Now through New Year’s Day, New York’s Lower Hudson Valley sparkles with the sights and sounds of the holiday season, with festive shop windows, stunning art galleries, eclectic shops and a plethora of diverse restaurants that make the region a foodie destination. On the west side of the Hudson River, just across the Tappan Zee Bridge, Rockland County is a unique mix of scenic waterfront villages offering fine dining, antique and novelty shops and the perfect antidote to the monotony of retail mall madness. Shop for distinctive, hard-to-find gifts and experiences for everyone on your list with some of these local finds.
Photo credit: Ned Kelly & Company
Ned Kelly & Company, Piermont, New York
With hand-painted fabrics, Bernadaud china from France, Egyptian cotton towels, exquisite floral designs and select art and furniture pieces, this purveyor of fine goods in Piermont strives to ensure that patrons “live well at home.” Ned Kelly, the floral designer for Peter Xaviar Kelly’s acclaimed restaurants, also provides complete wedding decor and design, including lighting and quality linens. Located on Piermont Avenue, the village’s main commercial street, visitors also can enjoy lovely Hudson Valley water views and fine area dining after shopping for unique home goods.
Photo credit: Karenderya
Karenderya, Nyack, New York
Treat a loved one to a unique culinary experience this holiday season that will transport you to Southeast Asia without ever checking a bag. Named one of Esquire magazine’s “best new restaurants in America” for 2018, Karenderya is a homey Filipino eatery owned by husband-and-wife team Paolo Garcia Mendoza and Cheryl Baun in Nyack. According to Mendoza, who grew up in the Philippine’s capital city of Manilla before moving to New York when he was 15, the menu is a blend of Indo-Malay, Chinese and Spanish flavors with a dash of Indian. The casual mom-and-pop restaurant, based loosely on the affordable, roadside eateries of the Philippines, offers both traditional and modern Filipino dishes, including Chicken Tocino, chicken marinated in pineapple juice and brown sugar; Pork Ribs Sinigang, pork ribs in sour tamarind broth, bok choy, long beans, served with rice; and unique desserts like Halo-Halo, Filipino shaved ice. Gift certificates are available, and reservations are accepted for groups of six or more.
Antiques Masters, Nyack, New York
The historic Hudson Valley has many fine antique shops and galleries that buy, sell and appraise furniture, jewelry, art and other collectibles. Poke around Antiques Masters, a Nyack staple since 1995, specializing in American and European antiques, furniture, art, lighting fixtures and restoration. Owner Mohamed Mahmoud has turned his love for antiques and commitment to personal attention into one of the premier antique shops and refinishing services in the area. Visitors will find an array of unique gift ideas, home décor treasures and inspiration.
Photo credit: Piermont Straus
Piermont Straus, Piermont, New York
For the fine art and literary aficionado in your life, visit Piermont Straus, a gallery, foundation and specialty bookstore celebrating the natural beauty, history and culture of the Hudson River valley. Located in Piermont, New York, 15 miles north of Manhattan, the cozy storefront specializes in one-of-a-kind and limited-edition, artist-made prints, paintings, pottery, woodworking, textiles, jewelry, sculpture and an array of plants in unique, handmade earthenware. The vision of award-winning photographer Laura Straus, this magical find now represents more than two dozen artists, offering an ever-changing, sophisticated selection of treasures to explore that capture the spirit of a creative mind. The gallery is open on weekends or by appointment.
Photo credit: Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center
Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center, Nyack, New York
This holiday season, give a gift that can be enjoyed year-round while benefitting arts education in Hudson Valley public schools: a membership to the Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center in Nyack, New York. Hopper, widely acknowledged as one of the most important painters of 20th century America, was born in Nyack, and his restored residence is on the National Register of Historic Places. Memberships, which can range from $35 for seniors to $70 for an entire household, offer exclusive benefits including unlimited free admission, 10 percent discount in the museum shop, discounts on museum programs and invitations to member-only events, exhibits and programs.
