Bedford, Westchester
Bedford was founded on December 23, 1680 when 22 Puritans from Stamford, Connecticut purchased a tract of land three miles square known as the "Hopp Ground" from Chief Katonah and several other Indians for coats, blankets, wampum and cloth.
These Stamford settlers promptly set about providing for a meetinghouse, gristmill on the Mianus River and burying ground. Today's Village Green is one-third its original size but the graveyard and surrounding principal streets remain substantially as they were originally planned in 1681.
Bedford was made a part of Connecticut in 1697 when a patent fixed the boundaries as a six-mile square and it was only when King William III of England issued a royal decree in 1700, to settle a boundary dispute, that Bedford become part of New York.
Bedford served as the Westchester County seat during the American Revolutionary War after the Battle of White Plains until it was burned by the British on July 11, 1779. After the Revolution, Bedford became one of two seats of County government, alternating with White Plains, until 1870. Westchester County's oldest government building is the Court House in Bedford Village, which was built in 1787 and renovated in the 1960s.
The Bedford Oak
The Bedford Oak has stood as a symbol of Bedford's strength, beauty and heritage, predating, some think, even the beginning of the Town itself.
A white oak, with branches spanning approximately 130 feet and a girth more than 23 feet, it is thought by some to have been 200 years old when the 22 men from Stamford purchased the Hopp Ground from the Indians in 1680.
In 1977, with construction planned on nearby property, a group of Bedford citizens raised money to purchase that property, providing additional protection for the tree. Not only were they successful in raising enough to purchase the property, but the remaining funds provided a fund for the tree's care.
Take Limos - If you're planning on hitting a couple different spots, and you've got six or seven guys, it is not only more fun but also cheaper to rent a limo rather than taking cabs.
Leave the cameras at home - while you know nothing bad happened, that picture of the groom's face in a stripper's cleavage may make the bride think otherwise.
Decide on a budget for yourself before you go out - otherwise you may end up gambling away your life savings, or giving it all to a beautiful dancer. Las Vegas has a way of convincing you that you don't really need your money.
No matter what a stripper tells you, your money matters far more to her than how special you are. That's okay, she's just earning a living, but don't be the fool. If Las Vegas is too far to go, you might also consider having a weekend of decadence closer to home. There won't be the legalized gambling, but bill it as a Hollywood weekend where the groom is the star, and be sure to have plenty of champagne, limousines, spa treatments, dinner at fine restaurants, and flirting with pretty girls.
Co-ed Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
The groom's not looking to do anything he wouldn’t do in front of his girlfriend, the bride's got some good looking friends, and you're hoping the maid of honor will help you with the planning. Whether it's just a blowout house party, or an evening of debauchery, a coed bachelor party can be a great solution. This is also a great solution for the increasing number of couples who don't have a bridal party and thus must either forgo the rite of passage, or have to plan it themselves.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure the groom is front and center in your planning. While you want everyone to have a good time, he's the one who really matters. If he's a low-key kind of guy, maybe a night of drinking and puking is not the best idea. Also, keep in mind that there's no reason you can't do a combination of these bachelor party ideas – perhaps a golf tournament during the day, followed by a steak and cigar party that evening. Pick a few different activities and keep everyone happy.
Hire a limo for your weddings, birthdays, proms, and romantic dates, or treat your guests and clients to a Westchester limousine shuttle service for a tour around town, to and from hotels and airports, and during special corporate events. And for your limousine service needs only one name can be trusted: Westchester Limousine Service. Five years of first-class quality limousine service by our professionally trained chauffeurs and staff have earned Westchester Limousine Service a reputation as the New York limousine service company to hire for every function or occasion. Our stable of limousines is widely arrayed from simple elegant town cars to stylish sedans and luxurious stretch limousines. Our services cover all cities, towns and villages in Westchester County, New York.