DAVETREK ADVENTURES

2008 - Simchat Torah in the Hudson Valley

October 20 to October 22

I am pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Simchat Torah. This time, we will be visiting one of the nicer places I have had an event at, the Olmsted Retreat Center, Cornwall—on—Hudson, near West Point. This facility is about a 75 minute drive  from Manhattan and Northern NJ and 90 minutes from Brooklyn, Queens, Central NJ and Long Island.

 

We will have laining, minyanim, and shiurim. Shiurim/discussion groups can be led by both men & women. Let us know if you want to help out with this. Also, we will have a succah for those who need this on Shemini Atseret. All of the food will be catered from reputable hashgachas or will be made by us on site, such as salads and the like. We may also have a BBQ on one of the days of Yom Tov, weather permitting.  If there is enough interest, we might also make available accommodations for people who want  to come up on Sunday afternoon as well. Let us know on the RSVP Form.

 

Singles, couples and families are welcome. We usually have a nice mix of each. We anticipate 35 to 50 people for this event.

 

Description of Olmsted Retreat Center & Pictures of the Main Building ( Kirkwood)

 

Olmsted Center sits on 76 lovely acres, with some hiking trails on the property and has some beautiful views of Storm King Mountain; it's also 15 minute walk from the Hudson River. At this time of the year, there should also be some nice fall foliage in evidence.

 

We will be located in 3 buildings on the site. The main building, where all meals and davening will occur, is known as Kirkwood and is the building pictured above. This is the nicest building at the location, and they spent over $500,000 a few years ago to remodel this lovely historic building. It has several group areas and all 10 of the Deluxe Bedrooms are located in this building.

 

We also have two ‘camp style’ buildings, one for men and one for women, located about a 5 minute walk away from Kirkwood. See below for a full description of the rooms.

 

Here are some pictures of the interior of Kirkwood - ignore pictures of Manor House—that building is not available to us this time that we are at Olmsted.

 

HELPING ON THE WEEKENDS

For first timers to my weekends, we run these events at a lower cost by having everyone help out during the event. You will each be assigned a job during your stay, usually working an entire meal as your ‘duty’.

 

LEAVING TIME, RIDES, DIRECTIONS

 

Candle Lighting for Monday, October 20 is 5:48 PM. Please note that it takes 75 minutes from Manhattan and Northern NJ to get to the location, and about 90 minutes from Brooklyn, Queens and other points.

 

For those coming on Monday, you will need to leave preferably by 2:30 pm, but I would not recommend that anyone leave later than 3:30 PM from anywhere.

 

We will attempt to arrange rides for those who need, so if you are driving let me know if you can take passengers on the RSVP Form. Drivers will be reimbursed for their costs at a rate of $20 per passenger.

 

For Directions, click here.

 

 

Rooms Types/Descriptions & Linens

 

This place has two types of rooms, Deluxe and Basic.

 

 

 

Deluxe - these are very nice rooms, in a restored Victorian mansion. Above is a picture of  one of the rooms in Kirkwood and here are other pictures of Kirkwood. Each room has a private bathroom accessible directly from the room ( each set of two room shares a bathroom, but you enter the bathroom directly from inside each room - the bathroom is between the rooms and each room has its own lockable door, so you just knock to make sure the other room isn’t occupying the bathroom).

 

There are two people per room and each room has two single beds. All linens, towels, etc are supplied. Each of these rooms in unique and can generally fit a cot or a crib for children. You must bring your own crib, but we might be able to supply a cot at an additional cost. Let us know your needs on the RSVP form.  These rooms are heated and have airconditioning, though its unlikely we will need a/c at the end of October...

 

Basic - These are located in 2 cabins that are about 5 minutes away. Each cabin has 3 rooms, two large rooms that we will put 3 or 4 people in, and one smaller room for 3 people. Each room has its own designated bathroom accessible from the room or within a few feet, so its like a quasi—private bathroom. Each building also has a common area at all of the rooms connect to. We will have one building for men and one for women. No rooms will be available for couples in these buildings.  The larger rooms can hold many more than 4, but we will try and hold them to this number. Also, each of these larger rooms has a small wall that divides the room in two, so there is more of a sense of privacy than one big open room. These rooms have heating, but no air-conditioning, though its unlikely we will need a/c in late October.

 

Bedding & Linens -

 

Deluxe Rooms in Kirkwood come with bedding and linens.

 

Basic rooms—These rooms DO NOT COME WITH ANY BEDDING or LINENS -  YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN BLANKET, SHEET, TOP SHEET, PILLOW CASE, TOWELS, etc. I am checking to ensure they have pillows.

 

Also, there are no single rooms  available for this event.

 

Costs & Payments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The early bird will be in effect until Sunday, October 5.  We will need people to RSVP quickly to see if we have enough interest, but I know of some already hoping to come, so act fast.

 

We will only have about 35 to 45 people at this event...take advantage of the cheaper rates before the early bird expires.

 

The price includes everything for the weekend, food, etc, except  $20 round trip for passengers who need transportation, which will be paid directly to your driver. Couples and families are welcome .

If you want to come up on Sunday and stay over Sunday Night, if we have enough interest we might offer that, at $75 per person, for Deluxe Rooms and $50 for Basic rooms if these are available. If so, we will likely have a hike on Monday for those coming up early.

 

 

YOU MUST SIGN UP VIA THE RSVP FORM

 

RSVP DEADLINE - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008.

 

Payments

 

DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT TO RSVP:

 

In order to complete your reservation, you must make a $100 deposit ($200 for couples and families), postmarked or sent to paypal by the deadlines at the top of this page.

 

PAYMENT METHODS - CHECK OR PAYPAL

 

You may pay in one of two ways, via check or via paypal.

 

Via Check:

please send the payment/deposit , made out to “David Brotsky”

 

And mail it to:

 

David Brotsky

c/o Sharon Zavodnick

325 North 3rd Avenue

Highland Park, NJ 08904

 

In order to get the discounted rate for a given deadline, you need to have your deposit payment postmarked by the deadlines above. $100 deposit required for individuals, $200 for couples and families.

 

 

Via Paypal

 

Send me the payment/deposit via PayPal, via my email address:

 

davetrek@gmail.com

 

$100 deposit required for individuals, $200 for couples and families.

 

 

In order to get the discounted rate for a given deadline, you need to make your deposit payment into paypal  by the deadlines above.

 

FULL PAYMENT REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE WEEKEND:

 

In order to come on the weekend you must make your FULL PAYMENT PRIOR TO COMING ON THE WEEKEND.

 

If you are using a check, the balance of your payment via check must be postmarked no later than Thursday, 10/16/08. If using paypal, the balance of your payment must be sent via PayPal no later than Friday, 10/17/08.

 

ALL PAYMENTS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17.

 

FAILURE TO MEET THIS DEADLINE

WILL MEAN YOU MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE WEEKEND.

 

REFUND POLICY:

 

You may request a refund of your deposit for up to 7 days after your initial sign up on the RSVP form. However, no refunds will be allowed for anyone, no matter when you sign up, after Friday, October 10, 2008. If you need to cancel after these deadlines, you may substitute someone who we approve for your spot. In such event, we will switch your deposit to that person, and you can seek your deposit from the substituted person.

 

NO REFUNDS AFTER OCTOBER 10, 2008

 

 

QUICK LINK TO THE RSVP FORM

Kirkwood House - Deluxe Accommodations & location of meals and davening

QUICK LINK TO THE RSVP FORM