GUEST IN RESIDENCE
Anna-Lisa Yabsley
VP, Global Head of Content Strategy at Vogue
When I moved to New York 12 years ago, I thought people were mad when they’d say the secret to longevity in the city was to escape regularly. Why would anyone want to escape NYC? Yet one year in, I found my happy place in upstate New York.
I have ventured far and wide, on both sides of the Hudson river. I could write a book on all the places to eat, stay, and explore. So if you ever want to hear me rant lyrical about which is the best county, and where to find the best antiques, drop me a line. Until then, here are some of my go-to places for a weekend away in the Catskills...
01
WESTWIND
With their rural southern Italian roots, it’s no surprise the owners of Westwind know how to design a perfectly seasonal menu. From panzanella, to grilled garlic scapes, fried artichoke hearts, to spring cavatelli, the food never misses.
Their pizzas are thin and delicious, there is cornhole to keep the kids happy, and the atmosphere is like being welcomed by family. Sit where you want, and spend as long as you please sipping cocktails till the sun goes down.
02
Cherries Roadside and General
A 10 minute drive from Westwind, you’ll find Cherries in Stone Ridge. My husband and I discovered it when staying at The Starlite Motel, an extremely photogenic place to spend a couple of nights. I enlisted them to make the ice cream cakes for his 40th birthday, and I knew then that we would be best friends. It’s since expanded and has quite the range of merch - a clear sign that we’re no longer the only ones who know about it.
03
North Branch Cider Mill
The husband and wife duo behind Homestedt, with a divine store in Livingston Manor, and designers/builders of some of the most desirable Upstate homes, set their sights on restoring this beloved Cider Mill in the Western Catskills. Their home-brand provisions are some of the best there are, they stock Grizzly Bagels (I’m obsessed), a healthy selection of imported European chocolate and pantry staples, oh and you can feed their goats while enjoying a hot cider by the river.
04
One Grand Books
This intimate bookshop in the town of Narrowsburg gives a whole new meaning to the term “curated”. Every shelf displays a chosen selection of 10 books from a rotation of writers, artists, musicians, actors, philanthropists, activists and more. Available for individual purchase, or as a set, I’ve seen shelves by Alan Cumming, Gloria Steinam, Bill Gates, Thomas Keller, Tilda Swinton, Tom Hanks, and Questlove. And that barely scratches the surface. After you’ve grabbed a book, wander around the corner to Laundrette for drinks on the Delaware river.
05
Forage Pizza
Chef and owner Anthony Marušić, swapped life in the city for upstate and opened Forage. It turns out that Italian culinary school training, mixed with Croatian heritage, and years of foraging in the Catskills, is the perfect recipe for the perfect pizza. The “rules” start with “We serve what’s on the menu. NO CHANGES.” Trust me, you don’t want to change a thing.