Art has found a new home in downtown Peekskill. Kathleen’s Tea Room, now at 982 Main Street across from its former location, has transformed its new space into a welcoming place where food, community, and local art come together.
Come for the tea and delicious food, but stay for the art.
Owned and operated by Vivian McKenzie, Peekskill’s mayor and the restaurant’s chef, Kathleen’s Tea Room has long been a beloved downtown gathering place. Its new location continues that tradition while introducing an extensive rotating gallery that showcases local artists.
The gallery’s inaugural exhibition, which closed in August, featured the work of local landscape artist Larry D’Amico. The exhibition surrounded diners with nine vibrant large-scale landscape paintings of the Peekskill area that made a dramatic impact within the space.
“Rarely is there a gallery that can host so much of my large-scale work,” D’Amico said. “This is a treat.”
The newest exhibition, “Two Generations, One Place,” opened this month and features the work of local father-and-son artists Robert “Bob” Barthelmes and Andrew Barthelmes. Together, their work offers a unique look at Peekskill through two generations of artists who have each developed a deeply personal connection to the city and the Hudson Valley.
Although their styles are distinctly different, Bob and Andrew’s work shares a strong connection to place. Both draw inspiration from the Hudson Valley and possess a talent for capturing the character of their surroundings. Seen together, their work becomes a visual conversation between generations, a journey through two artistic lenses of the same community.
Bob Barthelmes is well known for his beloved Finktown Series, which he began painting in 1998. Inspired by his memories of Peekskill’s Finktown neighborhood during the 1940s and ’50s, the series captures the people, places, and everyday moments of the close-knit community where he grew up.
For the first time, all 33 paintings in the Finktown Series are being exhibited together, creating an extraordinary visual record of a Peekskill neighborhood and an important piece of the city’s history. Through the series, Barthelmes preserves not only Finktown’s physical character, but also its people, personality, and sense of community.
Andrew Barthelmes represents the next generation. Growing up painting throughout the Hudson Valley alongside his father, Andrew learned by watching Bob capture the places and landscapes they explored together.
Primarily a ‘plein-air’ painter, Andrew works directly from the landscape, with particular skill in capturing natural light, atmosphere, and a scene’s changing conditions. His work offers a contemporary perspective on places long part of Peekskill’s visual identity. The exhibition includes paintings of familiar local landmarks and locations, including the Peekskill Train Station, Peekskill Yacht Club, Riverwalk, and Travis Cove.
“Two Generations, One Place” also reflects the gallery’s larger vision: bringing local art into the everyday experience of downtown life. Rather than a traditional gallery setting, Kathleen’s Tea Room lets visitors experience original artwork while enjoying a meal, meeting friends, or relaxing over afternoon tea.
The gallery is open during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Fridays until 9 p.m. The exhibition changes seasonally, with the current show remaining on view through the end of the year and a new exhibition planned for January.
Kathleen’s Tea Room has been a cherished part of downtown Peekskill for many years, offering a warm, intimate setting inspired by the tradition of English afternoon tea. Known for its homemade treats, gracious hospitality, and distinctive character, the tea room has become a favorite local gathering place.
With its new location, Kathleen’s Tea Room continues that tradition while adding something new to the downtown experience: a dedicated home for local art.
The gallery is curated by Brian Fassett and Sepp Spenlinhauer, who also collaborated on the Tea Room’s interior design and custom lighting, creating a space where the artwork is thoughtfully integrated into the dining experience.
Visitors can now experience two of the Hudson Valley’s great pleasures, good food and beautiful original art, under one roof, while discovering the stories, landscapes, and memories that make Peekskill unique. At Kathleen’s Tea Room, the experience is about more than a meal or an exhibition; it is a celebration of place, creativity, and community.
