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Weekender: Red Hook,NY

Weekender: Red Hook,NY published on 3 Comments on Weekender: Red Hook,NY

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Bard College

You can say that Red Hook is the poor sister of Rhinebeck, which is exactly what I like about it. It’s laid back, down to earth,vibrant and interesting. And less expensive! There are some great antique shops and restaurants, most of which don’t have websites that I can link to.

Red Hook is located just on the northern tip of Dutchess County, almost in Columbia County. The country side is beautiful and it’s within 15-30 minutes of Rhinebeck, Tivoli, Germantown, and Hyde Park for further exploration.

Amtrak services nearby Rhinecliff. Many people actually commute to the city, although it seems nuts to me. Homes range from under $200k to over $2mil.

I’ll cover Tivoli another day, but I just have to say, it’s worth the drive for lunch or dinner. Like High Falls, it’s a teeny, tiny town bursting with awesome restaurants, including my favorite vegetarian, Luna 61, formerly located in the village of Red Hook.

Red Hook
Red Hook Chamber of Commerce
JFive Homes
Rhinebeck Farmers Market
Red Hook Concerns

Dutchess Salvage and Antiques

Dutchess Salvage and Antiques published on 1 Comment on Dutchess Salvage and Antiques

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Hoffmans

Hoffman’s Antique Barn, located behind a movie theater at 19 Old Farm Road in Red Hook, is my upstate Eddie. They have windows for $9, wooden mantles for $195 and tables of small items listed from $2-5. There are plenty of doors, sinks and tubs as well. 845-758-5668

The Stormville Antiques Market is this weekend! Another favorite of mine for bargain hunting. The show opens at dawn and that’s when you should try to get there. Although some vendors are still setting up, others sell out of their best stuff by 8am. And traffic is killer by 9am! Good to go up Friday night and get an early start.

A shout out to Junk To Jems, from Long Island. He’ll be at Stormville this weekend in booth #265. I was going to do a write up about him this week, but it’s going to be next week instead. People line up at his booth before he even arrives.

Historic Mansions of Dutchess County

Historic Mansions of Dutchess County published on 1 Comment on Historic Mansions of Dutchess County

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If you’re an old home fanatic like myself, you can spend the entire weekend touring the historic mansions in Dutchess County. Wilderstein is my favorite, a dark Queen Anne style home still undergoing restoration. And if you’re in the area, Wing’s Castle is not so far and it is a must see!

Hudson River Valley National Heritage
Staatsburgh
Olana
Vanderbilt
Wilderstein
Montgomery

Weekender: Kingston

Weekender: Kingston published on 5 Comments on Weekender: Kingston

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George Washington Slept Here…Really!

Kingston is the perfect place to be if you want a weekend retreat, but don’t necessarily want to be stuck in the woods. It’s about an hour closer than Hudson and housing is significantly less expensive.

The Hudson River city is comprised of three districts: Uptown Stockade, Downtown Rondout and Midtown. There is also a mall area for all of your big box needs.

There is a wide range of housing stock, from modest cottages to grand mansions. For those who have dreamed of owning a brownstone but are priced out, Kingston offers some lovely brick row houses within walking distance of many amenities.

PROS

  • Affordable prices for gorgeous homes.
  • It’s an orgasmic experience for the history buff. You do know it was the first capital of New York, right?
  • Plenty of shopping and dining.
  • Perfect base for exploring the Catskills. You’re in the country in 5 minutes.

CONS

  • 5 hours from city in traffic. That’s 3 hours to get out of the city and 2 hours to get to Kingston.
  • Be on the look out for people playing banjos on their front porches in some parts of town. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)
  • Property taxes…not so good.
  • Although the 3 districts are somewhat connected, it’s a hike to get from one end to the other. A car is more convenient.

National Registry of Historic Places

Hudson River Heritage

Hurley Heritage Society

Friends of Historic Kingston

Trolly Museum

 

Own An Island! $ 1.9 Mil

Own An Island! $ 1.9 Mil published on 3 Comments on Own An Island! $ 1.9 Mil

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Found out about this one thanks to Lower Hudson via The Real Deal.

The Plaplers, a Manhattan couple, are selling their second home on Putnam Lake. And when we say on Putnam Lake, we mean ON Putnam Lake. They paid $72,500 for it back in the 70’s. Just about what Park Slope brownstones were selling for.

The stone home was built by Bernard McEntegart and his sons 75 years ago. They hauled the material across the water.

Wonder if Fresh Direct delivers?

Video

Poughkeepsie, NY: Po-Kip-See

Poughkeepsie, NY: Po-Kip-See published on

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Let’s jump on the Poughkeepsie bandwagon here, shall we? NY Times just featured an article on the Dutchess county city. Here’s my take on it.

PROS

Past downturn and recent gentrification aside, Poughkeepsie will always have something major going for it. It’s a college town. Home to Vassar, Marist and Suny Dutchess, there has to be some kind of life for all of the students.

Restaurants are plentiful and inexpensive. One can choose from Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, Indian, Mexican, etc, etc.

Culture: not too shabby. The Bardavon Opera House, an 1869 theater, presents jazz and pop concerts, dance, film, comedy and The Hudson Valley Philharmonic. There are many art galleries popping up on and around Main Street.

Poughkeepsie offers ample nightlife for the youngsters. Since I’m an old fot who falls asleep before 10pm, I have no idea what I’m talking about. I have been to The Chance, which did remind me of the clubs of my youth: The Ritz, CBGBs, Danceteria.

Wonderful selection of Victorians at bargain basement prices.

Metro North, although a schlepp to Manhattan, is pretty convenient to have around.

A great area for weekend fun. There’s plenty of antiquing, hiking and river access.

CONS

Poughkeepsie is very spread out. There are nice areas and sketchy ones. Unfortunately, some of the best housing bargains are….guess where?

Cool city. Beware the suburban areas. Cul de Sacs, Raised Ranches, Big SUVs, W Bumperstickers. A city dweller’s nightmare.

The commute is a good hour, forty. Bring a book or take a nap.

City of Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie Chamber of Commerce
Poughkeesie Journal
Art Along the Hudson
Exiled Hipster

Undiscovered Jewel: Newburgh, NY

Undiscovered Jewel: Newburgh, NY published on 4 Comments on Undiscovered Jewel: Newburgh, NY

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A Hudson River town just an hour’s drive from the city, with ferry service to Metro North. Homes that rival any Brooklyn brownstone. A 35 acre park right in center of town, designed by those chaps who did Central Park. Gracious homes for under $300k. An international airport. So, what’s wrong with this picture?

PROS

  • Stewart Airport
  • An hour north of the city. Newburgh is right off the NY Thruway and Rt 84.
  • Ferry service connects to Metro North.
  • Homes are spectacular…and inexpensive!
  • The waterfront has been revamped with new restaurants and galleries.
  • Broadway (the Main St in the city) doesn’t have too much to offer now, but there are some exceptional cafes, bakeries and antiques shops as well as banks and grocery stores.

CONS

  • Newburgh isn’t a place for the faint of heart. Some blocks are being gentrified while others are still sketchy. There does remain a feeling of hopelessness in areas of the city, with burnt out shells, drug dealing and gang activity.
  • Homeowners couldn’t afford major renovations on these properties, so the details remain intact. However, it also means the homes are in need of TLC.
  • You’ll probably need a car for convenience. There are many big box stores just outside of the city, which currently doesn’t have everything there is to offer.
  • Orange County has high property taxes.

City of Newburgh

Wiki Newburgh

Orange County Chamber of Commerce

Newburgh Waterfront

Newburgh Arts

Dream Homes: Wing’s Castle, Millbrook, NY

Dream Homes: Wing’s Castle, Millbrook, NY published on 7 Comments on Dream Homes: Wing’s Castle, Millbrook, NY

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I visit Wings Castle whenever I’m in the area because it’s an inspiration to any DIY fanatic. I mean, they built this themselves! With reclaimed materials! The swimming pool is a friggen moat!

When I found out Wings Castle was for sale, I started saving my pennies. Currently listed at $5,850,000, I still have a few more years to go before I can afford it. I’m taking donations if anyone wants to see me finish the ongoing 30+ year project started by Peter Wing.

Dupont Castle

Beacon, NY: Artsy Fartsy, Crunchy Granola Paradise!

Beacon, NY: Artsy Fartsy, Crunchy Granola Paradise! published on 8 Comments on Beacon, NY: Artsy Fartsy, Crunchy Granola Paradise!

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The “NY Times” recently described Beacon as “a quirky town that lures creative types many on limited budgets — who shy away from more conventional suburbs”. Indeed, the town that had been run down since the 1960’s is making a comeback as an artist’s haven. Beacon is now home to many galleries, a major modern art museum, antiques shops, yoga, pilates and new age centers, a wonderful health food store, cafes and some exceptional restaurants (although the town could use even more).

PROS

  • Homes in town are walkable to Main St, train and river.
  • The area is not lacking in culture. There is a vibrant art and music scene.
  • Most newcomers are looking to become part of the community.
  • Affordable housing stock
  • Hudson River, Mountains, Hiking
  • Commutable to NYC
  • Major highways right near town makes this easily accessible.

CONS

  • Although trains take an average of 1 hour, 15 minutes to get to GCT, they are 1 hour apart during off peak hours.
  • Tale of Two Cities: Natives and newcomers don’t often mingle.
  • Shop owners tend to keep whacky hours. Main St is dead on days DIA doesn’t open.
  • Most of the housing stock is very average. There are only a handful of extraordinary homes.

Wiki Beacon

City of Beacon

Beacon School District

Beacon Business Association

Metro North

Maykr Blog

Ulster County Antiques and Salvage

Ulster County Antiques and Salvage published on

There’s only one huge salvage place in Ulster County that I know of. Zaborski Emporium in Kingston has a 25,000+ square foot warehouse off of Broadway. You will most likely find what you are looking for here; however, you’ll have to dig for it. Prices are good on some items, so-so on others. It depends upon what Stan the Junkmana paid for it himself. Layer up in winter….there’s no heat!

Check out the Antiques and Collectibles Street Market if you’re in Ulster this weekend.

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Zaborksi sinks

Ulster Antique Shops

Water Street Market, New Paltz

Cat House Antiques, High Falls

High Falls Mercantile

Vintage Village, Highland

Antique Trip, NY

Weekender: High Falls, NY

Weekender: High Falls, NY published on 5 Comments on Weekender: High Falls, NY

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The Most Awesomest Teeny Tiny Hamlet!

High Falls is small. You need a magnifying glass to find it. But this little town is bursting at the seams with fine foods, arts and history.

Some of the best restaurants in the Hudson Valley (according to me and a few of my buddies, like the NY Times) are located in High Falls, including the 4 star Depuy Canal House, eclectic Egg’s Nest and delectable Northern Spy.

PROS

  • The restaurants are to die for!
  • This itsy bitsy town even has a Sunday flea market (May-Oct) and a food coop.
  • It’s less than 2 hours from city.

CONS

  • The entire town is walkable, but you need a car to get there.
  • Apart from the restaurants (Did I mention them?), you can do the town in a couple of hours.

Getaway the Hudson

New York House

Canal Museum

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