Arts & Entertainment
Westchester Welcomes Launch of 'Single & Smart'
Grace Bennett launched the first magazine targeted at Westchester singles Wednesday night.
The bar at Oliver's in Katonah was packed Wednesday night with people of all ages from all over Westchester and beyond. But the one thing everyone in the room had in common: no wedding band on their finger.
July 7 marked the launch of Single & Smart magazine and website, the brainchild of Inside Chappaqua Publisher and Editor Grace Bennett. Bennett, a single mother for the past four years, designed Single & Smart to serve the vast – and growing – single population in Westchester.
A DJ played hits like "My Girl" and "Brick House" while attendees mixed and mingled and clinked glasses. Bennett took to the stage early on to give a speech interjected with heart and humor. She thanked friends, co-workers and attendees relentlessly for their support in her endeavors- and championed the single cause.
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"Single people are the silent majority by far," Bennett said in a toast to those attending. "I am producing a magazine for single people for an entire county, and a website I hope will appeal to anyone in the entire country."
The result is a 25-page magazine, distributed for free in singles hotspots throughout the area, as well as through subscription. The magazine will be distributed quarterly, but was handed out Wednesday to attendees.
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"All my writers rocked it," Bennett said. "I'm really proud of all of you."
The first issue offers articles ranging from "Dating with Children," to "Do's and Don'ts of Video Chatting." It also lists places to mix and mingle, including the Iron Horse Grill in Pleasantville and Crabtree's Kittle House in Chappaqua.
Those attending flipped through the magazine as they talked, meeting new people and celebrating Bennett's achievement.
"Great magazine, great idea, and a huge undertaking for Grace," said friend Carole Mendelson.
Others in attendance didn't know Bennett, but still took part in the celebration.
"I'm having a great time," said Paul Sansone from Yorktown. "I didn't know it was happening, but I'm really glad that I came."
Bennett, smiling in a floating blue dress, encouraged singles to fall into their solo live with grace. She emphasized that better times were soon to come.
"Every single one of you is proof positive that being single doesn't mean being alone," she said.
