RURAL INTELLIGENCE

05/29/2026

Hudson has had quite the restaurant boom this spring. New spaces, new menus, rebrands, a wave of French-leaning kitchens. It's been an exciting season to eat in Columbia County's culinary capital. But when chef Hannah Wong and partner Sarah Jane (SJ) McLaughlin opened the doors to Haema this past weekend, something different arrived.

After a year and a half of pop-ups that built a devoted following across the Hudson Valley and Berkshires (from Delaware Supply to Kinderhook Books, Neverstill Wines to a residency at the Tourists hotel in North Adams) Haema has finally found its permanent home at 538 Warren Street, in the intimate space formerly occupied by Bar Bene.

With a menu rooted in Asian street food, Hudson Valley farms, and serious technique, Haema brings new flavor to a Hudson Valley culinary destination.

05/28/2026

An inspiring evening of music, mentorship, and young talent at Tanglewood.

The Kids 4 Harmony Summer Concert Gala returns to Tanglewood on Tuesday, June 23, bringing together student musicians, supporters, and acclaimed pianist and composer Ted Rosenthal for a special evening in Ozawa Hall.

The event begins with a 5pm reception in the Tent Club followed by a concert showcasing the students of Kids 4 Harmony, a free ensemble-based string program serving youth in Pittsfield and North Adams. Focused on musical excellence, student well-being, and family support, the program helps young musicians build confidence, connection, and opportunity both on and off the stage.

Learn more: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/18degreesfamilyservicesforwesternma/event/2026kids4harmonysummergala/

05/26/2026

What does it mean to try to understand someone you despise? That is the actual question at the center of "Clarence in a Pause," a new work-in-progress by Taylor Mac and composer Heather Christian coming to the Ancram Center for the Arts this weekend. It is not a provocation. It is more like a sustained, earnest act of curiosity, built around layered fugues, a cast of experimental theater heavyweights, and the idea that it is very hard to hate people when you harmonize with them. Presented as part of the center's Play Lab series, each performance includes a post-show dialogue and a chance for the audience to learn a song from the show.

Two MacArthur Fellows bring wildly ambitious quasi-baroque oratorio listening party to the Ancram Center for the Arts.

05/19/2026

Pull over! These backroad spots are worth every detour.

We rounded up 7 off-the-beaten-path eateries across the Hudson Valley, Berkshires, and Litchfield Hills worth braking for, and a few that need your support right now.

Three beloved spots in Craryville are stuck behind Route 23 construction this summer and have lost their through-traffic. Zinnia's Dinette is doing Rhode Island fish fry and tinned fish right. Random Harvest is a worker-owned market and cafe that's been feeding the community since 2018. Tommy B's Pizza Joint is turning out creative NY-style pies that will make you wish you'd found it sooner. All three are still open. You just have to take a little detour to get there.

Also on the list: The Neon Newt in Becket, MA, a former general store turned sourdough-and-seasonal-menu gem; Bluebird and Co. in Hancock, MA, a cabin-casual roadhouse with a globally inspired menu; G.W. Tavern in Washington Depot, CT, a circa-1850 colonial with a fieldstone fireplace and farm-sourced comfort food; and Golden Russet Cafe and Grocery outside Rhinebeck, a backroads staple for breakfast, local cider, and farm fresh produce.

There's nothing better than pulling into a restaurant off the beaten path and having a meal that's shockingly good and holding a local story. Here are just some of our faves.

05/12/2026

Serre is the new restaurant inside the solarium of the Maker hotel on Warren Street in Hudson, candlelit at night with tropical greenery climbing toward the ceiling, and executive chef Jonas Offenbach has just introduced a menu to match the room.
Classic French technique reimagined with a deeply personal touch: stuffed morels with pieds de porc, lamb crepinette sourced from Kinderhook Farm, beef bavette with sauce bordelaise, oysters dressed with yuzu and salmon roe. This is 20 years of obsessive culinary study on one gorgeous plate.

Inside Serre’s gorgeous greenhouse, classic French technique and contemporary style share a plate.

05/08/2026

Baroque brilliance meets the passion of Argentine tango.

Close Encounters With Music closes its season with The Four Seasons: Vivaldi and Piazzolla, performed by the Vivace Baroque Orchestra with violin soloist Siwoo Kim.

Vivaldi’s iconic evocations of birdsong, storms, and shifting seasons meet the smoky rhythms and sensual energy of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires in a program that moves effortlessly between Baroque elegance and Argentine tango.

For 34 seasons, Close Encounters With Music has presented adventurous chamber music programming in the Berkshires, bringing world-class musicians together for performances that are intimate, imaginative, and deeply connected to audiences.

Learn more: https://cewm.org/upcoming-concerts/

List of upcoming concerts, events, and artists.

05/04/2026

What began in 1979 as a small produce stand has grown into Guidos Fresh Marketplace, a family-owned business still guided by a commitment to sourcing the freshest, highest quality products from the Berkshires and beyond.

Today, Guido’s locations in Pittsfield and Great Barrington bring together vibrant seasonal produce, house-made prepared foods, and a curated mix of local and regional brands that help customers feed their families well and support the wider Berkshires community.

Under its marketplace concept, separate vendors run independent businesses alongside the Guido’s departments, creating a selection and commitment to quality that helps to make Guido’s such a one-of-a-kind destination. Experience the skill of a traditional butcher at Mazzeo’s Meat and Seafood, order custom arrangements and baskets and shop for gifts at Bella Flora, and find tools for the cook at The Chef’s Shop.

Savor the season and see what's in store at guidosfreshmarketplace.com.

05/02/2026

Leon Botstein is stepping down as Bard College president—but he's not going anywhere.
After 51 years leading one of the Hudson Valley's most prominent liberal arts colleges, Botstein announced his retirement Friday, one day after an independent review by law firm WilmerHale delivered its assessment of his years-long relationship with convicted s*x trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The report found no illegal conduct, but its conclusions were stark. Botstein visited Epstein's Manhattan townhouse approximately 25 times and made a two-day trip to his private island.
When a senior faculty member warned him not to pursue Epstein as a donor, Botstein overruled him. His justification, captured in the WilmerHale memo: "I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God's work."

The review's final line: "In his public statements and his statements to the Bard community, President Botstein minimized and was not fully accurate in describing his relationship with Epstein."

Botstein isn't leaving. He will remain on faculty, continue leading the Bard Music Festival and Conservatory, and go on living in his on-campus home.

The Board will conduct a national search for a permanent replacement. Funds tied to Epstein will be directed to organizations supporting survivors of s*xual harm.

Independent review finds he misled the Bard community about his relationship with the convicted s*x trafficker.

05/01/2026

An evening of creativity that opens your heart. 🎭

Join Community Access to the Arts for their Annual Performance, "The Ripple Effect."

The Ripple Effect features vibrant performances by artists with disabilities in dance, music, acting, juggling, comedy, and more. CATA artists shape every part of the show—from performances, song lyrics, and choreography to costumes, set design, lighting, and sound.

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing and celebrating the creativity of people with disabilities, and the Annual Performance is one of the most joyful ways to experience their artistry.

Learn more: https://cataarts.org/gala2026

🎭

04/28/2026

Columbia-Greene Habitat for Humanity has a new home base on Route 9 south of Hudson, and big plans to go with it. The organization is scaling up fast, moving toward building homes in clusters and transforming into a bit of a small development company.

This Saturday, May 2, CGHFH opens its doors for "Building on Our Foundation," a community event from 11am to 2pm, featuring model home tours, a ReStore showcase, and the inaugural Community Builders Award ceremony.

Saturday, May 2, CGHFH is throwing the doors open with "Building on Our Foundation," a community event running from 11am to 2pm at its new headquarters.