family Archives - Amy Hirsch

Located in scenic Westchester County near Tarrytown, Blue Hill Farm is a fantastic destination for food lovers and families.

The restaurant, Stone Barns, is a four season farm to table affair. The menu mainly features seasonal items either grown by the farm or sourced locally. The building itself is beautiful and provides the ideal back drop for the food. Rather than choosing from a menu, diners are given a list of ingredients being used in the kitchen on that day to build a unique tasting menu. Each course is crafted to showcase these ingredients with such creativity. In winter, you might experience smoked kale or hake with mussels. At other times of the year, you might experience zucchini pasta or beet burgers. Dining here is a whole experience; when you visit, you may be selected to meet the chef and watch him cook. It’s very different, and not your traditional restaurant.

One of my favorite aspects of Blue Hill Farm is that it is a true working farm. From spring through fall, you can take your kids to see how the farm is run. In addition to the many gardens and greenhouses, Blue Hill is home to chickens and sheep. After touring the farm, a stop at the Cafe and Grain Barn lets you recharge with snacks, salads, and baked goods. Or, you can try Blue Hill Farm’s very own yogurt.

To learn more about Blue Hill Farm or to plan a visit, go to their website. You can also find them on Facebook.

We all grow up with our own Fourth of July traditions, but for me, the holiday meant a long celebration that never seemed to end. My birthday falls right near July 4, so as a kid the two events were so intertwined in my mind, I always expected the fireworks to spell out my name in the sky! That never happened, but spending the Fourth with my family still had to be one of the most special memories of summer.

Each Fourth of July, we’d take a boat trip to Port Jefferson for the weekend of the fireworks display. We’d enjoy local festivals, shopping, restaurants, and, of course, the fireworks. From the boat we could often see the fireworks from a few different towns. Being out on the water at night, rocking with the waves while the sulfurous smell of exploded fireworks mingles with the salty air, is about as perfect a way to watch a fireworks show as I can imagine. They may not have written my name in the sky, but that fireworks show was always the culmination of a fantastic family weekend.

Now that I have my own family, I still love to keep up with the traditions I knew as a kid. Boating to Port Jefferson, enjoying a favorite restaurant like Pasta Pasta, and those spectacular fireworks out on the water. I’m not one for going all out with the Fourth of July decorations around the house, but for a cookout or family party, a thoughtfully dressed table or collection of eclectic images goes a long way toward setting the patriotic mood. Think of adding a Fourth of July flair to your picnic basket for the beach, your table at home, or even your clothing or accessories!

july 4 candles — Sand Candles from Martha Stewart

july 4 table — Eclectic Fourth of July party elements.

red white and blue purses — Accessories with a patriotic nod.

july 4 paper lantern — Red, white, and blue lantern.

american flag couch — A vintage American flag draped over a couch.

july 4 cupcake wrappers — Patriot cupcake wrappers: Portable decor!

Whatever your traditions or plans, I wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July!