Business Notebook: The best of everything

Warwick - When Warwick resident Brooke Martis-Sarmiento, owner of B. Page & Co., 28 Railroad Ave., opened her fashionable boutique this past April, she promised to provide “The best of everything” for her clientele. And she knew exactly what that meant. Martis-Sarmiento attended Manhattan’s Parsons School of Design; she also is a graduate of the world-famous Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Before moving to Warwick with her husband, Gerald, and son, Sebastien, Martis-Sarmiento was a successful Seventh Avenue fashion designer and stylist, working for the likes of Douglas Hannant, Carolina Herrera, Ginfranco Ferre, Adrienne Vittadini and other notable fashion designers. She also formed her own consulting company, Haute Haus Knits, and after moving to Warwick, opened Warwick Valley Racquet Sports, also on Railroad Avenue. B. Page & Co. appeals to patrons who make the most of their weekends. The shop carries a large selection tennis and golf attire along with trendy casual weekend wear, shoes and distinctive accessories. Labels include Lily Pulitzer, Juicy Couture, Vineyard Vines, J. McLaughlin, Lily McNeal, Citizens of Humanity, Red Engine, J Brand among others. “We offer the selection and elegant pleasures of shopping a big city boutique without the drive,” said Martis-Sarmiento. “Our weekend wear includes unique pieces found nowhere but here and on Fifth Avenue.” B. Page & Co. is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6: p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A new village restaurant now serves lunch daily Last May, when Joanne Graney first opened Charlotte’s Tea Room in the rear of her gift shop, Greetings and Salutations, 9 Main St., her intention was to offer a unique alternative for lunch and even dinner, on occasion, in downtown Warwick. For several months, the cozy and charming English-style tearoom had catered to private parties and special events. Charlotte’s, named after the children’s book, “Charlotte’s Web,” soon became a popular choice for club get-togethers, children’s parties and other special occasions where guests enjoyed fine teas imported by Harney & Sons along with seasonal tea sandwiches, biscuits, scones, sweets and other savories. Recently, Graney added an attractive outdoor deck and dining area overlooking Wawayanda Creek. And now, Charlotte’s Tea Room, which was recently featured favorably in The Tea Room Times and Hudson Valley Magazine, has become a full-fledged restaurant serving daily lunch specials. They include freshly prepared dishes based on “grandmother’s” English and Irish recipes, sandwiches, soups, salads, on premises baked goods, fresh scones, something chocolate and fresh brewed tea, hot or iced. Favorite specials include curried egg salad and curried chicken salad. After a recent successful evening during Warwick’s celebration of “Ladies Night Out,” Graney is planning to offer a monthly dinner night for the ladies with light gourmet selections. Weather permitting, it will be held on the deck and guests are invited to bring their own wine. Charlotte’s Tea Room is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 988-9499. Applefest Mark your calendars. The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Warwick Community Center has scheduled the 17th Annual Applefest for Sunday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applefest, the largest annual celebration in Warwick, attracts more than 30,000 visitors from the Metropolitan area. The American Bus Association recently selected the popular event as one of the top ten festivals in the “Top 100 Events in North American.” Among the attractions are 275 artisans displaying their handmade jewelry, stained glass, pottery, woodcarvings and more. Applefest also features numerous food vendors offering everything from traditional American favorites to Greek, Creole, kabobs and sausages, along with apples, cider, cookies and cakes. There also is an apple pie contest as well as musical entertainment, games and rides for the children. All proceeds from Applefest 2006 Committee booths are used for town wide community projects and to benefit local organizations. First anniversary BiNK Essential Baby Care, 22 Railroad Avenue, will be celebrating its first birthday on this weekend, Friday through Sunday, September 15 - 17, with a storewide sale and raffle followed by a cocktail party on Saturday evening, September 16. “We would love to have everyone stop by and help us celebrate our first successful year in business,” said owner Maura Peddle. For more information, call 988-BiNK. One more for the record Last week, “for the record,” we named the participating merchants who donated gifts for the “Queens for a Day” at Ladies Night Out. The information that was submitted to us inadvertently omitted Frazzleberries, a consistent supporter of merchant events.