Michella Hand

Dine Like You: A coffee shop and cafe worth exploring ☕️

If you’re looking for a new place to grab coffee, get some work done, or enjoy a quick bite downtown, put Cafe 66 on your list.

Located just steps from the Capitol on State Street, Cafe 66 is a casual café + bakery inside a beautifully repurposed former bank space.

Here’s what you’ll find:
🥐 Fresh laminated pastries
🍳 Scratch-made breakfast items
☕️ Artisan coffee drinks
🥪 Sandwiches, soups + salads
💻 Communal tables perfect for working
🛋️ Lounge-style seating
✨ A private lounge for special functions

Whether you’re grabbing coffee to-go before work or settling in for a little while, this is a fun new addition to downtown Albany.

📍 Save this for your next downtown coffee run!

✨ Follow Michella Hand, your local insider, for more small town bites, sights, things to do, hidden gems, and weekend getaways.

If you’re looking for a magical fall experience the whole family will love, make the trip to the Pumpkin Show at Naumkeag in Stockbridge, MA!

Every fall, the stunning 48-acre Gilded Age estate transforms into an autumn wonderland filled with thousands of pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, mums and gourds, plus cauldrons, cobwebs, fairy houses, volcanoes and so much more.

And the best part? There are new and expanded displays every year, so there’s always something fun to discover!

We had so much fun bringing the kids and searching for our favorite pumpkins together. From Disney characters to silly faces, there’s something for everyone! 🎃

SAVE this for your next fall adventure and send it to someone you need to go with!

✨ Follow Michella Hand, your local insider, for more small town bites, sights, things to do, hidden gems, and weekend getaways.

Every Kick Counts! 💚

This past weekend, Thomas Pest Services and Michella Hand teamed up for our first-ever kickball tournament to raise awareness and funds for cerebral palsy — and what a day it was!

Six local teams came together for some friendly competition, lots of laughs, and a whole lot of community spirit. Together, we raised over $1,000 to benefit STRIDE Adaptive Sports and their mission to make adaptive sports accessible to all.

A huge THANK YOU to every participant, sponsor, vendor, volunteer, and community member who showed up, donated, supported, and helped make this event possible. We truly couldn’t have done it without you.

This started as an idea and turned into something so much bigger — proof that when our local community comes together, every kick really does count.

So… should we make this an annual thing?!

Gorgeous waterfalls, cozy coffee shops, local shopping, c***r, incredible food, and SO much to do—it’s the perfect weekend getaway from the Capital Region.

SAVE MY ITHACA ITINERARY 👇🏻

📍 FRIDAY
🏨 Check into The Hotel Ithaca
🍎 Enjoy the complimentary c***r + snacks in the lobby
🍔 Dinner at Burger ’N Bar
🍸 Grab a cocktail from Nowhere Special and explore downtown

📍 SATURDAY
☕️ Coffee + breakfast at The Hotel Ithaca
🛍️ Shop + stroll The Commons. Make sure to grab a coffee from Bank Coffee and shop at Hamilton & Adams®
🌽 Browse the Ithaca Farmers Market
💦 Hike to Taughannock Falls
🍎 Visit South Hill C***r for c***r + views
🍸 Grab a pre-dinner cocktail at Bar Argos
🍽️ Dinner at Thompson and Bleecker — plan ahead because it’s popular!

📍 SUNDAY
☕️ Grab one more coffee downtown - I suggest Gimme! Coffee
🥐 Explore more local shops + cafes
🍗 Grab a bite to eat + drink at the Ithaca Ale House
🚗 Head home after one more look at those Ithaca views

✨ Follow Michella Hand, your local insider, for more small town bites, sights, things to do, hidden gems, and weekend getaways.

A small town coffee shop you need to know about.

Julie B’s Coffee & Bites in Esperance is serving up certified organic coffee, house-made syrups, seed-oil-free bites, homemade breads, and SO much love in every detail.

I tried the Autumn Spice Cold Brew, Maple Sea Salt Latte, pumpkin bread, blueberry banana bread, honey bear bagel, and the Bee Sweet breakfast sandwich — and that sandwich had me OBSESSED. 🤤

You can tell how much thought and love Julie has poured into this place, and I love discovering small businesses like this that are creating something special right here in our region.

✨ Follow Michella Hand, your local insider, for more small town bites, sights, things to do, hidden gems, and weekend getaways.

Happy National Coffee Day! ☕️🤎

While I definitely drink coffee to wake up and keep me going, I also drink coffee to experience the places around me.

Coffee with friends. Coffee while exploring a new small town. Coffee on a mom-and-son adventure. Coffee while working. Coffee because I spotted a new local spot I had to try.

For me, it’s never just about the coffee. It’s about the people, the places, the conversations, the memories—and supporting the small businesses behind every cup.

Cheers to the local coffee shops that keep me going, exploring, and caffeinated. 🫶🏻

Where is your favorite local coffee shop in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley? 👇🏻

✨ Follow Michella Hand, your local insider, for more small town bites, sights, things to do, hidden gems, and weekend getaways.

If you think Fidens is just about the b**r… you need to try the food.

Located on Broadway in Albany, Fidens is one of those spots that checks all the boxes: great b**r, seriously good food, and a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

My go-to? The wings — bone-in or boneless, I’m not picky because they’re THAT good. The burger is always a solid choice, and their Reuben was top notch.

Whether you’re grabbing a drink with coworkers, catching up with friends, or bringing the family, it’s a spot I know I’ll always have a good meal.

Founded by friends, built for good food, good b**r & good company. 🍻

Have you been to Fidens yet? What’s your go-to order?

✨ Follow Michella Hand, your local insider, for more small town bites, sights, things to do, hidden gems, and weekend getaways.

Adding this one to the family breakfast rotation.

My family recently stopped into Park 26 inside the historic Queensbury Hotel for breakfast, and it was such an easy, relaxed spot to enjoy a meal together.

We shared a little bit of everything — a veggie + cheese omelette, homemade corned beef hash & eggs, and a waffle that I honestly enjoyed way more than I anticipated.

Plus, my toddler was very into the rock sugar candy that came with my latte, so apparently that was the highlight for him.

📍 Save this for your next breakfast outing!

✨ Follow Michella Hand, your local insider, for more small town bites, sights, things to do, hidden gems, and weekend getaways.

Some people call me a content creator…

But if you know me, you know I’ve always been the person who’s constantly saying, “Oh, you HAVE to try this place.”

I love finding the spots, experiences and small businesses that make a place special…and sharing them with you!

That’s really what Michella Hand is all about. Discovering local. Supporting local. Sharing local. 🤍

So… what should I put on my list next? 👇🏻