A two-minute history lesson

Another Sunday night and another long Thanksgiving weekend ends in a flash.

This morning I walked Ilsa the wonder dog to Patriot’s Park, which is described on the Historic River Towns of Westchester website thusly:

“Exactly on the border between Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow and next door to the Warner Library, the park features a statue of John Paulding. Commemorating the capture by Paulding and his fellow patriots, Isaac Van Wart and David Williams, of the British spy John André. He was seized while attempting to return to New York City with plans of West Point, given to him by the American traitor Benedict Arnold. It is an ideal spot in which to enjoy a picnic (or delicatessen) lunch and allow the children to let off steam at the playground.”

It’s also a great place to jog with your dog. The sloped oval gets the old heart rate up quicker than a Starbuck's espresso. I've made a habit of visiting with Ilsa in the early morning hours, cleaning up any doggie business (the park provides scoop bags as a courtesy) and leaving before the grounds are peopled to any extent. Saturdays you can watch the local farmer's market set up shop.

Living in Sleepy Hollow nearly 8 months now, I feel like I’m just beginning to get a handle on the neighborhood. And what a ‘hood it is, steeped in early American history, quite the success story in multiracial cohabitation, and home to one of the most surreal karaoke nights anywhere. Stay tuned for more local coverage in posts to come.

I gotta go iron some shirts because another four-day weekend has ended what feels like two days too soon.

Until next time, here's something to get you juiced for the return of “Rocky Balboa.” Go ahead, click that link and watch the trailer. Listen to the first four bars of that theme song and tell me the "boy am I psyched!" vibe isn't coursing through your being.