It may be an admission that I haven't been in New Paltz for quite some time, but I was shocked this afternoon to see a Japanese restaurant where The Homestead used to be.

It was 42 years ago when I first arrived at a college student in New Paltz and The Homestead was already there. Today you would call it a nightspot. Then, it was a bar. If you didn't go to The Homestead, it was either P&Gs or Joe's East West.

I'm afraid I can't tell you when The Homestead closed, but it sure surprised me when I looked across the street from the former Chez Joey, which is now called Fat Bob's.
Several other storefronts looked the same, particularly Jack's and Manny's. But The Homestead is no more. Wow.