Skip to content

Page Header

Posts categoriezed as Upstate

Weekender: Kingston

Weekender: Kingston published on 5 Comments on Weekender: Kingston

stockade.jpg

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

bilde.jpeg

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

bridge.jpg

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

newburghsign.jpg

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

Antiques and Salvage, Newburgh area

Antiques and Salvage, Newburgh area published on

booth.jpg

Hudson Valley Materials Exchange is the only re-used building materials warehouse in the area that we know of. They don’t have antique artifacts, but it is a good source for newer windows, doors, molding and paints.

The antiques shops would be the ones to carry architectural salvage. Below is a list of the ones we frequent, which = the less pricey ones.

Brian Ferraro Antiques
Hudson Valley Showcase
Dickenson’s, 440 Main Street, Beacon, 845-838-1643
Past Tense, 457 Main Street, Beacon, 845-838-4255

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

wingex.jpg

wingtub.jpg

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!

beacon.jpg

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.

marblesinks.jpg

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

eggnest.jpg

 

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

Primary Sidebar