By Buffy Calvert
Wonder what that little hanging sign “HAWK and HIVE” could possibly mean? Climb the stoop to 61 Main Street and step inside. At the desk in the bay window sits a charming, brunette woman who rises to greet you with a warm, welcoming smile. She says her name is Jayne Parker and asks yours.
The walls of the room are stark white, hung with interesting artwork. On the long table you finger an attractive display of useful objects: small notebooks, pencils and big pink erasers, pretty greeting cards, scented candles and cunning matchboxes. Tucked under the table are clear, molded chairs. A small Eames rocker hugs a corner.
Venture into the Reading Room. Pluck a volume from the book shelf, pull out a chair and read to see if you want it. Read for an hour. Jayne won’t mind. On the walls you discover more art by, as Jayne puts it, “local artists and those further afield.”
Feeling adventurous? Walk boldly into the Wild Room. Bunches of dried herbs and conical hornet’s nests hang from a rustic rack overhead. The walls bristle with sturdy, well-designed garden tools. In the center of the room, a picnic table is laid with mats, napkins, cutlery, plates, bowls and cups. And—Jayne is English, after all— a couple of teakettles. On the western wall hang creations inspired by the hills of Ireland by Monica-Lisa Mills, a new Andes resident who has moved in up the street.
Shop or just browse. Jayne is happy to have you visit. She grew up in rural Sussex, England and spent 20 years as a nurse and photographer in London. When she retired, she came to the U.S. to see her brother and met Arthur Aquilato. They fell in love and married 10 years ago. Living in NYC where he works for a development firm, they longed for a place upstate and spent a year of weekends looking from the Hudson to the Catskills for their dream house. The magic of Andes enchanted them and 8 years ago they bought a light, airy cabin on Davis Hollow Road.
The pandemic made them full-timers. When they heard that 61 Main Street was available they were eager to open Hawk and Hive. Oh, what does that mean? Perhaps you have guessed: the Hawk stands for nature, wild and free. The Hive for art: creative, constructive, cooperative. Enjoy both at Hawk & Hive, Thursday and Friday 11-5, Saturday and Sunday 10-6