Best of Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow Brunch & Historic House Tour - September 2023 Women Who Brunch Event Recap

On Saturday, September 30, 2023 we kicked off the start of fall in New York with a Best of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow - Brunch & Historic House Tour. We brunched at Sweet Grass Grill in Tarrytown, NY on Main St., then headed to the Jacob Odell House for a history tour of the house.

Our guest brunch speaker was Michelle from the very popular and spooky Instagram account @sleepyhollowspellbound. She shared with us a bit about the history of why North Tarrytown’s town name was changed to Sleepy Hollow in 1996, all the best things to do this fall, her favorite local shops in Tarrytown, and so much history about the Jacob Odell House.

Did I also mention this event SOLD OUT in 2 WEEKS…. with a WAITLIST! Everyone is obsessed with fall here, as Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow are quickly becoming the new “Salem of New York” destination, especially during October and Halloween.

If you didn’t know why this is, it is because in Washington Irving’s famous tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the “real” Sleepy Hollow is now a modern village that is home to a diverse population of nearly 10,000 residents.  Located 25 miles north of New York City along the eastern shore of the Hudson River. The Village of Sleepy Hollow offers a unique blend of natural beauty and urban amenities along with world-renowned historic landmarks and modern attributes. Here you can also do tours of Washington Irving’s home and visit his grave at the Old Dutch Cemetery, along with other famous graves like Carnegie and Rockefeller.

Now back to brunch… Sweet Grass Grill was amazing. Friendly and accommodating staff for our large group and their food was delicious. I got the Farmer’s Breakfast with two fried eggs, polenta, and fresh roasted vegetables.

Michelle, you could see her enthusiasm and passion for the history and community of Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown and the relationships she builds online with her Instagram. She responds and interacts with every follower and really cares. Above all, I learned a lot about the bond you can create with your community online.

In case you missed brunch, no worries. Here’s our crowdsourced list of attendee’s favorite activities to do this fall in New York, and favorite brunch spots.

Favorite Things to Do in the Fall:

Favorite Food Spots from the Group:

After brunch we took a short walk to the Jacob Odell House were Michelle and the curator Sara gave us a brief tour and showed us some pieces from their collection like a pass signed by George Washington, documents signed by Washington Irving, and Alexander Hamilton, famous gravestones, and the Rockefeller Dime.

More about the Jacob Odell House:

The Jacob Odell House was built in 1848 in the Italianate style. It was constructed by Jacob Odell as a wedding present for his wife, Harriet. Jacob Odell, later elected the first President of the Village of Tarrytown, owned a brick and lumber yard on the riverfront and the house was a spectacular advertisement for his business. The house was the first residence built on Goose Street, later renamed Grove Street, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Since 1952 the Odell House has been the headquarters for The Historical Society, serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. Within its walls are museum exhibit rooms, a library, and storage rooms dedicated to preserving local history.


They have rotating exhibits and events throughout the year. During our time there, there was a gravestone exhibit. In September the had pumpkin carving workshops, they have walking tours, definetly stop by the house for a tour or check out their events calendar.

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See you soon at brunch soon friends!