Pete and I jumped in the van and headed north to the Catskills for another beautiful fall weekend full of debauchery for a dear friend’s 50th birthday.

We spent the first night in the Lake George area, so started the day at one of our absolute favorite places: Bear’s Cup in Bolton Landing. In my line of business, I spend a lot of time obsessing about baked goods and products, and bagels are a favorite. We don’t actually sell bagels because honestly, why bother with a bad bagel, right? It’s all or nothing for me. Now, if you’re bagel obsessed and ever lived in the city, you have a bagel place - maybe you’re an Ess-a-bagel (me) or an H&H person, maybe even a Zabars - but you have a favorite. So, with that for reference, Pete and I might actually argue that Bear’s Cup could rival them all. That’s right, a legit New York City bagel in the Adirondacks. Someday I want to see a show down. Bring it on New York Times critics, we want to see a bagel-off.

Next we headed to Coxsackie, NY, situated right along the Hudson River. We set up camp and the van with Pete’s mix of 80’s favorites at Brewery Lahoff for the perfect Fall day. The Brewery is a complete delight. Staged in a beautifully rehabbed old barn, they offer an inside bar scene and outside picnic tables. They brew a variety of craft beers on site, offer the perfect soft pretzel, and encourage a chill afternoon with friends.

For late night hi-jinx we headed to the always quirky UnQuiet - an antiques store turned Saturday night speakeasy. Never disappointed by this place, we found community and conversation with fascinating folks…even the ones dressed in crazy mascot heads. It was Halloween after all.

Happy Halloweekend folks. Hope you met someone new, connected with someone old, ate something fun. Get after the week and try again if you didn’t.