What’s Brewing in Westchester?

I have a confession to make: Despite my German heritage, I’ve never been much of a beer drinker. If my grandfather were alive, he’d likely demand his stein back. (Sorry, Grandpop, I’ve always been more of a G&T, vodka cranberry, and white wine kinda guy.) But Julia Sexton’s cover story has given me a whole new perspective on brew, compelling me to seriously reevaluate my beverage choices. As Senior Editor John Turiano (who, as our dining/food editor, was also the editor for this story) points out, I’ve clearly got a lot of catching up to do. “Westchester used to be considered a wine county,” he says. “But more local microbrews and craft brews are being offered and the number of local and regional craft breweries and brewpubs has greatly increased in the past few years. These days, there’s a beer with a flavor profile to suit just about everyone—even the most ardent beer-haters.” 

Another story we’ve had a lot of fun with this month is our survey of County residents’ opinions on a wide range of subjects. Articles Editor Marisa LaScala, who produced the questionnaire, admits that the endeavor helped to indulge her own curiosities. “The questions weren’t hard to figure out, because they’re the questions I usually want to ask people—but rarely have the nerve,” says Marisa, who was most curious about the dating questions we posed. “I met my husband in college, so I’ve never been on the dating scene in Westchester—that world is a complete, terrifying mystery to me.”

photo by John RizzoNot only to you, Marisa, but to many County singles. Hence, our third feature this month, “The Singles’ Guide” to Westchester. Editors Scott Simone and Deanna Cioppa, both single Westchesterites, tag-teamed this package with great enthusiasm. “As a single 20-something, I know that just being single in general can suck tremendously,” says Scott. “So we challenged ourselves to come up with different angles to make the package fun, while also providing good information. Hopefully, we’ve helped a few people out,” like some of the singles we profiled. 

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Both Scott and Deanna agree that the County gets an unfair rap for being a singles’ wasteland. “There’s a lot that the County offers, if people are willing to get a little creative,” says Deanna. “Circus lessons and bouldering? Yes, please.” Adds Scott, “Being single can be crappy, whether you live in Bedford Hills or Bedford-Stuyvesant. It’s all about the places you go, and the people you surround yourself with. We were able to find new places that are perfect for meeting like-minded singles.”

 As I write this, we are already deep in the throes of planning and, yes, even penning, some of our stories for 2014. As we look to the new year, we’d love to hear from you about what you’d like to see on our pages. Please complete our reader survey at westchestermagazine.com/readersurvey.

While you’re busy filling out our survey, I have to get ready for a date—with a lager in Armonk.

Cheers, Robert Schork, Editor-in-Chief

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

Our Best of Westchester Elimination Ballot is open through March 6!

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