After years of bad news in the housing market, a corner has been turned. The cooperative complex of Scarsdale Manor on Garth Road in the Scarsdale PO is an example of such a turn around. This popular pre-war cooperative complex suffered from the malaise with slow sales and decreasing prices. Things are now leveling and we appear to be well on our way to healthy price increases.
Its been a while since I’ve posted a blog, because with so many things happening in both real estate – which is starting to pick up big time – and for Fotos On The Fly. I’ve found myself busier than usual.
First – for the basics. The show is opening on Friday Feb 1, 5-7 PM at The Water Cooler in Tarrytown NY. The exact address is 21 North Broadway on Route 9. The location is less than a block north of Main St. Here is a link to the event. You can RSVP as attending or as a “maybe”. All are welcome! Please come…I’d love to meet you!
In a Walmart dominated world, holiday shopping has become homogenized. The unexpected becomes the a thing of the past and the big predictable brand predominates. But every once in a while you run across something very unique. For anyone reading this, it is probably too late for me to making suggestions as to where to buy that last minute gift for Christmas Day. But you may have some people that you still have to shop for after the holidays. If you live in Westchester NY, and have a yen to find something truly unique…try Whimsies in Tarrytown on Broadway. You can tell by their window display that they are not your same-old, same-old. I took this picture on the 22nd. Its a great store with a character all its own. It also has something for just about anyone. And while you are there, if there is a four-footed friend on your list, try Bark and Meow. Its just a couple of stores down towards Main St. from Whimsies and it has everything a cat or dog could wish for and then some.
The photo above is a scene that will be history in a fairly short amount of time. I took it of the “old” or “current” Tappan Zee Bridge from the River Walk right at the border of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. For those who are interested, the Hudson Harbor complex was slightly south and to the left of the shot.
In any case, three designs for the new Tappan Zee Bridge were just released for public consumption. They are are very different from the original bridge design and will change the landscape forever. You can view them at this link. Behind all the ramifications and politics there is an urgent need for a new bridge. Where many feel the the system has fallen short is with the loss of a proposed mass transit system that would have relieved the traffic flow across the bridge and eased commuting times to NYC for those on the western side of the Hudson River. I tend to agree that we need to make the area more mass-transit friendly.
One of the problems with any design is the vast length that has to be traversed. It is a 3 mile stretch across the Hudson River between Westchester and Rockland counties.
Anyway, for a sneak peak at the designs – here is a link. I happen prefer design #2. I’m not wild about design #1 and the arial orientation makes me undecided about design #3. But anyway – pick your favorite or your most hated!
© 2012 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.
We should all forget Black Friday – that’s big-box day. Those who care about this country and their local economy should put their emphasis on Small Business Saturday. The day we celebrate truly LOCAL business. Local business is important for the local economy and local revenue. When you shop at a local store almost twice the amount of money recirculates within your local community than in a big-box store. Further, even more money stays within the US. Our big-box obsession has been feeding competitors such as China and India – So I say – SHOP LOCAL whenever you can. Learn to know and appreciate your local merchants. You don’t need to go into New York City either. There is plenty of unique and imaginative retail in the Hudson Valley….Here are just a few of my picks…..
The other day I was in Larchmont NY – it was 11 days after the storm. I had steered clear of the area around the Larchmont Manor for fear of just being a thorn in the side of workers trying to clear debris, cope with flooding and restore power. You could see the damage surrounding the homes on the waterfront. Some were quite lucky, others had severe damage.
And now – for a complete change of pace…I know people think they know my style, but now I am going to make a U-turn away from the realistic to the slightly surreal. I wanted to put together something with unconstrained out-of control color just because it goes with the season and because – well – I can. Its also cheering after so many cold days in the dark for so many Westchester residents….So here is unbridled fall color – more than a little processed. It reminds me of when I was a kid in and in total state of exuberance I decided to use every bright colored crayon in the box.
© 2012 – RGHicks – http://fotosonthefly.biz - All rights reserved.
One of the newest trends in home sales is what we call “twilight photography” of the home’s exterior. Although there are many factors that help sell a home, apart from a very competitive pricing and top-of-the-line staging, there is little that will promote a home better than eye-catching photos. And what catches the eye better than a fully lit home in all its glory, at dusk. Hence, the term twilight photography. However, although the photographer should take a bow here (shameless plug intended) without the right lighting…all the photography in the world won’t help. But this is an example where great lighting can make the photographer look like a genius.
Here is an activity that will bring out the decorator, weekend warrior and voyeur in just about everyone. If you are looking to do major home improvements or merely paint or if you are one of those people who always wants to haunt open houses for ideas – this is for you! Hudson Harbor in conjunction with Westchester Magazine is hosting American Dream Home 2012.
From now until Nov. 11 there will be tours of American Dream Home that will take place Thursday-Sunday. Tickets are available through this link and are FREE. Designer Susan Anthony has created a treat for the eyes. While you are there, you view the outstanding interior design/ and finishes and shop at the same time! The American Dream Home is also an exclusive “pop up shop” where items can be purchased, many of which are not necessarily available at retail locations.
While you are there, please take advantage of the River Walk and all that the area has to offer. The views are nothing short of spectacular.
Sometimes stormy weather has a beauty all its own. Besides, these days if I waited for a clear day, I would almost never actually shoot anything. Waiting for the rain and cloud cover to clear is like trying to wait for hell to freeze over – not happening anytime soon. So here is another shot under heavy cloud cover. The NYC skyline is in the background as I took a shot straight down the Hudson River. This time I chose B&W with HDR to put the clouds in clear focus…
Cloud Cover and the NYC Skyline….from Irvington NY
© 2012 – RGHicks -http://fotosonthefly.biz – All rights reserved.
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