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Archive for the ‘Cafes & Restaurants’ Category
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Posted: March 30, 2013 by HaverstrawLife.com in Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, History, Uncategorized0
Get Your Mob Gear Ready . . .
Posted: April 2, 2012 by HaverstrawLife.com in Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, Events, Local Artisans, New Stores, Opinions & Politics, SustainabilityTags: Broadway, Brooklyn, Cash Mob, economic growth, food, hardware store, Haverstraw, Hudson River, Hudson Valley, local economy, local food, Main Street, mobbed, New York, NYC, restaurant, river, slow food, slow money, small economy, State, upstate new york, upstater, village of haverstraw
The North Rockland Cash Mob started with a flash. Local resident Ellen Donovan contacted me via Facebook to get a local cash mob initiative launched and generating buzz. Well, the mob is buzzing. Now over 700 members in size, and growing by the hundreds each day, the North Rockland Cash Mob is becoming, well, unruly. The mob will descend upon the Village of Haverstraw on Saturday, April 21, 2012. The mob will convene beneath the four-faced clock at the corner of Maple Avenue, New Main Street, and Main Street at 12:00 PM (high noon!) prompt! From there, the mobsters will strut their stuff to the business that was selected via crowd-sourcing. That business, which has yet to be finalized (vote now!), will get a needed boost in business from the flush-with-cash unruly mob. We’re excited! Join us on April 21st; we’re rowdy and ready to support the local economy!
Here are more reasons how cash mobbing helps the community and brings us together.
Why Buy Local?
Posted: February 16, 2012 by HaverstrawLife.com in Activities, Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, History, New Stores
“Every day we’re faced with choices: Buy from Home Depot or the guy that owns the hardware store in the Village? Get a cup of coffee from Starbucks or the local coffee shop? In these difficult economic times, to me it makes more sense to shop, buy, and dine at our local businesses. Buying local strengthens our local economy, creates jobs and makes our community unique. Buying local supports you and your family: When you buy from an independent, locally owned business, more of your dollar stays within the community and is used to make purchases from other local businesses. It’s a virtuous cycle! Buying local keeps your community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun makes North Rockland our home, and it makes it a better place to live. When you buy local, you invest in your community. Local businesses are owned by your neighbors, people who live in your town, and who are more invested in your community’s well-being and its future. So yes, I buy local whenever possible. I may pay a little more and sometimes get frustrated with inconvenient hours or unavailable items, but it’s important to me to support business in my community. I really enjoy running into neighbors and friends when shopping here. Chance encounters add something special to my day. I especially like the fact that I know the owner of a business or restaurant by his or her first name. It’s worth it to me to pay a little bit more and help out my neighborhood businesses, especially in these trying times.” — Taryn Raia Herbert, North Rockland Community Member
Downtown2GAGA: An Art-focused Pedestrian Path
Posted: February 1, 2012 by HaverstrawLife.com in Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, Local Artisans, SustainabilityTags: artists, arts, bike path, Celebration, community, Conservation, Crafts, creekside, Downtown, Emeline Park, farmers market, GAGA, garnerville, Haverstraw, haverstraw ferry, haverstraw new york, haverstraw village, Haverstraw Village Hall, Henry Hudson, high tor mountain, hudson art, Hudson River, Hudson Valley, industrial complex, minisceongo creek, new urbanism, pedestrian, sculpture park, sustainability, The Picturesque Hudson, village of haverstraw, walking path
Wouldn’t it be great if a resident or a visitor to the Village of Haverstraw could walk, jog or bike to and from the artsy Garnerville Arts & Industrial Center, also known as GAGA? There exists a major opportunity to directly link Downtown Haverstraw with GAGA along the Minisceongo Creek. Currently, the Millenium natural gas pipeline runs in an open right of way adjacent to the Creek from GAGA’s “Creekside” sculpture park to the long-ignored sculpture park in front of the old ‘Hornick’ factory at the junction of Broadway and Samsondale Avenue in the Village. Let’s call the path “Downtown2GAGA.” The following image is a “walking shed” study of the proposed pedestrian path:
Downtown2GAGA
Also, visit this google map, so that you can explore the proposed path route: http://g.co/maps/zvaus
A Vacation Island in the ‘Burbs . . . with “Shocking” Food
Posted: January 19, 2012 by HaverstrawLife.com in Activities, Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, Opinions & PoliticsTags: Antoine McGuire's, Bar and Grill Haverstraw, Bar Haverstraw, Bella Rose Cafe, best mexican food, blue collar, Bricktown Inn, California, Celebration, culinary, Downtown, Emeline Park, farmers market, food, gentrification, Haverstraw, haverstraw new york, Haverstraw Restaurant, haverstraw village, Haverstraw Village Hall, Henry Hudson, high tor mountain, hipster, Hudson River, Hudson Valley, Lasagna, Main Street, New York City, New York State, pop up, Rocky Mountains, salsa, tacos, Tacos Marianitas, tex-mex, The Picturesque Hudson, tri-state area, United Nations of Food, village of haverstraw, West Street, yuppie
Bella Rose Lasagna - Borrowed from the UN of Food
A feisty food blogger from the United Nations of Food (one small man’s attempt to eat food from every country without leaving NYC ) took a weekend excursion with his fiance to Haverstraw where he was admittedly “shocked” by the wide selection of uber-awesome, unpretentious, Hudson Valley, non-yuppie, blue collar Latin/Italian, etc. food. Several times he exclaims in as many ways as he can: “And guess what? I had it all wrong. Haverstraw, formerly known as the brickmaking capital of the world, is a mostly working-class town, featuring a gravel mine and a gigantic oil-fired power plant. No silly, pretentious food here. Not even in the prettiest cafe in town.” That pretty cafe he mentions? Well, that’s the Bella Rose Cafe on New Main Street. And where did they sleep while staying in the Village? In the best bed and breakfast in the County, the Bricktown Inn on Hudson Avenue. (more…)
I found a fun post on streetsblog yesterday. “Pop-Up” cafes are springing up in downtowns across the nation. New York City is pioneering a pop-up program, where parking spaces are given over to restaurants that are then granted permission to install basic outdoor seating platforms, which create an intimate pedestrian environment. Some of these restaurants are even offering WiFi and table service at their pop-up lounges or dining areas. What is normally just a parked car, baking in the sun, becomes a hive of activity. The major question is: What Haverstraw restaurant will be the first to get in on the trend? Here’s lookin’ at you, Antoine McGuire’s and Bella Rose Cafe! Enjoy a cool time-lapse video of a new pop-up cafe on Sullivan Street in Manhattan:
Scenes from Ossining (Sing Sing)
Posted: July 18, 2011 by HaverstrawLife.com in Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, Ferry Service, Sustainability, WaterfrontOn Friday evening, I met a Haverstraw-bound New York Waterway Ferry at ten minutes to 9:00pm. The sun had just brilliantly set over the Palisades Escarpment on the far side of the Hudson. The River surface was like shimmering pitted chrome, a striking hue of white, silver and teal. The newly reconstructed Ossining Ferry Landing is impressive; the pier had been recently reconfigured with new and wider ramps and floating platforms to accommodate the increasing popularity of the ferry route. The ramp lowered to the ferry boat’s bow revealing a smiling gaggle of travelers aboard. . .
Five women in their 70′s, as I might guess, were returning from a fun evening in the Village. I approached them and asked how their trip was, and all they wanted to discuss was Union Restaurant. Essentially, these women took a dinner cruise to Haverstraw after googling “River + Ferry + Haverstraw + Restaurant.” Conveniently, google bestowed upon them HaverstrawLife. The women walked to Union Restaurant from the Haverstraw Ferry Landing and back. They were then returning back to the City via MetroNorth into Grand Central.
As I settled into my seat on the starboard side of the boat, and as other passengers came aboard, I couldn’t help but think of these women. Five elderly, but incredibly spry women thought nothing of making a trip from the City to Haverstraw so they might enjoy a fine dinner — and a unique journey — together. They likely made their way along Maple Avenue or West Street to New Main, where Union Restaurant is. If these (seemingly wealthy, considering how they were dressed) women can do this, then why is it so hard to get Stony Pointers and other Rocklanders (shall I say: suburbanites) to frequent downtown Haverstraw?
I think, perhaps, they are afraid to see the world. . . out from behind their car windshields.
For Immediate Release
Posted: June 6, 2011 by HaverstrawLife.com in Activities, Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, Events, SustainabilityCONTACT:
MICHELLE NATALE at 845-429-8447 or MIA MARSH at 917-547-0682 Market@HaverstrawChamber.orgFarm Fresh from our table to yours!
Haverstraw’s Harvest Farmers Market is growing.
Join us on June 12 for our Opening Celebration!
Cooking Demonstration
Haverstraw, N.Y. – Last year the Market was in dire straights due to a lack of funding when The Greater Haverstraw Chamber of Commerce, through its members Michelle Natale and Mia Vaculik-Marsh, assumed management. They re-imagined and revitalized the Market by reaching out to the community, recruiting volunteers and new vendors, and expanding with demonstrations and events. (more…)
HAVERSTRAW’S HARVEST FARMERS MARKET
Posted: May 22, 2011 by miamarsh in Activities, Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, Events, Local ArtisansTags: activities, art, artisan, artist, August, Celebration, community, Crafts, Downtown, Events, fall, family, farmers market, fun, Haverstraw, haverstraw new york, Hudson River, Hudson Valley, Hudson Valley Farmer's Market, July, June, local, market, Markets, Markets Hudson Valley, May, New York State Farmers, November, October, Open Air Markets New York, opening, Rockland County Farmer's Markets, Rockland Farm Alliance, September, spring, summer, Sunday, The Picturesque Hudson, Village, village of haverstraw, weekend, winter
HAVERSTRAW’S HARVEST FARMERS MARKET:
Farm Fresh from our Table to Yours!
Eat Fresh. Eat Local. Eat Well.
Fresh is Best, and it doesn’t get fresher than locally grown, hand-picked, and brought to the market. . . (more…)
How to Spark a Downtown Renaissance
Posted: April 11, 2011 by HaverstrawLife.com in Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, HistoryTags: Andres Duany, community, Conservation, Death and Life of Great American Cities, Downtown, farmers market, gentrification, Haverstraw, haverstraw ferry, haverstraw village, HaverstrawLife, Hudson River, James Howard Kunstler, Jane Jacobs, manhattan, new urbanism, New York, renaissance, revitalization, Richard Florida, Rob Hopkins, Robert Caro, Robert Moses, Robert Owen, Transition, Urban Planning, Village, village of haverstraw
I’ve been studying urban revitalization for some time now. The myths and secrets about economic growth, revitalization, real estate and change in urban areas are plentiful. To understand how your community might develop into one of those places you’ve dreamed of living in and why certain places ascend, and other places decline, it helps to read works by the top experts in the field. I have found that I’ve learned so much reading the likes of Jane Jacobs, Robert Caro or Richard Florida. New ideas have arisen over urban growth and revitalization just in the last ten years. It really helps to keep up on these issues. If our politicians really understood the fundamentals of diverse and vibrant downtowns, then the future of our communities could be very different. Here are my suggested readings:
THE BIBLES OF URBAN PLANNING & SHAPING OUR CITIES:
- The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs (and her other influential books)
- The Power Broker by Robert Caro
ALL OTHERS INFLUENCED BY THE ABOVE:
- All of the Richard Florida books (most notably The Rise of the Creative Class)
- The Geography of Nowhere by James Howard Kunstler
- Suburban Nation by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk
- Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser
- The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins
There are more to read, but these are the essentials. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
Antoine McGuire’s Oyster & Ale House: Celtic Français at Main & Wayne
Posted: February 25, 2011 by HaverstrawLife.com in Downtown, Cafes & RestaurantsTags: Accomando, Ale House, Anthony Accomando, Antoine, Antoine McGuire's, Antoine McGuire's Oyster & Ale House, Bar and Grill Haverstraw, Bar Haverstraw, Cafe, Celebration, Conservation, Craft Beers, Defiant Brewery, Downtown, England, English Channel, french and irish, French Antoine, french cuisine, French cullinary, french food, French Haverstraw, French Irish fusion, Fruits de mar, Fruits de mer, fusion cuisine, fusion food, fusion food french and irish, Gratin, Gratine, Haverstraw, haverstraw ferry, Haverstraw Ferry Suspended, haverstraw ferry terminated, Haverstraw Restaurant, haverstraw village, Henry Hudson, Hudson River, Hudson Valley, Hudson Valley French food, irish food, Irish McGuire, Irish pub haverstraw, local craft beers, local food, McGuire, McGuire's, new urbanism, olde world pub, Oyster House, Oyster Hudson Valley, Oysters, Peter McGuire, Pomme Frit, pub, pub fare, restaurant haverstraw, roumelade, tasty food, union restaurant haverstraw, Village, village of haverstraw
Mardorf Bakery Building
Antoine McGuire’s, one of the most unique restaurants west of the Tappan Zee, has made its debut on Main Street. It’s been nearly three months since the pub/salon café/brasserie (whatever you can call it) opened its doors to curious diners, and has become a new hot spot in Haverstraw, a welcome addition to Restaurant Row.
I should say that when I first visited Antoine McGuire’s, I was sitting in the rear of the dining room (when looking at the building’s facade, it’s the left side) peering out onto Main Street through the bright café windows, I felt a sense of disconnection from the Village: Where was I sitting, waiting for my food? I could have been on a posh corner in Soho or on a trendy side street in Greenpoint. No, I was definitely in Haverstraw! The experience was exhilarating, impressive, and had completely altered my concept of what the Village is. Haverstraw really is “turning around.”
Civile’s Chef Demonstration
Posted: October 18, 2010 by HaverstrawLife.com in Activities, Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, Events, WaterfrontTags: Civile, Civile's Restaurant, Cooking Demonstration, farmers market, Haverstraw, Italian Fare
This Sunday, October 17, 2010, the owner and Head Chef of Civile’s Restaurant in Emeline Park set up shop at the weekly Haverstraw Farmer’s Market to whip together an out-of-this-world combination of oysters, rack of lamb, and broccoli rabe. Beyond the four courses he offered volunteer diners (who luckily were chosen to sit at the white table-clothed demonstration table), the chef paired each course with a wine of his choosing.
Village Sustainability Efforts
Posted: July 1, 2010 by HaverstrawLife.com in Activities, Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, SustainabilityTags: community garden, ecological sustainability, economic sustainability, farmers market, green project, green restaurant, green roof, Haverstraw Ferry Sustainability, haverstraw new york, Haverstraw sustainability, haverstraw village, hudson river sustainability, hudson valley green roof, local food, local produce, public transportation, sustainability projects, Sustainable Transportation, vegetative roof, village of haverstraw, village sustainability
Haverstraw Central Community Garden
Residents and businesses in the Village are making some good progress with regard to the Village’s overall sustainability. On the “Local Food” or “slow food” front, much is being done to transform the Village from being outwardly reliant on fresh produce to becoming slightly more self-reliant on local produce. Much of America’s fresh produce travels at least 1,500 miles before reaching your plate; think of all that diesel or gas! Of course the first step for any village, town, or city in becoming more economically and ecologically sustainable (from a food perspective) is to implement an active community gardening network, which is what the Village has recently begun to do. (more…)
A Big Red Tomato Grows in Haverstraw
Posted: April 20, 2009 by HaverstrawLife.com in Cafes & Restaurants, Downtown, HistoryTags: Bar and Grill, Bar and Grill Haverstraw, Bar Haverstraw, Big Red Tomato, Big Red Tomato Haverstraw, Cafe, Haverstraw, Haverstraw Restaurant, Reyes Dominguez, The Big Red Tomato, village of haverstraw
A Big Red Tomato has sprouted in Haverstraw Village. Reyes “Ray” Dominguez, a long-time Haverstraw resident, has created his most recent venture, The Big Red Tomato at 9 Main Street, right across from Lucas Candies. The new bar and grill boasts a tasty fusion of Latin, American, and international flavors. Ray has come a long way since his immigration from Mexico years ago. His story is an inspiration for us all, and the true entrepreneurial spirit of the Big Red Tomato is bright. (more…)
