Out and About in Scarsdale Village
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We strolled around the Village this week and were pleased to find lots of activity, with some spaces under construction and others getting updates.
On Spencer Place, next to I Am More Scarsdale, Craft Barbers is planning to open in the space formerly occupied by the Eye Gallery, which has now moved to Boniface Circle.
For now there is only a poster in the window announcing the plan. However we reached out to the owners and here is what they shared about a new location for me, coming this winter.
Here is what they shared about Craft Barbers who currently has another location on Kraft Avenue in Bronxville.
“Established in 2021, Craft Barbers is dedicated to redefining the grooming experience. Our premium barbershop combines timeless old-school charm with a contemporary edge. In addition to classic barbering services, we offer signature hot shaves and a dedicated shampoo area, perfect for fitting your haircut into a busy schedule. Our user-friendly booking system ensures a seamless appointment process. Enjoy complimentary coffee and drinks as you relax in our modern, inviting space. We look forward to welcoming the community when we open our doors in winter 2024.
We are working with a local Scarsdale resident (Kahn Architecture and Design). They are the company we used when opening One Rare Italian Steakhouse and I am so pleased to work with them again. I know with Michael and Heidi's pristine vision and execution, Craft Barbers of Scarsdale will not only bring the best haircutting experience, but also bring a visually pleasing aesthetic to the beautiful town of Scarsdale.”
Just up the street, at the corner of East Parkway and Spencer Place it appears that the ever-popular Parkway 
Diner is receiving a facelift. They are closed this week while Fabio and his team repaint and spruce things up.
At 20 Chase Road, signs for a new location for the Bagel Emporium were posted last spring. We poked our head in and found busy construction crews at work to build out the space. Though we inquired we were not able to find out an expected opening date.
Later that evening, we decided to try out the new outdoor tables at Micheline on Scarsdale Avenue. We were pleased to find a patio overlooking the street as well as more tables in the alley outside. On Tuesdays, or “Tini Tuesdays” your burger and fries come with a martini for $39. They have also added options for kids including pasta and chicken tenders as well as brunch on Fridays through Sundays from 11 am – 5 pm. Check them out on the next warm night.
Scarsdale Author Barbara Josselsohn Publishes "The Forgotten Italian Restaurant"
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Local author Barbara Josselsohn has published the third novel in her "Sisters of War" trilogy. The Forgotten Italian Restaurant is a gripping World War Two historical romance.
Here's the story: Italy, 1943. The girl rushes down the winding streets, tucking the handwritten menu into the wicker basket and thinking only of the code hidden on the delicate paper. Will anyone forgive her for what she’s about to do to save the man she loves?
Present day. Arriving in sun-drenched Caccipulia, Callie grips the faded restaurant menu in trembling hands. Found hidden in her family home, she is certain it will lead her to the truth about her grandmother’s life in Italy during World War Two. Why did her Nonna run away from this beautiful small town, never to return? Lost and alone in the world, could it help Callie understand who she is?
Local café owner Oliver’s dark brown eyes light up when he sees the menu. During the war, one brave family secretly fed desperate Jewish families hidden in safe houses through the village. Callie’s heart soars at the thought that her own dear grandmother was involved.
Diving into the town’s history during long walks down cobbled streets, Callie begins to feel at home under Oliver’s soft gaze. She wonders if she could build a life here with him. Until they push aside magenta flowers on a monument at the heart of the village, and uncover a secret that changes everything...
A grave mistake was made one dark night as the Nazis stalked the village, putting the whole town in terrible danger.
When Callie finds out what her grandmother did, will it change the way Oliver feels about her? Will she stay and right the wrongs of the past, or be forced to leave Italy too, just like her Nonna?
A heartbreaking love story that will sweep you away to sun-drenched Italian vineyards to watch hope and bravery prevail in the darkest days of war. For fans of Kristin Hannah, Victoria Hislop and Fiona Valpy.
Scarsdale's Ali Whitney Premieres in "Find Me Falling" on Netflix
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Scarsdale’s Ali Fumiko Whitney premiered on the big screen this week, starring in feature film, “Find Me Falling,” that debuted on Netflix on Friday July 19, 2024.
The movie was filmed in Cyprus and also stars Harry Connick Jr. who wrote an original song that they perform in the movie. In the film, Connick plays aging rock star John Alllman who is taking a break from his career to reclaim his spark after a flop album. He moves to an isolated cliffside home on the idyllic Mediterranean island of Cyprus. His dream of keeping a low profile is derailed when he is routinely confronted by desperate souls and later faced with even more complicated surprises when an old flame reignites.
Whitney plays a local girl who sings, waitresses and connects with Allman, ultimately learning a long-buried secret about her past. She uses both her acting and vocal skills to win the hearts of viewers.
Whitney graduated from Scarsdale High School in 2013, where she wowed the auditorium with her stellar performance in Guys and Dolls. At the time, I remember thinking, “this girl is going places.” And she has! We asked her a few questions about how growing up in Scarsdale shaped her path and here is what she shared:
Tell us what inspired you to start acting .... what were some of your earliest experiences?
My mom, Elizabeth Reiko Kubota (Whitney), was an actress in the 80s. I’ve always wanted to follow in her footsteps and pursue acting/performing! Growing up our home was filled with music and a respect for the arts. I went to my first Broadway show (Beauty and The Beast) when I was just four years-old and I instantly fell in love. My mom still has my Fox Meadow artwork from the fourth grade that reads “my dream is to be an actress on Broadway one day”.
One of the many benefits to growing up in a town like Scarsdale, was its close proximity to NYC and the Broadway world! While I didn’t get serious about my training until college, I always found ways to perform as a kid, including many Scarsdale led productions.
What are your best memories of acting at Scarsdale High School?
My favorite memory of acting at SHS is without a doubt playing Adelaide in my senior year musical’s production of Guys and Dolls. This was my first ever experience of playing a leading role in a musical. I still remember running into my parents’ room at 6 am Fall of 2012 screaming “I GOT THE PART!”. I credit this show and this role for giving me the confidence to audition for college musical theater programs, and thank goodness for that. I can’t imagine my life without my four years at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television.
Did you have any local mentors?
A lot of the mentors I have in the industry came from my mom’s group of acting friends who were working actors in New York and LA throughout my childhood. However, I feel so lucky to have grown up in Scarsdale because we had incredible family friends and my groups of childhood friends who have been my biggest supporters since day one. In an industry full of rejection, it is so important to surround yourself with a community that helps lift you up. My Scarsdale community certainly provided that for me as evidenced by over 100 of them showing up to my Netflix film Premiere last Tuesday July 16th.
How did you break into the business?
After graduating from UCLA’s Ray Bolger Musical Theater program, I was fortunate to have booked jobs in the theater world. My first big gig landed me in Las Vegas where I performed at the Paris Casino six nights a week and earned my equity card in Marilyn! The New Musical. I worked regionally throughout southern California on musicals until eventually I decided to take a leap of faith and move to NYC to pursue Broadway. When the world shut down in 2020, my career took a shift from theater to film and I have been so lucky to have worked on some amazing indie films since then. You can watch The Road Dance on VOD to see my first ever feature film that we shot that year!
What will you do next?
My hope is to continue working in film while also breaking into the TV industry, and of course, my dream is still to be on Broadway one day. I always say that one opportunity opens doors for the next. I am beyond grateful for the visibility Find Me Falling has given me now that it is streaming worldwide on Netflix! I’m really looking forward to what comes next after this. I also have a horror film, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE DEAD, coming out in select theaters and on demand August 2nd so keep an eye out for that! :)
How much time did you spend in Cyprus? What’s it like?
I had the pleasure of living in Cyprus for a little over two months in the late Spring/Early Summer of 2022. Cyprus is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to. The people, the food, and the sights are truly incredible. When I moved there, I was on my own living in a foreign country, but the locals took me under their wing along with Harry Connick Jr. and made Cyprus feel like home!! I hope audiences will want to travel there after watching our film as I think it does a fabulous job at displaying the country's spirit and beauty. If you like Mediterranean food, clear-water beaches, and lots of lively music and spirited locals, then Cyprus is certainly the place for you!
UJA Hosts Hamptons Trunk Show
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Sharon Shane, Staci Barber, Vicki Warner, Wendy Shenfeld, Heidi Lurensky, Natalie Barth, Judy Goodman, Shelly Kivell, Robin KaplanUJA-Federation of New York hosted its annual Hamptons Trunk Show on Thursday, August 1, outside the Bridgehampton Historical Society Museum. The event brought together the community in support of a meaningful cause.
Shawls by SonikaUJA-Federation of New York is dedicated to improving life for Jews everywhere and caring for New Yorkers of all backgrounds as well as people in crisis worldwide. A percentage of the Trunk Show sales proceeds will benefit UJA and support the organization’s work.
Supplies for Success
Photo Credit: UJA-Federation of New York.
Freida Rothman creates gold and silver jewelry inspired by her great aunt and grandmother who were Holocaust survivors.
Nikki Cole, Danielle Rayman, Stacey Lowenberg, Jill Goldsmith
Letter to the Editor: What is the Future of the Scarsdale Pool?
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(The following letter, written by Carrie Moskowitz, was addressed to the Mayor of Scarsdale.)
Dear Mr. Mayor,
We exchanged some email correspondence about this project in the past. At that time, you did not want any input and stated that there would be some unspecified time in the future for that. I haven't heard about any of that since. So, I am sending 3 questions for you and your committee. Hopefully, you will be able to obtain answers.
1) How many, if any, of the members of the committee are current active members of the pool (2024 season, with several visits per week)?
2) How, if at all, have you and the committee determined how to resolve the lifeguard staffing issues that occur every year starting in mid-August? The result of that is limited access to the dive pool, the baby pool, and the intermediate pool.
3) How do you anticipate funding the $35 million that is desired to demolish and replace the existing pool complex? I'm guessing you are aware of the continued reduced resident usage , increased number of private pools, and the general difficulty in funding large municipal projects. As a corollary to that question, what is the plan B if that $35 million cannot be raised?
As you may recall, I am a current and past member of the pool as well as an active user of its facilities. I am also a realist.
Much thanks for your attention to these questions,
Carrie Moskowitz
