“I’m going to make the smoothest, most refined vodka in the marketplace,” says Charles Ferri, leaning forward on an antique couch in the back room of his wife’s real estate office. Ferri plans to open Star Distillery at the site of a former monastery on the Hudson River in Esopus, distilling ultra-premium vodka, gin, and whiskey.  A hotel and wedding venue are also planned for the site.

For over 42 years, Anne Shattuck Bailey and Jim Bailey have been revolutionizing the professional pottery world from a quiet side street in Midtown Kingston. In 1975, Jim released the 30-inch Bailey Slab Roller, unrivaled at the time for its ease-of-use and uniformity, even with dense clay. After an enthusiastic reception, business has been booming at the Bailey Ceramic Supplies & Bailey Pottery Equipment Corporation.