You may have seen Dr. Whitney Bowe on TV (Dr. Oz or Good Morning America or Rachael Ray Show) or perhaps read her book, The Beauty of Dirty Skin, as she is after all one of the most sought-after Dermatologists in the country. Dr. Whitney Bowe took some time off from her busy schedule to talk to Suburbs 101. She gives us a peek into her life in Chappaqua, NY and shares some of her beauty secrets with us.
Describe your journey to Chappaqua, NY
I was living in Park Slope with my husband when we had our daughter, Maclane. It was the perfect location during my residency training, as I covered a number of hospitals in Brooklyn and Long Island during my weekends on call. Access was key! I needed to be able to get to any of these hospitals as quickly as possible in the middle of the night for emergencies. But when my residency ended and our little Maclane started crawling around our apartment, we realized it was time for a change. Josh and I both had very positive childhood memories of hours spent playing or swimming in our backyards and riding bikes around our neighborhood. We wanted that for Maclane, so the hunt began! Chappaqua called to us because it’s a convenient commute to the city, but each property has the space and proximity to nature of a country home. We see families of deer crossing the street and walking through our yard all the time. In the Spring, I often have to stop my car to let a family of wild turkeys cross the road, and in the summer we often find a turtle or frogs in our backyard, and we listen to the crickets as the sun sets each night. I often say my blood pressure drops several points on my commute home from the city. Chappaqua is incredibly peaceful and beautiful and has a small town charm that is truly unique.
What are your go-to places in Chappaqua or in the area?
The Chappaqua farmer’s market is amazing. I love visiting the “Pie Lady” for whatever pies are in season, and picking up fresh tomatoes and homemade kombucha! We love shooting over to The Cliffs at Valhalla for some indoor rock climbing and bouldering on the weekends, or heading to Mount Peter to hit the slopes. For dinner, Le Jardine du Roi and Crabtree’s Kittle house are two of our favorite local spots, and the Inn at Pound Ridge is just a short drive away. We just went to the new tapas restaurant, Ibiza, in downtown Chappaqua for the first time. It was a home run! I can’t wait to go back. When I want to get super decadent and indulge my sweet tooth, I head to Armonk’s Sugar Hi for their “garbage pail” cookie and their twist on Pop Tarts- an improved version of a childhood favorite of mine! Chappaqua’s Susan Lawrence makes a mean kale salad and cedar plank salmon to go, and it’s easy to pick that up on my way home from work. Oh, and Lange’s Little Store is the perfect place to get your cold cuts, but be ready to bump into Bill Clinton who is always warm and friendly!
What has your experience been with schools in the area?
You kind of can’t go wrong with the schools. Chappaqua public schools are very strong and most families move to the area specifically for the schools. The private schools in the area are also excellent, and ultimately it’s a personal decision for each family and each child within each family. I know a handful of Chappaqua residents who send one child to the public schools and another to a private school.
