Happy New Year! It’s 2009—I can’t believe it. And what a year it’s shaping up to be. Last year at this time, all was well in Westchester. And today, we are in a serious recession, a recession that has, should you need reminding, reached Westchester, one of the most affluent and beautiful counties in the country. (Yes, I know that according to some new adjusted federal guidelines, we, in fact, have been in a recession since December 2007—but, honestly, were you feeling it last January? Or last March or June?) The big question, though, is, what do we do?
Well, we at Westchester Magazine, plan to continue doing what we’ve always done: give you the very best publication in Westchester. Given the economic picture, we are not raising our advertising rates this year. But, be assured, we also are not going to cut back on the quality of our magazine, which, I’m proud to say, celebrates its eighth year with this issue. What we are going to do is be of service to you, which has been our goal from the get-go. That’s why, for example, our cover story is about how to live well, really well, in our county—for a good deal less. Features Editor Nancy Claus scoured the county to find the best buys and best deals—some free—for just about anything you can imagine: great gourmet meals, wonderful designer clothes, fantastic cultural events—even discount dental care. The feature is not about being cheap—it’s about being smart. (On another note: credit for a good deal of the design of this issue belongs to Associate Art Director Bridget Herlihy, who stepped in while our creative director, Aiko Masazumi, was in Japan to attend her sister’s wedding.)
What’s more, we have some plans for 2009 that I want to share with you. First, an expanded—and improved—website! We now offer our entire print publications—Westchester Magazine, Westchester Home, and Westchester Weddings—online at westchestermagazine.com. You can read our magazines while you shop, browse, or do research on the Internet. And if you missed an issue, no problem: we’ve archived them all. Do check out the site. Plus, with just a click of your mouse, you can find the right restaurant, shop, bar, doctor, health club, golf club, spa, wedding venue, architect, etc., for you. And with another click of the mouse, you can be filled in on the dining scene, the real estate scene, the political scene, and the cultural scene in our county through our various weekly blogs. This month, we also kick off a dating blog, DATEline Westchester, and another e-newsletter, Shop 914 (sign up for it on our site, and for our two other newsletters, Eater and This Weekend).
Also, we are excited to have teamed up with Murphy Brothers Builders to create our first “Dream Home,” which you and your friends can tour throughout the month of May (for tickets, visit our website). All proceeds will go to benefit Open Door Medical Centers. It’s no small task to build, decorate, and furnish a 7,500-square-foot home in Armonk, but we love the challenge. Our Dream Home, priced at close to $4 million, is, well, extraordinary. With more than two acres of beautifully landscaped property, our Dream Home boasts 16 rooms and six bathrooms, state-of-the-art technology, superb craftsmanship, and green credentials, too. (To learn more, see page 59.)
Want a sneak peek? No problem. We’ve installed a live webcam on the property so that you can check the home’s progress online at westchestermagazine.com/dreamhome2009.
And since we know that so many of you love your homes and want them to look spectacular, have the right equipment, and be efficient and inviting, go to our site, westchester magazine.com, and sign up for a free subscription to our ancillary publication, Westchester Home (this offer is available to Westchester Magazine subscribers only). The magazine, a beautifully designed, information-packed quarterly, is also available on newsstands.
So, that is just some of what we have in store for you in 2009.
And, again, Happy New Year from our family at Westchester Magazine to yours.
Ralph A. Martinelli
Publisher
