In the quiet riverside village of Athens, Night School has built a loyal following with an approach that feels both ambitious and deeply local. The large, warmly lit taproom and pizzeria has become a gathering place for residents and visitors alike — a place where regulars drift between tables, conversations stretch across the room, and owner Johnny Osborne serves some of the most daringly hop-forward beers in the world.

Located along one of the main routes connecting the Hudson Valley to the Catskill Mountains, the new South Cairo Country Store serves both local residents and the steady flow of visitors traveling through the region.

On Friday, January 16^th, community members and local officials gathered to celebrate the amazing transformation of the long-vacant former home of Brennan’s Road House into what has proven to be an outstanding destination for craft brews, great food, and meeting old (and making new) friends.  Located on NYS Rt. 81 in the town of Coxsackie, Gray Willow has restored, reinvented, and refurbished a long-beloved gathering site, with state-of-the-art amenities and an on-site microbrewery.

Grace Brannigan created 27 Cafe as a space dedicated to a shared experience of listening. Inspired by the Jazz Kissa of Japan (where people gathered to drink coffee, tea and alcohol and listen to records on a hi-fi sound system) 27 Cafe has updated that model for a modern audience while maintaining the soul of its predecessors.

When the beloved Nellie’s restaurant hit the market, Irish immigrant and long-time East Durham enthusiast Mike Reilly saw a chance to invest in a community he’s cherished for decades. Now reopened as Reilly’s Bar & Restaurant, the venue continues its legacy as a lively Irish pub, complete with live music, special events, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.