Farm Fresh

It's time for my annual round-up of local farmers' markets. There are a few changes from last year, so click on the links to find out what is available at each market. In addition to these markets, great sources for local produce are the the farm stand and "U-Pick" fields at Hanover Hilltop Farm and the Meadows Farm Market, both in Yorktown Heights, as well as Hemlock Hill Farm in Cortlandt Manor.

Croton
Where: Municipal Lot on Municipal Place and Riverside
When: Wednesday, 1:30 to 6:30 pm, through November 23
Website: Community Markets: Croton

John Jay Homestead
Where: John Jay Homestead, Katonah
When: Saturday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm,  through October 15
Website: John Jay Homestead

Muscoot Farm
Where: Muscoot Farm
When: Sunday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, through October 30
Website: Muscoot Farm

Ossining
Where: Main and Spring Streets, next to Market Square
When: Saturday, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm, through December 17
Website: Community Markets: Ossining

Peekskill
Where: Bank Street, between Main and Park
When: Saturday, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm, June 11 through November
Website: Peekskill Farmers Market 

Pleasantville
Where: Memorial plaza at Manville Road
When: Saturday, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, through December 17
Website: Community Markets: Pleasantville

Stone Barns
Where: Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Website: Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

Tarrytown
Where: Patriot's Park, Route 9
When: Saturday, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, through November 19
Website: Community Markets: Tarrytown

Weekend Picks

My picks for the best activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester

Rosanne Cash The eldest child of Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash joined the Johnny Cash Show at age 18—and has been performing every since. Friday, 8:00 pm. Paramount Center for the Arts

U-Pick Vegetables and Beekeeping Festival Come enjoy harvesting your own organically grown vegetables in the lovely fields. From 12:00 to 2:00, welcome the new bee colonies with activities such as bee education, honey tasting, sample desserts, and observing the bees in their new hives. Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center

Spring Bird Walk. Get up early to take a walk with a naturalist to view resident and migratory bird species along the trail. Saturday, 8:00 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Animals and Acrobats Capturing the fun of an early American traveling circus, Ringmaster Jonathan Kruk leads a cast of clever characters, including fire juggling, daring acrobats, birds of prey demonstrations, tightrope walkers, magicians, and more! Saturday to Monday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Van Cortlandt Manor 

Tour the Wildflower Garden Take a tour of the Luquer-Marble Wildflower Garden while the flowers are at their peak. The garden is home to over 70 species of flowers and ferns. Saturday, 1:00 pm. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

NY Latin Jazz Percussionist Tony Pastrana and his band, NY Latin Jazz, bring high energy grooves as they play from their new CD, "NY Latin Jazz." Saturday, 7:30 pm. Bean Runner Cafe 

Meet the Baby Animals Come and have a close encounter with some new baby animals. Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm 

Antigues Fair Enjoy the 26th annual fair and garden show. Monday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Lasdon Park 

WeMustBe Christine Dominguez and T. Xiques, known as WeMustBe, play an assortment of instruments and continuously switch it up on stage to create their own "Organic Pop" sound. Sunday, 6:15 pm. 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar

Hot in Tarrytown

Tarrytown is out of my regular jurisdiction, but I'll make an exception for this mod stunner. Renovated and tastefully updated, this 1950 home is big, bright, and bold. With 4,400 square feet and 5 bedrooms, the house boasts some amazing spaces. Nestled nicely on an acre, the abode is close to downtown. Taxes are $29,840 and the asking price is $1,595,000. Offered by Houlihan Lawrence.
Google Map, Bing Map

Thai Life

Winner of the top prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival, "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" tells the tale of a dying man who is visited by the spirits of his wife, son, and other creatures from the twilight world. After the screening, director Apichatpong Weerasethakul talks with World Cinema Foundation Executive Director Kent Jones. Tuesday, 7:15 pm. Jacob Burns Film Center

Early Bird (Walk)

Get up early to catch the tunes of the early birds. The naturalist will share facts and details about the sights and sounds of the spring warblers and other songbirds. Tuesday, 7:30 am. Bedford Audubon

On the Forum

Well vs. municipal water?
Best summer camps?
Good place for birthday brunch for 40?

Got a response? Got a question? Check out the NW Home Forum.

Technical Difficulties

Which is actually code for out of town most of the week, overwhelmed, tired, and simply can't get it together to create the Weekend Picks post. Sorry.

The Peekskill Flea

According to the New York Times, flea markets are hip. Nonetheless, you should still check out the Attic Treasures Flea Market in Peekskill every Sunday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Goods range from rare antiques to cool crafts to cheap sneaks. The Peekskill BID even has a nice little video of the flea. And, starting June 10, the Peekskill Farmer's Market will be back on Saturdays.

Women on the Verge

The paintings of Anna Bocek are on view at the Canfin Gallery through May 22.

Wine Down by the River

The historic Standard House building on the Peekskill waterfront is now home to Dylan's Wine Cellar. According to the Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch, the new store is owned by town residents Steven and Maribel Zwick and will focus on "everyday wines" priced at under $30 a bottle, as well as wines from local vineyards. Cheers!
Photo: Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch

Weekend Picks

My picks for the best activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester

Peekskill Open Studios The 11th annual event invites you to observe works by over 100 artists in their  work spaces and other sites in the city. Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Peekskill Arts Council

Beekeeping 101 Learn the nuts and bolts of beekeeping for the backyard hobbyist! An informative, basic class for those thinking about raising locally adapted bees. Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Wildlife Baby Shower Join licensed wildlife rehabilitators for a wildlife baby shower! Bring a gift (see the site for a list) to help this season’s injured and orphaned babies. Saturday,  12:00 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines The greatest pilots from the early days of aviation compete in a London-to-Paris race. With an international cast, vintage aircraft, and an Oscar-nominated screenplay, this movie is all spectacle and adventure. Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm. Jacob Burns Film Center

Spring Trail Hike Join farm staff and hike the beautiful woodland trails. Saturday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center

Birding to Lost Pond This bird watching excursion will lead to Lost Pond, a favorite destination for many visitors to the sanctuary. A great opportunity to learn how to identify birds by sight and sound. Saturday, 8:00 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary 

Chutneys, Sauces, Dressings and Marinades Dress up and adorn your meals with colorful, tasty, easy chutneys, sauces, dressings and marinades. Saturday, 10:00 am. Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center 

Midnight Slim and the Strangers Enjoy the high energy mix of Blues and Rock of Midnight Slim and the Strangers. Saturday, 7:30 pm. Bean Runner Cafe 

Garden Day Families are welcome to come join our master gardener prepare the vegetable garden for the summer. Plant seeds and learn how to care for the soil. Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm 

Pinkster Enjoy this African-American celebration of Spring, which was held in the Hudson Valley as early as the 17th century. Filled with music, dance, food, and revelry, this cross-cultural festival re-creates the spring holiday with a rousing colonial-style celebration. Sunday, 12:00 to 6:00 pm. Philipsburg Manon

Martin Fried Enjoy the Alternative Folk Rock of Martin Fried. Sunday, 1:00 pm. Peeksill Coffee House

Shad Festival and Hudson River Celebration Take a trip up Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison for an afternoon of storytelling, a petting zoo, eco arts and crafts, a merry-go-round, puppets, and more. Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00 pm. River Keeper

Blogger Disaster!

Blogger had a bit of meltdown and removed and deleted posts. So my fabulous Weekend Picks post...well, perhaps it will show up someday. But for now it is gone. I don't have the time to recreate it, which is too bad since it was full of good stuff! Check out the Open Studios in Peekskill Saturday and Sunday. And enjoy the weekend!

Stickley for Details

Year Built: 1916

Square Feet: 1,624

Bedrooms: 3

Property: 0.416 of an acre

Location: Ossining, on the eastern edges of the town.

Best features: This original Stickley Craftsman house (built from a design in Gustav Stickley's magazine, The Craftsman) boasts many hallmarks of the Mission master. The lines are clean and simple and the woodwork is rich and warm. The new kitchen does a good job of fitting in.

Downside: The taxes seem a tad high for the square footage and lot size.

Taxes: $15,277

Asking Price: $469,000

Agency: Hudson Homes

Maps: Google Map, bing Map

On the Forum

"I am looking for a place to have a 40th Birthday party for my wife. I am either thinking a sit down dinner or brunch for about 40 people. I would like to find somewhere reasonably priced in the area. Any ideas?"

"I am looking for a veterinarian in the area for general/primary care. Could be in any of the towns covered by this blog..."

Plus: Recommend a Realtor? Best summer camps? And more, on the NW Home Forum.

A Place to Lift Your Spirits

After years of battling the town of Yorktown over permits and whatnot, the Winery at St. George in the old stone church in Mohegan Lake is now open. And it's already getting great buzz for its fine wines and inspiring space. The vineyard's grapes were only planted at Hilltop Hanover Farm in 2007, but the Winery pours wines from many vineyards. There's also a small food menu and even wine tasting classes. Now the Winery is adding live jazz every Wednesday at 7:00 pm (this week's performance will be by the Jon Doty Trio). Check it out.

Scottish-American Folk

Singer-songwriter and folk musician David Ferrard is  based in Edinburgh, but he was brought up on both sides of the Atlantic. His transatlantic roots can be clearly heard in his music, whether singing his own compositions or interpreting a traditional ballad. Come listen to him play Monday, 7:00 pm, at the Bean Runner Cafe.

Weekend Picks

My picks for the best activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester

Warbler Walk Once again these small, beautiful birds are traveling through the area on their way to their breeding grounds. Come listen to them sing. Saturday, 8:00 am. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Telpochcalli A group comprised of children will perform traditional Mexican dances including a humorous Michoacan "Dance of the Old People" and "The Dance of the Chinelo," a Tlayacapan carnival dance. Saturday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Neuberger Museum of Art

Bird Banding Presentation Observe wild song birds being captured, banded, and released and learn how you can participate. Saturday, 10:30 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Across the Universe The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for this film depicting a romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist. "Across The Universe" is set in the 1960s and used a combination of live action and animation. Saturday, 8:00 pm. Paramount Center for the Arts

Peter Calo Most recognized for his work with Carly Simon, Peter Calo is an accomplished guitarist, composer, and songwriter. Saturday, 7:30 pm. Bean Runner Cafe 

Sheep Shearing Bring mom and grandma to watch the sheep get their spring haircuts. Sunday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

Reptiles and Turtle Monitoring Learn about the group of organisms known as reptiles and how they are different from other animals. Then take a walk to the pond to check the traps for turtles. Sunday, 2:30 pm. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Rental: On the River

Year Built: 1954

Square Feet: 1,750

Bedrooms: 3

Property: 0.74 of an acre

Location: In Croton, perched over the Croton River and still in walking distance to village amenities.

Best features: Did you not read the "perched over the Croton River" part? The back patio has quite the lookout over the river. Inside, the living room boasts beams and a wall of windows. And the kitchen looks quite cool.

Downside: The exterior ain't very exciting. Then again, its just a rental.

Monthly Rent: $4,000

Agency: Houlihan Lawrence

Maps: Google Map, bing Map

April Sales and Deals

The Spring market continues to look somewhat healthy, although the number of homes going to contract in the towns this blog covers fell a bit from March. (The number was higher than that of April 2010, which saw 61 homes going to contract). On the downside, not a single previously featured Hot Property either went to contract or closed. Now, that hasn't happened for awhile.

Contracts signed on single-family homes

March: 81
April: 71

Pare Down and Cheer Up

Join this educational program and discussion group about taking eco-friendly living beyond the compact fluorescent bulb. Share ideas about what we can to do within our own families and homes to share resources and reassess our lifestyles in order to live more sustainably and more simply. Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Yoga on the Farm

Experienced Yoga instructor Pat Wengen leads sessions set in the pastoral beauty of the Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center. Tuesdays, 9:00 am.

Touring a Town's History

Ah, Spring. The flowers are blooming and the house tours are happening. This weekend I enjoyed a tour of historic homes in Yorktown, many dating from the 1700's and with a juicy role in the Revolutionary War. In between ogling at wide floor boards and beehive ovens, we stopped at Peter Pratt's Inn for a delightful lunch on the patio and a chat with a real revolutionary soldier (okay, it might have been a local history teacher). It was a great way to spend the afternoon—and to get to know the area even better.