HIDDEN RETREAT

When the Mistress got back in today, I tell you, it was nothing about a socialite, ladies who lunch, day of lounge. I did absolutely nothing, after such a relaxing weekend. I had been invited by my friend the Professor, and my other friend Preston also went along to the Catskills for a spring, but seemed like a winter get-a-way. I had only been once prior, but I had remembered my father saying his parents had a summer home with another couple in the Catskills, and they would practically live there in the summers. Could be why I enjoyed myself so much. While it was mild, they still had a lot of snow there from the last storm. The Catskills are an ideal escape from NYC and Philadelphia, with rolling mountains, farmhouses, B&B's , and a quick respite for those of us who live in the over crowded city or some suburbs, and is also where the arty types from the sister cities build their "other" Pied-a-terre.

From Spillian's website.

I was told to expect artist, poets types, fledgling actors, and lots of sandals and granola, Mother Earth types. That was fine by me, these are the people who make life interesting. The place prides itself on creating a peaceful and open atmosphere so people can inspire, and be themselves. The place we stayed at was the Spillian, and even though I had no idea where in hell we were....it was gorgeous!

Built in the early 1880’s by the Fleischmann's Yeast family, who were an extraordinary example of the sprawling, brilliantly-big visioned ambition of the Industrial Revolution, Spillian was part of a 160 acre compound with half a dozen or more mansions. Each of the five siblings from the first generation of Fleischmann's, immigrants from Eastern Europe, had a summer “cottage” here. The property is a classic version of Stick Style Architecture — a transitional style moving from Victorian to the 20th Century Arts and Crafts Movement. When I asked who the architect was they said they are still digging to see if they can discover the architect for the buildings, but are increasingly thinking that they were designed by a major architect of the period. When the Fleischmanns arrived in the Catskills to build this property, they had a major national company and were making a point about creating their own elegant rustic mountain experience during an era of heavy anti-Semitism. The house is remarkably intact, with clear pine paneling throughout and extraordinary hand painted murals on the walls that date from the Fleischmann era.  As you walk the grounds, you’ll see an exquisite ice house, a spring house, a second cottage built for summer housing and they still have part of a farm that is still up and running.

 Most nights they serve dinner in the dinning room to all the guest at once, so it feels like one huge dinner party.

Take a gander at the beautiful wall mural paintings on that paneling. You just don't see that now a days.

Oh, and don’t forget the naps. It practically is a requirement. But how could one sleep with such beauty.....and three of us slept in that bed!

We also got to see the coop of chickens and they let you feed them in the morning at the Palais de Chicks. Fresh eggs in the morning!!!!!

And the Spillian's horse, Ivy the Wonderful.

And if you have to get out of the house, the nearby Kaaterskill Falls makes a fine hiking experience – even when it is covered fully in snow, it makes for beautiful snaps. It was tough hiking around though...one minute there was no snow, then all of a sudden there would be a foot of snow depending on how it was melting and where it was located.

And of course I had a special martini the bartender made me, Beet Martini and it was surprisingly tasty....

Preston caught yours truly and the Professor in a gratuitous shot in the hot tub for a soak. But I didn't care, it felt like heaven....

And my favorite part of the weekend had to be Saturday at sunset....a outdoor campfire with bottles of cider wine. Worth the whole trip alone.

Now that was pretty damn cool. One must live . As Oscar Wilde said once,

" Hear no evil, Speak no evil, and you'll never be invited to parties."