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City Living: White Plains

By Miranda Siegel and Craig Raphael
Special to amNewYork

January 30, 2008

The White Plains Coach Diner, 50 Westchester Ave. (Dave Sanders, Newsday / January 30, 2008)

Despite its current reputation around Westchester as the county's shopping center, White Plains was once home to a Native American tribe and later, the site of a Revolutionary War battle.

The area was known as Quarropas until traders renamed it "the White Plains" after either the white balsam that grew there or the misty whiteness near the river's swampland.

Today, White Plains, the county seat, is a city of 50,000, a population that swells to four times that during working hours.

White Plains' development as a shopping hotspot began around 1900, when it attracted some of the first large shops built in the suburbs.

After World War II, the city blossomed into a commercial hub with expressways to accommodate the traffic. White Plains became one of the first "edge cities," smaller urban areas that develop around larger ones.

When the Galleria mall appeared in 1980, the city furthered its commercial growth with new office buildings and shops.

In the 1990s the local economy fell into a recession and the city became characterized by shuttered storefronts and vacant office buildings.

White Plains began its renaissance around 2000, as it began attracting urban professionals looking to take advantage of the easy commute to Manhattan (35 minutes).

The construction of residential buildings that followed has helped revive the city's commercial glory.

Find it:

White Plains is bordered by North Castle to the north, Harrison to the east, Scarsdale to the south and Greenburgh to the west.

TO EAT
White Plains' restaurant scene consists of a handful of upscale, restaurants, Asian fusion eateries and a solid array of Latin offerings. Most of the action can be found on Mamaroneck Avenue and East Post Road.

Bengal Tiger
This popular Indian eatery is known for its playful decor, expansive lunch buffet, traditional chicken dishes and sumptuous desserts. Be sure to try the Carrot Halvah with mango ice cream. 140 E. Post Rd. 914-948-5191

Reka's
This Thai restaurant's rather odd location -- the corner of an apartment building's ground floor -- is part of its charm; enter to find a pink dining area filled with flowers and gold accents. 2 Westchester Ave. 914-949-4495

Nicky's
For more than 40 years Nicky's has been serving its famous Sicilian pies and other Italian dishes made fresh to order. 91 Mamaroneck Ave. 914-997-6951

Asian Temptation