Yes, these old Timberland boots were used as flower pots! It’s an example of how out-of-the box thinking can transform something that would find its way into the the trash, can be turned into a spring time arrangement.
Whether buying or selling Westchester NY real estate, clients often need help with curb appeal. When selling, landscaping creates an inviting atmosphere that invites buyers into the home. Buyers, on the other hand, are often eager to put their own personal stamp on their gardens and may often be at a loss as to what to do or where to go.
Carlson’s in White Plains has expert advice and marvelous arrangments for both home and garden a like. The arrangments can run the gamut from highly formal to totally funky. I particularly like to go there during the different holidays – such as Easter, Christmas, New Years, Halloween to see what they have. Over the years I’ve mentioned Carlson’s in several blogs. I’ve taken many photos of the arrangements. So I compiled the photos into a video. I thought it would be a nice diversion from the rain and wind we are expecting this weekend. Enjoy.
Carlson’s Floral & Gift is located at 625 Dobbs Ferry Rd., White Plains NY 10607 – 914-684-6084
People often ask me about fine dining in Westchester NY. The New York City dining experience has been finding its way northward to Westchester County. This might be news to Manhattanites – for whom Westchester has always seemed to be some sort of backwater destination. White Plains restaurants boast several transplants from Manhattan. Downtown White Plains is a location where high-end shopping and entertainment are the order of the day. Now, there truly can only be one Manhattan – but White Plains and other destinations in Westchester can no longer be considered truly suburban. Westchester is a mix of suburban life with NYC amenities.
To that end, one of Manhattan’s most distinctive dining attractions, Via Quadronno, opened its doors in White Plains at the corner of Renaissance Square and Main Street – next door to the two 42 story towers that are the Ritz Carlton. The location in the famous Art Nouveau Barr Building provides an interesting background standing next to the mirrored glass and sleek steel of the Ritz Carlton. That mix of old and new is very typical of the “new” White Plains.
Larchmont restaurants are very popular places for the locals to gather. Larchmont is very much a bedroom community – and after a long day in the city, many of the residents like to eat out. One of my favorite places to eat in Larchmont is the famous Chat 19. Chat 19 is one of a cohort of Westchester restaurants by Mario Fava – who saught to bring New York City to Westchester. This is one of the most popular places to dine in Larchmont. The place is generally packed and in the summer, the crowd spills over to the sidewalk for outdoor dining. I particularly like eating outdoors. Larchmont is charming and its a wonderful experience to watch the crowds on the street on a warm summer night. Chat 19 is popular for a good reason: the food is wonderful. The cusine is American Grill. The decor could best be described as So-Ho style.
The food is excellent as is the service. I particularly enjoy the spaghetti squash where squash is shaved into “angel hair spaghetti” with diced vegitables, pine nuts and nice tomato sauce. It may sound a bit strange but it is a wonderful meatless meal. I’ve also enjoyed the Jambalaya which is nicely spicy without going over the top.
For more information and a menu go to www.chat19.net.
Westchester is one of those places where there is a New Years celebration to fit any mood. To prove the point, during the course of the day and evening I decided to keep a photo journal of sorts of my New Year’s Eve. I pulled my favorites for posting. For those who prefer a more contemplative mood, there was plenty to do and see in lower Westchester. You could walk the trails, take a drive, wonder around the towns and villages. For those who prefer to party – downtown White Plains had its annual ball drop and New Year’s party. My personal preference leans towards the more quite and reflective celebration. But that didn’t stop me from attending the annual ball drop and fire works in downtown White Plains. Unfortunately, my camera didn’t catch the fireworks – let’s just say my camera picked the wrong time to need a change of batteries. Too bad too, because the show lit up the sky to the point where it was almost like daylight for a moment. Hopefully, you will find a picture to suit your mood….
Autumn in lower Westchester NY is a very colorful event.
There is something about the color of the leaves and how it lights up the sky that I find very compelling. Forget leaf peeping in Vermont – our season peaks later, but the foliage is just as amazing. At this time of year, people flock to parks in Westchester NY for the foliage and crisp weather.
This week had been particularly stressful – so Friday afternoon I escaped to the Rockefeller Preserve in Sleepy Hollow to regenerate. Among the many things to do in Westchester, this is among my favorite places to decompress and get back in touch with what it is all about. Although the leaves were more than half gone, the color of the sky and the sunlight caused the remaining leaves light up the sky with a full fall fire. Jade and Tundra – my faithful Huskies accompanied me and enjoyed the blustery cold air. We also ran into a friend from my brokerage – Monique another avid walker, arrived just as I was leaving.
Here are a couple of the photos I snapped along the way. As a nature Preserve, you get to see the beauty of nature’s wild side.
Happy Halloween to all! I went to the Halloween Blaze at Van Cortlant Manor in order to deliver to everyone some prime photos from one of the areas primary hot spots for Halloween.. The Halloween “Blaze” celebration is nothing short of amazing with 4000 pumpkins lit up on the 18th Century colonial estate. They make them into dinosaurs, they have black cats, and rats carved into pumpkins, ornate patterns as well as a spaceship, a pirates ship and so much more too numerous to even begin. The tour takes a little over an hour and is worth the trip up from lower Westchester to Croton-on-Hudson…Unfortunately, I’m still playing with the pics. I admit – a professional photographer I am not. I made a mistake with my settings and it was literally too dark to fix!
So, as a poor substitute – I found this video of Bobby Picket singing the “Monster Mash” on YouTube. I’ve heard it every Halloween since I was a child, but I didn’t know the artist behind the voice. His immitation of Boris Karloff made him and the song “The Monster Mash” famous. The song was composed in 1962 and was a major hit. It went through several incarnations – taking off in Britain in the 1970s.
Manor Park, in Larchmont is a gem for those who enjoy water views and a nice walk. Unlike the Rockefeller Preserve, where wildlife rules, Manor Park is has manicured paths and wonderful plantings. The imppecibly maintained masonry walls that separate the Park from the Long Island Sound, along with the stone benches built right into them flow almost seamlessly with the natural rock that has been smoothed by the flow of water.
The park was established in the 1870s. The Larchmont Manor Park Society was established in 1892 to maintain and preserve the park and is active to this day. Indeed, the society recently was responsible for a $1 million capital improvement program. The park initially included 6 acres and has expanded to 13 which includes Manor Beach. The park remains privately owned by the local residents but is generously open to the public year round from dawn to dusk. You can job, walk, stroll sit and enjoy the sights, read a book and walk your dog. Dogs must be leashed and cleaned up after.
I spent part of an afternoon in the park just recently. Jade and I walked the length of the park. As usual, Jade was an attractant to kids, adults and dogs alike. She met several new canine friends and enjoyed watching the boats and the waves. She is unaccostomed to waves and was quite surprsied that the water was salty. I had a fresh drink awaiting her – so no dogs were harmed or allowed to go thirsty during the course of our photo shoot and walk.
Over the past few months I’ve been observing a strange sight: fiberglass roosters nesting all over Scarsdale Village. “Rooster Row” as it is called is a fundraising event for the benefit of the Scarsdale Historical Society. It recalls a similar fund raising event in Larchmont involving ducks in 2006. Although the roosters were supposed to be auctioned off earlier in the year…many of the roosters still remain. I don’t know exactly what happened at the auction, but I’m pleased to still see the some of the roosters out and about. They certainly are a colorful addition to Scarsdale Village. They also serve to showcase local talent and promote local business – all of which is a good thing during these challenging economic times. I took these photos a few months ago but got caught up with other things. So I’m posting them now – better late than never.
Coffee Labs of Tarrytown NY - A place to enjoy a great cup of coffee – with your best canine friend!
I confess that I have a coffee habit. It’s easy to point fingers at my 1/4 Spanish/Cuban heritage – but let’s face it – I’m addicted. This is particularly true of really fine coffee. And Coffee Labs offers some of the best blends there are. Once you’ve tried it, there really is no going back.
Sometimes I go to Coffee Labs in the morning with Jade – my mellow Siberian Husky. For those of you who have read the antics of my two White Siberian Huskies, you know that I hav two females named Jade and Tundra. Tundra is my wild child and Jade is as relaxed and mellow as Tundra is exuberant. So Jade gets to accompany me to the coffee shop where I get a great cup of coffee, pull up a table and get to work researching the market and catching up with correspondence. It’s my way of getting out of the office and enjoy a change of pace – while still being able to get work done. There are quite a few regular morning patrons at Coffee Labs. Many sit just like me – working away at their laptops sharing the bandwidth. Julie Annello is one a customer who I took note of because she didn’t have a laptop. Instead, she had her sketch book. For several days Julie tried to get a nice sketch of Jade, but somehow – it never quite happened…until last Wednesday… It really captures the quiet calm of Jade and her retiring, gentle personality. Julie gave me her sketch which I scanned into my computer and here it is….direct from Coffee Labs…Jade in repose while her “Mom” is working on market stats.
Going into NYC for July 4th is great – but it can be a hassle. Fact is you don’t need to go to Manhattan to see terrific displays. Here is a short list of lower Westchester events and fireworks displays. This will help get you started….
You can start celebrating as early as tonight:
Events for Wednesday July 1, 2009
Playland’s Weekly Fireworks Display:
Starts at 9:15. Offered by the Westchester County Parks Dept. Admission for parking is $4.00
Location & Info:
Playland Park
Playland Parkway
Rye, NY 10580
(914) 813-7010
White Plains Fireworks Display:
An evening out at the White Plains High School. Includes fun for all With inflatable rides and food along with a children’s stage. Free to the public. 6-10 PM. (Rain date July 2)
Yes, these old Timberland boots were used as flower pots! It’s an example of how out-of-the box thinking can transform something that would find its way into the the trash, can be turned into a spring time arrangement.
