The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Westchester

New IPic Theater in Dobbs Ferry Aims to “Redefine the Movie-Going Experience”

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By Nancy Huehnergarth and Grace Bennett

Dobbs Ferry, NY, April 29— Couples who are looking for an extraordinary night out at the movies may wish to consider the premium plus seating at the new iPic theater, which will open in Dobbs Ferry on May 5th. The words plush, luxurious and romantic barely do justice to this innovative, dine-in movie theater that offers intimate two-person pod seating with reclining chaise lounge chairs, blankets, pillows and exotic cocktails and delicious food ordered at the touch of a button.

Fully reclining premium chairs (personally designed by IPic’s CEO Hamid Hashemi) in the two seat ‘pods’ each come with a cushy blanket, and a box of popcorn awaits you too. IPic describes how it wishes to give theater goers as comfortable an experience watching movies out as they would have staying home. “No more sticky floors or crying babies or wondering if you will have a seat,” said one IPic representative. It was indeed a very comfy, pleasurable and delicious theater going experience for two Inside Press visitors.

iPic’s “Dining in the Dark” menu (which requires little or no cutlery) has been created by a James Beard award winning chef, Sherry Yard, and the cocktails by one of the country’s top mixologists, Adam Seger. CEO Hamid Hashemi, Yard and Serge were all on hand to answer questions to press who were invited to experience IPic and share news about the opening and offer a sense of the experience with our readers. The American/International menu includes vegetarian and gluten-free items too plus a carry in option: just leave enough time before the show.

IPic, headquartered in Boca Raton, has 16 million members already in their 15 locations in the country.  In this 16th venture into Westchester, IPic’ staff say they are continuing the company’s mission to eliminate all the reasons people have stopped going to the movies, “whether it’s the sticky floors or crying babies. We want to present an experience like no other.”

Seats should be reserved in advance and if you join one of iPic’s membership programs, you’ll get first dibs at tickets to upcoming blockbuster movies as well as discounts. While you’ll pay a steeper price for your iPic seats, the sumptuous surroundings and staff pampering are well worth it. Just make sure you don’t get too cozy in your pod seating. It’s so comfortable and relaxing, you may doze off and miss half of the feature film!  Visit IPictheatres.com for membership and price information.

 

 PHOTOS BY Grace Bennett

Master Mixologist Adam Seger uses hefty amounts of Ginger, made from scratch, in several of the cocktails.


Ready to dine as you enjoy the movies? ‘Ninja’ wait staff are just a button call away. “They will speak softly and take your order.”
Had dinner already? IPic offers an innovative cocktail menu if you simply want to enjoy a drink with your popcorn. P.S. A box of popcorn is included with premium plus seats too.

Hands on Opportunity at Westmoreland Sanctuary’s Floral Lecture & Workshop Series

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Five Events are Planned

As part of its 60th Anniversary celebration, Westmoreland Sanctuary is honored to announce its 2017 Floral Lecture & Workshop Series. This series is comprised of five different events for the enjoyment and hands-on involvement of the general public to better identify invasive plant species while creating and customizing floral arrangements to take home for display. Registration is now open for the first event, Early Spring Blooms, which takes place at Westmoreland Sanctuary, located at 260 Chestnut Ridge Road in Mt. Kiso, on Thursday, May 11th. Residents can register online at www.WestmorelandSanctuary.org or by calling 914.666.8448. 

  Early Spring Blooms, a two-hour lecture and workshop starting at 10:00am on May 11th, features two prominent specialists in their respective fields. Nadia Ghannam, Floral Artist with a BFA from Cornell University, will spearhead the workshop portion by demonstrating a creative seasonal mix of spring floral designs. Participants then create their very own arrangements to take home. Steve Ricker, Director of Conservation and Wildlife Management at Westmoreland Sanctuary for 25 years, is also an invasive plant specialist who will discuss ways to identify and properly dispose of invasives that may negatively impact one’s home garden or property.

Ann Paul, Director of Westmoreland Sanctuary, stated, “We’re thrilled to offer the community our annual Floral Workshop & Lecture Series that any flower enthusiast or local garden club member would enjoy and appreciate. Every year, unwelcome plant and animal species come into our area through New York City ports which threaten our native wildlife.  While part of the series will address the identification, understanding and proper eradication of these invasives, it also embraces the beauty of various seasonal flowers and allows for attendees to customize their very own arrangements to proudly display at home. This is part of our mission to finds new ways Westmoreland Sanctuary may continue to enrich, enhance and educate so the joy of being outdoors with nature can be more fully appreciated,” Ms. Paul concluded.

The remaining four Floral Lecture & Workshop  Series dates and themes are as follows: June 8th is Flower Potluck (bring your own flowers, twigs, weeds and vines from your garden and we’ll supply the rest; lecture by Tim Stanley); August 3rd is Foraged Flowers (locally foraged summer flowers arranged in Bell Jars); September 21st is Late Summer Bouquets (create late summer bouquets as seasons’ switch); December 7th is Winterscapes (designing your own holiday wreath and tablescape; lecture by Glenn Ticehurst). WAG Magazine and Halstead Quinn are proud sponsors of the entire Floral Lecture & Workshop Series.

About Westmoreland Sanctuary

Westmoreland Sanctuary is a Nature Center & Wildlife Preserve founded 60 years ago through the vision of philanthropist Helen Clay Frick, daughter of Henry Clay Frick. An initial contribution of 30 acres in 1957 has since grown to 640 acres of beautiful contiguous, preserved land today – for free public use – with some of the finest hiking trails and outdoor vistas offered anywhere in Westchester County.

As a non-profit charity organization, Westmoreland Sanctuary’s mission is to secure and preserve land for the enjoyment and enrichment of all through Environmental Education and Conservation Programs. Westmoreland celebrates 60 years of conservation, preservation and appreciation of nature throughout 2017. To learn more about our Anniversary, Environmental Educational programs along with important Conservation initiatives… or to make a Donation, please visit: www.WestmorelandSanctuary.org  

 

 

“The Nazi Hunters” Author & Award Winning Lecturer Andrew Nagorski to Speak April 26

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The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center and Iona College will sponsor the William H. Donat Shoah Commemoration with distinguished award winning lecturer, Andrew Nagorski.  Mr. Nagorski will discuss “The Nazi Hunters.” 

He will talk about those who searched for and prosecuted Nazis at the Nuremberg and Dachau trails.  Mr. Nagorski spent more than three decades as a foreign correspondent and editor for Newsweek.  Both of his more recent books Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power (Simon & Schuster 2012) and The Nazi Hunters (Simon & Schuster 2016) have received critical acclaim.

There will be a book signing opportunity and books will be available for purchase.

This event will be held on April 26, 7:30 PM at Iona College’s Ryan Hall, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY  10801.

For more information, please contact Julie Scallero (914)696-0738 or jscallero@hhrency.org

https://hhrecny.z2systems.com/np/clients/hhrecny/event.jsp?event=18

 

 

Defunding of U.S. Monitoring of Anti Semitism: 100 Holocaust Educators & Scholars Speak Out Against

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With reports surfacing that the President plans to de-fund the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, more than 100 Holocaust institutions, scholars, and educators from around the world are calling on government officials not to cut, but to maintain and strengthen the office. These institutions and individuals cite the recent examples of hatred, xenophobia, and racism spreading across the nation and ask the public to call Congressional and Senate offices. 
 
The Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center is among the 100 who have have signed the statement which follows:
 
The undersigned Holocaust remembrance organizations, educators, and historians asking you to speak out and take action against hatred.
 
We are alarmed by reports that the President plans to defund the US State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, an office that tracks and counteracts anti-Semitism abroad.  Ira Forman, the most recent Special Envoy in charge of that office, was our voice to a world in the throes of xenophobia and racism.  He recently wrote, “Anti-Semitism is not only a Jewish problem; Jew-hatred — like other forms of religious and ethnic prejudice — is a threat to the very foundations of liberal democracies.”   
 
We urge the US government to maintain and strengthen the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism and to create a new office to address this urgent issue domestically.  The need becomes clearer by the day as hatred, like a tidal wave, sweeps across the nation.  Cemeteries, synagogues, churches and mosques are being desecrated.  Jewish Community Centers and schools are targets of bomb threats and shootings. Swastikas and white supremacist threats appear on walls and on social media.  Now is the time to increase vigilance, not roll it back.
 
ACT NOW.  Call Your Representatives in Congress and the Senate.
Ask them to preserve the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism and to create such an office to fight domestic anti-Semitism as well. 
Senate: goo.gl/u9SBbX     Congress:  goo.gl/paBNADownload the Statement in Word

Additional Actions You Can Take
Call your state representatives and ask them to fund educational programs designed to stop hatred and bullying — programs that build character and promote civics. Get involved with your school boards and interfaith groups.  Talk to your neighbors.  Rally in your town to promote tolerance and support victims of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, sexism and discrimination in all its forms.
 
This statement is co-authored by members of the Association of Holocaust Organizations, a network dedicated to the advancement of Holocaust education, remembrance and research, and is affirmed by the following institutions and individuals.

Violate Railroad Crossing Rules…and Lose Extra Points on your License

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With growing recognition of the dangers at-grade railroad crossings, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has increased the points assigned to motorists who violate the rules of the road at the nearly 2,700 railroad crossings around the state.

Now, two years after the deadly Metro-North train crash in Valhalla, New York, drivers will be on notice that every effort should be taken to ensure safety at roadway intersections with railroad tracks. For many years, motorists who disobeyed traffic laws at railroad crossings risked, other than their lives and those around them, a fine and a modest 3-point penalty on their license, the same value as for speeding 1 to 10 miles per hour above the speed limit.

The DMV has now increased the points for railroad crossing infractions to 5 points, to better reflect the seriousness of the risk people are taking when they do not behave lawfully while at these locations. News of the DMV’s action became clear at a legislative budget hearing yesterday when Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) asked the Department’s Executive Deputy Commissioner, Theresa Egan, about the topic, and she reported that the change was put into place in August.