Hudson

More and More

Hudson has done quite a lot of evolving in the past ten years…and so have I.



I thought nothing could be better than being executive chef at Michael’s and living in Manhattan. Then I met Nina.



She’s a really superb pastry chef. I dazzled her with my seductive appetizers and entrees. She mesmerized me with her desserts.



And then she introduced me to her roots, the Hudson River Valley, a nirvana of fresh organic vegetables and produce grown locally.



Now, Nina and I own the SwoonKitchenbar.



So we live, work and love in Hudson.



Evolving is good.

Hudson is experiencing something of a renaissance, as more and more people are flocking there in droves, opening up businesses and creating an energy and buzz that is unmatched by any town in the surrounding area. And residents and visitors are reaping the benefits: from exciting entertainment to world-class dining and shopping to quality art and antique galleries, there’s something in Hudson for everyone.



“Hudson just has this really terrific energy,” said Rita Birmingham, owner of the newly-opened Mount Merino Manor B&B, located just outside of Hudson. That sentiment is echoed by many of the business owners in the city, some of whom have been here their entire lives, others who made the big move a few years ago, when Hudson was just starting to experience some growth, and still others who came here just recently.



So just what is it about Hudson that makes it so popular? When most people think of Hudson, they think about the many antique stores that dot Warren Street, Hudson’s main drag; some may they think about the amazing Greek Revival and Federal period townhouses that line that same street; some may conjure up thoughts of Olana, Frederick Church’s moorish-style villa that is just minutes away from Hudson. Hudson has a fascinating history, and some breathtaking views of the Hudson River Valley. It’s also conveniently located—an Amtrak station and close proximity to the New York State Thruway make travel here from all points south and north a breeze.



Yes, Hudson has all of that. In the final analysis, however, it’s really the people that make Hudson the special place that it is. There are lots of towns that have fabulous architecture, fabulous shopping, fabulous dining, fabulous views and are within an easy commute from New York City, but what makes Hudson special is the community, that group of people who love this town and who share a serious commitment to working together to make it succeed.



One recent initiative of Hudson business owners is the creation of the Hudson Business Alliance, and organization of Hudson businesses dedicated to enhancing the image of Hudson. Their new advertising campaign—Hudson…More and More—intends to show visitors that Hudson is more than just antique shops and historic architecture. Those characteristics of Hudson are already well known. What isn’t so well known, however, is the extraordinary growth that Hudson has experienced in the past few years, and the special people who have made it happen.



A Brief History

Hudson was founded in 1783 by seafaring Quaker emigrants from Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and New Bedford, who transformed a sleepy boat landing “at the head of navigation on the Hudson River” into a booming city and bustling port that rivaled the port of New York City. Ships sailed from Hudson on whaling and sealing voyages to the south Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and traded with ports of call in Europe and the Caribbean, returning to Hudson with exotic goods, barrels of whale oil and tons of “whale bone,” and harrowing tales of encounters with pirates, corsairs, slave traders, cannibals, enraged whales and the navies of unfriendly nations. Shipyards, candle factories, rope walks and warehouses clustered near the port, while stately mansions and glittering storefronts were raised on the hills above. Then, it all came tumbling down, and by 1850 the “miracle city” faced a very uncertain future.

That uncertain future seemed to continue until the late 20th century, when people started coming to Hudson to live and work. Many artists came, attracted by the lower rents as well as the long tradition of artists in the area. Soon other people followed, drawn by the indescribably energy that a community of artists inevitably creates. New galleries, shops, performance venues and restaurants opened up, and 2004 saw Hudson experiencing its biggest growth yet. “I’ve stated [before] that we are enjoying a renaissance like never before,” wrote Hudson’s Mayor Richard Scalera in the recently published Fall/Winter 2004 Hudson City Guide (published by Hudson Valley Newspapers and available at most Hudson businesses), “but 2004 will be difficult to top!” It seems likely, though, that 2005 and beyond promise even better things for Hudson.



What to Do When You’re Here

Hudson is more or less defined by Warren Street. Many of Hudson’s businesses and attractions are located there, so you’ll want to leave time to explore the street, and also to wander down some of the side streets—there are lots of great shops and places to visit there as well. Warren Street extends from the Hudson River eastwards for eight blocks, which fill close to two miles. Warren Street is long and broad, so give yourself some time to make it from top to bottom. The diversity represented block to block and change moving down towards the river is remarkable.



Antiquing

Hudson is famous as one of the largest centers for antique shopping in the northeast. Most of the antique shops are located on Warren Street, and within approximately six blocks shoppers can expect to come across more than 70 antique stores of all sizes and types, from tiny holes in the wall that sell vintage knick-knacks to larger antique dealers that sell expensive antique furniture and paintings to establishments like Hudson House Antiques (738 Warren St.) that specialize in the historically correct restoration of antique furniture. For a day of antiquing, be sure to come prepared, especially with comfy walking shoes—although the entire length of Warren Street can be walked in about 20 minutes, you’ll want to leave extra time to wander in and out of stores, especially when some treasure in a window catches your eye. The antique shops in Hudson, for the most part, are open from Thursday through Monday, and closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The best way to explore Hudson’s antique shops is to just wander, but if you’d like a map, please write to the Hudson Antique Dealers Association, 522 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534. Many Hudson businesses also carry this handy (and free!) map.



Shopping

Don’t think that the only shopping in Hudson is for antiques. There are many different types of shops there, suitable for everyone’s taste. As with the antique shops, the best way to discover the great shopping in Hudson is to just go and walk around.



At FABRICations (558 Warren St.), not only can you buy fabric and quilt supplies, but you can also buy lampshades, antiques and even Inuit carvings. Owner Karin has been in Hudson for eight years, and has seen a lot of changes since her early days here: “Hudson really seemed to be coming alive when I first came here, and it seemed like the place to be. Hudson has experienced a lot of gradual changes over the years, and now seems to be building on its own excitement.”

I came to Hudson to attend a wedding. Walking up from the little restored train station…I fell in love. The people, the buildings, the shops, this is America.



I wanted to be a part of it. So we created the Muddy Cup. A coffee house where you sit and relax, sit and talk, sit and read, or just sit. People seem to like it.

Lili and Loo (259 Warren St.) offers eclectic and eccentric objects, everything from tiny decorative eggs to huge 7-foot urns from South Africa. Owner Melinda also carries furniture, textiles, lighting, tableware and a small line of clothing, and everything is very affordably priced. Affordability was one of the big reasons why Melinda came to Hudson in the first place. “I was living in Manhattan at the time,” she said, “working in graphic design and advertising. I figured it was time to do my own thing, and Hudson seemed to be this diamond in the rough. With all of the great antique stores, great architecture and great people, something had to be happening here in terms of traffic. And Hudson was extremely affordable—I knew that at Manhattan real estate prices, I wasn’t going to be able to realize my dream. In Hudson, I could.”



Jim Vasilow of Vasilow’s Confectionery (741 Columbia St.) is a third generation candymaker whose shop is located just around the corner from the 7th Street Park on Columbia Street. Jim grew up in the area, and a couple of years ago decided to re-open his grandfather’s Hudson candy shop, which had been closed for several years (albeit at a different location). Not unlike Roald Dahl’s famous candymaker, Willy Wonka, Jim runs his candy shop with whimsy, ingenuity, creativity and plenty of charm. While he is not as reclusive, eccentric or fantastic as the fictional Mr. Wonka, there’s still an undeniable sense of magic that radiates from Vasilow’s Confectionery.



Another local is Eva of de Marchin (620 & 609 Warren St.). For fine men’s and women’s fashions, de Marchin is the place to go. Long a presence on Warren Street, de Marchin continues to impress with its stylish collections. Interesting and unique items of the highest quality and fabrication are their specialty. They feature clothing and jewelry design from the U.S., France, Belgium, Italy and Spain as well as designers local to Hudson and the surrounding area.



If you’re in need of a workout to fit into all of these tony fashions, visit Steiner’s Sports (301 Warren St.). Steiner’s is packed with sportswear and comfort footwear by all of the best manufacturers.



Scott Neven of Neven & Neven Moderne (614 Warren St.) has been in Hudson since 1987. It was his former job as a photographer that originally brought him to Hudson, although he now sells modern furniture. “With digital photography really gaining ground,” he said, “I figured by days as a photographer were numbered. I had a smaller photography shop where I sold modern furniture on the side, and eventually phased out the photography part and started selling just modern furniture.” He moved to his present location five years ago, and next year will move into a 6,000 square foot building where he can expand his inventory.



Modern furniture is also on sale at Lounge (535 Warren St.), which sells a variety of sofas, chairs, beds and lighting. Lounge’s original store was located in High Falls, and opened a second location in Hudson just a short while ago.

Gallery Hopping

Hudson has several art galleries exhibiting a wide variety of art in many styles and media. The Richard Sena Gallery (238 Warren St.) hosts several exhibitions each year of contemporary art. On view through November 14 are the paintings of Path Soong. Since 1996, when Soong had her first solo exhibition in Soho, NYC, viewers, collectors and critics have found the works to be singular and memorable.



In this first exhibition with The Richard Sena Gallery, Soong has created a body of work consisting of eight large paintings and eleven smaller works throughout the space. Within the gallery is a small room, barely large enough for one or two people. For this particular section of the space, the artist has done three small black on black works, which like the other paintings, are wonderfully meditative yet startling and unexpected.



For more information about the gallery, please visit their Web site at www.rsena.com.



Hailed as the premier gallery of the Hudson Valley, the Carrie Haddad Gallery (622 Warren St.) presents eight large exhibits a year and includes all types of painting, both large and small sculpture, works on paper and a variety of techniques in photography.



Carrie opened the Gallery in 1991, the first gallery in Hudson, NY at the time. The gallery became an instant success and continues to show the best established and newly discovered artists of the Hudson Valley.



On view through December 5 are the landscape paintings of Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, and in the photography gallery, the photos of Peter Kelly.



For more information about the Carrie Haddad Gallery, visit their Web site at www.carriehaddadgallery.com



Dining

A day of visiting Hudson requires some serious sustenance, and the many different dining establishments certainly will not disappoint. Start your day at the Muddy Cup (742 Warren St.), Hudson’s only European-style coffee house. The Muddy Cup is certainly not an impersonal Starbuck’s—comfortably furnished with plush sofas and chairs, it’s the perfect setting to sit and have a cup of coffee and a scrumptious baked good to start your day. The Muddy Cup also has occasional live entertainment, and if you’re in Hudson on business, free wireless Internet access for your laptop. A separate desktop computer is also available.



For lunch, try Nola Bakery (454 Warren St.). Opened just last year, all of the sandwiches and pastries are hand made by owner Jimmy Tanico. Whether you order a muffin for breakfast or a croissant sandwich for lunch, you can enjoy it either inside, just outside the bakery itself, or outside in an outdoor seating area that has a wonderful view of the hustle and bustle of Warren Street.

Another dining option is Mexican Radio (537 Warren St.), where you can enjoy authentic Mexican food either for lunch (they have some terrific lunch specials), or for dinner. Mexican Radio’s New York City restaurant has been repeatedly chosen by the New York Press as the best Mexican restaurant in the city. Owners Mark Young and Lori Selden opened the Hudson branch of Mexican Radio in June of 2003, and ever since then people have been flocking to the restaurant in search of the best Mexican food around.



And finally there’s the Red Dot (321 Warren St.), a Hudson institution. A laid back bistro, the Red Dot has long been a favorite place to enjoy dinner or Sunday brunch.



Hudson Opera House

One of the greatest treasures in Hudson is the Hudson Opera House, which according to the League of Historic American Theatres is the fourth oldest surviving opera house in the country. The vast interior space now holds a wide variety of programs, many of which are free to the public, including concerts, readings, exhibitions, lectures, theater and dance presentations, workshops and classes and community arts events. The programs are for both adults and children alike and draw participants both from the immediate vicinity and from just about every corner of the United States.



The building was constructed in 1855 as the first City Hall for the town of Hudson. Around 1880, shortly after Paris had built its own Opera House, many town and city halls in America, including the one in Hudson, changed their names to “Opera House.” This period was the height of the Gilded Age when many Americans were seeking to emulate Europeans as much as possible.



At that time, the first floor of the building held various civic offices, such as the post office and the police station. The auditorium upstairs was used for everything from traveling lecture presentations and musical and theatrical events to local functions like dances, poultry shows, Christmas pageants and graduations.



After City Hall moved up Warren Street in 1962, the building was briefly a Moose Lodge and then was sold to an out-of-town developer. For nearly 30 years it sat vacant, decaying and accumulating debris but at the same time remaining structurally stable. When the Opera House was threatened with demolition (to become a parking lot) in 1992, local citizens banded together to save the building. They created Hudson Opera House, Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to restoring the building both physically and to its position as a cultural and civic center.



Thereafter followed many years of work, much of which was required before any sort of occupancy, let alone programming, was possible. The basement was flooded with about five feet of standing water—workmen in scuba gear had to swim in the water to unclog the drains. The roof was leaking, causing further damage to ceilings and walls, the building had asbestos which had to be eliminated, and many four-legged and winged creatures who had taken up residence there had to be evicted.

There were other challenges as well. As a historic building that falls within the City of Hudson Historic District, preservations studies, historically-sensitive building plans and approval from the State Historic Preservation Office were all required before any restoration work could begin. The funds were eventually raised, the studies were completed, the roof was repaired and the space was slowly prepared for restoration. The first restored room in the building, the West Room, was opened in December of 1997.



In April of 1998 the Hudson Opera House began its full schedule of programming for residents of Hudson and the surrounding communities. Since opening the building there have been over 350 programs with attendance figures of over 40,000. All of the programs have been and will continue to be low cost, ranging in price from $3 to $12, and over half of the programs presented are free. Scholarships are always available, and often blocks of tickets are given to neighborhood groups serving families in need.



The Hudson Opera House continues to provide for residents and visitors some of the best workshops and special programming in the region. Ongoing workshops include Yoga, Tai Chi, African Dance and a variety of art classes for seniors, children and anyone interested in learning to draw, sculpt or paint.



The exhibition space, a long hallway that is filled with light, has been the site for some of the most exciting exhibitions by some of the region's and the world’s most talented artists.



The Hudson Opera House is located at 327 Warren Street in the town of Hudson. For more information, including its programming schedule and membership and other giving opportunities, please call 518 822 1438 or visit their Web site at www.hudsonoperahouse.org.



Winter Walk

The first Saturday of each December, the Hudson Opera House presents “A Winter Walk on Warren Street,” the eagerly anticipated community festival that marks the beginning of the holiday season in Hudson. This annual event features brightly decorated shops, festive music, dancers in shop windows and good cheer everywhere. Winter Walk 2004 will take place on Saturday, December 4 from 5:00-8:00 pm.



Those who have attended Winter Walk in the past have enjoyed fanciful carriages drawn by teams of horses, carolers dressed in Victorian costumes and the aroma of roasted chestnuts filling the air. It’s a scene evocative of days gone by, but with many new twists. The streets are also filled with magicians, face painters, parade puppets created by area youth and numerous costumed characters including the walking Grandfather Clock, the Can Can Girl, the Pied Piper, the Victorian Lady and elves of all sizes.



Music is everywhere—a rich and diverse group of musicians to provide festive and lively sounds in nearly every Warren Street shop. Clusters of carolers spread holiday cheer all along Warren Street during the celebration. From a Celtic harpist to a solo cello, musicians perform folk, classical, jazz and blues—something to please every ear.

I was born in Hudson and wanted to stay connected with the community that had raised me. The time seemed right to create a place like Jubilee, that could bring people together with some hot cajun food and cool jazz. Jubilee has done just that. After a lot of very hard work, people of all nations and walks of life come together and enjoy themselves. It’s that kind of place.

Other performers on Warren Street during Winter Walk include choreographer Abby Lappen and her fascinating window dancers as well as performers from Kuumba Dance and Drum, Diata Diata and the Sternfeld School of Dance. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus listen to children’s wishes and pass out small gifts in City Hall. Add to all of this horse-drawn carriage rides, strolling carolers, Saxophone Santa, bagpipers and fireworks at the end of the festivities.



This free event has fast become a holiday tradition for area residents, with entertainment and activities to please all ages. Food is available both outside and inside, and many restaurants that do not normally keep evening hours stay open to help feed hungry Winter Walkers.



American Museum of Firefighting

It is a little known fact that the history of firefighting in the United States has close ties to the state of New York and to the Catskill Mountain region. In fact, Hudson is home to the oldest company of Volunteer Firefighters in the United States. It is also the site of the American Museum of Firefighting, the largest museum of its kind in the world. It is located on the grounds of the Volunteer Firemen's Home, one of the few rest homes for volunteer firefighters in the world.



The museum is closely tied to the history of The Volunteer Firemen’s Home. The history of the home began in 1872, when the Volunteer Firemen's Association of the State of New York, also known as FASNY, was formed. The organization was intended to serve as a focal point for the activities of the now 150,000 active and exempt Volunteer Firemen of the State of New York. The goals of FASNY remain as they were at the time of its inception: the advancement of the Volunteer Fire Service and the providing of better protection to the general public.



At the annual FASNY Convention in Cortland, NY, in August 1888, George W. Anderson, President of the Veteran Firemen's Association of the State of New York, first proposed the idea of the Volunteer Firemen's Home: “The services rendered by the Volunteer Firemen of the State of New York are at all times hazardous and involves risk of life, but are given freely in the protection of life and property to their fellow citizens without compensation or reward. The New York State Firemen’s Association should act to provide a home for those who due to adversity or force of circumstances are not able to provide for themselves. The President of this Association should appoint a committee of five members, whose duty it shall be to report to the next annual meeting of the Association, a place to build the Home.”



The resolution of Mr. Anderson, who became known as “the Father of the Home,” was put to a vote and carried. All the members of the association were asked to each donate fifty cents per year toward the support of the home. The first donation, in the amount of $1,010, was given by Harry Howard, ex-Chief of the New York Fire Department. A portrait of Mr. Howard now hangs in the entry hall to the museum. Other volunteer firefighters followed suit, donating a total of $11,268 to build the home. With that money FASNY was able to purchase from the State of New York 30 acres overlooking the Hudson River and to begin construction of the home. Cornerstone-laying ceremonies were held on June 28, 1892, with Harry Howard as master of ceremonies. The first resident of the home, William H. Hudson of Engine Company Number 5 of the Hudson Fire Department, was able to move in on June 5, 1895. To date, over 2,448 volunteer firefighters have established residence at the home.

In 1923, both the Volunteer Firemen's Association and the Exempt Firemen's Association of New York City approached the Trustees with a resolution, signed by 24 surviving members of the Associations. It stated: “Resolved: to transfer all of the famous antiquities, old relics of the Volunteer Fire Department of the City of New York-disbanded in the year of our Lord 1865-to the Firemen's Home, Hudson, New York, where they will be preserved with the utmost care, not alone for what they are but what these antiquities stand for.”



The Trustees of the Home acted upon the offer and agreed to build a 2,320 square foot museum. The cornerstone was laid on April 23, 1925 by the President of the Board of Trustees, Judge Arthur S. Tompkins who was assisted by the 100-year-old Home Member, John Crusie O'Neal. The museum opened its doors with four pieces of firefighting apparatus that were donated by the Associations. One of those engines, which still sits in the museum, dates from 1725. Known as the Newsham Engine, it is a British-made engine that was considered the height of firefighting technology in its day. The engine, one of two that were ordered for New York City, arrived in New York on December 14, 1731 aboard the ship Beaver. These were the first successful working engines ever used in New York State-before their arrival the bucket brigade, where buckets of water were passed from firefighter to firefighter, was the only means of fighting fires in the Colonies. The lead-lined cistern makes up the body of the engine and two treadles at the top attached to handles at the sides would have been worked by the firemen to provide the suction that pumped the water through the gooseneck hose at the top.



The museum has greatly expanded from those early days when just four engines were housed there. From the outside the museum looks like a modest brick building. The exterior, however, does not fully prepare the visitor for the 37,000 square feet of exhibition space within. From 1957 to 1989, three additions were added to the museum making 21,612 square feet of space. Through generous donations from Fire Departments, companies, organizations and individuals, the museum could no longer display everything in its possession. A new 16,000 square foot addition with exhibition, restoration and storage rooms was constructed in the spring of 2000.



Inside this cavernous space are displays that tell the history of firefighting in the United States from the earliest bucket brigade days to the present. Perhaps one of the most amazing concepts to keep in mind while touring the museum is that nearly every item in it, from the largest engine to the smallest badge, has been donated by firefighters who are committed to the museum. There is something there for everyone, even the most veteran firefighters. One visitor, a fireman for 52 years, remarked “There’s stuff in here I never knew existed.” Over 80 antique engines, steamers, carts and portable pumps dominate the floor space, while display cases and wall space hold over 3,000 pieces of memorabilia from the past. Display cases hold leather water buckets, wooden water mains, model toys, engine replicas, speaking trumpets that allowed fire chiefs to communicate their orders to their men, helmets of leather and aluminum, badges, uniforms, smoke-protecting masks and fire alarms. There is also a display case devoted to antique fire extinguishers, such as glass grenades containing carbon tetrachloride that were thrown at the base of a fire.

Later versions of that kind of extinguisher had hammers held with fusible links that when melted from the heat of a fire tripped the hammer to break the glass and spew carbon tetrachloride on the fire. Banners from fire companies hang from the ceilings and on the walls. Also hanging on the walls are photographs, posters from events both past and present and original oil paintings. One of the most interesting displays is a painting of the fire at Barnum's Museum in 1865. In the painting an American flag flies atop the museum while the fire rages. That same flag, plucked from atop the museum by a fireman during the fire, now hangs above the painting.



There are also some special displays in the museum. There is a display case devoted to the history of firefighters throughout the world; another devoted to the history of the Zouaves, a special branch of firefighters who fought for the Union during the Civil War; and yet another devoted to the Marching Bands made up of companies of firefighters. Finally, there is a special display case devoted to African-American firefighters in the United States.



Owned and operated by the Firemen’s Association of the state of New York, the museum is located on the grounds of the Volunteer Firemen's Home at 125 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson. Admission is free. The museum is open seven days a week, excluding major holidays, from 9 am to 4:30 pm. For more information please call 518 828 7695 or visit www.fasny.com/museum.



Olana

Named for a fortress treasure-house in ancient Persia, Olana was the home of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), one of America’s most important artists, a student of Thomas Cole and a major figure in the Hudson River School of landscape painting.



Built high on a hill near Hudson between 1870 and 1891, then as now, Olana offers magnificent sweeping vistas of the Catskill Mountains, the Hudson River and the Taconic Hills. Today, Olana is a New York State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Hudson Valley and upstate New York.



Called by Church “the Center of the World,” Olana’s Persian style house and 250 acres of picturesque grounds are a masterpiece as grand as any of his paintings.



When Frederic Church purchased the property for Olana in 1860, he hired architect Richard Morris Hunt (who was later to build several of the “cottages” in Newport, RI) to design a small house in which he could raise a family. Called “Cosy Cottage,” the house was occupied in the early summer of 1861. Soon Church and his wife had two children filling Cosy Cottage, but, tragically, both children died of diphtheria in 1865.



In 1867 Church purchased an additional 18 acres at the top of the hill overlooking his property. After engaging Hunt again to build them a French manor on the hill, he and Isabel and their infant son Frederic Joseph left for an extended tour of Europe and the Middle East.

I’ve been in a love triangle for 17 years. I love my wife and she loves me…but we’re both in love with Bali. Result, our two children. And White Rice, our clothing collection created from wax resist Batik fabrics crafted in Bali. After selling through specialty stores for years, we have opened our first retail store…in Hudson.

It wasn’t long before Church, impressed by the Moorish architecture he saw in Middle Eastern cities like Beirut, Jerusalem and Damascus, decided to re-conceptualize his house at Olana. He replaced Hunt with Calvert Vaux and spent the next two years designing and building a Persian fantasy adapted to American tastes and manners.



In the fall of 1872, Church and Isabel and their growing family of children moved into the second story of Olana while Church continued to decorate the ground floor. He designed stencils and chose the colors with which to decorate the walls and ceilings. He designed furniture, which he then mixed with pieces inherited from his father or purchased in New York City or abroad. And he filled the house with thousands of objects meant to direct the attention to the great civilizations of the past.



Church continued to work on the house for much of the rest of his life. In 1885 he began repairing and improving the house, adding a studio wing and observatory three years later. By 1891, the house was essentially complete, looking much as it does today.



When Frederic Church died in 1900, Olana was willed to his youngest son Louis Palmer Church. The following year Louis married Sarah Baker Good (known as “Sally”) and the two of them moved to Olana. After Louis's death in 1943, Sally stayed on at Olana until her death in 1964 at the age of 96.



Throughout her life, Sally had insisted that the decorative scheme at Olana remain unchanged. Upon her death, her nephew Charles Lark, Jr. inherited the estate and undertook to have Sotheby's auction the furnishings that had been collected by Church over so many years. David Huntington, learning of the upcoming auction, convinced Lark to allow time for funds to be raised with which to purchase the estate.



Olana Preservation was formed to raise funds for the purchase of Olana. In a race with time, Olana Preservation solicited donations even as Sotheby’s tagged the furniture with lot numbers for the upcoming auction. At the last moment, with help from the State of New York, the property was purchased in 1966 and the furnishings saved with the house, still looking much the same as when Church had lived there almost a century before.



The contents of the house today, accumulated by Church over a 30-year period, include furniture, tapestries, rugs, bronzes, paintings, sculptures, and the myriad objects collected by Church to represent the major civilizations and religions of the world. The color scheme and stenciling that Church designed in 1870 remain, and from Church’s studio the visitor can still see the vistas recorded in Church’s paintings.



Frederic Church constructed the landscape at Olana in the same manner that he constructed landscapes in his paintings: with an eye to composition, balance and fidelity to nature. Although Olana was a working farm, expected to turn a profit, Church also wanted the property to be pleasing to look at. He used the Hudson River and mountains in the distance as a background to a composition with carefully planned foreground and middle ground elements.

The farm elements of Olana consisted of orchards, vegetable gardens, fields of corn, hay, and rye, and livestock with their attendant buildings. To this Church added thousands of trees set out singly and in groups on the northern and southern slopes of the hill on which the house stands. A swampy stream at the bottom of the hill was turned into a lake whose shoreline carefully echoes the sweep of the Hudson River below.



Church planned miles of roads around the property, carefully designing the views that open up as the roads rise, fall, and turn. He screened outbuildings from sight with a buffer of trees and used the forests he planted as a design element in the view from the tower at Olana.



Today the grounds at Olana support a plethora of birds and wildlife and offer opportunities for strolls and picnics.



For more information about Olana, including hours of operation and special events, please call them at 518 828 0135, or visit their Web site at www.olana.org.



Time & Space Limited

Time & Space Limited/TSL in Hudson is a media darling. One hears about TSL on the radio and reads about directors, Linda Mussmann and Claudia Bruce, everywhere-from The New York Times to the local daily news. Still, people ask, “What is Time & Space?”



Artists, writers, and filmmakers call TSL a provocative place to show their work. Hudson City youth will tell you that Linda and Claudia hand out the best, free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in town. Activists and politicians applaud TSL’s social and environmental issue forums. Locals comment on the Tuesday fried chicken dinners, the potluck suppers and the Tango lessons.



For directors, Mussmann and Bruce, Time & Space Limited is a labor of love, an idea machine, and a crossroads for art, community, and activism.



A not-for-profit arts center, TSL recently celebrated ten years in Hudson. Increasing interest from all kinds of people is just one measure of the way things have changed for this industrial art space, operating on a shoestring. Plumbers, teachers, kids, weekenders, entrepreneurs, famous actors and artists, not-so-famous actors and artists, fly fishermen and political organizers-all pass through the doors of TSL and leave traces behind.



More and more, TSL is recognized as an essential Hudson Valley destination. With an unfailing belief in art and community, directors Mussmann and Bruce have created an accessible, cultural home-where people go to experience music, dance, art exhibitions and films. Others go to see friends, to find support, and to share ideas. Above all, TSL is a place where people connect on tough issues, such as fighting the proposed cement plant in Greenport or combating neighborhood crime.

After 30 years of selling modern Italian furniture, we were really aching for something new. First, we moved permanently into our getaway home in the country. Next, our collection of antique toy boats, airplance, trains and cars inspired us to create our shop, Helen of Toy. We love sharing our passion with people who

simply find a fine old friend on our shelves, or discover that elusive collectible.

Founded in New York City in 1973, TSL originated as an independent theatre company, performing over 40 theatrical adaptations and original works at theatres and alternative spaces like La Mama E.T.C., Cunningham Dance Studio, Marymount Manhattan Theater, Riverside Church Theater, the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, to name a few. After spending weekends at their country home in Ancram, NY, Mussmann and Bruce made the decision to relocate to Hudson in 1991. What evolved from a single-purpose storefront in New York City to a multi-arts center in the underserved city of Hudson, took vision, daring and ingenuity.



Operating in a converted bakery formerly known as Grossman’s, Time & Space Limited is a soaring, red-brick 8,800 square-foot building with a theatre, art gallery, rehearsal areas, offices and a kitchen (that also serves as a snack bar on movie nights). Time & Space also boasts one of the few, green outdoor areas in downtown Hudson.



TSL feels like a Soho-type gallery; some compare its raw, open spaces, red paint, and strong sculptural lines to the more financially endowed contemporary art museum, MASS MoCA. Everyone agrees, however, that TSL never looks the same way twice. With hammer, nails, and a can of paint, Mussmann adapts the space for the many presenting programs featured at TSL throughout the year.



Another popular program at TSL is the CinemaLux film series, conceived by Rudy Wurlitzer and Linda Mussmann in 1999. CinemaLux celebrates independent and documentary filmmakers. TSL hosts discussions with both established and emerging film directors, producers, writers, scholars, curators and actors; an emphasis is placed on personal, political and experimental points of view. From Alan Arkin to independent filmmakers, Josh Apter and Peter Olsen, the CinemaLux series presents talented media makers from all over the country.



After catching the latest art exhibit or movie at TSL, there is still more to do. Time & Space presents dance performances, literary readings, a discussion series, musical concerts, and original theatre by Mussmann/Bruce. Above all, TSL has long served as a model for accessible youth programs, collaborating with the local Rotary Club and Masonic Lodge with projects that range from after school mentoring to TSL’s Summer Camp Project. To date, TSL raised tens of thousands of dollars from individual donors and the Hudson Masonic Lodge for Hudson City youth to spend three weeks in the Adirondacks.



Mussmann and Bruce encourage people to become members of TSL in order to support their outreach programs. Members receive monthly calendars and significant discounts on admission to events. Time & Space Limited is supported by box office receipts, commissioned works, individual donors, foundation support and the New York State Council for the Arts.



TSL is located at 434 Columbia Street. For more information about becoming a member or to get a calendar of events see TSL’s Web site at www.timeandspace.org or call for more information 518 822 8448.

Hudson River Theater

Amidst all the genteel rejuvenation currently taking place in Hudson, an evolution of another sort is taking place at 521 Warren Street—the Hudson River Theater.



“This town is astounding that it has so many working artists—theatre people, artists, writers, filmmakers, just very busy people in the arts, as opposed to people who say ‘I’m gonna do this or I’m gonna do that.’ It’s a very active community,” said Windle Davis who, with Dini LaMot owns the Hudson River Theater. The creative duo of LaMot and Davis been together for twenty-eight years in various shapes and forms: initially, a country-western acapella band (performing only three songs) then as the rock-based Human Sexual Response (named after the Masters and Johnson book). They toured the country extensively and even were the number one band on the college radio charts for the year between 1979 and 1980. The eight-member group disbanded in 1980. The duo then became quite involved in puppetry—in Boston, Key West and then Hollywood, California. Dini explains that they first laid eyes (and fell in love with) the community of Hudson when they came out to visit a sculptor friend of theirs. Over a meal at the Red Dot, a local hangout, they both sensed a community of vibrant, artistically oriented people. Dini said he even went so far as to point out a particular couple he thought were particularly dazzling and sure enough, after he and Davis moved to Hudson, that couple has become good friends of theirs.



Davis and LaMot purchased 521 Warren Street in November 2000 and began the long process of renovating the building, a former 1890’s department store. The structure had been seriously neglected and many a long winter night was spent “shoveling bird droppings and carcasses” from the structure. Luckily, Davis has a history of architectural renovation and so between Dini’s artistic vision and his architectural wizardry, the building has evolved from a ramshackle antique store to a bi-level performance and living space.



The theater itself, which seats one hundred people, is on the second floor (the ground floor is rented out to one of the ubiquitous antique shops) and is a charming, rather magical space. The bar area is painted a rich, dark blue and boasts a full bar (wine, beer, Cosmopolitan—you name it). There are two choices of seating—at the stainless steel-topped bar on multi-colored diner-style barstools or at intimate little tables along one wall. Brightly painted portraits—which are indeed for sale—by local artist Dan Rupe cover one wall. On the other, vintage record covers of such artists as Andy Williams, Steve Martin, Connie Francis and the Partridge Family decorate the wall. This whimsical decorative effect is repeated in the bathrooms. Two graceful potted palms sit at either end of the bar top. The actual performance space is to the rear of the bar through black and red curtains with a strand of multi-colored lights. The curtains pull back to reveal raised, padded wooden pew-style seating (quite comfortable) in the rear and then more intimate cabaret-style tables and chairs closer to the stage. At show time, the entire room emanates a starry-night effect from the light that is reflected off the silver disco ball in the ceiling and votive candles on the tables.



The Hudson River Theater is located at 521 Warren Street. For information, including upcoming performances, visit their Web site at www.hudsonrivertheater.com. For tickets call 518 822 8189 or send an e-mail to tickets@hudsonrivertheater.com.



Hudson is easy to get to. From New York City, take either the Taconic Parkway to the Hudson-Ancram, Route 82 West exit. Follow Route 82 eight miles to Route 9 North to Hudson OR take I87 (NY State Thruway) to exit 21 Catskill. Follow Route 23 East six miles to Route 9 North to Hudson. Once on Route 9 North, Hudson is approximately one mile away. Route 9 in Hudson is known as 3rd Street. Warren Street crosses Route 9/3rd Street.

So, we're wanting to open a theater and we’re thinking…Hollywood. But we get invited to Hudson by a sculptor. She drives us up Warren Street and we fall in love with the architecture. At dinner that night, there are these wild, colorful characters at the bar, now we’re saying…this is a pretty interesting town. So…it’s bye-bye to Hollywood. Hello Hudson River Theater.