Hi, Brian. SINSULL's got some good advice, there. But for starters you should know about the Towne Crier Cafe in Pawling (it's on the east side of Dutchess County). They have a great line-up of acts and have been bringing wonderful music to the hinterland for over twenty years now. Open mic is usually held on Wednesdays, but by no means every Wednesday, just once a month or so. Check out the website, www.townecrier.com. The website has driving directions; could take you as long as an hour and a half to get there, depending on where you are in the city. Now, the other place you'll want to know about is the Turning Point cafe in Piermont (Rockland County). They tend to be heavier on blues than folk in their line-up, but it's a good mix. In fact, a lot of times the same artist will be performing at the Towne Crier one night and at the Turning Point the next. I thought for sure the Turning Point had an open mic session, but when I went to the website (www.piermont-ny.com/turning/) I couldn't find anything about it so perhaps you could give them a ring and ask. Or perhaps the Pinewoods listing will have the info. The website has lots and lots of driving directions. Good luck, and don't forget about the Irish session in Garrison! Margaret