The bounty of the Hudson Valley is no secret. After all, heavenly fresh produce, endless sources of outdoor fun, and incredible landscapes help give the valley its reputation. But two other cultural ingredients—music and food—also shape our identity here in the Hudson Valley. Prominent musicians like Levon Helm and Bob Dylan lived here once upon a time, and, if not for Pete Seeger, we probably wouldn’t be enjoying the Hudson River quite so much today. And with one of the world’s premiere culinary colleges in our own backyard, it’s no wonder enjoying a nice meal out has become a staple of our daily lives. Now, mix these two elements together, and we have something very special. Luckily there are countless places to enjoy both.
Smaller Venues
In vibrant uptown Kingston, Diego’s Taqueria is just perfect for a handcrafted beer, fresh Mexican food (try the chili and lime street corn!), and some live tunes. Lydia’s in Stone Ridge offers the perfect blend of home-cooked meals and live jazz on alternate Saturdays. At Rock and Rye, just a stone’s throw from historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, mix live music on the weekends with its incredible wine, beer, and cocktail selection in this 1750s tavern. Bacchus, a staple restaurant and beer haven in New Paltz, usually has weekend performances too, and sometimes you can catch one during the week. They have tasty specials every night, so don’t just stick to the set menu. Every now and then the 1850 House in Rosendale brings in some live talent, and their new garden deck
situated on the banks of the Rondout Creek makes for an awesome place to just hang out. The sumptuous food at the Country Inn—whether going for one of their fine Italian dishes or a more casual Neapolitan pizza—lures folks back again and again, and their live music shows make for the quintessential country evening. If in the Rondout Valley, check out the High Falls Café if you want to hear music during the week or on the weekend. There you can find a more intimate setting with great specials on food and a view of the Stone Dock Golf course. Call ahead or check the websites of these cozy venues before heading out.
Larger Venues
You can catch an exceptional show while you dine at The Falcon. Sit inside or on their deck overlooking Marlboro Falls—both options are beautiful. Renovated from an old button factory, this venue offers a powerful warm ambiance with high ceilings and dark wood with velvet curtains. The Falcon also showcases a rotating display of featured artists along the walls every three months. They usually have a show going on more nights than not, but again, always check beforehand. Other places like Hudson’s very sleek industrial Club Helsinki has a full calendar of live acts and the perfect event space to hear them in. Beacon’s 1972 landmark, The Towne Crier, combines farm-fresh food with live music Wednesday through Sunday. Also in the In the heart of Beacon, Quinn’s is a really fun place to enjoy an array of live music, and at the same time you can dine on some really incredible Japanese food in a vintage diner setting. It’s open late and shouldn’t be missed. Back Stage Productions (BSP), renovated from an old vaudeville and movie house, is home to performers, artists, and musicians of all genres—you never know what you might find. Food is not offered here, but a few doors down is Kingston Candy Bar. More than just candy, here you can find an incredible collection of sweets and some late-night savories.
Theatres
The Bearsville Theater is the brainchild of Albert Grossman, the music industry visionary and magnate whose clients included musicians like Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Band, and Todd Rundgren. After years of planning and building, Albert’s wife, Sally Grossman, opened the theater in 1989. They always have a very impressive lineup of all genres; just check the calendar on their site. There’s no food available in the theatre, but just next door their sister restaurants are serving up good eats; you can even enjoy eating around the bonfire if you so choose.
How about switching it up with a movie or a play? Shadowland Theatre in Ellenville is a beautiful professional theatre with an ever-changing schedule of performances. They always have the full lineup on their site. Take a stroll afterward to Publik House or Aroma Thyme for dinner or just a drink. Publik House also offers live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Then there’s Rosendale Theatre—a 300-seat movie theatre offering movies ranging from indie documentaries to current blockbusters. The theatre even hosts music, live performances, and special screenings. Rosendale is overloaded with amazing eateries; the hardest part will be picking one.
Amphitheaters
If you’re looking for something big, you can’t go wrong with Bethel Woods, where that little festival known as Woodstock really took place. This gorgeous
amphitheater has both lawn and pavilion options, and there’s a good chance one of your favorites will be on the lineup sooner or later. Tons of scrumptious food options for most dietary requirements are available all around the site too.
If you haven’t enjoyed some live entertainment lately, now you have no excuse. It’s a great way to refresh mid-week or let loose on the weekend. We are so fortunate to be part of such a sublime, talented community. Take advantage of it. Eat, dance, and be merry!
FOR REFERENCE
1850 House, Rosendale, the1850house.com, 845-658-7800
Aroma Thyme Bistro, Ellenville, aromathymebistro.com, 845-647-3000
Bacchus, New Paltz, bacchusnewpaltz.com, 845-255-8636
Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, bearsvilletheater.com, 845-679-4406
Bethel Woods, Bethel, bethelwoodscenter.org, 866-781-2922
BSP, Kingston, bspkingston.com, 845-481-5158
Club Helsinki, Hudson, helsinkihudson.com, 518-828-4800
Country Inn, Krumville, krumville.com, 845-657-8956
Diego’s Taqueria, Kingston, diegoskingston.com, 845-338-2816
The Falcon, Marlboro, liveatthefalcon.com, 845-236-7970
High Falls Café, High Falls, highfallscafe.com, 845-687-2699
Kingston Candy Bar, Kingston, kingstoncandybar.com, 845-901-0341
Lydia’s Country Deli, Stone Ridge, lydiasdeli.com, 845-687-6373
Publik House, Ellenville, thepublikhouseny.com, 845-210-4052
Quinn’s, Beacon, facebook.com/QuinnsBeacon, 845-202-7447
Rock and Rye, New Paltz, rockandrye.com, 845-255-7888
Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale, rosendaletheatre.org, 845-658-8989
Shadowland Theatre, Ellenville, shadowlandtheatre.org, 845-647-5511
Town Crier Cafe, Beacon, townecrier.com, 845-855-1300
