Natalie Merchant’s upstate New York

“I haven’t been outside in six months,” jokes Natalie Merchant of the brutal winter upstate. But the Jamestown-born singer, who lives in Ulster County with her 10-year-old daughter, is stirring now: A self-titled new album, containing her first original material in 13 years, was released Tuesday. The 50-year-old former 10,000 Maniacs singer will also embark on a summer tour with stops in the local area. This is her upstate New York.

Mohonk Preserve, 3197 Route 44 55, Gardiner

Frank Tkac

“The brothers, Albert and Alfred Smiley, are pretty much figures of lore and legend around here, because they set aside thousands of acres for preservation. And Mohawk is private — it’s not a state park. I’ve been a member for years. [Daily admission is also available.] You can hike the trails, there’s rock climbing. I especially like the old carriage trails for bicycles.”

The Aston Magna Music Festival, June-July, various venues including Olin Hall at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson


“This is really obscure, and it often goes on at the same time as the SummerScape Festival at Bard, so it gets overlooked. It’s usually early Baroque or Renaissance or medieval music. I love early music. I got into [it] as a rebellion against my mother, [who] loved opera. The Texaco broadcasts [of the Met Opera] would drive us out of the house every Saturday morning. So I started listening to Gregorian chants and medieval music. My mother would say it sounded like a convent upstairs.”

The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie

The Frances Lehman Loeb Art CenterLoeb Art Center

“This is a really obscure, small museum [at Vassar] with an impressive permanent collection. The art is a little bit of everything. They have a couple Egyptian sculptures, some European paintings, drawings. It’s a smattering of everything. My favorite is that little Chinese figurine [called ‘Dancing Girl’ from the 7th century]. It’s this small, delicate figurine. I love sculptures that are extremely old.”

Madava Farms, 47 McCourt Rd., Dover Plains

Crown Maple syrup

“There’s a lot of maple syrup producers up here, but I think Crown Maple [produced by Madava Farms] has the most attractive labeling [and] packaging. They have a farm you can visit that’s picture-perfect. The syrup is incredible. I don’t drink, but I think people who get seduced by the packaging of liquor would fall into the same sort of trance when they see this bottle. You would think you’re buying malt liquor, but it’s maple syrup.”

R&F Handmade Paints, 84 Ten Broeck Ave., Kingston

R&F Handmade Paints

“I’ve been painting since I was in high school. I’ve always loved color. I always go back to the human form and find it the most intriguing. I tend to go back to the same theme, which is the human face. I paint mostly from photographs.

I’ve done several workshops at R&F in encaustic painting. It’s quite an investment in materials if you want to try encaustic paintings, because you’re painting with pigments that are suspended in beeswax, so it has to be heated to the right temperature, and you have to have really good ventilation. If someone from the city is a painter and has wanted to try encaustic, this is a lovely way to be introduced to it.”

Anatolia Turkish Cuisine, 76 Main St., New Paltz

Assorted appetizer with hummus, grape leaves, and taoubleh at Anatolia.

“There are many restaurants in New Paltz, and many are very good. I particularly love this one. They have a really great appetizer platter with all sorts of delicious little concoctions [including hummus, tabbouleh and stuffed grape leaves, above].”