In a June 1931 column for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, entertainment writer Rian James promoted his "Gadabout Guide" to New York's unconventional dining establishments. His "Wide-Open Spaces Department" captured Depression-era roadhouse culture, describing how drivers of modest vehicles gripped their steering wheels anxiously amid traffic.

James surveyed various establishments across New York City, Long Island, the Bronx, and lower Westchester before concluding with the Nikko Inn at Harmon-on-the-Hudson. He characterized it as "the hoity-toitiest spot extant," recommending it for couples interested in canoe activities on the river before dinner service, though he acknowledged road conditions limited his comprehensive assessment.

The accompanying historical images show the Nikko Inn during its operation as the Harmon Country Club around 1918, and a canoe on the Croton River with the building visible on the cliff above.