Two Food Openings in Scarsdale Village
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Scarsdale is now home to a new French bistro and a gelato shop.
On September 13, the Village celebrated the opening of Micheline at 878 Scarsdale Avenue in the former site of Metro Diner. The fully renovated restaurant seats 70 indoors and 40 outdoors and is now open for dinner on Wednesday to Sunday nights. You can make your reservation on RESY.
On Wednesday, the Mayor, trustees and representatives from the Scarsdale Business Alliance came out to join managing partner Jonathan Aubrey, chef Joshua Capone and the entire staff for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Aubrey, a Scarsdale resident with his young family in tow, was excited to welcome the community to sample the new menu.
Also open next to Scarsdale train station is a new gelato shop. We stopped in an were offered tastes of tempting flavors like Hazelnut Cremino, Tirarmisu and Whiskey Cream and Pecans. Stop by for a cup or a cone and let us know what flavor you recommend.
Jonathan Aubrey and Family
Micheline
Gelato!
Welcome Funky Monkey to Scarsdale
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In an age when merchants are abandoning storefronts for websites, it’s nice to see someone buck the trends. Jared Greenman, the fourth generation in a long line of toy sellers, has opened his newest store, Funky Monkey in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center in Scarsdale.
Greenman’s father, Stan Greenman, was the creator and founder of the beloved national chain of toy stores Noodle Kidoodle. His great uncle, Nat Greenman, was one of the first inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
The Scarsdale store is the third Funky Monkey store, following successful ventures in Greenvale in Long Island and on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich. We stopped by to visit and were impressed with the ample merchandise, the appealing design and the welcoming atmosphere for adults and kids too.
Greenman explained, “The store is floor-to-ceiling toys — trendy toys, plus the classics. We have everything kids want. We shop all over the country for the perfect gifts for kids. Plus, we will help you pick out the right gift for any age, and we’ll wrap it in funky, fun gift-wrap for free. We do party goodie bags, too. We’re kid and parent-friendly, here to help in every way.”
We asked Greenman about the move to Scarsdale and here is what he shared:
How has the reception been so far to the new store in the Golden Horseshoe?
It's been amazing! We've had a ton of positive feedback and excitement so far around the opening.
Why did you select Scarsdale for your third location? What seems right about the environment here?
Our customers have been telling us for years how their friends in Scarsdale always talk about how they really need a store like Funky Monkey. We listened. And after spending some time exploring the area and talking to members of this wonderful community, we knew Scarsdale was the perfect fit for our next location.
With so many businesses moving from brick and mortar to online, why are you moving in the opposite direction?
Our stores are known for providing a one-of-a-kind and fun in-store shopping experience. Everyone can remember the feeling of joy, wonder, and excitement when they walked into their favorite toy store as a kid. That feeling can't be replicated online. We specialize in providing that magical sensation while also serving the need for a local toy store where our toy experts can help our customers choose and gift wrap the perfect gift face to face.
Any thoughts on the state of the toy industry? What are the current trends?
The toy industry has been very strong especially since the pandemic and the outlook remains positive! Barbie was a big hit this summer with the release of the movie. The trend of product re-launches and nostalgia from the 90's and Y2K's continues to be a popular theme.
Are kids welcome to come in and browse the store with their parents?
100%. We love seeing children's eyes grow wide when they step in the door. We welcome customers of all ages to come shop and experience Funky Monkey.
Tell us about a few of the services you offer - such as goodie bags, personalization etc?
We specialize in our complimentary gift wrapping and bundling. Our customers love us because we make their lives easier when they need a birthday, baby or holiday gift. Shoppers can visit us in store or give us a call with their budget, the child's age and some general info about what they like and we carefully select the products and beautifully gift wrap them. We ship all over the country, offer local delivery and curbside pickup. We also sell toy goodie bags for parties and offer personalization on a wide range of items like ride-ons.
Stop by to check out Funky Monkey in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center. There’s something for everyone!
At Village Hall: Ad Hoc Committee on the Pool, New Liquor Store and Trustees Remember Bob Steves
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Village Trustees continue to work through the summer and took action on the pool, professional service agreements and an application for a female-owned liquor store on Christie Place at their meeting on Tuesday August 8, 2023.
At the opening of the meeting the Mayor and Trustee Gruenberg remembered Former Mayor Bob Steves who passed away on July 30, 2023.
Mayor Arest said, “I want to start my mayor's comments this evening by remembering someone who sat in this seat less than 10 years ago. Mayor Bob Steve's who passed away on July 30, at the age of 77 was a dedicated pillar in the Scarsdale community, recipient of the Scarsdale Bowl and called Scarsdale home for almost 25 years. serving on the Board of Education from 1998 to 2005. Bob spent one year as President. He would later join the Village Board as a trustee from 2009 to 2013 and as mayor from 2013 to 2015. My personal experience with Bob was working with him on the Library Project Capital Campaign Committee that he co-chaired. His leadership and knowledge of Scarsdale was invaluable. He was also generous with his time we had breakfast soon after I'd been elected to serve on the Village Board. I will never forget his advice as it was grounded in his experiences but it was far from a soliloquy of greatest hits. There was plenty of humility and lessons learned from experiences with mixed results. And that advice has absolutely helped to make me a better public servant. Bob's legacy reminds us of the importance of selfless service and putting the community first. He truly cared for Scarsdale, and he will be remembered for his dedication.”
Dara Gruenberg said, “Bob and I worked together as co-chairs with Betty Pforzheimer on the Scarsdale Library's Capital Campaign to reimagine our library. With dedication and humility, Bob was a shining light, devoting countless time to uplifting our community throughout his decades. of service. His unwavering willingness to contribute was a testament to his resolute spirit. Above all, Bob was a man of profound integrity and the embodiment of generosity. In a quiet unassuming way he impacted lives, leaving an indelible mark on our community. His gentle spirit and his impressive legacy will continue to resonate with all who had the privilege of knowing him. And one piece of trivia that a lot of people don't know is the reason that the Rec Department has their beautiful new home is that when we were talking about closing the library and moving to a temporary space, we couldn't figure out where to go. And Bob was the one who suggested that we renovate Supply Field and move there and hoped the Rec Department would ultimately move there. And so we have that renovated space thanks to him.
Scarsdale Pool
What’s the next step for the renovation of the Scarsdale Pool Complex? Mayor Arest explained, “The board understands the importance of the pool project and the impact it will have on generations of residents. We also know that getting to the finish line will take a village. We will need the input and diverse perspectives of the community as well as continuity. “
He announced the formation of an Ad Hoc Scarsdale Pool Redevelopment Committee. The mission of the committee is stated as follows:
To advise and assist the Board of Trustees in achieving the successful redevelopment of our municipal pool facility in a manner that reflects the needs, desires, and spirit of our diverse community. We are dedicated to creating a safe, accessible, and engaging space that fosters health, connection, and enjoyment for all residents. Through the integration of community involvement, we aim to design a pool that is environmentally sustainable, financially viable, and is a source of pride for our municipality.
The following residents were appointed to the committee:
Larry Medvinsky, Chairperson
Lynn Brooks Avni
Anothny East
Diane Greenwald
Casey Klurfeld
Mark Mathias
Anne Moretti
Aubrey Phillibert
Andrew Sereysky
Carol Silverman
Anita Singhal
The Mayor continued, “Our next steps for this project will be engaging a construction manager, to assist us in ensuring that we are building a new complex that fits within our project constraints and is completed in an efficient manner. In the coming weeks we will also refine the needs of the facility that have already been identified with the help of our expert consultants and move into schematic design.”
Con Edison Gas Lines
Village Manager Rob Cole gave an update on the continuing work on Con Edison’s installation of a gas main and gas service lines in Scarsdale.
He said that the utility continues to make progress along Fox Meadow Road, with two crews working simultaneously near Chesterfield and Kent Road. They skipped a portion of Fox Meadow Road just south of Fenimore Road where they were unable to traverse the Village’s water system and are looking into how to do that work.
Con Edison will continue to work south on Fox Meadow Road until they reach Crane Road where the work will go east on Church Lane. They are on schedule for completion of this phase of the project to Church Lane by the end of 2023.
Simultaneously Con Ed is currently working on Church Lane between Crane Road and Wayside Lane on a residential service main that provides connections for each residential property up and down Church Lane. This is not connected to the larger project along Fox Meadow Road. This work is supposed to be done before the beginning of school this fall.
After the project on Church Lane is complete, similar work is expected to be done on Drake Road.
Community Events:
Cole highlighted the following upcoming events:
The last summer concert of the season featuring the Westchester County band will be held on Thursday, August 10 at 8 pm where they will be playing a medley of rock, classics and marches.
There will be a Party in the Park at Hyatt Park on Friday, August at 11 from 6pm to 8pm.
The Farmers Market, will be open this Sunday from 9am to 1pm and each Sunday during the same hours through November 19.
Senior Program Coordinator
Cole announced that after a long search, the Department of Parks Recreation and Conservation had hired Mehta Silver to be the Senior Programming Coordinator. She is seeking to collaborate with the Scarsdale Public Library, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service and the Village Advisory Council on Scarsdale Seniors to produce frequent and helpful programming.
New Liquor Store
An application has been filed for a special use permit for the location of a female-owned liquor store on Christie Place, in the space formerly occupied by Patisserie Salzburg. Amici Dei Vini will sell domestic and international wines and spirits. If approved,the 2,543 square foot space would be renovated from a bakery to accommodate a liquor store. The Trustees scheduled a public hearing on the permit for their meeting on October 10, 2023 at 8 pm.
During public comments, Yaliana Hernandez from Studio Architecture spoke in support of the application. She explained that Amici Del Vini is a liquor store that hopes to go into One Christie Place which is located within the planned unit development 1.4 zone. This specific space that they are hoping to go into is on the ground floor of the building across from DeCiccos and next to Chat and said, “We would like to be able to apply for a special use permit for this liquor store within the zone.”
Master Service Agreements for Architectural and Engineering Services
In order to get access to the highest quality services at the best value for the Village, Village Managers issued an RFP for professional and technical services for architectural and engineering services. Thirty firms submitted proposals and the staff reviewed the proposals and interviewed multiple firms.
After deliberating, the staff recommended four consulting firms to be a part of this master services agreement and proposed to sign two-year service agreements with these firms:
H2M Architects and Engineers, 2700 Westchester Avenue, Suite 415, Purchase, NY 10577for architecture/building design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), structural, civil engineering (including stormwater and wastewater conveyance), landscape architecture, and surveying services.
Mott MacDonald, NY Inc. 120 White Plains Road, Suite 140, Tarrytown, NY 10591 for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), structural, civil engineering (including stormwater and wastewater conveyance), traffic engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying services.
LiRo Architects + Planners, P.C, One State Street Plaza, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10004 for architecture/building design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), structural, civil engineering (including stormwater and wastewater conveyance), traffic engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying services.
Peter F. Gaito & Associates, 102 Waller Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605 for architecture/building design services;
The resolution was approved by Village Trustees.
Letter to the Editor: Drive Carefully Until New Light Is Installed
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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-The following letter was submitted by Christine Weston in response to the news that a traffic light will be installed on the Post Road at Edgewood Road.
Many thanks, but caution is imperative for the next two years.
The Edgewood and Crane Berkley neighborhoods are sincerely grateful to New York State Assembly Member Amy Paulin and New York State Senator Shelley Mayer for their successful negotiation with the New York State Department of Transportation to install a much-needed traffic light at the intersection of Post and Edgewood Roads. The support and hard work of Village Manager Rob Cole is also recognized—many thanks to you.
While this news is encouraging, the timeline is concerning. Edgewood Elementary school opens next week, and when those doors open, there will be many Crane Berkley families with young children crossing there at least twice a day. There are a lot of school days between now and the estimated installation of the light in 2025. These parents will be putting their lives and the lives of their young children at risk for more than two years.
Until that happens, we implore the community: BE CAREFUL. Drivers, please slow down on the approach to Edgewood Road. Pedestrians, cross very carefully; assume cars can’t see you.
Relief is on the way, but we have to continue to stay vigilant until we see that first red light.
Sincerely,
Christine Weston
26 Taunton Road
When Two Is Not Better Than One
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Many residents have noted the loss of a Regency style home at the corner of Crane Road and Church Lane. First because the 1930’s weathered brick home had a squirrel weathervane and lots of character and second because it was nicely setback on an ample size lot of just over a half acre.
Despite an opinion by the Village’s architectural historian Andrew Dolkart arguing for its preservation, developers received permission to tear down 29 Church Lane in 2022. In September 2022 builder Dean Scampone received permission from the Scarsdale Planning Board to subdivide the lot.
Now, the property has been divided and two very large homes have popped up. They appear to be very close together and close to the street. The bulk of the home on the corner blocks sightlines and may make this busy intersection even more dangerous. The street is narrow so if cars and trucks park on the street, drivers have to swerve into the opposite lane to pass them. Trees have been taken down, and there is a loss of pervious surface in an area that is prone to flooding.
A posting on Facebook about the demolition and subdivision in October 2022 received 60 comments. One said, “A long time ago/when we were kids here I remember learning that Scarsdale required every house built to be unique. No house could be a copy of another. I learned about this in 8th grade in Social Studies (Popham House 1983). Indeed that was what made Scarsdale a beautiful residential community. Every home was unique jewel box regardless of size, with a size and design harmoniously built within the parameters of its lot. It took thoughtful planning over time to make a beautiful and elegant community. It doesn’t take that much time to take it all down.”
Another said, “I am assuming it's in the hands of a developer?? The lot it sits on is so small … how would they fit two properties there?? Besides the sad fact that that beautiful home will be demolished, that cross section is already so busy and dangerous w its blind spots for vehicles and pedestrians ... this would involve at least 6 months of construction!! Outrageous!!”
The original house at 29 Church Lane.
And a third, asked, “I would love to better understand what we can do to stop the subdivisions and the building of houses that take up all the yard. So many beautiful homes and properties are being ruined in our lovely town!”
Still another said, “Does the Village and its code take any responsibility and will it manage safety with all of the construction vehicles --Crane and Church is a high traffic access point for Fox Meadow Elementary School and for students who walk to SHS. That is the only side of Church with sidewalk access. The number of accidents on Church and Crane between St James and Chase Rd continue to go unnoticed. How will the Village manage safety?
The same scenario occurs over and over again in Scarsdale, yet the Committee for Historic Preservation, the Planning Board, Zoning Board and Village Trustees throw out the welcome mat to developers while turning a deaf ear to neighbors and residents who clearly want better preservation laws, a halt to subdivisions and stricter building requirements. Each board claims that they are following the law governing their own board which prevents them from considering the total picture.
Is anyone listening? Why are we permitting a few developers to profit while we lose neighborhood character, exacerbate flooding and increase the risk of accidents?
