Prepare for Pleasant Weather
With spring upon us and summer approaching, Scott Baldinger offers some useful advice on his blog, Word on the Street, for all of us who enjoy strolling on Warren Street (with or without a dog) and in other public venues of Hudson: "Arrange Your Face: Rules of Pedestrian Engagement on Warren Street."
The picture accompanying this post, showing a 19th-century face arranged for a portrait by Frank Forshew in Historic Hudson's Rowles Studio Collection, was added by Gossips and does not illustrate the "arranged face" Baldinger recommends.
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Wow, I realize he’s trying to be a little funny with the piece, but this passage struck me as staggeringly conceited:
ReplyDelete“Do not stare with one’s mouth open:
I’ve been the victim of this and am not – from what I can gather, a particularly outlandish looking individual. Perhaps the starer (more like a glarer in some instances) is visiting Hudson from some tiny agricultural town in the area and is startled to see a groups (Sic) of individuals wearing color-coordinated clothes — or something. Or perhaps they’re not seeing anything at all and are just in a state of disturbed contemplation. (One may as well assume this is anywhere near the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Police station/court, and hurry along.) Whatever the case, it’s not a certainty that they read this blog, so if you do and know someone who might fit this description, pass the info along.”
Talk about belittling the local population. I’m sure Baldinger, as many NYC expats have, has probably had a few bad experiences with locals, but to suggest locals from different backgrounds than you are unsophisticated, out-of-line and unwelcome on Warren Street is pretty damn divisive and immature.
It really tugs at my sympathy that Baldinger is subjected to having to hurry past the few working class holdovers on Warren Street, such as the DMV, and therefore is sometimes unavoidably in the presence of these native Hudson Valley creatures.
Anyhow, I’m of a younger generation that thinks both the Warren Street renaissance and the working class folks with family history in the area are fascinating and worthy of respect—and they can of course interconnect. I happen to have been born in Hudson in the ’80s, grew up in one of the derided “tiny agricultural town(s) in the area” and I am not so close-minded to lump into one box all who have the luxury to be buying the products sold at many Warren Street businesses. I hope the mindset (in fact, a much unsophisticated, and, luckily, I don’t think all-that-rampant mindset) that attributes more human value to Hudson’s upper class than the simple, un-color-coordinate-outfitted locals dies out with time.
I wonder if Baldinger would follow his “don’t stare” advice if walking the entire uneven-sidewalked stretch of State Street, from the Hudson Upper Station to the river. It wouldn’t be odd for him to stare at times; different cultures out of one’s norm can peak an interest and be worthy of observance. Too bad he doesn’t feel that way.
Just walking.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's one directed to the dog walker(s) on Warren.
Although I love dogs & glad to see each out & about on the streets of Hudson, could the dog walkers of the 3 +dogs on leashes please allow people to walk on the sidewalk & not have me & others go into traffic or around parked cars so that you may walkie walkie.
And don't forget to carry your scoop bags.
ReplyDeleteI waited for someone else to comment on this, but I'll forge ahead. "Perhaps the starer (more like a glarer in some instances) is visiting Hudson from some tiny agricultural town in the area and is startled to see a groups of individuals wearing color-coordinated clothes — or something."
Groups with color-coordinated clothes???? Who even does that???
Over all, I agree with HudsonMillenial.
My daughter and I have noticed, with amusement, the insistence of 'newcomers' to tell us how long they have been in Hudson, "Well I'VE been here 7 years!" "well I moved here 12 years ago".
Are the people who 'discovered' Hudson first hipper? Or are they saying they are the authority on Hudson culture?
Yes, I am being snarky, but what the heck is going? Why is Hudson so culturally divided? Maybe in part because of blog comments like Scott B's.
(For the record, I didn't feel this distance with the earlier set of new comers, who brought Hudson back from doldrums and stopped SLC)