A Few of My Favorite Things

Over the past two years, I've established a handful of go-to places in southern Westchester. These are in no particular order, and are just places/things I'd love to indulge in everyday:

'Sup?

1) The Bronx River Pathway - Positioned along the Bronx River and the Bronx River Parkway, this mostly-paved trail extends from Bronxville all the way up to the Kensico Dam in Valhalla through forests and beautiful stone arch bridges. Though the landscape still looks a little post-apocolyptic after last year's crazy rain and snow storms, you can often see Egrets, Wood Ducks, and other birds that I haven't Googled yet. The pathway is perfect for long-distance runs, as the folks over at the Starbucks near the Hartsdale Metro-North Station have always been kind enough to refill my water bottles, and the Kensico Dam park has water fountains, bathrooms, and lots of green grass to stretch on.

2) Khangri (Yonkers) - After living in the City for a number of years, you get accustomed to have relatively good sushi at anytime. Just over a year ago, this wasn't an option in Yonkers, but Khangri came along and rocked my world. Located on Warburton Street, right near where the Saw Mill River is being daylighted, the restaurant is nicely decorated and spacious with an extremely friendly waitstaff. The sushi has always tasted fresh, but they also serve great cooked items, including the lightly breaded and fried rock shrimp appetizer, the mushroom soup, the Chilean sea bass, and the Hibachi chicken and rib eye.

Stew's vs. Showbiz Pizza

3) Stew Leonard's Wine Shop (Yonkers) - Okay, let's be real: Stew Leonard's is a total mob scene full of wandering parents, dazed children, and weird animatronics that I haven't seen since my 5th birthday party at Showbiz Pizza. Though you still have to deal with the mayhem in the parking lot, the Stew Leonard's Wine Shop is surprisingly great. They have a huge selection of wines, though I'd like to see more from California and New York wineries, but the biggest plus of this place is that their prices are competitive. Next time you're stocking up for a party (or a crazy night by yourself), Stew's is a good option.

4) Harper's Bar & Restaurant (Dobbs Ferry) - I visited Harper's on a whim just a few weeks ago, knowing very little about the place except that they use a lot of fresh and seasonal produce from local farmers. What I didn't know is that they have THE MOST AMAZING BURGER EVER. I don't know what they've done to their meat to make it so magical, or if it's just been a long time since I've had a quality burger, but it was just plain amazing: not too greasy, didn't fall apart, and just tasted like awesomeness on a brioche bun. They also have a decent wine selection and a creative cocktail menu, not to mention are really great atmosphere with a rustic interior and relaxed ambiance. I can't wait to try more items on the menu, but I will mostly be back for the burger.

Source: Flickr

5) Cold Spring, NY - Cold Spring is actually in Putnam County, but makes for a wonderful day trip with Mom or a girlfriend. Cold Spring is a small village right on the eastern shore of Hudson and is easily accessible via Metro-North, just 1 hour from Grand Central and 30 minutes from Croton Harmon. The town is full of adorable antique shops and local restaurants in well-preserved 19th century buildings. Just strolling around the streets makes you forget how close you are to Manhattan, and on those hot, humid summer days, the breeze off the river (plus an ice cream cone) makes it much more bearable.