westchester: Post Black Out Musings: Hooked up or simply hooked?
- 03/22/10 06:28 PM
The power failure in Westchester County that left many without power for up to a week has in some ways brought to the forefront how much web 2.o become a part of our lives. The internet has gone from being a convenience and diversion at the turn of the century to a major centerpiece of lives – both at work and play.
We started along this path prior to 21st century – but we’ve traveled a long way down the internet super highway since the fears of Y2K dominated our lives. Indeed it was the events of 9/11 that first … (17 comments)
|
westchester: Pet-Friendly Condos: The Scarswold of Garth Road – Scarsdale, NY 10583
- 06/14/08 04:57 PM
Nestled in the coveted location Garth Road , The Scarswold, a new condominium conversion has been open for business for about a month. The Scarswold, along with her sister complex, the Craigswald are two of Garth Road’s most distinctive complexes. Tudor in style, so popular in the pre-war period, each are one- of-a kind. With finishes and details that can not be replicated today. Just the detail in the brick work along truly amazing. Behind the complex are beautiful gardens and from there, there there is easy access to the Bronx River Parkway Reservation which is 807 acres of linear park … (0 comments)
|
westchester: Help for I-287 Travelers - Weary of the "Improvements" Happening in White Plains, NY
- 06/12/08 07:34 AM
Since 2006, I287 has been undergoing some massive improvements - Ok the term is relative, but I'm in a charitable mood today. For those who don't know, it is the primary East/West corridor in lower Westchester. Right now the bulk of the work is happening in White Plains around the heavily trafficed downtown area. Exits 6, 7, and 8 are being impacted. But there is a site that can help you anticipate delays. Roadway 287 Improvements offers a “travel advisory” link which is updated with regularly. The site also includes interactive maps and the like which help create a “vision” for … (2 comments)
|
westchester: Pet-Friendly Condos in Sleepy Hollow: Ichabod’s Landing: Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
- 05/24/08 04:50 PM
Ichabod’s Landing is name after Ichabod Crane, Washington Irving’s famous character from the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” This is relatively new construction that was only available for purchase in 2004. Most notably the complex sits right on the Hudson River, literally steps from a swath of the Hudson River Walk that is under construction and will eventually run from the tip of Westchester county (at the Putnam border) to the border of New York City in the South (from Peekskill to Yonkers.) The views from the River Walk are spectacular and I have a few pictures of the area immediately surrounding … (4 comments)
|
westchester: River Walk - An Ambitious Plan for Westchester - The View From Ichabod's Landing - Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
- 05/22/08 07:00 PM
RiverWalk is an ambitious plan to create a continuous trailway along the Hudson River from the border of Putnam county in the north and the New York City border in the south. Part of that plan was fulfilled with the high-end townhouse devleopment (to be reviewed later) called Ichabod's Landing in Sleepy Hollow, NY. The development was completed in 2004 and includes a portion of the River Walk for the general public in its plan. I wandered down to the River Walk at Ichabod's Landing today. It was a blustery and cold spring day and the wind from the river whipped … (3 comments)
|
westchester: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall - or on the Ritz Carlton - White Plains, NY 10601
- 05/22/08 06:24 PM
The one thing that I have noticed about the Ritz Carlton condominum/hotel complex is that the mirrored glass gives the building different "moods." The cloudy moody day is reflected in the mirrored glass of the building. I was downtown one cloudy day where rain clouds were threatening to open up and was able to get a few pictures of the Ritz Carlton capturing the mood of the sky. They didn't come out as vividly as I would like, but they are still pretty good, so I thought I would share them here:
This is truly a building of many moods!
… (2 comments)
|
westchester: Pet-Friendly Condos: The Chateau – North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601
- 05/21/08 05:21 PM
The Chateau is an elegant pre-war Tudor complex on North Broadway in White Plains, NY. Most pre-war construction in the area were converted from rentals to coops in the 1980s, so for those who really yearn for pr-war architecture but truly want to live in a condo you should put this complex high on your “must –see list.The complex is located in the heart of the downtown just across the street from the Pace University Law Library. The complex is set back off the road in such a way that it is quite private and quiet. This is one of those … (7 comments)
|
westchester: Growing up Gosling - Whatever Happened to the Goslings at the Rockefeller Preserve? - Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
- 05/17/08 02:37 PM
A couple of weeks ago I posted some photos of brand new baby goslings out with their "parents" for what appeared to be one of their first outings in Swan Lake. They were so small that they appeared to be like tiny corks in the water, bobbing up and down -making photos a challenge to take.
Well, the goslings have certainly GROWN. Four are now two - unfortunately - but I am pleased to report that the two remaining are thriving in quiet beauty of the Rockefeller Preserve. They are looking more self assured, perhaps a bit too much so, … (0 comments)
|
westchester: From Chic to Dated in Short Order - Beware of "New Construction Envy"
- 05/12/08 10:07 PM
As I wandered through the broker’s open house, I could imagine what the listing sheet would say. “Brand new home, top-of-the-line appliances and state-of-the-art cabinetry in a beautiful eat-in-kitchen.” For the baths “State-of-the-art baths complete with soaking tub and separate steam shower.” I could picture the “Oooooohs and Aaaaaaaahhhhs of the young families that viewed the brand new home. The unusual sharp angles and high ceilings and loft space that overlooked a two story drop into the front foyer were dramatic and distinct. The trouble with my vision is that it was in retrospect. The house I was viewing was a … (15 comments)
|
westchester: Spring in Full Bloom - Tibbets Park - White Plains, NY 10601
- 05/06/08 06:54 PM
I took some pictures of Tibbets Park about 2 months ago - just after a major snow. What a difference a couple of months can make. Spring is in full bloom all across Westchester and these photos are brought to you by the White Plains Beautification Foundation and mother nature. I was certainly not the only person interested in pictures that day. I ran into four other photographers taking advantage of the weather and the blooms. But let's face facts, we were all using our cameras as an "excuse" to stay in the park just a little bit longer then perhaps … (12 comments)
|
westchester: Family Time.....Goslings at the Rockefeller Preserve, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
- 05/05/08 09:48 AM
I was able to escape to one of my favorite places for a nice walk: The Rockefeller Preserve in Sleepy Hollow. Much to my delight, the Geese had been done what geese do in the spring - produce goslings. I was able to spy a mated pair waddling out into Swan Lake with what I imagined was one of the their first times out with their "young family." Making sure all four were in tow they ventured out into the middle of the lake enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. I watched until they were in the middle of the lake. Taking … (11 comments)
|
westchester: Spring in Full Bloom – in Westchester, NY – (Part 2)
- 04/21/08 09:30 AM
In my previous post, I had been commenting on how spring had been taking its sweet time in Westchester, NY – but what a difference a few days can make. We had a couple of nice warm days in what has generally been a rather cool spring – and this encouraged the buds to bloom. Here are some pictures of the southern end of White Plains. For those interested in local history, the Cherry trees along the road median of Mamaroneck Ave and Bloomingdale Rd. were the result of the diligent work of the White Plains Beautification Foundation. The idea was … (19 comments)
|
westchester: Spring Has Been Taking It's Time......in Westchester, NY - (Part 1)
- 04/19/08 09:13 PM
For the last few weeks, I've been taking photos here and there in Westchester - waiting and watching for the emergence of spring. It seemed to be taking its sweet time this year. It’s been quite cool and the buds were bravely popping up out of their hiding places. Here are some random shots I took during my travels over the past 10 days…..culminating on April 16th when I took a walk at the Rockefeller Preserve in Sleepy Hollow, NY. One could see how green the grass was becoming and how things were just about to “pop.” That day was quite … (11 comments)
|
westchester: Adventures in Filing for an Extension: How hard could this POSSIBLY be?
- 04/17/08 05:59 PM
For various reasons, including a family illness I found that I needed to file for an extension this year. What could be simpler? How hard could this possibly be? Read on if you want to find out. I called my accountant on Monday – who was expecting that I would file for an extension. I realized suddenly that I was missing significant deductions and although the time was a concern, we agreed that I should get as many deductions as I could together so that I wouldn’t have to overpay and that I would drop everything off the next morning.
… (13 comments)
|
westchester: This Hawk Tells You why Real Estate is Truly a LOCAL BUSINESS.....
- 04/07/08 08:25 PM
The picture of that hawk was taken by yours truly one morning. I had just let out the dogs into my back yard (yes its fenced) while I started making my essential morning brew when I noticed that Buddy barking at something and looking UP....I peered out the kitchen window into the back and looked in his direction and saw a very large hawk sitting in my neighbor's tree peering imperiously at the three dogs below. I've seen hawks in those trees before, either on my property with m neighbors, but was never able to capture the image. I grabbed my … (18 comments)
|
westchester: Easter at Carlson’s: H. Carlson’s Floral & Gift – White Plains, NY 10607
- 03/23/08 08:13 AM
Happy Easter Everyone!
It may still be cold outside - after all, as Deborah Pearce informed a few days ago, this is the earliest Easter since 1913 and the world will not see this early an Easter again for another 200 years. But on has only to go inside Carlson's Floral and Gift to see Spring in FULL FORCE! I always love going there towards the end of Lent to see what they have on display for Easter and early spring in general. The last time I wrote about Carlson's it near Christmas and the greenhouse was covered with poinsettia's with … (8 comments)
|
westchester: Certioraris – a Taxing Situation for New York Homeowners - or Why Jerome Hellerstein’s image is secretly being burned in effigy by almost every elected official in New York…..
- 03/20/08 06:32 PM
Bear with me…this one is complicated, but doubtless there are many homeowners in New York who are hearing about certiorari appeals and how it is impacting their property taxes. I thought that it might be nice to explain in simple English what all the fuss is about and why your $#%*ing property taxes keep going up in ever larger increments. Call it my good deed of the day. If this isn’t easy reading – rest assured it was equally challenging to write.
The short story:
The short story is that successful certiorari appeals – the state-wide legal process by which commercial … (9 comments)
|
westchester: It's a Dog's Life - The Secret Life of Humphrey the Newfoundland
- 03/16/08 02:43 AM
Sometimes its just fun to post something that has nothing to do with real estate. Since dogs are one of my passions, a friend sent me this story in an email:
An old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fedbelly that he had a home. He followed me into the house, down the hall, and fell asleep in a corner.An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.The next day he was back, resumed his position in the hall, and slept for an hour. This continued for several weeks.Curious, I … (29 comments)
|
westchester: Kensico Dam Plaza – Valhalla, NY 10595
- 03/11/08 03:47 PM
It is the meandering nature of the Bronx River Parkway (the nation’s oldest Parkway) that keeps the Kensico Dam hidden from view until one is right upon it. The dam itself is quite a dramatic site and its sudden appearance to an uninitiated northbound traveler along the Parkway is quite electrifying. Kensico Dam Plaza is a 98 acre public park is situated at the base of the Kensico Dam. The turn-of-the-century dam dominates the landscape of the park and is in and of itself, a major landmark of Westchester County.For most Westchester residents it is a focal point for yearly ethnic … (11 comments)
|
westchester: The “No Significant Impact” Mantra – or why do all EIS reports for new construction sing the same song?
- 02/27/08 01:28 PM
Having lived in a city that has undergone explosive growth over the past few years, I have become more than a little cynical about how we evaluate the potential environmental impact of each new development. Am I being fair? Why am I such a big cynic? Well when every EIS (environmental impact statement) is exactly the same you must forgive me if I have a few “issues.” About 18 months ago I was sitting at a City Council meeting where a developer was trying to diffuse fears about a new project that was technically in a close-in residential neighborhood but on … (15 comments)
|
The power failure in Westchester County that left many without power for up to a week has in some ways brought to the forefront how much web 2.o become a part of our lives. The internet has gone from being a convenience and diversion at the turn of the century to a major centerpiece of lives – both at work and play.
;)
;)
;)
