Nutracker Suite - A Tutu for You

The Nutcracker Nov. 30th & Dec. 1st

       The Nutcracker Suite comes to the Whitney Theater in New Rochelle. Begin a truly special holiday season with Ajkun Ballet Theatre's magical Nutcracker, filled with great dancers and adorable children from the Public School District of New Rochelle.  Whether a family tradition or discovering the magic of ballet for the first time, this extraordinary experience will evoke joy and stay with you forever.Make the Nutcracker a celebration to share and plan to give tickets to family, friends and your community! For tickets go to SmartTix.com or By Phone at (212) 868-4444.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving New Rochellean's! From that first celebration in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621; the Pilgrims would have never guessed that they were creating a lifelong tradition. While we assemble around the dinner table around 1pm because no-one can withstand the intoxicating smell of stuffing and sweet potato pie to wait until 5. We then spend the remainder of the afternoon in a food coma passed out in front of the TV while the football game of the moment lulus us to sleep.

If you do not wish to cook and prefer to dial it in, try some of our New Rochelle restaurants catering to the savory tastes of the holidays.

Sweet Potatoes Restaurant is offering to cook for you! This down home pheasant magician will cook for you so that you may impress your monster-in-law with your culinary expertise. Today is the last day to pick-up your order, but if you are lucky, you might be able to purchase a sweet potato pie to pass off as your own.

If they are sold out- you can make your own. Try my favorite recipe below:

Ingredients

• 1 pound 3 ounces sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 1/4 cups plain yogurt
• 3/4 cup packed, dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 5 egg yolks
• Salt
• 1 (9-inch) deep dish, frozen pie shell
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• Special equipment: steamer basket

Directions

Put cubed potatoes into steamer basket and place steamer basket into a large pot of simmering water that is no closer than 2 inches from the bottom of basket. Allow to steam for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. Mash with potato masher and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place sweet potatoes in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment. Add yogurt, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, yolks, and salt, to taste, and beat until well combined. Pour this batter into the pie shell and place onto a sheet pan. Sprinkle pecans on top and drizzle with maple syrup.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until the custard reaches 165 to 180 degrees. Remove from oven and cool. Keep refrigerated after cooling.

No Plain Jane Here - PAC House Tunes

Sarah Jane Cion

As the 1st place winner of the internationally acclaimed 17th Annual Great American Jazz Piano competition, Sarah Jane Cion, can tickle the ivories with the best of them. This New England Conservatory honors graduate has rhythm & music- who could ask for anything more? 

She brings her magical fingers to the PAC House theater on Saturday  November 16th @8pm. For tickets, log onto Smart Tix for a $5 discount before the show. Accompanying her will be Jeffrey Lutz & Ratzo Harris.  This internationally know pianist has performed in Japan, Israel, Portugal and Germany. Her music was featured on All My Children and she  published a Jazz piano instruction manual, which is currently being used as the primary text at several college jazz programs including The Westminster Conservatory at Rider University in New Jersey.

PAC HOUSE - 311 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle

A Cobbler's Comfort - Designed with you in mind

Cobbler and Cordwainer 73 Crescent Avenue

Why wonder what it would be like to walk a mile in someones shoes when you can have your own- custom pair that is. David Ulan can create a home for your hoofs designed with  you in-mind. This sorcerer of soles began his shoe trade in 1969. Then in 1977 he opened The Cobbler and Cordwainer. He is an expert in shoe repair, custom shoes, resoling, orthopedic modification and orthotics.

 
 David is a certified pedorthist with four decades of footwear knowledge so your feet will be in good hands. He is also a Professor at New York's Fashion Institute Of Technology where he teaches students the art of putting soul in the sole.

David Ulan

 

www.cobcord.com

Veterans Day - In the Sprit of Valor

Known formerly as Armistice - Veterans day was first celebrated in 1919.Veterans Day honors all our men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. On Sunday, Mayor Noam Bramson and many of our servicemen and women as well as firemen and police officers were on hand to celebrate the greatness that is patriotism. Salute!

Mayor Noam Bramson (Far Left) 

The great and the blue

Veterans monument New Rochelle

Latimer gets the Last Laugh

Victorious George Latimer 

There was another nail biting race taking place last night. George Latimer(D) and Bob Cohen (R) were in a head to head battle to represent the 37th District in the Senate. With a one-two punch, Assemblyman and marketing executive Latimer shook the foundation of  Real Estate businessman Cohen's campaign. The seat was occupied for a total of 28 years by the  now retiring Senator Suzi Oppenheimer. The 37th District includes the cities of New Rochelle, Rye and Harrison.

Bob Cohen

Cohen has taken it on the chin once again. After conceding in 2010 to Oppenheimer, he now has the distinction of being a two time looser. The fight was a dirty one. Cohen once referred to the now victorious Latimer as "Public Enemy #1. The public however, was not listening to his gibes because shortly after, Latimer received the support of New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson (D). Mr. Cohen, by now you should know that you can't build a mansion on sand. 

Suzi Oppenheimer 

Democracy Matters- Get out and VOTE!

Whatever your political affiliation, tomorrow is your chance to get out and vote. Thanks to the 14th & 15th  (as well as the 19th, 23rd, 24th & 26th) Amendments, your voice/vote makes a difference. I know that in the current financial climate and the wake of Hurricane Sandy, it is difficult to remain inspired about the direction the country is going, but we must have faith. "Faith is the substance of things we seldom see"

In recent years, the election has taken on voyeurism of a spectator sport. The incumbent and challenger step into the ring and pummel each other with half-truths until someone throws in the towel. Long gone are the days of FDR & JFK when substance trumped soundbites. In this 24 hour news cycle, a gaffe or quip makes headlines for weeks and many are voting on fervor not facts.

I will be heading down to the New Rochelle Library tomorrow morning and casting my vote with tremendous patriotism. My choice will be one that will hopefully benefit the country. This great land is a place where our  inalienable rights are being jeopardized and were Darwinism is in full effect. In this case, only the mentally strong will make the right choice for our survival.

Find your polling place here:VOTE

Hurricane Sandy - Scorned woman rears her ugly head

My wind ravaged awning

Hurricane Sandy tore through New Rochelle like a woman scorned. Frightened, we hunkered down  and waited for the grim weather-reaper.  Then, our windows rattled, the lights dimmed and we held our flash lights like bayonets against a playground bully.   The howling winds continued for hours and began to mimic the sound of a helpless  child.  Then there was an eerie silence- and the unimaginable lie before our eyes. 

Aggressive waters at Davenport Park

While many homes in New Rochelle were water logged and without power, I also saw homes indented by what was once a welcoming shady oak tree; now appearing menacing and  axe like. I toured my beloved Davenport Park prior to the devastation and captured the storm in its first trimester. When she delivered, we sat stoically and hoped that she was gone, but her wrath is not forgotten.

To all of you recovering from the impact of Hurricane Sandy, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family and I hope that we can recover and be stronger than ever. There is nothing natural about this disaster.

Calm before the storm