My Rye

Bradford Park Halloween Parade

Rye's Bradford Park held its 3rd Annual Halloween Parade on October 31st, 2007 at 6pm at the top of York Avenue. Pirates, Jedi masters, princesses, Yankees, Harry Potters, firemen, skeletons and alligators enjoyed each other's company and the unseasonably warm weather.

Half a Ton of Halloween Fun

Roy Aletti of Harrison is out of his gord.

We are not sure what you do when they start to rot, but right now Aletti is having a ton of fun. And so are the various spectators that pass his house at 50 Parsons Street in Harrison, just outside of Rye City limits.

Known for his over the top Christmas decorations which have required him to install 25 extra circut breakers in his home, Alletti does not let any holiday go by, including Halloween.

By MyRye.com's estimates, Alletti has over three--yes that's the number that comes after two--tons of   pumpkins in his front yard. That includes the "King Pumpkin" weighing in at 1,263 pounds. Now that is scary...

Pumpkin pie anyone?

Beachcombing at Rye Town Beach

With the cool fall weather having arrived in earnest, two beachcombers search Rye Town Beach for jetsam and other treasure left by summer beach goers. Photo taken October 25, 2007.

Osborn School Carnival

The Osborn School PTO hosted the Nifty Fifties Carnival and Silent Auction at the Osborn School on Saturday, October 20th. Crowds turned up to enjoy the sunny weather, food, games and community spirit.

See MyRye.com's Osborn School Carnival photo album.

Games ranged from "Guess the Gumballs" to "Haunted tunnel" to the "Flying Witch Ride".

Besides Humphrey the Hamster, Silent Auction goers could bid on Jets, Giants, Yankees and Knicks tickets; a 2-bedroom apartment in the Black Forest in Germany (OK, a two week vacation there); a parking spot at Osborn School (OK, a spot from 3:00pm to 3:05pm for pick-up); the Fire Chief (OK, you can pretend to be Fire Chief for a day or maybe an hour); an Osborn Teacher (OK, lunch with your Osborn teacher).

The Carnival raised $84,000 to fund after-school programs for Osborn students.

Screamingly Good Halloween Window Painting

Edvard Munch watch out. There are some screamingly good young artists in Rye.

Rye families turned out in force on Purchase Street and all around Rye on Sunday, October 21st for the 55th Annual Rye recreation Halloween Window Painting. Check out MyRye.com's photo album of the many Halloween masterworks.

(PHOTO, Below: Two of the many artists at work last Sunday on Purchase Street in downtown Rye)

Humphrey the Hamster Helps Raise $89K at Osborn School Carnival

Last year, it was a baseball signed by Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki. This year it was Humphrey the Hamster. This furry rodent, whose ancestors hail from Eastern Europe, Siberia, Mongolia, China and Korea, is now living large in our suburban bedroom community thanks to the pet trade, donors Maeve and Deirdre Potter and the Osborn School Carnival.

While more sedated bidding was taking place for collections of wine and time at weekend ski homes, yesterday the Osborn Carnival silent auction was besieged by rampant bidding on Humphrey the Hamster. As if people mistook this little furry beast for Rye's own free agent A-Rod, bidding opened at $150 (that's US dollars folks) and went up from there.

Soon, Osborn students and their siblings were banned from the bidding and an "Adults Only" warning was posted on the bid sheet. After eight bids at 3pm, it looked like Humphrey was headed home with the one Rye family for a bid of $260 US dollars, perhaps the most expensive and exclusive hamster--or maybe even rodent of any stripe--in Rye city history.

Next Year, Maybe a Hamster Festival Instead?

Early indications are the Osborn school raised $89,000 for after school activities, a new carnival record.

A common hamster goes for $10 or less. At $260, that's a 96% margin and some truly awesome fund raising to benefit the Osborn School.

Think about it. Instead of a carnival (or for the truly ambitious, in addition to) in 2009, we could raise the same amount of money by selling 342 hamsters. In fact, if we can talk the winning family into getting Humphrey a hamster girlfriend soon, we may be able to completely eliminate our cost basis by producing our own hamsters by next October.

Now that would be a true act of charity by Humphrey's new family ;)-

Something to think about.

(BELOW) Illegal bidding by children for Humphrey the Hamster.

Marshlands: Take Only Photos... Or Maybe Just Look at Them

Take only photos, leave footprints...

Except at the Rye Marshlands between October 14th and December 2nd when you can view photos of the Marshlands, a 150 acre natural area and gem accessible just off the Boston Post Road between the Rye Golf Club and the Jay House.

"A Celebration of the Marshlands" is the 2007 show of photographs of the Marshland Conservancy taken by local photographers from in and around Rye and Westchester County. Check out photos of osprey, wild turkeys, frogs, monarch butterflies, deer, red tailed hawk and other birds too numerous to mention.

The exhibit is open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10am to 5pm. Many of the photographs are for sale. The local photographers featured include:

Gail Benson, Dobbs Ferry

Brian Cohen, Mamaroneck

Jon Dusseau, Pleasantville

Charley J. Elias, Rye Brook

Alex Fitzgerald, Harrison

Howard D. Gilbon, Cortlandt Manor

Christopher Graseck, Rye

Ed Hoehn, Harrison

Kasey King, Hawthorne

Yoshi Kobayashi, Rye

Armand Laurino, Larchmont

Vincent Lynch, Mamaroneck

Jay Mahoney, Rye

Chris Mignone, Rye

Gail Rogers, Harrison

Irene Saltzburg, Larchmont

Donald Santoro, Harrison

Matthew Schnebly, Larchmont

Richard Schneeman, Mamaroneck

Anthony Schoor, Rye

Mike Schoor, Rye

William Sutherland, Larchmont

Rye People: Ralph Hersom

Your Name: Ralph Hersom   

Your Day Job: Owner, Ralph's Wines and Spirits. My store strives to be different than your average wine shop by offering unique selections from around the world chosen by me, superior service and weekly wine tastings on Fridays from 4-7pm and Saturdays from 2-6pm.   

MyRye.com: Why did you pick Rye for your wine store? Do Rye residents have an affinity for particular types of wine?

One of my former wine salesmen tipped me off about a liquor store in Rye that was going out of business and he felt strongly that a boutique wine shop would do quite well and be very welcomed by the community. Boy was he right!   

You are also involved in a project called Wine That Loves—seems like this is all about simplifying wine-food combinations. What’s the story?

It's like having your own personal sommelier make the selection for you. We have created wine blends paired for a specific food. Wine That Loves Pizza and Wine That Loves Pasta with Tomato Sauce are now available. Next month we will be releasing Wine That Loves Grilled Steak, Wine That Loves Roasted Chicken and Wine That Loves Grilled Salmon. My business partner lives in Manhattan.   

In May 1996, at age 25, you were hired by Kevin Zraly as Cellarmaster for the reopening of the Windows on the World restaurant atop the World Trade Center. What one or two wines make you most remember that iconic restaurant and the people that worked there? 

1. 1988 Williams/Selyem Zinfandel.
Most people are familiar that they make some of the best Pinot Noir in the country but very few have ever had the chance to taste their very limited production Zinfandel. 

2.1989 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne.
One of the world's greatest white wines from one of the world's greatest producers not to mention that it cost several thousand dollars!

According to Wikipedia, in the year 2000 Windows on the World grossed $37 million dollars, making it the highest grossing restaurant in the United States. How much of that $37 million was for wine?

Approximately $9 million.   

A year later, in 1997, you were hired by Sirio Maccioni to oversee Le Cirque 2000's wine program in the renovated Villard House. You remained the Le Cirque wine director for seven years. What are your three greatest memories from working at Le Cirque 2000? 

1. Meeting Gene Simmons of Kiss fame. Grew up a very big fan of them and it was the very first concert I went to at age 14! I told him that I used to have a Kiss lunch box and that I got in trouble for staying up late and watching, "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park". 

2. Riding in the private elevator in the hotel with Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones en route to their suite to serve a 1982 Lynch Bages to Keith Richards. 

3. Enjoying the many conversations about wine with Robert DeNiro.   

What’s it like to interview for a sommelier job? Do you have to drink wine during the interview?

Usually your resume speaks for itself and the reputation of the wine program at your former place of employment. No drinking is required.

What makes a great sommelier?

A great palate and personality. Kevin Zraly told me when I interviewed for the Window's on the World job that he would always hire a salesman over a wine geek any day.   

Can you suggest wine pairings for these meals available in and around Rye? 

1. Two slices of pepperoni pizza from Sal’s Pizza in Mamaroneck, a MyRye.com favorite. Wine: Wine That Loves Pizza 

2. Pan seared sesame tuna with wasabi soba noodles from Water Moon on Purchase Street, recommended by  Coldwell Banker's Judy Croughan. Wine: 2006 Seven Hills Pinot  Gris from Oregon 

3. Chicken Tikka Masala from A Taste of India in Portchester, recommended by  Rye City Councilman Matt Fahey. Wine: 2005 Familia Mayol Finca Sebastian Pinot Noir from Mendoza, Argentina   

If you could enjoy a meal and bottle of wine with anyone in the world, name the person, the meal and the wine.

Travel to Italy in November with my older brother Rick and enjoy a White Truffle Risotto in Piedmont. We'd drink a Magnum of 1982 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva. After I'd hand him the check! After all, what are brothers for?

What do you like to do in your free time?

Enjoy fly fishing, golf, live music and driving my Porsche fast. Eating great food and drinking wonderful wine kind of goes without saying!

Do you drink beer? What’s your favorite?

I very much enjoy beer. Love a Black & Tan (blend of Guinness and Bass Ale) and also Heineken. 

Tell us your contact information:

Your web site: www.ralphswinesandspirits.com

Your store hours: Monday  – Friday 12 noon-8pm, Saturday 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays.

Your phone: 914-921-1847

Your email address: Ralph (AT) ralphswinesandspirits.com 

Thanks, Ralph!

stAy-Rod and the One Huskie We Like

World Series or not, Rye is turning into A-Rod country.

We like our new neighbor, the sure-to-be American League most valuable player Alex Rodriguez, who has made his (big) home on Parsonage Point in Rye. We know his contract is up, but with a two year old daughter and a baby on the way, A-Rod should really consider staying. Alex, Rye is a great family town. Think about it. Call me and I'll give you the inside line on the pre-schools.

And a couple signed baseballs would help the Osborn School Carnival (October 20th, mark your calendar) blow away last years $82,000 fund raising effort and be a step up from last year's Ichiro baseball.

We also like Harrison Huskie and Yankee Manager Joe Torre. With signed head shots of Torre in every dry cleaner and restaurant in Mamaroneck, Harrison and Rye, what's not to like about this Brooklyn kid who took the Bronx Bombers to 12 post seasons and four World Series. A resident of Muchmore Road in Harrison, Torre can be sighted at the Starbuck's in downtown Rye or at Rye's Coveleigh Club on Stuyvesant Avenue, around the corner from A-Rod's house, where he and his wife are members.

And oh yeah, Boston sucks.

(PHOTO BELOW: Joe Torre with Sal of Sal's Pizza in Mamaroneck)

Rye Real Estate Update October 2007

Single Family Homes in Rye (week ending 10/05/07):

-On the market: 73

-In contract: 11

Shop Talk

One hundred eleven single family homes have sold in Rye in the past six months, compared to one hundred twenty four during the same time period last year. Thirty or 27% of the sales were under $1,000,000 with an average price of $812,943.  In the $1,000,000+ category, there have been 81 sales, or approximately 73% of the total, with an average price of $2,156,340.

*Data per WPMLS 4/05/07 - 10/05/07. 10580 zip, RCSD & RNSD only

On the Market: A Great View for Less

Everyone knows we can get a sweeping view of the Sound from Milton Point for several million dollars, but there are other places, even in a compact town like Rye, where you can find a private view for under $1,000,000 (the median sales price in Rye City year to date is $1,512,500).

(PHOTO: A view of the Rye Golf Club from the author's deck)

One of the best bargain streets in Rye is Soundview Avenue.  A long narrow street off the Boston Post Road which cuts through Rye Golf Course, Soundview has an interesting mix of older modest homes and large newly renovated ones, most with sweeping views of the course. I have sold two homes under $800,000 on this street in the past couple of years, and I'm not aware of many places you can find a view like that in this price range in Rye.  You have to be tolerant of the occasional golf ball in your backyard, though :).

For a little more money (remember the median home price), you can find golf course views on many streets in the Hix Park neighborhood of Oakland Beach Avenue.  Although my home is not adjacent to the golf course, many of my neighbors on Eldredge are on the course (I can watch the golfers from my deck, however). You can receive backyard privacy from the woods of Rye Nature Center on parts of Hammond Road or Central Avenue.

And don't automatically assume you can't sneak a peek at the water without spending super big bucks: from the front steps of a 900 square foot beach cottage on Rye Beach Avenue and surrounding streets, you can gaze out to Rye Town Park and catch some views of the Long Island Sound. Look out over Milton Harbor and beyond from the co-ops at Milton Harbor House (recent sales in the $800,000s, see August article, Apartments in Rye), and you can catch a glimpse of tranquil Mead Pond from the apartments and townhouses on Pondview Road or single family homes on Sharon Lane or Marlene Court.

And if you miss out on the water and green space, you can move to the series of streets off Forest Avenue close to Playland Amusement Park and marvel at the fireworks and a view of the ferris wheel!

*median single family home price1/1/07-10/05/07 10580 RCSD & RNSD only.

Written by Judy Croughan, Licensed Real estate Agent, Coldwell Banker/ Country Properties.