For a few years now, the New York Times has seemed to take every chance it's gotten to bash the burbs. It annoys me to no end since the Times actually covers the entire tri-state area (much of which is suburbs), and because the paper routinely tosses aside any journalistic integrity in order to get in a snide dis. This weekend's paper had a prime example.
Like much of the burb bashing, this case was in the Sunday Real Estate section. The lead article was "Large Apartments are the Rage in New York City." The anti-suburb message was implicit throughout, but only hit the level of full-blown bashing with the quote from Darren Sukenik, of Prudential Douglas Elliman: “The new Bergen County or Westchester County is now the West Village and the Upper West or Upper East Sides... Big families are back, and nobody wants to move to suburbia.” Oh really? While Mr. Sukenick is free to have his opinion, and the Times is free to share it, you would think that the reporter (or his editor) would add the caveat that this is someone whose livelihood depends on selling real estate in the city—and who therefore has a vested interest in promoting the city and knocking the burbs. That seems like a journalistic no-brainier. But, instead, the paper chose to use that quote as the call-out, so that readers perusing the paper see the large print blurb "Big families are back and nobody wants to move to suburbia" without even a source noted. The casual reader can be forgiven if she assumes that this is the opinion of the Times or if he thinks that the quote must be backed up by some evidence in the body of the piece. It isn't. Mr. Sukenick is quoted again, this time explaining that his empty-nest clients move to the city because they "don’t want to be stuck in the suburbs with nothing to do.” Now, I don't know which suburbs are being referred to, but perhaps Mr. Sukenick—and the Times reporter—should check out my blog and see the variety of things to do on a regular basis here in Northern Westchester.
Earlier in the week, in Wednesday's paper, there was another case of burb bashing. The article "Helping Parents Tune In to That Inner Voice," featured Kiki Schaffer, director of the 14th Street Y’s Parenting, Family and Early Childhood Center. In the section titled "Parenting City Kids," Ms. Schaffer is quoted as saying "Having raised my kids in the city, they have said, 'Thank you, we’re really glad you didn’t move to the suburbs.'” Since this quote is off-topic and rather stupid—how do the kids know what life in the burbs would have been like?—I would have expected the editor to cut it. Silly me.
Catch the culture--from Chinese to Counter--and enjoy the great outdoors with fun activities and things to do in Northern Westchester
Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival Some things change, and some remain the same. Pete Seeger, Joan Osborn, and a host of others will perform on the festival's seven stages. According to the article in the New York Times, this year's festival is going back to basics, with a reaffirmation of its political and counterculture roots. In addition to music, dances, plays, and food, there will also be rides on the Sloop Clearwater and the Mystic Whaler. As always, all proceeds go to the non-profit organization's effort to keep the Hudson clean and clear. Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to dusk. Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival Festival
Sean Maiorano, Ossining High School Senior and 2010 winner of the Museum of Natural History Young Naturalist Award, discusses the Atlantic sturgeon, one of the oldest—and biggest—fish in the Hudson River. Learn about the current status of these fish and what we can do to protect them. Thursday, 7:30 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation
The Katonah Museum of Art kicks off it's annual "Shades of Jazz" series tonight, Wednesday. Cuban master Pedrito Martinez performs amid the sculptures at 6:30 pm. Order a picnic meal and the museum provides wine and beer.
Kimberly S. Bostwick, Ph.D. will share the secret mating rituals of manakins, a family of small birds found in subtropical and tropical Central and South America. One species in the Andes "violins" its wings to make sound. Dr. Bostwick has captured manakins' rituals on high-speed video. Wednesday, 7:30 pm. Bedford Audubon Society
Some choice activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester
It looks like so many would-be buyers rushed to get the tax credit before it expired at the end of April that not that many were left around in May. The number of contracts signed in the towns this blog covers was certainly down quite a bit last month. Nonetheless, a few Hot Properties got lucky and a number made it all the way. The Bedford Corners house was previously engaged back in February 2010, but evidently that deal fell through. Let's hope the second time is the charm.
Location: Ossining 
Location: Yorktown Heights
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