Saturday – July 5, 2014
Mother Nature produced her own fireworks for Independence Day this year. Hot and very humid weather quickly turned to booming thunder storms which lit up the sky as a cold front rumbled eastward and connected with Tropical Storm Arthur making its way along the coast. This Fourth of July began with heavy rains, but ended by nightfall and the towns along the Hudson River Valley were able to display their own fireworks.
Welcome Sign
Today was a brilliant cool cloudless day with low humidity and we celebrated by going to the Edward Hopper House and Art Center. This was the artist’s birthplace and boyhood home located in Nyack, NY. He lived there until 1910 and then moved to New York City to continue his illustrious career. According to the docent, Hopper’s sister lived in the house and Hopper parked his car in the driveway ready for his vacations in Cape Cod.
Edward Hopper’s House on North Broadway
The neighborhood was full of beautiful historic homes which served as models for several of Hopper’s paintings. One gallery in the house featured prints, photographs, and artifacts which belonged to Edward Hopper. Another gallery exhibited paintings and sculptures of a contemporary artist.
Lunch at Maura’s Kitchen in Nyack
Nyack is a lovely up-and-coming Hudson River town with a diverse population. We decided to have lunch at Maura’s Kitchen – Peruvian Home Cooking. We shared several ‘small plates’ or ‘Tapas” in the Latin-American tradition: Ceviche Mixto, Empanadas, Camarones a la Piedra (shrimp on mashed yuca), and Fish Tacos. It was a feast which fueled my gallivanting urges to visit South America.
Colorful Dining Room at Maura’s Kitchen
Summer Garden at Edward Hopper’s House