Gwendolyn Bounds's Blog

View of #7 Garrison's Landing, now under renovation, from train platform.
Renovations for a new restaurant and cafe are well underway at #7 Garrison’s Landing, home to the former Guinan’s Pub & Country Store, which closed its doors in 2008. A couple of weeks ago, I got a tour inside - stepping back across a threshold into a place so many lucky people once called a second home. 
The nonprofit organization leading the reconstruction has rebuilt the pub area in back (no, the floor doesn’t slant anymore but that glorious view of the Hudson River is the same) and generally kept the building’s overall architectural shape in tact. The old green phone booth still stands outside (it might become a library book trading outpost, I’m told), the stone fireplace is there (couldn’t see if the gold shamrock was still embedded on the hearth as it was covered with new windows about to be installed.)  The divide between the store and the living area is gone; the floor-plan is very open. The upper floor will have two apartments with loft spaces and views of the Hudson.
Doors are set to open likely in mid-March of 2018, I’m told, and the restaurant will be run by well-known local caterer Fresh Company - owned by Kimball Gell and Shelley Boris. Below, Shelley answers a few questions about her current plans, including an idea for a name. (Hint: think Barbra Streisand and Vandergelder ... and a very special dog for those of you who read "Little Chapel on the River").
Meantime, nonprofit Garrison’s Landing Association is seeking roughly $40,000 to complete its work renovating the building after raising $400,000 from the community. You can read an excellent history of the building here at our fine, local Highlands Current news Web site. I donated last year, and plan to give again to support bringing back to life this very special community gathering place. Tax deductible donations can be made here online.
View from the former family living area, which will be a restaurant.

Q. The space where the bar is located has the same footprint - what will you do in that area when you open?A. Well, we thought it was too small to be the bar so it will be quieter dining with a fireplace but on a quiet night folks can just drink there of course.
Q. Do you have a name yet?A. Floating “Dolly’s” - nod to Hello, Dolly! but we like the open-to-all vibe of the name for all sorts of people of all ages - a general locals place, we are hoping, with very good food, but not fancy. [Editor's note: The 1969 film Hello, Dolly! was filmed on Garrison's Landing and some of the buildings there retain architectural nods to their starring role in the movie. Some locals, including the Guinan children, had cameos.]
Q. Do you have an specifics on what kind of food/drink will be served?A. Still a work in progress - casual, seasonal, varied, changing menu with a few standards including burger and fries, hoping for good quality soft serve for in-house tasty dessert, walking around the landing and along the riverfront and in keeping with our interest in reaching guests of all ages.
Q, Will the main dining area be on the main level (where the store/living room area used to be?)A. Yes.
Q. What will you do in the basement area?A. Kitchen, second bathroom, storage and some inside seating in case of rain where folks can go if they were on the patio out front or on the lawn and/or possible for meetings/small private parties/chef table special dinners.
Q. At what hours do you plan to open/close?A. We will try early until there is interest: 6:30 am - 9 pm weekdays, later weekends depending.
Q. Will there be coffee service for morning commuters?A. To begin with, yes, and hopefully it will be doable. We want to be open early for commuters.
Q. Will there be takeout service for commuters coming off the train at night?A. Yes.
Q. Will there be a bar for people who just want to drink?A. Yes.
Q. Will there be sit-down tables? A. Yes. 
The old pub area still has the same spectacular view. (No TV up in the corner though.) 
Corner facing train platform where the red Coca-Cola cooler used to hold beer.

View from the front door into the former living room, dining room area of #7.
Tables for restaurant will be placed throughout an open floor plan.
The basement is being renovated around the old stone fireplace.
The old green phone booth might become a book trading post.
(That's Peter Hofmann, president of Garrison's Landing Association.)

#7 Garrison's Landing as seen from the river landing.

"See, some people call this place here the bar. Others just call it Guinan's. I call it my riverside chapel." -- Jim Donnery, Winter 2001

His license plate said "Irishman." So it was fitting to first meet Jim in the green-walled pub of Guinan's. It was freezing outside, but warm in there. Jim made it warmer with his big booming voice that signaled friendship from the first word, even to a stranger. It happened to be me that night, tiptoeing into the sacred after-hours world of the little chapel for the first time, but I could have been anybody. That's just the way Jim was - he was kind. To people he knew, and those he didn't.

Jim was born on Christmas Eve in 1950 in Cornwall-on-Hudson, according to his obituary. When he was small, his Mom, Dorothy, would drive him down to the river banks to watch the tankers and freighters go by. Before Guinan's was Guinan's, his father as a kid used to row his boat across the river to buy candy and soda at the store.



To say Jim was connected to Guinan's is like saying beer was served there. It was just a fundamental truth. He made it down to the pub from Syracuse where he lived as an adult roughly every six weeks, first picking up his mom to bring her along too. She sipped Michelob Light, very cold, in the corner and spoke only when she really had something to say. When she got tired, she'd go sleep in the car. In the winter, she brought a blanket. Jim always took care of her. That's the way Jim was - he was loyal. To his family, and to his friends. Friends like Frank P. Hanes III (pictured w/ Jim above) who cycled 4300 miles across the United States to raise money for prostate cancer after his pal Jim was diagnosed.

Jim is survived by his wife of 35 years, Gail, who graciously shared him with his Guinan's family. They spent his last years traveling and seizing the day. We followed their escapades on Facebook where Jim shared pictures of their journey with us all. That's just the way Jim was - he shared. Indeed, I'd guess he shared something with just about everyone he met.

Tonight and tomorrow those of us who are his Guinan's family will say an official goodbye. We will thank him in our own private ways. We will thank him for being kind, for being loyal and for sharing. I will thank him for inspiring the title of Little Chapel on the River and for welcoming one more stranger into the core of the Friday Night Parishioners.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to

My friend Andy Revkin - a Garrison, N.Y. resident, writer, educator and longtime Guinan's patron - recently released his first CD called "A Very Fine Line." It's a collection of 10 songs recorded with some contributions from extraordinary local musicians, among them Dar Williams, Art Labriola, the Motherlode Trio, Al Hemberger, Bruce Molsky, and Eric Starr, among others.

The video above is a rendition of his song about Guinan's set to photos by the uber-talented Hudson Valley photographer, Christine Ashburn. Many of the photos were shot during the "Irish Night" musical sessions that occurred every Thursday after the full moon.

Andy is a guy of many talents, and he explains his segue into the music world in this write-up here. You can find he entire CD on Amazon and download on iTunes or from Andy (just $7) here.

 On Sunday evening (Dec. 22nd), Andy is hosting a CD celebration and musical jam with many of the contributing musicians at the Dogwood Bar & Grill in Beacon, NY.

Is this the next chapter for the old Guinan's building? Here's the latest story. The proposal is a long way from reality (just take a look at the condition of the building!) but at least there are folks willing to give it a shot.

Please join me once again to support Kelly Guinan Preusser and her husband Ed Preusser as they hop on bicycles to ride from Boston to New York City in the Sept. 28th to 30th "Braking the Cycle" in honor of Kelly's late father, John Guinan .

It's a tough fundraising environment out there, and any amount will go a long way to help them reach their goal of $3500 per rider. Here's the link to donate.

I won't be able to ride with them this year, but encourage anyone who has supported me in the past to please consider supporting Ed and Kelly. It's not easy to commit to this ride year after year - and this year's proceeds will go to support Housing Works, a community for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Thanks to everyone who continues to honor John with their gifts and support.

Dorothy M. Donnery - mother of Jim Donnery who christened Guinan's "Little Chapel" - died April 2, 2012.
The night I first met Dorothy solidified my commitment to writing a book about Guinan's. She was as eclectic and smart and compelling a character as I've ever met. She loved the Hudson River - loved watching the tankers and the freighters go by. She worked along its shores at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point for 39 years. When Jim returned home to visit Guinan's on Friday nights, she'd always have a sandwich and vanilla milk shake ready for him. At Guinan's she'd sip the occasional Michelob Light, though gin and champagne were her drinks of choice. If she grew tired of the barroom banter, she'd slip out to the car where she kept a blanket and sleep.
Dorothy suffered no fools; her smile was contagious.
The family has asked that memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Photo courtesy Jim Donnery.

We lost one of our parishioners, John J. "Jack" McAndrew - a founder of "Irish Night" at Guinan's - after his fight with lymphoma. He was 72.
Jack is featured in the chapter "The Rising of the Moon" in Little Chapel on the River and at other points in the book. He was a friend to many in Guinan's green walls, and a teacher to those new to Irish music. Without fail, he'd play your favorite song without being asked. For me, that was The Wild Rover. With a nod, and wink, he would always launch in just as my hands were wrapping around the first cold Coors Light. I'll remember his smile and generosity as it swelled out from the dark room, dancing on the music that carried his spirit throughout the bar and beyond.
You can read Jack's "My Reflections as Session Leader" essay about his time at Guinan's.
Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.lls.org
Photo courtesy Christine Ashburn.

Long live the Chapel! A group of parishioners -- including family members Margaret Guinan, Kelly Guinan, Mary Jane Guinan & Ed Preusser -- gathered at the Chapel to celebrate the High Holy Day. Building might be shut, but you can't keep the community away. Everyone is very excited about the upcoming renovation and reopening.
Helping organize the event was Jay Vitale, a friend of the late John Guinan, who in honor of John has started a very cool charity called "Guinan's Aurora" where he collects used bicycles bound for the landfill and partners with local bike shops to help refurbish and distribute them to under privileged children or children in remission from life-threatening illnesses.
He's done incredible things so far. You can connect with Jay atwww.guinansaurora.org or on here on Facebook. Address below:
P.O. Box 208Garrison NY 10524845.424.6078

It looks like the old Guinan's building may be turned into a gathering spot for the public once again. Local Garrison residents Chris and Sharon Davis are pursuing permits to lease the building and turn it into a commuter retail store and restaurant, according to Chip Allemann, the general manager for two local establishments already owned by the Davis family: The Garrison and Highlands Country Club.
Chris Davis runs N.Y.-based investment fund and he and his wife Sharon are active in many facets of Philipstown's environmental and historical preservation.
Assuming all goes according to plan, Allemann, who would also help oversee this new venture, says they intend to open operations in the second quarter of 2013 after renovations are completed. There would be a commuter retail store open daily from early in the morning and a bar with light fare also open daily starting around midday.
The current Tavern restaurant located at the Highlands Country Club would be moved to the Guinan's building and serve a dinner menu Wednesday through Sunday, Allemann says. The Highlands Country Club facility on Route 9-D would continue to host weddings.
Chris Davis is mentioned in the chapter "Mornings" in Little Chapel on the River in a scene where John Guinan introduces me to commuters, dividing them into those who are in his opinion "good guys," and those who are not. (Chris made the cut.)
It looks to be a welcome turn of events for what has been a long running saga over what would become of this special, historic building - which until recently, was to become office space. There's no replacing Guinan's, but at least there's a chance for a heartbeat to return to the spot, which has been standing empty, decaying, since 2008. And better yet - for the resuscitation to take place under the hands of one of John's "good guys."

Please join me in supporting Kelly Guinan Preusser and her husband Ed Preusser as they make their way on bicycles from Boston to New York on Sept. 16-18 as part of "Braking the Cycle" in honor of Kelly's late father, John Guinan.

Any $$ amount will help them raise their ambitious goal. Time is running short! Here is the link to donate.

Many of you have supported this endeavor in the past by donating to me, or to other members of Team Guinan. I cannot ride this year, but hope that everyone who can give, will put their support toward Ed & Kelly's goal. This ride was extremely important to John and to his wife Mary Jane.

Thanks to all who have and continue to honor John with their generous gifts.