Community Meets Luxury
Sleight Farm’s blog about building a custom home and living in Dutchess County, NY.
Spotlight on Our Neighbor: Vassar College
February 20, 2020
Sleight Farm’s community of new homes in the Hudson Valley is lucky to be able to call Vassar College its neighbor! Vassar, of course, is world-renowned as a prestigious liberal arts college with a rich history. Founded in 1861 as the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the U.S,, it eventually became one of the historic Seven Sisters elite women’s colleges. Today, Vassar is co-educational and offers undergraduate degrees in over 50 majors, and was recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 14th “best” liberal arts college in the nation.
To Sleight Farm residents and other Poughkeepsie area community members, Vassar is a terrific resource for cultural and educational experiences:
The Frances Lehmann Loeb Art Center
https://fllac.vassar.edu/
Vassar’s art museum, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, has an impressive collection of over 21,000 works chronicling the history of art from antiquity to present day. On permanent display are paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, textiles, and glass and ceramic wares, including notable Hudson River School paintings. The Art Center also hosts temporary exhibitions, poetry readings, artist talks, children’s storytimes, and more. Free and open to the public during these hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Thursday: 10am to 9pm
Sunday: 1pm to 5pm
Closed: Mondays and Easter, Thanksgiving Day, and from December 24 – January 15.
Powerhouse Theater
https://powerhouse.vassar.edu/
Every summer, Vassar becomes a hot destination for Hudson Valley theatre lovers, thanks to its collaboration with New York Stage and Film. Through this partnership, the college’s Powerhouse Theater hosts a six-week summer season of fully-produced plays, musical workshops, and readings of works-in-progress with world-class artists. A ticket to a Powerhouse performance could mean a first taste of something new from a known composer or playwright, or a sneak peek at a future hit – a little musical called “Hamilton” had an early workshop here.
Vassar Observatory
Wait, Vassar has an observatory? It sure does! The Class of 1951 Observatory on campus houses two large reflecting telescopes in separate domes, one of which is among the largest research telescopes in New York state. Every Wednesday night during the school year, the Observatory hosts Open Nights from 9pm to 11pm, where members of the public are welcome to visit. Up-to-date information about the Observatory’s schedule and weather-related closings can be found on the Vassar Observatory Facebook page or by calling (845) 437-7679 after 8:45 PM.
Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve
https://farm.vassar.edu/education/
The Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve is home to a number of organizations, including the Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns, which brings together regional environmental organizations, community groups, educators, the Vassar College community, and residents to “increase their impact and expand conservation efforts in the Hudson Valley.” The cooperative hosts guided walks and events that are free and open to the public. The preserve also features a self-guided Multisensory Nature Trail.
Vassar College Libraries
Vassar Libraries — including the beautiful gothic Main Library — are open to the public during winter and spring breaks and during the summer. Check the College Calendar for dates.
Other Events
Film festivals, dance performances, music concerts, literary readings, and other arts events open to the public can be found at Vassar’s Events Calendar.