Wednesday, October 28, 2015

LIFE IN SLEEPY HOLLOW

This past weekend for my birthday MM#1 Fan whisked me away for a birthday get-a-away, when my other plans changed. And what a treat it was. I was surprised...it was off to a lovely little spigot of land called Sleepy Hollow. You may have heard of it.

Immortalized by Washington Irving in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this village on the Hudson River was originally called North Tarrytown. It wasn’t until 1996 that it officially adopted the name it was better known as—Sleepy Hollow. It's small and charming and yes, there are signs of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman all around.We started off at Philipsburg Manor, a historical site that was once home to the Philipse family, one of the largest slave-holders in the Colonial North and staunch supporters of the crown.
 
We soon turned our attention to all things Irving. After crossing the spot where the Headless Horseman Bridge once stood, we visited the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow whose groundbreaking occurred in 1685. It makes an appearance in the legendary story as does its small burial ground where the Headless Horseman is supposedly buried. At night, as the story goes, his ghost “rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head.” The grounds are filled with the graves of the village’s early Dutch residents, many of whose names were inspiration no doubt for Irving.

 
This tombstone, I found very interesting as the last name is mine, but off by one letter, a "U" between the a and k. hmmmmm, some research will be upon us......
 Next door is the quite large Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where generations of famous New Yorkers are buried including Andrew Carnegie, Brooke Astor, Harry and Leona Helmsley, Walter Chrysler, and Washington Irving. Pretty cool to see!!! The cemetery is huge (90 acres) so we did not see all of it, but it is very pretty with one side dropping down to the Pocantico River.
 
Andrew Carnegie grave
 
We also saw the fabulous Lyndhurst, also known as the Jay Gould estate, which is a Gothic Revival country house that sits in its own 67-acre park beside the Hudson River. This house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966, and was just breathtaking. Just a tad understated I though. I don't mind saying I thought I sensed a presence in this house. But I love me a good mansion tour.
 
While in the Hollow we enjoyed some wonderful food. My favorite place was Mint. Mint began life as a gourmet food shop, and when entering the restaurant one is met by a display case containing huge chunks of delicious cheese,(you just now I had a complete orgasm)bowls of salty, fragrant olives, and shelves of imported sauces, pastas and crackers. If you’re lucky, the elegant proprietor, Hassan Jarane, will offer you a slice of Pickwick Cheddar with caramelized onion, a pesto basil Gouda or a subtle truffle cheese from Tuscany. He must have known I was a cheese connoisseur. And I do love me some samples!
Just beyond the entrance are a semi-open kitchen and a few tables by the front windows, where one can sit down for dinner, but the heart of the restaurant is at the back. I don't mind telling you I had the best Eggs Benedict I ever had at this place...award winning I tell ya! I also came out with a nice little full shopping bag of goodies.
Saturday was the Bridge View Tavern. One must hit a Eastern pub in the fall for pub fare and some fall ales!!!! Nothing like it. I had a very tasty lunch there of Pulled Pork BBQ and sweet potato fries!!! YUM! 8 ales later I was feeling no pain.
 
Sunday before leaving town, Mistress Maddie's #1 Fan drove me by Washington Irving's cottage , but we just missed the hours they were open, but at least I can say I saw it.
It was such  fun and neat weekender trip, what a nice birthday surprise. Upon getting back, friends asked if I was able to sleep in such a fable eerie town, or feared the Headless Horseman would come after me? I retorted with I had the best night sleep there, with no fear once so ever. Although, I swear I did feel accosted in my sleep, pillaged even! Whether it was a ghost, the horseman or my #1 Fan.....I guess we may never know.
 
 

32 comments:

  1. "I swear I did feel accosted in my sleep, pillaged even!" - that's an everyday occurrence at the casa, right? ;-)

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    1. is he aware you can't pillage or rape the willing?

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  2. What a beautiful post. I am officially jealous...I have been wanting to go here for years and never made it yet. Do you watch the show I'm wondering? Lyndhurst is marvelous.

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  3. Like Calliope, I too want to make it there one day. It looks like a great time. My 5th Great Grandfather is buried right behind the Old Dutch Church. Thomas Gibson Smith was the pastor there from 1808-1838 (yes, while the story was published) and is a small figure in the history of the Church.

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful birthday weekend!

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  5. I said it once, I'll say it again... no where like the East coast in this country for fascinating history, architecture and things of interest...you just don't get that out here.

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  6. When William and I first married, and before we were comfortable, we had our honeymoon there and started two days before Halloween! It is one quaint town for sure. Your post is , as always beautiful. If you ever get the chance go back and see Washington Irving's cottage for the tour...it's very interesting. I have the feeling I'd love Mint. We hope to make it back one day.

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    1. Wow, what a nice, interesting honeymoon. I can see where it would be special Agnes.

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  7. I loves your travels and all the history. :-)

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  8. I went to Purchase college which is very close to Sleepy Hollow for two years. I use to go with other students all the time and get totally creeped out. Yes, the cemetery there is filled with tons of famous people buried there. It has strongly charged energy.

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  9. What a fascinating place to visit - at a perfect time of year. Great post!

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  10. Mistress Maddie is never "head"-less. Always getting it, from what I hear. Jx

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  11. What a magical and quaint town, not eerie as I would suspect. One of my favorite stories and writer. Just to see his home alone would worth the trip.

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  12. The mansion is gorgeous and I so love touring old cemeteries.
    What a great trip!

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  13. My friends and I plan a trip every other year to Sleepy Hollow for Halloween weekend....its always a blast. I have to go see Lyndhurst. Never been.

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  14. Omg,! What a fun trip!!! You have too much fun. I haven't been there in years. But that pork sandwich and beer look like the perfect fall lunch.

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  15. Too see that town after reading the story would be beyond cool. So adding this to my bucket list.

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  16. What a fun trip! My buddy would've truly enjoyed that place...though he probably would spend each entire night waiting for the Headless Horseman rather than ravishing a traveling companion.
    BTW - You can give me that ball massage any time! Heck, I probably even reciprocate...once I'd caught my breath and recovered from the expert ministrations!

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  17. After seeing you in the jeans for the birthday post, can you blame a ghost or your friend for pillaging your junk? The trip looks so seasonally fun

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  18. Thanks for sharing that wonderful trip. Looks like alot of fun. The gravesites are amazing. But I love me a good cemetery.

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  19. Anonymous10/29/2015

    What a great birthday trip. It makes getting one year older worth it.
    JP

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  20. There's a ghost laying on the bed! THERE'S A GHOST LAYING ON THE BED!!!

    ::squints::

    OK. Maybe it's just a dress...?

    This looked and sounded like a splendid weekend! Especially as you were finished off at the finish!

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  21. Educational, historical and a good time wrapped up in one trip....that's pretty darn neat.

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  22. Glad you had a wonderful birthday trip. The pictures don't do it justice I'm sure. One more place you've introduced me to I need to visit! :)

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  23. What a lovely post! I have always wanted to go there and see this legendary town. Looks so fun. We sure are lucky here on the east coast with all our quaint towns aren't we?

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  24. That food looks DELICIOUS! What a time you had. I had no idea there was that many famous dead folk there!!!! The whole allure of the town looks intriguing. You one lucky guy.

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  25. That food looks sinfully delicious, and I love the pictures. I never thought of graveyards as a thing of beauty, but I like this one.

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  26. I had no idea Sleepy Hollow was such a beautiful place! Your post and that Eggs Benedict, not to mention the sites want to make me go. Did you find it creepy?

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  27. Wow, what a friend! Took you on a trip and felt you up!!! I wanna go there now. How cool for Halloween would this be to see.

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  28. It was a wonderful trip wasn't it? I knew you would like the cemeteries and the legend stuff.

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  29. Very cool trip!!! I really should have checked Sleepy Hollow out when I lived up north. Florida is gorgeous, but far from the character and history of the North.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!