Does this happen to you too? You’re strolling in your town admiring the small shops or walking outdoors somewhere in the region and—pow!—you are suddenly overcome with a feeling of joy. Indeed, you just want to pinch yourself. “How lucky am I?” you ask yourself, barely able to keep from yelling in delight. “I live here?” I have been known to point out to my husband on numerous vacations that where we live is more beautiful than where we happen to have chosen to vacation.
Yes, our county is beautiful. It is, I don’t hesitate to say, the best. Which brings me to our cover story. Over the year, every year, we must receive at least 100 letters asking, “How do we get on your Best of Westchester list?” When I’m not in my “pinch-me” state of mind, I am tempted to answer, “Hey, buddy, by being the Best.” But actually, I’m never feeling that grumpy. And, truth be told, I understand the reason for the question.
How do we go about choosing the best new restaurant or best new store or best hair salon? In other words, what is the Best? How can we know what is the Best in this lovely, wonderful county of nearly one million residents, 35,000 businesses, including thousands of stores and restautants, etc.? It’s a legitimate question. Best is, of course, subjective. What I may find fantastic, you may think is just all right. And what you may deem superior, I may find mediocre. Which is why we do not rely on our experiences alone, on our palates only. We have an army of freelancers and mavens to help us sort it all out—Westchesterites who we’ve come to trust over the years for their expertise and their honesty. Some, by now, you may be familiar with—for example, our knowledgable food writers: Juila Sexton, Jeanne Muchnick, Diane Weintraub Pohl, and Judith Hausman. We are grateful for their help. And of course, every year we ask you to weigh in with your picks.
Oh, one more thing: over the next year, if you happen upon something that just knocks your socks off—a wonderful little corner deli, a terrific personal trainer, a great massage, a perfect wallpaper hanger—do let us know. Email us at edit@westchestermagazine. And still, one more thing: on July 14, do come to our Best Party of the Year, the Best of Westchester Party, which will be held at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. For more information click here.
Hope to see you there,
Esther Davidowitz
Editor-in-Chief
