Everyone had high hopes for 2021. And while it was by no means the After Times golden year we dreamed of (we are all far more familiar with the Greek alphabet than we’d care to be), there was still a solid streak of relaxed human interaction and cultural activity, with restaurants, hotels, craft beverage destinations, and event venues reopening. Music returned to local bars, actors took to the stages once again, and eateries showed off their best sidewalk seating game.
Below are our 10 most-read articles for 2021. These top stories showed that people were cautiously optimistic—or optimistically cautious—this year, ready to get out of the house but tending to opt for outdoor activities. Very reasonable. Here we cover everything from outdoor recreation to dining. Since few are going out for New Year's Eve (*eyeroll*), might as well settle in and take some notes for next year.
14 Restaurants Right on the Hudson River
If you’re going to eat outside, why not do it with a spectacular view? Our well-timed April article kicked off spring with an invitation to dine riverside. These 14 restaurants, ranging from Athens on the north end to Garrison on the south end, serve up a wide range of fare from burgers to seafood to tapas along with primo views of the Hudson.
6 Superior Sunset and Stargazing Spots in the Hudson Valley
This two-year-old piece has evergreen appeal. I mean, plague be damned, who doesn’t love a good sunset? But especially in a global pandemic, when outside is the safest place you can be, a round-up of quality spots to spread out your picnic blanket and take in the evening sky as it transitions from fire-streaked to star-spangled is in high demand.
Truss & Trestle: Rosendale Gets Its Diner Back
The wee town of Rosendale has one of the most picturesque downtowns you can find Upstate, and that’s saying something. But while most of the focus usually gets placed on Main Street, it’s this shopping plaza diner story that drew the readers’ attention this year. Truss & Trestle picks up where its predecessor 32 Lunch left off, stepping up diner classics in an updated interior that recalls the industrial history of the town.
Legal Weed is Coming to New York
When this February feature hit the stands, then-Governor Cuomo was just preparing to send a recreational cannabis bill to the New York legislature for the third time in his tenure. This go around, it seemed the bill was all but a shoo-in, so we took this opportunity to examine the finer points of the legislation, including social equity provisions, plus last hold-outs on the congressional front, and medical opinion of doctors on legalization.
Tapping into a Lighter Spirit—Understanding the Emotional Freedom Technique
With its long bouts of isolation, fear, and uncertainty, the pandemic has had enormous repercussions on mental health. Anxiety and depression have skyrocketed. But as we all waded through a shared reality, we also saw a silver lining in the breakdown of some old stigmas around mental health and therapy. So it makes sense that this 2019 piece on emotional freedom technique (EFT), a therapeutic modality you can largely practice on yourself, would generate some buzz.
Kid-Friendly Places to Pet Animals in the Hudson Valley
Getting the kids out of the house (safely) was a priority for parents everywhere this year, after a marathon of at-home time. This round-up of petting zoos, farms, and animal sanctuaries was a popular read with parents, offering a variety of fun, family-friendly outdoor outings for kids big and little. Sometimes petting an alpaca is just what the doctor ordered.
Shuffle Off to Buffalo: The Empire State Trail is Now Complete
When the pandemic first hit, cabin-feverish New Yorkers took to the outdoors in droves, even causing park closures. The Empire State Trail, a network of rail trails and shared streets, is the crown jewel of outdoor recreation in the region, offering myriad settings to walk, hike, cycle, run, or push a stroller. This February piece celebrated the completion of the 750-mile project, which lets you bike from New York to Montreal and Albany to Buffalo.
7 Must-Visit Public Gardens in the Hudson Valley
Whether readers just wanted to rest their eyes from the computer screen and take in some natural beauty or were looking to woo their new tinder romances, we’ll never know. But it is clear that they were all over this list of our favorite public gardens in the Hudson Valley. From Blithewood at Bard College, a traditional Italianate walled garden, to the sprawling 165-acre wonder that is landscape architect Lester Collins’s Innisfree Garden, these stunning destinations are worth not just one trip but an annual pilgrimage.
2020 Picks for Best Hudson Valley Wedding Venues
Weddings were back on in a big way this year (and that trend continues in 2022). Newly betrothed couples and fiancés who had to postpone their nuptials when the pandemic first hit were on the hunt for venues this year and ate up this curated list of locales to say “I do.” The venues on this list range from grand and historic to industrial chic to rustic.
10 of the Best Restaurants in Dutchess County
It seems like everyone was determined to make up for lost time this year. Restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley were packed as people headed out to dine on the town. Readers gobbled up this list of our favorite restaurant s in Dutchess County, which is a gourmet destination with tasty restaurants ranging from high-end Indian cuisine to classic French bistro fare.