New York State April 2026 - Entering the Catskills

We left Brooklyn early in the morning. Elliot drove & I sat in the “shotgun” seat so I could put my foot up as needed & take photos Many photos were taken through the windows while we were moving. Hence, some are not sharply in focus. A few times Elliot in a previous visit had scoped out a shot he knew I’d want to take & pulled over.

Of course after our previous day’s tour at the Noble Signs, Design Studio we were more attuned to signage.

The Catskills were not far away from Brooklyn & we had plenty of time until check-in time at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter NY. Elliot & Casey had planned driving us a bit out of the way for lunch at the Phoenicia Diner.

“The name ‘Catskill‘ likely originates from the Dutch term ‘Kaaterskill,’ meaning ‘Wildcat Creek,’ reflecting both local wildlife (bobcats & mountain lions), local geography and Dutch settlement influences…The term comes from the Middle Dutch word ‘kille,’ meaning ‘riverbed’ or ‘water channel.’” Many villages, towns, creeks & rivers have “kill” in their name.

Phoenicia Diner bathroom wallpaper, Phoenicia, NY .

Other than the swimming, I didn’t have adventures like this in the Catskills in the 1950’s.

“The Kosciuszko Bridge, originally known as the Meeker Avenue Bridge, is a cable-stayed bridge over Newtown Creek...connecting Greenpoint in Brooklyn to Maspeth in Queens. The… span reopened between 2017 & 2019...after the original 1939 span was demolished.” This was the 1st time for me on the new span.

Polish general “Kosciuszko devised the successful defensive strategy for the Battle of Saratoga, which became the turning point of the American Revolution. Kosciuszko drafted plans to build West Point Fortress..." I loved hearing the name of the bridge during Fred Feldman's morning helicopter traffic report on Rambling With Gambling’s WOR radio morning show.

The bridge has a pedestrian walkway with allegedly phenomenol views of NYC. Perhaps next visit...

The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (Triboro Bridge) “is a complex of bridges and elevated expressway viaducts in New York City… link the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx." Back in dental school I went over it on the back of the friend’s motorcycle. SCARY!

Ca. 1917 - "The Hell Gate Bridge (originally the New York Connecting Railroad Bridge) is a railroad bridge in New York City."

Driving up the Harlem River Drive.

We went under all these bridges when we took the Circle Line Tour around Manhattan a few years ago.

Driving up the Harlem River Drive.

Yankee Stadium.

Driving up the Harlem River Drive.

The ca. 1895 New York City Landmark Macombs Dam Bridge is a swing bridge.

Harlem River Drive.

"The High Bridge, NYC’s oldest standing bridge (1848)...is open to pedestrians and cyclists only."

Harlem River Drive.

"The High Bridge, NYC’s oldest standing bridge (1848)...is open to pedestrians and cyclists only."

Harlem River Drive.

Maj. Deegan Expwy to Albany & Queens/Yankee Stadium exit 1D as seen from the Harlem River Drive.

RADIO HOTEL, Washington Hts., NY.

“Designed for culture-seekers, creatives, and travelers seeking a wow-worthy hotel experience that they’ll want to tell all their friends about… Why settle for ordinary when you can be part of something unique and bold at our hot-spot New York City hotel.”

How do they mitigate the exhaust fumes for the folks living in this building?

"STAY ALERT" & "Welcome to Manhattan."

"The lower level of the George Washington Bridge, informally called the Martha Washington Bridge, was completed and opened to traffic on August 29, 1962 increased the bridge’s capacity by about 75% and made it the world’s only 14‑lane suspension bridge. Today, the George Washington Bridge remains the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world, carrying over 106 million vehicles annually....it was the longest main bridge span in the world from its 1931 opening until the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened in 1937."

The Hudson River & the New Jersey Palisades as seen from Martha Washington.

Did you ever have to make up your mind?

Through New Jersey & soon back into NYS.

"While efforts had been made in the ensuing decades to change the name or to alter the way in which the name of the borough is capitalized and punctuated, the borough remains as 'Ho-Ho-Kus' New Jersey."

Bagels are everywhere!!

The fact that they have”….top-quality Boar’s Head deli meats.” here, leaves me cold.

U.S. 47, Mawah, New Jersey.

Approximate location of the Catskill Mountains on a NYS map at Scribner's Catskill Lodge, Hunter, NY.

Near Monticello & Liberty in the Catskills Region. This is around the area that was called the Borscht Belt.

U.S. 47.

When I mentioned our trip to the Catskills, folks kept thinking we’d be seeing comedians…

Not anymore…

I inserted a 1954 photo of me & all my mom’s side cousins at Homowack Lodge, Spring Glen, NY. We spent many holidays here.

“The Borscht Belt” Revisiting the Remains of America’s Jewish Vacationland” by Marisa Scheinfeld.

Homowack Lodge, Spring Glen, NY.

“The Borscht Belt” Revisiting the Remains of America’s Jewish Vacationland” by Marisa Scheinfeld.

Ahead, the Catskill Ski Region.

U.S. 47.

In Historic Kingston, First Capital of New York State.

NYS 213.

This would be great especially if they have bears playing banjo.

Ashokan Reservoir.

I liked the CATSKILL PARKS sign over the name of towns & villages.

“The old ‘USA’ is currently being refurbished and will be a fitting tribute to those members who have answered their last call.”

Rte. 28A, Olive, NY.

“The catamount — also known as the eastern cougar …The animal once roamed across the eastern U.S. and Canada.”

Rte. 28, Mt. Tremper, NY.

Phoenicia Diner, Phoenicia, NY for lunch.

It was busy for lunch but we didn’t have to wait too long for a table. It was packed with locals & tourists.

As we learned during our Noble Sign Company tour, wood signs rot.

Phoenicia Diner, Phoenicia, NY.

In the waiting area of the Phoenicia Diner. Phoenicia, NY.

“Dixon Roadside in Woodstock, NY is permanently closed.” The Phoenicia Diner must have bought their beer glasses. Elliot was driving so I could imbibe.

Phoenicia Diner. Phoenicia, NY.

“PAN FRIED TROUT- local steelhead trout, shallot butter, sautéed garlic potatoes, market vegetables.”

Phoenicia Diner, Phoenicia, NY.

NYS Rte. 212.

WILLOW AUTOMOTiVE SERVICE.

Deteriorating wooden sign & the back end of an MGB peeking out next to the vintage Buick at WILLOW AUTOMOTiVE SERVICE.

We saw a lot of those metal roofs.

Shady, NY on Rte. 212.

Woodstock, NY.

"Catskill Mountain Railroad offers a scenic train ride through the Catskill Mountains."

Woodstock, NY.

Be prepared.

Woodstock, NY.

BIKE MIKE'S OLD SPOKES HOME.

Woodstock, NY.

Glasco Turnpike Marker- taken from the web. My photo was blurry.

Glasco Turnpike.

We did see an occasional lone bicyclist.

Glasco Turnpike.

Kaaterskill Creek "... is part of the Hudson River watershed."

Glasco Turnpike.

At the ready. Note snowplow to the left.

Glasco Turnpike.

Village of Tannersville incorporated in 1895.

"GREETINGS FROM TANNERSVILLE, NY, THE PAINTED VILLAGE IN THE SKY"

Hunter Mountain at sunset from Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, Hunter, NY.

Early morning view from Scribner's Catskill Lodge.

Scribner's Catskill Lodge.

“Inside the Apex Lodge, the Apex Lounge is a communal space at Scribner's Catskill Lodge…The 12-sided structures create a vaulted ceiling in which the roof is joined together at the apex by an oculus…”

Naomi & Casey were designing jewelry for Naomi.

Later, I took some photos of Casey’s work. It was fun setting up the scenes with her.

To see more of Casey’s work, visit caseyperezjewelry.com.

A room within the Apex Lodge at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge.

“Inside the Apex Lodge, the Apex Lounge is a communal space…It is a cozy space to recharge, read, or take in the mountain views by the fireplace.”

Scribner's Catskill Lodge, Hunter, NY.