NYACK, New York – Across the Hudson river sits Nyack, a town which has not lost its artistic appeal of old. Hometown to Edward Hopper, with just a short stroll, one can see the clean-cut architecture and earthy tones that inspired his early paintings. Small bookstores and coffee shops neighbor his childhood home on Main Street.
The home of Carson McCullers also sits nearby the Main Street thoroughfare. It boasts a view of the Hudson River, as do many of the houses in town. One can sense the peace the ever-dynamic flow endowed upon writers including McCullers and Toni Morrison, who lived not far away.
A short walk away is the Nyack Library that boasts a glass-lit edifice from all sides. It serves as a quiet spot to peruse floors of books.
From there, the Memorial Park sits with a resplendent view of the river. Somewhere is a bench, installed by Toni Morrison, as her project to highlight African Americans from the past. This one serves to honor local entrepreneur Cynthia Hesdra, who was part of the Underground Railroad.
Though only a bus ride away from New York’s George Washington Bridge, Nyack certainly feels like a secluded getaway, far from the hustle and grind of the city.
Nyack Book Recommendations:
A Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers, 1946.
Though set in the South, this novel was written in Nyack. A young girl prepares for her brother’s wedding.
Jazz, by Toni Morrison, 1992.
Story of African Americans migrating to New York, and how one couple fared over the span of a few decades, as told to a jazz-like form
postcardsfromanne.com 