Sleepy Hollow

Halloween fell on a Saturday this year and that won't happen again for 11 years, or so I'm told. Coupled with the Vols being on a bye week, I took it as an omen to make a last-minute road trip to Tarrytown, New York, also known as Sleepy Hollow, the setting of Washington Irving's classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Before I get into my experience in Sleepy Hollow, several of you have noticed my habit of taking a picture of a copy of The Raven Conspiracy in my travels, usually in front of a unique setting or landmark. It's just something I started doing several years ago to shamelessly plug my book and it grew into a personal project for my daughters. On this trip, I snapped a shot in front of the Headless Horseman statue.

If you visit Sleepy Hollow, I highly recommend spending some time at the Old Dutch Church and the adjacent Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Irving speculated that the spirit of a beheaded Hessian soldier originated. Unfortunately, the cemetery grounds close at 4:30, because I think the experience would be even better after dark. It is still very interesting and worth spending some time exploring. There are also guided tours available.

The church itself is small in size, but vast in charm and character. Walking inside, it's not too difficult to imagine how it might have been in 1790, hosting not only religious services on Sundays, but being the center of the community. Sitting in a pew, you can almost hear Ichabod Crane leading the choir with his nasally singing of hymns.

Miss B and I also visited the Lyndhurst Mansion, a Gothic mansion built in the 1800's. To fans of the Dark Shadows films from the 1970's, you may recognize the Lyndhurst Mansion as Collinwood, the home of vampire Barnabas Collins. It is no longer a private residence, which allows the public to visit this amazing compound. The torrents and arches give the main house a castle-like effect, which I assume was the intent.

Touring the mansion and grounds is like stepping back in time. The furnishings and decor are elegant and enduring, throwbacks to a bygone era long before we became a disposable society. Copious amounts of leather-bound books fill glass-doored cases. Enormous, framed paintings, mostly portraits, line the walls, high into the vaulted ceilings. A grand piano sits as the centerpiece in one of several drawing rooms. Manicured lawns surround the property all the way down to the Hudson River. To be more accurate, to the railroad tracks that run along the river. The entire place is the embodiment of culture and civility, which we could use more of, in my humble opinion.

The centerpiece of our whirlwind trip to Sleepy Hollow was the Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, a display featuring more than 7,000 intricately carved, illuminated pumpkins. There are several themed sections such as movie monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman), the Wizard of Oz, Dia de Los Muertos, and New York, among others.

The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze has to be seen to be truly appreciated. When I read about it, I incorrectly assumed it was just 7,000+ normal Jack O' Lanterns along a trail. That was my mistake. It was an experience that offered new wonderment and amazement at each turn. The talented artists and hard-working staff who produce this event are to be commended.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of restaurants that we had great experiences at. First, the Bridgeview Tavern, which is apparently very popular, as it had quite a line forming before they opened at noon. The other was Demeter's Tavern & Sports, which has been in business since 1947. Given how fantastic the service and food was, I can see why they have enjoyed such longevity. I highly recommended the Famous Roast Beef Sandwich.

Be forewarned, parking is a challenge almost everywhere in Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow, especially if you drive an F150. Granted, our visit was on Halloween, but I imagine that it is the same on all weekends during the month of October.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable trip that I highly recommend, should you have the opportunity to do so.

Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you soon.