Quaker Ridge Golf Club to Receive Large Tax Refund
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Category: The Goods
Quaker Ridge Golf Club will receive a tax refund of more than a half a million dollars from the Scarsdale School District as a result of a certiorari settlement that was finalized on November 18, 2013. The golf club contested their assessment from the years 2007 to 2013 and the N.Y.S. Supreme Court ordered the district to refund the club $519,698 as a result of a change in the capitalization formula that was used to compute assessments for golf courses. In a similar case on Long Island the assessment for the Hempstead Country Club was determined to be almost half of the value on which it was taxed for the years 2006 through 2009. This new capitalization formula was applied to the Quaker Ridge Golf Club and substantially reduced the club's assessment for 2007 through 2013.
Though the Scarsdale School district holds funds in reserve for tax certiorari, their estimate for the Quaker Ridge Golf Club case was only $136,838, leaving a budget shortfall of $308,000. When the district learned about the settlement in November 2013, it was too late to adjust the reserve fund which was finalized in June, 2013.
A resolution regarding the settlement was included in the agenda for the January 10, 2014 meeting for the Scarsdale Board of Education. Payment to the club will be taken from the district's general fund. Purvis told Scarsdale10583 that in some cases if the district needs to raise taxes to cover the expense of a legal settlement, the expense is exempt from the tax-cap calculation. However, in this case it is not.
In a discussion of district reserve funds at the January 27 meeting of the Scarsdale Board of Education, Board member Bill Natbony asked if there would be any further ramifications from this case. Will other golf courses follow suit and file for tax refunds? That is yet to be seen.
Sunday Night Chicken Dinner at Chateau Secor
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- Written by Jocelyn Greenky Herz
- Category: The Goods
On Sunday nights our blended family tries to squeeze a few more hours out of the weekend by inviting friends by for our famous chicken wings and all the fixings. There's usually a game on television and the steady stream of appetizers never fails to bring a line of friends to our door.
Our cozy house on Secor Road can accommodate up to ten dinner guests and we've found that a buffet style dinner works best. People can serve themselves and I can be a guest at my own party!
Accommodating many palates is our goal. Everyone in the family knows about Keith (my better half) and his famous chicken wings. He prepares dozens to please everyone from tweens and teens to my 83-year old parents! My guy knows how to cook and thank the Lord that he enjoys his role as chef and enthusiastic diner as well.
Our finger-licking menu is comprised of chicken wings, mashed potatoes and garlic bread. We make both spicy and non-spicy chicken wings to ensure everyone is a happy camper. The gourmet potatoes we now call "Mashed" have become a staple, so good that they banish any thoughts of the diet we keep to the rest of the week. The recipe for "Mashed" has evolved from taste tests performed in pubs around the world from London to Florida.
The garlic bread is easy to prepare and we make plenty of the paste at one time so we can use it whenever we have an urge for more bread. For irresistible garlic bread, combining butter, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, spread it on a fresh baguette and pop it in the oven to brown it.
Keith probably wouldn't want me to share this, but the secret to the spicy wings is Frank's Hot Sauce. This bottle of goodness makes perfect chicken wings for people who like Buffalo Chicken Wings. We've 
tasted many versions of store-bought blue cheese dressing and even tried making it ourselves, but Marzetti Ultimate Blue Cheese is as good as it gets. It's hands down the best tasting prepared blue cheese dressing you can get your hands on.
Serve the wings with celery, which you should be cut at the bottom to ensure crispness and finish the meal with ice cream. Our favorites are Trader Joe's French Vanilla ice cream and Trader Joe's Mint Chip ice cream.
Bon appetit!
Here are our family's secret recipes:
Syracuse Wings
Ingredients:
2 pounds of chicken wings, which are separated between the wing and drum.
1 bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce
Instructions:
1. Pour 1/3 cup of Frank's Hot Sauce in a bowl with the wings and toss. Marinate for 2 hours.
2. Pour another 1/3 cup of Frank's Hot Sauce in the bowl with the marinating wings. Toss to coat in fresh sauce.
3. Grilled on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes turning every 10 minutes.
4. Warm in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 175 degrees.
Serves 4-6
Lemon Garlic Pepper Wings
Ingredients:
2 ½ pounds wings, trimmed and separated
3/4 cup lemon juice
5 to 6 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
Instructions:
1. Place in wings in a large glass or enamel bowl and pour lemon juice, garlic and crushed peppercorns over the wings.
2. Sprinkle with salt, rosemary, and pour olive oil over wings and stir.
3. Marinate for 2 hours at room temperature, stirring occasionally to coat wings. Drain and reserve marinade.
4. Start barbecue or preheat broiler. Place wings on grill and barbecue until browned, about 15 to 20 minutes. Turn after 10 minutes and baste with marinade.
5. Transfer to a platter and serve.
Serves 4-6
Chateau Secor "Mashed"
Ingredients:
6 medium sized Yukon potatoes
½ stick of butter
1/3 cup of Crème Fraiche
1 tablespoon of Boursin cheese
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
2% milk
Instructions:
Bring butter, Crème Fraiche and Boursin cheese to room temperature.
1. Boil the potatoes until tender and fork easily pierces the skin. No salt added to the pot.
2. Use a ricer to mash potatoes leaving skin on.
3. Fold butter, Crème Fraiche, Boursin cheese and milk into the potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Faint and go to heaven
Serves: 4-6
A New Beginning for Taiim Wine Bar (and Restaurant!) in Scarsdale
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- Category: The Goods
It's been a year since Taiim Middle Eastern Wine Bar opened on Harwood Court in Scarsdale. The original restaurant was really more of a bar than a restaurant and featured hummus, falafel, cheese boards and salads coupled with an extensive array of wines and cocktails. And while many visited Taiim when it opened, business began to dwindle during the summer and fall. Why? The consensus was that the limited menu did not include "real meals" or dinner entrees and the static menu of appetizers was not enough to draw a repeat crowd. Though most had a favorable impression of the spot, hummus and cheese were not enough to build a steady clientele.
We recently learned that Taiim has reinvented itself. The original partners split and it is now run by Erion Hasko who has redone the décor, hired a full-time chef and introduced new full menus for lunch, dinner and brunch.
First the interior – the new space is stunning. Interior designer Gregory Cramer remodeled the bar, installed cool modern lighting, repainted and even commissioned unique, dark wood, handmade tables and chairs. The restaurant is deep purple with accents of gold leaf and orange and the comfy banquettes are inviting.
The cocktail, wine and liqueur menu is extensive and features some tempting mixes like the Pomegranate Margarita with Grand Marnier, tequila, pomegranate juice, and simple syrup. There are red, white, rose and sparkling wines by the glass and a selection of wines by the bottle, all with ratings over 92. A drink at the gold-leaf bar coupled with selections from their bar men could be an occasion in itself. Small plates served at the bar include olives, deviled eggs with anchovies, beer battered saffron shrimp, Merjues sausage and other tasty treats.
New at Taiim is not the drinks, but the food. They have added a nice array of appetizers that can be shared or ordered as a meal of small plates. They are still serving hummus in all flavors as well as falafel, but have added hot selections like fried hearts of palm with avocado dipping sauce and grilled lamb patties with Armenian cheese and dates. Also on the menu is a selection of freshly prepared soups including fava bean with lemon and cumin, lentil soup with rice and pomegranates, and tomato soup with grilled sourdough, all welcome fare this chilly winter.
The new dinner menu includes six entrees, priced from $14 to $19. There is Lamb Fesenjan, which is sliced leg of lamb in a pomegranate walnut sauce served with Lebanese rice. The dish was hearty and tasty. Also on the menu is breast of duck in a tart cherry sauce, another good option as well as prime rib shawarma, salmon with tomato, bell pepper, garlic and chili peppers and braised quail with apricots, currents and tamarind sauce. The new house chef has peppered the menu with elements from both ancient and modern Middle Eastern cuisine.
For those preferring a lighter meal, the menu still includes salads and cheese boards. We enjoyed the chopped Israeli salad as well as the falafel plate with salad an
d were also eyeing a cheese board accompanied by fig jam and fruit.
Taiim is also serving brunch on Sundays and we can't wait to try it. The prix fixe $25 brunch menu includes coffee/tea, fresh baked pastries and a mimosa or bloody mary. On the menu are seven varieties of quiche including quiche Lorraine, mushroom and gruyere, spinach with onion and fontina cheese, nicoise with potatoes, tuna, green beans and olive, asparagus and goat cheese bresaola with spinach and Swiss cheese and lemon with pepper, black olives, thyme and mascarpone cheese. In addition to quiche there are lox and bagels and eggs flamenco. Sounds like a good way to start your Sunday, right?
Whatever the occasion, Taiim is open in Scarsdale Village and ready to serve you lunch, dinner or something in between. Private parties are also welcome.
Taiim Cellar
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Wine Bar
11 Boniface Circle
Scarsdale, NY
(914) 723-6900
Monday to Thursday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:30 am to 11 pm
Bar open on weekends until 1 am
Sunday brunch: 11 am to 3 pm
Sunday dinner: 5 pm to 9 pm
Will the Spin Crowd Flock to Flywheel?
- Details
- Written by Stacie M. Waldman
- Category: The Goods
Attention Soul Cyclers: competitor Flywheel is set to open a major new facility just down the street. The Flywheel in Scarsdale will be the company's 26th site, and it will offer more than just cycling. The Scarsdale location will also have a FlyBarre studio, which is an intense body-sculpting class that makes use of light weights, dance, and core strengthening exercises. The routines are fast and fun, and constantly changing.
What's so special about Flywheel? The class is taught in the dark with a spotlight on the instructor. All participants have a good view of the instructor because the bikes are stationed on different levels. According to Alana Radmin, the press contact for Flywheel, Scarsdale's studio is set to have between 45-55 bikes. "Flywheel incorporates technology to make it the most effective ride," said Radmin. "You can see your torq and speed so you can set a goal, know how hard you're working, and track your progress from ride to ride," she added, "and you can follow your performance online." In fact, each bike monitors every rider's real-time performance data so that
riders can accurately adjust their speed, resistance, and power. In addition, all FlyWheel studios have a Torqboard that displays riders' performance data. Although optional, bit does seem to add to the competitive nature of FlyWheel that avid riders praise as the best part of this indoor cycling studio. Music also adds to the overall experience at FlyWheel. Radmin said, "Your ride is professionally choreographed so you can ride to the beat of the music while getting a great workout."
Would a SoulCycle addict even try Flywheel, much less become a regular patron? Ophira Cukierman, a spin instructor at Will2Lose and the JCC as well as a devoted SoulCycler and Flywheeler, has had great experiences at both studios and emphasizes the attributes at both that keep her signing up for more. "They're both great, but very different," she said. "SoulCycle is very community oriented, meaning the SoulCycle community, and people love that. Flywheel is more intense ... it's about the competition, and a lot of people love that as well. It will be interesting to see if Flywheel attracts a different crowd," she added. "On the Flywheel bikes," she continued, "there's not a lot of room for cheating. Some people love that, others don't." She thinks Flywheel might make her work harder because she can actually see the work she is doing. For some, that's motivating. 
Others seem to prefer what Cukierman terms "perceived exertion," namely self-adjusting your bike's resistance to what is comfortable for you, the rider, based on the instructors suggestions. Another Scarsdale SoulCycler said, "I love SoulCycle. I've been doing it for 3 years and I love the workout. The combination of a dark room and loud, great music really allows you to be in your own world and push yourself." She did say she would likely test out Flywheel, adding, "I'm curious as to what the scoreboard's all about."
Are there any amenities included with the price of a class at FlyWheel or are there additional charges? The Flywheel Studio has showers and changing areas with full amenities and towels, filtered water, and complimentary cycling shoes. The bikes are well spaced so there's no rubbing elbows with the hairy, sweaty guy to your left (for example).
Flywheel is set to open for previews from January 24 through January 26th. Previews will allow 
interested cyclers to try classes free of charge before committing. Classes will be $28 per class with discounted packages for 5, 10, or 20 packs. A monthly membership will be offered at the rate of $180/month for FlyWheel or FlyBarre, or $280/month for access to both. FlyWheel is located at 828 Scarsdale Avenue in the old Tumblebugs building. There is no word yet on what the exact parking situation will be, but there is a small, free, attached parking lot and ample street parking, both metered and free but time limited.
Flywheel
828 Scarsdale Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-368-0024
www.flywheelsports.com
Author and Playwright Plan January Visits to the Scarsdale Library
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- Category: The Goods
Author Helen Wan will discuss her debut novel about a young Chinese-American woman lawyer at the Scarsdale Public Library on Saturday, January 11, at 3 pm, in a program co-sponsored by library and the Chinese Book Club of Westchester. "The Partner Track" describes the travails of the young Chinese-American woman who is competing for partner at a prestigious corporate law firm. The book describes the difference – and gender, race and class politics—that complicate the lives of talented young women and men on their way up the American corporate ladder. The Wall Street Journal called the Partner Track an "engaging and suspenseful debut novel" saying Win "dissects the tokens of status in this work in a manner reminiscent of Tom Wolfe."
Deborah Zoe Laufer, an award-winning playwright, will discuss her career, the life of a playwright, how to write dialogue for any genre and more when she speaks at the Scarsdale Public Library on Monday, January 13, at 7:30 pm. The program is part of the Scarsdale Library Writers' Center Professional Series, sponsored by the Writers' Center, a group that provides resources and support for local writers. The presentation is free and open to the public. Laufer is a recipient of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award and a Lilly Award. Her work has been 
produced nationally and internationally at many prestigious theaters including the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, Florida Stage in Manalapan, Florida, the Vineyard on Martha's Vineyard, the Seattle Public Theater in Seattle and many others. Her play, "Leveling Up" is scheduled to open at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in February.
Not Your Kids Bookclub for Adults: The monthly book club for adults interested in what young adults are reading will held on Wednesday, January 8, between 1 and 2 pm at the Scarsdale Public Library. "Not Your Kids Book Club for Adults" will again be hosted by Scarsdale resident Sheela Chari, whose debut children's novel, VANISHED, was a 2012 APALA Children's Literature honor book, an Edgar Award nominee for best juvenile mystery and was featured on the Today show with Al's Book Club for Kids.
The group will discuss Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. In this historical young adult thriller, a young female spy "Verity" is captured in Nazi-occupied France and writes a confession of her activities in exchange for clemency from the Gestapo. What she writes will determine her fate as well as those of her best friend and their covert pilot mission for the Resistance. The book was an Edgar Award winner and a Printz Honor book.
To register and reserve a copy of the book go to the library website, www.scarsdalelibrary.org, or call the Reference Desk at 914-722-1302.
