Welcome one, welcome all to the first edition of Tony’s Town Teaser. Once a month I will be focusing on one town, writing a small blurb about it and highlighting some key places to visit. If you’re thinking of moving to the Lower Hudson Valley, you can use these to help gauge where you might want to live, or if you already live in the area, maybe these posts can give you some things to do in your free time. Either way, it should be fun for both of us.
First in line for the limelight (and keeping in line with alliteration) is one of my absolute favorite river towns, Tarrytown. Located smack dab in the middle of Westchester, overlooking the Hudson River and Tappa-excuse me-Mario Cuomo Bridge, Tarrytown makes a great commuter location for NYC or a nice getaway trip for the weekend.
For you history buffs: The name Tarrytown actually came about through a mispronunciation of the words “Terve Town”, which is what the town was originally named in the early 1700s. The Dutch were the first European settlers here, and found the soil was great for growing wheat, so they named it Wheat Town, or Terve Town. However, some people prefer Washington Irving’s interpretation better in his book The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: “In the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated by the ancient Dutch navigators of the Tappan Zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of St. Nicholas when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port which by some is called Greenburgh, but which is more generally and properly known by the name of Tarry Town. This name was given, we are told, in former days, by the good housewives of the adjacent county, from the inveterate propensity of their husbands to linger about the village tavern on market days.”
Fast forward a few hundred years, and Tarrytown is alive and well with a plethora of small businesses, restaurants and beautifully tree-lined streets. If you’re looking for a way to spend a Saturday or Sunday, I highly suggest taking a walk down Main Street to see what the town has to offer. If shopping is your forte, you will find a number of furniture stores, clothing shops, vintage shops, thrift stores and food markets. However, if you’re like me, I look for food, and lots of it. Thankfully, Tarrytown has no lack in that department. From gyros at Lefteris to ceviche at The Taco Project, you will definitely find something for any cuisine you’re craving.
Here are a few of my recommendations:
Mint Premium Foods
Horsefeathers
Sweetgrass Grill (great veggie/vegan options)
Little B’s Burger Bar
Bistro Z
The Twisted Oak
Tarry Tavern
The Tapp
Of course you’ll need something more to do after you eat, and Tarrytown stretches further out than just the town center. If you’re a nature lover, you’ll need to check out Rockefeller State Park Preserve, which is technically in the town of Sleepy Hollow, but I won’t tell if you won’t. There you will find a truly beautiful piece of land that is perfect for an easy weekend hike, with terrain that isn’t too difficult to maneuver. Nearby you’ll also find Kykuit, or better known as The Rockefeller Estate (shown below). This grandiose home on and even more spectacular piece of property is a national landmark and is available for tours starting in May.
And of course, any article about Tarrytown wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Tarrytown Music Hall, which features local theatre shows as well as concerts from nationally recognized names. Seeing a concert at the Music Hall and then walking up the block for some beers at The Tapp would be a perfect night for me!
That’s all for this month’s Town Teaser. If you’re looking for a list of homes currently available in Tarrytown, feel free to click here and check them out! If you’re in the market to buy (or sell!) you can always reach out to me for help, I would be happy to give my assistance.
Have a great day,
Anthony Ruperto
J Philip Real Estate
914.494.0141 | Anthony@JPhilip.com