When I first moved to Nyack from northern Bergen County, New Jersey, over 40 years ago, my friends thought I was insane. They would say things like, “Oh my god, you’re moving upstate” and “You’ll die up there!” Telling them that it was only about 25 miles north of where I grew up in Fort Lee made no difference. To them, it didn’t matter. As transplanted “city kids,” it was just so foreign to everything we knew.
I came to Nyack and Rockland County to work my first job in television with what was then known as TKR Cable. I started as a part-time sportscaster and eventually became program manager for the small cable station we created to air stories of local interest. It became the launching pad for a 40-plus-year career in the TV production and news professions. But that’s a column for another day.
If anyone is at all familiar with my writing, you know of my long-running love affair with the village of Nyack. From the first time I drove from our studio in West Nyack down Route 59 and into Nyack on a misty, early spring day, I knew it would be the place I would likely spend the rest of my life. There was just something about it that I could not only see but feel.
There was an air about the people who lived there. I just knew that I would share a sense of values with them. The village had so much to offer, both physically and spiritually. Because of its location on the banks of the mighty Hudson River and flanked by the impressive Palisades and Hook Mountain, one would be hard pressed to find a place with such profound vistas and within 25 miles of the greatest city in the world. The magnificent Victorian homes and tree-lined streets that make up much of the village harkens to a small town you might find deep in New England. That’s probably one of the reasons so many TV shows and motion pictures are filmed in the village. At that time, the downtown area was full of not only restaurants and bars, but antique shops as well. It was thriving (as it still is today).
What I didn’t know in the beginning but discovered rapidly was that in addition to everything else Nyack has to offer, it also has one of the most vibrant live music scenes found anywhere outside of New York City. It has been a tradition for a long time and continues in full force today. The amount of first-class music and musicians that I have witnessed in dozens of venues around Nyack for the last 40 years is staggering. In fact, there are so many that we don’t have enough space in this column to describe them all.
Instead, I’d like to simply list the ones that I remember from the past. Some are completely gone, some have changed into other businesses, while a few continue even today. Of course, so many years have passed I’m sure that I will miss a few, or many. Please feel free to add your own to the list. Here are just the ones that I have a clear memory of (in no order of importance or chronology): The Coven, Bruxelles, The Hudson House, Olives, The Office, O’Donoghue’s, The Old Fashion, The River Club, Eastwick’s, Casa del Sol.
You could catch quality music from some of the best musicians in the world on virtually any night of the week. I remember seeing the legendary bass player Ron Carter one night at The Office, now The Old Village Inn, but it was once a destination for some of our best jazz artists. And the tradition of great music, all kinds of music, continues today. At many venues in the village on virtually any night of the week you can catch fabulous music and have a delicious meal at the same time. Here are just some of the venues that offer live music and food on any given day of the week: Little Deans, La Dolce Vita, Olives, Mekong District, and Maura’s. While offering light fare, Maureen’s Jazz Cellar has become one of the Hudson Valley’s premiere music destinations by offering live acts six nights a week in a small, intimate setting.
And the great music and musicians are not just imported; much is often home grown. Recent examples include two of the founding members of the progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria, who grew up locally and played in bands at many of the local venues mentioned above before achieving international success.
Travis Stever and Claudio Sanchez grew up in Rockland County, began their careers here, and still live in Nyack. To recognize their success and community involvement, they were awarded the keys to the village by the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce after playing a live gig in downtown Nyack during last year’s Spring Street Fair. Another example is Latin signing sensation and two-time Latin Grammy winner, Pedro Capo.
Although he was born in Puerto Rico into a highly successful and influential family, he decided to come to New York to forge his own career. Along the way to building that career, he made a stop to take a job as a bartender at Nyack’s Casa Del Sol. During his time there, his obvious music talent was noticed by fellow bartender and musician Jeff Spindel. Along with another local musician, Dylan Kellehan, they formed the band Rustico Acoustico, and played regularly at Casa del Sol. The rest, as they say, is history. Jeff and Dylan went on to become co-owners of Nyack’s very successful music store, The Rock Shop. And, Pedro, well, he just keeps winning Grammys.
In keeping with what we hope will be a new tradition, Pedro is returning to his Nyack roots. After a live performance at Sunday’s Spring Street Fair (4/12) in Hezekiah Easter Square, he also will receive the keys to the village. From what I hear of the quality of this young man, it is well deserved.
Nyack has gone through many changes in the many years that I have lived here. Some for the better, some not. I can’t tell you how many times in these 40-plus years I have read of Nyack’s impending demise. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. However, we have always survived. And I believe that we always will because that attitude of inclusion and acceptance allows art and artists to flourish here. If you come you will feel it. That’s why these very successful artists return. Because they know.
Pedro Capo will appear at the Spring Street Fair on Sunday, April 12, at approximately 3:00 p.m. in Hezekiah Easter Square.
Frank LoBuono is a Nyack resident, photographer, blogger and retired CBS News journalist.
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of this independent writer and not the Nyack News & Views editorial staff. We welcome submissions from anybody who is interested in publishing their thoughts, ideas and perspectives about issues facing our community, both large and small. Please send submissions to info@nyacknewsandviews.com.
Photo credit: George Pejoves