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A few of the over 4,000 faces at Van Cortlandt Manor's Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze. Photo by mg.alpha

Village Life

This just-listed 1910 front-porch charmer in the center of Katonah has reportedly never been on the market before. The 2,100 square foot, 3 bedroom house has nice vintage details including leaded glass windows and built-ins. The 0.3 acre lot is close to all (and is literally next door to the dutch colonial recently featured) and includes a large garage with heated office space. $979,000
Ginnel Real Estate, Google Map

Garden Party

Horizons, by Steinunn Thorarinsdottir, at the Katonah Museum of Art, through March 16, 2008.

Saturday Sip and Spit

The Sunday New York Times had an article on free wine tastings held at area liquor stores. The article featured the tastings at Suburban Wine and Spirits in Yorktown Heights. Each session has a focus: This coming Saturday's will be pinot noirs and the following week will focus on zinfandels. According to the article, tasting are also held at Mt. Kisco Wine and Spirits.
SOURCE: New York Times: Tastings Can Help Reduce the Guesswork

Croton Cape

Here's a charming 1927 cape in Croton. The 1,600 square foot house has 4 bedrooms (they must be small), nice details, and lots of light. The kitchen looks like it could use some updating, but the house appears to be in good shape. The 0.22 of an acre lot is close to the train station, stores, and most other village amenities. I'd say the price is right. $525,000
River Towns Realty GMAC, Google Map

Weekend Family Events

Looking for kid-friendly fun? Here are some suggestions:

Spooks and Spirits in the Wine Cellars A storyteller will weave a spooky yarn about Croton Point's wine cellars. Saturday, 1:00, Croton Point Nature Center, Croton Point Park

Pick Your Own Eggs Learn about egg production on the farm--and get some organic eggs. Saturday, 1:00, Stone Barns Center

Time to Go! Discover which animals are heading south and which are staying put as winter approaches. All ages. Saturday, 1:00 to 2:30, Teatown Lake Reservation

Yorktown Halloween Parade Get all dressed up for the annual community parade and carnival. The parade begins at Yorktown Plaza Park on Front Street and ends at the Yorktown Community Center, where there will be loads of indoor activities. Saturday, 4:00

Ossining Halloween Parade The annual event features costumed marchers parading from Nelson Sitting Park to Market Square. There's also a pie eating contest and magic shows. Saturday, 2:00

Caramoor Classics Concerts performed by Caramoor's Rising Stars and geared for the whole family. Saturday and Sunday. For times and tickets call (914) 232-1252 Caramoor Center for the Music and Arts

Halloween Boo Walk Join the fun for a kid-friendly scavenger hunt. Sunday, 11:00 to 3:00, Muscoot Farm

This Week in Art

A sampling of some exhibitions in the area:

Mount Maslow An exhibition of the sculpture of Folkert De Jong (above). Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill

James Sparks Recent Paintings View the artist's "supernatural" series of works--then enjoy the super nature. Daily 9:00-4:30 The Art Gallery at the Rockefeller State Preserve

The Image Makers Works by the Westchester Photographic Society, Ossining Public Library

Painted Photography The works of artist Karen Wyks Lindsay, John C. Hart Library, Yorktown

Hearing Space A sound installation, The Studio, Armonk

Oil Paintings The works of Rita Jackevicius Ross, The Flat Iron Gallery, Peekskill

Hidden Potential

Thanks to dreadful photos, this house is hard to get a good sense of. There are clearly some appealing details--like the double-height living room ceiling and lovely fireplace--as well as a number of major projects-in-waiting. The 1850 house has apparently suffered some imperfect renovations, but at 2,500 square feet with 4 bedrooms it definitely has potential. It also has 2 acres on beautiful Crow Hill Road in Yorktown (with a Mount Kisco address and Yorktown schools). Originally listed at $875,00, the price has been heavily reduced. (Oddly, the new price is posted on every agency's site except for the listing agent's). $750,000
Patricia Schiller Real Estate, Google Map

Eye Candy

Depew Park in Peekskill

Sweet and Low (priced)

Ossining has a bumper crop of apparent bargains this fall. In addition to last week's lovely Dutch Colonial, there is this just-listed 1910 colonial. The house is rather small at 1,400 square feet, but it is newly renovated and supposedly in mint condition. It has 3 bedrooms, nice details, and a lovely yard. The 0.19 of an acre lot is on a dead-end road and is close to the station. All things considered, this seems like a pretty good deal for the price. $449,944
Coldwell Banker, Google Map

Katonah Cottage

This 1925 cottage features a sweet living room and a good location. The 1,700 square foot house has 3 bedrooms, 1 and a half baths, and plenty of charm. Located on 1 acre close to the village, the home has appeal. Given the current market, I'm not sure the asking price will fly. $795,00
Prudential Holmes & Kennedy Realty, Google Map

Weekend Fun

Great ways to keep the kids happy:

Legend Weekend See Philipsburg Manor aglow in candlelight and transformed into a haunt of ghosts, goblins, and the famous headless horseman. Friday and Saturday, starting at 6:00. Philipsburg Manor

Music for Families Kids can sing and dance to traditional songs from around the world. Saturday, 4:00-6:00. Hanover Hilltop Farm

Birthday pARTy The Katonah Museum of Art's Learning Center celebrates 10 years of arts education. Events include Mark Weigel and Friends singing kids' songs and famed illustrator Dan Yaccarino reading his book An Octopus Followed Me Home Today. Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00. Katonah Museum of Art

Fall Foliage Walk Discover a world of color as you hike the hills at Muscoot Farm. Sunday, 1:00-3:00.

Hands-On Activities The Aldrich's Education Center is open and full of creative ways to involve youngsters in the museum's art and ideas. Sunday, 12:00-4:00. Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

The Commuting Space-Time Discontinuum

The closer the station the shorter the ride, right? Not so. The New York Times created this handy must-have map, which clearly illustrates that distance doesn't always equal length of trip. (Click on the image above or the link below for a larger, readable version of the map.) Some routes are more direct than others, some trains go faster than others, and some stations are express stops while others are only accessible on local trains. For example, the trip to Croton-Harmon is shorter than the ride to Ossining, which is south of Croton. Anyone planning a regular commute should take a look.
SOURCE: The New York Times: Travel Times on Commuter Rail

A Mod, Mod World

This classic modern looks just as cutting-edge today as when it was built in 1957. Walls of glass and marble, clean lines, and flowing spaces make this a perfect example of the mid-century modern style. Designed by the venerable firm of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, the house exudes cool. Located on 1.7 acres in Ossining (with a Briarcliff Manor address and Ossining schools), the 3,400 square foot structure has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a separate guest wing. Pretty nifty. $1,289,000
Houlihan Lawrence, Google Map

Free-Range Art

What's that in the woods? It's one of the many interesting finds at Outdoor Art: Forest of Possibilities, through October 31 at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. The more than 50 pieces by local artists are all made of wood and are designed to withstand the elements. For more roaming art, don't forget to check out Collaborative Concepts at Saunders Farm in Garrison, also through the end of the month. Pretty soon winter will be here, and all of the art will head indoors.

All-American

I just love a house with a name. "Suttonfields" is a 1734 center-hall colonial in Somers (with a Katonah address and Somers schools), located steps from the Amawalk Reservoir. The 2,700 square foot house has 4 bedrooms and lots of Americana charm. The renovated kitchen looks a bit Home Depot, but the rest of the house makes up for it. The 2.75 acre property features a picture-perfect pool. This one has been on the market for a few months. $1,250,000
Houlihan Lawrence, Google Map

Development and Parkland for Peekskill

Peekskill's historic Fort Hill Park just got a lot bigger. The Sunday New York Times reports that the 9 acre park will soon add an adjacent 40 acres of land donated by Ginsburg Development Corporation. The company is keeping 27 acres, where they will convert a former convent to 12 condominiums and will build 124 "clustered town houses." The Times reports that prices will be $400,000 and up. The development is a far better fate for the site than that planned by it's former owner, Cappelli Enterprises, which the Times said had proposed destroying part of the bluff where a Revolutionary War battle had been fought and cutting down 22 acres of trees. Ginsburg Development is also behind the planned project on the northern border of Peekskill's Riverfront Green Park, which calls for 500 condos, a 500-car garage, and restaurants and retailing space.

Google Map, SOURCE: New York Times: Developer's Gift Will Add 40 Acres to Park

Pitch-Perfect

This house makes me feel all warm inside. The 1865 Gothic Victorian has great bones, lovely details, and loads of charm. Located in Ossining (with a Briarcliff Manor address and Ossining schools), the nearly half-acre property is within walking distance of the Scarborough train station and boasts a view of the Hudson. Inside, the 3,100 square foot house has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths and has recently been spiffed-up. All in all, this new listing seems to offer a tremendous amount for the price. The only real downside I can find is the higher-than-expected annual taxes: $20,860. $785,000 Houlihan Lawrence, Google Map

Seasonal Sensations at Fall Festivals

Why did everyone decide to have their fall festival this weekend? I don't know, but they did. If you're not in the mood for a festival, check out last weekend's picks, may of which are still going on.

Fall Festival There's plenty to enjoy at this annual event, from pumpkin carving to dressing a scarecrow to meeting farm animals. The Teatown Marketplace also offers tea, baked goods, and other fall delights. Park at IBM and take a shuttle bus. Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00. Teatown Lake Reservation

Harvest Fest 2007 Listen to Grammy-nominated Adrienne Young playing contemporary country-folk-bluegrass as you enjoy hayrides, farm tours, arts & crafts, and storytelling. The Blue Hill at Stone Barns chefs will be demonstrating their culinary talents with a farm lunch. Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

Fall Festival & Pumpkin Day The first annual Hilltop Hanover Farm Fall Festival features fresh produce, crafts, and plenty of pumpkins. There will also be hot cider and alternative fuel vehicles--how green is that? Sunday, 11:00 to 4:00. Hilltop Hanover Farm

Super-Sized Art

Bigger can be better. Size Matters: XXL is the second installment of the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art's series exploring the role of scale in art. The exhibit includes mega works by 31 artists. Above is Yan Pei-Ming's Red Self Portrait, which measures 137.5 inches. Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art: Size Matters

Dutch Treat

Located in the heart of the picaresque village of Katonah, this new listing certainly has some appeal. The 1907 Dutch Colonial has recently been renovated and is reportedly in mint condition. The house has 2,300 square feet, 4 bedrooms, and some lovely details, such as two stone fireplaces. While the kitchen isn't my style, it will probably please many. The quarter-acre lot has a large side-area with a new slate patio. A con is that the property appears to back up to a commercial building on Katonah Avenue. In the current market, guesstimating what is priced-to-sell and what's priced-to-sit is a tough call, but I'd bet the asking is a tad aggressive. Anyone else care to make a prediction? $1,285,000
Sotheby's International Realty, Google Map

Potential in Peekskill

To atone for Friday's mega-million dollar feature, here's a far more affordable option. This sweet 1920's house is located on Peekskill's "Mortgage Hill," one block from Depew Park and a short stroll from the downtown arts center. It's got 2,000 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and some nice details. It clearly needs work, and the lack of photos and facts in the listing indicate that the kitchen and bathroom probably require serious help. But the front porch and turret alone make the house worth a look-see. What do you think of the price? $362,000
My Home Realty, Google Map