We got a sneak peak at the Designer Showhouse at one of Scarsdale's most magnificent homes at 2 Cooper Road at the corner of Cooper and Murray Hill Roads. The Showhouse features the work of leading designers from Westchester and New York who have transformed the 1915 mansion into a stunning collection of stylized rooms. Proceeds from the Showhouse will benefit Cerebral Palsy of Westchester.

Locals who have driven by the house for years will now have the chance to see what's inside and to view the work of some of our area's most talented interior decorators. The house is built on a grand scale and 25 rooms in all have been imaginatively redone. There are public rooms, sitting rooms, bedrooms, a breakfast room, a conservatory, a library, and even a second floor room with a bar, should you want to drink without descending the grand staircase. A third floor "attic" with full height ceilings includes even more room for sleeping and relaxing.

The house will be open from Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 to Sunday, June 9th. A Gala Preview Cocktail Party was held on Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.-- see photo below.

Showhouse hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Mondays. Children under six, infants, strollers, and pets are not admitted in the Showhouse. For more information please contact Kristen Harris at (914) 937-3800 ext. 353 or ext. 209 or visit their website here. 

Here are photos of a few of the newly decorated rooms, but I suggest you go to get the full effect yourself.

Debra Gottlieb of Fine Lines Interiors in Armonk has reimagined the 22 x 22 dining room as the scene of a wedding party. Crowned with a multi-tiered butter cream cake the whimsical room includes something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue – the "blue" is the richly draped turquoise curtains and the "old" includes a photo taken at Gottlieb's own wedding. Don't miss the bride's bouquet, silk pumps, cameo motif and pastel macaroons in this elegantly-staged set. Click here to see more of Gottlieb's work.

We were also taken with Kim Freeman's jewel box of a breakfast room. Painted in shades of azure blue, the décor features Knoll Brno chairs covered in turquoise silk, surrounding a traditional pine table. Freeman clearly has a knack for mixing the traditional with the modern. Visit Freeman's website here. 

Another featured designer is Rachel Laxer who hails from Scarsdale. Her sunroom on the landing of the grand stairway extends over the home's port cochere and features windows on three sides. Using glass, wood, leather, fur and a taupe and cream palate she created a contemporary hideaway to rest on the journey upstairs. Learn more about Laxer at her website.

Debra Funt, who lives and works in Scarsdale performed magic, transforming a bare attic room that was originally used as a dormitory for household help into a welcoming guest room. Pictured here, before and after, Funt lined the walls in complementary gray and chartreuse wallpapers , painted and carpeted the floors, brought in lighting, photographs, paintings and even a Lucite sculpture to fill the dormer. The crisp linens looked so inviting that I wanted to stop for a nap. Be sure to make the trip to the third floor when you tour the Showhouse and check out Debra's work here. 

This precious pink and green creation would make some little girl very happy. Furnished with a vanity and adorned in silk and roses this fanciful child's space was created by Manhattan's Rooms by ZoyaB.

See the work of 25 of America's top designers and decorative artists and tour this historic 1915 mansion at the Showhouse at 2 Cooper Road in Scarsdale.

Visit the website for details. 

Westchester County has announced that major portions of the Bronx River Parkway in both directions will be closed from 10 pm on Friday night April 26 to 8 pm on Saturday April 27.  The closures are necessary to begin drilling of piles for the new west bridge abutment of the new bridge as part of the Crane Road Bridge Replacement Project.

Here are the details:

Northbound Parkway closures:
• All northbound Bronx River Parkway traffic in Yonkers (six lane section of the parkway) will be detoured onto the Sprain Brook Parkway, then to Central Park Avenue (NY 100) to White Plains.
• Local traffic will have access to the northbound Bronx River Parkway at the following locations (between the Sprain Brook Parkway and Harney Road): Paxton Avenue, Elm Street, Scarsdale Road, Thompson Street and Leewood Drive.
• Local northbound parkway traffic will be detoured at Harney Road to Scarsdale Avenue and East Parkway and re-entering the northbound parkway at Crane Road.

Southbound Parkway closures:
• All southbound Bronx River Parkway traffic will be detoured at the Westchester County Center (Exit 22) in White Plains onto Central Park Avenue south to the Sprain Brook Parkway.
• Entrances to southbound Bronx River Parkway at Main Street and Fenimore Road will be closed.
• Local traffic will have access to the southbound Bronx River Parkway at Ardsley Road and points south.

Delays are expected and motorists are advised to seek alternate routes. Numerous variable message signs are being used to alert motorists.
The project began last summer and will take three years to complete. For additional information, contact Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation at 995-2555. Full details on this project are available at westchestergov.com/craneroadbridge

Bill Miller did not know the phone call he received in January from the Chair of the Community Support Council was just a ruse to see if he was home. So he kept the caller on the phone while he expounded on possible Scarsdalians for the Council to honor for their unsung acts of volunteerism to the town. As the call ended, there was a knock on the door and Bill was very surprised to see members of the Bowl Committee there to announce he was being honored as this year's recipient of the Scarsdale Bowl.

Three hundred people feted Bill for this prestigious honor on Thursday April 17 at Lake Isle Country Club. In his invocation, Rabbi Jonathan Blake of Westchester Reform Temple described Bill as a man who "loves the human family". Richard Todor, President of the Scarsdale Foundation referred to Bill as a "Special person who has contributed so much to the fabric of the Village". Todor also noted that this is the 90th birthday of the Scarsdale Foundation, which is best known as the custodian of the Scarsdale Bowl and helps Scarsdalians in need. For the 2012-2013 academic year, the Foundation awarded $97,000 in scholarships to 26 Scarsdale recipients.

Bowl Chair Jane Veron, Master of Ceremonies, honored the sixteen past Bowl recipients in the audience and noted with sadness the passing of prior Bowl winners Kenneth Thompson and Betty Menke this past year. Veron then introduced speaker Richard Yaffa, Bill's close friend from elementary and high school. Richard recounted going to school with Bill from 3rd to 12th grade and told entertaining tales of their younger days. Victor Goldberg, a long-time Scarsdale resident and friend recalled that Bill was "perfect at everything he did", even as an Army sharpshooter in their military training together.

Mark Miller, Bill's older son, spoke on behalf of the family. After a slight technological delay, Mark gave a slide show entitled "Growing Up Miller—70's Version". Like the famous New Yorker map of the world highlighting mostly Manhattan, Mark's speech and slide show lovingly recounted Bill's life in terms of maps, highlighting Bill's life in Scarsdale, including Wayside Lane and Westchester Reform Temple, and in New York City as Bill conquered the business world.

Taking the mic to introduce Bill, Jane Veron reminded the crowd that Bill is someone who "focuses on what really matters—people." With typical modesty Bill remarked he was flattered, but uncomfortable listening to all the wonderful comments. However, he did admit it felt good to get a pat on the back.

Miller said that one constant in life is learning and the many doors it can open. Learning in Scarsdale was a bit tumultuous when Bill served on the school board in the early 1980s. There was a controversial redistricting, the construction of lunchrooms needed as mothers went to work and changes in the curriculum. However, what really stands out in retrospect was the birth of technology in education during this period. Bill also gave his appreciation to the Village's officials who work so well with volunteers for the public benefit. Finally, Mr. Miller read the lyrics taken from the Book of Ecclesiastes which were sung beautifully by Cantor Jill Abramson of Westchester Reform Temple earlier in the evening: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."

Bill ended the evening by stating he had had a very good time. Everyone in the room seemed to concur.

To learn more abut the work of the Scarsdale Foundation and to contribute, visit www.scarsdalefoundation.org.

2013 Scarsdale Bowl Committee
Jane Veron, Chair
Scott Altabet
Linda Hillman Chayes
Merrell Clark
Amy Cooper
Bart Hamlin
Alice Herman
Howard Nadel
Jim O'Connor
Pamela Rubin
Adie Shore
Carolyn Stevens
Evelyn M. Stock
Jeffrey Waitker
Sara Werder

Non-Voting Members
Richard Toder, Ex Officio
Deborah Pekarek, Secretary/Treasurer

Pictures and text by contributor Nan Berke

Iris Nails and Spa has opened on East Parkway in Scarsdale in the large double storefront that was once the home of Waterworks. It's a grand space and will surely give all the other nail places around town a run for their customers. There's a long row of pedicure chairs and many seats for manicures, so you should never have a problem getting your nails done. Over the weekend they were offering discounts on pedicures so I took advantage of the opening and had one done for just $20 – a big discount off the regular $30 price.

The menu of services is extensive. There are many types of manicures and extensions including the Spa Manicure that exfoliates and softens hands. For pedicures there's the Silky Milk Pedicure at $75, which infuses your feet with vitamins and effective beta hydroxy acids as well as a Shea Butter pedicure to pamper tired feet and legs for $85.

The spa also offers waxing, facials, massages and reflexology.

Iris Nail and Spas will host showers and birthday parties and is open seven days a week. They pledge that they follow "state board sanitation guidelines that exist to protect the consumer's health and safety."

Welcome them to Scarsdale at 40 East Parkway, 914-722-6800