FRIENDS AT THE FARM
Red Metal Mailbox is a New York based theater company that creates investigative performance. Our work has been presented at The Chocolate Factory Theater, Dixon Place, P.S. 122's Homeroom, Dance Theater Workshop's 40 Forward, and Galapagos Art Space among other venues in NYC, as well as at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and the Metcalf Experimental Theater in Illinois.
PS-Karen grills a mean London Broil!
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"Here I am with Aunt Karen at Brookwood Gardens, a gloriously abandonded ruin now being revived by the local garden club. It's right off route 80, but we reached it by boat after a tour on Lake Otsego. I also enjoyed the easy access to the Glimmerglass Opera, Omegang Brewery and local museums, of which my favorite is the Fenimore Museum. I've made three trips to the Farm and I'm looking forward to my fourth!"
"We had an incredibly productive retreat at Aunt Karen's Farm. The setting is beautiful, quiet, and comfortable. It was the perfect place to focus our energy and begin development of our newest performance project, which will be presented in New York City in March, 2009. We got a lot of work done, and we had a great time!"
" On two different occasions, I have had two totally different experiences at Aunt Karen’s Farm and they have been equally rewarding. My first time there was a working session with a group of teachers and theater artists who were defining a mission statement and outlining a strategic plan for a project they were working on. The home like environment added to the success of the work. The main room at Bird House was ample to house the 15 member group; while the breakout sessions found spaces on porches, living rooms, and in the fields. During breaks the 70 acres of walking trails gave opportunity for combining hiking and collegial interaction.
A year later I returned with my wife and 10-year old daughter. This time Bird House was a comfortable haven for just us! We spent time in Cooperstown, where we explored the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Farmer’s Museum and Fenimore Art Museum. We picnicked and swam at Gilbert Lake State Park, which was very clean & refreshing, and celebrated opening day at the Morris County Fair. We were lucky enough to be at Aunt Karen’s Farm during blueberry season and our morning walk out back through the trails yielded a healthy harvest. And in the evening we lit the campfire, watched the fireflies and ended our day with the perfect s’more. "
"My entire family, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren gathered at Aunt Karen’s farm for a week to celebrate my 80th Birthday and have a family reunion. The youngest was one and I reigned as the senior. There was so much to do on the farm site and in Cooperstown that everyone was entertained the entire time. The accommodations were clean and comfortable with a comforting rustic theme. The ample family kitchen allowed us to prepare meals through out our stay. The outside deck gave views that were relaxing while providing areas for family gatherings. On my special day, when Karen’s team prepared an awesome barbeque for all of us and Kindra baked my favorite cake! It is a week we will never forget. Here’s a picture of me with Karen."
We had a lot of fun and want to come back.
Anne and I have been bringing Olivia to the farm every year since she was born. It is an integral part of our family time. The farm has been a perfect a second home for us. Not only do we enjoy being on the farm and spending time with “Aunt Karen”, but we find a range of other things to do in the area to keep us happy and busy. Gilbert Lake, just a mile down the road, is a perfect swimming hole in summer. Of course in winter there is sledding down the hayfield! 
Our Labor Day ‘08 escape from New York City to Aunt Karen’s Farm was a perfect weekend in the great outdoors. Four of us planned our adventures in the great room of the Birdhouse, perched among the trees. Along with BBQ dinner on the porch and s’mores by the fire pit, there was a little bit of something for each of us in the local area: Going for a run as the morning haze burned off the idyllic countryside, picking out organic produce at the farmer’s market in Cooperstown, seeing our favorite team’s memorabilia at the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, canoeing (from Sam Smith’s Boatyard) across Lake Otsego, having a cocktail in the rocking chairs on the porch of the century-old Otesaga Hotel, ice cream at the Farmer’s Museum, mouthwatering Brooks BBQ in Oneonta, the list goes on and on… 
We just came back from a delightful weekend at Aunt Karen's Farm and would definitely recommend it to any city dwellers looking for an unconventional rural getaway. The drive itself, passing through adorable little towns such as Roscoe and Walton, felt like an adventure, and the property was very inviting. We spent a bit of time exploring Cooperstown and many pleasant hours relaxing in front of the fire. Maybe our favorite aspect of the trip, though, was touring the grounds with Karen. It's very inspiring to come across someone who has such a clear vision of her dream project, and who has the tenacity to bring it to fruition over so many years. Karen's concern for arts and culture makes her Farm a truly unique place, which combines the seclusion of the country with the worldliness of the city.