Love is a Two Way Street in Downtown New Rochelle

Lawton Street becomes Two-Way beginning 10/2

A long overdue change has come to Downtown New Rochelle. The City (Council member Ivar Hayden) listened to our cries and has added a change in direction- of Lawton and part of Church street- they are now two way. For those of you who've had the misfortune of driving downtown which I equate with the sensibility of trying to veer right on the Roundabout outside of the Vatican - you'll agree that it was an exercise  in skill, patience and endurance. You can now put your driving gloves away and fall in love with this two way street(s).

Mangoville - A Jerk You Will Love!

www.mangovillesoul.com

We are in the midst of Spring Break and as I watch  my friends post pictures of their Caribbean vacations, I begin to crave sun, sand and that delicious Island  food that pleases the palate as well as the soul. If you are like me and don't have a trip to the Islands scheduled, then get your sunlamp, lawn chair and  umbrella laden drink; and fetch a delicious plate of island cuisine from Mangoville. Don't leave without trying the Jerk Chicken. It will make you want to shout Ya-Mon!

Since  2010, Mangoville has offered the best Caribbean cuisine in Westchester county. As a family-owned restaurant, they keep all dishes traditional just like back in the islands. So keep it IRIE and bring a little island spice to your dinner table tonight.

Located@ 134 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY (914) 365-1032

Liquid Kitchen- Sip Your Way To Satisfaction

Liquid Kitchen 583 Main Street  914.365.2700

The new restaurants just keep on coming to Downtown New Rochelle. The newest arrival, Liquid Kitchen, comes bubbling in and the garnet hued walls make this spot hot-hot-hot!  This tapas hangout has clever cocktails and lovely libations. Tuesday-Friday stop in for Happy Hour from 4-7pm. On Wednesday, Karaoke Nights bring out the inner rock star in you.

If you have not yet secured your Valentine's Day plans, LK has a special Valentine's Day menu that will bring out the lover in you. At $70pp, this four course meal is one that will make your sweeties heart flutter. With Lobster Bisque, Smoked Salmon Salad and Chilean Sea Bass to get you started; the Mixed Berry Creme Brulee' seals the night with a kiss.

You can get $40 worth of food/drink for $20
 by using the Living Social deal below:

Liquid Kitchen - Living Social

 

Superbowl New Rochelle Style

Super Bowl Sunday- Ravens vs. 49ers @ 6:30pm

This Superbowl Sunday, focus on having fun instead of spending hours in the kitchen whipping up wings, chilli and burgers. Dine-in or take-out at one of New Rochelle's celebrated tailgate food restaurants.
Watch the Ravens and 49ers go head to head without the headache of having to cleanup after your uproarious guests.

33 LeCount Place

Buffalo Wild Wings
With too many jumbo sized flat screens televisions to count, BWW has a keen eye on every play-by-play you may have missed during your bathroom break. Get there early because seating typically fills up quickly on "Any Given Sunday". Try the super hot buffalo sauce and I guarantee you will be yelling for "The Waterboy".

310 Huguenot Street

Modern Pizza
If you have not had a chance to visit New Rochelle's newest hot spot, do so on Sunday. This cavernous space has a special viewing room complete with a gigantic television for you and 30 or so of your closest friends to crowd around. If the viewing room is not to your liking, grab a table or sit at the bar and take in the the LCD TV's hanging trough out the restaurant. From apps to primo beers on tap, Modern Pizza goes "The Longest Yard" for you.

22 Division Street

Posto 22
This neighborhood favorite where everyone knows your name, has one of the most coveted bars in town. If you have ever walked down Division Street and saw a crowd gathering, it must be 6pm @ Posto 22. Joe runs this elegant Italian restaurant like his personal kitchen and greets everyone with a familiar  "Good to see ya". Get there early so you don't get "Blind Sided" by the long lines.

19 LeCount Place

Fun Fusion 
Sunday, 5 p.m. . All ages welcome to watch Superbowl. Bring your "Little Giants" out for a day of family fun.

What 2013 has in store for New Rochelle

Welcome to 2013! New Rochelle has a ton of things on the horizon. Political change, new business and events. Take a peak into 2013 with me:

Alvin & Friends - Breaking News!!!!!!!!!!! Alvin & Friends is moving! Yes, the fantastically intimate restaurant on Lawton Street is expected to open in late January in the former Mo's Clubhouse Space.

PAC House - As always, the PAC house has something hip happening! This weekend head over for Salsa on the Sound. 

Noam Bramson- New Rochelle's Mayor has decided not to run for another term. Mayor Bramson's would is choosing to direct his interest towards becoming the next Westchester County Executive. Let's watch and see.

Modern Pizza- The new location (old one is still open) is something to behold. This is how you dine aldente in style. The former ballet studio on Hugenot Street is worth visiting simply to take a bow.

Indoor Flea Market- Make sure to stop by the new indoor Flea Market starting this Sunday @ 112 North Avenue. The first 100 customers will receive a free gift bag.

Get Modern for New Year's Eve!

Celebrate NYE at Modern Pizza 

Are you looking for something new and exciting to do on New Year's Eve? Well look no further- Visit Modern Pizza at their new location on Huguenot street in Downtown New Rochelle.  The fantastically renovated space which used to be a ballet studio has tons of space for you to twirl around.  So pirouette your way over on NYE and toast to the new location and a New Year.

Time: 7:30pm-1:30am - Open bar all night long - Midnight Champagne Toast
Hors d'oeuvres (Buttler Style)

• Crab Cakes 
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Meatballs
• Tuna Tartar

Dinner 

• Angus Steak 
• Stuffed Filet of Sole
• Chicken Scarpariello 
• Rigatoni with baby eggplant

Desert

• Chocolate Fountain w/ strawberries, bananas & pineapples
• Mini Pastries & Mixed Fruits
• Coffee, espresso & cappuccino  

For tickets call 203.889.7253
Advance $100 & 120 @ The Door
modernrestaurant310@gmail.com

Holiday Shopping In New Rochelle

 

The Curtain Shop

With exactly 7 days before Christmas, the desperation gift shopping is about commence. Don't get caught scrounging the Malls for nicely decorated junk. Why not do your shopping in the Tony Community of New Rochelle?  Here are my picks for best places to shop for quality holiday goods in New Rochelle:

The Curtain Shop-
Located on 541 Main Street, this shop du jour has the perfect gifts for the home at great prices. Stop in and trust me the service and selection are unbeatable. Make sure to go upstairs and investigate what I call a homeowners haven.

Just Funki-
For the woman/man who is into adorning their body in precious stones, Just Funki is the place to be. Each handmade piece is a work of art. If you are looking for something unique look no further. As a bonus, the girts are wrapped free of charge in the most decorative box with a satin ribbon.

Just Funki 37 Division Street 

Alvin Clayton Artiste - 
As the owner of Alvin & Friends, Alvin Clayton holds court in his richly decorated restaurant on Lawton avenue. The food is spectacular and the art adorning the walls is featured in several galleries and you can take a piece home with our after you dine- for a fee of course.

Alvin Clayton 

Sweet Preserves-
Why pay 5th Avenue prices if you don't have to? Sweet Preserves everything you need for that high end hunger. Furs, handbags, jewelery and designer goods. All of the items are in the best condition and the prices can't be beat!

Valentino Cuff - Sweet Preserves 

Brandee Yonger- What's HARPening Now!

Brandee Younger

Have Harp will Travel. Brandee Yonger is indeed young but her resume is an impressive one. Having worked with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, Ryan Leslie, Common & Drake just to name a few, this harpist comes to the PAC House Theater on Saturday December 8th to stroke our ears.

Brandee & Rapper Common (Center)

Brandee grew up on Long Island and sharped her  fingertips by getting a her Bachelor of Music at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford and her Master of Arts from New York University. She maintains a rigorous performing and teaching schedule as well. In addition to performing, Ms. Younger has a private teaching studio in NY. This girl knows her strings! 

From classical to hip-hop she simply won't be boxed in. Tickets are $10 in Advance and $18 at the door. 
Purchase tickets today at SmartTix 212-868-4444

**Accompanying Brandee are EJ Strickland (Drums), Rashan Carter (Bass) and Chelsea Baratz (Sax).

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

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

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