By Susan Miele, Executive Director, Bronxville Chamber of Commerce

Dec. 16, 2015:  Bronxville Hometown Holiday

The Bronxville Chamber of Commerce and the Bronxville PTA teamed up for the first time to jointly produce a buy-local community event. The revamped holiday kickoff celebration included a tree-lighting celebration featuring the Bronxville Middle School Choristers, a holiday greeting from Mayor Mary Marvin, and a special appearance by Frosty the Snowman, who arrived via trolley and police escort.

A procession followed to Pondfield Road, where we unveiled Santa's Workshop, which had been mystically transformed from a vacant store to the North Pole and continued on Saturday as well. Other event highlights were Holiday Happy Hour--a grown-up holiday experience when some dozen stores served adult refreshments--and a window-decorating contest, for which individuals and teams of students from Bronxville High School competed for great prizes generously donated by the PTA. Many local businesses also participated in the special offers to Bronxville PTA members of 10% or more savings.

Mary Liz Mulligan Steps Down from Farmers' Market

With the end of the year also comes the end of an era: Mary Liz Mulligan, who founded the Bronxville Farmers' Market in 2002 and has nurtured it to become a formidable entity that attracts people from well beyond Bronxville, is turning over the reins to a new market manager. She has done yeoman's work, and neither rain, nor snow, nor heat wave, etc., have kept her from her duties. Her contributions to Bronxville are greatly appreciated, and we'll miss having her at the helm. We wish Mary Liz well in all her future endeavors--of which there will surely be many!

There will be a mini Bronxville Farmers' Market every Saturday in December at the regular site, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Central Bakery, Do-Re-Me Farm, FarmEats, and The Orchards of Concklin will be there! ‪

Welcome Back!

Bayside Travel (previously Gramatan Travel) has moved its offices back to Bronxville, where it has been since the 1950s. All 40 of the Bayside Travel advisors will now operate out of one office to take advantage of the synergy of shared knowledge and experiences to bring their clients the best possible luxury travel services. The agency is part of the esteemed Virtuoso network and offers custom luxury travel experiences and concierge services. The office is located at 69 Pondfield Road. Phone number is 914-833-8880.

Feasting

Have a "Feast of the Seven Fishes" on Christmas Eve at Underhills Crossing. Their culinary team will prepare a spectacular array of seafood entrees, bringing this very special Christmas Eve tradition to Underhills, along with their regular dinner menu. Reservations are also being accepted for New Year's Eve. 74.5 Pondfield Rd.

Park 143 Bistro & Fish will be open Christmas Eve, so reserve your table now. Plus, the annual New Year's Eve bash returns! Enjoy the regular dinner, along with celebratory specials, a live DJ playing the sounds of yesterday and today, an open bar all night, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Lange's Deli's holiday catering menu includes homemade soups and main courses such as honey-glazed baked Virginia ham and lasagna with meat. Call 914-337-3354.

J & G Italian Deli has its "ho-ho-homemade" holiday catering menu available. Appetizer selections include stuffed mushrooms, seafood salad, clams oreganata, and eggplant rollatini; pasta dishes include lasagna (meat or vegetable) and linguini with clam sauce (red or white); and main dishes include chicken rollatini, filet mignon with portobello mushrooms and roasted potatoes, veal portabella, and stuffed calamari. Christmas Eve hours are 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. 914-664-3475.

Topps Bakery has adorable holiday baked goods ready to go, including stocking cookies, gingerbread houses, hot cocoa mix, and more. Place your special order as well! Pondfield Road.

Chantilly Patisserie has posted its Christmas menu of delectable treats--including bûche de Noël. Orders must be placed by December 20. Don't forget cookies for Santa! 135 Parkway Rd.

Get your prosecco and holiday spirits in town at Station Plaza Wine & Spirits or Topps Wine and Liquor.

Gifting

Womrath Bookshop will special-order titles that aren't in stock, and arrival time can be less than a week. Try them first: 914-337-0199. 76 Pondfield Road.

J. Pocker & Son is still able to accept custom framing orders for Christmas giving. They can accept holiday orders through December 17. Experience why they're quoted this month in Westchester Home as experts in creating gallery walls. 65 Pondfield Road.

Objects & Images Fine Art is sure to provide you with a truly unique gift for the art lover in your life. There's a variety of styles to choose from. Pondfield Road.

Give the gift of art classes! OSilas offers hands-on art projects at each session taught by experts, with all materials included. Classes are taught Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Fees are $35 ($30 for members) for one class or a pack of five classes for $150 ($125 for members). Call Liz Levine with any questions:  914-337-9300, ext. 2433.

If you shopped at Breezeway recently, don't be fooled into thinking you've already seen all their merchandise. New fashion accessories have been arriving continuously, and there's something for every taste and price point--jewelry, purses, hats, scarves, and more. Kraft Avenue.

Yum Yum Tree has decided to launch its winter clearance sale before Christmas! The more you purchase, the more you save. 96 Pondfield Rd.

Take advantage of Fabio's Hair Salon's holiday offerings, valid until the end of the year. Get a free conditioning treatment with the purchase of any "ready to give" product set. Get customized gift baskets; the more you spend, the more you save--plus a free haircut with purchases of five or more products (min. purchase $50). Get a free conditioning treatment when you purchase $50-$99 value gift cards and a free conditioning treatment plus product set with a purchase of $100 or more in gift cards. 914-337-1482. 137 Parkway Rd.

Fabulous wreaths and holiday décor items are beautifully on display at Mrs. Morgan's Flower Shop on Parkway Road. Walk into the store and you'll want your home to look like it does there!

What better gift for our parents or other older relatives than a membership in Gramatan Village? Call 914-337-1338. 

Shop for frames, photo albums, and photo gifts at Lewiko Imaging Art! 108 Pondfield Road.

Pure Barre is offering up to 50% off apparel and up to 25% off DVDs through Friday, December 11.

Yes, even the festive holiday décor in the windows at The Flower Shop of Tryforos and Pernice is for sale! Their centerpieces are showstoppers, too!

If online ordering is for you, why not order from your local Bronxville retailers? Online purchasing is available from Station Plaza Wine & Spirits, Citrine Adrian East, The Silk Road, La Gravinese Jewelers, Pure Mountain Olive Oils and Vinegars, and Womrath Bookshop, to name a few.

Still not sure what to get for everyone on your list? Many Bronxville-area merchants offer gift cards! In addition to those mentioned above, these include Haiku Asian Bistro, Kraft Bistro, Il Bacio Trattoria, Underhills Crossing, Beer Noggin, Ernie's Wine Bar + EATS, Blue Moon Mexican Café, Lange's Deli of Bronxville, Stillmeadow Gourmet, J. Pocker & Son, NORTH, Blow & Beyond, Lyte Body Fitness, Bow Tie Cinemas, Fabio's Hair Studio, Bronxville Adult School, Toney Toni and the Gang, Candy Rox, Bronxville Wellness Sanctuary, Value Drugs, and Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute, to name a few.

The Out-of-Towners

Don't forget that The UPS Store can take care of all your shipping needs for those gifts and cookie tins for those outside of town. It's a one-stop shop--bubble wrap, packing tape, packaging, and more. They make it easy so it's one less thing you have to think about. 81 Pondfield Rd.

Traveling for the holidays? Arrange your pooch's holiday with Paws and Play Pet Resort and pick up a gift for his stocking at Provisions for Pets.

For your own excursions, book your airport transit with Eastchester Trip Service.

Be Loyal—Buy Bronxville!

Susan Miele