Skate with a rollergirl!

Roller derby newbies are invited to an open practice with the Hudson Valley Horrors tonight at 7 at Hyde Park Roller Magic on Route 9. No experience is necessary, but a tough attitude and extreme work ethic are required.

On Saturday, the public is invited to Skate with Rollergirls Night at 7:30 p.m.

Besides saucy women 18+, the roller derby league is also looking for referees, security, volunteers, sponsors, medics and "jeerleaders."

I think a jeerleader is just my speed.

Bring Your Own Beer (or Wine) in Potown

Anyone who has traveled to Montreal knows it has an amazing selection of
“bring your own wine” restaurants. This allows you to choose the perfect bottle while saving a ton of money on your restaurant tab.

So when I passed by this sign (above) at 50 Raymond Ave. in Poughkeepsie, I was positively giddy.

Kismat Indian Restaurant, a stone's throw from Vassar College, has all the favorites (chiken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, palak paneer) as well as a $6.95 lunch buffet and an $8.95 dinner buffet. BYOB or BYOW is encouraged.

These stores have knowledgeable staff who will help you pick out the perfect
wine to pair with ethnic cuisine:
Artisan Wine Shop, 180 Main St., Beacon, 845-440-6923
Viscount Wines & Liquor, 1173 Route 9, Wappingers Falls, 845-298-0555

Share your favorite BYOB or BYOW restaurants in the mid-Hudson Valley with
me at kmurray@poughkeepsiejournal.com or comment below.

Dance dance revolution (in the valley)

Club denizens, rejoice! Salvation is here in the form of Clubhouse, a new roving party "for lovers of good groovy music with soul, substance, beats and hot, well mixed tracks that move you."

Resident turntablists are Lemar Soulflower and Anthony Molina.

The Bearsville Theater, which is the host of the first Clubhouse, is probably better known for hosting jam bands (cringe) and singer-songwriters (yawn) than underground dance deejays or garage and punk bands.

But I have noticed a recent diversification of the nightspot’s calendar. The Bearsville in February hosted The Mooney Suzuki and Blueberry.

The party starts April 20. Other confirmed dates are May 4 at Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston, May 25, June 15, July 20, Aug. 10 and 31, Sept. 28 and Oct. 19.

Dust off your dancing shoes.

Know of any other cool parties? Write me at kmurray@poughkeepsiejournal.com or comment below.

Retro threads in New Paltz, Millbrook

I used to love scouring the racks at Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn for cool vintage threads at cheap prices. But where to get my fix in the valley?

For that answer, I asked my colleague, retro clothing princess Christine Pizzuti.

Pizzuti, who describes her personal style as a cross between Vivien Leigh, and “The Little Match Girl,” recently scored a pair of late 1950s eyeglasses (see photo) at The Bottle Shop antiques store on Route 44 in Washington Hollow.

For great bargains on purses and hats, she stops at Medusa Antiques, on Church Street in New Paltz.

But for the motherload of vintage clothing finds, Pizzuti’s favorite haunt
is the Salvation Army, on North Chestnut Street in New Paltz.

Post your favorite local places to find retro threads below.

Rock 'n' roll baby clothes in Rhinebeck

My nieces and nephews (and their parents) have come to expect a certain level of coolness from me when it’s birthday time. For a few years my main source of hip baby and children’s clothes was Sam&Seb in Brooklyn.

But since moving to the mid-Hudson Valley my street cred with the little
ones has moved dangerously close to uncool giraffes and elephants.

Until I discovered No Sugar in Rhinebeck.

This store features baby and children’s clothing with an edge that reflects
the indie spirit of the parents who shop there.

No Sugar stocks L.A.-based Claude’s reworked vintage concert tees cut with
flutter sleeves for girls.

My favorite is the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers version (above photo).

Other standouts are the Kingsley T-shirt line that features art and rock inspired graphics.

I also love the Nagano Dragon raincoat by Tea Collection.

And for the mom who doesn’t want to sacrifice style for function: a Paulina
Quintana metallic leather diaper bag in copper.

No Sugar is located at 41 East Market St. in Rhinebeck. Call 845-876-6040.

Thanks to hip mom Jacquie Mastropietro for the tip!

Where do you shop for hip baby and children’s clothes? E-mail me at
kmurray@poughkeepsiejournal.com.