Where in the Hudson Valley…?
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Pedestrians on the Hudson River Way bridge spanning Interstate 787 in Albany surely do a double take as they stroll past its lampposts. What’s so special about them? For one, they’re stunning works of art: Local artists contributed to the 30 unique paintings on each concrete post, each of which depicts a different time period in the city’s history by illustrating objects uncovered in nearby archeological digs. The fun part is in the tricky tromp d’oeil style in which the artifacts are painted. Seemingly three-dimensional, the paintings tempt passersby, who want to nab one of these treasures for themselves. Kelly Stammel of Niverville snagged a prize of her own as the first Valley traveler to correctly name this wily walkway. Catch our latest quiz — about a big bronze bird — in our Chatter section.
The walkway with the trompe l’oeil frescoes leads from Broadway to Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve, making access to the Hudson River — and events like Alive at Five — much easier. It wasn’t built very long ago, and I remember everyone (including myself) buying bricks, which are now set in the path.
Mary Kramer
Delmar
I always enjoy looking at the view of the Hudson River and the cityscape while crossing.
Karen Wolner
Albany
Corrections
Compiling our “Best Of Hudson Valley” issue each year isn’t an easy task — did you see how many delicious dishes we had to taste-test? — but somebody’s got to do it. Unfortunately, even the best editors make mistakes. (Blame it on the greasy fingers.) Please note the following corrections: The readers pick for “Best Bargain Shopping” is Woodbury Common Premium Outlets; for “Best New Artist,” Pattie Eakin. And Mei Ying So is the co-owner of the Artisan Wine Shop, the editors’ selection for “Best Place to Pair Wine with Food.” Congratulations to all of our winners!
