A spite-driven guide to Hudson Valley vintage & our first ticket giveaway!

Hi Friends,

Yes, its hard to make friends as an adult. But turns out it’s pretty easy to start a coven??

The Ultimate Thrift Shop - a bold but accurate name - in Rhinebeck hosted a cozy little knitwear mending workshop on Sunday. It was six strangers (to me, the only one who showed up solo) circled around a table with sewing notions piled in the center, trying on each other’s reading glasses and talking shit. Chit chat about real estate (because always) and kids meandered into discussion of our side hustles, broken hearts, business bumps and, of course, everything that pisses us off. Especially the people who piss us off. There might have been some talk of our hopes and plans for the midterms.

A couple ladies hanging out, doing necessary work, and imagining the future together? Some might call it manifesting. Calling into existence. Or hexing. Whatever.

Bent over my holiest of vintage scores, a $500 sweater I got for $18 because it literally had holes in it, I considered the distance between communal work, community, and collective action. That distance can be the width of a table.

Afterwards I picked up a new novel from Oblong Books and plopped myself down for a solo dinner of caviar and potatoes at Pretty to Think So, where a question about whiskey turned into an additional hour of nerding out with the bartender. (Shoutout Keshonn.) Thus I was fueled for Freakout Spot’s first anniversary at Tubby’s. Carnivorous Bells got me and the old heads reminiscing about illegal basement shows back in Jersey in the ‘90’s. Behind the bar at Eliza, I ran into an old friend who was running an illegal basement bar back in the city in the aughts. (Shoutout Ben.)

All of which is to say: The tables are small and they are abundant. Below are some suggestions for where to find yours.

If we did manifest anything at the mending circle, one of them was spot-on hex worthy. The Wall Street Journal magazine teased an article about stylists deliberately ruining brand new clothes to make them “seem loved.” It was so magnificently irritating it warranted both an Instagram rant and a whole newsletter segment for my response.

Because the best revenge is living well, here is a rundown of my favorite shops in the Hudson Valley offering items from pristine pre-loved to beautifully broken in, and just plain cheap.

Fool for Love | High Falls
A warmly curated boutique from owners Sam and Amanda offering vintage clothing, antiques, and new goods on Route 213 in the heart of High Falls, center of the universe. Visit after putting your name down at Ollie’s.

Clubhouse Vintage | Rosendale
A family-owned Main Street shop specializing in inclusive, old-school Americana vintage for all ages, bodies, and sizes. A dream for the vintage denim collector who wants the digging done for them.

Soiled Doves | Rosendale
Just last week, this beloved curiosity shop of "finely curated junk" — vintage clothing, dishware, jewelry, and tchotchkes - has been taken over by Miss Kerhampton herself, whose energy and keen eye is bound to make this a vintage collectors destination.

Ultimate Thrift Shop | Rhinebeck
Fashion industry veteran Lisa Metcalfe brings a curated, boutique-style approach to designer resale — think Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs at a fraction of retail, in a welcoming Route 9 storefront.

Vintage Beacon | Beacon
Stylist-owner Angela Hastings meticulously edits this consignment boutique for mint-condition womenswear from Chanel to J.Crew. I’ve never left empty handed.

Bashakill Bazaar | Wurtsboro
A two-floor, multi-vendor vintage market in a charming Sullivan Street storefront, where 25+ vendors offer everything from depression glass and collectable cameras to the grooviest of attire and vinyl from curation power couple Canapé Vintage and Rust Records.

Thrift2Fight | Tivoli
Co-founders Masha Zabara and Jillian Reed built this beloved Broadway storefront around a mission: secondhand finds that fund racial justice, disability rights, and queer liberation organizations that change monthly.

Free to Thrift | Kingston
Owner Christina Kravig's community-first shop in Midtown Kingston operates on a "sharecycling" model — prices drop every 6-8 days until items are free. Last week I saw an Inness cap there for $2.

Capital Vintage | Kingston
An upscale vintage boutique in Kingston's Stockade District offering midcentury clothing, furniture, art, and housewares plus adorable accessories.

Red Owl Collective | Kingston
This 10,000-square-foot Midtown Arts District warehouse brings together 50+ vendors for a sprawling mix of mid-century modern furniture, vintage clothing, rare vinyl, and one-of-a-kind objects — and it's the Chronogrammies' reigning Best Antique Store. Yours truly will be hawking her designer wares at the Red Owl Flea this spring!

On Now

Maison Apres is offering 30% off storewide now through Sunday, March 1

Thursday

The Brandy Table: A Regional Dinner Series is featuring Alsace this month. Enjoy raclette (probably) and views of the Hudson River that will make you want to take up painting.

Pasta Party No. 1 with Promises Kept at Paul Brady Wines in Beacon. Oreganata! Stracciatella! Orecchiette! 🤌 🤌 🤌

Speed friending with Thrift2Fight (see above!) at Little Loaf Bakeshop in New Paltz. Don’t know what to wear? Visit their pop up vintage shop first!

Friday

Stumble Out Bar in Livingston Manor is hosting a very FLINTA-friendly dance party with DJ Tikka Masla
Saturday

A “rowdy” screening of Wuthering Heights at Upstate Films in Kington. Discounted drinks!

Saturday

Funk, soul, disco and house from DJ Flared Bass at Unicorn Bar in Kingston. Clothing swap for performers and the casually dramatic from 8-10. Get you some sequins.

Sunday

Learn to play Mah Jongg at One With Land, the finest restaurant in Pine Bush. No, it’s actually incredible and they’ll have bagels and mimosas!

Rice dinner and climate resilience seminar at Eliza with farmer Jon of Home Farm. Proceeds for both the seminar and the 3 course dinner go directly to Jon for research on Hudson Valley climate resiliency in farming.

Tuesday

Crust and Magic is back with excessively enthusiastic bingo at Shorties! “Wait, is Shorties a gay bar?” You decide!

COCHEMEA @ TUBBYS

Sharon Jones. Amy Winehouse. Run the Jewels. Kevin Morby. Mark Ronson. Jon Batiste. Did you know that their saxophonist is your neighbor? Cochemea hits Tubby’s to celebrate the release of his latest album, Vol. III: Ancestros Futuros this Friday. It’s reductive to describe this as horn-laden indigenous psych drum funk but we’ve got a character limit to meet.

To be entered just go to our Instagram and just tag your favorite Hudson Valley business in this post!

Cheers,
Amy