The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Molly Alexander

Unique Collections, Family Fun At the Armonk Outdoor Art Show

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Volunteers for Friends of the North Castle Public Library

On Business Park Drive, the sun shone brightly and visitors either strolled or boarded a complimentary shuttle bus all eager to arrive at the North Castle Community Park for the 56th Annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show (AOAS). With over 300 volunteers, more than 185 artists and excited attendees from near and far, this award-winning fine art and fine crafts show served as a warm and welcoming family attraction.

Sculpture by Valerie Bunnell

Corporate sponsors including Equinox, Houlihan Lawrence, Northern Westchester Hospital, and White Plains Hospital Medical and Wellness offered info and demonstrations. Family Activities sponsors included the Harvey School, First Five Learn and Play and the Neuberger Museum of Art provided wonderful activities for children of all ages. Silver corporate sponsors included William Raveis, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Framings. For a full listing of sponsors, visit armonkoutdoorartshow.org.

Show-goers meandered through rows and rows of art ranging from crafts, sculptures, paintings, photography, jewelry, handbags and clothing. “It’s very interesting how all the artists are from everywhere; all around the country,” an attendee commented. “Every piece of art is different.”

Awards were also presented to artists in seven categories and two additional special awards had $1,000 prizes.

The Alan C. Solomon Best of Show Prize went to honor the artist who “exemplifies creativity, artistic talent and mastery in his/her artwork across all artistic categories.” It was awarded to Bounkhong Signavong, the founder of Lao Design.

In addition, The Sylvia Rogers Best New Artist Prize “to attract new artists to the AOAS and recognize the talent and imagination of up and coming artists,” was awarded to Cuban-born Enrique Miralles, who exhibited a powerful collection of dry point etchings.

The weather on both days was absolutely gorgeous, if a bit toasty, and kept guests sipping on iced drinks to keep cool and partaking in delicious foods from area vendors and restauranteurs. It offered a day of exploration for all with many visitors picking up original pieces of art wear, paintings, and sculptures created in a variety of mediums to treasure for many years to come. If you missed this event, come next year when the 57th annual AOAS will be held on September 29 and 30.

Woven Aluminum by James Mosier

How Wendy Goldstein Rescues Pictures

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Wendy Goldstein
Every house has them–boxes of old photos, memory books and clunky photo albums from what seems like the dinosaur age. These are your family memories; you have wedding photos, baby photos, first birthday photos and endless collections of more. It’s easier to let these photos sit in a box than to scan them onto your computer or send them away and make someone else do it.

Even the photos on your phone are memories but they get tossed in with the rest of your photos. Well, have no fear. Wendy Goldstein is here to help. A mother of two, Goldstein has lived in Chappaqua with her family for about 13 years. She started Album Accomplished three years ago, after experiencing an epiphany following her son’s bar mitzvah. When the photographer did not offer albums in their package, Wendy didn’t mind doing the album herself. Once her party planner saw her work, she immediately encouraged her to turn it into a business. “I just thought, ‘Who would even pay me to do this?’” she said.

After starting up the business, Wendy realized most people want to create albums, but never have the time.

Before starting Album Accomplished, Wendy was in the fashion world of public relations. Today, she is happy to relieve others of the pressures album-making can create, still using her design element skills from her PR days.

When Wendy is taking a break from her job, she is exercising, reading or getting tickets to see Broadway shows with her family, making album-worthy memories of her own.

– Molly Alexander

The Points Mom: Making Travel Affordable–and Even FREE

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Cindy Greenstein

Cindy Greenstein and her family have traveled just about everywhere you can imagine–London, Israel, Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies, Las Vegas–and most of the time, they’re traveling for free!

Cindy and her husband, Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein, felt they were spending too much on vacations for themselves and their three children. And that’s what inspired her to begin her business, The Points Mom, in 2013.

Running her business online, www.thepointsmom.com is a website that helps families apply for specific credit cards to get the most rewards possible, and in her words, “beat the system.” Rewards and bonuses include travel points, free hotel rooms, free plane tickets and more. Working independently, Cindy balances taking care of her kids and her business life. She finds the most time to work in the summer–a busy season of trip planning for many families. Cindy said she thoroughly enjoys her business because she likes to hear about families’ vacations and where they visited.

Hearing about other families’ adventures inspires some of her family’s own trips.  Meanwhile, she continues to be delighted to share ways to save money for other families interested, too. When she’s not working directly with clients, Cindy spends time maintaining the website and keeping it modern and up to date, and of course, spending quality time with her family.

– Molly Alexander