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Also, how would you describe the lifestyle? How "liberal" is Nyack? Would I fit in or feel like a fish out of water as an African-American woman educator, writer, poet, performer, etc.?
No idea how liberal Nyack is, but commute-wise I'd look at whether Grand Central/east side or Penn Station/west side is better for you, and then pick places close to Metro North (east of the Hudson river, e.g. Westchester/Putnam counties) or NJ Transit (west of the Hudson, including Nyack/Nanuet areas), respectively.
Have no idea what it is like to live in Nyack but it might be a little too suburban for a city oriented person.
What about Yonkers, Mt Vernon or White Plains? Much closer to the city,very frequent trains and a bit more urban.And there are some decent ,convenient areas of all three.
Nyack is a pretty liberal place. In the last election four democrats ran in the primary -- no Republicans. And the only Republican who ran in the general election ran as an independent!
Also, how would you describe the lifestyle? How "liberal" is Nyack? Would I fit in or feel like a fish out of water as an African-American woman educator, writer, poet, performer, etc.?
You would be fine. Nyack is a diverse little village(about 26% Black) and nearby Central Nyack is actually pluralistically more Black than anything else. South Nyack is about 16% Black as well. Schools are generally good there and there is a nice nightlife scene there. It also has a nice arts scene.
Hey everybody, thanks so much. Now I can put Nyack on my list of possibilities. So excited about coming back to NYC, esp. to know that I can live in a more relaxed environment and still benefit from and contribute to what makes NYC so exciting. I want the best of both worlds, to live in peace in a place like Nyack (or the Bronx, Queens, etc.) and to go to work and perform in Manhattan. Come on, August!
The only issue with Nyack is the commute time, which is much longer than suburbs further out in Westchester by mileage -- hence why the rents are much lower than Westchester for comparable properties about the same distance from the city. You are tied to either the bus or the railroad to get to Manhattan, unless you want to drive; and, the Tappan Zee and GWB crossings are difficult, such that it's not unfathomable to have a 1.5 hour commute each way with little out of the ordinary. You can take the train from Nyack via Tarrytown to Grand Central Terminal, or you can take the train at Nanuet and come through New Jersey to Penn Station.
Here's a link to commute options that the Rockland County Government has, which covers how to get to/from/around Rockland via public transportation.
Nyack might not be a great place to be car-free, however, which might be a consideration because there are times you might need one to go to shopping areas along Route 59, that are not as well served by public transportation as other areas, such as White Plains.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
Another place to possibly consider in Rockland County is Suffern, which has train service and has a little bit in terms of a scene. There is some "diversity" there too.
Like others have mentioned, parts of Yonkers, Mt. Vernon(Fleetwood), White Plains, Peekskill, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, New Rochelle and a few others in Westchester County would work too.
Thanks guys. So much to explore. At the very least I will have also found some cool towns for day trips and weekend getaways if I wind up living in a more urban setting. This is really helpful.
Another little town that's cool in that area is Piermont, which is a small village that's right on the Hudson shore. It's smaller than Nyack, but has many attractions, including a live music scene at The Turning Point. There are bus links from Piermont to Nyack and Manhattan.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
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