Saturday Night Life on Mamaroneck Avenue

Preparing to rise early the next morning to bicycle a century (an even 100 miles, for you non-cycle types), I was determined to eat a high carbohydrate dinner Saturday night out on the town. My husband chose Paparrazzi, a favorite eatery of his going back over 10 years ago, when we lived just across from Turnure Park in an apartment on Lake St. Lucky us! We found a parking spot on the street, (I'm not telling you where) and walked along North Broadway, crossed Tibbetts Park to our destination. I was surprised that the restaurant was kind of empty since I've heard that that White Plains is now known as the nightspot city. After a truly good dinner, and quality service, I chalked up the empty bar and many available tables as a sign that dinner at eight, is just too early for the in-crowd to be out.

After dinner, we chose to walk down Mamaroneck Ave, a stroll we enjoyed and did regularly when apartment dwellers here in the city. It was our opportunity to witness the changed evening street scenery we aren't privy to anymore since becoming homeowners in the sleepy section of town. Leaving Paparazzi, we walked through the lobby and onto Sears (no more) plaza. Entering onto Main St, there were only a few people walking on the narrow sidewalks. When we turned left onto Mamaroneck Ave, the lights and old time 50's music playing were a hint to us that something stimulating was happening. We crossed over to the narrow paved park where fountain's jets of water were jumping to the beat of the recorded music. Young parents toting babies in carriages were seated along the narrow mall. Little children were exercising their freedom to run and be cooled by the water's splashes. Senior citizens too, were sitting in the chairs soaking up the activity in the area.

Across the street, the new chain restaurants seemed full from my view of the outside. The entrance to the City Center was so crowded with young teens and tweens that people had no choice but flow onto the sidewalks, and into the street. Outside the restaurants, cars were backed up due to the valet parking. Car horns honking, did not complement the music heard from the plaza. Just beyond the City Center entrance, two police cars were double parked with officers standing near the front hood deep in conversation with another officer on horseback.

The Street scene makes a drastic change from loud and crowded to silent when crossing over Martine Avenue. Most stores near Mitchell and Quarropas are closed at this hour, except the Music Plus store with music from playing from the outside speakers, and at a passing glance a bar so dark, it could have passed off as closed. . The street sky appears much darker here, could it be that less light is emitted here due to majority of closed for the evening stores?

Crossing The Post Road, the young singles bar scene was noticeably starting its swing. Three bars in a row were busy with young trendy patrons, on one side of the avenue, while the bars on the other side of the avenue were completely empty. Acapulco was the only establishment on its side of the street with outdoor tables occupied with diners.

Maple Avenue is where the downtown changes into what I consider residential White Plains. We U-turned on Mamaroneck, and headed back towards Post Rd, where we window-shopped at American Terrain, a favorite of ours since we first lived on Lake Street. It's only about 10pm by this point. The bars on Post were literally empty. Poking my head into one, 2 people were sitting at the bar, and a person taking in a smoke outside at curbside.

Bending around Post to South Broadway was quiet, and dimly lit. We finished our walk winding through Tibbetts Park, and drove home to the sleepy side of town. We were turning in early to ready ourselves for an early cycle ride. I have a hunch that as I headed home, the baby carriage families near the fountain would filter out too, and as my head hit the pillow the Avenue would fill up with the young single in-crowd.