Katonah

Katonah has a reputation for being too expensive for many people who would love to love in this wonderful community--it actually stretches way beyond the village that we all love. Just letting you know, it's more affordable than you think ! As of today (July 13, 2012), there are 219 single family homes on the market throughout the Katonah/Lewisboro school system and the prices range from $199,500 all the way up to 14 million. The median price for the most recent full year (2011) was $596,000. So go online to your favorite real estate website and check out the area, you'll be surprised ! And if you love the outdoors and dogs, horses, riding trails, lakes, parks, open spaces -- as well as proximity to cultural events & places (music at Caramoor; art at the Katonah Museum; Books, computers, speakers & more at the wonderful Katonah Library) dining, shopping, movies & theater-- it's all here.

Katonah was once a village on the move- literally. In the late 1800s, the land where the original town stood was flooded to create another reservoir to supply water to New York City. Fifty buildings were moved on rolling logs pulled by horses to the site of the current village. Today, Katonah continues to be on the move, if only figuratively. It has a vibrant collection of shops and restaurants, historic sites, cultural and recreational activities, and award-winning schools.

In a world dominated by chain stores, the downtown area of Katonah is a welcome sight, with a large selection of unique shops and eateries. Charles Department Store has been family-owned for 85 years, selling apparel, shoes, housewares and gourmet food items. Kelloggs & Lawrence, offering hardware, camping and hiking goods, it’s been in business since 1887. Katonah Publishing and Printing has been in business for 98 years, and has kept up with the times by expanding its services to incorporate modern technology. There is also a wide selection of restaurants.

The John Jay Homestead, where the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court once resided, is open to the public and holds a festive celebration every July 4th, attracting residents and visitors. The Katonah Museum of Art, though small, has a strong and interesting rotation of exhibits and an ongoing children’s program. The Katonah Village Library has its own colorful history, which is documented with additional stories of the town in the Katonah Historical Museum, located on the library’s ground floor. Residents and visitors in need of a more rugged experience needn’t fear; the Beaver Dam Sanctuary Conservation area has hiking trails. The Katonah Memorial Park has a pool and playing fields. Fishing is possible in many of the reservoirs; permits can be obtained from the New York City Department of Water Resources.

The village has its own Metro-North station; residents make the daily commute to Manhattan, which takes a little over an hour during peak time. The town is located close to Interstate 684. Vistors who arrive via train will be pleased to find that the train lets them off in the town’s bustling downtown area.

All these amenities come at a cost; Katonah is out of reach for many as its homes have a median price of around $600,000. However, its historic, cultural and retail assets make it a great place for a day trip.

‘Katonah’ is a name that Martha Stewart wanted to register with the U.S. Patent Office because she had started a line of furniture by that name. The residents didn’t take too kindly to having their town becoming a brand and fought it.

Even without all this controversy, Katonah is a name that stands for picturesque charm, and a certain classy appeal. Katonah is a recognized brand among its neighboring towns, and that is saying something in a county where there are other picturesque villages and quaint shopping districts. Katonah is near the junction of 35 and 684 and has a Metro North train station – all this makes it extremely commuter friendly. And combine this with the excellent school system and the nice downtown and it becomes a supremely attractive suburb.

There are many things that I like about Katonah from the many lovely homes to the lovely view of the stone churches. I’d like to highlight a couple of things here – one is the library which is a beautiful old building. The children’s section of this library with its cheery sun room is a particular favorite, and it draws kids to sprawl and read.

Among the many eateries in town that are really good, is the Blue Dolphin and this is another one of my Katonah favorites. Whether you stop by for dinner or dessert, this is a charming place to sit down and spend time with family and friends. It is small but packed with charm.

Another place that is a must-visit if you are in Katonah is Little Joe’s Books. It is a book store devoted to kids and teens and makes for a great way to spend a lovely afternoon or evening.

Katonah is the kind of suburb that offers beauty and elegance and while it does come with a hefty price tag, it is also possible to enjoy the village’s atmospheric charm with weekend visits!

Katonah is a beautiful hamlet in the town of Bedford, NY filled with gorgeous well-maintained old homes and the area does have wealth. Martha Stewart is one famous resident and she even named one of her collections after the hamlet. Also in Katonah is the fomer residence of US Supreme Court Justice John Jay and the house has been made a state historic site and museum.

Katonah has big bragging rights to the one of a kind Caramoor Center for Music and Arts which is a breathtaking Mediterranean-style villa set amongst the most stunning grounds and gardens. Chamber music concerts are held in the stunning Rosen Hall and an international outdoor music festival is held out of doors under a huge white tent in the midst of the ethereal setting and features everything from opera to bluegrass to jazz.

The Katonah Museum is a gem and fosters ten to tweleve exhibitions each year. Currently on the roster is a lovely photography exhibition entitled, "Rising Dragon: Contemporary Chinese Photography." Upcoming exhibits will be one on 3D animation, a showcase for Young Artists of 2012 and one that celebrates the American quilt.

Katonah is also home to Stepping Stones, the historic home of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder, Bill Wilson. The house is also on the national historic registry.

Shopping in the adorable hamlet, particularly on Katonah Ave., includes antique, consignment and home furnishing stores, gift shops, a consignment shop, chidlren's, men's and women's fashion boutiques, a card/stationary store, a beauty lounge, a book and music store, a jeweler and a hardware store.

Restaurants in Katonah include Blue Dolphin Ristorante, Katonah Bar and Grille, Jimmy's Pub, Wooden Nickle, La Famiglia, Deer Park Tavern, Willy Nick's, Muscoot Inn, Tengda Asian Bistro, the cool Perk's Coffee, Peppino's Restaurant in the historic train station and Katonah Restaurant where you can have great breakfast all day long.

Katonah is quite safe with a low crime rate.

The Katonah-Lewisboro school system is very good and the median SAT score of its high school students is 1742.

The median household income is about $150,000. The median home value is roughly $800,000.

The population of Katonah is approximately 4,600 people and is predominantly white.

Katonah is a beautiful hamlet located in the village of Bedford. It used to be located in what is now the Croton Reservoir. While walking along lovely Cherry-tree-lined streets, you’ll be charmed by its quaint homes, including many old Victorian mansions. Most of these homes range anywhere between $600,000 to over $1 million ($400,000 if you’re lucky). While in town, on a hot day you’ll want to take the kids to Scoops, where they can choose from 24 different types of ice cream! You can relax and read at the charming, old-fashioned Katonah Free Library. This charming library has a great selection of books and videos, as well as computer use. It also has a welcoming children’s section, where the dedicated staff read to kids. Sometimes they even hold open mics and local authors will come to visit (such as famous poet, Billy Collins).

If you’re hungry, you’ll want to grab lunch at Willy Nick’s Restaurant and Bar for traditional and international eats, great drinks, and excellent, hard-working and personable staff. Afterwards, grab coffee and a chocolate or old-fashioned candy treat at the funky store NokaJoe’s, which is right next door. Willy Nick’s is right across from Katonah’s easy-access train station. (You’ll want to find a parking space early, because space is limited, and most are metered. There’s a separate section where you can park for the train.) Katonah is a walking town, as sidewalks are everywhere and most streets in town are one-way. Get some of Westchester’s best pizza at Pizza Station, right in town, and then go shopping at Squire’s Family Clothing and Footwear, or Charles Department Store. For Italian-lovers, you’ll want to visit Blue Dolphin and Pepino’s. If you’re on the quest for inner peace and harmony with your surroundings, visit Awakenings for wonderful inspirational books, CDs, and trinkets like Buddha statues or healing stones. Katonah has other funky stores like the Eclectic Collector, which has original, unique items you won’t find anywhere else to adorn your home with. (Don’t worry, the pugs that may greet you at the door are friendly.) There’s shops with a nostalgic feel, like Kellog’s and Lawrence Hardware Store (it has a lot of different knickknacks in addition to basic hardware and home goods; also, there’s the funky Janet’s Planet Art Shop, which can satisfy all your artistic needs. Music lovers, visit Blue Bus music store for all your instrument and musical desires (the staff is very knowledgeable here too).

For those with a car who want more natural surroundings or enjoy different kinds of art, visit the Katonah Museum of Art, which has shifting exhibits, a children’s section, and exhibits that stay all year round (currently, there’s a Chinese Photography exhibit. Caramoor is a wonderful outdoor music hall complete with exquisite Elizabethan-style gardens. Come here for the annual summer International Music Festival, or come see regular great performances of all different kinds of classical music. You can even have your wedding here. The Rosen House is a stately 1930’s era style Italian villa, which has an art museum inside. It’s a great place to take a country stroll, and you can admire all of the beautiful gardens---and even see a hummingbird, or two! Katonah is also home to Lasdon Park and Arboretum, which includes 234 acres of meadows and woodlands, including several international species of different shrubbery and trees and various memorials, like the Westchester Veterans’. This memorial is a quiet walking path with statues honoring those fallen in battle in various world wars. The Lasdon Mansion was built in the 1940’s, once home to the Van Cortlandts and then later the prestigious Lasdon family.