Why Visit the City of Hudson, NY?
The City of Hudson, NY is a small city on the Hudson River about 100 miles North of New York City. It is a destination for antique lovers, the seat of Columbia County, a hotbed of the arts, one of the primary “second home” areas in the Hudson Valley for New Yorker’s who need a weekend retreat, and just a fun, friendly place. It’s an easy trip up from the city or any other spot in the Hudson Valley, close enough to the Berkshires, and totally worth the drive if you’re coming from farther away.
Why Visit the City of Hudson, NY? Answer #1
Antiques:
7 city blocks on Warren Street are populated by over 80 antique shops! Where else in the United States is there a permanent collection of dealers this large? Sure you can go to an antiques fair where booths are set up to the best of the dealers ability, they’ve only brought a portion of their inventory and it’s maybe getting soggy because you’re outside and it’s DRIZZLING! But in Hudson you’re treated to a wide array of periods and styles, American and foreign antiques and they are all merchandized to the nines. So not only do you get to see some really beautiful things (and probably find that special thing you’ve been searching for) but you get to see them merchandized beautifully. A whole new world of interior design inspiration awaits! There’s so much to see you could easily spend 3 days combing these shops without getting tired or bored. Here are just a few of the photos I took on a recent visit. My preference tends to run towards both Mid-Century modern, folk art, and stuffed dead things so you’re not seeing it all because frankly, my friend Bob and I ran out of time in the 6 hours we’d budgeted for our trip to see everything. But the next trip I’ll focus on Early American and European stuff – I’ll bring my Dad, he digs that stuff.

Historical Materialism, Hudson, NY – I only didn’t buy these chairs because I was in the midst of moving!

12 Modern Antiquities, Hudson, NY – fabulous dead things in this shop, including a really giant moose head that was too large to hang so they had it in the middle of the floor.
Here are some more photos of Antiquing in Hudson.
Why Visit the City of Hudson? Answer #2
Good Food! There are quite a few restaurants in Hudson, NY and they’re good. Since there are a couple on each block (which is normal by NYC standards, but seriously dense by Hudson Valley standards) the competition is fierce and if you stink – you close. I haven’t been to all of them but I have been to Mexican Radio (which has an NYC location) which serves authentic mexican food (no gloppy cheese and bland fajitas here). The decor is gothic christian and orange which was a pretty bold choice and interesting to look at while you wait for your really good carnitas.
A couple of years ago my husband and I had the best meal of my entire life at DA | BA. I don’t know quite how to describe their food (they don’t do a good job of it on their website, so ignore the website and just GO THERE). We had incredible, inventive, taste packed food that night like I’d never had before. If they’d been open for lunch I would have gone again on my last visit. Alas, they only do dinner. Like them on facebook and they post what they’re making that day w/locally sourced ingredients, it’s an exquisite form of personal torture.
This past visit we had lunch at American Glory BBQ. I’m no BBQ aficianado (I grew up in Maine – we eat Lobster) but it tasted great, and the best part about this restaurant is that the entire front wall opens up for alfresco dining in the nice weather. We were treated to a wandering street band while we ate. It was completely unexpected and fun, it’s pretty rare that in a tourist town locals take the initiative to create an entertaining experience for visitors just for the heck of it. Bob and I felt like we were in some twisted modern version of “Guys and Dolls” – BUT there was BBQ!
Why Visit the City of Hudson? Answer #3
Architecture! Long story short because Hudson was in a pretty sad slump in the second half of the 1900′s urban renewal SKIPPED Hudson. Last century’s loss has been this century’s gain. Over the past 10 years Hudson has experienced a speedy renaissance. While nearly all of the building along Warren Street (the antique district) and the surrounding streets needed renovation and updating 10 years ago, but they also had all their original details. Each building is more beautiful than the next. You walk down the streets and see gorgeous examples of every type of Victorian city architecture and inside are beautiful moldings and mantels, original flooring and plenty of space.
Why Visit the City of Hudson? Answer #4
The Arts! Hudson has many art galleries featuring local and national artists, Hudson Opera House is now a multi-arts center, Time and Space Limited has Arts shows, music, movies, youth programs, etc, June – Sept Stageworks offers professional theatre that includes plays that are out of the regular “country canon”. Many places claim to be a home for the arts and to have a vibrant arts community, Hudson actually does.






































































