Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Westchester Toy Stores and Bookstores with Delivery or Curbside Pickup

Submitted by Susan Miele on Mon, 05/04/2020 - 1:04pm

Womrath Bookshop includes a very robust and varied children's section, including a wide selection of toys and cuddly plush critters. Photo courtesy of Womrath Bookshop

For Westchester families looking to combat cabin fever during the shutdown, we've rounded up toy stores and bookstores that are providing fun resources for curbside pickup or delivery. Order online or call these local businesses for arts-and-crafts supplies, building sets, puzzles, books, board games, and outdoor toys—even basketball hoops and trampolines—to help pass the time and keep spirits high.

Journey on an adventure to another time or place through a good book, busy kids with a tinkering or crafting kit, or stock up on birthday gifts—all while supporting local businesses. For more ideas for keeping kids entertained, check out these boredom busters and keep tabs of virtual activities on our Event Calendar.

Mother's Day Brunch, Dinner and Treats for Takeout and Delivery in Westchester

Submitted by Susan Miele on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 1:11pm

Apropos Restaurant and Bar's Mother's Day brunch is a three-course affair. You can even add a bloody mary mix or prosecco.

Perhaps this year more than ever, moms deserve a special celebration for Mother's Day. With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, a fancy Mother's Day brunch at a sit-down restaurant is out. Instead, we're bringing you details on takeout and delivery options you can enjoy at home from Westchester-area restaurants and bakeries. Below we've rounded up 11 spots serving everything from Mother's Day brunch to elegant teas, baked treats, and other goodies to make mom's day special.

Beyond a catered meal, families can enjoy a celebratory outing at one of these Westchester destinations that remain open. Be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Add to this the return of Bicycle Sundays, and you've got yourself a day! But, because moms deserve to be honored the full 24 hours, we're keeping our Event Calendar populated with virtual happenings that families can enjoy together. We also encourage kids to craft a handmade card and offer it to mom, along with a big hug!

Read on for ways to order a feast fit for a queen. Whether you're an essential worker, homeschooling your kids, or any other kind of super mom, we know you deserve a special meal on Mother's Day. From all the moms at Mommy Poppins, we wish you a very happy Mother's Day!

Grocery Delivery Services in Westchester to Get You Through the Pandemic

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 04/16/2020 - 9:39am

Misfits Market delivers ugly, but otherwise perfectly edible fruits and vegetables right to your door. Photo by Jody Mercier

With grocery shopping becoming an increasingly challenging task in the time of social distancing, many Westchester families are turning to grocery delivery services. Yet, even this resource is difficult to secure. Below, we've rounded up an assortment of grocery delivery options, some of which will likely be familiar to you, while others might give you food for thought.

Before you fill your cart, here are some pointers:

Plan ahead: With unprecedented demand, shoppers should anticipate a two-week turnaround, as well as the prospect of out-of-stock items and even the occasional canceled delivery. Moreover, with many stores setting limits on the quantity of staples, like milk, that can be purchased, you can safely predict you're going to want another delivery fairly soon.
Keep trying: Though the website you're shopping on might list the next delivery date as two weeks from now, by refreshing your screen or trying again later, you might get lucky with an expedited timeframe.
Join forces: Some of the options we've listed below may require minimum purchases that could be difficult for your family to justify. By teaming up with neighbors, you might be able to tap into each other's delivery services.
Tip well: Shoppers, store workers, and delivery providers are risking their health to feed your family (and their own).

Regardless of your approach, let's be grateful for what we have. To share this bounty, consider helping those with food insecurity by supporting a local food bank.

Read on for 16 grocery-delivery services, specialty providers, and straight-from-the-farm resources able to deliver food to your door. One caveat: With the situation in flux (e.g., stores closing for deep cleaning), the information below may change by the time you read this.

Looking for more help during this trying time? We've got plenty of tips, tricks, and boredom busters in our Stay-at-Home Guide.

Easter Brunch and Passover Seder Takeout and Delivery Options in Westchester

Submitted by Susan Miele on Mon, 04/06/2020 - 12:00pm

Celebrate Easter Italian-style with a meal from Augie's.

On top of all the coronavirus challenges we've faced recently, there's a new consideration this week: Where can you turn for Easter and Passover meals in Westchester? Fortunately, we've researched tasty options for you, rounding up 15 spots to fill your holiday table, whether you're dining in for Passover Seder, Easter brunch, or Easter dinner.

Beyond merely sparing you from the kitchen, these eateries offer festive dishes to make your feast look like all is right in the world. From Italian pizza rustica to Passover matzo crack, plus hot-cross buns, and an exploding bunny cake, our compilation hits all the holiday high notes. As a bonus, you'll be supporting local businesses. Up the ante on your celebration by enjoying one of these family-friendly Easter crafts or creative egg-dying ideas.

Read on for our list of restaurants and bakeries offering Easter brunch, Easter dinner, and Passover takeout and delivery. Keep in mind, many establishments are experiencing challenges in procuring ingredients and may require some menu flexibility as they struggle through the circumstances along with the rest of us.

From all of us at Mommy Poppins, we wish you and your family a happy holiday weekend, no matter how you're celebrating.

What's Open in Coronavirus Shutdown: Parks, Gardens, Hikes You Can Do While Social Distancing

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 12:00pm

Explore the ruins of Cornish Estate in Cold Spring. Photo by Meagan Newhart

Social distancing with kids is no easy task—boy do we relate! Whether your kids are young and whiny or older and rebellious, keeping them occupied and safe nowadays is a challenge.

We recognize the need to get out of the house for fresh air and a change of scenery. Fortunately, we can! Below we’ve compiled a list of destinations that remain open to the public in and around Westchester. We hope that these refuges not only provide a sense of normalcy in these trying times but also help you discover a new destination your family loves. Disclaimer: With everything changing from one day to the next, please check with any venue you plan to visit to confirm it remains open.

Be sure to bookmark our Coronavirus Parent Guide, chock-full of boredom busters, online learning tools, STEM activities, craft projects, podcasts, movie picks, and more. We’ve also been cataloging virtual events from all over the country on our Event Calendar and have rounded up our faves for the days ahead.

Read on for where to go—and be sure to practice safe social distancing! Most of these venues are FREE!

Life as a Mom in New York's Coronavirus Containment Zone

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:05pm

Resolve remains strong in New Rochelle where the Girl Scouts created this neighborly sign. Photo by the author

It's day 1 for my family in New York's first coronavirus "containment zone," a state-mandated two-week shutdown of schools and other public-gathering points within a 1-mile radius of the state's epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in New Rochelle. With so much uncertainty—who will get sick, how long will this really last, and will I have the supplies we need—it’s hard to know how to react to this shutdown with my family, which includes two teenagers, here in Westchester County.

As recently as a week ago, "prepare for sickness" topped my to-do list in terms of what to gather and stock up on. In early March, it still all seemed like an anxious person's panic and overkill. At that point—only a few days ago—most of the local discussion among parents and neighbors centered on whether or not COVID-19 was overhyped compared with the seasonal flu. I decided to take it seriously—not as a panicked person fearing for my life, but in the interest of emergency preparedness for the sake of my family.

(Find more information, including school closings and indoor activities and games, in our Coronavirus Guide for Parents.)

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Purim, Sugarfest, Performances

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 11:00am

Celebrate Purim at Temple Shaaray Tefila of Westchester on Sunday. in Bedford Corners. Photo courtesy of the temple

Here in Westchester County, the singular topic of discussion this week has been the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on our community. Depending on where in the county you live, you might be hearing rumblings about it and are bracing for impact, or you might be reside in Governor Cuomo's newly named "containment zone," where schools and other public-gathering spots are ordered to close for two weeks.

For March 14-15, our weekend roundup is presented with all this in mind. We, too, are parents in Westchester feeling the strain, but we want to try to help families cope as best as possible. We're looking at ways to unwind (and hopefully, avoid germs), but our readers have diverse perspectives, so we're laying out the options for you to decide.

Note that some events planned for this weekend, including the White Plains St. Patrick's Day Parade, have been canceled. If you're looking for an outdoor activity, you can check out what nature centers and farms have to offer. We're in the tail-end of maple-sugaring season, with events like the Sugaring-Off Party, where you can learn how sap is collected and converted into syrup, including how early settlers used to do this. Another nature topic is Weasels in Winter, because why should groundhogs get all the attention?

Another great way to recharge your battery this weekend is to attend any of several exciting performances we've found, including A Capella Live at Tarrytown Music Hall.

For more options to choose from, read on and consult our Event Calendar. If staying in is on the schedule, try these at-home Boredom Busters to keep the kids busy, from science experiments to fun exercise games.

A Dozen Spring Break Mini-Camps for Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 03/08/2020 - 8:00am

The Multi-Sport Camp at A Game Camp provides fun activities run by A-Game Sports coaches for your kids to enjoy their days off in a safe environment!

If you're not heading out of town for spring break, you may be wondering how to keep the kids busy during their time off. Spring break camps offer a great way to keep them active, learning, and engaged (not to mention out of your hair) while they're out of school.

Westchester offers many specialized programs, so there's sure to be a camp to please most interests. We've rounded up a dozen choices, including those focusing on nature, arts, and sports.

Be sure to check out our Event Calendar for more fun things to do during the break. And if you're looking ahead to the end of the school year, don't miss our Summer Camps Guide for Westchester Kids!