Photo by Hudson Valley Aerial
Close to Bard College, many top restaurants and a thriving arts scene, Tivoli is a great place to live in Dutchess County.
Quiet, picturesque and hugging the banks of the Hudson with views of the distant Catskill Mountains, Tivoli is the epitome of storybook charm. Located in the town of Red Hook and in the historic Hudson River district, this 1.5 square mile Dutchess County village is home to approximately 1,100 residents. While the population is small, the sense of community is strong.
What makes Tivoli worthy of a visit – and potentially a permanent stay – is its combination of young professionals, students from nearby Bard College, as well as prominent local figures like contemporary artists Brice and Helen Marden. and actors and filmmakers Mary Stuart Masterson and Jeremy Davidson. In fact, the owners of Fortunes Ice Cream (named the best ice cream in New York State by Food and wine, among other accolades), Tivoli General, and the original directors of Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, a 153-acre artists’ sanctuary with year-round residences and performances, are all Bard alumni who loved the area so much that they never left him.
Photo by Hudson Valley Aerial
Tivoli is located in the central school district of Red Hook. His high school was ranked 11th in our March review of over 50 schools in the valley. The village has a vibrant artistic community made up of Kaatsbaan, the Hessel Art Museum in Bard and the Tangent Theater Company. (Mayor Joel Griffith is even a painter.) Tivoli Bays, protected wetlands in the Hudson River Estuary National Research Reserve, are an ideal and scenic area for hiking and boating. There is easy access to Amtrak, with stations in nearby towns of Hudson and Rhinecliff.
The village also has many options to please gourmets. There’s a great restaurant scene along Broadway: you’ll find authentic Italian fare at GioBatta Alimentari, owned by Francesco Buitoni (yes, this Buitoni), a seventh generation pasta maker; Small Spanish plates at Rojo Tapas + Wine; farm-to-table fare, live music and the country’s largest selection of Irish whiskey at the Traghaven Whiskey Pub; and a Mediterranean menu at the Corner at Hotel Tivoli (property of the Mardens).
As they say in Tivoli, the name of the village spelled backwards is “i-lov-it”. We love it too.
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