Hudson Whiskey Hosts Free Movie Nights
By: Nina Chichelo
It’s a crisp fall Friday afternoon in the Mid-Hudson Valley. You can sit at home alone and watch the same Netflix movie for the millionth time, go out and spend money on expensive food with friends, or you can head over to the Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery and Char 1788 Restaurant in Gardiner, New York to cuddle up on the grass to watch a classic movie outdoors for free. Bring your friends, family, or significant other. As long as you have blankets, you’re ready for an old-fashioned outdoor movie night. It’s an authentic, low budget way to bond and get some fresh air.
The Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery, famous for its Hudson Whiskey sold internationally, has a new way of bringing the people of the Mid-Hudson Valley together. Their Head Server, Alex Torquato says, “We want to become a more integral part of the community and for people to know who we are. Even though Hudson Whiskey is an international brand now, a lot of people in our immediate vicinity don’t know who we are and don’t even know that we’re here.” To fix this, this year is the first year that they’ve ever decided to host free outdoor movie nights where all are welcome to come, cozy up on their big grass lawn, and enjoy a classic movie with their friends and family. Torquato says, “We wanted to do something that would not only tie us together with the community, but help bring the community together for something that’s fun, inexpensive, and something that everyone can enjoy for multiple generations.” But it doesn’t stop there. The distillery also brings over a snack table and open bar right next to the movie area where they sell cheap snacks, drinks, and alcoholic beverages, including a movie-themed cocktail, during the entire movie experience.
Lots of planning goes into the event, such as getting the movie approved, coming up with their themed cocktail, renting out equipment, etc. But the turn out for almost all of the showings has been worth it, especially from a marketing perspective. Torquato says, “You’re not just a business, you’re also part of the community. So having these events is what’s going to make people come back here. They see our faces and they’ll get to know us, our names, and that we’re here because we like to be friendly and do things like this.” Theses events are as pure as it could get. Torquato continues to say, “Maybe they’ll come back and maybe they won’t, but either way everyone is having a good time and that’s all that we want.”
The community absolutely loves everything about it. Last Friday, the distillery welcomed “spooky season” with a showing of the original Ghostbusters movie. Children, couples, and friends all sat in front of the big screen projecting the timeless Halloween film, some sitting around the fire pit that the distillery set up to keep extra warm and roast marshmallows given out by the friendly staff working the event. One of the audience members, Marina Kokkinias says, “It’s just a reachable activity. When you work all week and going to the cinema nowadays is so expensive… You can easily put Netflix on your iPhone, but this is completely different. You will definitely remember this more than watching something on your iPhone.” She came with one of her friends and they both brought their sons and some of their friends from school. Kokkinias says, “We just want out children to do something nice in the evening and it is family oriented so that’s what attracted us to this… I like that it’s outside because of the ambiance and we’re just relaxing. Very cozy. Definitely an experience.” The bar was a popular pit stop as well as the food table where they sold hotdogs and other yummy popular outdoor treats.
Their next event is one that the staff is highly anticipating. On Friday, October 19 the distillery will host another free movie night where they are going to show Hocus Pocus. It just so happens that this year is the film’s 25th anniversary. The distillery’s Facebook event has over 60 people coming and over 1,400 people interested so far. It will sure get everyone in the Halloween spirit.
