Pleasantville Music Festival
Photo by Nik Bucci
– Editors’ Picks –
Refuel Spot for Cyclists
Tazza Café
www.tazzacafeny.com
Each weekend, this welcoming coffee spot attracts more than its fair share of cyclists, with a location directly off a popular public bike path. Boasting superb brews, yummy snacks, a friendly staff, and an ample amount of outdoor seating, this café is also known for attracting a ton of cuddly dogs that accompany their java-drinking human companions.
Public Murals
Street Art for Mankind
www.streetartmankind.org
From multistory murals in downtown New Rochelle to colorful displays splashed across the wall of a Larchmont parking lot, Westchester has seen a Brooklyn-esque boom in street art recently. The most prolific curator of the medium in the county is Street Art for Mankind, a not-for-profit organization that’s brought 22 murals to New Rochelle, Larchmont, Pelham, Mamaroneck, and Harrison, with handy maps and suggestions for stringing together an open-air walking tour available online.
Wine-Tasting Experience
Wine Geeks
Armonk; www.winegeeksarmonk.com
On select Saturdays, owners Derek and Carol Todd transform their gas station-turned-wine shop into an intimate classroom for a variety of tasting experiences dedicated to blind tasting, Spanish grapes, all kinds of bubbly, and more. With generous pours of several wines, cheese pairings, and plenty of wisdom (that never feels stuffy), it’s also a steal at just $38 per person.
Night out for a Good Cause
An Evening in Good Taste at Feeding Westchester
White Plains; www.feedingwestchester.org/event/aeigt
Each October, Feeding Westchester hosts this highly anticipated event, bringing together a couple of dozen of the county’s top chefs, bakeries, and purveyors for a foodie fundraiser. And while the drinks, delicious bites, and desserts can be downright indulgent, guests can feel good about a little dietary splurge: Last year’s event raised more than $300,000 to provide 1.2 million meals for the 1 in 5 Westchesterites who are food insecure.
Earth-Day Event
Ossining Earth Day Festival
Ossining; www.greenossining.org
This year’s event was postponed until September because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but the Ossining Earth Day Festival has been a signature April event for the past 10 years. Held at Louis Engel Waterfront Park, this large festival includes food, hands-on activities, eco-demonstrations, and live music — all in celebration of Mother Earth. While the fun factor is high, it also has a serious mission: exploring, prioritizing, and sharing green methods and practices for everyday life.
Luxury Fleet
Armonk Limo
Armonk; www.armonklimo.com
Sure, we all love the convenience of Uber, but sometimes you need to up your transportation game — and that’s where Armonk Limo comes in. With a 23-year reputation of excellence, many Westchesterites trust the company with all their corporate- and executive-transportation needs. A fleet of amenity-laden, luxurious vehicles, top-notch drivers, and convenient services (including an easy-to-use booking app) keep customers coming back.
Underground Music & Booze
The Speakeasy at Post Wine & Spirits
Larchmont; www.postwineandspirits.com
Westchester boasts an outstanding speakeasy in this elegant nook tucked away in a Larchmont basement below Post Wine & Spirits. The proprietors have been known to book music groups of varying genres whom patrons can watch for a small donation while sipping top-tier liquor and truly creative cocktails, some of which can be sampled for free.
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Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Hudson River Riders Program at Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club
Yonkers; www.hudsonriverriders.org
Helping underserved and disadvantaged local communities enjoy some well-deserved fun on the water, this Yonkers organization with a good heart offers free kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as environmental education and recreational access through a host of programs, ranging from sea kayaking to race training, June through September.
Innovative Programming
Hudson Stage Company
Croton-on-Hudson;Â www.hudsonstage.org
Whether it’s staging groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, like David Auburn’s Proof, or impactful world premieres, like Juilliard-trained playwright Joshua Allen’s work The October Storm, the Hudson Stage Company has been bringing innovative, top-tier drama to Westchester since 1999, all while working conscientiously to feature regionally based actors, directors, writers, and designers.
Scenic Stroll
Lasdon Park Arboretum
Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org
Unwind and renew at one of the most scenic environs Westchester has to offer. The 235-acre park comprises an arboretum, formal gardens, and the Westchester County Veterans Museum — though the best reason to wander Lasdon may just be the elegant glass conservatory, in which explorers will find a host of eye-catching tropical plants.
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Event Florist
Damselfly Designs
White Plains; www.damselflydesigns.net
The team at Damselfly are known not only for their creativity but also for their cheerful friendliness, lovingly curating the most eye-popping arrangements for any affair. Perk alert: We especially love how they utilize common, found, or seasonal items in their arrangements in very unique ways.
Coffee Subscription
Path Coffee Roasters
Port Chester; www.pathcoffees.com
Choice is the defining quality of owner Jason Richter’s subscription service, which comes in five freshly roasted options: Roaster’s Choice, Synchronic Decaf, Feather In Cap Blend espresso, Crosshatch Drip Blend, and Nocturnal Dark Roast. In addition to customizing frequency, subscribers can select just the right grind for pour-over, French press, cold brew, and more (or go for whole beans), while receiving discounts and points for future purchases.
– Readers’ Picks –
Adult Dance Classes
Rivertown Dance Academy
Tarrytown; www.rivertowndanceacademy.org
Annual Festival
Pleasantville Music Festival
Pleasantville; www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com
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Art Gallery
ArtsWestchester
White Plains; www.artswestchester.org
Cigar Shop
Doc James Cigar Lounge
Mamaroneck; www.docjames2.com
Comedy Night
White Plains Comedy Club
White Plains; www.whiteplainscomedy.com
Corporate Team-Building
Zwilling Cooking Studio
Pleasantville; www.zwillingcookingstudio.com
Place for a Date Night
Zwilling Cooking Studio
Pleasantville; www.zwillingcookingstudio.com
Event Space
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester; www.thecapitoltheatre.com
Girls’ Night Out
Cladies Night, Clay Art Center
Port Chester; www.clayartcenter.org
Happy Hour
The Brazen Fox
White Plains; www.thebrazenfox.com
Hike/Bike Trail
Rockefeller State Park Preserve
Pleasantville; www.parks.ny.gov
Historic Site
Glenview at the Hudson River Museum
Yonkers; www.hrm.org
Hotel*
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester
White Plains; www.ritzcarlton.com/westchester
Hotel Bar*
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester
White Plains; www.ritzcarlton.com/westchester
Irish Pub
J.P. Doyle’s
Sleepy Hollow; www.jpdoyles.com
Karaoke
O’Connors Public House
White Plains; www.oconnorspublichouse.com
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Library
Ossining Public Library
Ossining; www.ossininglibrary.org
Live Theatre
The Actors Conservatory Theatre
Yonkers; www.actshows.org
Local Parade
Tarrytown Halloween Parade
Tarrytown; www.tarrytownhalloweenparade.com
Lounge
Lucy’s Lounge
Pleasantville; www.liveatlucyslounge.com
Musical Venue
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester; www.thecapitoltheatre.com
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New Bar (Opened 2019 or Later)
Croton Tapsmith
Croton-on-Hudson; www.crotontapsmith.com
Nonprofit Event
HRM After Dark
Yonkers; www.hrm.org
Public Park
Rockefeller State Park Preserve
Pleasantville; www.parks.ny.gov
Riding Stable
Fox Hills Farms
Pleasantville; www.foxhillfarms.net
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Social Scene (30 and Younger)
Yonkers Brewing Company
Yonkers; www.yonkersbrewing.com
Social Scene (30-Plus)
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester; www.thecapitoltheatre.com
Sports Bar
Rudy’s
Hartsdale; www.rudysny.com
Tourist Attraction
Untermyer Park and Gardens
Yonkers; www.untermyergardens.org
Trivia Night
Let’s Go Trivia
Ossining; www.letsgotrivia.com
* Yes, We Know it’s a Chain, But…
