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FAQ FOR THE SHAKER MILL INN WEEKEND
Please bring your own chumash/machsor/siddur for the weekend.
Also, we run these events at a lower cost by having everyone help out during the event. You will each be assigned duties during your stay. Folks have often told me that is one of the best parts of the weekend (really!) as they often bond well with the folks that they are on duty with...
WHATS MY PHONE NUMBER? WHATS THE SHAKER MILL INN’S PHONE NUMBER? The address and phone of the Inn are:
Shaker Mill Inn Farm Cherry Lane, (off Rt 22) Canaan NY 12029 (518) 794-9345
The nearest town is New Lebanon, NY, a few miles down the road. My phone number is (917) 531-2202.
HOW FAR IS THE PLACE? WHEN SHOULD I LEAVE?
Shaker Mill Inn is in New Canaan, NY, about 130 miles from NYC, and 15 minutes from Pittsfield, MA in the Berkshires. This is deceptive, because most of the journey (90 miles) is on the Taconic, which is windy and a bit slower than a major highway.
Here is how long it takes from various locations, without traffic
a) Midtown, Upper West Side, North Jersey, Riverdale, Monsey – 2.5 hrs to 3 hrs
b) Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, Queens, & Long Island - 3 hrs to 3.5 hours.
Candle Lighting is at 7:04PM.
For those coming up Friday, to make sure you get there at a sensible time, not rushing and coming in 5 minutes before Shabbat, I recommend you leave at 2:00 PM from Mid and Upper Manhattan and Northern NJ, and 1:30 from Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island. YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE LATER THAN 2:30 PM FROM ANY LOCATION. Many folks will likely come up Thursday night to make this simpler. In past years, half the group chose to do this, so you will be in good company!
The traffic will only be at the beginning from my experience, ie getting to the Taconic, which is about 30 miles north of NYC. Once on the Taconic, traffic usually moves well, just not at superhighway speeds. See below for the directions.
HOW DO I PAY YOU?
We settle all this stuff up at the Shaker Mill Inn . Please bring a check or cash with you, payable to DAVID BROTSKY. We usually worry about this on Saturday night/Sunday.
WHAT TYPE OF KASHRUT SUPERVISION/PRODUCTS DO YOU USE?
We buy much of our food prepared, from places with reputable local vaad hashgachot like Brachs in Queens and LI, and Glatt Mart in Brooklyn. The rest of the items we purchase all have major hechsherim, such as OU, Star K, OK, Chof K, etc.
DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF HEALTHY FOOD? FOOD FOR VEGETARIANS? DO YOU HAVE HOT WATER FOR SHABBAT/COFFEE/TEA?
We try and accommodate all palates, to the extent possible and to the extent that we are aware of your likes and preferences. We will have a good deal of fruits and vegetables/salads, soy milk, etc. We also have pareve nash galore.
We also have several large urns for shabbat/yom tov, and at least a dozen types of teas, 8 types of hot chocolate, and several types of coffee, including decaf and regular and some flavored coffees.
WHATS THE WEATHER LIKE? HOW COLD IS IT AT NIGHT?
Its too early to tell, though its usually about 5 - 10 degrees cooler at the Shaker Mill than in the NY area.
For Winter - Dress warmly, though the Mill is well heated in winter, with extra blankets available, and a large fireplace in the main room we congregate in.
In summer, there is a/c in the rooms, however we generally do not need it as it gets cool and pleasant at night most of the times we have been there.
WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE? DO I HAVE A KEY TO LOCK MY ROOM? SHOULD I BRING VALUABLES WITH ME? ARE THERE TV’S OR PHONES IN MY ROOM?
The rooms are all very nice, and very unique. Since this is a restored Shaker Mill, each room is different from the next. Also, we are fairly secluded and none of the rooms lock with a key. As a general matter, I would not bring anything very valuable with you, which is a good rule for traveling.
There are no phones or TVs in the rooms, though you can have people contact you via the Inn’s number, 518-794-9345, though I would limit this to important matters since this is their main phone line. There is a large screen tv in the sun room, and we will be watching some movies while there.
DO CELL PHONES WORK THERE? DO THEY HAVE BROADBAND INTERNET/WIFI?
CELL PHONES - No, usually not at the Shaker Mill Inn itself. I have Verizon wireless plan, and it works well a few miles away and inconsistently at the Inn itself. Every year the coverage seems to improve though.
The Inn does have a public pc for checking email and the Internet. Please be considerate and do not hog the PC. Remember, you are on vacation! They also have a wifi network that works on the first floor of the Mill.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING? HOW FORMAL DO I NEED TO DRESS? We are fairly informal – suits are certainly optional, based on what you feel is appropriate for a Shabbat/YomTov. Please bring clothing for Shabbat/Yomtov, a SIDDUR, CHUMASH, toiletries, and clothing for the days you are there besides shabbat/yomtov, reading materials, any games you want to play up there, something for rain since it might rain at some point, and warm clothing. Also, a gemarah if you intend to go to the daf yomi shiur. Make sure to bring gloves, hats and WARM CLOTHING for any outdoor winter events.
DOES THE PLACE SUPPLY LINENS, TOWELS, ETC? Yes, they supply bed linens (sheets, blankets), towels and a small bar of soap. You will need to bring anything else you would want to have. Its not a hotel, so they do not clean rooms while we are there. Also, make sure to rip toilet paper in your bathroom, for Shabbat. There may also be a box of Kleenex in the room.
DO YOU NEED HELP ON THE WEEKEND?
Yes, we do these events only with your help. As such, when you arrive you will see a schedule for everyone to help at one or two meals, so the work gets evenly distributed. Stay tuned!
ARE THERE ANY CLASSES/DAF YOMI PERHAPS?CAN I GIVE A DVAR TORAH?
Yes, we will be having someone leading a Daf Yomi Shiur . Also, if you would like to lead a discussion group on a topic that you have been dying to discuss, let me know! We need folks to volunteer to give dvar torahs at each meal, so volunteer before I draft you!
WHAT WILL WE DO ON SHABBAT DURING THE DAY? We intend to take a walk, weather and people permitting. In summer, we have an eruv (see below) around part of the Inn, so folks can sit outside on Shabbat, but no eruv in winter. There is a nice stream that goes right next to the Inn and they have nice shaded seats to relax in.
WHAT FACILTIES DOES THE PLACE HAVE? They have the following facilities available.
A sun room with many windows that looks out on the waterfall, and a pond in front, where you can swim, though it may be a bit cold or even frozen!
There are places to go on walks nearby.
DO YOU HAVE AN ERUV?
In summer only, we construct an eruv around the building and around a lawn with a nice stream flowing nearby. This covers most of the area you would visit on a Shabbat. We have a few people staying in a building known as the Lodge, which is about 200 yards from the main building - the eruv does not cover the Lodge - anyone in the Lodge should bring items for Shabbat to the main building. Preference for staying in the main building goes to those who RSVP and pay the deposit soonest. Also, weather permitting, we eat Shabbat lunch outside, next to a lovely stream.
PLEASE PAY YOUR DRIVER DIRECTLY for gas and tolls. I have come up with a standard rate of $25, OR $12.50 EACH DIRECTION that will cover those costs. Remember, the drivers are doing us a favor, so make sure to settle up with them directly.
DIRECTIONS:
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