Fleisher's Meats opens Rhinebeck location

Dutchess County residents no longer have to schlep to Ulster for the best beef, pork, locally raised lamb and poultry.

Fleisher's Grass-fed and Organic Meats, located at 307 Wall St. in Kingston, is opening a second, larger location in Rhinebeck.

Besides meat, the old-fashioned store at 47 Market St. will sell local eggs, regional cheese and organic meals to go.

You may have encountered Fleisher's products before at New York City restaurants like (Diner, Bonita and Savoy). All are good Fleisher's customers.

But unlike NYC residents, we don't have to eat out in order to eat the best. Sometimes it's better to be the country mouse ...

Head to Highland for hands-on henna art

Sorry for the annoying alliteration in the headline. Don't let that stop you from learning about henna's origins and how to apply the dye as body art.

Amy Barresi of Tipsy Turtle is hosting a workshop on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. in her Highland studio.

Cost is $35 per person and includes snacks and drinks, lecture on the history and culture of henna, hands-on application and a henna kit.

Reservations are required either by e-mailing Amy at tipsytrtle@yahoo.com or calling her at 845-795-4042.

For more information, visit www.turtletipsy.com.

Don't blame me if you're bored this weekend

There are two excellent parties tonight: The Rootdown at the Black Swan in Tivoli and Clubhouse at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.

Rootdown is promoted by the Down in the Valley group. The monthly party features a rotation of DJs including Mr Chips, DJ ESE, Drake and Mikey Palms.

Tonight's Clubhouse features special guest DJs LadyVerse and Sameer and resident DJs Carlos Anthony Molina and Lemar Soulflower.

Now go dance!

Cheap eats, part II

Thanks everyone for sharing your Hudson Valley cheap eats with me.

Here are just a few of the recommendations:

In Poughkeepsie, Janet's Jerk Stop on Washington Avenue, Krishna Groceries on Route 9, Soul Dog on Main Street and Saigon Cafe on LaGrange Avenue (pictured).

In Fishkill, Tanjore buffet on Main Street.

And in New Paltz, Yanni and Karma Road.

Dan asked for some more Kingston-area cheap eats and I've got a great one for those of you heading to the opening of the Old Town Stockade Farmers Market on Saturday: Gabriel's Cafe on John Street.

The owner of this lovely little place uses local, organic ingredients whenever possible and makes his own hearty bread and pastries. The egg sandwich ($4.75) comes with a garlicky homemade salsa. Amazing. The coffee is strong and locally roasted from Catskill Mountain Coffee. There are also Colombian specialties for lunch, a nod to Gabriel's heritage.

Now I have a cheap eats dilemma for you readers. I am heading up to Rhinebeck tonight to see "Waitress" at Upstate Films. Are there any cheap eats among the $30/entree restaurants? And if not, are there any diners in the area that you'd recommend? A (not too) greasy spoon would fit the movie.

15 minutes of fame, courtesy of your iPod

Keegan Ales in Kingston hosts iPod/mp3 tonight and every Wednesday.

Wannabe DJs get 15 minutes each to share their musical tastes with a happy, beer-drinking crowd.

Here's my lineup:

"I Can't See Nobody" by Nina Simone, remixed by Daniel Y. from "Nina Simone: Remixed & Reimagined" -- 3:06

"Don't Stop" by Brazilian Girls from "Brazilian Girls" -- 3:50

"Destroy Everything You Touch" by Ladytron from "Witching Hour"

"We Share Our Mothers' Health" by The Knife from "Silent Shout"

Share your 15 (approximate) musical minutes below.

Confessions of a slacker mom-in-training

First off, I'm not preggers. Sorry mom (who is a bit frustrated that she's the only non-grandma in her circle of friends).

But the subject of procreation has begun to creep into conversation between me and my husband. It's no longer off-limits, no longer taboo.

It's hard to imagine what kind of parents we will be.

Will we buy a bugaboo stroller, a minivan and a home in a gated community?

I mean, we had a pirate band play our wedding. My husband draws monsters and plays video games for a living. I don't have a single friend who is an MD or a lawyer. Most of them are rejuveniles.

Will we spend our Saturdays watching soccer and football games?

We don't even like sports.

And I will never, ever get into scrapbooking.

I really fear the alpha mom rat race.

So I read this article about slacker moms with interest.

Slacker mom, yeah, I can get with that.

Let the flames begin ...

Embrace your inner Bettie Page

Charise Isis, the Kingston-based photographer who is making a name for herself with her boudoir portraits of everyday women, is offering a "Learn How to Be a Pinup Goddess" seminar on June 2.



Each participant will learn make-up, costuming, movement and attitude made famous by Bettie Page, Marilyn Monroe, Lili St Cyr and Josephine Baker. She also will receive a fine art pin-up poster of herself.

Isis also does boudoir bachelorette parties. Pretty cool.

What do you think of this pin-up trend? Is your interest piqued or are you scandalized? Comment below.

I'll share my cheap eats if you share yours ...

A favorite topic of every young and cash-strapped foodie is the best places to get cheap eats, those little hole-in-the-wall places that you only find out about by word of mouth.

Here are my top 5 Hudson Valley cheap eats:

1.) Andy’s Place, 45 Dutchess Ave., Poughkeepsie
Call 845-452-2525.

Four pierogies, a nod to my Polish heritage, are only $4.95. There’s also a kielbasa dinner w/pierogies for $11.95 and a kielbasa sandwich with sauerkraut on rye for $7.25.


2.) Jamaican Spice, 184 Main St., Beacon
Call 845-831-7505.
The next time you’re gallery hopping in Beacon, head to this little gem, which opened in 2005.
Turnovers filled with jerk fish, meatloaf, chicken and spicy beef are just $1.25-$1.50.
The restaurant also serves jerk pork, saltfish, curry chicken and ginger beer.


3.) El Danzante Mexican American (pictured), 720 Broadway, Kingston
Call 845-331-7070.
This kitschy, authentic Mexican restaurant features a white bar “cave” that displays dozens of tequilas.
Chicken enchiladas with mole sauce are savory and toothsome. Or put together a sampling of soft tacos. The best is carnitas — fried pork with Mexican herbs and spices — served with cilantro and onions for only $2.

4.) Kismat Indian Restaurant, 50 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie
Call 845-442-8536.
The best value for your foodie buck: Kismat serves an all-you-can buffet of Indian specialties for just $6.95 for lunch and $8.95 for dinner. Feel free to bring your own wine or beer.

5.) Lola’s Café and Gourmet Take Out, 131 Washington St., Poughkeepsie
Call 845-471-8555.
Chef Ed Kowalski elevates the lunchtime deli experience with high quality ingredients and flavor combinations. Try the tropical curried chicken wrap for $5.95 or the marinated Portobello mushroom panino for $6.95.

Please add to the list by posting below.

Party with Beacon artists 'til dawn

Keith Zarriello of The Shivers will perform at Saturday's open studios at Spire Studios in Beacon.

The party, which includes an exhibition of work by the gallery attendants of Dia:Beacon, begins at 6 p.m.

Zarriello plays at 10 p.m.

Then DJ Jeff spins until very, very late.

Missing in action

Hi everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I haven't posted in a while because I had surgery earlier this week. Tonight I feel well enough to sit at the computer for a few minutes to check e-mail -- amazing how much accumulates in a few days -- and create this quick post. Will return with more under-the-radar HV news in a few days.

XOXO,
K

Aidan Quinn appears in Rosendale

Actor Aidan Quinn, who lives in Ulster County, attended the sneak preview screening of "Racing Daylight" at the Rosendale Theatre today. (He is pictured far right in this Hudson Valley Film Commission photo.)

The screening was a presentation of the Woodstock Film Festival, of which Quinn is a board member, and sponsored by the office of Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston), who is pictured far left.

"Racing Daylight" was shot entirely in Ulster County and stars local actors David Strathairn and Melissa Leo, who is seated in the picture.

Read my Poughkeepsie Journal story about this homegrown film.

See a movie with Griffin Dunne

When I first think of Griffin Dunne I am reminded of his roles in "Who's That Girl?" with Madonna and "My Girl". And who can forget "An American Werewolf in London"?

But Dunne, a part-time Dutchess County resident, is also a respected director. His film, "Fierce People," which starred Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland, played at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck during the Woodstock Film Festival in October.

Dunne returns to Upstate this Sunday, when he will present "The Earrings of Madame de ..." as part of the "Watch a Movie With ..." series to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the independent moviehouse.

The film explores the conventions of love, marriage and flirtation of upper-class turn-of-the-20th-century Paris.

The screening with Dunne takes place Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10.

For more information, visit www.upstatefilms.com.

Saturday mornings with Sarah Vaughan

My idea of the perfect weekend morning?

Strong coffee and a pecan danish from Bread Alone -- there are locations in Rhinebeck, Kingston and Woodstock -- as I listen to my favorite radio show: Women of Note on WKZE, 98.1 FM.

Jerrice Baptiste highlights old favorites like Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone along with international artists like Mercedes Sosa and Chantal Goya.

Women of Note broadcasts on Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m.

How do you spend your Saturday mornings in the Hudson Valley?