrook—"The oysters there are petite, but delicious, and they're better to me than the ones in France"—and the hikes around the Lowlands at Cary Institute, a nonprofit eco-research center. Come to this corner of the state for more equestrian options, as the landscape is studded with riding centers, and book supper at Stissing House in Pine Plains. That's where much-lauded British chef Clare de Boer, renowned for King, her downtown New York restaurant, has commandeered one of America's oldest taverns, dating back to the 1780s. Two summers ago, de Boer rebooted the maze-like Dutch Colonial structure as a homey, high-end restaurant; don't miss the homemade potato chips—salt and vinegar–flavored, British-style, of course. And it's in this region that the area's next evolution is centered. After several years of rumors, Soho House finally confirmed that it would open the first overseas iteration of its Farmhouse—think five-star luxury in a rustic, family-friendly setting—just south of Rhinebeck, close to the river. Grasmere House, a 19th-century estate set on 250 acres, is currently undergoing a reimagining for the project, though there's no firm date for opening. Perhaps the splashiest upcoming debut nearby, though, is international wellness chain Six Senses. It spent $13.75 million on an off-market deal to buy up another huge property (more than 230 acres), which includes a biodynamic farm. It's planning to construct a network of cottages on the property, should local permitting allow, and create the ultimate spa getaway for New Yorkers—barely two hours' drive from the city. It already offers a homestay-like experience, for up to 20 adults, at a cluster of old farmhouses there dating back to the 1750s. Think of it as Yellowstone, settler-style. " The Catsk ills have a reputation for having similar beauty to the Hamptons, but without pomp and circumstance." — JASON KOX VOLD Not to miss: dinner at Stissing House's homey, British-style restaurant. Hemmelig Rom, a hand-hewn cabin in the woods built by artist Jason Koxvold. BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M