Milk Money in Hastings on Hudson NY

Consignment shops are a curious amalgam of thrift stores and boutiques. Refreshingly, Milk Money, on Warburton Avenue in the Movie House Mews in downtown Hastings on Hudson, feels like a colorful garden of bright new clothes for kids.

It's only upon inquiring that I found out it's a consignment shop. Everything looks crisp and clean.

You can bring in consignment items any time, no need for an appointment.

The owner of the shop, Joy Das, has created a cozy place for kids to play while their Moms shop for school clothes, shoes, and toys.

More Info about Hastings on Hudson

If you're new to Hastings on Hudson NY, or thinking about visiting or moving here, you can find lots of information about the Village at Hastings on Hudson Online.

There you can read about relocating, government, schools, local history, organizations, recreation, health, resources for seniors, library services and the arts.

Also, peruse photos of local scenes and landmarks.

BTW, local shorthand name for Hastings on Hudson is "HOH."

Food for Thought Natural Foods

It's surprising how many healthy and tasty essentials fit into downtown Hastings on Hudson's own little natural foods store, Food for Thought, on Spring Street.

From snack foods to frozen dinners, jars of sauces, cans of soup, breads, and fresh-from-the-farm organic produce. Pastas, dried beans and nuts, vitamins, minerals, herbs, and skin care.

While it's fun and inspiring to shop at the large, name brand health food supermarkets, for your daily needs, Food for Thought has most of what you need. And the prices are competitive, too, especially considering the gas you'll save by shopping right here.

Comfort in Hastings on Hudson NY

Whenever I walk past Comfort, on Warburton Avenue, in Hastings on Hudson NY, I see tables full of people happily munching and in animated conversation with their companions, or simply enjoying the solitude of a quiet meal and a book.

Stopping in one day to find out what draws the dedicated following, I found a menu that combines traditional comfort-food items with terms like "organic", "free-range", and even "gluten-free" accompanying various selections. Also, unexpected juxtapositions, such as "Amish Select Roasted (organic) Chicken with Asian spices". Now that's a cross-cultural mix for you.

Here's another one, which enables kids of all constitutions, even those with sensitivity to wheat, to enjoy the same foods as their friends: "Dahli's Chicken Fingers, gluten-free" and gluten-free brownies. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you like your healthy food straight-up, the juice bar offers drinks such as "Wake-up" (carrot/apple/beet/ginger/lemon) and "Great to Be Green" (celery/cucumber/parsley/spinach).

Chef/owner John Halko extends his creative thinking to the business side of Comfort, by offering customers who pay $500 or more a "VIP card" that entitles them to eat at the cafe for the value of their expenditure plus 20%. It's his clever way of inviting loyal foodies to help him finance his long-awaited expansion, at a time when banks are holding back.

Station Cafe - Noshes Instead of Tickets

On the way to the train, it's fun to pick up a snack at the Hastings on Hudson Station Cafe. Or, if not heading to the City, you can just hang out and read the paper while the commuting happens around you. Delightful to see the old station adapted to such a popular new use. Can never have enough cafes in town. Funny, there used to be lots of bars in Hastings. Now it's cafes.

Gem Cove, Hidden Treasure in Hastings on Hudson NY

Tucked away at the southeast corner of Spring Street and Maple Avenue in Hastings on Hudson NY is a white door that leads to a magical world. Open it and you're transported to Gem Cove, a luscious efflorescence of gemstone and pearl jewelry -- in display cases, on floor-to-ceiling shelves, draped on tables.

The ceiling and one wall are painted in shades of cobalt and cerulean, and a door bears an inscription in gold handwriting, which begins: "We believe that the beautiful stones created by nature--the ultimate artist--are the true owners of time and place, to which we human beings are mystified, fleeting visitors . . ."Gem Cove Owner and Designer, Valentina Krochik, creates original jewelry in styles to enhance any outfit. She'll also blend customers' stones with others in her collection to make new treasures. This little gem of a shop deserves a wider audience, so next time you're in the neighborhood in Hastings on Hudson NY, step through the white door and see for yourself.

Sitting on the Wall in Hastings on Hudson NY

It's fun to sit on "the Wall" in front of the VFW on Warburton Avenue and watch the world go by. Especially on a beautiful summer day in Hastings on Hudson NY. Tra la.

Suburban Renewal in Hastings on Hudson NY

Today the weather was lovely, for a change, so I took a lazy amble around downtown Hastings on Hudson NY to see what's new. At Suburban Renewal, on the corner of Main St and Warburton Avenue, there was an enticing display of Fair Trade gift items, at equally enticing prices. Some colorful glassware also caught my eye, and I found myself picturing each piece artfully arranged in my kitchen . . .
Next to the Laundromat on Warburton Avenue, Prudential Riverside Homes was gone, but I was cheered to see favorite broker Chris Browne busily setting up the new Engel + Volkers office that replaces it. Chris and Ling will continue to connect buyers and sellers in the Rivertowns, going forward under their new banner.

Another "coming soon" sign is for Re-find, which is slated to occupy a spot on Spring Street formerly used by Rivercountry Press.

Time was short, so I didn't have time to stop in for my usual cup of soup at Thomas's Coffee & Tea in the Moviehouse Mews in Hastings on Hudson NY. Maybe next time.

It doesn't get more local than Hastings-on-Hudson NY

It's all walkable, and it's all local in Hastings on Hudson NY. Shop till you drop, and then take a break for coffee at Thomas's Coffee and Tea, in the old Movie House Mews, on Warburton Avenue. No national chain stores in downtown Hastings on Hudson NY.

You can find all of life's necessaries right here, including groceries, auto repair, pharmacies, office services, hair salons, doctors, dentists, and just to close the circle, a funeral parlor. Of course, there's also deli food, pizza, hair salons, Chinese takeout, a diner, restaurants, and a health food store (Food for Thought) that's more complete than its quaint storefront conveys.

In the Hastings on Hudson NY library parking lot, there's even a weekly farmer's market every Saturday, where you can meet the producers and buy fresh. If you miss the market, just ask Food for Thought for a box full of your favorite veggies and fruits. They have a large, loyal following of regular customers for their weekly fresh produce.