I’m off to Westchester this morning and it’s suddenly occurred to me that I’ve not really covered much of Westchester here. Now, you might say - “that’s ok, this is Greater Gotham and that’s not Gotham. That’s Westchester.”

Strictly speaking, you are correct but what about the “Greater” part? What about “out and about in the city and beyond?” Well, Westchester is beyond, isn’t it? (In more ways than one).

So, as soon as I get back from my jaunt to the environs beyond, I shall regale you with many of the wild and wonderful things to be found up Westchester way.

• White Plains - a city that anywhere else in the country would be a major metropolis to be reckoned with but which had the bad luck to be located next door to New York and has become the world’s largest urban addendum.
• Chappaqua - sure it’s where the Clintons live (well, where they bought a house) but it’s also home to - in my opinion - the quickest Starbucks ever.
• Pleasantville - which is, in fact, extremely pleasant.
• Bronxville - which looks less like reality and more like a move set. And, for those interested in criminal history, center of the Tylenol scare of the 80s
• Yonkers - yes, Yonkers, Famous in song and story (well, in Hello Dolly anyway). Home the Yonkers Raceway and - oh, wait. Did they take the raceway down? I better make sure my memories sync with reality on the ground.

And that’s just lower Westchester. Upper Westchester is a whole different kettle of fish. The Westchester County Tourism office - who knew? - looks like something I shall have to take a closer look at - if only because they have a section on agritourism. I miss the old says when we used to call that “Pick Your Own Apples.”

I may also point out some of my personal Westchester history along the way. I was - after all - born in Westchester (New Rochelle), went to college in Westchester (Sarah Lawrence College) and even when I lived in a different state all together came “this close” to attending a HS called Westchester. I did not. I went to Memorial but the fact remains that “Westchester” seems to have followed me around so the least I can do it pay some attention to it.