Issue 68: Rites of spring
With Kym Chambers of Chambers New York
It’s our joy to welcome Kym Chambers as our guest editor this week. We so admire what she’s created at her stunning boutique Chambers New York. As you’ll see below, Kym’s eye for texture and color is unmatched, and no one looks cooler posing with their kid’s scooter. If you’re similarly inspired by her style, we’ll catch you among the crochet bags and tennis necklaces at 228A Main St in Saugerties. Thank you for joining us, Kym!
Is it spring yet??! This question comes with such urgency every year. I wish I had by now figured out some sort of mindful practice that quiets my desperation for warmth from the sun on my skin. It’s the first week of March, and I’m alone in my store upstate. I’m not alone by choice, I’m technically open, the sign on the window says so, but as many retailers and service industry veterans know, this is the quietest time of year, and it’s also the toughest time to make it or break it. As bleak as that may sound, like the coming of spring, us retailers know that we are on the cusp of the sweet season: the flowers will bud, the leaves will unfold and the foot traffic will most definitely come back.
From stoop to store
I opened my store in upstate New York in the spring of 2024. My husband, son, and I had quickly grown out of our 3rd-floor brownstone walk-up in Brooklyn during the pandemic; he had been working from home in our bathroom (I know!) while I corralled our then 10-month-old baby boy. A move upstate seemed inevitable, having visited the region together pre-everything in 2016.
Chambers the store started as Chambers Vintage with one sturdy rack of vintage stationed in the hallway of my idyllic 3rd floor walkup in Brooklyn. My son was only six months old when I began slinging vintage on the side, having saved up $3k from my maternity leave. The impetus was simple, a tale as old as time: my sacred selection of vintage Levi’s 501s no longer fit my new post-partum body, and they deserved a good home. I made it my business to find them one.
During the pandemic, I created a make-shift photo studio by hanging a white bedsheet across the kitchen on a wire to photograph myself wearing everything from faux fur to 80s jumpsuits and leather moto jackets. I would put Noah down for his nap and run through five or six looks while he slept, posting them directly to my instagram and website. The photoshoot was over when my son woke up. Seven years later, we relocated to the Hudson Valley, bought a Victorian fixer-upper, and the store grew and changed too.
Main Street
I launched my first flagship retail location, just down the street from our house, after a successful run at a pop-up exactly next door. This is the way of these small towns: word travels fast and you have to be around to hear it. I had been in talks with a friend who owned an accessories brand to partner on a storefront and she had heard that a local gallery on Main was about to shutter its doors. Turns out, I had the phone number of the landlord saved in my phone from my first summer living upstate. We had met in a neighbors’ garden over wine and a lot of laughter. I asked her if we could be the first to see the space, and the rest is history at 228A Main.
The great thing about living within walking distance to the store and my son’s school is that I can still be present for him without a commute. I can walk him to school in the morning and shuffle him back to the shop after school for those odd hours between school and dinner. He is quietly getting an education in entrepreneurship too, the same lesson I received from my dad.
He has his corner under the clothing racks where he snacks on cheddar bunnies and occasionally surprises a customer or two. He even has his own shelf in the store where he sells his art (to my quiet dismay, I sort of want to keep everything he makes!) Motherhood upstate looks a lot like my own upbringing in a suburb of Toronto. Visits to the Hudson River, skipping rocks, forest walks and river swimming too. We truly feel like we found the sweet spot upstate, plus it’s two hours closer to Canada for our drives to see my family in Ontario.
Wardrobe department
Upstate life has required a grand reassessment of my wardrobe and shoes in a way I was definitely not prepared for. When we moved, I had exactly one pair of boots and they weren’t even waterproof. I quickly realized that some (read: most!) of my wardrobe was ill-equipped for my new life. Maybe I should get some boots to work the garden? Maybe I should invest in some gardening looks, like a barn jacket from L.L. Bean? I guess I’ll need to use my otherwise ornamental workwear for actual work on the house? This all came to pass and very quickly. I found myself sifting through listings on Poshmark for used L.L. Bean coats and invested in two pairs of boots, one from Hunter and the other from Bass. If there is one thing I realized I loved about shopping for outdoor gear, it’s a legacy brand still making good on a promise they made a century ago.
As I lean into my mid-forties, I’m really feeling a call to simplify my look: keep it simple, functional, comfortable and personal. Here are a few recent looks from a day in the life.
Kym Chambers is the owner and curator of Chambers New York, a boutique in Saugerties, New York showcasing the work of independent, BIPOC, queer and women-owned artists and brands. With over 25 years of experience in fashion, design, lifestyle & retail in New York, London and Toronto, the culmination of her talents is on display at Chambers NY, where she curates a mindful collection of 20th-century vintage, fine art, jewelry, home goods, accessories, beauty products, records and books. Chambers holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Western Ontario.
Ulster County (and Beyond) with Kym
Life upstate is an unfolding journey of discovering the region and its many treasures.
My current favorites include:
Fresh eggs from The Healing Acres I pick up on weekends from Enoki
The recent Moonburger night pop up at Eliza before seeing Cat Power at Ulster County Performing Arts Center
The ginger cookie from Little Rye Bakehouse at Camp Kingston, a favorite hang day or night
Early morning walks by the Hudson River in Malden, just up the road from Saugerties
Pizza and cocktail at Ollies Pizza in High Falls
Take out from Top Taste, the most authentic Jamaican food I’ve had outside of my mothers kitchen
Thrifting furniture for my house at the Restore on Route 28
The best cup of coffee I’ve had since moving upstate is an hour away in Fleischmanns, NY at Doolittles, but is WORTH THE DRIVE
$5 Wednesday movies at The Orpheum/Upstate Films in Saugerties with a friend
The smoked fish bagel at Goodies in Catskill is LEGIT. Ask for The Mensch.
Working Together
This May, the Junior League of Kingston will host a Community Baby Shower for 50 expectant mothers and mothers with infants. Participating parents will receive essential baby items and local resources, along with community support. The League is seeking sponsorships and donations including diapers, wipes, car seats, pack-and-plays, and other baby essentials. Contribute toward the baby registry or share the event link with a parent who might want to participate.
In the Neighborhood
We live in the Mid-Hudson Valley and we’re keeping tabs on these (mostly family-friendly) events near us. If there’s another event you’d like us to share, please send it our way!
March and April Events
Thursday, March 12 - Community Soup Night at Left Bank Ciders, Catskill
Starting Thursday, March 12 - Hudson Community Choir at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Friday, March 13 - Free Story & Tea Time at Berkshire Waldorf School, Great Barrington
Friday, March 13 - The Mezcal Table with Fancy Feast Supper Club, Hudson * ^
Friday, March 13 - Sunday, March 15 - Book Sale at Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Saturday, March 14 - Young Kids Baking Class with Kate Ray, online
Saturday, March 14 - Pi Palooza! at Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, Poughkeepsie
Saturday, March 14 - Shamrock Hunt at Catamount, Hillsdale *
Saturday, March 14 - Yoga for Roller Skaters at Skate Time, Accord ^
Saturday, March 14 - Pie Dough Workshop with Little Rye Bakehouse, Kingston
Saturday, March 14 - Author event with Esmé Shapiro, Ruthie & Julie Fogliano at Oblong Books, Rhinebeck
Saturday, March 14 - Brioche Three Ways with Tanya Bush and Lexie Smith, Pine Plains ^
Saturday, March 14 - Sunday March 15 - Women’s Weekend at Hunter Mountain, Hunter
Sunday, March 15 - “Makin’ Cake” by storyteller Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Pine Plains ^
Sunday, March 15 - Maple Fest 2026, at The Ashokan Center, Olivebridge
Sunday, March 15 - Polar Plunge, Coxsackie
Sunday, March 15 - The Hudson Valley Pickle Festival, Poughkeepsie
Sunday, March 15 - 38th Annual Shamrock Run, Kingston
Sunday, March 15 - Clothing Swap at Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook
Sunday, March 15 - MYO Creatures Workshop with Super Stories at Germantown Library, Germantown
Sunday, March 15 - Pre-K Matinee w/ My Neighbor Totoro at The Community Theater, Catskill
Sunday, March 15 - Oscar Watch Party at The Community Theater, Catskill
Sunday, March 15 - Tanya Bush + Lexie Smith in conversation at Stissing House, Pine Plains *
Starting March 18 - Artmaking workshop at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Thursday, March 19 - CREATE Community Soup Night at Left Bank Cider, Catskill
Saturday, March 21 - Artmaking in the Afternoon at Olana, Hudson
Saturday, March 21 - Family Tour at Olana, Hudson
Sunday, March 22 - Kids & Kin Yoga at Rose Hill, Red Hook
Tuesday, March 24 - Sesame Street Live, Poughkeepsie
Friday, March 27 - Free Story & Tea Time at Berkshire Waldorf School, Great Barrington
Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29 - Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo, Troy
Saturday, March 28 - No Kings March, Kingston
Saturday, March 28 - Pie Dough Workshop with Little Rye Bakehouse, Kingston
Starting March 28 - Baby Moves at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Starting March 28 - Family Dance at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Sunday, March 29 - Community Fundraiser for CCSM at Half Moon, Hudson
Sunday, March 29 - Body Rewilding Council movement class, Germantown
Starting April 1 - Toddler-caregiver class at Flying Deer, East Chatham
Thursday, April 2 - Grains of Paradise grand opening, Catskill
Saturday, April 4 - Egg Hunt at Greig Farm, Red Hook
Starting April 8 - Music Together classes, various HV locations
Saturday, April 11 - Author event with Rebecca Novack at Kinderhook Books, Kinderhook
Friday, April 17 - Spring Book Fair for Grownups at Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook ^
Saturday, April 18 - Family cooking workshop at Olana, Hudson
Saturday, April 25 - The 2nd Annual Hudson Valley Puppet Slam, Pine Plains
Saturday, May 2 - Pony Party at High & Mighty, Ghent
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Ongoing Events
Mondays - Songs & Stories at Ulster Public Library, Ulster
Mondays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Valatie
Mondays - Tunes and Tales at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Mondays in March - Queer Teen Meet-Up at Hudson Area Library, Hudson
4th Mondays - La Leche League meetings, Chatham
Tuesdays - Storytime with Robbie at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Tuesdays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Hudson
Tuesdays - Preschool Story Hour at Claverack Free Library, Claverack
Tuesdays - Tiny Tots at Palenville Library, Palenville
Wednesdays - Runs with Return Run Club, Hudson
Wednesdays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Valatie
Wednesdays in March - Drop-In Art Making at Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Wednesdays - Music & Movement at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
2nd Wednesdays - La Leche League meetings, Hudson
Thursdays - Music & Movement Storytime at the Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Thursdays - Family Storytime at Kinderhook Memorial Library, Kinderhook
Thursdays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Hudson
Thursdays - Wiggles & Words at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Thursdays - Adult Art Club at Super Stories, Kinderhook
Thursdays - Baby & Me at Claverack Free Library, Claverack
Thursdays - Baby and Toddler Playgroup at D.R. Evarts Library, Athens
Fridays - Tunes and Tales at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Fridays - Family Play and Hang at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Fridays - Art Focus Fridays at Kinderhook Memorial Library, Kinderhook
Fridays - Music & Movement at Claverack Free Library, Claverack
Fridays - Story Time at Catskill Public Library, Catskill
Saturdays - Hudson Farmers’ Market (indoor), Hudson
Saturdays - Art Workshop at Art Omi, Ghent
Saturdays - Bodie’s Lighthouse Lab at D.R. Evarts Library, Athens
Saturdays through April - The Saturday Morning Family Series, Rhinebeck
Sundays - Tot Time at Skate Time, Accord
Sundays - Community Group Run at Neighbor Running, Hudson
Sundays - Art Projects: Youth Painting & Drawing Classes (ages 4+) at Cone Zero, Catskill
^ = for adults
* = will likely sell out, so book soon
I spent a long weekend in Saugerties after our wedding, and I've always wanted to go back. Can't wait to visit Kym's store when I do.