Visiting Hudson New York
A Treasure of Diverse Vernacular Architecture, Antiques and Galleries
By: Charles Giuliano - Aug 06, 2007
Just a two hour train ride from Manhattan, Hudson, New York is a haven for a cluster of antique dealers which in turn has attracted some 25 art galleries. The land was "purchased" from Native people by Dutch settlers in 1662. The city was chartered in 1785 and as late as 1820 was the fourth largest city in New York State. It was a prosperous and tough town inhabited by an assortment of river rats plying the Hudson River for which it is named. It became notorious for its gambling and sporting life until a cleanup by then Attorney General, and later Presidential candidate, Thomas Dewey, in 1951. The antique dealers began to move into that assortment of store fronts along colorful Warren Street in the 1980s. There are now in the range of seventy dealers spread out in the city.
The attraction for visitors is the prospect of antiquing and a relatively close weekend and vacation destination from Manhattan and nearby Connecticut. There are cultural attractions including an Opera House and Stageworks Theatre. A short drive from Hudson is Olana the estate of the great Hudson River landscape painter Thomas Cole.
It took an hour and a half to drive over but friends advise that there are short cuts to shave off some of the time. We will have to explore the alternate routes and become more involved with the lively gallery scene.
Being a hot summer day there was a limit to just how much walking about we were willing to undertake. We arrived in the late afternoon specifically to attend the opening at the Nicole Fiacco Gallery so there was a limit to just how much antiquing was possible. But I was surely tempted by some great items including a pair of stunning Art Deco chairs for $1,500 as well as superb Asian art treasures. Recently we bought a station wagon which has lots of room to haul stuff. This is far too tempting when you start rambling about to barn and yard sales. We have way too much stuff as it is.
The nice folks at Knotty Woodpecker, 318 Warren Street, offered bottles of cold water to haggard looking visitors in need of hydration. The selection of hats was terrific but few in my size. One was really nifty and I came so close to settling on it but opted instead for a really gorgeous cowboy shirt. A couple of years back I bought a great cowboy hat in Santa Fe and all I need now is a fine pair of boots to complete the outfit. I chatted with the store owners who are totally into cowboy gear and C&W music about how I bought a cowboy suit from Nudie's of Hollywood some years back. Some day I plan to give it to a museum. But for now I have my new cowboy shirt. Next time we are back in Hudson I will take another look at that hat.
After the opening we dined at Baba Louie's Pizza which is known for organic, sourdough crust and exotic toppings. The service was fast and on a Saturday night the pizzeria was packed. It seems to be a popular destination with locals. They also run a branch in Great Barrington which appears to be equally popular. But, sorry, just not my kind of pie. Too new age. Tough crust. It makes me long for Santarpio's in East Boston; fairly straight and traditional but bar none the finest pizza in North America. That's a tale for another time.