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Monthly Archives: September 2016

Connecticut-based seafood market Fjord opens branch in Larchmont

Photo courtesy of Fjord Fish Market website, http://www.fjordfishmarket.com/home.

Seafood is a booming industry all across the globe that one might find it difficult to come across high quality seafood raised in conditions that mimic the wild.

If you live in Larchmont and you’ve got a taste for the marine, however, you won’t need to drive all the way to Connecticut for fresh, quality catch. Fjord Fish Market, which has several locations in Connecticut, recently opened a branch in Larchmont at 134 Chatsworth Avenue. Fresh, responsibly raised and quality fish, along with hand-rolled sushi and a variety of hot soups, are now just a short drive away.

Owned by the Fjord family, the Fjord Fish Market fills the gap in the seafood market by providing wild seafood in partnership with CleanFish. The company’s methods of raising seafood in almost wild conditions guarantee that every Fjord market customer gets to go home with high quality fish.

“There’s been a dramatic change to the retail food landscape over the past 20 years,” Jim Thistle, principal of Fjord Fish Market, told Westchester Magazine in an interview. “Large grocery stores and chains have turned seafood into a commodity – pushing for lower and lower prices to pass on to customers. That means the quality of seafood suffers as producers raise seafood that grows bigger, faster, and more resistant to disease.”

Fish sold in Fjord Fish Market are renowned to be raised with no antibiotics and artificial growth hormones used. Another method employed is to raise fish in open water and low-density pens, which help prevent the spread of disease.

Are you thinking of making the trip to the fish market? Some of the bounties you’ll find include lobsters (available in to-go varieties), littleneck clams, locally harvested bluepoint oysters, fresh and traditionally prepared clambakes, and PEI mussels. You can also find pop-ups in the market that sell shrimp boils, Hawaiian poke bowls, and seafood platters.

Fresh, high-quality, and ethical, Fjord Fish Market is definitely making its name in Westchester County as one of the best places to get seafood in the area. It’s also one of the great additions to Larchmont’s thriving market scene. For more information, check out their official website at http://fjordfishmarket.com. Meanwhile, you can read more about Larchmont here.

House-hunting by style

Westchester County real estate is characterized by diverse housing options, ideal for meeting different needs and preferences. To help you out in the home-buying process, here are some of the quintessential architectural styles you can find in Westchester County’s real estate market.

1. Modern – Modern homes are often characterized by its simplicity in form and design. Windows might occupy large sections of the walls, and some modern homes come with flat roofs. Inside, you’re greeted with an open living plan. Some Modern-style residences also connect indoor and outdoor spaces for a seamless living experience.

2. Victorian – Victorian-style homes are ornate as Modern homes are minimalist in design. Distinctive features of a Victorian home include decorative trims, wraparound porches, and different parlors. You can find most of Westchester County’s Victorian-style residences in the Rivertowns.

3. Tudor / Tudor Revival–This architectural style first became in the late 19th century and still remained in fashion until the first half of the 20th century. An import from Europe, Tudors and Tudor Revivals are usually made from a mix of materials, including stucco, bring, and wood. Asymmetric in design, features include detailed woodwork and masonry, steep gabled roofs, casement windows, and dormers.

4. Ranch –A classic American style, a Ranch home is defined by long, low rooflines, big picture windows, a built-in garage, and sliding doors which will lead you to a patio. Ranch homes, also called California ranches, are great for single level living and designed for that lifestyle. There are design variations, however, such as raised ranch and split-level. Ranch homes also often come with simple and open floor plans and occupy a larger footprint. Due to the latter, there aren’t a lot of Ranch homes in Westchester, but you can still find this style with the right real estate agent by your side.

5. Cape Cod – Cape Cods are often found in Long Island, but you can find this popular style in Westchester County as well. Cape Cods are usually straightforward and come with one or one-and-a-half stories. Its roofline, one its most distinctive features, often slants down to the first floor. Most Cape Cods are finished in shingles, and offer less space than other styles.

6. Colonial–Highly regarded as one of the most traditional home styles in the country, Colonials are prevalent in Westchester County. You can easily spot such a home as they rectangular in shape and very symmetrical in design. Double-hung windows are another feature, and are often made of brick and solid stone.

Looking for more information about home-buying in Westchester County? Check out our blog.

Harrison NY’s top-rated restaurants

Photo courtesy of Lago Facebook page.

Harrison is home to an exciting assortment of restaurants, offering an unforgettable culinary adventure for diners. Restaurants in Harrison serve an eclectic mix of flavors from around the world, including Italian, Asian, South American, Mediterranean, and many more.

Here are some of Harrison’s top-rated restaurants:

Hajime

267 Halstead Ave, Harrison, NY
914-777-1543

No need to fly to Japan for quality Japanese food – Harrison’s very own Hajime serves the finest sushi and sashimi imported from Japan and prepared using traditional Japanese methods. The restaurant is run by a master sushi chef who grew up in Osaka and started studying the art of making sushi at age 15.

To complete the experience, the restaurant is decorated like a local Japanese restaurant, making diners feel like they’re actually eating sushi in the land of the rising sun. Definitely a must-try if you’re into authentic Japanese cuisine.

Lago Ristorante & Wine Bar

97 Harrison Boulevard, Harrison, NY
914-358-9180

Lago Ristorante & Wine Bar is an Italian restaurant that offers unique flavors from the historic region of Campania. Each dish gives diners a taste of Napoli, and is further enhanced by the restaurant’s impressive selection of wines from different parts of Italy.

Lago’s signature dish is the Pappardelle Lago Pasta, which consists of a variety of mushrooms combined with a light cream sauce, and flamed inside an 18-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano wheel.

Quenas

109 Halstead Ave, Harrison, NY
914-630-4646

Quenas is known for serving authentic Peruvian cuisine. Each dish is expertly prepared by European chefs and infused with the distinct flavors of Peru.

Their menu includes dishes such as ceviche, tacu tacu encebolloado, lomo saltado, aguadito de mariscos, and other popular Peruvian dishes.

273 Kitchen

273 Halstead Ave, Harrison, NY
914-732-3333

273 Kitchen is a delightful Mediterranean restaurant that offers a daily changing menu consisting of locally sourced, seasonal dishes. Run by expert chefs Constantine Kalandranis and Hichem Habbas, the restaurant serves an enticing selection of fresh and healthy dishes along with regionally produced wines and craft beers in a welcoming and intimate kitchen-inspired space.

Find out more about the town of Harrison, NY here.

Fun and Family-friendly Activities in Larchmont

Taking a day off to spend some quality time with family is always a top priority, especially in Larchmont, where there is a wealth of activities all members of the family will enjoy. Bring some sunblock and a picnic basket full of goodies for a day out with your family. Here are our top picks of family-friendly outings in Larchmont.

Enjoy the peace and quiet at Larchmont Manor Park & Beach. This gorgeous park on Park Ave is a family-friendly location for picnics and simple gatherings. Come by during the Fourth of July for unobstructed views of the yearly fireworks show. For more information about the Larchmont Manor Park & Beach, log on to http://larchmontmanorpark.org.

Enjoy music and arts classes with your kids at Groove Performing Arts. A family-friendly music and arts studio, Groove Performing Arts offers an array of educational programs kids and kids-at-heart will surely bond over, including the award-winning Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals. You can head over to http://findgroove.com for more information about their classes and events.

Frolic along the beach with your beloved four-legged friend. When it comes to family, let’s not forget our ever loyal and trustworthy furry friend. Head to Larchmont Dog Beach for a simple picnic and play with your dog to your heart’s content. Bring the kids as well – they’ll surely enjoy playing with Fido.

Glide like an award-winning figure skater at Hommocks Park Ice Rink. Located just behind Hommocks Middle School, Hommocks Park Ice Rink is a great facility where the whole family can learn how to skate and play hockey. Aside from skating lessons and hockey games, Hommocks Park Ice Rink can also be the venue of your next birthday celebration or family get-together. Check out this link for more information.

Sign your kids up for fun and interesting educational programs.The Larchmont Public Library is not only for adults, but for kids as well! The facility offers several programs for children that vary in scope and subject. Have your kids learn about music, create their own experiments, and make friends. Children as young as 3 years old can enroll in some of the programs.

Are you interested to know more about Larchmont? Check out our community profile for more information.

Westchester County’s best-kept secrets

There are days when you think you know Westchester County, but in reality you’re barely scratching the surface. We’ve rounded up some of Westchester County’s off-the-beaten-track attractions to help you get to know the area better. Thank us later.

1. Daido Market
522 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains

Daido Market is the best place in Westchester County where you can source burdock root, fish cakes, dried seaweed – basically everything you want or need that can only be found at a Japanese supermarket. On Sundays, you’ll even be treated to deliciously soft French creampuffs.

2. Cranberry Lake Preserve
1609 Old Orchard St, North White Plains

Westchester County has so many parks, it’s no surprise some are underappreciated and overlooked. If you’re looking for a quiet spot that’s just as relevant to Westchester County history as Kensico Dam, drive to Cranberry Lake Preserve. This 190-acre park is home to several historic artifacts, the beautiful and ancient Cranberry Lake, vernal pools, and more.

3. Lighthouse Ice Cream Kompany (L.I.C.K)
127 W Main St at the Tarrytown Harbor, Tarrytown

For the finest ice cream in Westchester County, visit the Tarrytown Harbor, where you’ll find Lighthouse Ice Cream Kompany. They’ve got a whole arsenal of high-quality ice creams, sorbets, and gelatos – all handcrafted to perfection using the best ingredients.

4. The Beverly E. Smith Butterfly Garden
19 Dudley St, Yonkers

Right off busy North Broadway, you’ll find a sanctuary the stuff fairytales are made of. Welcome to the Lenoir Preserve, one of the most overlooked parks in Westchester County. This 40-acre park is home to the Beverly E. Smith Butterfly Garden. For a fee, you can enter this butterfly and bird haven, regularly maintained by the Hudson River Audubon Society. It’s also one of the best spots in Westchester County to observe hawk migrations come spring and fall.

5. The Newington-Cropsey Gallery of Art
25 Cropsey Ln, Hastings-on-Hudson

Westchester County has no shortage of art galleries. To get to this beautiful gallery, look for a little blue sign past the Metro-North parking lot, which will take you to the Newington-Cropsey Foundation. From there, you’ll be greeted by the Gallery of Art in all its Gothic-Revival glory. Guided tours are scheduled by appointment, so do call ahead. It’s worth it.

That’s just five of Westchester County’s best-kept secrets. For more information about the community, log on to this page.

Get Cultured in Westchester

Westchester County has long earned a reputation as being an artistic haven for being the home of several arts and culture venues. If you’re not doing anything this weekend, plan a date with yourself, a friend, or a loved one and bathe in the local arts and culture scene. Here are some spots you shouldn’t miss.

Katonah Museum of Art – Step inside the revered halls of Katonah Museum of Art and a variety of exhibits will welcome you. This non-collecting institution is a favorite among arts and culture enthusiasts who love to admire and learn more about different artistic disciplines, historical periods, and cultures.

You’ll find Katonah Museum of Art at 134 Jay St, Katonah, NY. For more information, log on to http://katonahmuseum.org.

Photo courtesy of https://www.neuberger.org/

Neuberger Museum of Art – Neuberger is the place to be in Westchester if you’re looking for a healthy dose of 20th century and contemporary art. The real treasure, however, is the facility’s collection of beautiful African art. When you visit Neuberger Museum of Art, you’ll also get to tick something off your list, as the facility is listed as the tenth largest university museum in the country.

Neuberger Museum of Art is located at Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase, NY. Check out http://neuberger.org for more details.

Clay Art Center – Admire ceramic masterpieces and get your hands dirty as you make your own work of art at the Clay Art Center. The most active ceramic facility in the county, the center offers a variety of ceramic instruction and pottery workshops that will help you hone your art.

Clay Art Center is located at 40 Beech St, Port Chester, NY. For a complete list of programs, log on to http://clayartcenter.org.

Emelin Theatrefor the Performing Arts – A 275-seat nonprofit theater, Emelin delivers something for everybody – you can pop, bluegrass, comedy, dance, jazz, folk, and a whole lot of other productions. Best of all, Emelin Theatre also produces kid-friendly shows with their children’s theatre productions.

Drive all the way to 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck, NY to visit Emelin Theatre. For more details, including schedule of shows, visit http://emelin.org.

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts – For the best summer and fall music festivals in Westchester County, head over to Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. You can check out their calendar of shows and ticket information at http://caramoor.org.

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is located at 149 Girdle Ridge Rd, Katonah, NY.

You can also read our blog post about the White Plains Performing Arts Center here. If you’re looking for more things to do in Westchester County, check out this link.

Kid-friendly activities to enjoy in Bronxville

Bronxville can be a very fun place to be for kids, as there’s a multitude of activities, destinations, and surprises for them to enjoy throughout the year.

Here are some of the best activities to enjoy with your kids:

Arts and crafts and storytelling at the Bronxville Public Library

201 Pondfield Road

The Bronxville Public Library has a fun program for kids of all ages: there’s story time for babies, crafts sessions for preschoolers, and a book group for young adults. The library also features a children’s room with comfortable couches and tables where kids can draw, solve puzzles, or read a book. Every Friday afternoon, the library also hosts movie screenings for kids and their families.

Outdoor trip at the Bronx River Path

Pondfield Road West, near Bronx River Parkway

Enjoy the beauty of nature with your kids by visiting the Bronx River Path, a picturesque paved path that includes a 0.8-mile loop encircling the serene Bronxville Lake. This path is also great for dog walkers, joggers, and bikers.

Movie and frozen yogurt at Kraft Avenue

Bronxville Cinemas, 84 Kraft Ave. / Swizzles, 102 Kraft Ave.

The Bronxville Cinemas is the perfect place to enjoy a kid-friendly movie, as it is very rarely crowded. After enjoying the movie, you can take your kids to nearby Swizzles, which offers self-served frozen yogurt.

Playtime at Sagamore Park

Sagamore Park is an excellent place for fun activities for kids. The park is equipped with all sorts of kid-friendly amenities. Children can enjoy playing in the huge sandbox, climbing pyramid, jungle gym, kids’ basketball courts, and pathways with Cozy Coupes.

Find out more about the city of Bronxville by visiting this page.

The best hiking trails in Westchester

Westchester County may be known to most people as a hub of arts and culture as well as great food, but outdoor enthusiasts are taking note of the area’s hiking trails. Although you can’t find any towering mountain in Westchester County, these hiking trails will take you to panoramic vistas that will be etched in your mind forever.

1. Mianus River Gorge Preserve

Located in Bedford, the Mianus River Gorge Preserve is great for children and beginners. It’s not so high – it’s just approximately 40 feet above the river, but the height is sufficient to give you splendid views of the Mianus River. In addition to its friendliness to hiking beginners, the Mianus River Gorge Preserve trail is one of the oldest Nature Conservancy preserves in the country.

2. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Described by expert outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen as a secluded spot where you can enjoy the sights and smells of nature, Westmoreland is indeed a sanctuary. The forest, which can rise up to 730 feet, is home to quartz rock outcroppings, stone walls, gushing streams, as well as ponds. This beautiful forest is also located near Mount Kisco.

3. Arthur W. Butler Memorial Sanctuary

Another hiking trail located near Mount Kisco, Butler Sanctuary is actually situated right across the Westmoreland Sanctuary. The climb starts off right of Interstate 684 and can take you up to 753 feet. Bird watchers flock here in the autumn in hopes of a hawk sighting, which is frequent about 750 feet from the trailhead. Butler Sanctuary also hides a gem – a swampland in the lower part of the trail that looks like it came straight out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland.

4. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Recognized as one of the best parks in Westchester County, the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation features the five-mile Star Loop, which can go up to 860 feet. Broad and well-maintained by dedicated park ranges, this trail offers scenic vistas of the Cross River Reservoir and numerous wildlife sightings. To top it all off, the trail will also pass by the cave of the Leatherman, a popular 19th-century figure in Westchester lore.

5. Anthony’s Nose

Supposedly named after a pre-Revolutionary War captain that can river Cyrano de Bergerac’s famous sniffer, the Anthony’s Nose trail begins off Route 6 and will take you up to 900 feet, where you can catch your breath and take in the gorgeous views of the Hudson River and the Bear Mountain Bridge. The trail is also part of the famous Appalachian Trail.

Hiking alone or with friends and family is great, but hiking with dogs is also a memorable adventure. Check out this page for information on dog-friendly hiking trails in Westchester County

Where to enjoy a great breakfast in Westchester County

Some experts agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To make it count, do drop by these breakfast spots to start the day right and fill you with enough energy to keep you going until lunchtime.

1. Goldberg’s Rock’n Bagel Café
379 Halstead Ave, Harrison

Serving rockin’ bagels that will fuel you up in the morning (or whenever you choose to eat this delectably pastry), Goldberg’s Rock’n Bagel Café should definitely be on your list. Bagel lovers all line up to get some of their bestsellers, including the French toast bagel, an egg bagel coated with egg wash, brown sugar, cinnamon, and powdered sugar. We suggest you have it served grilled with butter.

2. Lilly’s
169 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains

For a morning fare that is anything but ordinary, head to Lilly’s in White Plains and order pizza for breakfast. After all, everybody loves a good pizza pie. Do try out Morning Lilly Pizza, a bestseller from the brunch menu. It’s got corned beef hash, fontina, mozzarella, truffle oil, and fried egg.

3. Garden Catering
315A Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck
140 Midland Ave, Port Chester

If you’re craving some bacon, egg, and cheese all stacked in a nice sandwich, head to the nearest Garden Catering branch and try out their Hotsy. The beloved Hotsy is a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich that represents all the good in the world. Add a dash for chili and some home fries or potato cones and your stomach will thank you.

4. The Beehive
30 Old Rte 22, Armonk

Another highly recommended spot in Westchester County is The Beehive in Armonk – their breakfast menu will satisfy all five senses. Breakfast offerings include Challah French toast, traditional eggs Benedict, house-made granola with Greek yogurt, and crumb cake. It’s one of the best places in Westchester County where you can get New American breakfast food with a Greek twist.

5. Equus Restaurant
Castle Hotel & Spa, 400 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown

If you’re looking for a breakfast spot with plenty of choices, the best bet would be to go to Equus, which offers one of the two best breakfast buffets in Westchester County (according to Westchester Magazine). Breakfast offerings include house-smoked salmon, Hudson Valley yogurt and seasonal berries, eggs, and ricotta griddle cakes with your favorite add-ons.

Westchester County is a great destination and place to live for food lovers. To check out the county’s dining scene, log on to this page.