every day just got better
Last month, Forbes compiled a list of America’s most beautiful mansions. Lucky for us, Lyndhurst is in the ‘hood.
The Gothic Revival mansion was designed in 1838, with its four-story tower, vaulted ceilings and arched windows. Your mouth will drop when you see the library (above). While you can tour the mansion, I prefer to walk the grounds with my son. Lawns roll right down to the Hudson River, and you can almost imagine what it was like when Robber Baron Jay Gould lived here. [...]
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Hello, September. It’s time to start shopping. Before you head to the mall, head to one of Westchester’s walkable villages. With sidewalk sales in full swing, you don’t have to go far to find a bargain.
Shopping Events
Shops along Palmer Avenue will be offering special sales at the Larchmont Sidewalk Sale on September 6, 7, and 8 from 10am to 6pm. Last year, shoppers went mad for the huge selection of deeply discounted shoes in front of Love Shoes, but numerous merchants are taking part in the special sales days. Palmer Avenue, Larchmont.
Mount Kisco’s Sidewalk Sales Days are Saturday, September 8 from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, September 9 from noon to 4pm. In addition to sales and discounts and over 150 vendors, there will be carnival rides for kids, live music by Lisa Jane Lipkin & Fred Gillen, a singing contest, an art show sponsored by the Mount Kisco Public Library, and demonstrations by Black Belt Tae-Kwon Do and Pied Piper Youth Theater. Located in the heart of Mount Kisco at South Moger Avenue and Shopper’s Park. [...]
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I was an English major in college and I really love fussy writing, but even I get bored with Shakespeare sometimes. Transport a Macbeth soliloquy outside to a gorgeous park, and I’m rapt in attention.
The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in Garrison is worth attending for the beauty of the site alone. The company performs outside under a grand white tent on the lush lawns of Boscobel, an 1800s Federal mansion overlooking a breathtaking stretch of the Hudson River with views of mountains in the distance. [...]
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Apparently mid-August means festival season! Check out these road trip worthy events taking place this weekend…
(Photo credit: Nathan Turner)
Returning to its stomping grounds at the Goshen Fairground in Goshen, CT, the Litchfield Jazz Festival will be held outdoors on August 10-12. A moderate road trip north (roughly an hour and a half from the County Center),“The Litchfield” is not just a festival — it’s a jazz family. The focus is quality across the boards — music, art, food, artist talks and kids activities. Listen, learn and love this music with your family and celebrate 17 years of Litchfield Jazz. [...]
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When I stepped into Carnival Time, a party venue that throws indoor carnivals for kids’ birthdays, I found myself transported to everything I love about being at an outdoor fair — without all the stuff (crowds, sweltering heat) I don’t like so much.
It was almost like we were outside — there was faux grass on the floor. Plus, there was everything you’d expect to see at a carnival: games, craft tables, picnic tables for drinks and snacks. The space looks brand new, even though it opened in 2009, and it’s divided into numerous booths with adorable bright red and white striped awnings. No long carnival lines here — my kids never had more than a few kids ahead of them.
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Summer is in full swing, and there are so many awesome happenings going on around town this weekend. Check out our events calendar for more, but here is what we’re extra excited about…
The Pleasantville Music Festival, taking place this Saturday, July 14, is a family-friendly event that sounds cool for adults and fun for kids. Both well-known musicians and local favorites like The English Beat, Good Old War, Delta Spirit, Davy Knowles, Sloan Wainwright, ReignJah, Susan Said and Z.Z. Ward will take the stage from 12:15pm-8:30pm at Parkway Field in Pleasantville.
Food, drinks, treats and crafts will be plentiful and provided by numerous local vendors, including Westchester’s own Captain Lawrence Brewery and Pleasantville’s Prospero Winery who will be pouring in the Festival Garden. There’s even a special kids’ fun area where there will be face painting, games and songs by “Miss Patty” Hupp. Tickets are $40/adults, $15/seniors and students, and free for kids 11 & under with an adult ticket-holder. There is no public parking but shuttles will run all day from a free lot at Pace University Entrance #2, as well as the Pleasantville Metro-North Station. Get your tickets here. [...]
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There will be dozens of firework displays all over the county this week, but here are a few that might be extra spectacular. Happy Birthday, America!
The annual Kensico Dam Music Fest will take place this Tuesday, July 3, featuring the Bensen-Scott Big Band. Pre-show festivities will commence at 6pm, so come early to set up your blanket, picnic and enjoy the entertainment. The band will perform at 8pm followed by fireworks at approximately 9:15pm. Admission & parking free. The Kensico Dam Plaza is located at the north end of the Bronx River Pkway in Valhalla.
The Ossining Fireworks Show will take place on July 3, kicking off with an outdoor concert featuring band “Over the Top” at 7:30pm. The sky will illuminate with lights at 9:15pm followed by music by Phil Ismaels band at 10pm. Food vendors will be on hand including Carvel Ice Cream, Lonnies Fish and Chips, Wobble Cafe, and Tommies Food Trucks by the Ossining Boat and Canoe Club. This year, seating will be plentiful at the Harbor Square property – first come, first serve, as is parking at no charge. [...]
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Remember the 1985 movie “The Goonies“? A group of pre-teens find an old map, and to save their homes from demolition, they go on an adventure to unearth One-Eyed Willy’s hidden treasure. It was a hit for the same reason that “Pirates of the Caribbean” is coming out with a fifth sequel: Pirates make a child’s imagination run wild.
There is ample room for pretend play at this week’s “Pirates of the Hudson: The Siege of Sleepy Hollow” at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow.
At this pirate-themed festival, kids of all ages can trade barbs with boisterous pirates — and learn how to joust like one too! They can eat “Eye Patch Scream” (ice cream) or drink “Mermaid Tears” (lemonade), but beware: thieving pirates may try to steal your booty. [...]
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ArtsWestchester is a really cool non-profit organization that helps organize arts events all around Westchester County. They also help compile existing arts events into a daily central calendar. So if you’re looking for a cool exhibit or family art event, a search of ArtsWestchester’s calendar is a must.
A few days ago ArtsWestchester published a really killer list of all of the outdoor music events around the region this summer. They call it Music in the Air, and all of the 250+ concerts listed are either free or less than $20.
You can find deets on the free Dobbs Ferry Summer Music Series and free band concerts in Chase Park in Scarsdale as well as larger concerts like the American Roots Music Festival at Caramoor Center for the Music & Arts in Katonah and quirky events like a Neil Diamond Tribute in Yorktown.
I’ve been using this list to plan some fun early evening family picnics. What’s better than live music outdoors on a warm summer night? Can’t think of much.
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Here’s a fun idea for this Father’s Day weekend: Spend a day at the Clearwater Festival in Croton-on-Hudson. On June 16 and 17, Croton Point Park will be transformed into a large folk music and environmental festival featuring Bela Fleck, Ani DiFranco, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Osborune, among more than two dozen other singer/songwriters.
Kids under 12 are free, and there is a ton of stuff for them to do: Take them to Discovery Tent for a look at Hudson River fish life. A puppet show by Arm-of-the-Sea-Theater (shown below) will inspire even the youngest of environmentalists into action. At Story Grove, lively storytellers will spin tales under a shady tree. Kids can sing, clap, stomp and shout at the Circle of Song exhibit, all the while learning how to juggle from clowns and jesters goofing off in the Juggling Area. Don’t miss the Working Waterfront. Here, families can paddle kayaks.
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Get ready for your child’s mouth to drop. At the Huguenot Nursery School Vehicle Fair in Pelham on Saturday, May 19, kids are allowed — no, encouraged!! — to climb aboard, press buttons and steer a real-life firetruck, police car, ambulance and cherry picker. Not only that, there’s an entire carnival-like row of booths for your toddler and/or preschooler to explore.
Think: a play dough booth, a craft-making booth, face painting. They can make a necklace with recycled wooden discs or plant a squash or sunflower seedling in a recycled pudding and fruit cup. There’s a matchbox car race track, where kids can purchase a car for $1 and race it around the truck. Or they can jump to their heart’s content in the bounce house.
Baby siblings won’t be bored. A kiddie corral will have plastic ride on cars. [...]
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We traded life in the city for a white picket fence in Westchester, NY. But we're not willing to sacrifice style -- or fun. We write about a 100 little ways to make living here even better. Thanks for stopping by!
