Jeffrey Dean Morgan recently shared his love for his hometown of Rhinebeck, NY with Jimmy Fallon – who grew up in nearby Saugerties – on The Tonight Show.
JDM explained how he, his wife Hilarie Burton, and Paul Rudd – who also has a home in Rhinebeck – came to be the part owners of the local candy store, Samuel’s Sweet Shop. When the store’s original owner, Ira Gutner, passed away suddenly in 2014, many local residents worried about the fate of the beloved candy store/coffee shop. So, one night over dinner, the actors decided to buy the shop to ensure it would retain it’s small town charm.
And, that it has. Over the summer I took a day trip to Rhinebeck to check out the shop, and the town, that Jeffrey speaks of so highly. After buying a few goodies at Samuel’s, which is just as quaint as it sounds, I walked around the village, passing by the historic Beekman Arms, which JDM and Fallon also discussed in their interview.
The town was lovely on the late August day I passed through, but it sounds like Rhinebeck comes alive in December, too. On Dec. 3, the town celebrates it’s annual Sinterklaas Festival, “a day-long, colorful celebration that features children’s workshops, dance, theatre and music all over the village of Rhinebeck.” Jeffery told Jimmy Fallon he would be driving his truck in the holiday parade that takes place in the evening, the culmination of the day’s activities. Hilarie is also expected to be at Samuel’s throughout the day as the shop hosts special events for kids.
If you miss out on the Sinterklaas Festival, The Center For The Performing Arts in Rhinebeck will be hosting performances of A Christmas Carol through Dec. 18 and there will be a Winter Market in town every Sunday all month long.
Rhinebeck is located just 2 hours north of New York. Oh, and be on the look out for JDM’s Walking Dead co-star Norman Reedus if you’re in town, too!
