The Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn, Poughkeepsie
January 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
On Friday, The Art Effect invites locals to celebrate the closing receptions of its “Teen Visions” exhibit at the newly renovated Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn. The show features more than 70 works from 35 student artists who participated in the organization’s summer program. On top of that, the happy hour evening includes live music and tastings from local breweries and eateries, including Foreign Objects Beer, Twisted Soul, Noshi’s Coney Island, Chakra Bowls, and more. Tickets are $40/person or $70/couple.
Darkside Records, Poughkeepsie
January 19, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Head over to Poughkeepsie’s hottest record shop for its happening eighth anniversary fest. In addition to hosting a storewide sale, Darkside will also hold a number of giveaways and performances from bands like #Caldera, Diamonds to Dust, and The Trash Pandas. Food and beer on tap add to the festivities.
Hackett Hill Park, Hyde Park
January 19, 1-4 p.m.
Embrace the winter weather in Hyde Park on Saturday for the town’s family-friendly Winterfest. The afternoon will include outdoor activities like snowtubing, cross country skiing, and a one-mile hike, as well as indoor entertainments like crafts for kids and information tables for adults. For the whole gang, a slew of cold weather treats like soup from Coppola’s, hot chocolate, and roasted marshmallows will keep everyone warm throughout the day.
Orange County Fairgrounds Arena, Middletown
January 19, 5-9 p.m.
Part two of Hudson Valley Wing Wars heats up Middletown on Saturday evening. Attendees can look forward to wings and brews from top local eateries, then stay tuned to see which restaurant goes home with the King of Wings title. General admission tickets get you 15 wings, while VIP passes dish up two dozen wings for a full night of finger-lickin’ fun.
The Studio Around the Corner, Brewster
January 20, 1 p.m.
Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine (a Hudson Valley resident and the creator of Ella Enchanted) comes to Brewster this weekend to talk about Ogre Enchanted, her latest tale. Set in a similar world to Ella, the story features a strong heroine, a meddling fairy, and a very unexpected twist. Hosted by the Cultural Arts Coalition, the talk and signing are open to the public. If you want to attend, be sure to RSVP here.
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Catskill
January 20, 2-3:30 p.m.
If you love the Hudson River School and Hudson Valley artists, you’ll want to set aside the afternoon on Sunday for The Thomas Cole Sunday Salon. Led by historian and historic interiors expert, Jean Dunbar, the event celebrates the unveiling of a new discovery at the artist’s home and delves into Cole’s inspiration as a creator.