Everybody seems to like Rosendale. Newcomers who drive down Main Street sense a quirky, appealing vibe that’s surprising when you consider that the village is barely more than a block long. Perhaps it’s the colorfully painted shops and homes sporting second floor balconies reminiscent of New Orleans. Or the colorful assortment of young and old hipsters, artists, musicians, and long-time locals. Contributing to the vibe is the odd assortment of businesses, such as The Alternative Baker, Perry’s Pickles or Vision of Tibet.

I always recommend visitors stop in at The Big Cheese, because what better characterizes Rosendale than a cheese store where you can also shop for a new (used) pair of pants, shoes, or a hat while you wait for a homemade and delicious Middle Eastern lunch to be prepared?

I’ve only lived in big cities before I came to Rosendale, and there are many here like me. You can have a life here that’s oddly self-contained yet somehow similar to city living. There’s the one-room large-screen movie theater (Rosendale Theatre) that’s non-profit and run by volunteers, and which gets a good proportion of art-house and documentary films, plus live performances. The mostly vegetarian Rosendale Cafe books high quality regional and nationally known music acts, and the hugely popular Red Brick Tavern recommends reservations even on weekdays.

Real estate in Rosendale ranges from small Main Street apartment houses to lovely century-old Victorians, farmhouses and even some Dutch stone colonials. A buyer can choose to be walking distance to town or settle into a more rural property. The town also encompasses the hamlets of Tillson, Bloomington, Cottekill and a part of High Falls.

We’re moments from the other small towns of High Falls and Stone Ridge, ten minutes from New Paltz and Kingston, and about a half hour from Rhinebeck or Poughkeepsie.  Close to everything but a feeling of being far away when you’re here. What more could one want?