Last week, I posted a video in partnership with newyorkupstate.com to ask the people of social media a perennial, loaded question: Where is “upstate”?
I know this comes up every few years – here’s WNYC talking through the options, and here’s the New York Times’s report. The Times Union published an extensive review of the latest points of view a few years ago – but what I feel is missing from these investigations into people’s very impassioned beliefs about the nebulous boundary line separating “upstate” from the rest of it is: why people see it the way they do.
So I went down to the southernmost point of the New York (Ward’s Point on Staten Island) to look northward, and I posted this video.
In the comments, I’m receiving keen insight:
“This question is so annoyingly persistent because there is NO ANSWER. It’s all relative. This is like saying ‘What is left?’ or ‘What is north?’ The word depends on perspective. So: Albany is upstate of Poughkeepsie… but Saratoga is upstate of Albany. Anyone who insists that there’s only one answer might be illiterate.”
“Historically Westchester was the Mason-Dixon Line… commerce below Westchester aligned itself with Confederate cotton. Upstate today is up for all kinds of interpretation, which may be where I-90 and I-87 meet. Find the author Harold Holzer and he documents that.”
“Anywhere above 287 is upstate. When I was a kid growing up in lower Manhattan the answer was anything north of 225th street. If there were trees it was upstate. I guess it is really just a feeling.”
“14th st and up obvs”
“This is why I think of everything other than Long Island and the city as the mainland.”
Here’s a purposeful view from Jamie Larson, the editor of Rural Intelligence: “Have you located any info on early usage? I think the nebulousness is actually part of the definition. Arguing over this unserious issue is a conversation starter that tells you something about the personality of who you’re talking to. The fight over this is endearing because, at the end of the day we are all New Yorkers.”
So, what do you say about this? Where is “upstate” to you, and more importantly: WHY do you feel this way? Shoot me a DM at @jamescave and let me know. Maybe I’ll just start calling it “the continental New York.”
In this issue: your plan-ahead guide to the best events around as the days grow longer by the minute!
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Eating & Drinking
Hudson Valley magazine presents the spring edition of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, which is really two weeks of dining featuring prix-fixe lunches and dinners across the region. From March 2–15, participating restaurants offer three-course menus priced at $24.95, $29.95, $39.95, or $44.95 (set by each restaurant), with more than 100 eateries typically taking part. No tickets – reserve directly with the participating restaurant. March 2–15, locations throughout the Hudson Valley. (Info here)
TommyB’s Pizza teams up with Christy Frank of Copake Wine Works and Simon Buck of Sete Wines for a one-night pizza and wine pairing dinner – Italian classics matched with bottles from across lo stivale (Italy’s boot). Expect classic pies, salads, dessert, and a few cellar surprises. Thu., March 5, 6:30–8:30 p.m., TommyB’s Pizza, 1817 NY-23, Craryville. $70 per person, all inclusive (tax and tip included). Tickets are limited; reservations are non-refundable. (Info here)
The first-ever Famous Pickle Festival opens at the MJN Convention Center on Saturday, March 15, mixing a full-on pickle celebration into a St. Patrick’s party. They promise brine and pickle-juice tastings, more than a dozen pickle purveyors, fried pickles and festival staples (burgers, wings, empanadas), plus Irish beer, domestic and imported brews, and a full liquor lineup. Live music runs throughout the day; kids 12 and under are free. Vendor and sponsor info at famousfoodevents.com or 845-590-1915. 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY. (Info here)
The NYS Brewers Conference, presented by TLF Graphics and hosted by the New York State Brewers Association, brings together brewers, suppliers, and beverage professionals for two days of educational sessions, 100+ exhibitors, and industry networking at the Albany Capital Center. Expect expert-led panels spanning taproom to brewhouse, a large trade floor featuring national partners and solutions providers, and dedicated time for beers and bonding with peers across the state’s craft community. March 18–20. 55 Eagle Street, Albany, NY. (Info here)
Cheese The Day! in Rosendale is a full day devoted to New York cheese – education in the morning, tastings and film in the afternoon. The New York State Cheese Council hosts its Annual Conference (10 a.m.–1 p.m.) at the Rosendale Community Center, with breakfast, a guest-led roundtable, and networking for industry folks. Later, head to the Rosendale Theatre for a screening of “Shelf Life,” complete with a curated tasting box and post-film panel. Proceeds benefit the NYSCC and Meeting of the Milkmaids. Sat., March 21. Rosendale Community Center & Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale, NY. $35–$70. (Info here)
Seeing & Doing
Art for All at the Albany Institute of History and Art is free with museum admission every Saturday from 12–4 p.m. For March: make your own pith helmet, inspired by early archaeology expeditions – paper bowls, construction paper, string, and plenty of room to customize. See “Blanche Lazzell: Becoming an American Modernist,” a major survey of the white-line woodblock pioneer, and “A Life in Bloom: The Floral Paintings of Julia McEntee Dillon,” celebrating the Kingston-born painter once called “the greatest living flower painter” in America. Also on view: Joan Steiner’s clever miniature dioramas (extended through March 22, because of my conversation with Lisa Durfee!) (Info here).
Community Theater and Story Screen are hosting a free Oscars watch party for Hollywood’s fanciest night. Carrying on a decade-long tradition started by Deena Lebow, the evening features live viewing of the Academy Awards, movie trivia, a raffle with fun prizes (benefiting Columbia County Sanctuary Movement), plus drinks and snacks to keep the celebration going. Dress up, cheer loudly, and celebrate Conan. Sunday, March 15, 6 p.m. Community Theater, 373 Main Street, Catskill, NY. (Info here)
The Hudson River Maritime Museum presents “Batter Up! The History of Baseball in Kingston and Ulster County,” exploring how the sport took root in river towns before professional leagues emerged. Drawing on newspapers, box scores, and local records, the lecture highlights early clubs, rivalries, and baseball’s role in community life. Speakers Dan Torres and Ulster County Clerk and Kingston Historian Taylor Bruck – both previously featured on the podcast! – connect local stories to the broader history of amateur baseball and organized leagues. Wed., March 18, 7:00 p.m. Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY. $10/non-members; $5/HRMM members. (Info here)
An Evening with Melissa Auf der Maur brings the former Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins bassist and Basilica Hudson co-founder to Hudson for the launch of “Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A ’90s Rock Memoir” (Da Capo Press). In conversation with Oscar-nominated casting director Jennifer Venditti, Auf der Maur revisits indie DIY life in the 1990s and the creative communities that shaped it. As she says, “From dreams, to local teens, we promise to commune with open hearts, outrageous tales of decadence from the last analogue decade, and the quest to make a more liveable future together.” Q&A, signing, and a Darkwave DJ set follow. Thurs., March 19. Doors 6 p.m.; Event 7 p.m. Basilica Hudson, 110 South Front Street, Hudson. Tickets start at $13.61. (Info here)
via Art Omi
Onnis Luque’s “DOMINIO: An Unfinished Visual Archive of Architectural Extractivism” opens in the Newmark Gallery at Art Omi with a reception exploring the hidden landscapes behind the built world. Through photographs of sand mines, quarries, and scarred terrain across Mexico, Luque examines the extractive foundations of architecture and the ideologies that sustain them. Curated by Julia van den Hout, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider what architectural images leave out. Free and open to the public; “RSVP essential.” Sat., March 21, 1–3 p.m., Art Omi, 1405 County Route 22, Ghent, NY 12075. (Info here)
Portraits have long hung on the walls at the Desmond-Fish Public Library – a show called “Picture Us” continues that tradition with contemporary portraits asking you to look closely at the people and perspectives that shape our world through the lens of identity and experience. Curated by Hudson Valley–based artist ransome, with Karlyn Benson as Exhibition Manager. On view through March 29. Desmond-Fish Public Library, 472 Route 403, Garrison, NY. (Info here)
Vincent Valdez’s first major museum survey traces more than two decades of work confronting America’s past and present with unflinching clarity. From early boxing drawings to large-scale paintings like “The Beginning Is Near (An American Trilogy)” and “The Strangest Fruit,” Valdez explores erasure, violence, resilience, and hope. The exhibition urges viewers to confront history rather than forget it. On view through April 5. MASS MoCA, 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA. (Info here)
Spending & Mending
Community Weave: A Vision for Our Future invites Spring Valley residents to help shape what comes next at Memorial Park. By creating color-coded woven squares, participants cast their “vote” for the events and offerings they’d like to see, contributing to a collaborative tapestry that reflects the community’s shared hopes. Hosted by the Spring Valley Placemakers and supported by the Arts Council of Rockland’s Art4All grant, the morning blends creativity, connection, and civic imagination. Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Memorial Park, Spring Valley, NY. Register: www.bit.ly/communityweave314
Local makers and small businesses gather for a two-day Pop-up Shop Vendor Market, featuring handmade goods, specialty foods, and unique finds from across the region. Browse a diverse mix of artisans and entrepreneurs, enjoy live entertainment, and connect with the creative community. Interested vendors can contact Jeannie Guthrie at [email protected] for participation details. March 14–15. 1417 Central Avenue, Albany, NY. (Info here)
Vintage people, take note: d. matt smith opens his archive for a two-day spring open studio inside the Newburgh Vintage Emporium Ware-House. Shop vintage and designer fashions and accessories spanning the 19th through 21st centuries, plus special guest sellers bringing even more rare finds. It’s a chance to dig through decades of style in one of the Hudson Valley’s most beloved vintage hubs. March 21–22, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Newburgh Vintage Emporium Ware-house, 10 Rt 17K, Newburgh, NY. (Info here)
The HUDSYS is HUDSY’s first-ever Oscar-style community awards show and fundraiser honoring the artists, educators, and connectors who make the Hudson Valley more creative and united. Featuring a glam cam, live Brasskill brass band, award presenters, and a high-energy after-party with DJ, dancing, beverages, and light bites (dress to impress), the evening celebrates local impact in style. Winners in each category receive a professionally produced short documentary about their work, valued at approximately $15,000. March 25. Doors 5:30 p.m.; ceremony 6 p.m.; after-party 7:15–9 p.m.. Old Dutch Church, 272 Wall St., Kingston, NY, (Info here)
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