Spanky's Restaurant in Poughkeepsie, www.SpankysRestaurantPok.com, offers diners a lively New Orleans-style experience complete with a Mardi Gras festival leading to late April - early May, with an annual Crawfish Festival serving up fresh Louisiana crawfish in a variety of tantalizing ways. Live entertainment, caricature artists, authentic décor from the "Crescent City" and even chances to win prizes. Spanky's also celebrates with an Oyster Fest, Catfish Fest and Savannah Summer, pairing special menus with fine wines.

The Hudson Valley Food and Wine Festival, www.HudsonValley.org, on June 12 & 13, 20204 is held on the grounds of the Federal-style estate Montgomery Place. Sample the bounty of Hudson Valley's best wines and fine foods to the sounds of big band music. Patrons can purchase specialty & gourmet food products, many locally made, and a group of artisans offer unique handcrafted items to accent home and table. Visitors will also enjoy cooking demos, informal talks and wine tasting from award-winning area vineyards.

September's Annual International Wine Showcase and Auction, September 24-26, 2004, features more than 100 American and International wines paired with fine foods of the Hudson Valley region of New York State. The premier wine & dine showcase of the Northeast has three locations. Last year, The Would Bar & Frill, Highland, was the spot for a five-course patron's dinner. On Saturday, attendees tasted unique food creations matched with award-winning wines and bid on items during silent & live auctions at the renowned The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Hyde Park. The event's finale was a Champagne Brunch at Cosimo's Trattoria, Poughkeepsie. Stay tuned for details on this year's event.

Harvest Festival, October 3, 2004, at Stony Kill Environmental Education Ctr., in Wappingers Falls explores the world's diverse bounty and cultures. Food and craft vendors share space with agricultural and environmental displays plus family activities and entertainment.

The Captain's Table: Rehab Gala, April 16, 2004 at Villa Borghese, in Wappingers Falls.
You don't need an invitation to dine with the captain at the "Captain's Table." Proceeds to benefit Rehab Programs. $125. Auction and dinner for 200 people, successful in past, nice menu - (cordon bleu, filet mignon) social hour, cakes and pastries. Theme: cruising to Alaska.

Annual Father's Day Ice Cream Social, June 20, 2004, the Italian Gardens, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Hyde Park
Ice Cream with a variety of toppings, plus lemonade, ice tea and soft drinks are featured. Each father accompanied by a child gets a free scoop of ice cream. Children will love the old-fashioned games, face painting, story telling, jugglers and music. Take the family on a stroll through the estate's beautiful formal gardens and take photos. The event carries on Mrs. Vanderbilt's tradition of entertaining area children each year in the garden.