Farm Fest comes to Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown on June 3rd

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A fun event is coming to Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights,NY.  Come on out for Farm Fest on Saturday June 3, 2017 !  Farm Fest is a local artisan’s fair, with food, children’s games, tractor rides, hikes, and farm tours. There will be organic seedlings for sale and the farm stand will open its doors for the season! Admission is free – but there is a suggested donation of $5/car.

Hilltop Hanover Farm is a real treasure right here in Westchester County. The Farm and Environmental Center is a nonprofit dedicated to the development and advancement of sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, community education, and accessible food systems for all.  A minimum 10% of produce grown is donated to food pantries and soup kitchens.

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Hilltop Hanover Farm is a nonprofit working farm and environmental education center managed by the Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm.   Visitors to the farm welcomed and encouraged to take advantage of fresh organically grown produce at the farmstand, our pick-your-own vegetable gardens, to visit with our farmers and animals, and attend special events and classes.  Enjoy a picnic onthe scenic property and hike the wonderful woodland trails on the other side of Hanover Street.  A really great place to visit and a fantastic resource for people looking for locally sourced and sustainable food.

See you at the Fest !

Rain Date: June 4th

Contact Info:

info@hilltophanoverfarm.org

(914)962-2368

Hilltop Hanover Farm

1271 Hanover St

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

web  http://hilltophanoverfarm.org

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Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: the ultimate car lovers event returns June 3-4

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The ultimate car lovers event, The Greenwich Concours D’ Elegance returns Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th to Roger Sherman Baldwin Park on the harbor in Greenwich Ct.   This is one of the premier automotive events in the nation and a must visit for car lovers.

On Saturday the Concours will feature on the show field  a fine selection of American made cars and motorcycles.  There will also be  a special Hot Rod and Custom  class of cars as well as a special display of children’s cars.

Also on Saturday, visitors will be able to tour the Bonhams Auction tent  where many fine automobiles can be inspected and viewed prior to the auction which takes place on Sunday.

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On Sunday is the Concours  International featuring fabulous cars from foreign manufacturers.  There will also be a display of cars from the American Bugatti Club featuring over 20 Bugatti’s as well as a display of racecars from the Lime Rock Historic Festival.

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Also on Sunday the Bonhams auction will take place under the auction tent.  A separate fee is required to attend the auction.  If you plan to bid at the auction you will need to make arrangements with Bonhams in advance.

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Collector cars in the Bonhams Auction tent

Both days will feature  a display of new cars from Lincoln, BMW , Tesla, Jaguar, Ferrari, Pagani, Alfa Romeo, Mc Laren, Maserati and more!

The Greenwich Concours is one of the premier automotive events in the country and this year is the same weekend as the fantastic Greenwich International Film Festival so there will be plenty to do and see that weekend.  See you at the Concours !

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Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars and his Ford “house car”

Tickets in advance: $30 (ONE DAY)  $50 (BOTH DAYS)   Prices higher at the door.  VIP tickets available, see website for details

Greenwich Concours D’Elegance

Roger Sherman Baldwin Park,  Greenwich Ct

For tickets and information :      http://www.greenwichconcours.com

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The Greenwich International Film Festival returns June 1st-4th with great films and more!

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The Greenwich International Film Festival returns again to our area on June 1st to June 4th 2017 in Greenwich Ct.  The festival now in its third year brings to our area a wonderful slate of over 50 films, panel discussions, and parties.  There is something for everyone in this year’s festival including documentaries, feature films narrative short films, Connecticut short films and children’s features.  The Greenwich International Film Festival has received national attention for its quality of programming and emphasis on social impact and bringing awareness to important subjects. There are also discussions after some of the films with some of the writers and directors of the features.

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Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) is a non-profit organization that hosts a world class film festival each June, and supporting events throughout the year. It was founded to bridge the worlds of film, finance, and philanthropy. The Festival’s mission is to provide filmmakers with the opportunity to showcase their work with the goal of finding financing for future projects. Additionally, GIFF harnesses the power of film to serve the greater good by supporting charity partners with festival proceeds.

The 3rd annual Changemaker Gala will take place on Thursday, June 1, 2017.  The Changemaker Awards honor artists who have used their public platform and the power of film to further positive social change.  This year,  Renee Zellweger and Christy Turlington Burns will be honored for their charity work. . The June 1st Changemaker event, presented by CuisinArt Resorts & Residences and ALS FindingACure, will include a cocktail reception at Betteridge followed by a black tie dinner at L’Escale in Greenwich,CT.

Actress, Activist and Humanitarian, Sophia Bush will present the Best Social Impact Film Award at Opening Night Party on Friday June 2nd. This prize will be awarded to one film across all categories that promotes social change.

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Also on Friday night June 3rd, the following  the Opening Night Film Premiere, enjoy a fantastic party featuring a concert by Flo Rida, film awards, cocktails and more, at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich.  This is a great event not to miss.

We are so fortunate to live so close to a world class festival such as the Greenwich International Film Festival. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of great films, panel discussions, and parties that emphasize social impact and awareness of issues that concern our world.

For a list of all the films and events as well as ticket information please go to the website below.   See you at the Movies !!

Greenwich International Film Festival

web:  http://www.greenwichfilm.org                          tel:  203.717.1800

GIFF Box Office is now open at
22 Railroad Avenue.
Monday- Saturday- 11AM-6PM
Sunday- 12PM-4:00PM

box office

 

 

 

Taste of Ridge Hill: a fun evening of food tasting from 9 different restaurants

 

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The annual Taste of Ridge Hill is returning for a its second year!.  On Thursday  May 18th 2017 from 6pm to 9pm, attendees will be able to visit 9 of Ridge Hill’s restaurants and sample foods from each eatery.  A really fun evening.

Restaurants that will be participating in this event are El Balón, Angelo’s Family Style Italian, Lefteris Gyro, Elevation Burger, Texas de Brazil, Yard House, Little Buddha, The Cheesecake Factory and Havana Central.  This year attendees will enjoy wine and spirit samples from HB Liquors and all guests will receive a swag bag from Whole Food Markets.

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Attendees will move from restaurant to restaurant during the evening enjoying great food samples.  Of course there is all the great shopping for which Ridge Hill is known.

Tickets to the event must be purchased in advance!  Tickets are $34.95 per person and each ticket entitles the bearer to food and beverage served at each of the participating eateries.  Guests must be age 21 or older.   A portion of sales will go to benefit the Yonkers YMCA

Purchase your tickets here: : www.ridgehill.com/info/tasteofrh

 

Check-in and complimentary valet parking located in Town Square near Angelo’s restaurant. Guests who would like to come early and shop before the event may self-park and receive validation at check-in.

Ridge Hill Shopping Center

I Ridge Hill Blvd  Yonkers NY    tel.  914.207.2900

web http://www.ridgehill.com/info/tasteofrh

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Liberty Street Bistro: Local, simple, good cuisine in the heart of the Hudson Valley

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The river towns of the Hudson Valley have been undergoing a renaissance in the last decade.  New energy, art galleries, craft brew pubs ,distilleries,  and great restaurants are helping lead the way.  Embracing the natural scenic beauty of the river and the great architecture found in these towns, the revival of  places such as Peekskill, Beacon, Hudson and Newburgh is great for visitors and especially for foodies.

With its waterfront location on the Hudson River and panoramic views of the Hudson Highlands, Newburgh is part of the dining revival in the region.  Front Street has attracted many fans with its numerous restaurants, bars and river walk.   Just one block up the hill from the river is an excellent recent entry into the restaurant scene, the Liberty Street Bistro.   Situated in a historic 19th century brick building, Liberty Street Bistro could easily be in a  hip neighborhood in Brooklyn.   Across the street is a park and is the site of Washington’s Headquarters.

Liberty Street Bistro takes you on a culinary journey with its blend of new  American cuisine with hints of French and Italian influences.  Local Hudson Valley products are sourced when possible.   The restaurant which opened in 2016 features clean modern decor, neutral color palette, Edison bulb lighting, exposed brick walls  and dark leather seating.

The Chef/Owner Michael Kelly brings years of experience to the restaurant including his training at the Culinary Institute of America, and stints at top New York City eateries.

The dinner menu offers diners the choice of a 2,3 or 4 courses selected from the unique menu.  All the food is made fresh in house, with a lovely presentation on interesting dishes and pottery.

We started off the meal with some cocktails from the bar and enjoyed the Mango Margarita and the Liberty Street Mule, which is  a variation of the Mule and uses blueberry puree and topped with fresh blueberry.  A nice twist on the Mule.

Starters: We sampled two items including the Pemaquid Point Oysters from Maine (delicious) and the Chilled Carrot Soup with Tarragon oil, which was an interesting dish.

To get a feel for the whole menu we  continued with Course 1 from the four course menu.   The Roasted Beet Salad was excellent with fresh beets, mache, creme fraische, and candied walnuts.    The other selection was the Crab and Asparagus, a soft crab served breaded, with asparagus and a poached egg.  A creative combination of ingredients.  The crab is small so it will not fill you up.

Course 2:  Chorizo Imbarcazioni which is light pasta boats filled with chorizo and accompanied by marscarpone cheese, tomato foam and  Nasturtium flowers.  A really great pasta dish that is not filling, and the unique combination of ingredients make this dish one of my favorites of the evening.  We also tasted the Wild Mushroom Risotto with 3 types of mushrooms (maitake,oyster and brown beech) and it was bursting with flavor.

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Chorizo Imbarcazioni

Course 3:  for the main course we ordered the Taglatella al Frutti di Mare,  pasta with octopus, mussels, clams with broccoli rabe .  It was served in a unique black oval bowl.  Though not a overly large portion, the Italian influence was evident and the seafood was fresh and delish .   We also ordered the Triple Seared Beef with a Yukon potato gratin, roasted veggies in an au jus gravy.    A well presented and filling dish.

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Taglatella al Frutti di Mare,

Course 4.   If you opt for dessert (and you should!) there are some nice items including the Pear Tart with pear  sorbet, almonds, and pistachio .  A lovely dessert and with an appealing presentation.  We also sampled the Profiteroles, a delicate and soft blend of mint creme  anglaise and chocolate ice cream.  So good !

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Profiteroles

The food is inventive, fresh and tasty with small plates so you can enjoy many of the great tastes that each course offers.  Liberty Street Bistro is a fine addition to the river towns dining scene in the Hudson Valley and you should put in on your dining list.

PRICES:  2 COURSES: $36,  3 COURSES: $49 4 COURSES: $61   COCKTAILS:  $13-15  WINE BY THE GLASS $8-13

LIBERTY STREET BISTRO

97 LIBERTY STREET  NEWBURGH NY     tel  845.562.3900

web; http://libertystreetbistro.com

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PHD Terrace Midtown: a hip rooftop hotspot in the heart of Midtown

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Inspired by a posh penthouse, the PHD Terrace Midtown  incorporates sleek and modern interior design, an outdoor roof top space  and amazing views of Mid town Manhattan to create a hip and exciting space.   The PHD Terrace located in the Dream Hotel on the  15th floor.  The  interior space features modern lighting, dark hardwood floors, a color palette of gold and earth tones, and a interesting custom gold colored custom bar.   There is a row of leather banquettes for intimate seating and an expansive row of glass to allow guest to enjoy the cityscape outside

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One flight up brings you to the expansive rooftop outdoor space which gives the guest a panoramic view of the city and you can look West. You can also look North and South on Broadway toward Time Square.  Below you the city is bustling with activity, but inside PHD Terrace, it is all fun.

We visited on a Tuesday night for Aperitivo Tuesday where you are transformed to Italy with a selection of Italian style cocktails, aperitivo small bites, and live music by the Nick Palumbo Band.

The crowd is vibrant, and the indoor and outdoor spaces are lively and filled with interesting, well dressed people.   The bartenders prepare some excellent craft cocktails from the extensive and creative list.  There are also 8 beers available, 20 different wines, as well as sparkling wine.  Tapas  and other small plate items are available to enjoy alone or share with friends including sliders, shrimp cocktail,   and spicy calamari just to name a few.

If the Moscow Mule is one of your favorite cocktails you can challenge yourself with the largest Moscow Mule to be bound anywhere.   Gather your friends and share the huge 10 pound, 164 fluid oz. version of the Mule that is made at PHD and served in a huge copper mug.  The mug is tremendous and not for the faint hearted and not to be ordered for one person (It will also set you back $185)

PHD is an enchanting romantic spot where the views are amazing.  It is also a great spot to gather with good friends.

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There is music on other evenings of the week with different themes including Whisper Wednesdays and DJs on the weekend to keep the party going.  With a unique indoor and outdoor environment , a visit to The PHD Lounge Midtown is a must.  A perfect escape in the heart of the city.

Reservations are highly recommended. 

for more information and reservations:

PHD Terrace Midtown  at Dream Hotel

210 West 55th Street New York New York     tel. 646.756.2044

Reservations online>>>  http://www.phdterrace.com/contact-us/reservations/

Information and menus: http://www.phdterrace.com/home/

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Barnes and Noble Kitchen: a unique upscale eatery inside your favorite bookstore

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Westchester N.Y. is now home to only one of three Barnes and Noble Kitchens in the country.  Located on  White Plains Rd (NY Route 22) in Eastchester this new concept in retail combines the excellence of a Barnes and Noble retail store with a restaurant serving some delicious dishes.   This in unlike the Cafe’s found in other locations, this is an actual sit down restaurant and guests can even  enjoy wine or craft beer.

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Inside the expansive bookstore now resides a 2600 square foot space offering a number of dining and seating options.   There is a coffee, wine and beer bar, a comfortable lounge area with couches and tables, and there is a dining room with sit down waiter service.  In fair weather the restaurant expands outdoors onto a lovely stone patio .  This is wonderful space with tables with sit down waiter service, lounge area, bocce court, and some interesting water features.  You really do not feel you are in a retail book store.  It is quite unique.

Barnes and Noble had brought in AvroKo  a nationwide restaurant consulting business to assist with launch of the eatery and the Branstetter Group to help in the overall design and menu development.

Barnes and Noble Kitchen offers a American style menu, and includes something for everyone.  Breakfast is also served.  The menu offers small plates, salads, sandwiches and entrees.    We were able to sample some of the offerings on the menu and are happy to report they were quite good.

We started with the fresh made Guacamole served with roasted tomato salsa and warm tortilla chips which is great to share.   We followed that  with a Hummus plate which was freshly made and served with za’atar spices, veggies, and larvash which is a tasty Armenian flatbread.  Very interesting combination.

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Hummus with Market veggies

Our next dish was the Chopped Vegetable Salad with carrots, beets, cauliflower, feta cheese, herbs and pepitas (squash seeds).  A really healthy choice and can be enjoyed by one or shared.   We also enjoyed the soft and fresh Buratta with pistou ( garlic, basil, and olive oil)  tomato confit and a side of toast on artisan bread.

For the main course there is 6 different items ranging from grilled cheese, to Brick cooked chicken.  We sampled the excellent Brisket Burger served with cheddar, lettuce, onion, and served with crisp potato wedges.  Very nice dish for the burger lover.

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Brisket Burger

My favorite was the Plancha-Cooked Salmon, perfectly seared and served over taboulleh  salad and a delicious basil dressing.  It was a nice presentation as well, and I enjoyed it with a nice glass of Riesling from the bar.  There is a nice wine selection with wines from New York, California, France, Spain and Italy.

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Plancha Cooked Salmon

We wrapped up our meal with a Butterscotch Pot de Creme and coffee that was a nice way to wrap up our meal in this most unique setting.

After dinner we enjoyed exploring the expansive book store with its rows of magazines, books and a very nice vinyl records section including jazz, classical, pop and rock records.

Barnes and Noble Kitchen is a very different concept combining retail with solid dining options in a comfortable atmosphere.

Breakfast:  $11-12    Shared dishes: $11-13   Salads $14-16 Entrees:  $14-23   Sides: $4-6 Dessert $4-6

Barnes and Noble Members receive a 10% discount

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Barnes and Noble Kitchen

680 White Plains Road  Scarsdale, NY 

tel. 914.723.3416

web: http://barnesandnoblekitchen.com/

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