Vassar party celebrates hip-hop

Vassar College is hosting a party tonight as part of its celebration of Hip Hop History Month.

The Four Pillars Concert/Party, which begins at 10 p.m. at the Villard Room in the College Center, features emcee Tu Phace.

Breakdancing, graffiti art, djing and emceeing will all be celebrated.

Earlier today at 4 p.m. in Room 300 of Rockefeller Hall, a panel of experts will discuss "Under the Turntable: Examining Violence, Misogyny & Homophobia in Hip Hop."

The events are free and open to the public.

Check it.

Warhol legend Billy Name to exhibit here

Poughkeepsie native and resident Billy Name, the "fotographer" for Andy Warhol's Factory, will exhibit 1968 color photographs at Albert Shahinian Fine Art in Poughkeepsie.

Name will appear at an opening reception for his exhibition, which he is co-headlining with Pleasant Valley painter Margaret Crenson, Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 198 Main St.

(1968 photo of Andy Warhol by Billy Name)

Also on Saturday, Cabaret Voltaire Art Center will open "Transience" and "Re-words," multi-media installations with video, sound, photo and text by Sukran Aziz, Karen Dolmanisth, Kirtland Synder, Matthew Slaats and Fuat Yalin.

The opening takes place Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Dada-inspired art center, 358 Main St.

I think it's high time you all took a second look at the art coming out of Po-town. See you Saturday.

Cheap old — and new — clothes

Out with the old ...

My colleague, Sarah Bradshaw, wrote a great story about the ins-and-outs of donating used clothing to local thrift shops and charities.

In the meantime, readers like me got some new ideas for places to shop for vintage threads like The Barn thrift shop in Pleasant Valley (pictured).

Check out Sarah's story here.

(Poughkeepsie Journal photo by Karl Rabe)

... and in with the new

I just got word that Steve & Barry's is opening a new location Thursday in the Kingston Plaza in Kingston.

The store, which touts itself as selling "high quality clothing for the entire family at astonishing low prices," features Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line.

Beacon wine shop talks turkey Saturday

Artisan Wine Shop, one of my favorite wine stores in the Hudson Valley, will be hosting a Thanksgiving-themed tasting this Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m.

From the Web site:

"As we said last year, the Thanksgiving meal has its own set of challenges. While in some homes, turkey takes center stage, it’s really all the sides that should be the focus of your wine choice. Stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and gravy all duke it out for attention, creating a melée of divergent flavors. Our approach is to focus on wines that offer balance, meaning wines that possess moderate amounts of acid, fruit, tannin and so on, with no one component overshadowing the others.

This Saturday, we’re focusing on U.S. wines, taking you on a tour of a few key American growing regions. Join us as we welcome Peter Zitz from acclaimed distributor Michael Skurnik Wines as he guides us through these prime holiday selections. We will also be making roast turkey and a savory sausage and fennel stuffing to give you a preview of how these wines will liven up your holiday table."

Here are the wines that will be poured: Gruet Rosé Brut Méthode Champenoise NV, Tablas Creek Vineyard Côtes de Tablas Blanc Paso Robles 2005 – Organically Grown, A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir Oregon 2006, Teira Zinfandel Sonoma County 2005, Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon Washington State 2006.

All will be on sale at Saturday's tasting.

Bearsville Theater hosts hip-hop party

Clubhouse presents "The Backyard," a party with Woodstock-based DJs Lady Verse, G-Pace and Magic Juan at the Bearsville Theater on Friday.

Doors open at 10 p.m. and admission is $5.

Freaky puppet show in Kingston warehouse

Masked performers, puppeteers and video and soundscape designers will present "Quaque Nocte," an active dreamscape world, at a warehouse space in Kingston's midtown neighborhood.

Performances are this Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m., Nov. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 5 p.m.

There is a $10 suggested donation at the door, 82 Prince St., Kingston.

Oh, and I don't advise bringing the kids to this one.

DJ Paul Nice to spin in Beacon Saturday

Paul Nice, the Poughkeepsie-based DJ/producer who has worked with Mark Ronson, the Beastie Boys and Amy Winehouse, will rock the decks at Saturday's Next Step party at the Piggy Bank Restaurant in Beacon.

The party, presented by the new Open Space gallery, begins at 10 p.m., right after the Second Saturday art opening receptions in the city.

It takes place at the Piggy Bank, 448 Main St., and costs 5 bucks.