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Old 09-27-2007, 03:55 PM
 
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Hi,

I read your question about which town to move to in Westchester. I realize you posted this almost a year ago, but wanted to add my two cents, in case you're still looking.
Tarrytown has all of those things you mentioned and might be one of the few towns that you might (!) still be able to get a house for under $650K. Lots of old houses, within walking distance to downtown, that are just dying to have someone come and take off the aluminum siding and update them.

And, here's my pitch: you mentioned you'd like a little culture? Well, Tarrytown has a new, very interesting little gallery just around the corner from the Music Hall...check it out at Eyebuzz Fine Art | Art Gallery | Tarrytown, New York ...you may notice from my user ID that it's my husband and I who opened the gallery this past spring.

Good luck, and wherever you decided to move, come to Tarrytown sometime and check out what's going on here!

Thanks!
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Old 09-28-2007, 08:41 AM
 
Location: Yorktown Heights NY
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Scarsdale and Rye are the two most suburban places on Earth!!!

Tarrytown, Ossining, Croton, Peekskill--all under 50 minutes on the train, all on the Hudson, and all with a nice town fell, and all with a large population of artists.
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Old 09-28-2007, 10:38 AM
 
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Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington and Tarrytown are all good choices. For what you are looking for. Rye, Mammaroneck and Larchmont are also good choices however, a little pricier.
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Old 09-30-2007, 01:49 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, the Iron City!!!
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I would actually recommend City Island, Bronx, NY for you, in this case... GREAT schools, close to Manhattan and the rest of the NYC-metro area, and only 5 minutes from New Rochelle.

You have bus & train service to NYC from here, and housing is within your range.

The entire island is only 4 blocks wide by one mile long, but has a wide variety of things to do, see and take part in. It's right off the I-95 (New England Thruway) at exit 8-B, near Pelham Bay Park.

Come check us out!!!!
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Old 10-04-2007, 09:57 PM
 
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tarrytown, irvington, hastings, larchmont, scarsdale
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Old 10-07-2007, 04:31 PM
 
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Irvington is the town before Tarrytown. It is rustic and charming. Two gorgeous parks sit on the river. Matthesian Park (accross from train station) and Scenic Park. The schools are great. (not big not small), residents are nyc transports looking for the same as you described. As with all the small towns you'll find culture and art surrounding you in one town or another 5 minutes away. (Tarrytown has artsy boutiques but too crowded to drive in and schools are too large catching both tarrytown and sleepy hollow residents) real estate is more expensive in irvington but you can find much variety and pricing. if you don't have children yet you can be more flexible. there are great houses all around main st. area where you walk to town, parks, and the greatest of all the aqueduct. check it out.
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Old 10-20-2007, 02:40 PM
 
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Originally Posted by linda silvestre View Post
Irvington is the town before Tarrytown. It is rustic and charming. Two gorgeous parks sit on the river. Matthesian Park (accross from train station) and Scenic Park. The schools are great. (not big not small), residents are nyc transports looking for the same as you described. As with all the small towns you'll find culture and art surrounding you in one town or another 5 minutes away. (Tarrytown has artsy boutiques but too crowded to drive in and schools are too large catching both tarrytown and sleepy hollow residents) real estate is more expensive in irvington but you can find much variety and pricing. if you don't have children yet you can be more flexible. there are great houses all around main st. area where you walk to town, parks, and the greatest of all the aqueduct. check it out.
Hi- we are considering a home in Irvington and was hoping you could give me some info. I am familiar with Long Island sound parts on Westchester- dont know too much about the River Towns. I know the schools are great. Is there much ethnic or religious diversity in the town? Is it a liberal or conservative village? Thanks!
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Old 10-21-2007, 07:36 AM
 
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Originally Posted by AliceW View Post
My fiance and I are planning to buy a house in Westchester in the next few months. We have both lived in the city for a very long time, so this will be a huge change.
It certainly will be a huge change, and as you are long time NYC residents, you will have to learn a completely different geography.

For the definition of city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone, please see:
//www.city-data.com/forum/new-y...-glossary.html
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Old 10-27-2007, 12:52 PM
 
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Here's a recent article from Westchester Magazine.

Ten Top Downtowns | Archives | Archives | Westchester Magazine (http://www.westchestermagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=B5549CFD24E64BAC93E11938AD51A18C&nm =Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AAr ticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4& id=767846971CDA4DC3B382B2B4A6635140 - broken link)

Ten Top Downtowns
By: Nancy L. Claus

10 Great Downtowns


Postcard-perfect county downtowns: some quaint and quirky, others bustling and bohemian, with a few urban oases added for good measure.





By Nancy L. Claus

With Carol Caffin. W. Dyer Halpern, Marisa Iallonardo, and Laurie Yarnell



Photography by John O’Donnell



1. urban with a small town feel

Bronxville



Bronxville, a bucolic village of 6,543 residents that sits west of Yonkers and east of New Rochelle, was almost single-handedly laid out by William Van Duzer Lawrence, a prominent drug manufacturer who moved to the village in the 1890s.



Today, all of the downtown area— from the train station to the high school and all the shops in between—is in walking distance of each other. “The area is designed so you can walk to the train station, which is probably one of the most wonderful pulls,” explains Evelyn Besser, a real estate agent in the village. “Between that and the school district—the children are all able to walk to the schools—it gives it a very homey, family feel.”



Today, with an eclectic mix of mommies with baby carriages, groups of teens, commuting professionals, and funky Sarah Lawrence and Concordia college students (who give off an artsy vibe), this original haven for artists has become a haven for post-Manhattanites looking to raise families in a close-knit sophisticated village.



The Vibe: Understated wealth; the village feels more like an intimate small town than a sprawling suburb.



What We Love: With a spa, movie theater, hospital, supermarket, and scores of cute shops and restaurants all within walking distance, it’s no wonder Bronxville’s barely one-mile downtown is the perfect place to find anything (and everything) you’re looking for. During the warmer months, the downtown evokes an almost European feel with lots of people strolling down the street, coffee or ice cream in hand, dining at outdoor tables, chatting on street benches, and overall, enjoying the weather and the small-town atmosphere.



What You Should Know: Although there is sufficient parking on the streets and in various municipal lots, before 6 pm most meters only last three hours, so, if you’re planning to spend the day, bring some extra quarters.





2. a trademark-free zone

Katonah







Sure, it’s a little sleepy here (the sidewalks roll up at 9 pm), but you’ve got to admire a town with spunk. When the townspeople were told to vamoose 100 years ago to make room for the Croton Reservoir, they picked up their houses and businesses—literally—and moved a mile away. When Starbucks sought entry into the no-chain community, the citizens stood their ground(s); Perks and Noka Joe now offer up the daily java. And when Martha Stewart decided to trademark the name Katonah for her line of furniture and home goods, the town girded for battle. Namesake Chief Katonah (who we just can’t envision perched on a Martha Stewart cabriole-leg settee) would be proud. Members of the Ramapoug Lenape tribe caught wind of Stewart’s plans and contacted Katonah officials offering support.



The Vibe: Artsy, casual (jodhpurs and riding boots are not out of place here). Good people-watching opportunities near the train station from outdoor tables at Willy Nicks and the Katonah Restaurant.



What We Love: This perfect little downtown didn’t get this way by accident. According to Lydia Landesberg, president of the Katonah Village Improvement Society, Katonah is one of the very first planned communities in the country. “When the town moved, the villagers got together and decided where the commercial district and residential districts should be,” she says. “They put deed restrictions on what kinds of businesses were allowed in town—unheard of in those days. I think those original town planners did a great job.”



What You Should Know: Katonah is a feel-good kind of place and it’s no wonder. The town is a veritable vortex of the healing arts; find doctors, therapists, and counselors of all kinds, specializing in everything from marriage to massage,
podiatry to past-life regression.





3. a suburb for city people

Larchmont







Larchmont has not one but two distinct downtowns, both imminently walkable, filled mostly with individually owned stores and restaurants (the only chains are CVS, Starbucks, and Ann Taylor). “What I like about Larchmont is that it’s truly an urban suburb with a somewhat sophisticated city feel,” says Leslie Long, a 16-year resident. “It has fabulous downtown areas, which includes several terrific clothing shops, lots of fresh foods, the wonderful food market, Meateria, free parking, and friendly shopkeepers.”



The Vibe: School playgrounds, town parks, and beaches are always filled with children, parents, nannies, joggers, dog walkers, and more.



What We Love: Manor Park is one of the town’s nicest spots to walk along the water, sit on rock benches carved out of boulders or in the gazebos, and look out over Long Island Sound. Other spots where one can enjoy the water view is Red Bridge for fishing and Dog Beach, famous for sea-glass hunting.



What You Should Know: The French American School has attracted a large French population in town. There’s even a five-kilometer Tour de Larchmont every fall.



4. a mini-metropolis in the heart of horse country

Mount Kisco



Mount Kisco is Northern Westchester’s shopping and dining mecca. Retail giants like Target, Gap, Chico’s, and Borders coexist with one-of-a-kind boutiques and specialty shops including On the One (where you’ll find designer women’s clothing and accessories), Elephant’s Trunk and Nova Lorraine (where you’ll find the dress for your next gala), New York Dolls (where your teen will find her dresses for the year’s Bar and Bat Mitzvahs), and ebhome (where you’ll find some of the coolest home furnishings anywhere). There are 26 restaurants in town, so take your pick of cuisine: Indian, Mexican, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Chinese, and lots of New American. And a tiny multiplex shows first-run movies. Plus there’s a popular farmers’ market open summer to early fall by the train station.



The Vibe: A mix of moms with strollers, couples and families, shoppers and diners, and business folk. About 25 percent of the town is Hispanic—a nice oasis of diversity in the mostly white northern ‘burbs.



What We Love: Of course we love the shopping and the dining here (do try Flying Pig on Lexington for dishes made with fresh locally grown products), but we also adore the fact that Mount Kisco is a town with a lot of heart. Four major fires have hit the downtown over the past decade or so and, each time, the town picks itself up, dusts itself off, and knocks itself out helping the burned-out businesses get up and running again.



What You Should Know: This town is thriving, so traffic on the main drag (117, aka North Bedford Road) can be a real drag during rush hour and on Saturdays. Avoid the worst of it by hopping on the Saw Mill North off Kisco Street, then off at Green Street, north of town.





5. bleecker street meets mayberry

Pleasantville







Pleasantville is an unpretentious, funky little town with a bustling retail community, lots of quaint shops (many of those nondescript and unsightly storefronts have been replaced with charming and sophisticated boutiques), lively nightlife (there’s something for virtually every age group), and a wealth of cultural amenities. The village of 7,172 residents has an indelible air of bohemian hipness that gives it a downtown, urban feel, minus the attitude. The six-year-old Jacob Burns Center is the cultural hub of this walk-to-everything town, whose nearby residential “Old Village” is full of tree-lined streets and lovely colonials and Victorians, and has helped transform Pleasantville from dowdy to downright cool. It’s not just that the Center shows great indie flicks and documentaries; it draws noted producers, directors, and actors, and big names like Michael Moore, Jonathan Demme, and Woody Allen, to discuss their work. The influx of film patrons has been a boon for local restaurants like Iron Horse Grill (and its takeout spin-off next door, Pony Express To Go), Frodo’s, Jackson & Wheeler, Bollywood Bistro, Cafe Strega, Mediterraneo, and Hanada Sushi. The flaky pastries and foamy lattes at Dragonfly Café and Jean-Jacques are literally a hop, skip, and a jump from all the stores, and don’t forget the trusty Pleasantville Diner which, even with a Starbucks about to move in next door, still serves the best coffee in town. On Pleasantville Day in May, the whole town turns out to eat hot dogs and mingle with neighbors and there is an annual outdoor music festival in July. New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz lives here and holds a crossword tournament to benefit a local scholarship fund. If you’re lucky, you may even run into Bill Clinton power-walking near the train station.



The Vibe: Laid-back, quasi-bohemian, friendly, hip,
family oriented.



What We Love: It’s smack dab in the middle of the county and easily accessible by the Saw Mill Parkway, the Sprain Brook Parkway, the Taconic, Route 9A, and Routes 117 and 120. It’s also virtually equidistant from two of our favorite shopping hubs: downtown Mount Kisco and downtown White Plains.



What You Should Know: The downtown is a bit circuitous; though everything is adjacent to or close by the Metro- North station, you have to meander a bit to discover all the nooks and crannies.





6. the county’s ethnic food capital

Port Chester



“Saw Pit,” as Port Chester was once known (thanks to the saw mill at the mouth of the Byram River where laborers would stand inside pits cutting gigantic logs), was once a bustling center of commerce where farmers would bring the fruits of their labor and ship them throughout the region. One-hundred and seventy years later, the mill, the logs, the factories are gone. And in their place? A thriving, ethnically-diverse city, that is turning into the ethnic food capital of Westchester.



Want a freshly made carnitas taco with your cerveza? You can get it at Los Gemelos. Or perhaps you’re in the mood for churros? Drop by Café Brasil. A whopping 46 percent of the city’s population comes from Spanish-speaking countries—Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Uruguay.



Retailers and merchandisers have sensed that Port Chester is fast becoming an “in” place: a 14 screen state-of-the-art movie theater has rolled into town, as have a number of retail chains: PETCO, DSW, Costco, and Bed, Bath and Beyond.



The Vibe: Ethnic, revitalized, relaxed



What We Love: There are so many great restaurants and snacking places within a short stroll—Q for delectable Midwestern barbecue and a great kids menu, The Kneaded Bread, Paleteria Fernandez, plus Ebb Tide Seafood Shack right on the Byram.



What You Should Know: The parking lot inside the new theater complex is free, and you can even hop on the train at the nearby Metro-North station without paying a dime in parking fees. How’s that for a good deal?





7. picture perfect

Rye



A quaint New England-like shopping district oozing charm, Rye is so picture-perfect, a short-lived TV series, Hometown, filmed here in 1985. This darling city by the Long Island Sound is made for relaxed strolling and browsing; most of the shops, often in old house-like buildings, are located on its tree-lined main street (Purchase Street) and some smaller offshoots (Purdy Avenue, Elm Street, etc.) And while in recent years its retail mix has been compromised somewhat by the addition of some chains and banks (enough already), Rye is still one of the loveliest shopping and dining destinations in the county and an ideal spot for a little day-tripping. Just don’t leave the credit cards at home; Rye shops don’t do discount.



The Vibe: Preppy, proper, swanky, and decidedly old-school; a little like Southampton-on-the-Sound. Think lots of Lilly P, khakis, and sock-less Docksiders.



What We Love: The quaint old-fashioned feel, the still-interesting mix of often one-of-a-kind shops, and a foodie’s fantasy selection of fabulous upscale eateries.



What You Should Know: Parking is a pain. And while there are no meters on the main streets, those spots go fast. Even metered parking in the municipal lots is hard to come by during peak hours, so avoid lunchtime and just about all day Friday. Best time to find parking? Before 10 am and around school pick-up time. And dinner reservations are a must just about everywhere, but definitely Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro, Frankie & Johnnie’s Steakhouse, and Morgans Fish House, sometimes even during the week.





8. ambiance, affluence, and attitude

Scarsdale



Its very name conjures up images of mansions, manicured lawns, and Mercedes-Benzes. Not only is it Westchester’s wealthiest town (the median family income is more than $200,000; the county’s median is $90,358), it’s also its best educated; nearly 80 percent of its residents have bachelor or graduate degrees. And their kids are smart, too (or at least good test takers)—Scarsdale students have the highest SAT scores (1890 out of 2400) in all of Westchester County (the national average, FYI, is 1511). So it stands to reason that its downtown would be packed with pricey boutiques and upscale shops (the natives can afford them), and pretty darn good restaurants (ditto). The downtown consists of about two square blocks of retail shops in quaint split-timber and brick Tudor-style buildings, connected by a couple of arcades and flanked by additional shopping strips. Zachys, a nationally recognized wine emporium, has been the site for oenophiles since 1944. Just across the tracks is Lulu’s Cake Boutique on Garth Road, a favorite of The Donald, Hill, and Martha. And the homes that surround the town? Let’s just say: the natives can afford them.



The Vibe: The Beverly Hills of Westchester—where if you’ve got it, you really flaunt it. Lots of designer handbags and designer shoes can be seen about town.



What We Love: The lovely park and bike path that winds along the Bronx River Parkway and Bicycle Sundays when the Parkway is closed to cars from Bronxville to White Plains.



What You Should Know: Construction has eliminated lots of street parking which was already a nightmare, so many businesses deliver.



9. we like the nightlife, we like to boogie

Tarrytown







My teenage daughter and I emerged from a show at the Tarrytown Music Hall on Main Street late one summer night to a wondrous Westchester sight: people, lots of them, sitting at outdoor cafes, walking the sidewalks, laughing, talking, making a night of it.



The gloriously restored Music Hall doesn’t limit itself to music—it also shows movies, hosts comedians, children’s theater, and dance troupes, bringing in lively crowds. Before and after a show there are lots of places to get nourishment (the short ribs at Jack & Dyl’s are addicting as is the tempting French Mediterranean cuisine at Chiboust). Main Street Café has good salads and a mean
apple cobbler; stop in at Coffee Labs Roasters for a cuppa. And people come from all over the county to pick up the succulent free-range chickens at Mint Premium Foods. There’s a lot of ethnic diversity in Tarrytown—in both the population and dining options. For Greek, there’s Lefteris Gyro, for Portuguese, try Caravela, and head to Lago di Como Ristorante for the best gnocchi you’ve ever had.



Main Street Sweets is an old-fashioned ice cream and dessert shop (the best flavor is Cookie Monster—naturally, it’s bright blue) and, of course, everything at Anna Shea’s Chocolates shop is delish. There’s also a whole slew of antiques shops and boutiques selling everything from booties to handcrafted baubles.



The Vibe: Bustling and bohemian.



What We Love: Views of the Hudson River, of course. And Sunnyside and Lyndhurst Castle are must-sees, both particularly lovely during the holiday season. Twice a year, there is a fabulous craft show on the Lyndhurst grounds.



What You Should Know: On the third Friday of every month, retail stores stay open late as Main Street turns into one big party with music, artists, and entertainment such as face-painting and wine-tasting.





10. an urban oasis

White Plains



In the 1950s and ’60s, Mamaroneck Avenue was known as the “Fifth Avenue of Westchester County.” Then urban renewal and indoor malls sucked the life out of the city, leaving a dreary landscape of dollar stores and sneaker outlets. All that has changed and White Plains today is humming with activity, around the clock, with wonderful places to dine and some of the best watering holes and singles hangouts in the county. At night, a virtual river of revelers winds through the bars on Mamaroneck Avenue, Main Street, and East Post Road: Kelly’s and The Thirsty Turtle for college kids and recent grads; Black Bear Saloon for the 20s crowd; James Joyce skews slightly older; Lazy Boy Saloon for beer hounds (it carries nearly 500 varieties), Vintage for cover bands and karaoke, and 107, a New York-style club with three distinct environments. There are loads of choices for restaurants too, including Morton’s, The Steakhouse, Blue, City Limits Diner, Mulino’s, Sushi Nanase (a must!), and Sunset Grille (the tamales are homemade).



As for shopping, now The Westchester really is the Fifth Avenue of Westchester County with 150-plus stores (heard of Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., Gucci?) And of course, at 222 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mary Jane Denzer is the last word on county couture.



The Vibe: Lots of hustle and bustle during the day, with business professionals jostling with construction workers, shoppers, and students. At night, the workers depart and 20- and 30-something revelers take over, filling bars and eateries.



What We Love: That wonderful fountain in Renaissance Square that choreographs the water jets to music. Downtown Music at Grace Church in the heart of White Plains and its free 30-minute concerts at noon every Wednesday from September through May. And the new multiplex at City Center—finally movies in White Plains!



What You Should Know: The city is hyper-vigilant about issuing parking tickets and lots have the type of meter where you have to estimate how much time you need and pay at a kiosk instead of manned booths at exits.
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Old 11-11-2007, 01:29 PM
 
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Thank you for sharing this article. I found it very helpful and informative. I am looking for information on Tarrytown and the article has helped.
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