If you're looking for a light colored hardwood floor, consider maple  flooring for your home in Westchester NY. Maple flooring is a light blond color with low graining. It’s a light, smooth look that can open up any room and give a modern, contemporary and northern European feel.     Maple flooring is harder than oak. On the Janka hardness scale, Maple is a 1450 vs. red oak which is 1290. Maple is lighter than oak flooring and its grain is smoother. While traditionally a light blond color, the shade of maple flooring can differ depending on its age and the area where it was grown. Maple’s appearance also differs based on how the trees are cultivated. Flame maple, quilted maple and bird’s eye maple are 3 different types grain patterns that will give your room 3 different looks.     Maple... 06/26/2012

Every June Tarrytown NY has a Pet Parade as part of the festivities on its famous 3rd Friday events.    This year was no different and I will have more on the 3rd Friday generally, but in the meantime, here are a few canine portraits that I managed to obtain while balancing one of my own dogs on a leash along with a camera.   This first one is my favorite – Big Meets Small.   Large dogs are always so tolerant of little ones.  And this spunky little dog was ready to give big Bear a run for his money.  They are just getting to know each other…. The rest are portraits that I was lucky enough to get despite the awkward way in which I chose to try and take pics…. Many thanks to all my canine models.  They were very patient with me! © 2012 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com ... 06/15/2012

Last night I went to a speakeasy.  I had never really been to one before.   Jenifer Ross threw a real rag-time flapper party in celebration of the first anniversary of the Watercooler.  The Watercooler is a chic, hip office space for those who work independently but want an office to go to.   Its been quite a success and has caused quite a  stir in the river town area. The speakeasy was terrific.  Many came in costume and from the Mary Pickford punch (spiked with rum) to the piano music, the Marx Brothers movies and the poker game that went on throughout the night, it had all the feel of what I suppose a flapper era  speakeasy was like during the  prohibition era.  There were feather boas for the ladies and fedoras for the men.   No detail was overlooked and a great time was had by all.... 06/10/2012

Nothing expresses the serenity of the weekend like a picture of the sunset on a lovely night on the Hudson River.   This photo was taken fairly near Lighthouse Landing near the Sleepy Hollow border.  I just think this photo says long balmy  summer days and  some opportunity to dial down the tension of our everyday lives.   These days  everyone is under so much stress that I think we all desperately need to step off the treadmill from time to time and take a deep breath. © 2012 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com  - All rights reserved.     Fotos On the Fly – Have a peaceful weekend… 06/08/2012

  A few weeks ago I took a couple of night shots of the Tappan Zee Bridge from Tarrytown NY.  The sky was foggy that night and the river was like glass    One evening about 10 days ago, I found myself  near the same location once again just as the sun was going down.  The conditions were different, it was a nice night with some cloud cover, but the river was far more choppy.  So I set up the tripod with the idea of taking several photos  at different shutter speeds and ISO settings as the sun went down.   It was frankly an exercise, but a few of the photos came out really well, and at the risk of being redundant, I decided to post them here today… Another thing to note is that twilight photography can be a very effective way to market some homes.  A house looks very different at dusk, a... 06/06/2012

I was able to snap this shot of the Marymount “dome” early this afternoon while driving around the Tarrytown Lakes.  The dome is something of a landmark for the area and although the college campus has changed hands twice, the original campus buildings remain.   Even though I pass by the building several times a week, I’ve never been able to get  that great capture of the dome.  Not that I haven’t tried before.  But I never seemed to have the right angle on a clear day.  So here it is – at long last. © 2012 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://theWestchesterView.com – All rights reserved. Fotos On the Fly – Marymount College Dome 06/03/2012

  The Watercooler at 21 North Broadway in Tarrytown NY, is a new hotspot for independent professionals as well as those who find themselves working from home.   It is the brainchild of Jennifer Ross who made Tarrytown’s famous 3rd Friday the success that it has become today.  Jennifer has a wonderful outgoing personality that helps create the warm, friendly and unique environment that you find when you walk into the Watercooler. She never does anything half way – and it shows. Located in the heart of the historic village of Tarrytown, the Watercooler offers professionals a space in which to concentrate without the distractions of home while providing excellent networking opportunities.  Office space can be rented for full time use by the month, or temporarily on an as-needed basis.  Mem... 06/01/2012

Date: June 3, 2012Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Event Description The LOCAL Main Street Businesses and Restaurants will be joined by over 80 Crafters and Vendors on Main Street.   Same Day Same Time: Kid's Fest @ Neperan Park - one block from Main Street & Broadway featuring music by Chris Reising, young artists by Tarrytown Arts Council & pony rides & strawberry festival by The Historical Society     05/10/2012

As many of you know who live in the area, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow have really come back in terms of opening new restaurants and seems to be a happening place again.  After eating burgers with friends at our favorite pub, Bridge View Tavern in Sleepy Hollow, we drove over to Tarrytown to have our after dinner ice cream at Main Street Sweets.We were strolling up the street, where Sweet Grass Grill and Tarry Tavern were still bustling with diners at 9:00 pm at night, when we came across MINT Premier Foods.  Mint used to be a gourmet specialty and sandwich store across the street.  At the end of the year, after 7 years, Hassan expanded his store across the street to 19 Main Street to include a restaurant. Although they do not have a website so far, you can check reviews out on  Yelp whi... 05/05/2012

Early this evening I went in search of photos for a perigee moon.  Of course it was the optimist in me that actually made me believe that with all this cloud cover there might be a picture to take.   But alas, the moon could not been seen through the clouds.  In the end, I wound up on the Hudson River Walk in Tarrytown.   I thought it was a logical place to practice night photography since I know it really  well.  Besides, lately I’ve been obsessed with shooting as many  pictures of the Tappan Zee Bridge as I can –  since it is slated for replacement.  When I got to the river, I saw that the water was like glass and it was reflecting the lights coming from the bridge. For me the Tappan Zee has always been there, its like a fixture, a permanent part of my memories since childhood.  When ... 05/05/2012

OK – so I admit that my low-light photography skills need some help – but tomorrow’s full Moon will be a “super Moon”.   Technically – its called a “perigee moon”.  Full moons vary in size because the moon has an elliptical orbit around the earth. When the moon’s orbit is at perigee it is 50,000 km closer to the earth  than when it is furthest from the the earth (apogee moon). Anyway, the moon was almost full early this evening just before 8 PM.  and very bright in spite of the hazy sky.   I was able to take this photo as a preview for tomorrows event.  I will try to take some photos tomorrow night – although I can not guarantee how they will turn out. Meanwhile – if you want to see the show, watch the sky tomorrow night! © 2012 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All... 05/04/2012

I admit to having a real love of the river towns.  Don’t get me wrong – I love the Sound Shore area as well, but there is a certain wildness and weathered beauty to the western portion of the county.  I was on the Hudson River walk near dusk on a stormy night – or really a pre-stormy night last week. Lately I have been taking a lot of photos of the Hudson and Tappan Zee Bridge…probably because I know that the view will be forever changed as soon as work begins on a new bridge.  This picture from the Marina in Tarrytonw is from a slightly different angle.   This photo would have been great for “Earth Day”.  When I was little, the Hudson was considered a dangerous and dirty river.  Certainly not a place where one would even think of going fishing.  Yet I see people fishing  - successfully... 04/27/2012

As the soaking rains of Sunday showed us – spring blossoms can be here today, gone tomorrow.  So I was out taking a lot of photos last week.  So bring on the backlog!   I haven’t even been able to sort through them all. While shopping in Tarrytown, NY I took a shortcut.  When I saw this Wisteria trained to grow around a wraparound porch – I stopped my car and grabbed the camera. It really looked like something from a bygone era where people sat outside on the porch at night and enjoyed a glass of lemonade.  Here are two versions of the same shot – the second uses some artistic filters from photoshop.    But for need to restock my dog food supply, I would never had seen this while it was blooming. Home sellers should also take note:  This home comes alive with curb appeal because of the ... 04/23/2012

  No matter the ZIP code, the size, or style of the house, there are three design elements that throw homeowners. Last time we covered lighting, today let's talk about window treatments. Now before you roll your eyes and moan- I HATE DRAPES !! (And yes, I know you are doing that!!)-let me ask- did you actually read the word "DRAPES "? No, you did not. But this is where-and why-so many get stuck, so let's understand this first. Energy consciousness was not part of homes built prior to the 1970s, and aside from Scarlett O'Hara's Plan B, "DRAPES" were the original climate control system. Windows were made of wood frames, with a single pane of glass; perhaps with another, slide-down panel as a storm window. In the winter the wood contracted, causing drafts; while summertime light cooked roo... 04/19/2012

Over the past few months I’ve been working to improve my photographic skills.  So I will be posting more photos of Westchester.  As previously noted in post about the importance of the MLS listing –  good photography is like crack cocaine for home buyers, so I consider this to be an integral part of what I do for a living. These were taking a few days ago on a beautiful but brisk spring day.  I was in Tarrytown NY – one of the prettiest villages in Westchester – if not the country.  Sometimes spring blossoms are just uplifting.  They give us a sense of renewal – of new beginnings.  They were an interesting backdrop to the Victorian homes that had seen many a spring renewal over the past century….       Just an FYI, I  have started working as a photographer.   Several agents have asked m... 04/13/2012

Selecting carpet for your home in Tarrytown NY has never been easier...now, you can Shop at Home for your carpeting in Westchester NY. Have you ever gone to a carpet store and just felt lost and overwhelmed?  Sometimes, there are so many options that you don't even know where to start.  Sometimes, you may go into a store and find so many choices that you leave more confused than you felt when you entered?  How do you know what's the best type of carpet for your home in Tarrytown NY?  What's the right one for your budget?  And, what's the right color? We make shopping for carpeting fun and easy. Everything starts with the area you are looking to carpet.  Is it for a bedroom or a lviing room or a family room or basement or the step?  Different rooms require different types of carpeting.  ... 03/29/2012

  Tarrytown Music Hall not only has a variety of entertainment for us “Saturday night” entertainment buffs, but also has numerous daytime events for children of all ages.  Some of the events coming up are: Snow White Workshop on 3/11Theater Workshop USA School Shows: Nate the Great on Thursday 3/15Also showing Martha Speaks on 3/29 among othersThe Paper Bag Player Daytime School is showing Laugh, Laugh, Laugh from Tuesday 3/21 through 3/23High School Musical Jr. Workshop has shows from 3/25 - 4/1. Visit Tarrytown Music Hall and go to their Events page for show times and other great kids events!   Then follow it up with visit to Main Street Sweets - Local Ice Cream Parlor! 03/08/2012

Word Of The Week: RE-CALIBRATE   I love the power of the right word. This series came about because time and time again I noticed how well the 'right' word conveyed an economy of thought, while saving your from a bunch of wrong, and mediocre words. People seemed to 'hear' things differently-BETTER! It also clarifies and elevates things in my own mind. The Word Of The Week is RE-CALIBRATE. From the verb CALIBRATE, it's a powerful, and extraordinarily scientific word. It's goal is PRECISION and ACCURACY. It is MEASURED and SPECIFIC; there is nothing casual or fleeting about it. One web definition is 'to make fine adjustments', another is ' the act of checking or adjusting the accuracy of a measuring instrument'. My favorite-and most compelling is ' adjust (experimental results) to take ex... 03/04/2012

The village of Tarrytown is one of the most popular and bustling of the Hudson River Communities in Westchester County New York. Please follow the link below to learn more about this attractive community, including it's features, housing statistics, schools, houses of worship, recreation, entertainment venues and much more. TARRYTOWN NEW YORK COMMUNITY PROFILE   02/28/2012

Are you looking to sand and refinish hardwood floors in Tarrytown NY?   It's amazing what a difference refinishing your hardwood flooring can make.  Your floors will look brand new and you even have the option to change the color.  You can go light, dark, mid tones, or red tones. It can really give your home (or room) a whole new look.   If you have hardwood underneath your carpets, we can restore the beauty of the hardwood underneath. It's amazing what a big difference this can make in your home.  And, believe it or not, it is usually less expensive to refinish your floors than to recarpet.  Refinishing your wood floors will also improve your home's value and it will be easier to clean and maintain.   At Floor Coverings International, we are a shop at home service.  We will bring the "... 02/16/2012