Art Trip: Beacon, NY
This Hudson Valley Day Trip is recommended for Ages 12+, and is a 50 minute drive from Ridgewood. Take GSP to I-87N to Palisades Parkway North and cross the Newburgh Bridge into Beacon.
TO SEE: Beacon’s main attraction is Dia:Beacon (3 Beekman St; 845-440-0100, $10), a former Nabisco factory that’s now the premiere viewing space for large scale modern and contemporary art installations. We went there recently and the museum was a big hit with my 12 year old. I took the Saturday 1:00 gallery tour (which he wanted nothing to do with), and let him roam the big open galleries filled with contemporary art installations. He would periodically check in with us to tell us about something he discovered in the various rooms (like the giant metal spider sculpture hidden on the second floor). The reason this giant art space is not good for the under 12 set is that some of the art installations are too tempting for little hands, and dangerous in some instances (like the broken glass sculpture).
TO DO: The museum is a short drive to Beacon’s Main Street which has been (mostly) transformed from a slum into a cute artsy little town. It still has some rough edges, which makes it a little cooler in my book. On the main street you’ll find galleries, antique stores and restaurants. Stop at Hudson Beach Glass a gallery located in what was Beacon’s original firehouse, offers walk-in workshops where you can try your hand at glassblowing (Saturdays and Sundays, $25–$75). Hit the Retro Arcade Museum where for $10 an hour, you can play games on restored consoles from the ’50s through ’70s, to a soundtrack of era-appropriate jukebox beats. Play, is an extremely interesting and intriguing store that you can get lost in. Filled with fun items from the downright silly to useful, functional things you’ll want in your home. At Paper Presence we found a shop full of DIY cards, wrapping paper and stationery.
TO EAT: Homespun Foods is a place that features a flowered patio and lots of vegetarian options. A wide menu full of seasonal food, quality ingredients and fresh produce. We ate at Poppy’s Burgers. This tiny storefront restaurant specializes in organic hamburgers as well as vegetarian (bean) burgers and fabulous French fries and sweet potato chips. The awesome little ice-pop shop Zora Dora is across the street. Save room for an unusually refreshing dessert (like this cucumber-chile-mint paleta) — they just melt around what’s already in your stomach.
