☕ The Knicks Have a Secret Weapon in Valhalla & We Found It

Happy Friday, Westchester!
 

While most of the county was getting comfortable on their couch or snuggled up to a bar on Wednesday night patiently awaiting the start of the Knicks game, the Westchester SC faithful witnessed a stunning goal from captain Conor McGlynn… an overhead bicycle kick finish from nearly 50 feet off the post and in. Conor even hit the Brunson “3” celebration, a perfect foreshadow to the unbelievable sports night New Yorkers had in store. Check out the goal and Conor’s Brunson tribute here (at the 3:30 mark):

As for these Knicks, what can you say? They seem to regularly do things that haven’t been done before with a level of success that has been rare for New York area teams over the last 20 years. Businesses are riding the wave (we talk about one in particular further on in this newsletter), kids are staying up way too late, and people are walking around repping Knicks merch. It’s a cool reminder of how unifying a run like this can be… just try to enjoy it because you never know when it swings around again (this coming from a lifelong Ranger fan). One win away from this group joining New York sports immortality.
 
Now for the weekend at hand… Grammy winner Gary Clark Jr. will be kicking it off at The Cap, one of our favorites, and we’ll be down there rocking out along with a lucky reader who won two tickets from our recent giveaway. We’ve been teasing upcoming giveaways in recent editions and here we go…
 
🚗 HOT CAR SUMMER IS COMING!
 
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Ardsley Car Wash on what might be our most entertaining community competition yet… and there are some very cool prizes on the way.
 
But before we launch it, we need your help…
 
What’s the worst thing that’s EVER happened in your car?
 
A mystery smell that lasted months? An exploded coffee? A sports bag that should have been declared a biohazard? Beach sand that’s somehow survived multiple summers? A forgotten Happy Meal that became a science experiment? Or maybe your car, truck, SUV, or work van is currently carrying enough dirt, crumbs, sports gear, dog hair, pollen, or mystery items to qualify for its own ZIP code.
 
It can be your own vehicle, the outside of your car, or even a legendary car disaster involving a friend or family member.
 
Send us your best car horror story. Photos are very welcome, but absolutely not required and can definitely be anonymous!

As a thank you for participating, the first six qualifying entries will receive an Ultimate Shine from Ardsley Car Wash.
 
Some entries may then go head-to-head in a social vote to determine which vehicle is most deserving of the ultimate Hot Car Summer prize, and those who vote will be in for a shot at prizes too. We love making as many people win as possible!
 
Email your story (and photo if you have one) to [email protected] or reply to this edition!
 
P.S. We recently discovered a couple of ants attempting to carry away an old McDonald’s fry from under one of our car seats. Surely someone can beat that…

Bec+Wes
 

In today’s edition:

• Featured events… he’s sold out MSG, now actor and comedian Aziz Ansari comes to Westchester

• Family fun… kiddos party it up with Peppa Pig in Ardsley

• Grown ups & date nights… one-man band Shakey Graves takes his Texas blues rock to Tarrytown

• Live music beat… folk rock icons the Indigo Girls play to a sold out Capitol Theatre this Sunday with resale tickets available

• Community spotlight… New York City-based Tom Gold Dance returns for a performance in Untermyer’s walled gardens

• Worth a drive from Ardsley Car Wash… the World Cup celebrations kick off at Goshen’s LEGOLAND

• Eats-chester… the Knicks’ secret weapon in Valhalla?

Plus, a message from our partners, WingWoman by QueenBHive, giving you, your business, or brand the visibility and support it needs, and QueenBPoker, hosting your epic game night.

Now let’s get to it!

💓 The Pulse

Loving Westchester’s Featured Events!

📆 What’s Happening?

Family Fun!

Grown Ups & Date Nights

The Beat… Westchester’s Live Music Scene

🎵 Indigo Girls
Sat., Jun. 13 | The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester | 8p | Resale only
 
Thirty-five years of sold-out shows, 15 million records, and a room at The Cap that will know every word. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers with support from Lucy Wainwright Roche. This one sold out fast for a reason and resale tickets are still out there.
Closer to Fine has been in your head since 1989… go hear it live →

☕ Eats-chester: The Knicks’ Lucky Coffee Spot?

Between the Knicks’ incredible Finals run, World Cup watch parties popping up across the county, and sports fans finding any excuse to gather, New York feels a little different right now.
 
Maybe it’s the optimism… Maybe it’s the possibility.
 
Maybe it’s the feeling that we’re living through one of those sporting moments we’ll talk about for years. The kind where, just perhaps, you’re going to remember where you were when it happened.
 
Are we allowed to say that out loud yet? Maybe not… But we’re thinking it.
 
One place fully embracing the moment is The Farm Café in Valhalla. Conveniently located near the Knicks’ training facility, it’s become something of a regular stop for players and staff, with the café even supplying some of their favorite drinks while they’re on the road! Lately they’ve been celebrating the run with Knicks-themed coffee toppers, cupcakes and cake pops.

At this point, we’re not saying The Farm Café is responsible for the Knicks being one win away from a title…
 
We’re just saying whatever they’re putting in those coffees, they should probably keep doing it.
 
The café itself only opened in December and is the vision of owner Gianna Giampia. A certified nutritionist, she wanted to create a place where good-for-you food didn’t mean sacrificing flavor, and it shows. The muffins are packed with huge pieces of real fruit, the cookies are enormous, and everything feels thoughtfully made without losing the fun.
 
We’ve now visited a couple of times and have developed some clear favorites. Our standout is the Peachy Ham. It’s essentially everything delicious piled onto a crispy slice of toast. Peach jam, burrata, prosciutto, local honey and basil-infused olive oil… take it from us, don’t bother trying to share it!
 
If you’re feeling adventurous, order the Banana Matcha Latte. So good. And don’t leave without a Banana Pudding Cookie! I mean it! Their classic chocolate chip cookie deserves a mention too.
 
One of our visits turned into a sports-themed morning we’d happily recommend. We grabbed a coffee from them and headed a few minutes down the road to Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne to visit Babe Ruth’s grave. Kai and Wes left a baseball signed by the three of us among the tributes and spent some time paying homage to a legend.
 
We’re lucky to live in a county steeped in sporting history. With New York sports fans dreaming about what might be possible this month, it felt fitting to pay a visit to one of the greatest who ever lived.
 
If you’re looking for a different kind of weekend outing, we’d highly recommend combining the two.
 
So grab a coffee, order the Peachy Ham, pick up a giant Banana Pudding Cookie for later, and take a short drive to say hello to a sporting legend.
 
And if this does become one of those sporting moments we’ll be talking about for years to come…
 
Well, The Farm Café feels like a pretty good place to remember where you were when it happened.
 

"Thank you for your emails highlighting the wonderful events happening throughout Westchester. They are such a great resource and reminder of how much Westchester has to offer." — A Loving Westchester Reader
 
Loving Westchester is written by a real-life husband and wife team, completely free, and in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. If it adds something to your week, even a small contribution helps us keep it going and growing.

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See you Tuesday,