The Maker Lounge in Hudson, best known for its moody, jewel-toned bar and exemplary cocktails, has added a retro Choco-Taco to its short bar menu and I’m here for it. Meet the Man Who Invented the Choco Taco.

Lil Deb’s Oasis, off Warren St., Hudson, is back and better than ever with their revamped, eternally artsy space, vegetal cocktails, and a killer menu featuring cheesy potato llapingacho, crunchy blooming onions with bonito flakes, whole fried porgy with mizuna and herbs, and scallop crudo with carrot-ginger agua and zodiac pear. One of my fave area restaurants.

If you’re still Sunday cruising through the last of the autumn leaves, take a drive to the Phoenicia Diner where pop singer Lordes recently gave a thumbs up to their crisp onion rings on her previously anonymous Instagram account: @onionringsworldwide. Consider yourself an onion ring connoisseur? Have a favorite spot that’s not the Columbia County Fair? Tell us about it This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

I love an unhurried drive to the Berkshires in all seasons whether for art at Mass MoCA or The Clark and a pitstop in Lenox, Stockbridge or the Shaker Village in Pittsfield. Recently I headed out to North Adams to check out The Break Room at Greylock Works where chef Brian Alberg shifted plans from a restaurant to an all-day bakery-café in an architecturally redesigned former industrial mill. The enormous event and multi-occupancy space is pretty remarkable – reminiscent of the shape of things at Mass MoCA a mere 4-minutes away. While they currently have prix fixe Saturday night dinners, there are plans to host dinner and movie nights as the seasons change. For now, it’s an excellent stop for brunch or lunch should you find yourself out that way. Don’t leave without a box of pastry treats to tide you through the week.

I don’t know if it’s something in the water, but Hudson is on fire lately. Getting away from the pricey preciousness that had set in (I mean, there are four milliners on Warren Street), there are suddenly five new wine bars with cute, charcuterie-heavy, small plate menus so I made a couple of trips to bring you the scoop. Go for the candle-making parlor setting of Poured Candle Bar, the hip vintage vibe at Bar Bene, roasted coffee at Hudson Roastery, or charming leafy patio at Lawrence Park. Read it here, try them all.

Check out Where To Pick Your Apples & Pumpkins at These Hudson Valley Farms and while you’re out there cruising the country roads, stop at Harvest Smokehouse at Golden Harvest Farm in Kinderhook for amazing applewood smoked BBQ and cider doughnuts too.

There are fairy eggplants to be found at the local farmers markets. I wrote about Turkish eggplants, but these tiny teardrops are perfect just halved, pan-sauteed in olive oil, and served with goat cheese, olive oil, salt and fresh torn mint.

Sylvan Motor Lodge in Hillsdale got some international love with an entire travel feature in The Times of London. It’s not so far for you, so why not take a fall break. Or indulge in armchair travel: Move Over Schitt’s Creek – we’ll take the whole motel.

Mind you, the NYT got there first, with Upstate Motels Make a Comeback, with an Aim to Captivate. You’re lucky enough to live here, so get on the road and fill your glass or plate.