RECORD-REVIEW "Talk of the Town"

"TALK OF THE TOWN"
By Bonni Brodnick

Go to the Town Park, then leave. At the stop sign going back onto Westchester Avenue, take a look across the street, at about 2:00 on the nautical dial. In the midst of a wintry Pound Ridge landscape is a stunning ice sculpture by Artie Clark. “What started as a simple way for me and my son, Al, to occupy our time during the non-eventful months of winter, has evolved into something the community began to notice and revel,” said the artist who uses water and cold temperatures to create his temporal masterpiece. The big surprise was when neighbors began stopping Artie around town to compliment him. “I had never expected so many people to notice/connect me with it. Since I’ve lived in Pound Ridge my entire life, it makes me incredibly happy to know that other residents do notice and appreciate my efforts. The appreciation keeps me going year after year.”

The Artie Clark Ice Sculpture is now illuminated with an inner light at night, which adds to its mystery. This veritable glacial behemoth is created through the use of a well pump submerged in a small pond about 100-feet away. Attached to the pump is small pipe with a pressure washer nozzle at the end of it. “The nozzle is hung in a tree at a height of about 20-feet, allowing for the fine mist to cover a greater area. The ice usually lasts until the end of April, and despite global warming, this trend has continued year after year.”

Need a lift? Come to the 9th Annual Pound Ridge Elementary School PTA Cabaret on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in the PRES gym. Students in grades 3-5 will perform dance acts, sing songs, perform comedy skits, play musical instruments, you name it. Look forward to Annabelle Beni, AJ Peck, Kassie Kalman, Emily Kowalski and Isabel Warner shaking a booty to “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.” Grace Bartlett will dance to the Fireflies, and Simon Peck will defy gravity with an exciting pogo stick act. Victoria Bartlett, Katherine Grilli and Leah Goran will sing, and various piano pieces will be performed. The Cabaret will be masterfully MC’d by Jean Mazzilli, PRES gym teacher. As is sung in Stephen Sondheim and Julie Styne’s Broadway classic, “Gypsy,” … "Let them entertain you, let them make you smile. Let them show you a few tricks, some old and some new tricks, they’re very versatile. And if you’re real good, they’ll make you feel good, they’ll make your spirits fly!” No admission fee and baked goods will be available. For more info, call 764-8133.

More weekend theatrics continue as Fox Lane Middle School (FLMS) presents “Little Shop of Horrors” on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Fox Lane High School Mary Lou Meese Theater. Tickets, which are $15, can be reserved online at flmstheater@gmail.com or by calling 241-7912. FLMS music teachers Matt Vanacoro will direct and Mike Piescki will produce. We also heard it through the grapevine that they will grace us with their talents in the pit band at show time. Among the students performing in the upcoming “Little Shop of Horrors” are esteemed young Pound Ridge thespians Heath Carmichael, Phoebe Cavise, Peter Luca Malinverni and Francesca Leventhan.

“Talk of the Town” sends Mary Moat very best 99th birthday wishes. In my book, “Pound Ridge Past: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk,” Mary talked about coming here in 1949 as a young mother. “There were only 800 people living in town, and everyone knew everyone else.” Through the decades, Mary has given her time as founding member of the Pound Ridge Historical Society, for whom she served on and off for more than 20 years. Mary has served as a board member of the Landmarks and Historic District Commission, was past president of the Garden Club, and on the board of the Ninth District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State. “I suppose I’ve been on every committee there is to be on in this town. If you come here and love Pound Ridge, you should be willing to give something of yourself to make it a better place.” Mary, a true grande dame of our town, is exemplary in all she does. Happy Birthday, Mary!

THE RECORD-REVIEW "Talk of the Town"

By BONNI BRODNICK

The Messina household is full of even more joy than we read about in “Talk of the Town” in November. Another grandbaby is in the midst with the birth of Makenna Ann, born on December 23, 2009 to Lisa (Alexander) and Christopher Ryan. Makenna joins her (brand) new cousin Mikey, who was born on November 1 to Donna (Alexander) and Michael Bonacci. “We are completely thrilled,” said Barbara Messina of her new grandson “Mikey” and granddaughter Makenna. “I call them my little M & M’s.” We also send our very best wishes to Mary and Paul Legrand, who welcomed their first grandchild, Isabelle, born to son, John, and his wife, Dr. Tjasa Hranjec on December 24, 2009. “Isabelle was a wonderful Christmas Eve gift. She is absolutely beautiful!” wrote Mary, former “Talk of the Town” columnist, from their new base in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The Zhush, our town style obsessionista + observationer, told us that Pantone, the world renowned authority on color, has declared turquoise this year's color of the year. “Not only will this apply to interiors, but expect to see a lot more turquoise this spring and summer in clothes and accessories. This is good news as turquoise jewelry always looks so well suited to the casual chic style of northern Westchester. Whether you are dressed Ralph Lauren style — inspired by Native American jewelry — or in a fun new necklace fresh from Tory Burch's spring accessories line, turquoise jewelry is consistently appealing.”

Peering into her crystal ball, in 2010 we can also expect the legging trend to continue, as Jeggings (jeans + leggings) are here to stay. “A chic alternative to the now ubiquitous ‘Juicy’ suit, leggings, and/or jeggings with at-the-knee or over-the knee-boots are a great way to look put together and still feel comfortable enough to run around Scotts Corners and then dine out at the Bedford Post.” For more, more, more, on Glamour yes’s and no’s, go to hip Pound Ridger The Zhush @thezhush.blogspot.com.

Lots happening in Scott Corners ... Is your car up to snuff for the winter weather? Let Pound Ridge Sunoco on Westchester Avenue give it a check. For $19.99, they’re offering a winter special that includes topping off all fluids, checking the battery, and filling the tires to proper pressure for cold, snow and sleet. It takes just 10 minutes, and they’ll even pull your car into the bay (so you don’t have to stand there idle and freezing.) Call 764-4478 for an appointment or bring your car by one afternoon. And incidentally, if you are hooked on Carmex, they are the depot for that, too. This seriously hard-to-find soothing and moisturizing lip balm will kick dryness around the block. Finally, a new station to turn to in town.

And finally, don’t miss the 17th Annual Pound Ridge Business Association “January Sales Days” that runs through to Sunday, Jan. 31. Eight enticing retailers are participating. Albano Appliance & Service is offering 10 percent off on housewares, including vacuums. All Your Yesterdays is offering 20 percent off; Antiques & Interiors has 20 percent off vintage jewelry, Staffordshire and everything else; and Antiques & Tools of Business & Kitchen is offering 50 percent off all items with a red dot on the tag and 30 percent off everything else, inside and outside. Sales include a wood stove for $90 and a 3-gong dinner bell for $209. And wait! There’s more! Eileen Godfrey Miniatures & Doll Houses (train set, anyone?), Juleigh’s Resale Coutures (anyone need to jazz up their wardrobe with a little Missoni or Christian Louboutin?); Pinocchio Pizza’s Steve Cioffi has a “Family Fest Special,” with two large pizzas and sodas, reduced from $30.99 to $23.99; and Louis Weinstock’s Poundridge Nurseries has holiday decorations on sale at 40 percent off. The indoor plant sale begins on February 1. So can the malls. Come down to Scotts Corners and shop, baby, shop.

RECORD-REVIEW "Talk of the Town"

January 17, 2010

"TALK OF THE TOWN"
By Bonni Brodnick

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Your kid wants to be a rock star. Well, keep the rose-colored glasses handy because 2010 could be his/her lucky year. The Paul Green School of Rock Music in Bedford inspires young rockers with a method that completely changes the paradigm of studying music. For a monthly tuition, kids get a private 45-minute lesson on bass, drums, guitar, keyboard or vocal. The year-round program has a rolling admissions process for three 14-week semesters (winter session is about to begin). The finale is a real show (which is like a recital) at a real rock venue with real lights, amps, a soundman and light man, and where your very own rock star gets to perform live to a large audience (of friends and family).

“Our goal is to combine the one-on-one music lesson with the performance experience,” said Jamey Staub, School of Rock music director, and an audio engineer and producer in NYC. His main instrument is drum and percussion, but he also teaches voice, keyboard and guitar. “There are 20 kids in the show, and the goal is to learn and perform 20 songs. So along with music and performance techniques, the kids learn a lot about social skills and working together. We really encourage inter-activity.”

“I love everything about School of Rock: the music atmosphere, the cool teachers, and the friendly kids. And we all have something in common: music,” said Jordan Bernacchia, a drummer and junior at Fox Lane High School. With musical taste ranging from hard rock to thrash metal, this die-hard fan of Nirvana, The Who, Metallica, and Lynyrd Skynyrd likes to play songs where he can go completely nuts and “anything with a lot of scratchy singing.”
Cassie Kalman, a 5th grader at Pound Ridge Elementary School, is in full accord. “School of Rock is a great/fun place to learn to play/sing cool music.” And the Goldstein family has their own rock band going. Meeghan (13-year-old drummer), Riley (10-year-old vocalist and keyboardist) and McKenna (8-year-old electric guitarist), all students at Rippowam Cisqua, are full-fledged School of Rockers.

“It’s a great feeling to play with other kids in a band,” said Meeghan, who has been grooving at rock school for two years. “You get committed to the group and if you don't practice, you feel like you're letting everyone down so you want to work harder. And I love the shows. The performances are fun to be a part of and I can't wait for our show this week.” (At Rack ‘N’ Roll Café in Stamford this Friday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. The school’s Classic Metal Show, which will feature music by Iron Mate, Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, is Friday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. **If you call School of Rock and inquire about the program, you’ll get a free ticket.)

“It is hard to say what I like best about going to School of Rock,” added Riley. “But if I could describe it in one word, it’s AMAZING!” For adults who never want to grow old, the Court Road studio offers “Grad School”, along with advanced programs in recording and songwriting. Bring out your inner Ozzy Osborne. Call 234-0418 or go to www.schoolofrock.com/westchester. You can even pull some strings if you check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Yt4uUsgbE.

The Pound Ridge Theater Company and Acting Company of Greenwich proudly announce auditions for the regional premier of the hilarious 2006 off-Broadway madcap musical comedy, “I Love You Because,” with book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, and music by Joshua Salzman. This modern-day musical retelling Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” with genders reversed will be directed by Larry Schneider, with musical direction by Howard Kilik, and choreography by Lala Ghahreman. Auditions are Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan. 26-27 at 7 p.m. for the 14 performances that will run Friday, April 23 through Saturday, May 22, split up between Conant Hall in the Hamlet and the First Congregational Church in Greenwich. Bring music in your vocal range for two contemporary musical theater songs, preferably one belter and one ballad. You may also be asked to learn a brief dance at the auditions. For complete information, to read a plot synopsis, a summary of the six roles, and to listen to all of the musical numbers, go to www.accentoncomputers.com/ilyb.htm. For more information, you may also write to iloveyoubecausepr@gmail.com

RECORD-REVIEW "Talk of the Town"

By BONNI BRODNICK

So, how are you doing with your New Year resolutions? Are you feeling happier, funnier, thinner, more focused, physically fit, appreciative, and balanced? Are you suddenly spending more time with your family, less time on the computer, learning something new, or quitting bothersome habits? Don’t be too hard on yourself. You still have 50 more weeks of the first year in the new decade to achieve perfection.

Along with many seeking the above quests for personal excellence, in a cross-town survey we were enlightened to learn about other resolutions Pound Ridgers are seeking (or not) in MMX:

“I want to continue to stop, as often as possible, to smell the roses.” ~LG

“I don't do resolutions, per se, but rather pick a theme (or mantra) and for the year and try to internalize it (i.e. permanent change). This system has actually helped me become consciously aware of something on which I need to improve. Examples: 2009: leave a smaller carbon footprint. 2008: Embrace that there are always more than two ways to solve a problem. 2007: Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react.” ~AR

“We have made a family resolution to spend more time together without laptops or BlackBerry's in hand. Our first step will be to institute a 2-hour ‘electronic-free zone’ each evening. Good luck, right? Well, we'll try.” ~DB

“Cut down on sugar, wheat and dairy. Then maybe I'll lose a few lbs.” ~CV

“I’m resolving to add something new to my life that nurtures and opens new dimensions. I've spent so many years concentrating on how to make other people’s lives richer, now it's time for me.” ~DF

“I am in a resolution-free zone (don't do them), just do a little meditation thing on New Year's Eve.” ~AMR
Consumer alert from a reader on Trinity Lane: Have you received all of your holiday gift cards? This 30-year resident received one from William Sonoma last February but it never arrived. When she reported it missing, she was told it had already been cashed at Woodbury Common. (William Sonoma did, however, replace the card.)

This Christmas, not one, but three Amazon gift cards mailed from different locations, also never arrived. “My concern is that this occurs frequently, and people are not reporting it to the companies concerned or to our post office. Our mail is sorted, and handled, several times in transit before it is delivered to Pound Ridge, so the gift cards could have been intercepted anywhere. If other readers have not received their gift cards by post-holiday, they should contact the companies, as well as the Pound Ridge postmaster, who has been very helpful.”

It’s open-season for winter programs sponsored by the Pound Ridge Recreation Department. Check the pupils of your children. If they look dilated, they might be suffering from boredom. Activities gearing up for the New Year include youth basketball for 1st through 8th graders. Toddler art, with teachers Donna Chaite and Susan Schwarz, offers both morning and afternoon sessions, and yoga classes, with yoginis Sharron Cohen and Jane Schewior, are in full swing. If you would like to receive timely information about other town activities and events, be sure to send your email address to David Goldberg, recreation supervisor, at dgoldberg@townofpoundridge.com. We are on pins and needles waiting to hear when the pond in the Town Park is thick enough for ice skating (and based upon the recent frigid weather, that should be soon). If you’re on “The List,” you’re sure to be in-the-know.

Speaking of open-season (sorry, deer), one of our loyal readers who goes by the moniker “Octogenarian 1927,” has opened her special recipe book to share two procurements for venison given to her directly by Herr Kohl, owner of the famous Drei Husaren, Vienna’s only restaurant to have been founded by a member of nobility. According to (code name) Octo-1927, the name of the restaurant comes from the Honor Guard of Hungarian officers and the recipes are safeguarded like military secrets. But for you, we’ll make an exception. If you’d like to share the bastion of good taste and eat like an emperor, write towntalk@optonline.net and we’ll send you the long-treasured Viennese recipes for “Deer Haunch in Pistachio Crust with Sultana Sauce and Potato Dumplings” and “Venison Haunch on Pumpkin Goulash with Quark Gnocchi.” Kindness of Octo-1927, of course.

Bedford-Pound Ridge RECORD-REVIEW, "Talk of the Town" - January 3, 2010

TALK OF THE TOWN
By Bonni Brodnick

Whether you rang in the New Year donning velvet and satin or polar fleece and jeans, we hope your celebration was memorable and brings good tidings for 2010. On our side, we gave a hale and hearty champagne toast to my Mom, who is 79 years old today on New Year’s Day. Happy birthday, Mom!

The Pound Ridge Neighbors & Newcomers Club enjoyed a hugely successful holiday luncheon at Oishii Asian Fusion Restaurant in Mount Kisco. More than 24 friends of PRNCC enjoyed fantastic food and service “… plus a delicious cheese cake with green-tea ice cream sundaes topped with sparklers to celebrate the holidays,” wrote Anne Cook. A highlight of the afternoon was a Yankee Swap Raffle with prizes worth over $200.00. “We would like to thank Billy Fortin (proprietor of Scotts Corner Market) for his generous contributions of gift certificates. Few went home without a gift and everyone received an ornament pine cone from PRNNC. Kudos to Anne and Donna Monaco Olsen, who did a terrific job coordinating the luncheon venue and menu, as well as decorating the restaurant and wrapping gifts. PRNNC, an organization comprised of longtime and just-moved-here neighbors, invites you join them in the coming year. (For more info, go to www.prnnc.org.) The Pound Ridge Women’s Republican Club is also grateful to townsfolk who contributed so generously to the Toys for Tots drive at Scotts Corner Market (thank you again, Billy). “Five overflowing shopping carts filled board games, dolls, stuffed animals, books, puzzles and toy cars went to children of our Marines in service and to less fortunate children in the upper Westchester area,” wrote Lisa Zaino. “We also collected more than $600 for the U.S.O., in memory of our fallen Pound Ridge son, Marine Captain Eric A. Jones.”

It’s so complicated. Editing a film, that is. We just saw the new Nancy Meyers film, “it’s Complicated,” with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. We L-O-V-E loved it. One thing though … did anyone else notice a slight editing blip? In the at-home kitchen scene, Jane Adler (Meryl Streep) takes two gorgeous Croque Monsieurs out of the oven. She then brings these open-faced fancy French grilled cheese sandwiches over to the island to serve Adam the architect, who is standing nearby with a glass of wine. He says how amazing they look; she tells him it’s one of the first recipes she learned when she lived in Paris in her early-20s. With a spatula, she then serves Croque Monsieur. In the very next scene, she takes the Croques out of the oven AGAIN and serves them again. Check, please!

Leaving Croque behind … for me, cold weather = chocolate. There’s something about the kick of winter that calls for a cup of hot chocolate, a nip of good chocolate, or a scoop of chocolate ice cream. I just used the word “chocolate” three times in one sentence and I still can’t get enough of it. In our research, we discovered this fun and EZ recipe. Not only does it actually work, but the scary thing is that we are only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake—morning, noon or night.

5-MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed.
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
Enjoy! (If you want to feel slightly more righteous and/or guilt-free, this recipe can serve two.)

Happy New Year and all the best in MMX!