A New Trail

Back in September, 2009 I reported that work had began on a new trail to connect Teatown and Kitchawan. Well, the Teatown-Kitchawan Trail (TKT) is now open. On October 6th, Teatown Reservation unveiled the 6.5 mile trail which links the North County Trailway, the Briarcliff-Peekskill trail, and the Old Croton Aqueduct trailway. It also connects to Teatown’s 15 miles of trails and to the Kitchawan Preserve, the John Hand/Bald Mountain, and Croton Gorge Park. Check out Teatown's blog for more details and to download a copy of the trail map (at right).

Weekend Picks

What to do and where to do it this weekend in Northern Westchester

Tosca The Taconic Opera performs Pucini's Tosca. Friday through Sunday, multiple showings. Yorktown Stage

Teatown Fall Festival Carve a pumpkin, dress a scarecrow, take a scenic hayride, pet the animals, learn about local wildlife, create an eco-craft, and enjoy live music. Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:30 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Mushroom Walk Stinky Squid, Dead Man’s Fingers, Destroying Angels. These are just a few of the mushrooms that one can encounter on this informative hike. Saturday, 1:00 pm. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Nature Hike Join a naturalist on a hike through the woods of Hilltop Hanover Farm. Learn plant, insect, and animal identification and some of the natural history of our area. Saturday, 10:00 am. Hilltop Hanover Farm.

Halloween Trains Check out this choo-choo display with a Harry Potter theme. Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial

All About Birds Join Walter Chadwick of Hudson River Audubon Society for this wonderful introduction to birds and birding for kids. Saturday, 10:30 am. Croton Point Park Nature Center

Bounty of the County Celebrate our local farmers and farms with a casual, food-filled night of cultivating community. Saturday, 6:00 pm. Slow Food Westchester

One World, One Peekskill Many local professional and community artists perform together, including the Mount Olivet Baptist Choir, Ecuadoran musical ensemble Inti Andino, and the Children’s Theater Company of Peekskill. Saturday, 7:00 pm. Paramount Center for the Arts

Autumn Celebration A day of music, hayrides, farmers market, games, crafts and food. Sunday, 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

Reading Series Novelists Jennifer Gilmore and Matthew Aaron Goodman read from their works. Sunday, 4:00 pm. Hudson Valley Writer's Center

What's Public about Public Art? This year's recipient of the Himmel Award, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, speaks on the challenges of balancing the vision of an artist with the desires of an audience when creating a work of public art. Sunday, 5:00 pm. Katonah Museum of Art

Modern Fusion

Year Built: 1964

Square Feet: 2,227

Bedrooms: 3

Property: 0.67 of an acre

Location: Ossining, on the outskirts of the village center

Best features: The Asian-infused modern design boasts bright open spaces and many interesting features. The house has lots of windows and great indoor-outdoor flow. This abode looks comfy, yet cool.

Downside: The lot is on a pretty standard "suburban" street, and is quite close to busy Route 9A.

Taxes: $14,633

Asking Price: $610,000

Agency: Houlihan Lawrence, Todd Goddard

Maps: Google Map, bing Map

Comfort Food From a Talented Chef

The recently opened Thyme Restaurant in Yorktown Heights touts itself as offering "freshly picked local produce and hand-selected steaks and seafood." According to Lohud's Small Bites blog, the co-chef is "highly praised" Neil Ferguson, formerly of Allen & Delancey and SoHo House in Manhattan and Monteverde at Oldstone Manor in Cortlandt.

Field of Dreams

The annual Collaborative Concepts at Saunders Farm brings works by over 60 artists to 100 acres of pastoral fields in Garrison. Take a stroll through the lovely setting and enjoy the art and the scenery. Through October 30.

Weekend Picks

What to do and where to do it this weekend in Northern Westchester

Poetry Reading Hear poets Emily Fragos and Timothy Donnelly read their work. Friday, 7:30 pm. Hudson Valley Writers' Center

God Tiny Listen to the Indie/Psychedelic/Rock of God Tiny. Friday, 8:00 pm. Peekskill Coffee House 

Going Nutty Beechnuts, acorns, hickory nuts, and more are on the forest floor. Who is feasting on all the goodies that nature provides? Come find out. Saturday, 1:00 pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Rock Trail Hike Climb the newest trail, named for the six rocks which it passes along its route. Experienced hikers only for this 7-mile hike. Saturday, 10:30 am. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

AquaFest Celebrate the Old Croton Aqueduct with two days of tours, music, and "eco-art" all along the trail. Events in Croton and Ossining will be held Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Storytime Yoga Kids in grades 3 to 4 can explore playful yoga poses, songs, and breathing techniques. Saturday, 11:00 am. Croton Free Library

Yorktown Fall Festival Enjoy music, food, and activities. Saturday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Yorktown Fall Festival

Creature Connections Explore the food web, animal life cycles, and the relationships between predators and prey in this live animal program. Saturday, 1:00 pm. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

The New York Uproar Enjoy the Soul, Blues, R&B, and Rock of the New York Uproar. Saturday, 9:00 pm. 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar

Pumpkin Picking Take a hayride to the pumpkin field and pick out your favorite pumpkin. Sunday, 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm 

Walkable Westchester Jane and Walt Daniels, authors of the Walkable Westchester guide, show you where to hike. Sunday, 2:00 pm. Croton Point Nature Center 

Farm to Table Hands-on Cooking Learn how to use hardy, leafy greens for sustained health and vitality. Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Hilltop Hanover Farm

Jazz Jam Come out and play some music! All instruments and vocalists welcome. Hosted by the Jon Osborn Band. Sunday, 6:30 pm. Bean Runner Cafe

September Sales and Deals

If August was slow, so was September. The number of homes going to contract in the area remained flat and just one previously-featured Hot Property went to contract. But a number managed to close—especially in Croton.

Contracts signed on single-family homes

August: 62
September: 63

Hot Properties That Went to Contract

Location: Croton
Featured: June 17, 2010; April 9, 2009
Asking Price When Featured: $999,000
Last Asking Price: $799,900



 

Hot Properties That Sold

Location: Bedford
Featured: June 15, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $879,000
Last Asking Price: $845,000
Sold for: $812,500

Location: Cortlandt
Featured: June 3, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $545,000
Last Asking Price: $545,000 
Sold for: $603,500

Location: Croton
Featured:  May 25, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $429,000 
Last Asking Price: $429,000
Sold for: $415,000

Location: Katonah
Featured: May 13, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $949,000
Last Asking Price: $949,000
Sold for: $949,000

Location: Croton
Featured:  April 29, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $598,850 
Last Asking Price: $574,850  
Sold for: $540,000
 

Location: Croton
Featured: March 4, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $599,900 
Last Asking Price: $559,000
Sold for: $503,000

A World of Crises

The series "Global Watch" showcases 17 films from around the world that examine topics from America's education system to Mexico's legal system to the plight of workers in China. The most well-known of the films is undoubtedly Waiting for Superman, a look at our public schools from filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, the creator of An Inconvenient Truth. Other films include Budrus, which explores life in a Palestinian village, and Sweet Crude, a look at the impact of our addiction to oil. Multiple showings through October 20 at Jacob Burns Film Center

Weekend Picks

What to do and where to do it this weekend in Northern Westchester

The Magnets with Kim Clarke One of the best known woman bassist in Jazz, Kim Clarke performs with the MAGNETS. Friday, 8:00 pm. Bean Runner Cafe

Green Gardening Join Maggie Pichura, environmental educator and master gardener to learn about gardening sustainably by using natural methods for controlling weeds, insects, and more. Saturday, 10:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Stone Barns Harvest Fest Enjoy a daylong festival of food, music, and educational activities including hayrides, farm games, workshops on food and farming, and a farmers market. Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

Community Tag Sale The Huntersville section of Yorktown Heights will be having a series of tag sales, with goods for sale at the Community Church as well as homes along Baptist Church Road, Hunterbrook Road, and other streets. Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Huntersville

Legends and Lore of the Little People Storyteller Jonathan Kruk spins tales of leprechaun lairs, elfin dens, faerie eyries, and a troll bridge! Saturday, 2:00 pm. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Cerealism! A Collage Making Workshop Join Pop artist Michael Albert for a unique collage workshop. Saturday, 12:00 to 5:00 pm. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

Breakfast With the Hawks Join Hawk Counter Arthur Green and Westmoreland Sanctuary’s Adam Zorn to watch the spectacular annual fall raptor migration. Sunday, 9:00 am. Bedford Audubon Society

Bee Keeping Can one bee hive have 200,000 members? How are bees connected to one third of all the fruit, nuts, and vegetables we eat? Learn the answers to these questions and more. Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

Rising Stars The brilliant young musicians from Caramoor’s mentoring programs perform a program of works by Mozart in the magnificent Music Room. Sunday, 4:00 pm. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

Chiller Theater

What has...

snakes 
shrunken heads 
a giant spider web
an undersea aquarium
dinosaurs
pirates
ghosts
mummies 
a pyramid
and 4,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns?

It could only be The Blaze. At Van Cortlandt Manor, assorted dates starting Saturday and running through November 7.

Coming Back Soon: Adding New Links Now

So, I lived with the idea of ending the blog for a few days. And it made me very sad. Truth is, I love the blog. I really enjoy finding and sharing fun things to do in the area and the coolest houses for sale. I'll probably reduce the number of posts, but I'll do my best to keep them coming. However, I haven't written any yet. But I did update the links—you'll find lots of new links in the right-hand column, especially in the Local Blogs section. Enjoy.

Taking Time to Reflect

It's been a busy few weeks and I haven't been able to find much time to blog. But, beyond that, I'm just not feeling it. I've always loved blogging and keeping this site up and running. But it's suddenly gotten very stale. So I'm taking a little time to rethink and reflect. Should I end the blog? Change the blog? Keep plugging away? I'm not sure... but any advice is welcome.

Fruit of My Land

This is my ninth harvest here in Northern Westchester and I still can't get over the fact that the trees on my own land produce a bounty of edible delights. There's nothing like spending a crisp early fall day picking apples off of your trees and then biting into the tart and delicious meat. The next best thing is eating the apple pancakes I had for breakfast. Or the apple bread I had for lunch. Or the apple pie...

August Sales and Deals

August was a pretty slow month. The number of homes going to contract in the area dropped a bit from July and very few previously-featured Hot Properties went to contract or sold. On the other hand, the local picture seems remarkably stable compared to the recent "plunge" in the national market I've read about. Wonder what the fall will bring?

Contracts signed on single-family homes
July: 73
August: 62

Hot Properties That Went to Contract

Location: Katonah
Featured: May 13, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $949,000
Last Asking Price: $949,000

Hot Properties That Closed

Location: Croton
Featured: January 12, 2010 
Asking Price When Featured: $489,000
Last Asking Price: NA
Sold for: $425,000

Location: Ossining
Featured: November 24, 2009
Asking Price When Featured: $494,222
Last Asking Price: $449,999
Sold for: $436,500

On Vacation

Taking a break. See you in September.

Weekend Pick: Moon Viewing Concert

Check out the Hammond Museum's MoonViewing Concert this Saturday evening. The Japanese Stroll Garden is lit by paper lanterns, becoming a magical setting. The event starts at 6:30 pm with a bento box picnic. Then there is a traditional Tea Ceremony, followed by the concert at 8:30 pm.

Moving Up From Manhattan

I recently started posting chats with readers about their moves to the area and their lives here. A few weeks ago, I talked with Lauren, who moved up from Brooklyn. Here is my chat with Heather, a recent transplant from Manhattan.

Where do you live? How long have you lived there?
I live on Lake Katonah. My address is Katonah, but I think it's part of Lewisboro. We moved at the beginning of April of this year.

Why did you pick the Katonah-Lewisboro area?
We were looking for an area that had a good school district and was also affordable with reasonable taxes. Oh—and was also a reasonable commute to the city. In Westchester county, that is hard to come by!

What has been the hardest part of the transition from Manhattan to the rural burbs of Northern Westchester?
I don't know where anything is! There are little shopping areas and stores scattered throughout the area. I had to search to find where to get dog food! We are still learning where to go for things.

What do you miss most about living in Manhattan?
I miss knowing where everything is! I miss being able to get what I want when I want it—even if it is 3:00 am!

What is your favorite thing about living here?
I love how beautiful it is. We have a gorgeous lake view from our living room. We have a balcony that overlooks the lake that we sit on and just soak in the view. We see deer, chipmunks, squirrels, beavers, fox, etc. The nature is just amazing! Haven't seen nature in a long time after living in the city for 12 years! 

What do you tell city friends who think you were crazy to move up here?
That I love it up here! I really do! I've met so many of my neighbors up here already—I even joined the area book club! My dog and I take long walks around the beautiful lake. It's so quiet and peaceful—and I feel more quiet and peaceful being up here. I tell my friends to move up here with me!

If you'd like to be interviewed about your experiences moving to, living in, and/or working in Northern Westchester, email me.

Gracious and Spacious

Year Built: 1922

Square Feet: 5,000

Bedrooms: 5

Property: 2 acres

Location: Croton, on a dead-end lane in the lovely Mt. Airy section.

Best Features: Big and grand, and bursting with charm, this house has a lot to offer. The rooms all appear well-proportioned and bright. The staircase alone is reason enough to love this place. The property looks nice, too, and includes two cottages.

Downside: The rooms look pretty tired and in need of sprucing up. The absence of any kitchen or bath photos leads one to surmise that they need updating, too.

Taxes: $22,790

Asking Price: $899,900

Agency: Houlhan Lawrence

Maps: Google Map, bing Map

Mt. Kisco's Newest Eatery

There's a new "New American" restaurant on Mt. Kisco's Main Street. The Village Social Kitchen opened recently, and so far is generating positive buzz. Lohud's Small Bites blog visited the place (and took lots of pictures) and reports that the chef, Scott Forzaglia, previously worked with Daniel Boulud and Cornelius Gallagher. The menu has a large range of items, with everything from burgers to Ahi Tuna, as well as a variety of wood-fired pizza. The early reports on Chowhound are good, too. We stopped in over the weekend, and while the wait for a table was too long for us (for the kid, that is), we liked the rustic/industrial look of the space. We'll certainly try again soon.
Images: Lohud.com

Weekend Pick: Storytelling Festival

Get ready for a good yarn. It's time for the annual Mohegan Colony Storytelling Festival. This Saturday, from 12:30 to 10:30 pm., storytellers from all over will descend on Crompond to do what they do best. There will be 14 storytellers, plus music and workshops. Check out the article in the New York Times for more details.
Image: The New York Times

The Art of the Heist

Is there a better way to pass a hot summer evening than by watching a good heist movie? Probably not. The Jacob Burns Film Center is celebrating this pastime with "The Big Score," a festival featuring the best heist films from around the world. The 20 movies include American classics like Reservoir Dogs (right), To Catch a Thief, and Ocean's 11. The festival runs through September 2.

Weekend Pick: Peekskill Celebration

This weekend brings the annual Peekskill Celebration, three days of concerts, races, fun, and fireworks. Things get going Friday evening with Professor Louie and the Crowmatrix, keep running on Saturday with dragon boat races in the afternoon and music and fireworks at night, and then run all day Sunday with more fun.

Cake of the Century

Where did Chelsea Clinton 
get her vegan, gluten-free
wedding cake? At La Tulipe, 
the much-loved Mt. Kisco 
bakery. (No, that isn't the 
cake, but it is one of the bakery's
many featured wedding cakes). 
According to the Journal News,
La Tulipe would neither confirm
nor deny reports that the cake
—which fed 500—cost as much
as $12,000. Fortunately, La Tulipe
makes much more affordable 
goodies, too—including gelato 
and sorbet.

July Sales and Deals

Given that the summer market is usually dead, it's noteworthy that the number of homes going to contract in the area actually increased from June to July. Quite a few previously-featured Hot Properties went to contract, and a good number sold, too. The final asking for the yellow house in Ossining was higher than the original, and the Croton colonial sold for more than the original asking price. All of the houses that sold had been on the market for at least a while, and a few went for well below the initial price.

Contracts signed on single-family homes

June: 65

July: 73

Hot Properties That Went to Contract

Location: Bedford
Featured: June 15, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $879,000
Last Asking Price: $845,000

Location: Cortlandt
Featured: June 3, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $545,000
Last Asking Price: $545,000

Location: Croton
Featured:  May 25, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $429,000 
Last Asking Price: $429,000

Location: Croton
Featured:  April 29, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $598,850 
Last Asking Price: $574,850  


 

Location: Ossining
Featured: April 15, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $299,900 
Last Asking Price: $330,000

Location: Croton
Featured: March 4, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $599,900 
Last Asking Price: $559,000

Location: Ossining
Featured:  December 8, 2009
Asking Price When Featured: $699,222 
Last Asking Price: $619,222

Hot Properties That Closed

Location: Mt. Kisco
Featured: January 8, 2010
Asking Price When Featured: $699,000
Last Asking Price: $699,000
Sold for: $662,000

Location: Croton
Featured:  November 5, 2009
Asking Price When Featured: $599,000 
Last Asking Price: $624,500 
Sold for: $605,000

Location: Montrose
Featured: August 12, 2009 
Asking Price When Featured: $975,000
Last Asking Price: $889,000
Sold for: $850,000

Location: Katonah 
Featured: June 9, 2009 
Asking Price When Featured: $749,000
Last Asking Price: $749.000
Sold for: $655,000

Location: Katonah 
Featured: March 18, 2008 
Asking Price When Featured: $1,199,000
Last Asking Price: $1,199,000
Sold for: $850,000

Picking Your Own

On Saturday we stopped by Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights and tried out the U-Pick. It was a lovely day and the setting was truly beautiful. The farm is one of the prettiest spots in Northern Westchester, with sweeping vistas of fields and distant hills. It's hard to imagine a better way of enjoying the day and the location than walking the neat rows of crops and picking organically grown leeks, scallions, potatoes, onions, kale, zucchini, squash, cukes, beets, flowers, basil and other herbs, and lots more. I'm no nature nut, but it just felt good. The fields are open for U-Pick every Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. We'll still get most of our local produce from Meadow's Farm Market, also in Yorktown Heights, but we're definitely going to make picking our own at Hilltop Hanover a part of the weekend routine.