August 10 – Since moving to the Catskills some forty years ago, I have come to love attending classic car shows. In my eccentric, large Irish family, it was my mother who loved “old cars,” as she called them. When I was very young, my mother’s summer car at the family beach house was a Model T Ford—which, for some unknown reason, she always referred to as “Esmerelda T. Johnson.” It ran like a dream, and its sturdy, boxy interior had plenty of room for us kids and most of our cousins.

After several grueling years, poor “Esmerelda” passed away, and my mother bought another Ford: a two-toned gray ‘48 Deluxe Coupe featuring a foldout brown vinyl rumble seat—or, as it was called, the “Mother-in-Law Seat,” because it left riders out in the elements. My mother called this coupe “the Grey Ghost,” and it was, without a doubt, my favorite car of all time. My father, who was a doctor, didn’t much appreciate my mother’s quirky choice of cars, as he always drove a massive extremely reliable Buick when he made his medical calls. Classic cars gained popularity during the post–World War II boom of the 1950s, as car clubs formed and enthusiasts began preserving the history of evolving automotive technology. From the 1950s through the 1970s, many people could repair and upgrade their own cars before computer chips changed the way vehicles were built. Back then, nearly every family had at least one “car guy” who fixed everyone’s vehicle in the backyard—without the complimentary coffee bar. Today, these beautifully restored cars are displayed at classic car shows throughout the summer and fall.

The next Classic Car Show will take place on Saturday, August 22, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Trailhead Restaurant, located at 367 Mohican Lake Road in Glen Spey. Held on the lawn beside the restaurant, the show will feature competitions for Best Car and Best Motorcycle. Trailhead will offer drink specials and fresh tacos all day, along with family-style favorites such as smash burgers, mac and cheese, chicken wings, tater tots, Margherita flatbread pizza, and assorted salads. Menu prices at the Trailhead are reasonable, and admission to the Classic Car Show is free. For more details about this very family friendly event, visit the Trailhead Restaurant page on Facebook.

Times are tough, and today’s world news often seems designed to scare the bejesus out of us—not exactly a healthy situation for the average person. Take heart, though: Christine Martin of Barryville, wife of musician and author Mike Edison, offers sage, practical guidance that can make these rough times easier to navigate. For the past ten years with The Art of Living organization, Christine has taught meditation to all kinds of people, including those who are incarcerated. And no, you won’t have to change your religion, sell your possessions, or wander the world chanting in saffron robes. Meditation is an ancient daily practice with well-documented physical benefits we have heard and read about for decades, including a stronger immune system, improved memory and attention, healthier aging, better sleep, and less stress. As part of their community programs, The Hamlet Dream Gift Shop and Food and Juice Bar will host a free Introduction to Meditation class at the shop on Wednesday, August 12^th, starting at 6:30 p.m. According to Christine “the world is more topsy turvy than ever, anxiety and uncertainty are plaguing our society, and we need powerful holistic and therapeutic practices to maintain our equilibrium and balance.” The Hamlet Dream Shop is located on Route 97 and 55 in Barryville.