How’re you doing? Been awhile. Hope you’re OK.
If that seems an abrupt way to announce ourselves, it’s because we see this as less an introduction than a re-introduction. You see, we have it on good authority that most of the eyes scanning these words belong to people, like you, who are familiar with Rivertown Magazine – and have missed it since the last issue was published in March 2020. That was the month that you-know-what happened.
For those new to these pages, our arms couldn’t be open any wider to welcome you into the fold.
We are proud purveyors of quality-of-life journalism. You can find all the nasty news you want (or not) in plenty of places. Not here. There’s a surplus of that bad stuff and a shortage of the good stuff. We’re here to do our part to restore a certain balance. There is no shortage of people doing good things who don’t get the recognition they deserve. If you know any of those people – and we’re sure you do – send them our way, to editor@rivertownsmedia.com.
For a quick and fun origin story of how Rivertown got its start, check out founder Phil Bunton’s aptly-titled “Call Me Crazy!” column on page 81.
Flash forward to today and the publishing team that is behind this testament to the durability of regional magazines has grown by leaps and bounds.
The leaps are across the Hudson, where we’ve expanded our bounds to pay attention, when it serves your interests, to Rockland County neighbor Westchester County. After all, like the 1970s War song says, “Why Can’t We Be Friends”?
Just as we serve the Hudson’s eastern coast of River Towns, from Irvington north to Peekskill, we look forward to doing the same for this side of the river, spreading the good news that enriches Rockland and Bergen. Whichever side we’re on, our passion remains the same, as does our practice of community journalism, acting as an advocate for our readers and as a catalyst for local commerce.
Think of us as building a social and cultural bridge with an easy-on ramp for both sides of the Hudson to talk to, and learn from, each other, as naturally adjacent communities. After all, whatever you choose to call it, that is a bridge that spans the river, not a barrier. Who says you can’t be in two places at once? We like to think of it as a shore thing.
Benny Castro believes in being bi-coastal. The chef-owner of Piermont’s popular Basque Tapas Bar and Restaurant, which you can read about on page 62, has just added a location in Tarrytown. And there’s a lot more of that lifestylish coverage packed into these 84 pages, and in every issue. We’re bi-monthly for now, with our eye on going monthly later this year. The more enthused the response from residents and local businesses, the quicker it’ll happen.
We’ve all come a long way since that airborne disturbance immobilized our lives in March 2020. Now that it’s cool again for us all to rejoin the human race, we look forward to meeting you in person at one of our Rivertown Exchanges, starting March 28 with our Relaunch Event at Farm at Hotel Nyack. Find out more on page 20.
Whether there or anywhere, see you in and around our River Towns.
