Things to see and do in Scarsdale, from historic buildings to small businesses
We are rivers, woods, mountains. Skyscrapers, sidewalks. Traffic. Solitude. A vibe. Cities, towns, villages, hamlets. Here, our photographers train their craft on what makes this place our place.
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The Scarsdale Falls and Tooley Bridge on the popular Bronx River Pathway. According to the Westchester County website, "The Bronx River Parkway Reservation, Westchester's oldest park, is an 807-acre paved linear park that was created as an adjunct to the Bronx River Parkway opened in 1925. It extends 13.2 miles in Westchester from the New York City line north to the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. The picturesque reservation, which runs through the heart of southern Westchester County, features ponds, wooden footbridges and hundreds of varieties of native trees and shrubs. It is a favorite place for bicycling, walking, running and nature study."
Members of the Chinese Senior Group from Scarsdale perform an umbrella dance during the Scarsdale Library 2024 Lunar New Year celebration. The event was sponsored by the Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service, the Village of Scarsdale Recreation Department and the library. The library has undergone a complete renovation that started in June 2018. Construction was completed in the fall of 2020. Reopening was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The official ribbon-cutting and reopening of the library was held May 7, 2021.
The exterior of the Scarsdale train station house built by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad and designed by architect Reed & Stem in 1902 in the Tudor Revival style. The station is about 20 miles from Grand Central Station and an express train can get you there in 37 minutes or 50 minutes on a local.
Madeline Wilson, a waitress for two years at the Parkway Cafe in Scarsdale, ladles soup into a bowl at the cozy eatery. According to their Facebook page, the shop was established in 1961, and is a long-standing family-run cafe right in the heart of Scarsdale directly across from the train station. Pet friendly, seasonal outdoor seating is also offered.
Ken Levinsohn, owner of the Learning Express Toys & Gifts in Scarsdale, straightens out the popular LEGO section of the store. The store, in business in the village for 25 years, carries all sorts of toys available for infants to teens.
The exterior of the historic Wayside Cottage, one of Scarsdale's oldest houses, is pictured on Post Road. The home, established in 1729, was donated to the village in 1919. Through the years it served as a meeting place for suffragettes, the offices of the Scarsdale Inquirer and Scarsdale's first library. Today, the Junior League of Central Westchester is the custodian of the cottage.
Rudy Pensa, the owner of Rudy's Music in Scarsdale, spends a little time with his guitar at his shop. The musical instrument shop has been in the village for six years, and Rudy has been at it for 46 years. He has another shop in SOHO in Manhattan. The shop sells all types of stringed instruments.
The historic Rowsley Estate on Drake Road has been home of the Scarsdale Woman's Club since 1928. The location of the home built circa 1858 was meant to compliment the 500-year-old ancient oak tree in the front yard. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to their website, a hallmark of the Scarsdale Woman's Club is the wide array of high-quality programs. From September through June, presentations designed to be both informative and entertaining are offered, often several times a week. There is something for everyone's interest: music, food, gardening, history, literature, art, travel, wellness, community affairs and more. Refreshments and a time to socialize usually follow.
Jessica Kaplan along with her husband, Mark Fowler, owners of Bronx River Books in Scarsdale, share a laugh behind a table full of books at their store. The neighborhood shop, in the village for almost six years, has over 17,000 books on their shelves.
The historic Harwood Building at Boniface Circle in downtown Scarsdale was built in 1928. The Tudor-style building stands out with steeply pitched gable roofs, elegant masonry and stonework, and features wooden beams set in a stucco or a stone facade. The building originally was used for shops and offices and apartments above the second floor.
About Mark Vergari: A lifelong Yonkers resident, Mark has been a staff photographer with The Journal News and its predecessors since graduating from Syracuse University in 1983. He has photographed everything in and around his Lower Hudson community from high school sports and parades to food and protests, and has covered three popes (twice at the Vatican), the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and national sporting events. Before the pandemic, when we all worked together in an “office” setting, Mark enjoyed baking cheesecakes and sharing them with his colleagues. Instagram: @markvergari
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Scarsdale NY historic sites and places to visit: lohud on location
