Weekend Picks

Activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester:

Wildlife Management Area Hike Discover the floodplain at the Mianus River, a 200-year-old cemetery, and other areas usually closed to the public. Saturday, 9:00 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Compass Quest Learn the basics of this wilderness skill in this fun, family activity. Saturday, 10:00 to 11:30 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Midsmmer Night Music The outdoor concert series concludes with “Light Classics,” featuring pieces by composers ranging from Brahms and Rossini to Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra. Saturday, 6:00 pm. Lasdon Park

Prints and Paintings Tour Join the curator for an up-close look at many of the prints and paintings in the Merestead collection. Sunday, 1:00 pm. Merestead

Pond Study Learn what creatures live in and around the farm pond. Sunday 1:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

Slithering Snakes Kids can get up close to some snakes and learn all about these slithering creatures. Sunday, 11:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Harvesting Seeds Learn how to determine if seeds are ready for harvesting and the best method for storing them. Sunday 2:00 pm. Lasdon Park, Arboretum & Veterans Memorial

Turtle Monitoring Each spring and summer we trap and release water turtles as part of our on-going turtle monitoring project. Learn about and take part in our effort to collect data from the painted and snapping turtles. Sunday, 1:00 pm. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Kathleen Pemble Winner of The New York City Song Slam, Kathleen Pemble sings tunes from her new CD, "Learning to Listen Again." Sunday, 6:30 pm. 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar

M. Ward On his seventh album, M. Ward cements his reputation as one of America’s most unique talents. Sunday, 8:00 pm. Paramount Center for the Arts

Meet the Artist Catherine Cat Chow discusses her career and share her images with the audience. Sunday, 5:30 pm. Katonah Museum of Art

Katonah Contempo

Year Built: 1960
Square Feet: 2,722
Bedrooms: 4
Property: 7.3 acres
Location: Katonah, on a lovely road a bit east of the village.
Best features: The mod house boasts soaring ceilings, big rooms, and loads of windows overlooking the serene setting. Outside, there's a big pool and a bigger pond.
Downside: The interior needs some spiffing up, and I really don't care for the kitchen. The taxes are taxing.
Taxes: $28,295
Pricing History: Last sold in September 2005 for $1,450,000; the current asking price was recently cut by $95,000
Asking Price: $1,199,999
Agency: Houlihan Lawrence
Maps: Google Map, bing Map

Sculptures in the Garden

The exhibition "Current Without" displays sculpture by 8 artists on the glorious grounds of Boscobel. Works include "Larry Fox" (above top), a collaborative piece by Matt Rink and Bland Hoke, "True Blue" by Wendy Lehman (above center), and "Life Size Sitter" by Joy Brown (above bottom). Through September 8. Garrison Art Center

Images by AuntLN

Weekend Picks

Activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester:

Folk Arts Day Music, demonstrations and crafts. Saturday, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden

King of the Meadow Trek into the meadow, equipped with nets and patience, in search of Monarch butterflies. Saturday, 1:00 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Peter and the Wolf Conductor Michael Barrett and the Orchestra of St. Luke's perform Prokofiev’s masterpiece of music and storytelling. Saturday, 4:00 pm. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

Midsummer Night Music The outdoor concert series continues with “Fanfare and Superman,” featuring pieces by Copland, Bach, and Bernstein. Saturday, 6:00 pm. Lasdon Park

Bangalore Breakdown The cross cultural Jazz ensemble Bangalore Breakdown features internationally acclaimed composer and arranger Premik Russell Tubbs. Saturday, 7:30 pm. Beanrunner Cafe

Tap Kids Showcase Over 60 amazing young American Tap Dancers showcase their skills. Saturday, 7:30 pm. Tarrytown Music Hall

200 Motels Guitar player Frank Zappa also made several wacked-out movies. 200 Motels features Zappa's band, The Mothers of Invention, along with Ringo Starr, Theodore Bikel, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Saturday, 10:00 pm. Jacob Burns Film Center

Farm To Table: Spring Honey Harvest greens and vegetables in the field. Then cook everything up using spring honey and other seasonal foods. Sunday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Stone Barns Center For Food and Agriculture

Fashion Drawing Workshop Karen Dietshe, Professor of Fashion Illustration at the Parsons School of Design, leads an informative class in fashion drawing. Sunday, 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Katonah Museum of Art

Life in a Flash Search for those quick and beautiful fly-bys, dragonflies and butterflies. Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm. Croton Point Nature Center

Steve Chizmadia Enjoy the folk sounds of guitarist Steve Chizmadia. Sunday, 1:00 pm. Peekskill Coffee House

Sean Kelly Lecture Listen to Sean Kelly, founder of the Sean Kelly Gallery in Chelsea, which is known for diverse, intellectually driven, and unconventional exhibitions. Sunday, 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art

Singer/Songwriter Showcase An acoustic invitational jam session includes Mishti Roy, Mani Cregan, and others. Sunday, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. 12 Grapes Music & Wine Bar

Vintage Advantage

Year Built: 1854
Square Feet: 2,053
Bedrooms: 5
Property: 0.15 of an acre
Location: Ossining village, within walking distance to all.
Best features: The house is dripping with details and vintage charm, all in good condition. The front porch is perfect.
Downside: A second kitchen is to be removed by the seller prior to closing, and at least one of the bedrooms appears to be in the basement
Taxes: $11,458
Asking Price: $419,222
Agency: Mark Seiden Real Estate
Maps: Google Map, bing Map

Taking Time to Chill

While relaxing at one of my favorite spots at the Teatown Lake Reservation (above), I realized that I'm feeling far more stressed than usual. This is mostly due to my employer's efforts to reduce redundancies and maximize growth (otherwise known as firing people), which has of course resulted in maximizing my workload and creating constant anxiety. Whatever the cause, it's summer and I'm spending far too much of it in front of a computer. So I'll be relaxing my usually stringent post-a-day rule and cutting myself some slack. You may find 5 new posts a week, or you may find 2. But keep coming to check!

Weekend Picks

Activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester:

Summer Hike Join the staff and hike the farm’s beautiful woodland trails. Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Hilltop Hanover Farm

Modern Times In his masterpiece, Charlie Chaplin executes some of his most famous (and funniest) slapstick routines, sings, falls in love—and wins our hearts as a tramp struggling to survive in modern industrial society. Saturday and Sunday, 12:00. Jacob Burns Film Center

Wildsenses Children can heighten their senses while learning how different animals use theirs. Saturday, 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Midsummer Night Music The outdoor music series continues with “Broadway and Hollywood Favorites,” featuring Tony Award-winning sooprano Debbie Gravitte. Saturday, 6:00 pm. Lasdon Park

Classical Rock Violinist Praised by Time Out New York as a “Sublimely gifted musician,” Daisy Jopling will return to the BeanRunner Café to strut her stuff. Saturday, 7:30 pm. BeanRunner Café

L'Elisir D'amore This production of Donizetti's heartwarming comedy features alternative music the composer inserted into later revivals of the opera. Saturday, 8:00 pm. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

The Christopher Dean Band Playing blues from their most recent CD, "Three Times A Fool," The Christopher Dean Band rocks the house. Saturday, 9:30 pm. 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar

Dress Codes: Clothing as Metaphor Meet author Judi Barrett and illustrator Ron Barrett, whose book Animals should definitely not wear clothing is featured in the Learning Center. Explore the exhibition Dress Codes and enjoy hands-on art activitiesay. Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Katonah Museum of Art

Canoe the Croton Join a guide and paddle up the Croton River against the tide and current and through scenic high cliffs. Sunda. Teatown Lake Reservation

Artist Tour Artist Kate Clark and curator Mónica Ramírez–Montagut discuss the artist's work. Sunday, 2:30 pm. Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

Wildflower Hike Join the farm staff and discover the wildflowers that grow in the surrounding forest. Sunday 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

Check the Turtle Traps Take a hike to look for tracks, buck rubs, and bird nests and check the turtle traps in Bechtel Lake. Sunday, 3:00 pm. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Robert Cray Band Multi Grammy award winner and blues great, Robert Cray draws from R&B, rock, pop, and jazz. Sunday, 7:00 pm. Tarrytown Music Hall

Crow Hill Colonial, Redux

This lovely home was for sale (and featured) back in October, 2007. As I recall, it was quickly taken off of the market after just a month or two. Now it is back on. Things have clearly changed since 2007, and the old asking price of $1,295,000 has been cut by just over 30%. Located on bucolic Crow Hill Road in Yorktown (with a Mt. Kisco address and Yorktown schools), the 1726 farm house has 2,500 square feet and 3 bedrooms. The house features exposed beams, multiple fireplaces, and lots of original charm. The 5 plus acre property is beautiful and well landscaped, with a nice pool and sweet views. There's even a guest cottage. At $21,498, the annual taxes seem a little high for the size, but I like it—and I would guess that the price is about right. $895,000

Ginnel Real Estate, Google Map, bing Map

Peekskill Happenings

Between the Saturday farmers' market, the regular scene at the Riverfront Green Park, and the music at venues such as the Peekskill Coffee House, 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar, and the Bean Runner Cafe, Peeksill is always hopping in the summer. Now, the Peekskill News reports that there are also two weekly outdoor—and free— concerts: Thursdays from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the corner of Park and Broad streets and Saturdays from 5:00 to 10:00 pm on North Division Street between Park and Main. Check out Downtown Peekskill for more details. If you're not familiar with the town, the recent article in the North County News lists many of the must-see-and-do activities and stores in downtown Peekskill.

Image: Peekskill News

Style and Substance

This 1920's stucco home, perched over the Hudson just north of Croton, has been given a shot of high style that nicely compliments the original architecture. The sleek kitchen and bathrooms and updated mantel in the master add a kick to the gracious rooms in this 3,800 square foot, 4 bedroom house. The 2 acre property features nice patios and landscaping. On the con side, the house is also perched over busy Route 9 and the train tracks, and is on Route 9A. There's also the $24,211 tax bill. But it's definitely a unique house with some great features in a special spot. (For whatever reason, neither mapping service can get the exact location: it's the fifth house south of Warren Road.) $1,458,000
River Towns Real Estate, Google Map, bing Map

Sounds of Cuba at Caramoor

Until 2004, Jorge Luis Prats was the artistic director of Cuba's National Symphony Orchestra. Since leaving Havana for Spain, he has been wowing audiences with his piano playing. He is, according to the New York Times, "able to express the full range of feelings through the piano." Residents of Northern Westchester will be able to hear Mr. Prats' playing this Thursday night when he performs at the 2009 Caramoor International Music Festival. He will be continuing what the Times called the festival's "Cuba leitmotif," following the opening night performance by Tiempo Libre and preceding the performance on Sunday by Cuban saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, a National Medal of Arts recipient. Check out the website for details. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
Image: New York Times

Weekend Picks

What to do this weekend in Northern Westchester:

Pleasantville Music Festival This signal event of summer brings together over 5,000 people to enjoy a day of music, food and fun. Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Hill Country Revue, and Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam lead this years’ mix of world class talent from the Hudson Valley and beyond. Saturday, 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. Pleasantville Music Festival

North American Butterfly Count Butterfly enthusiasts can join this citizen-scientist monitoring effort and learn about these fluttery jewels. Saturday, 10:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Pickling 101 Workshop Learn how to preserve the harvest by pickling cucumbers and other in-season vegetables from the farm. Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Hilltop Hanover Farm

Course and Sculpture Tour The artist Edward Tufte will teach a short version of his famous course on visual thinking, followed by a tour of his major sculpture exhibition for participants of this (expensive) fundraiser. Saturday, 1:00 to 6:00 pm. Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

History Under the Stars Bring a tent, a picnic, and your flashlight, and enjoy colonial crafts, a campfire, tour of the historic house, and an overnight camping experience. The 19th century barn will be available for those with just a bed roll. Saturday, 6:00 p.m. to Sunday, 10:00 am. John Jay Homestead

Alisa Weilerstein One of the most brilliant cellist of her generation, Alisa Weilerstein performs a celebration of Haydn and Schubert with the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Saturday, 8:00 pm. Caramor Center for Music and the Arts

Dave Mason Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason brings down the house with hits from his illustrious 30 year career. Saturday, 8:00 pm. Tarrytown Music Hall

Divas '09 Celebrating 10 years of the Hudson Stage Company, this fundraiser features a silent auction, cocktails, deserts, and a concert on the grounds of a stunning home in Yorktown Heights. Saturday, 7:00 pm. Hudson Stage Company

Dare to Stare As part of the museum's Second Saturday Party, Marcy B. Freedman will present her newest solo performance piece in which she invites guests to sit down—one at a time —and stare at her, while she stares back. Saturday, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Katonah Museum of Art

Midsummer Night Music The summer concert series kicks off with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra playing compositions by Mozart, Beethoven, and Wagner. Gates open at 5:00 for picnicking. Saturday, 6:00 pm. to 8:00 pm. Lasdon Arboretum

Organic Raspberry U-pik Come and pick nutritious, delicious raspberries at this 1825 organic farm. Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; Sunday, 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Amawalk Farm

Insects Learn about this incredibly diverse group of organisms and the many important jobs they do in our local ecosystems. Sunday, 1:00 pm. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Turtle Time Kids can learn more about these interesting critters and can meet some up close. Sunday, 11:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Gone With the Wind: 70th Anniversary Showing Enjoy Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable in all their big-screen glory—in the very theater where the film was shown in 1939. Sunday, 6:00 pm. Tarrytown Music Hall

Summer Fair Come and enjoy music, crafts, demonstrations, hay rides, and meet the 4-H Clubs from the local area. Sunday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

Croton Garden Tour View a variety of local and private gardens. Enjoy refreshments and a plant sale, too. Sunday, 12:30 to 5:00 pm. Jane E. Lytle Memorial Arboretum

Latino Mystery Readings Three authors read their works from Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery at Que Chula Es Puebla restaurant. Contributing writers Carlos Hernandez, Richie Narvaez, and Sergio Troncoso will read from the anthology and answer questions. Sunday, 4:30 pm. Hudson Valley Writers' Center

The House Next Door

What does that title mean? Just that when someone says, "hey, let's buy a sweet house in a nice village," this 1922 brick colonial might be just what you picture. Located on Mt. Kisco's Main Street (aka Route 133), this house is walking distance to the village center and train station. The 1,700 square foot home has 3 bedrooms, attractive details, and an overall nice feel. The 0.24 of an acre lot has an appealing yard and the $8,267 tax bill is pretty reasonable. It's not the kind of house that I get excited about, but it is what I consider to be a pretty good buy. $629,000
Houlihan Lawrence, Google Map, bing Map

It's Only Cardboard

"Corrugated" is an exhibition of recent furniture constructed from corrugated cardboard by artist Brian Gladwell. Through July 24th. Richard and Dolly Maass Gallery, Purchase College

A Grand House

Anyone looking for gracious spaces and original details should love this 1826 manor house. With 6,500 square feet, the 5 bedroom manse is brimming with marble mantels, ornate moldings, and fine detailing in the parquet floors. While the wallpaper is not for me, it is hard not to be smitten with the proportions and old-world grandeur in this fine house. (Personal fave: The kitchen.) There's a lovely wrap-around porch, a stunning screened porch, and the 1.8 acre property features some nice landscaping. Located on the outskirts of Ossining village, the house appears to be somewhat surrounded by smaller houses (probably built on land that once belonged to the estate). The $35,700 tax bill is hefty but not too surprising given the size of the house. $2,150,000
Coldwell Banker, Google Map, bing Map

Water Keeps Falling

The near-daily rainfall throughout June brought plenty of water to the Croton Resevoir and falls, as can be seen in this photo taken a week ago by mathewmiggz. You can almost hear the roar.

June Deals

The spring bounce appears to be continuing, with the number of contracts signed in June in the towns this blog covers still well above what we saw just two months ago. Of the four previously-featured Hot Properties that found would-be buyers last month, one was on the market for about a year and another for about a month.

Contracts signed on single-family homes:
May: 85
June: 88

Hot Properties that went to contract:

Location: Mt. Kisco
Featured: May 26, 2009
Asking Price When Featured: $579,000
Final Asking Price: $579,000


Location: Somers
Featured: May 19, 2009
Asking Price When Featured: $257,000
Final Asking Price: $227,000


Location: Bedford Corners
Featured: January 6, 2009
Asking Price When Featured: $3,200,000
Final Asking Price: $3,200,000


Location: Somers
Featured: July 17, 2008
Asking Price When Featured: $1,100,000
Final Asking Price: $895,000