Hi friends and happy Tuesday to you! Today I’m excited to share all the deets from our weekend getaway to Hudson, New York.

Located 2.5 hours from Boston and about 1.5 hours from New York City, Hudson is becoming quite the scene. Many now refer to it as Brooklyn north, which made both K and I laugh as we secretly pretend we live in Brooklyn {or at least I do}. One day. Upon check-in, we decided to do a little exploring by foot. Warren Street is the main road through downtown Hudson and is lined with antique shops, coffee shops, boutiques and several empty store fronts waiting for a pop-up to arrive. One thing we noticed in several storefronts was the presence of a whale. Growing up on Nantucket, seeing this iconic symbol made me pause. Saturday afternoon, while gathering goodies for a picnic, we asked the kind gentleman behind the counter at Talbott & Arding “what’s up with all the whales?” to which he replied “we use to be a whaling center.” This explains why I have wanted to explore this town for so long. It’s in my roots!

Here’s the story. A group of men from Nantucket and New Bedford {seafarers, owners of whaling ships, my people} were convinced that King George would not be content to let the American colonies go, and the British would be back to recapture what they’d lost. These men feared their location along the Atlantic, which they believe made their lives and their livelihood vulnerable. And thus, in early 1783, Thomas and Seth Jenkins {brothers representing an association of men involved in maritime commerce} set out to find a safe harbor where they could relocate their families and their ships. Sailing up the Hudson, they found what they were looking for about a hundred miles north of New York Harbor: a high bluff on the east bank of the river with a natural harbor on either side. They bought the land on the bluff and along the river from Dutch families whose ancestors had purchased it from the Mohicans generations before, and they set about to create a seaport far from the sea. The last known whaling ship to leave Hudson was in 1819. I really need to check the family history to see if any relatives were part of this plan.

I can’t say enough about this little getaway. The highlights of our itinerary are below. Enjoy!

Stay

Rivertown Lodge is THE place to stay in Hudson. Located in a 1920s movie house, Rivertown is the first venture of two friends and hospitality veterans who saw the need for a revamped lodging option in Upstate NY. They collaborated with Brooklyn-based Workstead {who also designed The Wythe} and the result is swoon worthy. I came home and wanted to redecorate our entire apartment. The little details make the space. My favorite part was The Pantry located next to our room {we stayed in #3) which was filled with local salty snacks, sweet treats and beverages. As someone who loves a good boutique hotel, Rivertown Lodge is in my Top 5. Oh and they offer complimentary bikes too.

Eat 

The food did not disappoint in Hudson {and the surrounding towns}. A few favorites include:

Food Studio – Located just a block from Rivertown, we enjoyed dinner here on Friday night in the window seat. I had the chicken albondigas {meatballs} with yellow curry, sweet potato, long bean and glass noodles. I’ve been craving them ever since.

Bonfiglio & Bread – Located across the street from Rivertown, Bonfiglio is known for their delicious breads and pastries. Their pecan roll was sinfully good but I was a little disappointed with my egg sandwich. Later I was informed I should have ordered their bialy {bagel}. Next time! They also offer pizzas for lunch, which by the photos on Instagram look pretty delicious.

Talbott & Arding Cheese – The most incredible cheese shop. We stopped in after shopping on Saturday to pick up all the fixings for a little picnic. Their cheese selection is outstanding {we opted for the Dutch knuckle from Sugar House Creamery} and their sweet treats make it hard to just order one. We indulged on the ginger cake and the homemade marshmallows.

Gaskins – Located 20 minutes south of Hudson you will find Gaskins, which has now become one of my favorite restaurants. It is everything you want your local spot to be. Cozy bar, delicious food and the most gracious staff. The roasted carrots, mac + cheese and brownie sundae were comfort food to a T. K enjoyed her burger and the Hill Farmstead beer on tap. Owners Nick and Sarah Suarez  “aim to be a haven, a place you can feast and celebrate or just drop by for a quick beer. Nothing makes us happier than when the farmers who grow our food come eat with us at the restaurant.” I can’t wait to visit this gem again.

Fish & Game – We had Sunday brunch at this Hudson staple which is run by chef Zak Pelaccio and his wife, chef Jori Jayne Emde. The Johnny cakes topped with an egg were to die for and their granola was the best I’ve ever had. For dinner, the menu changes nightly, focusing on the freshest ingredients from local farms.

I should also mention that Rivertown Lodge just opened their kitchen and offers weekend brunch and dinner. By the looks of it, their brunch is the place to be on a Saturday or Sunday in Hudson.

Shop

I was certainly surprised by how many amazing antique shops are in Hudson. When K and I buy our dream home, I know exactly where to come for our mid-century pieces. A few other shops not to miss include:

Mutiny – Run by a surgeon and his sculptor wife, Mutiny is a beautiful storefront with an electric mix of men’s wear, home goods and an impressive stationary collection, including Postalco notebooks.

Les Indiennes Showroom – A showroom dedicated to hand-blocked textiles… yes please! I have long been a fan of Les Indiennes pillow cases and enjoyed seeing their entire collection, which includes wallpaper too. I purchased one of their signature candles in the sweetest little blue hand-blocked draw-string pouch. The perfect gift to have on-hand for a last minute gift.

Hawkins New York – I literally wanted one of everything at this interior designer’s dream shop. From rugs, to linens, to beautiful pottery and furniture, this is the place to go for that unique piece that everyone will ask about. And their signature candles are pretty incredible. I suggest purchasing their Hudson scent to always remind you of this charming town.

Red Chair on Warren – I am going to forever refer to this shop as Heaven on Warren. This beautiful shop is focused on Swedish, Belgian and French antiques. Owner Jocie Sinauer makes frequent buying trips to Europe and hand selects every item in the shop. If we weren’t leaving for Paris in 3 weeks, I would have left with several french bowls to add to my collection.

Colonia – My second favorite antique store on Warren Street. I was so pleased to see they have an Etsy site.

2 Note – This shop is a trip for your senses. Offering beautiful perfumes, shampoos, body lotions, face lotions and even multi-purpose house cleaner. I loved the scent of Adagio.

Flower Kraut – Located across the street from Rivertown, this little floral studio has an impressive selection of cacti, succulents, and pots. And their beautiful floral arrangements are a nice treat to bring home.

*************

I am fairly certain Hudson will be a place we return to again and again. Our itinerary is already coming together for our next visit: dinner at Fish & Game, a visit to Olana State Historic site, and a meal at The Corner at Hotel Tivoli.