On Wednesday, November 2, The Second Show and Club Helsinki present Dress for Excess Fashion Show to benefit Columbia County Habitat for Humanity on November 2, at Club Helsinki, at 7:00 pm.  The cost is $25 per ticket includes fashion show, live music, & extravagant dessert table. Cash bar and full menu available.  For tickets or more information call (518) 828-0892.

Evening of Wine & Roses

On Saturday, November 5, a silent and live auction will be held at Columbia-Greene Community College in the Professional Academic Center at the Greenport campus.  This year’s event, entitled “An Evening of Wine and Roses” will feature many wonderful items available by silent auction, including jewelry, paintings, hand crafted items, golf and restaurant gift certificates.   All money raised will go to the Columbia-Greene Community Foundation scholarship fund to help assist students who have been impacted by the recent floods. For more information visit the college’s website at www.mycommunitycollege.com; or call C-GCF Executive Director Joan Koweek at (518) 828-4181.

“The Play’s the Thing 5!”

Join Stageworks/Hudson for this year’s annual benefit event, “The Play’s the Thing 5!,” to be held Saturday evening, November 5, 2011. This year, Stageworks’ benefit will once again provide the opportunity for you to “be the event,” live and on stage. At “The Play’s the Thing 5!,” Gala Attendees are invited to submit a One Minute Play that Stageworks produces at the benefit! Fine food and spirits and a spectacular live auction round out the evening.  For ticket info call (518) 828-7843 or visit their website at www.stageworkshudson.org

On Saturday, November 12 at 9:00 pm you can listen to the Alexis P. Suter Bank at Helsinki Hudson.  When the great Bluesman B.B. King first heard Alexis P. Suter sing a few years ago, he was visibly impressed - and said so after her opening set. Shaking his head in wonder in his characteristic way, he remarked: "It's a rare thing to share the stage with great talent like that young lady."  She is a true vocal phenomenon, bass/baritone powerhouse Suter and her band began wowing audiences in the northeast 6 years ago as regular performers at Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Sessions in Woodstock, NY. For more information or to purchase tickets call (518) 828-4800 or visit their website at www.helsinkihudson.com.

See a Solo Cabaret Act

On Thursday, November 17 at 8:00 pm the Hudson Opera House will present The Tom Judson Show. After premiering his new show in New York City and performing all summer in Provincetown, Tom Judson brings his new solo cabaret act, “The Tom Judson Show”, to Hudson for a one-night-only special performance to celebrate his fifty-first birthday.  Tickets:  $20 - $18 for members.  For more information about the Hudson Opera House call (518) 822-1438 or visit their website at www.hudsonoperahouse.org.

Gallery of Wreaths Benefit

Be a part of Columbia County tradition and donate a wreath to the 26th Annual Gallery of Wreaths Silent Auction.  Wreaths will be displayed at the Vanderpoel House of History in Kinderhook November 25th through November 27th. All wreaths must be donated to the society to be auctioned during the annual holiday program.  All proceeds from the auction benefit the society's public programs.  For more informatio about the Columbia County Historical Society call (518) 758-9265 or visit their website at www.cchsny.org.

See a Show

The Ghent Playhouse presents Menagerie a'trois! Our Annual Panto!  Menageries a Trois by Judy Staber and the Loons.  American Idol ain't got nothing on the PantoLoons!  This show is directed by Tom Detwiler.  The Show runs November 25 through December 11. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm.  Tickets are $18, $15 for Friends and $10 for children under 12.  For more information about The Ghent Playhouse call (518) 392-6264 or visit their website at www.ghentplayhouse.org.

On Tuesday, November 29th at 3:00 pm learn to make holiday wreaths from greenery is a tradition that began in Roman times and is still alive today. Make your own wreath with a wire frame and fresh evergreens to take home and decorate. All materials for making the wreath provided. Joe Gilbert of the Berry Farm will be teaching participants how to make their own wreath to take home to decorate.  The program will be held in an unheated portion of the store building. Please dress in layered clothing on which you don’t mind getting pine sap and needles. Some people find gardening gloves and a pair of pruners helpful to bring along. Space is very limited.  For more information call (518) 392-5252 ext. 210 or visit Columbia Land Conservancy's website at www.clctrust.org.

Check out the Cafe at Art Omi

The Cafe has put together a great team of talented local chefs working with local farms and purveyors to create a special eating experience for the community of neighbors and visitors at Omi's Cafe. The Cafe will be open for the Winter months on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.  There will also be cross country skiing in The Fields Sculpture Park through the winter months. For more information you can call 518-392-4747 or visit their website at www.artomi.org.