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.
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.
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.
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......
Andrew Carnegie grave
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.
