Armonk Archives - Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

Armonk Chamber’s Third Thursday Circus, and more! AUGUST 16

July 30, 2018 by The Inside Press

Back with its last hurrah of the summer, the Armonk Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its August 16th “Third Thursday” event in Downtown Armonk from 5-8:30pm, with Westchester Circus Arts as the special guest. There will be spectacular, sky-high aerial performances throughout the evening, plus high-wire acts, jugglers and more. Visitors will be able to channel their inner acrobat with hand-on activities. Local businesses will be offering face painting and refreshments, as well as more children’s activities in Armonk Square. Armonk restaurants and eateries will be in on the festivities, offering specials throughout the evening.

As always, the event will feature two live bands: Bedford’s School of Rock (5-6:30pm) and Vinyl Countdown (6:30-8:30pm).

Next up on the Chamber’s agenda is the 2018 Cider and Donut Festival on Sunday, September 23^rd, featuring the 5k Run for Love and Byram Hills Pre-School Association Carnival. Children’s races start at 9:15 (donut dash), followed at 9:25 by the McIntosh Mile and then at 9:45 by the 5k run/walk. The festival begins at 10am and continues until 2pm with carnival rides, face painting, craft activities, pie eating contest, donut fishing and more. Of course, Beascakes Bakery will be there serving up hot, fresh donuts, and we will have farm-fresh apple cider as well. Local businesses will provide more food, including the Granola Bar Truck, Fortina Pizza Truck, Tauk kitchen with burgers, hot dogs and cotton candy. Classic rock music will feature the fabulous Vinyl Countdown band.

Visit armonkchamberofcommerce.com for race registration and more details.

Please visit the Inside Press coverage of this amazing event from last year too: https://www.theinsidepress.com/final-third-thursdays-aerial-extravaganza-dazzles-armonk-community/

A Day in My Life of Shopping Locally–in June

June 5, 2018 by Inside Press

Shop Local enthusiast and blogger, Marlene Fischer

I know I am not alone when I say this Spring has been crazy busy. (Yes, I realize I say the same thing every year but it’s true!) During this hectic time of year I am grateful that I can get almost everything I need done right here in Armonk.

I start my errands with a trip to Framings on Main Street. Most of what hangs on the walls of my house has been framed by the talented, friendly and patient staff at Framings. While I don’t have much (or, actually, any) fine art, the folks there treat each item I bring in as if it’s a Renoir. I have framed my children’s artwork, family photos, certificates (like the one my youngest son received at Disney World that declares him a Jedi in training) and even a few of my favorite blog pieces. This time around I am proudly bearing my middle son’s diploma; he has just graduated college and I am happy to take advantage of the 20.18 percent discount Framings is offering on all diplomas. It doesn’t matter if your child just graduated from nursery school or received their degree in neurosurgery, the discount will still apply!

Next, I pop in to Manny’s with my youngest son, who is in desperate need of a haircut. My husband and three sons have been getting their hair cut at Manny’s for 20 years; we even have video of my youngest looking somewhat alarmed as he gets his very first haircut there nearly 16 years ago (and I still have a lock of his hair from that day). From their early haircuts when they needed booster seats to their summer pre-camp buzz cuts to their bar-mitzvah cuts to their very important job interview haircuts, the team at Manny’s has been there for us. Hairstyles may change but our choice of barber shop will remain the same. My boys always get a kiss from me after their haircuts (because they look so handsome) and I never leave without getting a Tootsie Pop or large gumball.

I walk to DeCicco & Sons where I have been grocery shopping almost daily since it opened. Not to brag or anything, but I feel like a celebrity when I’m there (although I’m guessing that’s how they make everyone feel). I love shopping at DeCicco because the produce is exceptionally fresh, their fish is delivered daily, and they have one of the best gourmet cheese selections I’ve ever seen. Summer is the perfect time to choose from their extensive assortment of beers; if you have any questions, the knowledge staff is more than happy to help. DeCicco may not be the biggest grocery store, however, I am always amazed at how I can pretty much get everything I need there (I was even able to buy a graduation card). And if they don’t have something on my list, they are happy to get it for me. If you see me there, please say hello!

Since the weather has finally warmed up after the endless winter, I drive over to Beascakes Bakery for an iced tea lemonade and to order a platter of themed cookies for a weekend barbeque we will be attending. Last time I brought cookies from Beascakes, our friends called them crack because they couldn’t stop eating them; they were that good. And in case you were wondering, people prefer the white half of black and white cookies. End of the year parties? Father’s Day (which don’t forget is Sunday June 17)? Graduation or birthday celebrations? A wedding? Camp Visiting Day? College send off? Whatever the occasion, Beascakes has you covered with their custom cupcakes, cakes, fruit pies and donuts, as well as their Best of Westchester award-winning chocolate chip cookies. If you can imagine it, they can bake and decorate it.

My husband mentions he’s able to get out of work a little early and, since I don’t feel like cooking, I get spruced up (which is no small feat on a weeknight) and meet him at Gavi Restaurant. We have been regulars there for decades; the warm staff always makes us feel welcome. Our oldest son still requests we go there when he’s home for a visit. Although we eat there year round, I love Gavi even more in the summer. The outdoor patio is perfect for having a glass of wine and enjoying the weather; I actually feel as if we are away when we dine al fresco at Gavi. The spinach salad, pasta dishes and fish are among my favorite things to order, although I can also be tempted by the delicious specials When we bring our whole family, dinner always ends with coffee or tea and the world’s best tartufo.

Wishing you all a fantastic summer; I hope it brings you fun, adventure and a sense of renewal. See you back here in the Fall when I will continue to shop locally!

Reporting Worldwide from Armonk: An Animated Conversation with CNN’s John Berman

June 1, 2018 by Shauna Levy

The American media has found itself in the intriguing position of not only reporting the news, but making news themselves. Unofficially known as the fourth branch of government, their role of adding another layer to the system of checks and balances, holding the powers that be accountable and protecting free speech is more crucial than ever. At the center of it all, Armonk’s own, CNN “New Day” co-anchor John Berman gives a compelling snapshot of what it’s like living in the spotlight of the news camera.

Berman and his wife relocated from New York City to Armonk in the fall of 2011 as their identical twin boys, now fifth graders, prepared to enter kindergarten. He recalls the process, “We ended up in Armonk by chance. I’m from outside Boston and my wife’s from Vermont, so Westchester was in the right direction. Armonk was what we could afford, has great schools and is reminiscent of the small, woodsy towns we grew up in.” Berman has embraced the juxtaposition of city and country living as the assistant coach of his boys’ baseball team and an explorer of the local parks, even becoming an avid hawk watcher at the Audubon Greenwich.

A Protégé of Peter Jennings

Berman began his career in 1995 at ABC, eventually landing the head writer role for “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.” Describing Peter as a mentor, he says, “Peter was the most inquisitive person I ever met. He was inherently skeptical and had the best follow-up question in journalism, which was ‘really?’” The experience prepared Berman for his current role as anchor, where he must be prepared to cover the unpredictable, breaking news CNN is characterized for. He explains, “I don’t think I realized until I became an anchor myself, five years ago, just how much I witnessed, observed and learned at World News.”

The self-described “political junkie” is enjoying covering the current political environment, saying, “There’s really one story. It’s the White House and everything associated with it whether it’s the investigations, booming economy or the changing role of the U.S. in the world.”

Discussing today’s reporters and some of their seemingly polarizing political stances, Berman says, “I think there’s an impression that the anchors of the past generation were more detached from the stories, but I don’t know that that’s true. If you look at Walter Cronkite and his coverage of Vietnam, he was very passionate. He tested the notions on Vietnam in the same way that the media is now testing some of the assertions coming out of the White House. And, I don’t think there’s a reporter today who badgers a White House the way Sam Donaldson did. So, I think there aren’t as many differences as one may think. Perfect impartiality is impossible. What you need to be is fair. But truth is truth and fact is fact.”

Berman spoke to aspiring journalism students at Byram Hills High School last year.

Responding to ‘Fake News’

That’s not to say that the media is immune to operating under today’s microscope as Berman explains, “The true difference is that the spotlight is on us more than it’s ever been. It makes what we do even more important, which is to always ask questions and to test power. It motivates us to keep getting better and working harder. And to not back off–at all.”

In response to the current administration’s coinage of the term “fake news” and it being directed, in many cases, at CNN, Berman responds, “I think hurling the words ‘fake news’ is unfortunate and damaging. There’s nothing wrong with criticizing stories or even a news organization that you don’t like, but when you start calling a profession fake, when you start calling something that is protected in the Constitution fake, then you’re playing a very dangerous game and you have to ask why. What do the people making those charges get out of discrediting journalists? Why is it to their advantage? Why are they afraid? The media is not infallible. There are things we get wrong, but we’ll admit it. We issue corrections. In similar circumstances, I’m not sure that some of our leaders do that when it’s been proven that things they’ve said are false.”

One topic the Boston native refuses to remain impartial to, however, is sports, unabashedly saying, “It’s been easy to raise Boston fans in New York because we’ve been winning a lot.” Berman recounts a tale from 1995, when he was thrown out of Yankee Stadium for defending the rights of a Red Sox player who was “brutally attacked” by the Yankee pitcher. His assertion was met with shouting from the crowd and he was ultimately removed from the game.

While initially “mortified,” he soon realized it made for a good story and wears the experience as a badge of honor. This incident extends to all aspects of his life as he continues to remain steadfast in his commitment to report on the story and ask the questions. Peter Jennings shared an adage that Berman returns to regularly, “If your mother says she loves you, test it. Don’t trust it unless you have a second source.” And, he does that every single day, whether it’s at the Audubon, Yankee Stadium or anchoring the news desk at CNN’s “New Day.”

Area Parking Challenges…and Ways to Alleviate them

June 1, 2018 by Marlene Kern Fischer

If you have had difficulty finding a parking spot in Armonk or Chappaqua, you are not alone. As both towns have grown, so too have parking problems. Add in the popularity of larger vehicles and SUVs, and parking space is at a premium.

With new businesses coming into the towns and ongoing construction (such as on lower King Street in Chappaqua), finding a spot can be tricky. This is especially true by the train station and in merchant spacing in Chappaqua and on Main Street and at the DeCicco’s lot in Armonk.

The parking limitations make it necessary for the towns to be vigilant about enforcing parking regulations. Community Service Worker Manny Antoniou, who is in charge of parking and traffic in Chappaqua, says the primary reason he issues tickets is for being in a spot too long. He is often stopped by people searching for a spot and suggests that they try the back of the commuter lot where you can pay by plate. He knows that adding more spaces would be the obvious solution but recognized that improving the parking situation needed to be done by “research and survey,” a process which could take a while.

Popular Parking Violations

Other parking violations for which he tickets include parking in two spaces, parking too far from the curb, or in a handicapped spot or fire zone. When asked about whether people who park in two spaces do purposely or not, Antoniou responded that, “Sometimes the offender is simply in a rush but sometimes they do it intentionally to protect a new car from dings.” Antoniou said he can “usually tell” the intentions a parking spot hog has and uses his discretion to ticket. He also urged people to stay off their phones and to “not ignore officers when they are directing traffic.”

In Armonk, the parking situation is not much better. During the midday hours, you may find yourself circling the DeCicco’s lot or scanning Main Street as you drive by in hopes of finding a vacant spot. One store owner in town, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “The biggest problem we have in Armonk is employees parking on Main Street. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed.” If you are willing to walk a bit to your destination (especially now that the weather has finally improved), there are often spots available in the CVS lot or the library parking lot.

New Spots Planned for Armonk

There is some good news on the horizon though; the town is in the process of adding approximately 80 spots behind and next to the Hergenhan Recreation Center, which should help alleviate the parking situation.

Sergeant Huffnagle of the Town of North Castle Police Department said that although parking is definitely a concern, he has found that most people in town are respectful of the handicapped spots. He also noted that with all the restaurants in town, Armonk has become a “culinary hub” and that means more cars parked for longer periods of time.

The North Castle officer in charge of parking marks tires on Main Street, which has a one-hour time limit during the hours between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. The parking officer is also the animal control officer, so if he has to leave Main Street to deal with a situation with a coyote, raccoon, deer or other animal, you may get lucky and avoid a ticket if you are in a spot for more than an hour. (It is not recommended that you count on him being away, however.)

Parking Lot Etiquette 101

There are things you can do to help the parking situation. As a resident of Armonk for 20 years and a self-proclaimed parking lot maven, below are some helpful tips:

Pull out of your spot in a timely fashion. We all have the urge to check our phones and I know I am not alone in having replied to a text or two while sitting in my car. However, when I have to respond to a text (like when my son asks me to pick him up at school), I try to keep it brief. Composing a 2,000-word e-mail, flat ironing your hair, putting on make-up, or reading a book while someone is waiting for your spot is not cool and will not earn you the Citizen of the Year award.

Leave enough space between your car and the car next to you. Not being as thin as I used to be, when someone parks too close to my car I have had to slither in to the driver’s seat, as well as enter my car through the passenger side, which requires a level of flexibility I do not really possess.

Give cars spaces to parallel park. You can make fun of how badly someone parallel parks, but only after you give them enough room to get into a spot.

In Addition…

To avoid accidents Sergeant Huffnagle wants to remind citizens to “use their signals” when they are planning to park so other drivers are aware of their intentions.

Allow pedestrians to cross the street. We are small friendly towns; Armonk is Frosty the Snowman’s birthplace, for goodness sake. You won’t melt in the ten seconds it takes for someone to cross from the Post Office to Hickory & Tweed.

Huffnagle stated that he thinks people typically do not intend to be discourteous and that most problems arise because, “People are in their own little world and can be oblivious to other peoples’ concerns and time constraints.” I agree and believe that we can each do our part to make the parking and traffic situations in our towns much better.

A Day in My Life of Shopping Locally–in MAY

May 8, 2018 by Marlene Kern Fischer

I prefer to shop locally where, like the song from the television show Cheers says, “Everybody knows my name.” I feel good about living in a small town where the businesses are such an integral part of the fabric of the community.

A typical day in my life in Armonk generally has several stops, starting with Tazza. Most of the lovely people who work at Tazza can attest to the fact that I am one of their most tired customers. They are kind enough not to comment on my disheveled appearance (I am generally still in the clothes in which I slept) as they hand me my iced coffee around 7 a.m. I am a huge fan of the Skinny Muffins (although I’m not sure they have made me any skinnier) and other baked goods, although I also enjoy their delicious oatmeal and their egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast. I sometimes stop in at Tazza again during the afternoon (when I am more awake) for an iced tea and avocado toast or an acai bowl.

After Tazza (and showering and getting into street clothes), I might swing by Beginnings Bleus for a wardrobe refresh. The sales people at Beginnings are patient and attentive as I try on clothes; they never go for the hard sell and are always honest when I ask, “Does this make me look fat?” I feel like I’m among friends when I am there. They help me find the right jeans, tops and accessories, which help me rock my “mom look.” I recently even got my husband to ditch his baggy old jeans and buy some designer jeans; now he likes Beginnings Blues almost as much as I do! In case you’re wondering, the “cold shoulder” look is still in style and bright colors and Bermuda shorts are on-trend for this spring and summer.

My next stop is Town Center Pharmacy. I have often thought how fortunate we are to have Town Center Pharmacy in Armonk; just last week the owner helped me choose the right allergy meds for my youngest son. It took a while for spring to arrive but now that it has, allergy season is full blown, which means I will be restocking nose spray and eye drops often. I also go there for my favorite hair products and vitamins. I feel like they know me at Town Center Pharmacy and care about me and my family; the old-fashioned service they provide is hard to find these days. If they don’t have something I need, they are happy to try and get it and go above and beyond for their customers every single day.

My not-so-secret shame is my handbag obsession, which means a visit to Luxe to check out their inventory (they get new arrivals almost daily). The ultimate consignment shop, Luxe has a selection of high-end bags such as Chanel, Hermes, Dior and Louis Vuitton. It’s like having a little bit of Madison Ave. right here in town (across from the recreation center). I have sold several bags as well as purchased bags at Luxe. Their merchandise (which also includes clothes and accessories) is always authentic, in great condition and beautifully displayed. Why not sell some of your old stuff to make room for something new you’ve been eyeing? If you need a little retail therapy or just want to talk about bags and browse, Luxe is the perfect place.

Next, I head over to Changes Hair Salon for a much-needed haircut and blow-out to tame my unruly locks. Located in Elide Plaza, the family friendly hair salon has been a part of the Armonk community for 35 years. The staff at Changes is warm, professional and knowledgeable about the latest hairstyles and products. The personal service they provide, as well as the reasonable prices, are the secret to their success and the reason their customers remain so loyal. I myself have been going there for close to 20 years. From their youngest clients to entire bridal parties, the stylists make sure everyone leaves satisfied and looking their best. Whether you need highlights, a haircut, keratin (summer is coming), or simply a blow-out for a special occasion, Changes has you covered.

These are only a few of my favorite places in town which I’ve chosen to highlight. Armonk is filled with many fantastic small stores and restaurants—I feel lucky to have so many options and sometimes feel like I never have to leave our hamlet at all!

To be featured by Marlene in the Inside Press’s next sponsored “A Day in my Life of Shopping Locally–in JUNE,“ email: marlenekf@aol.com