also, some of the oldest buildings (stone houses) in america are in new paltz..
a couple are 1600's vintage, others from the 1700, also down near the river..
uptown is fucked with the typical mass consumption shit, the college used to be decent, until they turned it into a fucking long island suburb (100 miles away, no less)..
the coffee houses i volunteered in are no more, otherwise you'd be pointed to a bed..
there should be kids hanging out on main street...
the greens actually held the town government (look up "New Paltz" & "Jason West" in a single search..you'll be surprised..) dunno if they still have any influence or not.. the town used to be fairly left, but the pendulum was swinging back, when i left..
good luck & enjoy : )