Everyone expects a good bed and a good breakfast at a good Bed & Breakfast; but it wasn't until we found the Bradstan Country Hotel in White Lake, New York, that we discovered we could get so much more.

As soon as we walked up the steps to the sixty-foot front porch of this beautiful estate-like house (our guess is circa 1930), about eight years ago, we knew we were in for a treat.

The treat continued as we stepped inside the imposing entrance hall with its floor-to ceiling, highly polished, mirror-adorned wardrobe, and then turned to the huge dining room on the left, and the night club/lounge to the right. I needed a restroom right away (doesn't every traveler) and was tickled by the rows of white crystal beads hanging at the entrance to the inviting facility.

And Then We Met...
Scott Samuelson and Eddie Dudek and we understood why the place was so lovingly, creatively decorated. Here were two former Broadway performers who left the New York stage some years ago and took their "art" with them. They are the most affable, amiable "inn keepers" you'd ever want to meet, talk to, joke with and applaud.

And the Accommodations
Bradstan's is a big, rambling house with five guest rooms. Each room has a queen-sized bed, private bathroom and a large sparkling white shower (there are no bathtubs). All the rooms are furnished with antiques you'd love to take home. There are small sculptures, vases of flowers and the pictures on the wall are not anything you'd ever see at a Holiday Inn. Even the "no smoking" notice in our room was unique; a glazed ceramic piece of art that stood on the table. The bathrooms, too, hold surprises; a beautiful shelf containing such amenities as a crystal-clear container filled with cotton balls and cotton swabs. The only departure from the antique look is the modern hair dryer, but what woman would feel that was an intrusion (certainly not I!). The only drawback is that exquisite antique lampshades cannot take high watt bulbs, so you might want to take a lighted make-up mirror with you.

We always stay (and I say "always" because we go back at least once a year) in room No. 4 or 5, each a full two-room suite with living room furnished with sofa, chairs, coffee table, end tables and art-deco lamps. The bedrooms are warm and welcoming. No. 4 has a four-poster with lace canopy and a dressing table, both have crisp bed linens, with extra throws to snuggle under. There are also two smaller suites which have a sitting area. The last room is a lovely bedroom.

Come to the Cabaret
Bradstan's, in the Catskill Mountains, is about 100 miles northwest of New York City and that puts it miles away from Broadway when "Broadway comes to the Mountain."

On Friday and Saturday nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day (and Saturday nights the rest of the year) the piano bar/lounge/nightclub turns into a "Broadway cabaret." The show features mostly Broadway music (my love), along with popular standards, and a little blues, jazz and country. All the performers are professional singers so whether it is Scott, other staff members (bartender or waitress) or professional cabaret singers from New York City on the stage, they know how to please an audience.

The audience consists of house guests, local residents and other vacationers in the area who know how great it is to come to this particular entertainment. There is no cover charge, and you can eat and/or drink the very reasonable minimum. My choice is always the Bradstan Brownie, a full-favored chocolate brownie (best ever) with ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream. And of course, a cherry on top.

Our Most Recent Visit to the Cabaret
Although the winter season features the cabaret on Saturday night only, we choose a December weekend every year to drink in the Christmas atmosphere. We love to walk into the house and immediately come upon their lovely tree, then wander around to find beautiful decorations throughout.

This visit we fell into a snowstorm (or it fell on us!) and we were late driving back to the hotel after dinner. Although we were concerned that we would miss part of the show, we needn't have worried. Calls were coming in from people who could not get through, including that night's performers. So we, at our little table of four in the front, were the entire audience for most of the evening. A few people did come in later on, but for the most part, we were it. Scott came to our table, said he knew how much we looked forward to a show, and he wouldn't let us down. Scott and the beautifully voiced waitress, sang directly to us. They cut no corners, and I never felt more pampered.

Applause! Applause!
Scott gets his applause in the cabaret while Eddie earns his in the kitchen. His sensational breakfasts consist of homemade breads (I never had pumpkin bread before and loved it), hard-boiled eggs, cereals, fruit, bagels, muffins, cheese, and more. On our last visit Eddie cooked up a large platter of something he called Country Stuffed French Toast made with eggs, cubed bread, cream cheese, maple syrup, milk and vanilla to be eaten with additional maple syrup or his freshly made fruit compote.

All the houseguests eat at a very large dining room table and quickly get to talking to each other as they wander up to the buffet, into the kitchen for more coffee or tea, or to read the New York Times Sunday morning they thoughtfully put out on the table.

Dining Room/Store
Remember the lovely antiques I mentioned in the rooms? Breakfast, and any time, is a grand time to walk around the dining room where equally lovely antiques are on display and on sale. I never leave without some little treasure. My husband sort of shrugged at a dish I bought last year, with a "What's it for?" comment. But when I turned it into an olive dish -- because it had a little round inset that would be perfect for pits -- and everyone wanted to know where I found such an unusual serving piece, my husband finally acknowledged my good purchase.

All Around the Town
Across the road from the hotel is White Lake with deck, lounges and beach area for swimming. Guests of the hotel have complete and free access. Other activities in the area include fishing, horseback riding, hang gliding, canoeing, skating, bowling, movies and so much more.

On our last visit we had dinner at Hana (a Korean restaurant), and Gaetano's (an Italian restaurant). We especially enjoyed lunch at the Catskill Morning Farm in Livingston Manor, where we bought all sorts of delicacies to take home, and a visit to Memories in Parksville. Memories is one of the largest source for antiques I've ever seen anywhere.

If you are wondering, as I was, why Scott and Eddie called their outstanding hotel Bradstan, here's the answer. Their names are Scott BRADley Samuelson and Eddie STANley Dudek.

Inn Cabaret
In addition to the cabaret nights, Bradstan's offers a series of 12 consecutive Sunday performances from June to September, with shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. The admission charge of $30 includes one drink. The performers at these shows are famous cabaret artists from all around the world. For example, the 2001 series included K. T. Sullivan, Jeanne MacDonald, Sally Mayes, Julie Wilson, Karen Mason (currently in "Mama Mia" on Broadway), Ann Hampton Callaway (Toni nominated featured actress for "Swing"), and Debbie Gravitte (Tony winner for "Jerome Robbin's Broadway"), to name a few.

As Gershwin said, "Who could ask for anything more!"

Gloria Rosenthal a contributing editor at Games Magazine and writes fiction, articles and humor for a variety of national publications. She is a native New Yorker who loves to travel, but says she gets plenty of kicks in her very own City. Don't ask her about Broadway musicals unless you have several hours free.