What Happened in Utica Stays in Utica
- Details
- Written by Isabel Klein
- Hits: 5229
Perhaps the community is wondering what ever happened when Scarsdale High School students flocked to support the Raiders at their semi-final hockey game in Utica, New York on March 14. It was a big trip and, to many parents' concern, some students stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn Express near the stadium. Yet, there were no widely known scandals. No emergency parent group meetings. Utica came and went, and everyone arrived home safely. My friends and I wonder how we possibly pulled an adventure off like that without any serious mania. We did, and it was incredible.
On the easy three hour drive up to Utica, it was exciting to spot the proverbial "Scarsdale Raiders" bumper sticker on the windows of other cars driving down the highway and to look over and see a fellow classmate bopping their head to their own road trip playlist. Sleepy rest stops in quiet upstate towns were teaming with Scarsdale students and echoing with the kind of high school chatter that usually fills Langes on Friday afternoons. (One boy even told a story of running into a high school administrator in a rest stop bathroom, and then having to use the urinal next to him.) Most students left at the same time and thus arrived at the stadium at the same time -- all decked out in maroon clothing and face paint. Spirits were high.
At the game, the energy from the cheering fans was unrelenting. In comparison, the McQuiad (the rival team) fan section was subdued, even though their school is much closer to the stadium than ours. The fans were supporting the players throughout the whole game. We cheered for every Scarsdale goal and even encouraged the team after a McQuiad goal. Energy was intense when the teams were tied, but, eventually, those McQuiad goals outnumbered the Scarsdale ones, and the Raiders lost the game 4 - 2. The loss felt tragic, and heads hung low as we all grudgingly headed back to the Holiday Inn Express for the night.
By 9 p.m, however, the mood transformed from sorrow to excitement. After all, the prospect of an unsupervised evening was exciting. It would be like summer camp -- or, more relevant to us seniors, it would be exactly like college. Oh yes, like any classic movie depiction of an out-of-control Big 10 college party it certainly was. All hell broke loose. The class of 2015 completely took over floors two and three, running in and out of rooms and wreaking havoc.
At 10 pm the hotel tried to control everyone and brought out their wartime consigliores'': a team of short middle-aged women with voices louder than the captain of the cheerleading team and presences scarier than the heaviest football player. They were doing what it took to reclaim those second and third floors of their sacred Holiday Inn Express, including threatening to kick kids out of the hotel and searching rooms. They were adding $100 - $200 fines to the bills for rooms that were damaged. Some kid threw a Timberland boot at the manager; others got kicked off the roof. They chased kids out of the pool area, which was definitely filled above maximum capacity.
The team did their job fast, as most students were too scared to leave whatever room they were in by around 11 p.m. My observations end at this time as I only know what happened in my room. I would not dare meet the wrath of those hotel employees by venturing outside.
The next morning was awkward to say the least at the hotel's complimentary buffet breakfast. Eye contact between hotel employees and students was brief, and everyone just tried to get out of there as fast as possible.
On the drive home, we reflected on the amazing season the hockey team had this year and acknowledged how lucky we were to be along for the ride (pun intended). It was the game of the year, and we had all been there supporting the team together. If that is not a priceless high school memory, I do not know what is. When I reached home, my mother asked me how Utica was. "Mom, what happens in Utica, stays in Utica," I replied. That was the end of that.
Hip Enough to Eat
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 6012
If you're craving wood-fired pizza, meatballs and roasted vegetables but don't have the patience to wait for a table at Poppeltina or Burrata, here's your best bet. La Fortina of Armonk has opened a second large new venue in the Rye Ridge Shopping Center – and the good news is they take reservations.
The vibe is the same as their place up north – young, hip and a bit loud. The millennial staff is eager to please and greets you with plenty of smiles, advice about the menu and a high-tech ordering system that should guarantee quick service.
Similar to the Armonk venue the restaurant has a long bar, open ceilings and rustic furnishings that feel more like Williamsburg that suburban Rye. I was happy to find a place that felt far away but was only a short drive from Scarsdale.
So what is there to drink and eat? They offer an impressive selection of beers on draft and by the bottle from Germany, Australia, California, Colorado, Maine and more. Mixed drinks include cocktails, and even mocktails for anyone wishing to avoid alcohol. The wine list is extensive with whites, reds, Spumantis and rose from Italy, France and beyond offered by the bottle and the glass. It's worth taking a little time to study the list on the back of the oversized menu before making your selection.
Though at first glance you may think this is just another pizza parlor, you'll be surprised to find an extensive menu with salumie e formaggi, anti-pasti, wood-fired vegetable, pasta made on the premises and entrees including chicken, fish, pork and beef.
We started with an arugula salad with lemon, sweet candied pistachios and shave parmesan and the wood-fired baby carrots with walnut cream and pecorino. All the dishes were large enough for our party of three to share. Our waitress recommended the Luigi Bianco pizza and it could not have been better. The hot, crispy crust was smothered in burrata, robiolona and parmesan cheese and drizzled with black truffles. A rich, earthy delight.
Pasta selection include fresh ravioli, pastasciutto with tomato, basil and parm, baked 
ziti, fusilli with tomato, onion, smoked bacon, chili and pecorino. We ordered the wood-fired paccheri, which are large tube-shaped noodles with vodka-béchamel sauce, baby veal meatballs and parmesan. That dish went quickly!
Since there was a problem with our service– (perhaps the waitress did not hit "enter" on her iPad after she input our order?), we were unexpectedly served a full array of complimentary desserts – all good. If you have room, go for the brown butter bread pudding with maple marscapone. It's a sweet treat that reminded me of Christmas. Also delicious was their homemade soft-serve gelato and the tiramisu.
Prices are reasonable, tables are plentiful and the mood is seriously casual.
It's no wonder why La Fortina is rapidly expanding; they have plans to open in Brooklyn soon!
La Fortina
136 South Ridge Street
Rye Brook, NY
914-937-0900
http://fortinapizza.com/rye-brook/
Monday – Friday 12 pm – all night long
Saturday Dinner starts at 5 pm
Sunday Brunch 12 – 5 pm
Dinner starts at 5 pm
A Joyful Chinese New Year Celebration in Scarsdale
- Details
- Written by Claire He
- Hits: 6753
On February 28, over three hundred people came to the Scarsdale Library for a joyful Chinese New Year celebration to welcome the year of the Sheep. The well-attended event boasted a lively lion dance, eight group performances by Scarsdale Chinese families, several crafts and game tables, as well as refreshments at the end. Among the attendees were Scarsdale Mayor Mr. Robert Steves, Mayor Elect Mr. Jon Marks, Chief of Police Mr. Andrew Matturro and many other local residents.
This is the first-ever community-wide celebration co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Chinese Association and the Scarsdale Library. Chinese New Year has been celebrated at all of the elementary schools for the past few years. For this first village-wide celebration, residents from all five districts pooled resources and collaborated with success.
As the guests entered the library, they were greeted with bright red window decorations and warm smiles from the volunteers in traditional Chinese garb. Lanterns, New Year scrolls and craft tables lined the hallway leading to the Scott Room, instantly putting everyone into the festive holiday mood. Music, laughter and friendly chatter filled the room, which was decked out with bright decorations bearing good wishes for the New Year and a spring full of hope.
With a round of triumphant drum roll, the volunteer lion dance team kicked off the event with fanfare. The audience cheered as the lions crouched and jumped down the aisles. They enjoyed it even more when they recognized their neighbors and friends behind the lion costumes. The baby lions, played by young children, drew the biggest applause. After a brief welcome by the SCA current chair, a Scarsdale High School student discussed the origin of Chinese New Year traditions such as firecrackers and red envelopes, and answered questions from the audience. This was followed by two beautiful children's dances "Little Apple" and "Jasmine Flower", both by amateur troupes of elementary school students. The audience was deeply impressed by their professional choreography and costumes. Two Scarsdale middle schoolers performed a violin duet of the traditional Chinese folk song "Sweet Rice Balls", bringing back sweet childhood memories to many. The Scarsdale High School Mandarin class students, most of them of non-Chinese heritage, presented a play, "Three Little Pigs," in Chinese, which drew enthusiastic cheers and applause. A group of grandmothers in their sixties and seventies, looking radiant and fit in their red outfits, performed an energetic traditional dance that inspired all generations in the audience. The finale and high note were two fashion shows by a group of twenty Scarsdale moms, who all looked stunning as they modeled traditional Chinese costume (Han Fu) and mandarin dress (Qi Pao).
After the performances, adults and children lingered to resume the arts 
and crafts activities, play games and to sample delicious dumplings, spring rolls and scallion pancakes from Jade Spoon. They learned how to make an elaborate Chinese knot for decoration, a cute fluffy lamb with paper and cotton balls, and also perfected their chopstick skills and memory of the twelve horoscopes. Many stayed long after the programmed concluded, savoring the happy memories and catching up with friends and neighbors.
Mayor Bob Steves and wife Kathy said, "We very much enjoyed all of the performances and of course the food. But more importantly we appreciated the Scarsdale Chinese Association's effort to share its New Year celebration with the whole Scarsdale community."
The Scarsdale Chinese Association (SCA) was founded over 10 years ago by Chinese American families in Scarsdale to support each other and work together to contribute to the Scarsdale community. There are currently 250 members and the number continues to grow. SCA members commented: "Many SCA members have lived in Scarsdale for a long time and we love the town and the schools here. We may not have grown up here, but our children will. We value the traditions here and strive hard to make our adoptive community stronger. We celebrate Thanksgiving and other holidays as much as we celebrate Chinese New Year. Today's event is intended to bring everyone together and enrich the overall community. We are thrilled to see our neighbors embrace our culture and enjoy the activities so much. We would love to contribute as much as we can to bring the best of both worlds to Scarsdale, to help bridge and poise our next generation for a future of global economy."
Article by Claire He, Photos by Paula Whittlin
Library Moves Forward with Improvement Plans
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 5551
The Village moved another step forward with plans to renovate and improve the Scarsdale Library at their March 10 meeting when they accepted gifts totaling $105,000 and designated the funds to retain Dattner Architects to further develop the library master plan for a project that is estimated to cost $12 million.
The Scarsdale Library Board has been formulating plans to renovate and expand the building to improve services, better use the space, enhance its technological capacity and create a physical environment that will be a "welcoming and versatile learning center." The Board retained architects to do a master plan that was completed in 2013 and estimates that the total project cost will be $12 million. The Village Board has asked the Library Board to raise $4.5 million and will match this with a contribution of $4.5 million in funds. An additional $3 million will need to be raised to complete the entire project, which will be done in three phases. The plan is to keep the library open during all phases of construction.
At the Board meeting on Tuesday night they accepted a gift of $75,000 from Steven and Barbara Kessler and $30,000 from the E. Wachs Foundation in memory of Elise Maas. The funds will be used to pay for architectural services for schematic designs, design development, construction bid document preparation and bid analysis.
Trustee Stacey Brodsky, who served as the Trustee Liaison to the Library Board said, "The Board will undertake an enormous fundraising campaign to fund renovations and changes to the library to make it a library of the 21st century. Our community is accustomed to giving modest gifts to the Friends of the Library but now the library is looking for real generosity from the community to help develop the library, which is our community space. They plan to build the library that our community wants. The master plan came directly from interviews and focus groups with community members. The Village has in principal agreed to match $4.5 of funds raised --but it will be a $12 million project – not $9 million. The library is asking you to think what it means to you. Please respond when the campaign goes public."
Library Director Elizabeth Bermel said, "We are thrilled to take this next 
major step toward our goal of transforming the Library into a wonderful space for the whole community to enjoy. We know that big changes are needed to meet the expectations of our residents and we are so grateful to the generous donors who are helping make this happen."
Famous Greek Kitchen
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 7064
On one of the recent "coldest nights of the year," we risked the ice and ventured out to Greenwich – near Byram- to sample a family-owned Greek restaurant that received raves from a friend. The hostess was happy to grant our request to be seated well away from the door, and we found ourselves in a cozy booth with white leather banquette seats, shielded from any wintery air that could find its way in through the front door.
The restaurant was warm as was our greeting from our waiter who offered us drinks and a nice overview of what should be ordered from the extensive menu. It turns out that Famous Greek Kitchen opened thirty-three years ago as a pizza and souvlaki house. The owner's children have taken the restaurant into new directions. Steve Karipides is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has expanded the menu way beyond pizza and souvlaki. His sisters Maria and Sophia are also involved and assure diners a good experience.
So what is there to eat? Lots --and many appealing choices from which to choose – both Greek, Italian 
and continental. The choice of appetizers had quite a few tempters so we went for a bunch of those and shared our main courses. Baked shrimp saganaki with tomato, feta and fresh herbs was irresistible: tangy, hot melted cheese and delectable seafood in a flavorful tomato sauce. On the night we were there they were offering this dish with lobster and scallops – making it even better. Zucchini pancakes with tzatziki was another special appetizer and the pancakes were light and not greasy and came with homemade cucumber and yogurt sauce. We downed that quickly too. Friends loved the Oktapodi, char-grilled octopus drizzled with red win marinade. Other good options are the dips – roasted bean, melitzanosalta (roasted eggplant,) hummus, skordalia (potato, beets and roasted garlic), tyrokafteri (feta and hot peppers) or a sampling of any three for $14.95.
When in Greece ... order the Greek salad – and we did that too. The Horiatiki salad – is a lettuce-less priced at $10.95 with chopped tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onion, olives and peppers tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. Even though we are suffering through the bleakest of winters, these vegetables tasted like they came from sunnier climes.
Though there are many Greek entress on the menu – including souvlaki platters, moussaka, pastitsio, grilled lamb chops and grilled fish, my husband got a whiff of steak from the grill and ordered a rib eye which was enough for three. It was grilled on the outside, juicy on the inside and served with creamy potatoes. Also on the menu were beef and lamb burgers and fresh made pizzas. I wanted to try the lemon-herb organic chicken and the rigatoni with creamy beef and lamb ragu, and a dollop of ricotta – that that will have to be on next visit.
We didn't have trouble getting in on a weeknight and heard weekends are busy but not impossible.
When we finished, I turned to the waiter and asked him why Greek food in the U.S. is better than Greek food in Greece ... and I meant it!
Check out Famous Greek Kitchen and let us know what you think in the comments sections below.
Famous Greek Kitchen
10 North Water Street
Greenwich, CT
203-531-6887
www.famousgreekkitchen.com
