The Best Shopping Experiences and Services in the Hudson Valley

Photo by Matt Bazzani

Barware

Exit Nineteen

We love this store — filled with 20th Century furnishings, lighting, decorative objects, and more — but it’s the carefully curated Mid-Century Modern mixologists’ stock that has us talking. The inventory ranges from snazzy shakers to jiggers and strainers in cool tones that would make Don Draper jealous. There’s also fancy bitters (including the original Peychaud’s) and cool bartending tools, too.

Kingston, www.exitnineteen.com

Bookstore for Adults

Rough Draft Bar & Books

Few establishments have proven more dynamic and indispensable in their first years of business as Rough Draft. With its extensive tap list, curated reading selections, and gorgeous venue in a colonial stone house, the small business has enough appeal; but factor in author readings, sports game screenings, adult spelling bees, and there’s plenty to keep you out all night. You can say you were at the bookstore.

Kingston, www.roughdraftny.com

Cigar Shop

Habana Happenings

Scott Bendett opened his first cigar shop as a mall kiosk in 1996, since expanding to two Capital Region locations. Browse the humidor for choice cigars before relaxing in the smoking room to have a chat with other enthusiasts. Habana also provides professional cigar-rolling services for events.

Albany, North Greenbush, www.habanahappenings.com

Community Bookstore

The Golden Notebook

Cozy and friendly, the Valley’s only Doris Lessing-referencing bookstore — as of press time — is overstocked with top-flight literature, from local-interest and just plain local books to sizable history, poetry, and particularly children’s literature. Make your way upstairs for regular events and a double bookcase stuffed full of Penguin Classics, as well as the occasional cheery store dog.

Woodstock, www.goldennotebook.com

Country Store

The Nest Egg

More along the lines of the souvenir stop you used to go to on family vacations with your parents than a modern-day Main Street gift store, The Nest Egg is a welcome blast from the past. Inside the two-story building with a spacious front porch, you’ll find a surprisingly large variety of Minnetonka Moccasins, plus pajamas, toys, homemade fudge, maps, and locally made products. And if this doesn’t bring you back to your childhood: They’ve even got DVD rentals.

Phoenicia, www.nesteggshop.com

Custom and Socially Responsible Jewelry

Hudson Valley Goldsmith

In less than 10 years, this husband-and-wife owned business has grown from craft shows to a shop on Main Street in New Paltz, where your custom piece is set in front of you in their open studio. But Hudson Valley Goldsmith goes above and beyond custom jewelry design — they use conflict-free diamonds and recycled precious metals, and carefully craft more than 1,000 pieces of custom jewelry a year.

New Paltz, www.hudsonvalleygoldsmith.com

Flea Market

Stormville Airport Antique Show & Flea Market

What started with a handful of vendors is now one of the region’s largest antique shows and flea markets, with nearly 600 vendors from all over the Northeast traveling to sell their goods. It’s the perfect place to discover everything you’ve been looking for (and more!) at great prices. Get there early though; this is not a well-kept secret.

Stormville, www.stormvilleairportfleamarket.com

Handbag Company

NYCe BLU

Add a bit of New York City flair to your wardrobe with these stunning handbags inspired by the street art and energy of the city. Lead designer and co-founder Mary Fleckenstein’s dream is for people to feel “beautiful and complete” when carrying her sculpted leather handbags. The signature “Joy” handbag is crafted with the finest Spanish calfskin suede in a variety of vibrant hues and completed with electric cobalt blue Spanish calfskin lining.

Newburgh, Mamaroneck, NYC, www.nyceblu.com

Irish Goods

Celtic Aer

Halfway between the Cortlandt Town Center in Mohegan Lake and the Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown, you’ll find a tiny piece of Ireland, filled with Irish décor, apparel, pottery, jewelry, and even food. Brands like Aran, Belleek, and Colm de Ris fill the shelves (and website), and their selection of Claddagh rings is especially impressive. Proprietor Ashley Rooney celebrates her 10th year in business next year; keep an eye out for fun products and promotions marking the milestone.

Mohegan Lake, www.celticaer.com

Locally Made Housewares

Living Edge Designs

From tree to table, add a touch of the Valley’s natural elements to your home with these sculptural yet functional works of art. From his Rhinebeck studio, artist and maker Todd Young crafts stunning cutting boards, candleholders, flight paddles, and more using sustainably harvested Hudson Valley hardwoods like walnut, cherry, sugar maple, and sycamore.

Rhinebeck, www.livingedgedesigns.com

One-stop Place for Home Décor and Design

Milne Inc.

You know you want to redecorate your bedroom or living room; you just don’t know where to start. Enter Milne Inc., where you can shop for antiques like iron bedsteads or vintage valises at its Kingston atelier, consult with Rebekah Milne for interior design, or just start from scratch and have Milne Inc. create custom furniture and accessories from its fabrication factory not far from the antiques shop.

Kingston, www.milneinc.com

Photo by Christian Harder

Place to Buy a Gift for the Home

Clove & Creek

Whether you are welcoming a new friend to the neighborhood or just looking to spruce up your home, you will surely find a treasure here. This mercantile celebrates local makers with a select inventory of handmade products from apothecary to pantry-fillers, framed works of art, candles, and even gear for the backyard.

Kingston, www.cloveandcreek.com

Place to Buy Lumber & More

Williams Lumber & Home Centers

Narrowing down the top reasons we love each one of Williams’ eight locations can be difficult. It’s simply more than just a one-stop shop for lumber and fun and innovative home products. It’s also about the reliable service and amazing associates who care. We guarantee you’ll walk out with exactly what you need for any job — and perhaps a few things you didn’t know you needed.

High Falls, Hopewell Junction, Hudson, Hyde Park, Pleasant Valley, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Tannersville, www.williamslumber.com

Record Store

Rocket Number Nine

Uptown Kingston has a number of used record stores, but none can match RNN’s attention to diversity and quality. Great music plays in a comfy, no-nonsense space as you peruse record crates and discover surprising finds, typically at a reasonable price. Head to the backroom for discounted LPs, many no more than a dollar.

Kingston, Find them on Facebook

Something Old, Something New

Cream Boutique & Cream Vintage

If you have a passion for fashion head to Newburgh’s Liberty Street where you’ll find fierce styles at the woman-owned Cream stores. Start at Cream Boutique for new, on-trend fashion and accessories at affordable prices. Then head across street to find the best designer deals at Cream Vintage, where we’ve spotted brands ranging from Gucci to Louis Vuitton and everything in between.

Newburgh, www.creamnewburgh.com, www.creamnewburgh.com/creamvintagenbny

Photo courtesy of Lucky Bug Clothing Company

Sustainable Fashion for Kids

Lucky Bug Clothing Company

There’s nothing more adorable than a toddler in pajamas. Except, perhaps, if those pajamas feature a hand-drawn pattern on sustainable fabrics and are made right here in the Hudson Valley. At Lucky Bug’s website choose from a variety of colorful prints (Hudson Valley Farm, Dairy Cow, Veggie Garden) available in pants, bibs, and onesies for all of your baby’s and toddler’s needs.

Gardiner, www.luckybugclothing.com

Sustainable Fashion

KAIGHT

The goods at this Beacon boutique reflect a value system rooted in respect for humankind and the environment. KAIGHT carries fashion-forward clothing and accessories that prioritize local production, waste reduction, organic fabrics, and safe dyes. They also value quality and good design, so products can be worn for many years.

Beacon, www.kaightshop.com

Tire Service

Fishkill Tire & Auto Repair

This year marks 50 years in business for this family-owned car maintenance mainstay. With a huge inventory of tires — and the ability to obtain any they don’t stock in just one day — the Ross family’s shop is the place you want to stop when your wheels start wearing thin.

Fishkill, www.fishkilltirecompany.com

Continuing Care Retirement Community

Woodland Pond at New Paltz

At Woodland Pond — tailored exclusively for those 62 and over — community members have the best of the Hudson Valley in their own “backyard.” For dining, residents enjoy food prepared by a CIA-trained executive chef in a pub, a bistro, or the main dining room (there’s also Sunday Brunch). As for activities, there is an abundance of cultural, educational, and social opportunities such as movies, lectures, and classes (ranging from Italian lessons to Chi Kung) — plus field trips to venues such as the Rhinebeck Aerodrome. All residents have guaranteed lifetime access to a full continuum of state-of-the-art healthcare if and when it should ever be needed.

New Paltz, www.wpatnp.org

New Off-Premises Event Caterer

Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese, a Hudson Valley favorite for on-site events for nearly 50 years, is now bringing the best “from Nonna’s kitchen to yours” with a new, full-service off-premise catering venture — Mangia. Whether it’s a graduation party in your backyard, a holiday party for your office, or a wedding at the venue of your choice, Mangia offers a wide variety of food choices ranging from Italian-American to Mexican.

Wappingers Falls, www.thevillaborghese.com

Place for an Estate Wedding

Livingston Weddings: Oak Hill-on-Hudson

Located on the banks of the Hudson River, Oak Hill-on-Hudson is a 100-acre historic estate — the last remaining mansion in the Livingston family — boasting spectacular views of the Catskill Mountains. After centuries hosting private weddings and receptions, this venue is finally open to the public for a limited number of events per year. Say your vows on the lawn overlooking the Hudson, enjoy cocktails outside the estate house, and enjoy dinner and dancing in the rustic on-site barn.

Hudson, www.livingstonweddings.com

photo by limetta studio

Vintage Consignment Shop

Blackbird Attic Boutique

This thoughtfully curated boutique is simply stunning, thanks to the amount of time and attention to detail that go into how all the items are showcased. There is a mix of both vintage and brand-name consignment fashion at reasonable prices. Follow them on Instagram for fun styling and sneak peeks at new items.

Beacon, www.blackbirdattic.com