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People In Your Neighborhood
By Terence P Ward
Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum
Looking for a different way to tap into the wonders of the region with your children this summer? Here’s a selection of attractions for a variety of ages and interests, ranging from live animals and natural history to appreciation of art and science.
Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum
Billed as “Hudson Valley’s best place for (little) kids,” this Poughkeepsie museum is packed with programs and exhibits designed to attract the wee ones and keep them busy as they learn by encouraging exploration, be it with giant foam shapes or a mastodon skeleton. There are parent guides to the exhibits available online. The museum also has weekly drop-in sessions and family learning nights. Admission is $8 per person age one and older; check mhcm.org for hours and additional programs. 75 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie.
The School
Kinderhook has played host to a portion of the Jack Shainman Gallery for the past two years, dubbed “the School” because the 30,000-square-foot space was once a schoolhouse. The School provides a local option for viewing of artists from North America, Africa, and East Asia. Through October 22, on display is A Change of Place: Four Solo Exhibitions, which “converge on themes of transformation, environment, and remembrance.” Two of the artists focus on contemporary wars, a third is showing apisculptures (made collaboratively by artist and a colony of bees), and the last installation is “composed of paintings made from photographs taken of interiors of The School.” The School is open 11am-5pm on Saturdays. 25 Broad Street, Kinderhook.
Trevor Zoo
On the campus of the Millbrook School, Trevor Zoo is the only zoo in the United States that’s at a high school. On six acres are housed 180 animals from 80 species, tended by both professional staff and student volunteers who are learning the ropes. It’s open every day of the year for just $5 admission. Bring your own food, and expect to carry your trash out with you. 282 Millbrook School Road, Millbrook.
Fishing Center & Museum
There is a something about fly fishing that transcends using bait; the artistry and mimicry needed to tie an effective lure takes the relationship between angler and fish to a whole new level. Local fly fishing is on display in Livingston Manor, where exhibits about legends of the art intersect with classes to put visitors on the road to mastery themselves. “We invite you to interact with the fly tyers, rod makers, environmentalists, and naturalists who present programs at the center.” Admission is $12, and the museum is open 10am-4pm seven days a week until November, then Tuesday-Saturday. 1031 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor.
New York State Museum
The Albany-based New York State Museum is “dedicated to exploring the human and natural history of the state.” It includes an ever-changing series of exhibits that explore the art, history, geography, and ecology of the Empire State. With 100,000 square feet in which to work, museum staffers can maintain several permanent exhibits even while switching others out seasonally. Visitors are sure to see the Cohoes mastodon and learn about Adirondack wilderness and Albany archeology, among others. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday by donation, but the parking fee is mandatory, not suggested. 222 Madison Avenue, Albany.
by Alecia Eberhardt
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| All photos by Tom Smith. |
Since the early 1900s, diners have been a staple of life in America. These establishments share a common ancestor with food trucks—the horse-drawn “lunch wagons” that visited businesses to take advantage of their employees’ midday hunger—and, like food trucks, diners have been experiencing a resurgence over the past five
years. Why? Well, it’s true that traditional American comfort food (like burgers, fries, and doughnuts) has undergone a transformation, becoming the icon of a hipster foodie lifestyle. But that transformation alone doesn’t explain why diners are still so popular. To understand that, you’ll need to make the trip to your local diner. The unironic old-school décor, the regulars seated at the counter, the extensive and infinitely customizable menu, the comfortable vibe, the witty banter between wait staff and customers, and the idea that you can sit as long as you like, sipping endless coffee refills—all of these factors define the true diner experience, which is ever more valuable in our world run by electronic communication and impersonal chain restaurants.
Through the Diner Porn project, which documents the world of the American diner through photography and written vignettes, my partner and I have visited dozens of diners in the Hudson Valley (not to mention the places we’ve tried while traveling without a camera). Here are a few of our favorites.
DUTCHESS COUNTY
“Historic” Village Diner, Red Hook
Though “historic” is not technically part of this diner’s name, its been adopted since the diner was placed on the historic registrar in 1988. The diner itself, a classic Silk City model from Paterson, New Jersey previously known as the Halfway Diner, was built in 1927, and not much has changed since then. The tiny railcar-style space is as authentic as it gets, with a chrome exterior, original tiling, and neon signage. The menu offers classic diner food (try the sandwiches, like the tuna melt), and with its low prices, it’s a favorite of Bard students.
Eveready Diner, Hyde Park
Of the three Eveready Diner locations in the Hudson Valley, the Hyde Park location is by far the best. There’s a reason that the Eveready Diner is a favorite of Culinary Institute of America students—the food and the fancy cocktails, are no joke. (Try the banana split—it’s a huge, delicious work of art!) But the best part of the Eveready is the aesthetics. Though the diner is “younger” than most (it’s been in operation for about 40 years), the neon lights, retro signage, and bow-tied staff all call to mind a simpler time. Even the manager looks like he stepped right out of 1954. Perhaps that’s why the diner is so popular with its set of regulars, the ROMEOs—that is “Retired Old Men Eating Out.”
New Poughkeepsie Diner, Poughkeepsie
One of the best things about diners is the way that they bring a community together; diners are truly a democratizing force, where people of all walks of life cross paths. The New Poughkeepsie (or “Pok,” a regional nickname for the city) Diner is the perfect example: within the tiny dining car sits an excellent reflection of Poughkeepsie’s diverse community, actively engaged in what the Diner Porn team calls “inter-booth communication.” The owners run a friendly yet efficient operation, hustling hard behind the grill to serve their dedicated customer base and letting the wait staff do the talking. Plus, there’s no denying that they ladle up some truly delicious daily soups.
Honorable mention: Palace Diner, Poughkeepsie
ULSTER COUNTY
Olympic Diner, Kingston
The location of the Olympic Diner (just off the Thruway at exit 19), the fact that it’s open 24 hours, and the signage along route 28 that reads “TRUCKS AND BUSES WELCOME” might prompt some to write it off as a typical truck stop. But the Olympic is quick to correct that notion, serving up chicken Hawaii, shrimp scampi, fettuccine Alfredo, and a variety of other non-traditional yet tasty options. And though the food certainly has a fan base, it’s the owners, Louie and Angie, who steal the show, treating their customers like family and creating an atmosphere where travellers and locals alike feel comfortable and appreciated.
Phoenicia Diner, Phoenicia
Since its renovation two years ago, the Phoenicia Diner has become somewhat famous, with mentions in Vogue and the New York Times. That’s no surprise—not only is the diner beautiful, with carefully restored mod details and stunning mountain views, but the food is also fantastic. As opposed to the extensive menu found in many diners, Chef Mel Rosas focuses on offering a small number of options that can be prepared fresh, with many items sourced locally. The mini cast iron skillets, featuring personal portions of grits, polenta, eggs, or corned beef hash, are a popular choice, and the coffee (roasted locally in Bethel) is strong and flavorful. Though there’s definitely a strong “Brooklyn” vibe here, the crowd is actually a diverse combination of weekenders and locals from all over the region, eating together in harmony. Get there early on the weekends—the parking lot is full by 11am!
Village Diner, Saugerties
Unlike some of our other favorites, the Village Diner looks fairly unassuming from the outside—it’s not “historic,” and it doesn’t have that characteristic chrome exterior that diner lovers can spot from a mile away. But the Village Diner is special for three reasons: the service, the community, and the food. The wait staff greets every customer immediately, telling them to sit wherever they like. The front section is definitely where the action is—the booths overlook Main Street, giving customers a front row seat to the Village of Saugerties, and the counter hosts a cast of regulars that the town knows by name. And it’s easy to see why the Saugerties community keeps coming back: the extensive menu offers huge servings of diner staples, like sandwiches and burgers, along with more creative dinner specials. Try the huevos rancheros—it’s not traditional diner food, but here it’s amazing.
Honorable mention: Deitz Stadium Diner, Kingston
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