Bonni Brodnick Blog

  How great that Bedford, NY, has the first bookstore EVER in town?  My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery appears prominently on the "Local Authors" table. "We are close to selling out your book!" was a note from Bedford Books on my Instagram page last night. Mark your calendars for an upcoming book talk on February 4 @ 6 for Heart Awareness Month. I look forward to telling you about my ongoing journey and the importance of a healthy heart. (Did you know that more women die from heart attacks than cancer??)  The book talk will be at Bedford Books , 13 Court Road, Bedford, NY  10506    ( Stay tuned for more info.) And the answer to my first question: IT'S EPIC!!

  I am truly honored that Ellen Best highlighted me in the first writing of her new column, "Best Foot Forward." In it, she writes, "My previous column, the Talk of the Town, was created by former Pound Ridge resident Bonni Brodnick, who passed it on to me almost 15 years ago. ..." She goes on to mention my first book, "Pound Ridge Past: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk," but my stroke seems to have influenced her most. Click here: Best Foot Forward: A stroke of inspiration 

"Memoir Workshop with Bonni Brodnick" Saturdays Nov. 2, 16 & 23  @ 11:00 am  -  12:30 pm Are you inspired to write about something that changed your life? Are you drawn to explore the circumstances surrounding your most vivid memories? For those with a work-in-progress, or those starting fresh, this class will offer a supportive environment where we’ll discuss memoir writing, writing in class, and sharing constructive feedback. You will leave with a new work-in-progress and some insights into the stories you want to write. Join us for this special 3-part memoir workshop series led by famed local author Bonni Brodnick. ~~~ Bonni Brodnick  is the author of  My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery  and  Pound Ridge Past , now in its second edition. She was the town columnist for many years by writing “Talk of the Town” for our local Record-Review. Formerly with Condé Nast Publication’s  Glamour  and  House & Garden  m...

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for friends, teachers, past neighbors, or anyone eager to learn more about Pound Ridge? POUND RIDGE PAST: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk — with photographs by Fran Collin and graphic design by Gina Federico — is a perfect coffee table book. In it, you'll find historical and personal recollections that span from the rural 1920s to the swinging 1970s. Anecdotes from former Pound Ridgers across the country share humorous memories about growing up here, and their brushes with such celebrities as Lauren Bacall and Jason Robards (who once summered on Old Stone Hill Road) and renowned jazz and swing musician Benny Goodman (whose home still graces Long Ridge Road). The collection of more than thirty interviews with the town elders includes charming first-hand stories about the one-room schoolhouses scattered about town, the day World War II ended, raising children, basket making, fishing, farming, partying and more. Actors Tallulah Bankhead , Frank Mor...

Next SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 3-5pm , I'll be reading from my book, "My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery," along with readings by my four other esteemed colleagues/authors. E ngaging conversations, wine & cheese. Please stop by & say hello!!  

 

Photo:  At lunch recently at Kitchen Table in Scotts Corners: Gina Federico, me, Ebie,  and Jennifer Stahlkrantz Sussman   We are saddened to report the passing of dear Ebie Wood. I interviewed her and her beloved Rich in Pound Ridge Past ("Into the Woods," page 78). I loved that they met in second grade at Pound Ridge Elementary School in 1945. A true love story. Ebie was gracious, worldly, and kind-hearted. We had a mutual love for Pound Ridge and Martha's Vineyard, where she had a home in Cottage City, and we had one in Chilmark. And what a storyteller! Ebie was a walking history book and always told stories about Pound Ridge with sincere passion. Our most heartfelt condolences to Rich and the family and to all who knew and loved Ebie. 

  Eleven years or so ago, I handed the reigns to my weekly  Record-Review Pound Ridge "Talk of the Town" column over to Ellen Best, journalist extraordinaire. She is doing an interview about my book, "My Stroke in the Fast Lane," so we had a chance to chat. But before that, take a look at this photo that I treasure and look at every single day. Ellen took it back in August 1992 ... 31 years ago!!! I love the caption. And how about those two cutie pies? David at 3 years old and Annie at 19 months old. P riceless.

Loved walking into  Booksy Galore  and seeing Pound Ridge Past    in this  display at the register.

Here I am posing with dear friend Lisl Steiner for Pound Ridge Pride Day. Lisl is featured in my book, Pound Ridge Past, in the chapter "The Horsefly in Pound Ridge." The interview is quite funny. This article, which appeared in the RECORD-REVIEW on December 2, 2011, is written by the lovely Mary Legrand. 

 " I n  Po und Ridge Past: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk,  author  Bonni Brodnick  creates a lively, intimate glimpse of Pound Ridge, New York, spanning local wisdom from the 1920s through the 1970s and beyond. I found the stories and photography delightful and inspiring. For, instance, residents George and Arlette Bria describe the "cocktail set" parties during the years when Tallulah Bankhead lived in town (Benny Goodman and Earth Kitt, too).  "One could spout a long list of literary glitterati and theatrical or silver screen performers who have lived in this snug little town. Ms. Brodnick, however, takes us on a tour of the brightest local stars who grew up here, farmed the land, preserved the natural beauty, and weaved the famous baskets.  "Today's Pound Ridgers will appreciate the personal recollections and the love stories of the "homestead" from Malcom Francher, Leonard Scofield, Betsy Boone, Beverly Bender, Lisl Steiner-Monchek, and Dick L...

                                                                                                        Photo: Bonni Brodnick "Use this one," said my dear friend Lisl Steiner as we were selecting photos for an article we were working on.  "I look old here. I like it when I look old." Lisl was the only person, let alone woman , I knew who upped her age. When she was 85, Lisl always added two or three years. "I'm 88," said this proud 85-year-old. She passed o n June 7, 2023,  at 95 (in "Lisl Language" we can say she was 98.).  Lisl said she always wanted to die in her favorite hotel in Vienna on her 99th birthday. (Let's give her +3 years and say she wanted to die there...

  On the heels of last week's announcement, being named an Ambassador for the American Heart Association, and totally by coincidence, a book that I've been writing for five years will be released this Spring.  "My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery" is a memoir about what it's like to have a stroke and eight weeks later, my son was getting married. Oh, the drama! More info forthcoming, but wanted to share that the cover is finished!

 I was invited to the N2N holiday luncheon at Conant Hall and there were 4 stars from POUND RIDGE PAST!!  [L to R:] Santa (aka David Goldberg from the Rec Department), Joan Volland Frenette ("It's a Bounton-full Life," p. 64), Me, EBie Wood ("Into the Woods," p. 74), Joan Goldberg (great quote, p. 25) and Lisl Steiner-Monchek ("The Horsefly in Pound Ridge," p. 170). "Pound Ridge Past: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk" is a great gift for the holidays, birthdays, a house-warming gift, someone moving out of town, or anyone interested in what makes Pound Ridge so unique. The book spans from the rural 1920s to the swinging 1970s and reveals what life was like in this unique town that is often referred to as "God's Country." For more info, please contact me at bonnibrodnick@gmail.com.

  POUND RIDGE PAST will see the light of day in 100 years!! I am honored (and thrilled) that my book was selected to be included in the Pound Ridge time capsule. The 5x3-foot metal box was sealed and buried near the flag pole at the Town House, located at 179 Westchester Avenue.The creative impetus for the project was provided by former Historical Society president Ebie Wood. “. . . I am hoping that our little town will remain a grand example for future generations to come. We are preserving our present so our future may know its past." Mark your calendars ... the time capsule will be opened in 2121! = = = POUND RIDGE PAST is available exclusively at Booksy Galore 67 Westchester Avenue Pound Ridge, NY 10576 Monday: by appointment Tuesday to Friday: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Sat & Sun: 10 am to 4:00 pm  T: 914-764-3171 booksygalore@gmail.com @booksygalore

                                                                                                            Photo: Fran Collin Remember when you could say, "Geez, it's freezing out." Now, it's  HOT !!  It's mid-January and the temperature hit 66 this weekend. Global warming! No more winters with snowballs and hot cocoa from a thermos on a walk in the woods. In my book, POUND RIDGE PAST, Pat Marshall Bartram is featured in the chapter "Barrels of Oil and Blocks of Ice" (page 40). She talks about life in Pound Ridge in the 1930s ... "In wintertime, we went ice skating, The big boys would clean off a whole section on the back side of the lake, drive their cars out on the ice, and go skating. We used to have re...

    At this time of year, I love sharing this wonderful anecdote on page 45 from my book,  Pound Ridge Past (second edition).   from Joseph D. Quillian, Jr., Pound Ridge Community Church pastor from 1946-1950. It's an excerpt from a letter written in 1973 to The Reverend T. Cecil Swackhamer.      "I always remember with great warmth and a sense of lift-of-spirit the Christmas Eve services at Pound Ridge Church. The beautiful white church was always decorated with two Christmas trees on either side in the front, decorated with blue lights. Inside the church, there were numerous candles and beautiful crystal chandeliers. My wife Betty had (and has) a beautiful soprano voice, and Winston Sharples has a true and delicate tenor. The service consisted of the Christmas scriptures intermingled with solos and duets by Betty and Winston, with a brief sermon by me. The service always started at eleven o'clock and concluded at the stroke of midnight, at wh...

Did you know that Frank Morgan ("The Wizard of Oz" himself) lived in Pound Ridge?  Or that Tallulah Bankhead hung out at The Inn at Pound Ridge? Read all about it in POUND RIDGE PAST!  PRP is now available exclusively at  design solutions  in Pound Ridge.  (Just in time for the holidays and gift-giving!) POUND RIDGE PAST is a collaboration of Bonni Brodnick (author, writer, contributor to HuffPost  and former "Talk of the Town" columnist for the Bedford/Pound Ridge Record-Review ), Gina Federico (graphic designer, writer on modern houses, modern architects, and modern design) and Fran Collin (food, celebrity and portrait photographer). design solutions is located at 55 Westchester Avenue, P ound Ridge, NY 10576  T: 914-296-0122 | designsolutionsny.com SHOP LOCAL.   SPEND LOCAL.   ENJOY LOCAL. --> --> -->

Did you ever discover a shop where you could find everything ?  And if you couldn't find it, you didn't need it? That was Joan Silbersher's shop, Antiques and Tools of Business and Kitchen, a mainstay on Westchester Avenue in Scotts Corners, Pound Ridge, N.Y. since 1990. You could find antique pulleys; mid-century casserole dishes and match books from long-closed nightclubs and restaurants; fishing equipment; sail boats; musical instruments and sheet music; medical tools from the dark ages; rotary dial telephones; and more and more and more. To welcome both collectors and browsers, Joan had a jar full of gummy candy on the right as you walked into the shop. On Sunday mornings, you'd hear WNYC radio blasting with either classical music or host Jonathan Schwartz and his retro selection of show tunes. In my book, POUND RIDGE PAST: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk * ,  Joan said people enjoyed going to her shop because "... they like the feeling of things that are old...

I'm saddened to hear the news that George Bria passed away. It was my honor and privilege to interview him for my book, POUND RIDGE PAST: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk.   In the chapter, "On 'Stone Steps' and Remembrances of Mary," John talks about his adventures as a journalist for The Associated Press in their New York bureau, and then overseas as a correspondent in Italy during World War II. "In Rome, during the war, I met up with Paul Brauer, a doctor in the U.S. Army, who was then Arlette's husband. We were in Rome together for about a year. Out families knew each other from stateside," he recalled. As fate would have it, Arlette was George's wife Mary's best friend. They grew up in the city and together attended Brooklyn Friends, a Quaker school. Arlette came to Pound Ridge as Mary's best friend in 1929. George came to Pound Ridge as Mary's suitor in 1937. After Mary's passing, it was almost destiny that he and Arlette, ...