The Hudson River Valley and New England are especially rich in artists’ studios and homes, offering a behind-the-scenes opportunity to glimpse the motivations and settings that impacted creativity.
Edward Hopper House Courtesy Edward Hopper Historic House & Study Center
Edward Hopper’s haunting cityscapes are familiar to visitors to the Whitney Museum of American Art, but it’s his early home in Rockland County that provided much inspiration and context. The Nyack countryside gave him ample exposure to light and landscape, which he incorporated into his many depictions of city and country life in the 20th century. The Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center currently serves as an exhibition space for exhibitions relating to Hopper and works of various artists.
Courtesy Hotel Nyack
Hotel Nyack – Designed by the David Rockwell Group, Hotel Nyack is the first boutique, lifestyle hotel in Rockland County and part of the Joie de Vivre/Hyatt collection. The stylish rooms and spaces add a fitting design element to your art getaway.
Courtesy The Castle Hotel and Spa
The Castle Hotel and Spa – A short drive from Nyack, The Castle Hotel and Spa in Tarrytown will inspire your creative muse with its original architectural elements. In an envious location overlooking the lower Hudson River Valley, the distinctive castle dates from 1897 and was designed in the style of a Norman fortification in Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Thomas Cole’s Old Studio © John Thorn
Thomas Cole is synonymous with the Hudson River School. It was Cole who gave birth to America’s first significant art movement and his landscapes occupy an important place in museums like the National Gallery, New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. After a visit to Cole’s beautiful Catskill home with its sweeping views of the Catskill Mountains you might just be tempted to pause a while with your own sketchbook. The Thomas Cole National Historic Site features changing exhibits of landscape paintings.
Olana © Stan Ries
In nearby Hudson, Frederic Edwin Church, the second important painter of the Hudson River School, established his family home, studio and estate. Unlike his teacher Thomas Cole, Church is best known for paintings of exotic locales instead of the local scenery that Cole favored. Resembling a Hudson River School painting, the Olana State Historic Site covers 250 acres and includes Church’s Persian-inspired house with commanding views of the Hudson River Valley. On display are paintings by Church as well as other collected art.
The dining room at Manitoga © Vivian Linares
Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center in Garrison invites visitors to spend time contemplating Wright’s seamless merging of indoor and outdoor design. This famous house, created by industrial designer Russel Wright, seems to flow effortlessly into beautiful gardens with waterfalls, an example of the modernist design he introduced to the world. The setting was transformed from a ravaged industrial site into a spot for artistic creativity with miles of paths and views of the Hudson River.
Courtesy The Maker Hotel
The Maker Hotel – Newly opened in the artsy-Boho town of Hudson, The Maker Hotel is filled with vintage and current arts, crafts and works from local artisans and makers. A perfect complement to the artists’ homes in the Hudson River Valley, the hotel also has a notable dining room and fitness options.
Chesterwood © Don Freeman
Another favorite area of artists, the Berkshires in western Massachusetts is the location of Chesterwood, the summer home, studio and gardens of lauded American sculptor Daniel Chester French. One of America’s foremost public sculptors, French created more than 100 monuments including the acclaimed Minute Man in Concord, Massachusetts and Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial. Many of the original plaster models and sculptures in bronze and marble can be viewed in his Stockbridge home. Visitors are welcome to wander the European-inspired gardens, particularly beautiful in the spring and autumn.
Frelinghuysen Morris House © Paul Rocheleau
The next town over, Lenox, is the site of Bauhaus-inspired Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio, the two-story white stucco and glass, modernist home of Suzy Frelinghuysen and George L.K. Morris, painters, collectors and founders of American Abstract Art. The house is notable for its contrast to the “cottage”-type architecture found in the area. The house museum displays an extensive collection of mid-century art including the couple’s own cubist works.
Courtesy The Inn at Kenmore Hall
The Inn at Kenmore Hall — The first summer arts colony in the Berkshires in the 1880s, Kenmore Hall in Richmond counted Daniel Chester French among its students. Today, the history-filled B&B has been lovingly restored with appropriate design and appointments for an intimate stay in a gorgeous setting near the attractions of the Berkshires.
Winslow Homer Studio © Trent Bell Photography
Winslow Homer was inspired by the rough coastlines of Maine, particularly those in the southern part of the state. His studio, located on Prouts Neck in Scarborough, is overseen by the Portland Museum of Art. If you walk along the peninsula and the beach, you’ll understand the chilly, rocky images that Homer painted. You might even recognize some the views from paintings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Museum or Chicago Art Institute. Homer spent 17 years at this location, living in the simple understated structure and painting from a balcony overlooking the ocean. To visit the studio, you must first stop at the Portland Museum of Art – a chance to see some of the artist’s paintings – and then board a shuttle to Prouts Neck.
Kent—Fitzgerald Historic Home Courtesy Fitzgerald Legacy Archives, © John Lawrence
As early as 1850, Monhegan Island in Maine had become a magnet for artists. The headlands of the remote island and its wild, car-free setting were a draw for creative souls, appealing with their natural beauty and simplicity. Up steep Light House Hill, artist Rockwell Kent built a home and studio that was later used by artist James Fitzgerald and portraitist Alice Stoddard. Kent painted much of what he saw daily en plein air focusing on regional realism while Fitzgerald’s watercolor interpretations of the area were created from memory and sketched indoors. Kent’s famous Winter, Monhegan Island is a stylized depiction, on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Artworks created by Fitzgerald and Stoddard are shown in the nearby Monhegan Museum of Art & History.
Courtesy The Black Point Inn
The Black Point Inn – On a sweep of beach on Prouts Neck in Scarborough, the classic Maine resort is a look into the relaxed history of the area. With its waterfront location, traditional Maine dining, and classic architecture, the inn will help you understand why Winslow Homer chose this location for his studio.
Pierce Cottage at The Island Inn © Meryl Pearlstein
The Island Inn — You’ll understand why Monhegan Island appeals to artists when you stay at the inn. Overlooking the harbor with scenery that becomes the main event of the day, the Island Inn and its adjacent Pierce Cottage embodies simplicity, allowing the environs to remain the star of the show. Simple rooms and a popular porch with rocking chairs along with Adirondack chairs on the lawn invite you to relax after a day of exploring the island and the art.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation and writer Valerie A. Balint have created a guide that covers these areas and more, including detail and photos for 44 artists’ homes and working studios in 21 states.
Philadelphia invites you to explore the city as you take in some of the city’s most creative and beloved art landmarks. A welcome change to counter Zoom and virtual reality tours, artists and organizations have found new ways to move you out of your home and onto the streets (or into the air) to view their beautiful creations. Before you start complaining that it’s too cold outside, take a walk to see these wonderful arts both on land and in the sky.
Liberty Bell Photo courtesy Art Production Fund
With the Museums Without Walls AUDIO tour of public art throughout Philadelphia, sponsored by the Association for Public Art, you use your smartphone to wander the city as you learn about the more than 75 sculptures on the streets. Just as you might do with an audio tour inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Barnes Foundation, this tour lets you tune in on your own… but outside. Narration is by a variety of people from all walks of life, each person explaining the story behind the artwork and their personal connection to it.
Photo Alec Rogers © 2018 for the Association for Public Art
A sample meander might be to start at the famous LOVE Sculpture near City Hall in LOVE Park. Designed in 1976 by Robert Indiana, LOVE is a massive four-letter red piece, with an iconic tilting O and clashing green interior and blue-sky exterior. The sculpture is part of Indiana’s LOVE Project that incorporates more than just sculptures. Starting with a poem some 20 years before the Philadelphia installation, Indiana also gave birth to LOVE sculptures around the world, translated into many languages. A second sculpture, AMOR, recognizes the Hispanic population in Philadelphia and is located a short walk from LOVE Park in Sister Cities Park.
El Gran Teatro de la Luna Photo © Association for Public Art
A fun stop on the tour is a Fairhill Square visit to view Rafael Ferrer’s El Gran Teatro de la Luna. Repainted and reinstalled after a 14-year absence, the sculpture evokes a range of emotions with the colorful acrobats and performers moving blissfully yet frenetically. The action-filled tableau is set atop a pergola framing an outdoor stage in the park and is a source of pride to nearby residents, many of whom feel a connection to the artist’s Caribbean upbringing.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
If your sojourn takes you near South Street, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens are a true surprise. You might think you’ve landed in Gaudi-crazy Barcelona. But, instead, this garden, completely covered by mosaics made of glass, mirrors, bicycle wheels, bottles and tiles started off as an effort to beautify the walls, buildings and vacant lots of South Street by artist Isaiah Zagar. When developers threatened to dismantle Zagar’s “artworks,” residents fought back. As a result, the space remains to this day as a non-profit organization, allowing Zagar to continue to excavate and create, and is visited by those “in the know.” Choose to spend some socially distanced time in the indoor galleries, or just stay outdoors in the enchanting magic garden. Please note that the gardens are closed until April, but this is a don’t miss, so plan to go when the weather warms up.
Boston’s many historical markers and statues, the Freedom Trail, and the beautiful park system with its fountains, ponds and gardens are all familiar to locals and visitors. But the city also profits from the many educational institutions and creative residents who gravitate to the Greater Boston area, with opportunities for art explorations both in Beantown proper and outside of the city.
Downtown is a wonderful starting point for an art stroll with both permanent and changing exhibits designed to keep you stimulated and curious, and outdoors.
Mrs. Mallard with her eight ducklings created by sculptress Nancy Schon
Robert McCloskey’s beloved children’s book, “Make Way for Ducklings” is honored in the Boston Public Garden with a family-favorite sculpture of Mrs. Mallard with her eight ducklings created by sculptress Nancy Schon. Celebrating 33 years as a fixture in the park, the bronze ducks inspire on-site birthday parties not only for the visitors but also for the ducks themselves. Today, the ducklings sport masks, encouraging visitors to maintain social distancing and wear their face coverings.
Rose Kennedy Greenway - Wind Sculpture
Cross the street from the Public Garden, strolling through the Boston Common towards Government Center and Faneuil Hall, and you will reach one of the prides of the Boston Big Dig construction project. By removing the John Fitzgerald Kennedy expressway, two areas of the city that were previously disconnected were brought together and beautified with gardens, flowers and art paralleling the waterfront. Named the Rose Kennedy Greenway, this mile-long area connects Chinatown, the Financial District, the Waterfront and the North End. Since its opening in 2008, the curvilinear park has hosted a changing gallery of themed public art and light installations ranging from pigs celebrating the Year of the Pig, to historic neon signs from Massachusetts and the permanent Harbor Fog water feature sculpture. The Greenway, as its known, welcomes artists to submit their ideas for installations and the rotating gallery of murals.
HarborArts - Liz LaManche
Across the Harbor towards Logan Airport, Boston HarborArts has been welcoming visitors to their outdoor shipyard-turned-gallery for more than a decade. Located at the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marine in East Boston, the outdoor art park sits in Jeffries Point across from the Seaport. The “museum” is 100% outdoors and free of charge. Featuring local and international artists, the outdoor gallery is a rotating art gallery covering 14 acres. A bonus: as you meander through the gritty industrial area, along the Boston HarborWalk, you’ll have many instagrammable moments of both the art and the city skyline across the harbor.
Walking around the Seaport itself affords many opportunities to see public art. Winter and spring are prime times for major installations but art peppers the area year-round. Walk along the waterfront by landmark boats and new restaurants, with a view of the burgeoning Fort Point neighborhood in the background, and you’ll see many thought-provoking sculptures. The changing collection has included interactive and kinetic pieces as well as statues from local as well as international artists.,
North of Boston Mural Map - Cat Witch
The North of Boston Mural Map leads you on a colorful voyage through the Greater Boston towns up the coast and inland. With no crowds to distract you indoors, this is a perfect social distancing way to absorb some local color and culture. On more than 100 murals, local topics like witchcraft in Salem are given a distinctive spin with the “Cat Witch” mural by Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel, a Boston favorite known for his multi-colored geometric sculptures in the Seaport. Other murals with more global themes of poetry and love grace buildings in 14 towns from Saugus to Salisbury.
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum - HOMEWRECKER
For another art-filled trip from Boston, drive west to the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln. The park is open with controlled attendance and viewing to effect social distancing. Timed passes can be purchased online. A visit typically takes two hours and no touching of the sculptures is allowed. A favorite among visitors are the three colorful sculptures by Aaron Curry located on the front lawn. Reminiscent of Alexander Calder works, these very contemporary pieces also allude to science fiction, cartoons and stagecraft. UGLY MESS seems to be a sad person with two large tears dripping from its cutout eyes. In the second, HOMEWRECKER, a similar character embraces a bright red creature. The third, BLUBAT, looks like a children’s drawing of a person, but with wings hanging from its arms.
Those in the know understand the draw of the East End of Long Island. The Hamptons, sitting on the South Fork of the island, are a group of hamlets, villages and towns lying along the Atlantic Ocean. The area is a perpetual playground for the rich and famous, and for city dwellers who appreciate a beach escape in a rural setting within a short drive of New York City.
The holidays are a special time in the Hamptons. Picture-perfect towns are dressed up in their holiday finest, with homes and trees adorned with shimmering lights. Beaches take on a different cast, with the icy-blue sky and ocean making a vivid contrast to the white sand and dunes. And art galleries and museums put on events to excite even the most casual viewer.
Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein
The Hamptons are especially conscious of the safety and health of its visitors. Masks are required in restaurants, shops and during tours and are requested to be worn in all public places. Be sure to check changing requirements and schedules when making reservations.
The pandemic has extended the variety of Hamptons restaurants staying open through the fall and winter season. Many have created both indoor and outdoor dining experiences as well as additional takeout options where seasonal menus are enhanced with local beer and wines.
Main Street Tavern Photo By: Ronan Lev
Newly opened, Amagansett’s all-American Main Street Tavern has an expansive beer garden, indoor sports bar and small-town hominess. Menu ingredients are locally sourced and find their way into small bites and comfort food faves like steak sandwiches, lobster rolls and chicken parm. Plan to watch your gridiron giants do combat while munching on Main Street’s superb chicken wings and sipping a classic cocktail or glass of wine from a list smartly curated by Parcelle, the well-known boutique wine shop.
Elaia Estiatorio
The authentically Greek Elaia Estiatorio restaurant offers dishes made with locally sourced ingredients and an extensive Greek wine list. The restaurant’s quintet of dips (smoked eggplant, cod roe, Greek yogurt, whipped feta and pureed fava beans) is a perfect way to start any cold-weather meal. For simple perfection, the lightly dressed horiatiki (Greek salad) and whole grilled fish will transport you to warmer climes in an instant. Elaia is also offering a take-out Thanksgiving feast, mixing traditional American turkey and ham with Greek favorites.
Baron’s Cove
The harborview restaurant at Baron’s Cove resort offers a “Chef’s Table” culinary series with holiday-themed dinners for Thanksgiving weekend, Winter Harvest, Christmas weekend and New Year’s Eve weekend. Part of an all-inclusive three-day hotel package, each meal features what is seasonally best from local farms and purveyors, with personal attention from Chef Nick Vogel. Guests will enjoy accommodations in the resort’s variety of nautically themed rooms, some allowing dogs.
Kissaki Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein
A favorite among New York City foodies, Kissaki is all about elegant sushi and distinctive sake. The décor matches the quality of the cuisine with clean lines, stylish Japanese minimalism and creative expression. The unusual futomaki (fat rolled sushi), beautifully presented omakase sets, and creative nigiri taken to a new level with chef’s choice of toppings are crowd pleasers. Non-seafood choices are available, and Kissaki’s menu of chiffon cakes is a welcome and unusual surprise. Socially aware seating includes indoor podlike areas and a chic open-air patio.
Bistro Eté
A year-round go-to for Hamptonites, Bistro Eté goes all out for the holidays with seasonally inflected dishes and home made desserts. Chef Arie Pavlou prides himself not only on his French culinary prowess but also on his facility to create dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. His smoked pork chop is a sculptural feat, topped with a pumpkin cup filled with greens. Seasonal pumpkin flavors also appear in homemade ice cream. Cocktails similarly reflect the season – try the truffle martini if it’s available.
Calissa Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein
Dining at Calissa is like a quick trip to the Greek isles. Whitewashed and airy, the restaurant offers a menu of all-time Greek menu hits. An expansive garden area is beautifully lit and invites lingering. Gracious service and a perpetual “on vacation” feel set the tone throughout. To keep your spirits light, there’s live music on Thursday evenings. For the holidays, Calissa is taking pre-orders for family-style takeout dinners as well. Create a new holiday tradition with their luscious souvlaki platter, tender cubes of pork with a rosemary confit glaze.
Highway
Re-opening in time for the holidays, Highway invites a limited number of diners to enjoy their menu of New American favorites made with ingredients from nearby farms and purveyors. The popular East Hampton restaurant serves hearty, seasonally inspired dishes including miso-glazed salmon and spit-roasted chicken with sourdough stuffing, perfect for cold-weather dining. For a sweet finish, the Milk Pail apple crumble is truly drool-worthy. Takeout is available for those unable to secure an indoor reservation, but, don’t worry – cocktails in adorable Highway mini-bottles are included on the to-go menu.
Bamboo
Hidden behind Jobs Lane’s many shops, Bamboo satisfies with affordable Asian fusion cuisine, prepared by chefs trained at top sushiyas like Nobu and Blue Ribbon Sushi. Newly opened this summer, the restaurant offers a choice of sakes and an extensive menu of sushi and sashimi complemented by popular dishes like Bang Bang chicken, Mongolian beef and chicken lemongrass dumplings. Indoor seating as well as an expansive covered patio are available year-round.
T Bar
Popular Manhattan steakhouse transplant T Bar is a sleek yet cozy choice for Black Angus Porterhouse steak, Long Island duck, seafood and delicious desserts. Lighter fare includes a raw bar menu and crispy sushi, salmon burgers, chopped salads and yellowfin tuna tartare. The wine list is extensive as is the choice of craft cocktails. The restaurant’s beautiful terrace and garden add pure romance for warmer evening dining.
Union Steak and Sushi
Perfect for those who can never make up their mind, the new Union Steak and Sushi offers an elegant setting for steaks and inventive sushi creations. Local ingredients feature on the menu including duck egg rolls with Long Island duck confit. A must-order, the Union Roll is an unexpectedly harmonious combination of lobster and avocado, topped with marinated skirt steak, eel sauce and yuzu mayo. Evenings are enhanced with live piano accompaniment and an extensive cocktail and wine list. For a lighter meal, sibling Union Burger Bar shares the building and offers additional seating on an enclosed deck.
Sagaponack Farm Distillery Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein
In addition to wine tastings at Wölffer Estate Vineyard and Duck Walk, a new distillery featuring ingredients from down the road, Sagaponack Farm Distillery, offers tastings indoors and outdoors of their truly artisanal spirits. Be sure to try the unusual rhubarb liqueur as well as their aquavit and potato, wheat and cucumber vodkas.
Shopping is more than a casual pastime in the style-obsessed Hamptons. Held on the first Friday of every month, First Fridays bring the community out to enjoy shopping, entertainment, dining and more. Small Business Saturday®, sponsored by American Express, takes place two days after Thanksgiving and invites visitors to explore the boutiques and one-of-a-kind shops that pepper the towns of the South Fork.
And do plan to visit the Artisan Market at the Southampton Chamber of Commerce for handcrafted works from locals.
One of the Participating Destinations - White Fences Inn
28th Annual Hamptons B&B, Inn, Restaurant & Attraction Holiday Tour
For two days on December 5 and 6, a privileged few are invited to enter beyond the decorated doors of some of the most popular destinations in The Hamptons. Upon registration, guests will select their preferred location. All tours are guided and limited in number. Tickets are required and can be purchased online.
The Parrish Art Museum
Beautifully decorated and lit during the holidays, The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill offers socially distanced galleries with exhibits by local artists and works about local subjects. Of note this season, Lucien Smith’s large-scale Southampton Suite reflects his distinctive paint spraying technique with oeuvres inspired by his new home in Montauk. Pre-purchase a timed entry allowing a ninety-minute visit.
LongHouse Reserve
LongHouse Reserve invites you on a personal exploration of the 16-acre reserve and sculpture garden in East Hampton where notable pieces by Yoko Ono, Buckminster Fuller and Willem de Kooning are on view no matter the season. Fall and winter schedule and time slots vary so be sure to check the website where you can purchase timed tickets
The Collectors Sale
A benefit for the SAC, The Collectors Sale presents art pieces donated by more than 180 artists. You’re invited to view the collection and purchase online. A select number of works will be displayed in the back gallery of the Southampton Arts Center (SAC) to help you with your decisions.
For the little ones, SAC offers Zoom Bedtimes Stories, read by the authors themselves. Advance registration is required:
November 29 – Mr. Moon & Paint Your World with author/illustrator Michael Parasekevas
December 20 – Enzo and the Christmas Tree Hunt with author Garth Stein
Hiking
The Hamptons has a range of hiking opportunities including an unusual walk along the dunes, cranberry bogs and beach in Napeague. Appropriately named Walking Dunes, the hike changes frequently as the dunes themselves are in constant motion.
South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) - Nature Walk
SOFO’s nature walks encourage visitors of all ages to work off their holiday indulgences with a program of guided tours. Social distancing is required and masks and gloves are provided. Be sure to register in advance as spaces are limited.
Day After Thanksgiving “Walk It Off Walk” – Friday, November 27 – tour the Long Pond Greenbelt on a moderately fast-paced hike.
Annual Thanksgiving Celebration and YES! Walk – Saturday, November 28 – all ages are invited to tour Vineyard Field, right behind SOFO, with SOFO environmental educators. The YES! Young Environmentalist Society has their own walk for ages 10-16.
Full Frost Moon Hike – Monday, November 30 – join a leisurely one-hour hike in Vineyard Field to soak up some conversation and moonlight.
For additional hiking information, visit:
East Hampton Trails Preservation Society
Walking Dunes Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein
Southampton Trails Preservation Society
Shelter Island trails
Shadmoor State Park
Baker House
The elegant Baker House embraces the winter season with ‘Intimate Moments at Baker,’ a focus on togetherness and family. A striking bed and breakfast with architecture inspired by 17th-century Cotswolds, the Baker House was originally built in 1648 and has a storied history. Serving first as a residence for a sea captain, it later became a tavern, a meeting hall and a site for religious services before its transformation into a lodging establishment in 1996. Baker House provides a mix of refinement and comfort with indulgent amenities including an onsite spa. Popular during the colder months, Baker House’s fire pit is a go-to for guests to enjoy hot beverages while wearing inn-provided pashminas.
Baker House Guest Room
Southampton Inn
Bring the whole gang to the Southampton Inn for a Thanksgiving mini-holiday with a special overnight package and a four-course turkey dinner at Claude’s Restaurant. But you’ll probably want to stay longer than one night at the family-friendly Inn which offers the personal attention of a bed and breakfast with the services of a hotel. The 90 guest rooms each have a slightly different décor. The inn’s restaurant is popular for its signature weekend brunch which features locally sourced ingredients. Bikes and helmets are available for guest use.
Southampton Inn Guest Room
The Ram’s Head Inn
If you’re longing for an island getaway but don’t want to worry about changing quarantine requirements, the Ram’s Head Inn is the right place for you. Take your vehicle on the ferry, or hop the inn’s complimentary shuttle and go car-less. Shelter Island’s 17-room waterfront inn is distinguished by its relaxed yet luxurious accommodations and polished service. This season, the Ram’s Head has added four heated outdoor dining igloos and a heated cocktail igloo, available for two-hour bookings.
Ram’s Head Inn Guest Room
New American cuisine is featured with brunch on Sunday. A children’s menu is offered with early dining hours to accommodate families. Live music in the lounge on Friday and Sunday adds a festive touch.
