Utica is a small city in the Mohawk Valley of central New York State, once a major hub on the Erie Canal. The city went through hard times as industry left, but has found an unlikely second act as one of the most diverse small cities in the northeast — waves of Bosnian, Burmese, and Somali refugees have revitalised neighbourhoods and brought new restaurants and markets to Bleecker Street.
The Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute is the standout attraction, with a strong collection of American art housed in a Philip Johnson building. The restored Stanley Theatre, a 1928 movie palace, is worth seeing for the architecture alone.