New Event Venue Debuts with Fundraiser Supporting Rockland Food Pantry

Risa Hoag, president of GMG Public Relations, recently collaborated with Andrew Michaels, owner and chef of the new RH241, to host the venue’s grand opening. The event also served as a fundraiser for Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland’s food pantry. The new RH241 event venue is located at 241 South Little Tor Road in New City, formerly home to Red Hill Café.

Michaels took over the site in 2020 with the intention of turning it into an event space. With the onset of the pandemic, he turned the ice cream window into
The Window and began offering some of the favorites from the old café in addition to many new items for patrons to pick up. The Window quickly became a huge success and Michaels took the opportunity to renovate the interior of the building during the shutdown.

The renovation included removing walls, adding a large photo of the original site as Cropsey Farm’s produce stand, adding two large bathrooms, as well and installing a living “moss wall” representing the Farm to Family dining concept.

“This has been a dream of mine for several years and the pandemic gave me the opportunity to turn the space into a comfortable yet elegant event venue. We’ve already booked several bridal showers and birthday celebrations,” states Michaels, who adds that the space can also be used for business meetings, wedding showers, and rehearsal dinners. The interior space accommodates 70 – 85 people for a sit-down event while the outside, including hosting events in the Red Hill Nursery greenhouses and gardens, can be used for a full service party of any size.

Michaels, who is also the head chef, will work with event hosts to create a menu that suits their taste and their budget. Sean O’Connell, the RH241 pastry chef, formerly with Danny Meyer at Union Square Hospitality, crafts all the desserts including one of the signature items, a delectable and colorful rainbow macaron, a delicate meringue-based cookie with a crisp outside and moist buttercream raspberry filling. RH241 will also offer special events including wine tastings, jazz concerts, Pilates on the farm, and more.

The grand opening event was attended by 65 of Hoag’s colleagues as well as friends of Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland (CCCSR). 100% of the event registration fee was donated to CCCSR and a total of $1,660 was raised.

“This was a win/win! Andrew gave me a terrific opportunity to host one of the first in-person events since COVID and I jumped on it. And I love being able to combine efforts whenever possible and so it seemed like a perfect tie-in to raise money for the CCCSR Food Pantry which also has a garden and greenhouse on its property in Haverstraw,” stated Hoag.

“We are so grateful for the support of both Andrew and Risa. In addition to the funds raised, this event brought greater awareness of the important services we provide to so many individuals and families in Rockland. Over the past 25 years we have “provided help and created hope” for tens of thousands of Rocklanders,” stated Daniel Eudene, Executive Director of CCCSR.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was also attended by NYS Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski who helped CCCSR get funding for their garden irrigation system and greenhouse, Rockland County Clerk Donna Silberman, Owen Voutsinas-Klose from NYS Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick’s office, and Jeff Gillies, Economic Development Coordinator for the Town of Clarkstown.

For more information about RH241 visit https://rheventspace.com. For more information about CCCSR, visit www.ccsrockland.org and for more information about GMG Public Relations visit www.gmgpr.com

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