Glitter Thicket Owner Larisa Schuckle

Glitter Thicket owner and Nyack native Larisa Schuckle is really living her truth. Before starting her business, she earned a degree in Animal Studies, worked at several farm sanctuaries, and was a humane educator – traveling to schools to teach students about the impact of food choices on individual health, animals, and the environment. Taken altogether, she was perfectly positioned to be the person to bring a vegan bakery to Nyack’s downtown.

“I wanted to offer people in the community affordable, healthy foods that have a lower environmental footprint and also help protect animals,” Larisa says. “Plant-based eating for me has been really delicious and joyful and I wanted to share that. I also wanted to create a space where local artists could share their work and be celebrated.”

In addition to a simple menu of vegan sandwiches, baked, goods and high tea, Larisa appeals to Nyack’s artistic vibe and strong sense of community by featuring an ever-changing collection of art from local makers, jewelry, gifts, and fairy houses. Customers are able to be surrounded by beauty while eating delicious food. In addition, the shop creates custom birthday and wedding cakes and hosts private fairy tea parties and other celebratory events upon request.

When asked “Why Nyack?” for her business, it is no surprise that creativity was at the forefront of Larisa’s reason.

“It is truly special how many different people from the community have been willing to showcase their work here, from jewelry, mustard, hat and perfume makers, to sculptors, authors, photographers, painters and potters,” Larisa states. “There are lots of creations to look at when you come in. There have also been many people who have been willing to share their skills and passions in the space and organize things like tarot nights, poetry clubs, discussion groups and open mic nights!”

Looking forward, Larisa hopes to continue hosting specialty events and being a gathering place for people to express themselves and celebrate. She tries to do a party for most nature-based holidays and select artistic events. She is hosting a closing reception for an artist on May 18th, a welcome party for a new artist on May 24th, and a Garden Tea Party at the First Reformed Church of Nyack on June 2nd. You can learn more about the aforementioned events and much more by following Glitter Thicket on social media @glitterthickett (Instagram) or visiting their website.

Glitter Thicket
88 Burd Street
Nyack, NY
845-596-7539
Open Thursday-Sunday 10am-5pm

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Customers can stop by Metal & Stone Jewelers now through February 14th for the store’s “Wishlist Event” where they choose items for hopeful fulfillment.

Long Path Outfitters x West Mountain Guide Co. will be hosting a Valentine’s sunset hike to the top of Hook Mountain on February 16th. Sign-up now and the store will send you all the info you need. Cost includes expert guiding from West Mountain Guide Co and a camp meal from Good-to-Go at the top! Group will meet at 4pm. Headlamps for the hike down required, micro spikes strongly encouraged (and might be required depending on the weather!). Everyone who signs up gets a discount card to be used at the shop! You can find all the pertinent information here.

Tell someone you love them with a Valentine’s Day box of “I LOVE YOU” donuts from Boxer Donut & Espresso Bar. Order must be placed by February 11th for pickup on February 13th or 14th. You can find more information here.

Planning a visit to the area and looking to keep your visit simple? Hotel Nyack‘s own FARM Restaurant has a special Valentine’s Day Prix Fixe Menu (3-courses, $75 per person) so that you can pair your stay with an easy meal before you hit the hay.

Photo Credit: Scott & Joe

Unsure what to get your special someone? You can never go wrong with food…or more specifically, a food tour by Joey G.’s Nyack Food Tours! You can view more details about the two tours happening during Love Week below – a Beers & Cheers Tasting Tour on Friday, February 9th and a Winter Comfort Foods Luncheon Tour on Saturday, February 10th. You can read more about the two tours here and gift cards are also available for purchase.

More into cheesy gifts? Scott & Joe only serves up the best kind of cheesiness and Valentine’s Day is no exception. This year, the shop is offering a special Valentine’s Day Collection featuring artisanal crackers with edible flowers, woody rosemary, fresh dill and chive, sour cherry pomegranate conserve, maritime lavender honey, hand-dipped dark chocolate figs, cremeux des citeaux triple cream brie, and a tiny fresh posy – all packaged in a beautiful pink box. Available while supplies last with some substitutions available. Pick-up is in-store on Wednesday, February 14th only.

Still in the mood to celebrate a little beyond February 14th? Check out the Dancin’ Machine 70s Disco Tribute Event at the West Gate Lounge on Friday, February 16th. Doors open at 8pm, admission is $20 – a perfect way to close out Love Week in town!

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As this year’s Valentine’s Day is right in the middle of the week, why not make it a “love week” spanning the weekends before and after with a string of dates in Nyack. Here are 10 ideas how to celebrate your love:

Photo Credit: Salonniere Coffee Bar

Photo Credit: Caroline Scimone

1-That’s Amore – Enjoy a glorious bowl of handmade pasta at DPNB Pasta & Provisions and then head up the street to see Italian American Reconciliation at the charming Elmwood Playhouse. To impress your date even more: enroll in an Italian conversation and culture class at Salonniere.

2-Paint the Town – Get inspired at the Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center and the Perry Lawson Gallery next door. Then head up to Black Parakeetz to paint, sip and sing yourself. Body painters? Get matching tats at Vanguard Tattoo and then toast them with a Boxer donut – or something stronger at the Old Village Inne.

3-Treasure Hunters – There are so many great thrift stores, antique stores and other unique stores to discover GOLD! Go on the hunt together. Map/List>>>>

Photo Credit: Boxer Donut & Espresso Bar

4-Global Travelers – Spin a globe and pick a cuisine. You’ll find all these international cuisines in our tiny village without having to book a plane ticket: Ukrainian, Tibetan, Dominican, Peruvian, Filipino, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Italian, Greek, Irish, Mexican, Japanese. Even Southern USA! Or book a tour with Joey G’s Food Tours to enjoy bites at many! To see the full restaurant list >>>

5-Jazz it Up – Swanky, dark bars at Hudson House, The Greekish and The Local get you in just the right mood to sway. Then head to Maureen’s Jazz Cellar or Casa del Sol for live music. All the music options coming up>>>

6-Your love is fire – Snap a cute pic of yourselves in front the historic main street fire house and grab a bite next door at La Dolce Vita. Anything bought at Genalisa Lingerie will help fan the flames.

Photo Credit: Scott & Joe

7-Hike hand in hand – Grab picnic goodies at Scott & Joe and cute mittens at Long Path Outfitters.

8-Early risers – Love lives in the pancakes at Strawberry Place and the Breakfast and Burger Club. And loads of ooooh la la at Patisserie Didier Dumas.

9-Book Worms Unite – Grab a latte at the Art Café and the historic Andrew Carnegie-donated Nyack Library. Stroll over to the Carson McCullers House. And then browse Nyack’s three local book sellers: Pickwick, Big Red Books, and Main Street Beat.

10-Love & Games – A cozy living room to play board games, pour your own craft brews, and nibble delicious Vietnamese fare at Mekong District.

And if lots of dates go really well…hey…get a room at Hotel Nyack and/or get married or renew your vows in a beautiful setting & for a good cause with The Angel Nyack!

Photo Credit: Nyack Seaport – Rick Helman Photography

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Photo courtesty of The Quilt Tree

It was “love at first sight”, or should we say love at first stitch, for Lisa Jenner, owner of Rockland County’s only quilt shop, The Quilt Tree.

Jenner, who was a Latin teacher for close to four decades, started to learn how to quilt about 25 years ago after having sewn for most of her life. When she retired from teaching, Jenner took a part time job at a quilt store in Valley Cottage because she loved it so much. Unfortunately, the store closed – leaving Jenner and all of Rockland’s quilting enthusiasts without a place to hone their craft. Yet, it didn’t take long for Jenner to take her disappointment and turn it into action.

“For years, I actually had imagined what it would be like to have a quilting shop of my own,” Jenner says. “So, when the county’s only quilt store closed, we decided to take the plunge into small business ownership!”

Besides selling all the things necessary for sewing and quilting –  top end machines, fabrics, notions – The Quilt Shop hosts classes on weekdays, weekday evenings, and weekends throughout the year. Private lessons are also available in an effort to accommodate as many potential quilters as possible.

“We can take total beginners and turn them into avid quilters and sewists,” Jenner states. “Our classes are not just for making quilts; you can make garments, bags, and even tuffets.  If you can sew it, you can make it here. We also offer classes in sashiko and mending. We have customers aged 12 to 90 – you’re never too young or too old to take up this hobby!

When asked what makes her business special, the answer is simple: Quilting is community.

Photo courtesty of The Quilt Tree

“Ask anybody who is regular at our shop, and they will tell you that we are more than store,” Jenner says. “I can say with absolute certainty that my employees, my teachers, and my customers are all wonderful.”

Looking ahead, Jenner hopes to have her store in Nyack, serving the county’s current and future quilters for many years to come.

If you want to learn more about The Quilt Tree, you can visit their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages for updates. New classes (for students of all experience levels) begin this month – you can view the list of offerings here.

The post Love at First Stitch: The Quilt Tree Unites Novice and Expert Sewists in Downtown Nyack appeared first on  Visit Nyack.

Photo Courtesy of the Rock Shop

For The Rock Shop owner, Dylan Kelehan, music is all about making connections. He got the idea for the shop during the pandemic when the Pink Floyd tribute band he was touring with, The Machine, had to cancel all of its shows.

“It was bleak,” Kelehan said. “I was sitting around watching all of my savings dissipate, and an idea struck me like lightning. The government was starting to allow non-essential businesses to open up and I figured that a music store would help people connect with other people and music while they were mostly stuck at home. I had been working in music stores since my early 20s and knew that if I were to be successful, I’d need business partners. After an extensive search, I found Caroline and Jeff Spindel. With them joining what turned out to be a perfect team, along with the help of our family and friends, we were able to launch The Rock Shop.”

Photo Courtesy of the Rock Shop

The Rock Shop opened at its original Main Street location in December 2020 when many businesses were being forced to shutter. After a little over two years in town, the business grew and the shop moved in March 2023 to its current home at 98 Main Street featuring 2,500 square feet and eight different rock band themed lesson rooms. The store offers music lessons, instrument rentals, instrument and accessory sales, as well as  instrument, amplifier, speaker, and turntable repair. They also feature rooms both large and small for individuals or larger ensembles to rent for rehearsing.

When asked about his background, the first thing Kelehan says is that he is a full-time father and husband. Thus, it should come as no surprise that The Rock Shop is all about helping families – adults and kids alike – add meaning to their lives through music.

Photo Courtesy of the Rock Shop

“I’m a firm believer that music lessons help with cognitive development and maintenance,” Kelehan says. “I truly think everyone should have music in their lives. Myself and my business partners are reasonable and respectful people. We love our customers and offer compassionate and knowledgeable customer service experiences. No cookie cutter lesson plans. Everyone is different. Everyone learns in different ways. We do our best to cater our lesson plans to the individual.”

Kelehan’s business partner, Jeff Spindel, has an extensive career in working with special needs people is a passionate supporter of individualized lesson plans.

“When the student doesn’t learn in the way we teach then we must teach in a way that the student will learn.” Spindel says. “Dylan is a visionary, and together with his passion, my obsession with caution, and Caroline’s business savvy and loving nature with our clients The Rock Shop has and will continue to be a growing success story.”

Photo Courtesy of the Rock Shop

The Rock Shop also expressed gratitude for their talented teaching staff, stating that “they comprise the core of our success and are friends who we have known for years and are working musicians. We also welcome new teachers to join our family as we continue to grow.”

So why Nyack? For Kelehan, the answer is obvious.

“Nyack is a hub for the arts,” he says. “We had a few music studios but nothing that was community-friendly. At The Rock Shop, we’re trying to build community and relationships through music and the arts.”

Looking forward, The owners  of The Rock Shop see all kinds of creative endeavors on the horizon. We hope to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people. We hope to establish a fundraiser in the future so the store can have scholarships for families who may not be able to afford lessons.

To learn more about upcoming events and promotions, you can follow The Rock Shop on its social media outlets – @therockshopnyack (Instagram) and The Rock Shop (Facebook)

The Rock Shop’s recitals will take place on December 3^rd.

The post Nyack’s The Rock Shop hits all the Right Notes with Local Families appeared first on  Visit Nyack.

Good things come in small packages, so the saying goes…but good things also come in fall packages! So, if you want a small, fall package, look no further than Nyack. Our village packs over a hundred businesses and a rich array of recreational, entertainment and cultural opportunities into just over one walkable square mile. For autumn in particular, Nyack has a full calendar of events and family-friendly activities to help you celebrate the season to the fullest.

“Nyack is the perfect place to enjoy the Hudson Valley’s autumn glow,” said Thomas Schneck, President of the Visit Nyack Board. “We encourage everyone to combine Nyack events with our special blend of memorable experiences. Nyack offers it all – in a beautiful, memorable riverside community.”

Whether you are a fall enthusiast or go into hibernation mode as soon as the temperatures begin to drop, Nyack has a little something for everyone. Read more below for a sampling of our autumnal offerings!

Phoenix Festival: Live Arts in Nyack

Live theatre and wildlife coexisted on Nyack’s stage for the Phoenix Festival. (Photo courtesy of Phoenix Theatre Ensemble)

In 2022, Nyack joined the roster of world-class arts events with  Phoenix Festival: Live Arts in Nyack, an annual celebration of classical theater, music, local culture, and the creative spirit of community. Over its five inaugural weekends in September and October 2022, the Festival presented both live and outdoor performances against the majestic vistas of the Hudson River and the lively, jazzy riverside village of Nyack. In 2023, the critically-acclaimed Festival expanded its programming to include four indoor and outdoor productions, partnerships with Children’s Shakespeare Company and Emotions Physical Theatre, and special events all over downtown Nyack. The Festival also offers a spotlight for local Nyack nonprofits, along with opportunities for students and volunteers to get up-close and hands-on with live performance. Stay tuned for more information on Phoenix Festival 2024!

The Festival is hosted and produced by the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, an internationally recognized leader in creative contemporary theater and winner of multiple prestigious awards for excellence in theater arts. Founded in New York City in 2004, the Ensemble is proud to make Rockland County its second artistic home. PTE Artistic Director Elise Stone and PTE Executive Director Craig Smith serve as the Festival’s leadership, engaging local, county and New York State institutions, educational organizations, businesses and non-profits in support of the Festival.

Nyack’s Famous Street Fairs

Anyone who knows Nyack knows the street fairs – five each year in spring, summer, and fall – a Nyack tradition for well over three decades. Maybe even the most seasoned veterans of the village have lost track of the years, but the basic premise has remained the same: Crafts, jewelry, food, live music, clothing, gifts, art, antiques, specialty items — offered by hundreds of vendors and local merchants. Thousands of people come. Many come back – and stay.

Nyack Halloween Parade

Every year, the Village of Nyack and the Chamber of Commerce proudly present the most hair-raising Halloween celebration this side of the Hudson — ranked by Travel Channel as one of the Top 10 Halloween parades nationwide. Dancing ghouls, marching bands, wild costumes, fantastic floats, live entertainment, and more. Great prizes for the best floats and costumes.

Rockland Fashion Week (Photo Courtesy of Hope Wade)

Rockland Fashion Week

Produced by Nyack’s Hope Wade Designs, Rockland Fashion Week (RFW) tfocuses on Rockland as a growing hub for fashion design and manufacture, and includes local pop-up shops, as well as educational sessions on the “business of fashion” at local middle and high schools around the county. A mini fashion show (including one for dogs) leads up to the main event. RFW culminates in a gala runway event at Palisades Center in West Nyack featuring local fashion designers.

Nyack’s Weekly Farmers Market: Thursdays,  8am-2pm

Families love the Farmers Market, every Thursday year-round featuring live music, fresh goods from local farms and artisans, and plenty of kid-friendly activities.

In addition to the aforementioned events, Nyack makes it easy to combine events with shopping, dining, or recreation in a day trip or whatever a weekend itinerary might require. One draw for shoppers who like to marry a good deal with a good meal is the tempting array of casual eateries and fine dining establishments that put Nyack on the map as a haven for food enthusiasts.

“Nyack is a top destination for dining in the Hudson Valley,” said Mark Davidoff, Visit Nyack Board member, and director, Rockland Community College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center. “Our village is a hub for both culinary arts education, and for the final product – the best food on the plate for the discerning diner.”

Local hotels offer package stays with discounts and specials at restaurants, shops and personal service establishments.  The river is Nyack’s jewel in the crown – majestic Hudson vistas from the shore, hikes at the river’s edge or Hook Mountain ridge, or fun on the river itself – sailing, kayaking and water sports as summer stretches into fall.

Here’s a quick drone’s-eye view:

Photo Courtesy of RCC Culinary Institute

Dining and food: Nyack offers 50+ restaurant options from pubs to world-class gourmet menus for those who like choice; themed food tours for those who like to explore; award-winning cooking classes at the Culinary Arts Institute for those who like to make their own; and a year-round Farmers Market every Thursday for those who want to connect with food, farms, friends and fun.

Shopping: Nyack is a hub for the unique, one-of-a kind, hard-to-find-anywhere-else purchase. Also, a place for buyers who are interested in sustainably sourced goods, original fashion, handmade items (which customers may help create) and, overall, a personal shopping experience – often delivered with a sense of humor, always with plenty of time to browse, discuss and decide.

Entertainment and the arts: Nyack’s bustling night-and-day life offers theater and music of all genres, classic plays, musicals, jazz, rock, blues, drumming, karaoke, open mic nights, salsa music and dancing, classical concerts and a cluster a music-related businesses offering music lessons, instruments, and recording capabilities. Nyack is also home to a thriving art community, hosting contemporary art shows, workshops, curated film screenings, poetry reading, art classes and camps for kids, pop-up art events and more.

Biking Nyack Beach State Park (Photo Credit: Caroline Scimone)

Recreation: Opportunities for hiking, biking, and river sports in Nyack are among the best in the Hudson Valley. Access to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo bridge path is within minutes of the village — with sweeping views of the river to the north and south. For those who want to get their toes wet, launch your kayak from Nyack Beach State Park or board sailing charters from Nyack marina. Hiking-wise, you can “find your long path” through guided hikes organized by Long Path Outfitters in collaboration with West Mountain Guide Co. and take in stunning river views and unlimited leaf-peeping opportunities. For those who want to ‘catch some air,’ there’s always the option for a quick spin at the riverside skateboarding park, recognized by ‘skaters’ as one of the best in the region.

Culture and history: Home to civil rights leaders, artists, writers, Nobel Prize winners, movie stars, and many far-from-ordinary hard-working people, Nyack has a deep multicultural history with fascinating stories to tell. Those stories are well told by the Historical Society, Nyack Library, Hopper House Museum and other organizations, offering tours, exhibitions and special programs – all accessible in town, online, or via phone.

Relaxation and personal services: With all the activity going on in Nyack, it’s still possible to relax in one of the village’s top-flight salons, spas or barber shops offering premium personal care services. See visitnyack.org for information.

Enjoy life. Enjoy Nyack.

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Photo Courtesy of the Nyack Library Local History Room

Under the Housing Act of 1949, billions of federal dollars were made available to local governments through grants and incentives for the purpose of urban “revitalization.” Nyack was just one of several thousand communities across the U.S. affected by this initiative in the 1960s and 1970s.

A new documentary, What Happened to Jackson Avenue, offers rare, real-life accounts of the human impact of urban renewal. Through interviews with people who experienced urban renewal first-hand, the film tells the story of how the intended revitalization ultimately resulted in the destruction of an entire community.

That community was set along Jackson Avenue, where 124 families, nearly 80% of them Black, lost their homes, businesses, and generations of accumulated wealth to ‘eminent domain.’

Photo Courtesy of the Nyack Library Local History Room

Inspiration for the documentary sprang from a comment made by local historian and activist Bill Batson in the summer of 2019 as he in stood in the main parking lot at the center of Nyack village. “This was Jackson Avenue. Our family home once stood here,” he said.

That spark set a creative process in motion—two-years of research, interviews, photography and editing undertaken by young filmmakers Hakima Alem and Rudi Gohl.

Panel discussions followed the 60-minute screenings and gave audiences opportunities to share reactions to the film, and hear live from storytellers interviewed in the film, as well as the documentary creators. Batson, who also appears in the film, served as moderator.

The film was produced by the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble – a NYC-grown theater company now with a home and annual live arts festival in Nyack. Screenings in June and July were presented in collaboration with Rivertown Film Society and The Nyack Center.

Avery Family at Jackson Avenue, 1920s (Photo Courtesy of the Avery Batson Family)

“This film is essential to an understanding of Nyack’s history, and provides an important case study of how even a small village was shaped by the broader forces driving urban renewal policies in the 1960s,” said Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, Former NY State senator.

“This is a powerful film, and a service to our community as it acknowledges and learns from its history,” commented Don Hammond, Mayor of Nyack.

You can view a trailer of the documentary here. Information about the storytellers and the documentary artists are below. Information about broader distribution of the film will be forthcoming.

ABOUT THE STORYTELLERS

Bill Batson is well known in the Nyack community as a leader, artist and historian. His grandmother’s family, the Avery’s, moved to Nyack in the late 1800s. They lived through, and spoke out against, urban renewal. His family home on Jackson Avenue was a casualty. Today, Batson is a columnist and featured contributor to Nyack News & Views, where his weekly Sketch Log chronicles the Nyack experience through words and art. Batson also manages the weekly Farmers Market for the Nyack Chamber of Commerce.

Faith Blount is a Nyack native who experienced urban renewal first-hand as a child. Her family lived with her grandparents in a house on Liberty street, with her grandfather’s dry cleaning business attached. Blount’s grandfather was a civil rights leader and founder of the NAACP chapter in Nyack. In the wake of urban renewal, the Blounts received some compensation for the residence but not for the business, which was their livelihood. Blount is a pharmacist and a role model for young Black people wherever she goes.

Lonnie “Buster” Leonard is a Nyack native who grew up on Jackson Avenue in the 1950s. He experienced urban renewal as a teenager when he lost his home and saw his friends and community forced out. His family moved to High Avenue just before the demolition began. Their old home on Jackson Avenue was destroyed shortly thereafter.

Win Perry is a historian and architect who comes from a long line of Nyack locals. He currently resides in the house his family built in 1846. His grandson is the 12^th generation of his family to live in Nyack. Perry worked for an architectural firm in Nyack during urban renewal and saw both sides of the process. Past president of the local historical society, Perry is currently a member of the executive board. He was a member of the NAACP and has served as an educator on urban renewal and city planning.

Barbara Williams was born in Anniston, Alabama and moved to Nyack in the early 1960s. She was an avid member of the protests against the urban renewal project. In 1965, she managed the campaign that won Hezekiah Easter a seat on the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees—the first Black person elected to public office in Rockland County. Williams was inducted into Rockland County’s Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2016 for her work in fighting discrimination against disadvantaged people and people of color. She describes herself as a storyteller, memory keeper and “ancestor in training.”

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Hakima Alem is an Ethiopian writer and film director. She moved to Nyack in 2018, and now resides in New York City. Alem graduated from Bard College in 2021. Her work centers on the lives of women of color, human rights and international adoption. Her credits include documentary films and work with multiple nonprofits. Before directing What Happened To Jackson Avenue, she was an assistant editor for the film Muicha, The Voice of Bossa Nova and created her own film titled Black at Bard 2020.

Rudi Gohl is a filmmaker based in New York City. Since completing college in 2021, Gohl has worked extensively in New York, filming and editing music videos, short films, plays and documentaries. With the documentary format as his primary focus, Gohl has recently worked with the musical artist Chandrika Tandon, and multi-cultural artist Eljuri. He currently holds a position as junior assistant editor and post-production assistant for the award-winning documentary company Show of Force.

Teese Gohl (music) is a Swiss musical producer/director/supervisor/composer of film scores and stage productions. He produced most of Elliot Goldenthal’s film scores as well as others. Two scores that he has produced have won Oscars — Elliot Goldenthal’s Frida and John Corigliano’s The Red Violin.

The post Nyack’s Own Urban Renewal Story Showcased in New Documentary appeared first on  Visit Nyack.

Knitting Nation Storefront (Photo Courtesy of Knitting Nation)

If you follow the rationale of the quote “choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life,” then Knitting Nation owner Jane Saffir has been unemployed for almost twenty years. Saffir left an established career as an early childhood teacher in New York City to open the shop in 2003 and has never looked back.

In fact, owning a local yarn shop was a dream of hers since she was a child when she visited a yarn store and was enamored of the colors and textures. She taught herself how to knit shortly thereafter by following patterns in a book.

Photo Courtesy of Knitting Nation

Knitting Nation, located at 30 North Broadway, offers a huge selection of beautiful yarns from around the world, both for

knitting and crochet, as well as all the accessories needed. Aside from the amazing selection of yarns, shop is a hub for the local fiber community.

“We offer help in choosing materials, classes to learn new techniques, and a warm and supportive environment for those who love fiber, color, texture, and handcrafts,” Saffir said.

Saffir has been a member of the Nyack community for almost 40 years – both living here, and owning and operating Knitting Nation. She hopes to remain in the same physical location for years to come despite the popularity of online shopping given the tactile nature of yarn-based creativity.

“We have developed an online shop in recent years,” Saffir notes, “but anyone who loves yarn will recognize the need to

actually see and feel the yarns in person.”

Photo Courtesy of Knitting Nation

Knitting Nation’s target customer is anyone who knits, crochets, spins, weaves, or who wants to learn how to do any of the aforementioned art. The shop offers a variety of classes for knitters of all levels and forges a sense of community among its students that goes beyond the needles. New classes are posted on the store’s website and private lessons are available. The store will also create new classes for any group of three or more people interested in learning a specific thing.

“Everyone should knit and/or crochet!” Saffir emphasized. “It is relaxing, creative, meditative, historically relevant, stimulating, and most importantly, FUN!”

Knitting Nation

30 North Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960

Opened 2003

The post Knitting Nation Weaves Together Community through Yarn-Based Creativity appeared first on  Visit Nyack.

For those seeking a healthy dose of feel-good outdoor fun, Nyack is just the place.

 

Located 24 miles north of New York City on the banks of the Hudson in beautiful Rockland County, Nyack offers great opportunities to share time and enjoy life with family and friends – hundreds of experiences and events all season long that make for great day trips, weekend get-aways and longer stays.

 

“Rockland is the gateway to the Hudson Valley,” said Lucy Redzeposki, Rockland’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “The county is rich in history, culture and natural beauty, with much to offer visitors from local communities and from around the world. Nyack is a great introduction.”

 

Views of the river – from nearly every angle – are spectacular. It’s also easy to experience the river itself. Boat charters and water sports launch from Nyack’s marina at the east end of Main Street.

 

Photo Courtesy of Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center

A visit to Nyack would be incomplete without a meal in one of Nyack’s top-flight restaurants, casual eateries or cozy pubs, paired with shopping in the village’s one-of-a-kind boutiques. For those interested in the arts, a visit to the Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center or a show at the Elmwood Playhouse are within steps of the village center. For those with kids, Memorial Park boasts a shaded playground and a splash pad open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The weekly Farmers Market is itself an event, with live music, activities for the kids and fresh goods from local farms and artisans.

 

“Nyack is a treasure trove packed into an area of just over one walkable square mile,” added Nyack Mayor Don Hammond. “Your list of activities in and around Nyack might include hiking Hook Mountain, walking or biking across the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge, or a leisurely riverside stroll in Nyack Beach State Park on an easy, level path right at the edge of the Hudson.”

 

For visitors looking for evening entertainment, live music and comedy shows abound in the center of town while Nyack’s hotels offer comfortable accommodations for weekday and weekend overnight stays.

 

Photo Credit: Chris Carroll

“Nyack is all about enjoying life,” said Nyack Chamber President Roger Cohen. “And now is the time to get out and celebrate the season.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Next up on the Nyack agenda:

 

June 19 – Juneteenth Celebration

June 27 – Music on the Hudson (Tuesday series launch)

July 4 – Fourth of July Fireworks

July 6 – Jazz in the Garden (Thursday series launch)

July 7-8 – Basketball Tournament

July 8 – Rockland Masters Rowing Regatta

July 9 – Street Fair

July 10 – Classic Car Night

A complete list of events and dates can be found here.

 

Nyack events are supported by Visit Nyack, the Nyack Chamber of Commerce, the Village of Nyack, Rockland County Economic Development and Tourism, I LOVE NY, and by local businesses.

2023 Nyack Events

Photos & Graphics

Visit Nyack

Nyack Chamber of Commerce

Explore Rockland

I Love NY

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Photo Courtesy of Black Parakeetz

A popular host on the CBS Shop Local Saturday program, Elliott celebrated Black History month on the show with interviews featuring members of Nyack’s vibrant community of Black-owned businesses – including Black Parakeetz: Paint, Swig and Sing! on Main Street, as well as Teagevity and Rebecca’s Paradise, regulars at the weekly Nyack Farmers Market.

Links to the video interviews are available here:

Black Parakeetz

Teagevity

Rebecca’s Paradise

While filming at Black Parakeetz, owners Terry and Naomi Clarke took Elliott on a tour of their establishment, which boasts an art lounge for painting experiences (no prior experience needed), a karaoke lounge (also no prior experience needed), and a bar/kitchen offering a menu of specialty foods and art-and-music-themed cocktails hand crafted by Terry.

As Terry and Naomi describe it, Black Parakeetz is an experience-based venue for curated gatherings of every kind – birthday celebrations, pre-wedding parties, holiday get-togethers, music and theater events and corporate meetings, to name just a few possibilities. Terry cites a recent art-themed team-building workshop as an example.

Black Parakeetz is not your ordinary “party place,” so Naomi encourages everyone to stop by the business at 298 Main Street, and visit the Parakeetz website, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook pages. “We’re everywhere and we’re here!”

Photo Courtesy of Teagevity/Preston Powell

As part of his Nyack tour, Elliott also interviewed Preston Powell, owner of an artisanal boutique tea company – Teagevity – at the Nyack Farmers Market.

Powell, who happens to be the grandson of Abyssinian Baptist Church Pastor and politician Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., credits his time sipping “comfort drinks” like coffee and tea in church as the original driving force behind his love for tea. He also says the idea to start his business came to the fore when one of his martial arts students suggested he sell the tea that he was serving after class.

Powell carefully sources his teas from organic growers, offering a wide range of special blends created to promote health and longevity. ”I tell people ‘don’t buy tea from strangers,’” Powell said. According to Powell, his customers are neighbors, friends, family. “That’s what I love about the Nyack Farmers Market…it’s all about community.”

Elliott also had a conversation with Annie Rebecca Roberts of Rebecca’s Paradise, another shop at the Nyack Farmers Market. Roberts creates organic, plant-based skincare products.

Photo Courtesy of Rebecca’s Paradise

Sharing a thread with Powell’s story, Roberts’ experiences growing up in an ecofriendly family environment shaped her business concept and mission. Her grandmother was a skincare professional in Jamaica.

“It’s very important to know what you’re ingesting or applying to the skin,” said Roberts.

With Rebecca’s Paradise skincare products, customers can be confident that they’re caring for their skin naturally, and don’t have to worry about harmful toxins, which are not uncommon in commercially produced lotions and soaps.

“Customers support me because they like what I do, and they like that the products are clean beauty.”

You can view the full interviews with the Clarkes, Powell and Roberts below. For more information about the Nyack Farmers Market, click here.

Also featured earlier in the year on the CBS Shop Local program include Nyack’s Pickwick Book Shop and the Hickory Dickory Dock boutique, a purveyor German handicrafts, clocks and decorative goods sourced from Europe.

Click below for Pickwick and Hickory Dickory Dock interviews.

Pickwick Bookshop

Hickory Dickory Dock

We hope to see more Nyack businesses in the spotlight for future CBS Shop Local segments!

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