Fog/Mist 58°
Lifestyle
Cheez-It Diner Opens In Hudson Valley To Fill Your 'Cheezy' Needs Cheez-It Diner Opens In Hudson Valley To Fill Your 'Cheezy' Needs
Cheez-It Diner Opens In Hudson Valley To Fill Your 'Cheezy' Needs Hey Cheez-It lovers, now is your chance to chow down on fun and funky foods inspired by the cheezy, crunchy snack at the Cheez-It Diner, which has been open for just a week in the region. Located in Ulster County in Woodstock, the diner offers the ultimate experience for Cheez-It fans with such treats as a cheezy milkshake, burger, or mac-n-cheese. "We saw just how far our adventure-seeking Cheez-It fans would go when they Want It. Need It. Cheez-It. last year making the drive to our Joshua Tree Cheez-It Stop outpost," said Cara Tragseiler, senior brand director for Cheez-It. "So many fans …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Popular Hudson Valley Bar Closing Permanently Popular Hudson Valley Bar Closing Permanently
Popular Hudson Valley Bar Closing Permanently A popular Hudson Valley bar known for some wild nights as it changed hands over the years but always stayed a "go-to spot" is closing permanently. Refinery 51 in Dutchess County on Market Street in the City of Poughkeepsie announced it would close for good with a farewell party on Saturday, June 1. "From Mad Hatter to Union Tavern and now Refinery 51, we Thank You for all your patronage, good times, and memories over the last quarter of a century," said the owners of Refinery 51. "It’s been an incredible run, so let’s toast to the memories and milestones together one last time!" The party …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Casting Call: Music Video For Major Country Star Needs To Fill Roles For Men, Women, Kids Casting Call: Music Video For Major Country Star Needs To Fill Roles For Men, Women, Kids
Casting Call: Music Video For Major Country Star Needs To Fill Roles For Men, Women, Kids A music video being produced in the region is seeking men, women, and kids to fill roles for extras. The video, about a major country star, will be filmed in New York City on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26. A group of friends returns home for a friend's funeral. After the funeral, they have a fun night together around town. Lead roles are needed for men aged 18 to 23 and women ages 40 to 50 to play the mother of boys. Supporting roles are being cast for women aged 18 to 23 and boys ages 10 to 12 (to play the child versions of the lead male roles in a flashback scene). All ethni…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
NY 11-Year-Old Back On Dance Floor Thanks To Kidney Donation From Doctor Brother NY 11-Year-Old Back On Dance Floor Thanks To Kidney Donation From Doctor Brother
NY 11-Year-Old Back On Dance Floor Thanks To Kidney Donation From Doctor Brother Not everyone gets to meet their hero; For Emily Alanko, her hero happens to be her big brother. The Long Island 11-year-old from Commack, who loves dancing and all things Barbie, was born with a rare genetic disorder known as Branchio-OtoRenal (BOR) Syndrome, which causes malformations of the ears and kidneys. In Emily’s case, she was born with just one kidney, meaning a pair of doctors at Cohen Children’s Medical Center has had to monitor her condition since birth. Alarm bells began to ring earlier this year when her longtime care team, Cohen doctors Christine Sethna and Pamela Singer, we…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Mutant Sleepover: Request Stay At All-New X-Mansion Airbnb In Northern Westchester Mutant Sleepover: Request Stay At All-New X-Mansion Airbnb In Northern Westchester
Mutant Sleepover: Request Stay At All-New X-Mansion Airbnb In Northern Westchester Any mutants out there may be interested in requesting a stay at an all-new Airbnb in Northern Westchester inspired by an animated X-Men television series.  The 4-bed, 5-bath mansion, located in New Castle, is part of Airbnb's "icons" series, which consists of locales inspired by music, films, television shows, art, sports, and more, according to the company.  The company's X-Mansion is inspired by the animated Disney+ show "X-Men '97" and features show-inspired interior design and activities.  Those who book a stay can sleep in one of the mansion's many X-Men-inspired dorms …

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Jackpot! NY Man Claims $5M Lottery Prize Jackpot! NY Man Claims $5M Lottery Prize
Jackpot! NY Man Claims $5M Lottery Prize A New York man has five million more reasons to be smiling. Long Island resident William O’Donnell, of Babylon, claimed a $5 million top prize playing the NY Lottery’s Cash X100 scratch-off game, lottery officials announced. O’Donnell received a single lump sum payment of $3,255,000 after paying taxes. He purchased the incredibly lucky ticket in Lindenhurst, at the Maakrupa Super Stop located at 200A Montauk Highway. Scratch-off games ginned up more than $4.4 billion in sales during fiscal year 2022-2023, according to New York Lottery. Of that, school districts in Suffolk County received …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
These 10 New York Pizzerias Among Nation's Top 100, New Rankings Say These 10 New York Pizzerias Among Nation's Top 100, New Rankings Say
These 10 New York Pizzerias Among Nation's Top 100, New Rankings Say The popularity of pizza now makes it possible to find delicious pies in almost any place, from sea to shining sea. Having said that, few could argue that New York stands alone from anywhere else. Yelp's Top 100 rankings of the best pizza spots for 2024 attest to just that. One-tenth of the places are in New York, and more specifically, New York City. Even more specifically still, Manhattan, where eat of the pizzerias are located. How did Yelp determine the rankings? "We identified businesses in the pizza category on Yelp, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Northern Westchester's Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections Northern Westchester's Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections
Northern Westchester's Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections If you aren't burned out from tacos from Cinco de Mayo and need a taco fix, then a new restaurant in the Hudson Valley specializing in handmade tortillas (think jalapeno) and small plates might be a new favorite. Northern Westchester's The Tortilla Project, located in Baldwin Place, is making waves with foodies and Yelpers for its eclectic mix of tacos, side dishes, tapas, and craft cocktails. Opened in January and located in a strip mall, you will first notice that the small restaurant's sleek decor is not strip mall material, according to Yelpers.  One Yelper put it this way: "The v…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years You may soon get a view of a rare spectacle. According to the NOAA National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) began on Wednesday, May 8. CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10. It's the first time a G4 Watch has been issued since January 2005. The watch says CMEs may linger into Sunday, May 12. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora (…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley The production company behind hit films like “The Whale,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and “Uncut Gems” is looking for a real-life couple to be a part of their next star-studded feature film being produced in the region. Lights, camera, action! “The Materialists,” a new feature film by entertainment company A24 and directed by Celine Song, is searching for a real-life couple for its upcoming shoot in the Ulster County town of New Paltz, which will begin on Wednesday, May 22. The couple will be portraying getting married and should fit the description of “artsy, creative down-to-e…

SHARE

by Sophie Grieser
Lifestyle
Stew Leonard's Eyes This Location For Next New Store Stew Leonard's Eyes This Location For Next New Store
Stew Leonard's Eyes This Location For Next New Store Stew Leonard's is eyeing a familiar location as a possible location for its next new supermarket. The Connecticut-based company confirmed on Wednesday, May 8, that the town of Orange in New Haven County is one of several locations being "looked at" for the family-owned grocer's ninth location, according to Meghan Bell, a spokeswoman for the company. Bell said that, at this point, several options are being considered, and an announcement would be made by the end of the year.  Stew Leonard's also has Connecticut stores in Norwalk (where the company has its headquarters), Danbury, and Ne…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
New 'Upscale Yet Down-To-Earth' Restaurant In Capital Region Touted For 'Unique Flavor Palette' New 'Upscale Yet Down-To-Earth' Restaurant In Capital Region Touted For 'Unique Flavor Palette'
New 'Upscale Yet Down-To-Earth' Restaurant In Capital Region Touted For 'Unique Flavor Palette' Just weeks into business, a new restaurant in the region promising “creative, high-end comfort dinners” appears to be a hit with diners. Vice & Virtue Restaurant and Cocktail Bar – located in Schenectady at the former Pinhead Susan’s at 40 North Broadway – held its grand opening on Tuesday, March 12. Under the direction of executive chef Chris Rose, the eatery bills itself as serving up “bold and unique flavors” all in an “upscale yet down-to-earth” atmosphere. “At Vice & Virtue, you can expect an extraordinary culinary experience, where creative high-end dishes meet the comforting…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn