Greenburg Nature Center

The Greenburgh Nature Center, about 2.3 miles north of Nathan's on Central Avenue,  has a free outdoor exhibit of animals and birds.  The Nature Center has two beautiful bald eagles, a delight for kids and adults.  Many folks agree that it not worth the cost of going inside the nature center facilities.  But, outside, and free, are beautiful nature walking trails.

Greenburgh Nature Center is on the right on Central Avenue heading north, just past Scarsdale Woods (apartments) and across from the Scarsdale Plaza.

www.greenburghnaturecenter.org

99 Dromore Rd
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 723-3470

Southern Comfort

For folks from the God protected South sojourning in Westchester County, the culture shock can be quite severe.  Not only is there much more snow and concrete here in New York, but the culinary landscape can make home seem even farther away.  Yes, it's great to be able to visit some wonderful international eateries, but too much international sophistication can lead to gastonomical fatique.

Take heart; there is hope.

Memphis Mae's restaurant in Croton on Hudson is sure to lift the spirits of homesick Southerners.  Perhaps the regionally diverse selection of smoked delicacies will lead one to conclude that such diversity can only mean mediocrity - who, after all, can succeed in properly smoking and serving Memphis Style ribs, North Carolina BBQ, Texas brisket, pulled chicken and cooking up sides such as baked macaroni and cheese, steak chili and cornbread?  The answer is, quite simply, "Memphis Mae's."  They do it all right, and one bite of the smoky delights will transport your soul back home.

Lunch portions are reasonably priced and reasonably sized.  The dinner platters at $15.00-$22.00, while capable of inducing sticker shock in folks accustomed to dining in cinder block eateries on country roads, are also able to fill two adults to capacity - in other words, go with a friend and split a meal.  Their signature dessert is banana pudding, and yes, they serve iced tea "the right way" (it is likely the only restaurant in the area other than McDonald's that serves sweet tea).  The decor is pleasant if not a bit edgy by southern standards, and the staff is kind and courteous.

While this reccomendation is intended to console displaced southerners, it should also serve as an invitation to all of those northerners or westerners out there who just "don't get" the south.  One trip to Memphis Mae's, and you'll be plotting your path to warmer climates (where folks might sound a little funny, but the food sure does make you happy).  The restaurant also boasts an extensive list of brews that one can typically only find hundreds of miles south of the Mason Dixon line.  The owners, one a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and the other a Greek American businessman, have managed to pull off what most would consider impossible - a true taste of the south in the middle of Westchester County.

Memphis Mae's is comfort food at its finest.

An Island Oasis

If you are looking to do something fun and "out of the ordinary," then a trip to Roosevelt Island might be in order. To make the trip even more interesting, park at one of the garages around 59th and 1st Ave (parking is relatively inexpensive in the evenings and on the weekends), and ride the "sky tram" (yes, suspended from a cable way up in the air) over to a part of New York City with a much slower pace of life. The cost of the tram is just $2.00 (like the subway), and you can even use your regular Metro Card to make the trip. The island once housed prisoners and mental patients, but it now houses residents of all stripes. Once you arrive on the island, have dinner at one of the restaurants near the water (go north to find these), and then stroll along the paved walking / bike paths which boast beautiful views of the city over the East River. Watch out for the Green Goblin when you visit (the cable car that takes you to the island is the same one attacked by the nefarious villain in one of the Spiderman movies), and enjoy the city without the chaos.

"The Train"

Navigating the area by train is a new, and somewhat daunting, task for many. It need not be intimidating, and train travel can often be quite convenient for short or long trips. Below you will find a list of some local stations.

Crestwood Train Station

our closest station
Turn Right onto Scarsdale Road
Turn Left on Pennsylvania Ave
Turn Left onto Thompson Street (you will see the Crestwood Library)
Continue to the right, go straight after the stop sign

Tuckahoe Station South of us

Recommended if you want to park your car and ride.
Large parking lot on west lower side of Station

Turn right onto Scarsdale Road. Continue through neighborhood. Continue past the Bronx River on-ramp. Turn left at the first stop sign after the stone Methodist Church. Stay towards the right and continue through stop lights. You will end up on Main street in Tuckahoe.

White Plains Station

North of us
Large Transportation Center with train and bus depot off Hamilton Ave in White Plains

For train schedules go to www.mta.info

The "Other" Airport

Now that you have landed in the suburbs of New York City, you might need to consider how to get out of here from time to time. The three major airports, LaGuardia, JFK and Newark are probably already on your radar. What you might not know is that the White Plains Westchester County Airport is the closest airport to the seminary. While it is much smaller than the "Big Three," you might be surprised to find that many airlines offer convenient, direct flights straight to many destinations from this regional airport. So, when you are searching kayak.com for your next flight, be sure to include White Plains in your criteria!

Note: Parking is expensive and limited. Take a shuttle or have a friend help you with drop-off and pickup (unless you have deep pockets and like to gamble).

Bear Mountain State Park

Is the concrete and asphalt getting to you? Do you feel the need for some scenic vistas and forests? Bear Mountain State Park is a great place to get away for an afternoon or a day. Drive to the top of the mountain to access the very first stretch of the Appalachian Trail ever constructed or ascend the observation tower for view of New York City on a clear day. You may also spend some time at the base of the mountain enjoying the lodge, carousel, lake or zoo in season.

If you are feeling particularly "German" during the month of October, the park also hosts a month long celebration of Oktoberfest on the weekends (usually starting in late September). With vendors German folk music, food and drink, this is a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Less than an hour from campus over the Tappan Zee bridge (and about 20 minutes north on the parkway), Bear Mountain is a wonderful place to visit by yourself, with family or a group of friends.

Lakeside Patio Potlucks

Student residences at St. Vladimir's Seminary are separated by "Troublesome Brook," and this brook is indeed troublesome when it comes to student social interraction. It is only logical that the closest relationships form among students who live in close proximity to each other. However, some "North Side" residents have found that the patio at the Lakeside apartments is a great place to enjoy the sunset and a cool breeze along with the fellowship of other students. During "good weather," Lakeside residents host a community pot luck meal on Thursday evenings outside on the patio (it often moves inside to a common area during inclement weather). Accept this as your invitation to join in the socializing that happens on these evenings - if you don't have anything to bring, come anyway (there is normally plenty of food). Also feel free to make a trip to the patio any day or evening as the patio is a common gathering place any time folks need a break and some time outside.

Groceries for the Busy Family

There are quite a few grocery stores in the area, but there are times when the schedule gets tight and it is difficult to make a trip to the store. A service called "Peapod" let's you cut some corners by doing your shopping from your internet connected computer at any time of the day or night. For a nominal fee (roughly $5.00 per order, but this changes with volume), Peapod will do your shopping at a local Stop and Shop and deliver your groceries to your kitchen counter. Pay online, give Peapod a preferred delivery window, and you're done! While some items such as produce are best to pick out in person, Peapod can be a great convenience for the staples and non-perishables that make up the bulk of a grocery bill.

Peapod website: http://www.peapod.com/

Toll Roads and Bridges

While many people come from areas of the country where toll roads are part of everyday life, many others are not accustomed to paying to drive on a road or cross a bridge. The Garden State Parkway, the NJ Turnpike, the GW Bridge and the Whitestone Bridge are among the many "toll" roads and bridges in the NY Metro area.

If you plan to travel with any frequency, or if your job or parish assignment requires that you travel on these roads, you will benefit from obtaining an EZPass for your vehicle. Once you purchase this and place it in your windshield you are permitted to enter the EZPass lanes at toll plazas and bypass the slow moving cash payment lanes. EZPass can be ordered online from www.ezpass.com.

Navigating New Terrain

One of the greatest frustrations to "newcomers" at SVS is the system of roads in the Metro New York area. It takes time to learn the various parkways, and it also takes some time to learn where the major shopping centers are located. But, no matter how well you learn the area around Crestwood/Yonkers, you will still run across intersections without clearly marked roadsigns. Mapquest is helpful, but it can only help so much.

After spending some time in the area many new residents invest in a GPS system for their automobile, and the common refrain heard among these folks is, "Why didn't I buy one of these sooner?" The turn by turn directions offered by the GPS, while not always flawless, will get you where you need to go (AND BACK) without much stress. So, if you are new to the community (or are planning on coming) and have an extra $100.00 in your wallet, seriously consider investing in a GPS - you will be glad you did.

Croton Dam

If you are interested in a morning or afternoon hike with some beautiful views, the Croton Dam in Croton-On-Hudson, NY (Westchester County) is a great option. This dam is the second largest structure in the world which is made completely of hand-hewn rock, second only to the Pyramids in Egypt.

While the views of the dam are spectacular, it is also important to note that the Croton Dam is the beginning of the Croton Aqueduct Trail, and it is therefore a good starting point to start exploring some "off the beaten path" locations in Southern Westchester County. The park below offers "stream fishing" and some open fields (cross-country skiing in the winter), and there are some playgrounds for the young ones. When you are done with your trip to the dam, be sure to check out the Village of Croton on Hudson, and indulge in a scoop or two at Blue Pig Ice Cream!!

Directions: Saw Mill Parkway north to exit for Hawthorn; left turn at light onto Route 9A north (which empties into Route 9 north); get off at exit for Croton Point; turn right; at the light turn left onto Riverside; turn right onto Route 129; just after the green mileage marker 10 22 bear right off the road and onto the park entrance road. (In season there is a fee.) Drive over the small bridge and park in the parking area.