Halloween dinners, Halloween doggos, and Día de los Muertos Pupusas

Has anyone seen this article making the rounds on social media? In it, a (presumable) Brooklyn resident lectures Hudson Valley residents on how badly we are failing to be the Brooklyn dining scene and therefore failing to cater to Brooklyn weekenders. Our inability to compete with the many Michelin stars of New York City proves our entire region is sadly lacking in taste, ability, and economic sense.

In short: We should bow down in thanks to the tourists who come up here once a year to throw money at our sad simulacra of restaurants.

While I hate this article’s shitty tone and complete lack of context, he is not the first person to say that real estate agents and hotel groups have been trying to market the Hudson Valley as Brooklyn North for years. Two of the OG upstate influencer/blogger/creator/whatevers were literally Escape Brooklyn and And North. Both are - of course - monetizing through real estate listings now.

We also can’t deny the economic reality: Roughly 75% more people have moved to the Hudson Valley than have left since 2020, and a lot of them are from the boroughs. Plus, about half of restaurant revenue comes from non-residents.

Unfortunately, lot of people did and do come up here wanting it to look exactly like what they have at home.

But this like complaining that Mexico City didn't meet standards set by the EPCOT Mexico pavilion, if you ask me.

Inappropriate expectations are a them problem. The real problem is that so many businesses' survival is dependent on a small amount of people over a short period of time. At the tail end of peeper season we can see how the crush of tourists overwhelms businesses, burns out staff, and leads to suboptimal experiences that can burn the reputation of places we know are wonderful.

Lucky for us, we can avoid that chaos. Local businesses don’t need us to be one of 1,000 families fighting for a pumpkin on an October Sunday afternoon. And we don’t need them to have a Michelin star to know the food is good. We need each other on drizzly Thursday evenings in February when the standard to meet is “I like it here.”

Speaking of supporting local venues: Unicorn Bar, the only dedicated LGBTQIA+ bar in the Hudson Valley is asking for help keeping its doors open. Since May 2024 it has hosted 745 events and about 15,000 patrons, and costs keep climbing. Come for a drink, bring a date to the lounge, or catch a show, because the next two months are critical.

Speaking of OG Hudson Valley influencers: Suarez Family Brewery is not closing! Dan and Tay are changing the model instead: it runs as usual until Sunday, Nov 22, 2026, then shifts to a scaled-back 2027 with three two-week taproom pops in spring, summer and fall, plus mail orders and wholesale. Exact 2027 dates are coming, and the full story is in their newsletter.

Scribner's Catskill Lodge in Hunter is looking for vendors for its Holiday Market, Dec 12 and 13, 10am to 4pm. Check the vendor call for how to apply.

Ellenville has grant deadlines coming up. The Small Project Fund closes Wednesday, Oct 28, and the Open Call for Projects closes Wednesday, Nov 4. The village's NY Forward award is $4.5 million for an eight-month planning process. Details are at Ellenville NY Forward.

Dirt Dance Farm is planting 600 feet or more of garlic for 2027, mostly from its own seed, and wants volunteers from 12 to 3pm at 160 Esopus Ave. You get food, a farm tour and free produce to take home (RSVP preferred, not required).

Thursday, October 29

Halloween Cover Nights at Tubby's in Kingston: Three nights of bands playing as other bands. This is the annual Tubby's costume-and-covers marathon, so dress for it.

Sugar's Witches Night Out After Party at Sugar's in Warwick: Specialty potions, spinning coven classics, and a bubbling cauldron at 32 Main Street. Enter on Bank. The flyer doesn't list a start time.

Friday, October 30

Día de los Muertos Pupusa Making Workshop at The Spark of Hudson in Hudson: 5:30 to 7:30pm, $20, reservations required. Casa Latina Hudson walks you through making pupusas while partners from the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement share the history behind Día de los Muertos.

Pathos Trio Concert at WildHeart in Wallkill: The trio closes out its WildHeart residency at 7pm with guests Katie Miller, Katherine Fortunato and Peter White. Free and all ages.

Westerly Canteen Final Weekend in Stanfordville: Two last nights of supper on the porch, Friday and Saturday, 5 to 8:30pm. Costumes welcome, and there's indoor seating if it gets chilly.

The 4th Annual Kerhonkson Halloween Pet Parade & Costume Contest is once again fundraising for the Ulster County SPCA. The contest is HIGHLY competitive and I know some folks (AHEM) have been working on their costumes since May. If your pet loves getting dressed up, if you love seeing pets dressed up, or you want to dress up like a pet, don’t miss it.

Spooky Sweat: Public Sauna + Pumpkin Carving at Big Towel in Germantown: Sweat, carve a pumpkin on the deck between rounds, then light it up as dusk sets in (4 and 6pm sessions). Pumpkins come from Whistledown Farm, donations go to Arduna, a collective of Gazan farmers, and yes, you need a towel.

Saturday, October 31

Satanique: Hudson Halloween Disco at Return Brewing in Hudson: DJ Michael V and MLE soundtrack a queer, divergent, blasphemous Halloween dance party, 8pm to midnight. $10 advance, $20 at the door.

Shadows and Spirits: A Hex and Harvest Supper Club at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park: A four-course Hudson Valley harvest dinner with wine, spirits and immersive folklore. 6:30pm, booking is open.

Pomona's Gifts: Rose Hill Farm in Red Hook: A traveling apple exhibit with over 200 Hudson Valley varieties, 9am to 3pm. No bobbing that I’m aware of.

Upward Brewing's 7th Anniversary Halloween Party in Livingston Manor: Pumpkin carving, a costume party, spooky drinks, lots of candy, and a special anniversary beer. 4 to 9pm.

Shorties Halloween Party in New Paltz: Don’t let the end of the parade be the end of the party. DJ Skeeter, costumes, cocktails, and hot dogs, 7 to 10pm.

Pastries: Kimchi Harvest x Wild-Flour Bakehouse at San Mul in Fleischmanns: Kimchi Harvest and Wild-Flour Bakehouse team up for a pastry pop-up at the San Mul storefront on Main Street, 11am to 2pm. The poster shows a croissant and a moka pot, so show up hungry.

Spooky Sweat: Public Sauna + Pumpkin Carving (Kingston) at Big Towel in Kingston: Round two of the Halloween sauna carving party, this time in Kingston (4 and 6pm sessions). Same deal: carve a pumpkin on the deck between rounds, donations go to Arduna, a collective of Gazan farmers, costumes welcome, towels required.

Halloween Night at Rūna in New Paltz: Post-parade Halloween at Rūna: live music, drink specials and street food nibbles, 6:30 to 8:30pm. Best costume wins a $50 gift card.

Sunday, November 1

All You Singing Piano Players at Lucky Dog Listening Room in Beacon: Jeremy Schonfeld leads a free open mic for people who sing from the piano bench, 4 to 7. Take a turn at the keys or just come listen.

Your Sister's Closet: Free Clothing Swap at Beacon Farmers Market: Dig through the donated pile, 10am to 2pm. Take home one item for every item you bring, or give to Planned Parenthood.

Artist Toolbox Series: Show Your Work! at Garrison Art Center: Stephen Mallon opens the practical artist series with how the gallery and museum hierarchy works and who to call. Bring copies of your slides or website.

Wattles' Legacy: Music Trivia and BINGO for Broome Animal Sanctuary at The G Spot in Cairo: Music trivia and BINGO at The G Spot, with all proceeds going to Broome Animal Sanctuary in memory of the animals it has saved. Games and prizes run 2 to 4pm (open 1 to 5pm), and you can donate on the sanctuary's page if you can't make it.

Get Out the Vote Hudson Valley Rally at Bardavon in Poughkeepsie: Pat Ryan hosts a rally two days before Election Day with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Lisa Kaul, Michelle Hinchey and Sarahana Shrestha, plus music from the Felice Brothers and Natalie Merchant. Doors at 5, rally at 6pm, sign up at the link in his bio.

Tuesday, November 3

Queer Soup Night at Haema in Hudson: 5:30 to 8pm at 538 Warren Street. Pay what you can ($5 to $20 suggested, no one turned away). Supporting Choy Commons, a nonhierarchical cooperative of Asian-led farms engaging our communities in building food sovereignty for the Northeast.

Our intrepid music reporter is in Los Angeles this week. Prepare for his triumphant return next week!

Buy the round for the kitchen on a slow night. Maybe make a new friend.