Cidiot

Meet Patrick, owner of Lily’s Natural Pet Store, which just opened its second location after Poughkeepsie in Hudson. We talk dogs—a favorite subject—and why he chose Hudson, why not on Warren Street for his second location, why it’s not your average pet store, about running a pet business (I was thinking of doing one!), and tackle my burning questions such as the smell of bully sticks and what’s so great about raw. And like on many other Cidiot® episodes, we end with favorite places in the Hudson Valley… to take dogs. Lily’s Natural Pet Store — 76 N 7th Street, Hudson, NY 12534“Soft opening” in November (check hours). Grand opening Friday, December 5, 2025. Tell ‘em Cidiot sent ya!Other places and businesses mentioned:Red Wing Park, East FishkillPause Dog Boutique, RhinebeckGuest editor: Drew English of Upstate Podcast StudioThanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show here or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit. ©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

Cidiot’s last crossover event was Episode 77 with Brett Barry of Kaatscast: The Catskills Podcast. Well, I just discovered the new Valley Girls podcast, so synchronized to release at the same time, here I interview them about their show, and they interview me on their pod. Jenny Leifer and Jennifer Santiago are hosts of the Valley Girls Podcast. We talk about why they started their show, telling the Hudson Valley story one character at a time. They give a bit of advice for cidiots, we play the hilarious Hudson Valley geography game, and we end with their go-to-spots, which include Mills Mansion and swimming holes. Good timing for that. Links mentioned on this episode: Listen to the Valley Girls Podcast: valleygirlspodcast.com Follow them on Instagram: @ValleyGirlsPodNY Mat’s Rural & Country Podcast list on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/curated-lists/podcasts-for-rural-and-country-living Episode 77: The (Other) Best Regional Podcast: https://www.cidiot.com/77-the-other-best-regional-podcast/ Vanderbilt National Historic Site (Hyde Park, NY): https://www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm Cidiot® is the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Please rate & review the show at Cidiot.com, join the mailing list, and get in touch about what you like—and what you’d like to hear about. And come visit. Cidiot® 2024. All Rights Reserved

Do you love where you live? Mat sure does. Already a champion, advocate, even a shill for people moving to the Hudson Valley, Mat takes it to the next level by becoming a Certified Tourist Ambassador in Dutchess County. In this Cidiot® episode, you'll hear about the experience as well as advice for visiting from two other 'graduates.' Plus, there's a un/related story about a spider! Beacon (from Nicole) City of Beacon Bank Sq. Coffehouse Long Dock Park Dia: Beacon Dover Plains (from Dawn) Dover Stone Church Lucky Orphan's Horse Rescue Kelly's Creamery and Kelly's Husband's Truck Dutchess Tourism (from Melaine) Dutchess Tourism Discover Dutchess Destination Guide Dutchess Tourism Certified Tourist Ambassador Program Thank you for listening to Cidiot, the award-winning podcast about learning to live and love life in the Hudson Valley. Visit Cidiot.com for more information, itineraries on the blog and to join the free Cidiot newsletter. Follow Cidiot on Instagram at Cidiot.hv. 2023. Cidiot is a registered trademark.

Why do we move here? To either open—or eat at—restaurants like Bimi's. And live in—or visit—towns like Chatham. This episode is about Bimi's Canteen and Bar, about Ellen & Chris, about a deliciously quaint village called Chatham, NY. Cidiot visits Bimi's, hears the story, the backstory and visits the restaurant and the downstairs speakeasy. As you'll hear from Ellen, the story of Bimi’s is heartwarming, their journey up here is illuminating, she has advice for people opening a business, why Bimi’s is celiac safe, plus she’ll share her favorite places in the Hudson Valley as well. And if you’re thinking of planning a weekend to Chatham, on the Cidiot Farm Fresh blog you’ll find the first in a new series of Cidiot Weekender Itineraries —ideas for 72 hours or a weekend in Chatham. Thanks to Ellen & Chris for helping me put it together. And stop by Bimi's Canteen & Bar, where if you mention Cidiot, between now and September 30th, you may get treated to a glass of bubbly! Cidiot® is the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley and just loving it. Come visit. Links for this episode: Chatham: Bimi's Canteen ⁠Village of Chatham⁠ Fahari Bazaar Columbia Land Conservancy Trails Ben Gable Savories Gentle Time Farm Grimaldi Farm The Blue Plate Crandall Theatre Chatham Brewing The Shaker Museum Kinderhook Farm Samscott Orchards, Kinderhook, NY Hawks Roost Farm, East Chatham, NY Beyond: Six Depot Coffee, West Stockbridge Four Fat Fowl, Stephentown, NY Lost Lamb Bakery, Stockbridge, MA Gaskins, Germantown, NY Rivertown Lodge, Hudson, NY The Stage Coach Inn at Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield, CT Gedney Farm, New Marlborough, MA

This episode is all about cheese. Who doesn't love it? To answer them all, Cidiot interviews Lauren Cunningham-Housman, owner of The Corner Counter, a new cheese and provisions shop in Red Hook, NY. Lauren worked for years with iconic cheese purveyor Murray's Cheese in New York City, and combining her business school education and her experience in (and love of) cheese, built a plan to open her own shop. I ask her how she chose the Hudson Valley, about her journey from intern to opening her own business. I also ask about geography. Is the Hudson Valley special for cheese? And how should one buy cheese? What should I bring to a dinner party? Can we eat the rind? What’s her desert island cheese? This episode is a cidiot primer on cheese, including “affenage” — day care for cheese and facts about cheese you might not know such as there are just four ingredients in cheese, and ideas I never thought about like the seasonality of cheeses. Tune in to learn, taste with your ears and have a laugh. Plus, for a limited time as part of the grand opening, Lauren is offering Cidiot listeners 10% off cheese and charcuterie when you use the secret code GOATS at checkout. Links to things mentioned in the episode: Episode 15: Town for Sale The Corner Counter, Red Hook, NY Talbott & Arding, Hudson, NY Cheese Louise, Kingston, NY Montgomery Place, Red Hook, NY Thanks for listening. Please rate and review Cidiot in the Apple or Spotify podcast stores or simply leave us a review directly through Cidiot.com. Cidiot® is a production and registered trademark of ©2019-2023 Mat Zucker Communications. Come visit.

Welcome to Season 6 of Cidiot®! I'm excited to talk about 700,000 acre-big Catskill Park, "America's First Wilderness," with Ryan Penny, owner of Camp Catskill in Tannersville, NY.  In two parts, we'll cover what drew Ryan to the Catskills, about starting his store in Tannersville, spotting a cidiot, and about Catskill Park, including his four favorite spots "inside the blue line." We also get into Kaaterskill Falls and the controversy of its claim as the tallest waterfall in New York state. We also talk about micro spikes, crampons and how I shouldn’t wear my Stan Smiths into waterfalls. In part two, we cover culture, including the story and connection of Rip Van Winkle. You'll want to wake up for this. Be sure to check out these links: Tannersville: Cidiot Guide to 5 Places To Visit Nearby (on the Cidiot.com blog) Camp Catskill store (Use promo code CIDIOT10 for 10% off. For a limited time.) Episode 55: Hike Your Own Hike (with Sean of Mountain-Hiking.com) Cidiot® is a registered trademark, hosted and produced by Mat Zucker. Visit Cidiot.com for more info including sponsorship and partnership opportunities. Original music created by Space Studios.

I love color. I’m fascinated by color. I have questions. Amy Krane is an architectural color consultant as well as a real estate broker. And get this: she has her own podcast on color called Let’s Talk (Paint) Color with colleague Amy Woolf. On this episode in three fun, chatty parts, Amy and I talk about her journey upstate (she’s not a newbie) and then becoming a color consultant and then into my thousand questions about color especially for rural homes, historical homes - starting with why are barns red - or as you’ll hear Falun Red - and what about painting your outbuildings the same color as your house? And then she surprises with what color was researched to paint your front door for $6,000 more in resale value. You’ll also hear about her philosophy called “Fit In, Stand Out.” Part 1: About Amy’s Journey Part 2: Mat’s Color Questions Part 3: Mistakes to Avoid and Hudson Valley Favorites Thanks for listening to Cidiot®. Until December 22nd, you can help change history by voting for Cidiot for Listener's Choice in the prestigious Signal Awards in the Lifestyle category. Currently one of six finalists and gunning for gold. Amy’s Links: Company site - AmyKraneColor.com Let’s Talk (Paint) Color Podcast Other Links Mention in the Episode: The Garden Conservancy Open Days A Way to Garden Podcast (Margaret Roach)  Hancock Shaker Village (Pittsfield)  The World’s Most Famous Colorist: A Short Story (Amazon)  Episode 9: Red All Over Thanks so much to Scot Hastie at Pardee's Agency and to Sunflower Market, with stores in Woodstock and Rhinebeck, for supporting Cidiot this season. How to contact Scot: email: shastie@pardeesinsurance.net phone: 845-331-0025 x1940 web:  Pardee's Agency (A World Company)

It seemed like a giant beehive was in our willow. Or was it? What should a cidiot do anyway? This episode is about the little critters that fill our lives—and our properties—in the Hudson Valley. Bees, wasps, bats, snakes, spiders, chipmunks, frogs, beavers—and more. Tune in for an education and a giggle. Links: Beaverland, Leila Philip (new book!) Beekeeping in the Hudson Valley and Catskills Episode 78 Brett Barry shares his snake (and bear) stories Pestmasters Blog Spotted Laternfly (Scenic Hudson)  Rethinking the Humble Beaver (Scenic Hudson) Sponsors: Sunflower Market (Woodstock, Rhinebeck) Photo: Brett Barry of Kaatscast podcast