Each July, we present to you the “Best of Westchester.” And each spring, a mini-panic attack ensues. Creative Director Aiko Masazumi and I are left to ponder (agonize over?): how will we top last year’s Best of Westchester cover? How can we make this our “best” Best of Westchester cover?
And then, this year… Like manna from heaven, a big brown envelope holding a DVD and a letter from cartoonist J.J. Sedelmaier (pictured left) landed on Aiko’s desk. His name may not be familiar, but his work probably is. J.J., an Emmy-nominated animator and cartoonist whose studio is in White Plains, is responsible for Saturday Night Live’s “TV Funhouse” series (including “The Ambiguously Gay Duo”), the animation on the first season of Beavis and Butt-Head, plus numerous other animated shorts and print campaigns. “The magazine,” J.J. wrote, “is looking great! I’d love to be a part of it, if there’s room.” Bingo.
We called J.J.—and the rest, well…How do you like the cover J.J. designed for us? I can tell you how J.J. feels. “I love it,” he declared. Ditto, J.J.
I am proud to announce that Westchester Magazine took the prize for Best Blog at this year’s City & Regional Magazine Association’s awards ceremony. The Eater blog by food writer Julia Sexton won the prestigious award. Here is what the judges had to say about the blog:
“Eater won us over with its big personality, breezy conversational tone and wonderful insider detail—the kind that makes the reader feel like an in-the-know foodie. Julia Sexton gave us a terrific behind-the-scenes look at restaurant kitchens and their complicated relationship with health codes. After The New York Times sneered at the chain restaurant offerings in her neck of the woods, the “cheesed off” blogger cleverly suggested local alternatives to Outback, Chili’s and others. And she served up a detailed, name-dropping review of a new restaurant. Thoroughly satisfying and fun.”
Ditto, judges.
Esther Davidowitz
Editor-in-Chief
