Read This: Project Boob Tube

From Carrie Bradshaw to Mrs. Maisel: Let’s talk about the dress.

When I first heard the title of Hal Rubenstein’s latest can’t-put-down-style-meets-culture-knowing-smart-zeitgeisty-delicious book, Dressing The Part: Television’s Most Stylish Shows, I burst out laughing. I mean, has there ever been a better person suited to write a book on this topic than Hal Rubenstein? As the founding editor and former fashion director of InStyle Magazine—and being a fashion designer himself—as well as an inarguably voraciously discerning entertainment observer, Rubenstein helps us sort out what’s worth it in a sea of TV/movie pop offerings. With his latest best-selling tome, Rubenstein sticks the landing.

Fashion and TV have been inextricably tied but it wasn’t until this book did the obvious find its groove. Sex And The City? Check. Gossip Girl? Check. Mrs. Maisel? Check. Stop kidding yourself, go out and buy this book right now. Your coffee table—and all your dinner guests—demand it. And, if you’re like me and can’t get enough of Hal’s bon mots, check out his restaurant reviews in The Mountains (see Still Hungry).

{ The Best Advice You’ll Get Today }

“The Hudson Valley is New York City’s most undervalued second-home market—by a lot. If you’re waiting to buy a home when interest rates come down, guess what? So is everybody else. Here’s a better idea: Buy it now. You’ll negotiate a much better price now than waiting until everybody else also gets back into the game and you’re competing with six other offers in a bidding war. Saving 2% on your mortgage rate means nothing if you’re paying 10-15% more for the property. Negotiate a better price now and when interest rates come back down, you can refinance. Marry your dream property now and you always can ‘date the rate’ later.”

—Jason Karadus
Owner and Principal Broker, Corcoran Country Living

The Spot: Our Own Soho House

Grasmere House in Rhinebeck is all set to become the next epicenter of cool.

Hard to believe that it’s been exactly two decades since I was among the thousand or so very lucky pretty people and other (mostly) creatives—the term “influencer” didn’t exist—who christened the red-hot social club cum HQ of Gotham’s private after hours civilized debauchery, Soho House New York, as members of the after dark glitterati spilled out into the suddenly chic Meatpacking District. What a ride that’s been. So, it’s not entirely surprising, then, that the Hudson Valley, specifically Rhinebeck, NY, will be the location of the latest Soho House at Grasmere House, a 250-acre former farm.

According to Soho House: “The design inspiration will reference the romanticism of the nearby woodlands and incorporate natural elements from the historic Roycroft Arts and Crafts movement in the 1800s.”

After party at the farm? Count me in. Yet again.

–Richard Pérez-Feria

Dare Bare

Makers|23 honoree and Hudson resident Chad Silver has crafted a poetic message for your loved one this Valentine’s Day. We say, what could be cuddlier than a lovesick teddy bear? Check out loveislame.com

Spirit: Heaven’s Sake

Japanese liquid gold in Hyde Park.   |  By Isabella Joslin

Visit the Dassai Blue Sake Brewery in Hyde Park, NY to start your Japanese spirits journey. This unique location is open Thursday and Friday afternoons and offers private tours and tastings that include Dassai Blue 50, a 14 percent ABV sake with rice grains that’ve been polished down to 50 percent of their size—their first sake brewed in Hyde Park. Cheers to a new era in the Hudson Valley’s sake crafting story.

Shop: Abracadabra!

Hudson mid-century vintage furniture store, Magic Hill Mercantile, opens new location in Kingston.  |  By Isabel Hochman

Magic Hill Mercantile has celebrated more than a decade in Hudson and has expanded its offerings with a new store in Kingston. Myron Shefer and his business partner Bruce Mishell source vintage furniture mainly mid-century modern pieces from Denmark and Sweden. Myron describes the store as “a really fun, eclectic, colorful department store—a one-stop shop where you can buy a little bit of everything.” And, as if the delightful curation of always-in-style vintage pieces wasn’t enough of a draw, the three-story Kingston store also features a coffee and juice bar. Is there even a reason to leave?

Far Out! Breeze Airways Debuts At Stewart Airport  

There seems to be some strong headwinds heading to Ulster County. Breeze Airways is set to offer round-trip flights from Stewart International Airport to Charleston and Orlando starting in February. Finally, traveling to these two highly sought-after destinations just got simpler—easy-breezy. 

–Isabella Joslin

Keeping The Lights On

Luxe and function reign at The Lantern House in Great Barrington.

Having friends visit the Berkshires and unsure where to recommend accommodations? The newly redesigned and reimagined The Lantern House in Great Barrington is the perfect combination of mid-century aesthetics with contemporary comforts. The Airbnb listing offers 14 individual rooms and was designed by Gabriella Truhlar. She enlisted the help of Shimon Rotches (Rotches Construction) and local artists Judy Bates (Happy Place Berkshires) and Aaron Meshon (find his art exclusively at Railroad Street Collective).

“We wanted to maintain a feeling of local appreciation,” Truhlar says. “We want our guests to feel as if they’ve stepped into a high-end boutique hotel, whether they’re here for just one night or an extended stay. Comfort, style and a sense of being are at the heart of everything we do.” As it should be.  

–Isabel Hochman

Is This The Next Roman Empire?

First Bloom sprouts tasty grocery store in Bloomville.

Cook, food writer and The New York Times best-selling author Alison Roman has taken her love of food to neighboring Bloomville, NY, where she has opened First Bloom, a corner store with groceries, coffee and essentials. @firstbloomcornerstore already has more than 21,000 Instagram followers and the outpost showcases specialty items from ceramics to candles, granola, canned goods and more. 

–Isabel Hochman