THE HUDSON VALLEY HIT LIST · MONDAY EDITION
☀️ Good Morning Hudson Valley
Happy Monday!
In today’s issue:
We visited Hot Stuff Coffee Shop in Fishkill
5 restaurants we have our eyes on
15 things to do this week, 5 in every region
Tell us your favorite local spot
Let’s get into it.
DISH & TELL
We Visited Hot Stuff Coffee Shop
The Gone Bananas at Hot Stuff Coffee Shop, Fishkill
📍 Fishkill · Coffee Shop · $
Last month Hot Stuff was on our radar. This week we finally went, and it’s woman-owned, which you feel the second you walk in. Steph and Amy spent 15 years as graphic designers, they’re both moms, and in December 2024 they opened this shop on Church Street in the Village of Fishkill. The inside is bright, colorful, a little funky and really damn cool.
It’s also one of the most welcoming rooms in Dutchess. There’s no Wi-Fi, on purpose, so people put their phones down, talk and stay awhile. Regulars become friends here, and the owners call it the living room of their community. That’s exactly how it feels.
We ordered the Gone Bananas, and it’s unlike any coffee we’ve had in Dutchess County yet. Fair warning: their featured drinks rotate, so it may be gone by the time you go. That’s part of the fun. We’re heading back for the Apple Bottom Dreams before it rotates out.
Order this: Whatever’s featured on the board · 8 Church St, Fishkill · Order ahead online →
ON THE RADAR
5 Restaurants We Have Our Eyes On
Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash
Cold Spring Social · Cold Spring: A new cocktail bar and hot dog spot on Main Street (in the old Barber and Brew), with $5–$7 dogs like the Carolina with pimiento cheese and the Greek with feta and tzatziki. @coldspringsocial
Aster Bar & Restaurant · Kingston: Just opened Oct 29 in the old Cordts Mansion at Hutton Brickyards, a French steakhouse with Italian and Asian touches: duck confit, braised short rib and a lounge prime burger. @huttonbrickyards
KorPot · Poughkeepsie: Korean only (don’t look for sushi) from husband-and-wife team Kwang and Ji Kim, cooking from his mom’s and grandmother’s recipes. We have our eye on the sweet chili Korean fried chicken, the seafood scallion pancake and hotteok for dessert. @korpot.ny
Ellie · Hudson: Wood-fired Eastern Mediterranean on Warren Street in the former Oak Pizzeria space. We have our eye on the half chicken with chamomile honey and the lahmacun. @ellie.mezze
Loba · Tannersville: A new Catskills spot pairing mezze with handmade pasta, think a three-dip platter with warm flatbread and bucatini alla Lobster Newburg. lobacatskills.com
Been to one of these? Hit reply and tell us if it’s worth the trip.
EVENTS
15 Things to Do in the Hudson Valley This Week
Photo by Anne Preble on Unsplash
🥕 Farmers Market · 🍔 Food Festival · 🎪 Festival · 🎵 Music · 👨👩👧 Kid Friendly
Lower Hudson Valley
Westchester · Rockland · Putnam
🎵 Dweezil Zappa: DZ20: Wed 8pm · Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown. Frank Zappa's son marks 20 years of playing his dad's music live on the "Like Father, Like Son" tour. Guitar nerds, this one's for you. Details →
🥕 Nyack Farmers Market: Thu from 8am · Main Street municipal lot, Nyack. Nyack's four-season market with local farms, bakers and prepared-food vendors, a perfect midweek stock-up. Free. Details →
🎪👨👩👧 The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze: Final Weekend: Fri–Sun evenings · Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson. Last chance to walk through thousands of hand-carved, glowing pumpkins before it closes Nov 8. Timed tickets from $24; 2 and under free. Details →
👨👩👧 Bear Mountain Ice Rink Opening Day: Sat from 10am · Bear Mountain Ice Rink, Bear Mountain. Outdoor skating season kicks off with mountain views and rentals on site. Weather-dependent, and parking is tight with construction, so check bearmountainicerink.org before you go. Details →
🎵👨👩👧 Black Violin: The Be Free Tour: Sat 7:30pm · The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, Purchase. Two classically trained string players mash up violin and viola with hip-hop in a high-energy show that's great for families. Details →
Mid-Hudson Valley
Dutchess · Orange · Ulster
🎵 Vieux Farka Touré: Wed 8pm (doors 7pm) · Assembly, Kingston. The Malian guitar great plays a benefit for the Ali Farka Touré Foundation, named for his legendary father. A rare midweek must-see. Details →
🎵 Hiss Golden Messenger: Thu 8pm · Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. M.C. Taylor's soulful folk-rock band brings its warm, groove-heavy songs to one of the valley's best rooms. $37.85–$58.15. Details →
🎪🎵👨👩👧 Beacon Bonfire Music & Art Festival: Sat 1–5pm · The KuBe, Beacon. Free and all ages: live bands, a campfire singalong, a drum circle, a synthesizer "petting zoo," hands-on ceramics, food trucks, fire pits and free s'mores. Details →
🍔 Harvest Wine Festival: Sun noon–6pm · City Winery Hudson Valley, Montgomery. An eight-wine tasting with a seasonal bite, a winery tour and a full glass for $55; alcohol-free admission $15; kids 12 and under free. Details →
👨👩👧 Hudson Valley Train Show: Sun 10am–3pm · MJN Convention Center, Poughkeepsie. The 55th annual show: 100+ vendor tables, running and hands-on model train layouts and character photo ops. $8 adults, $4 ages 6–12, under 6 free (cash only). Details →
Upper Hudson Valley
Columbia · Greene · Sullivan
🎵 Melissa Auf der Maur in Conversation with Michael Lindsay-Hogg: Thu 6pm · Hudson Hall, Hudson. The bassist of Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins sits down with the director of the Beatles' Let It Be to talk about two defining eras of rock. $10. Details →
🎭 Darlin' (World Premiere): Thu–Sat 7pm, Sun 2pm · Bridge Street Theatre, Catskill. A brand-new play about the funny, painful bonds between mothers and daughters, and the family secrets that shape them. $25–$30. Details →
🎪 Catskill First Friday Fall Festival: Fri 5–8pm · Main Street, Catskill. The village celebrates its newly revitalized Main Street with a 5:30pm ribbon cutting, late shop hours, pop-ups, bites and live music. Free. Details →
🍔🎵 Sausage Fest: Sat 1–9pm · Vosburgh Brewing Company, Elizaville. The 5th annual celebration of sausage and beer: local-farm sausages (plus a plant-based one), kids' food, 10 taps, and bagpipes and Irish music 2:30–6:30pm. Details →
🥕 Hudson Farmers Market: Sat from 9am · 6th & Columbia Streets, Hudson. Produce, baked goods, meat, eggs, cheese, flowers, wine and cider from Columbia County growers. Free to browse. Details →
Hosting something? Submit your event →
HUDSON VALLEY YOU
Recommend One of Your Local Favorites
Gif by Waveygifs on Giphy
Got a spot we need to try? Hit reply and tell us:
The restaurant name and town
What we have to order
Why it’s your go-to
We read every reply, and your pick might be the next Dish & Tell.
Know someone who’s always asking “what should we do this week?” Send them your personal link. Every friend who subscribes gets you closer to a reward.
See you Thursday for the Weekend Edition,
HV Local