May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and it’s a great time to engage with Eastern cultures in Dutchess County. From bonsai workshops and kintsugi sessions to Japanese-inspired gardens and Asian art, here are a few ways to discover something new in the heart of the Hudson Valley.
EVENTS
Sunday, May 4 at 4 p.m. at Stissing Center for Arts & Culture, Pine Plains
The Stissing Center at Pine Plains regularly hosts a diverse assortment of artistic performances, from renowned jazz groups to contemporary arts. Pianist and musical director Sophia Zhou performs alongside star cellist Sterling Elliot, covering a robust list of American composers to kick off the 2025 Chamber Music series. Get tickets here.
Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at Fisher Center at Bard College, Annandale on Hudson
Chinese-born conductor Tan Dun is a world-renowned talent. Notably, he won Academy Award and Grammy awards for his score for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. He leads the Bard Conservatory Orchestra for a special performance of works by Claude Debussy, Modest Mussorgsky and Maurice Ravel. Promoting the event, he said “I have two goals in my heart: I don’t just want to establish a musical idea…I want to develop a cross-cultural idea that brings nature and classical music, ancient and modern, together." For tickets, click here. Don't forget to get our FREE Inspiration Finder mobile passport: sign up for 20% off Fisher Center tickets!
Thursday, May 15, July 17, September 18 and November 20 at 6 p.m. at Industrial Arts Brewing Company, Beacon
Learn the Japanese art of bonsai at a variety of Dutchess County destinations. Bonsai Bar brings the East Asian gardening tradition to beginners. At these workshops, grab a Hudson Valley beer and start making miniature trees. Fundamental techniques will help you pot, prune, and design organic works of art. Start with the dwarf jade for a manageable tree for first-timers at craft beverage hotspots like Industrial Arts Brewing Company in Beacon. For full dates, click here.
Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m. at Dassai Blue Sake Brewery, Hyde Park
Japan Society is turning 118 this year, and they are celebrating their birthday at Dassai Blue Sake Brewery in Hyde Park. This New York City-based non-profit connects New Yorkers and people around the globe with traditional Japanese arts, culture and more. The Sake Celebration will feature a forward-thinking conversation between Dassai Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai and Japan Society CEO Joshua Walker. Then, enjoy an open-bar sake tasting of four varieties produced right here in Dutchess County alongside light refreshments. Click here to reserve your tickets.
Wednesday, May 21 at 6 p.m. at River Valley Arts Center, Wappingers Falls
The ancient practice of Kintsugi teaches us to embrace flaws and imperfections. This Japanese tradition highlights the beauty of blemishes by breaking pottery bowls, studying the pieces and glueing them back together with gold. The bowls change forever, just as people change and become stronger through difficult personal experiences. River Valley Arts Center invities art therapist Tara DeLuca to lead a unique kintsugi workshop. Visit Wappingers Falls and reflect on the Kintsugi experience, connecting with a pot of your own before breaking and rebuilding it. To register, click here.
DESTINATIONS
Discover blooming Japanese primroses, peonies and yellow foxgloves in this stunning Eastern Dutchess garden. Golden light dramatically floods the Chinese and Japanese-inspired gardens and landscape. Enjoy meditative cup gardens (drawn specifically from ancient Chinese villa gardens) around the 40-acre glacial lake. Bring a picnic for an amazing afternoon snack. Or, create art by brining an easel or a camera, drawing inspiration from the curated landscape. Rock formations, lily pads and native wildlife provide peace to visitors. Be sure to bring birding binoculars to spy heron and other beautiful birds.
This state-of-the-art brewery and tasting room in Hyde Park produces a Junmai Daiginjo-only sake, the highest level of premium sake and the first of its kind made in the U.S. Sake is a traditional alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, popularized in Japan. Dassai is made from 100% Yamada Nishiki rice, the gold standard of sake rice. Observe the brewing process through windows looking into various production rooms during the tour and tasting experience and sample Dassai Blue 50, the first sake brewed on-site. The opening of this beautiful site makes Dutchess County the only county in New York State that has a sake brewery, wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and a meadery.
