By Susan Seidner Chasky: Autumn in Riverdale: A cornucopia of new shops, eateries, galleries and residential opportunities

Yes, the beat goes on...Riverdale's pulse is alive and well-getting stronger with a new NoMA (north of Manhattan) attitude. This season there are many positive changes and upgrades in the quality of living locally-check out the shopping, restaurants, the arts and al fresco activities. More people have been discovering the better housing values and unbelievable opportunities that can still be grabbed up...plus the convenience to the city and environs. Riverdale is not only the international restaurant destination North of Manhattan, NoMA, it can now brag as being the home of fashion forward (continental-je ne sais quoi) better quality, value oriented high-end ladies and children's clothing shops. It's a feather in Riverdale's cap that the new entrepreneurs of Riverdale are all locally home grown, as they say, from the hoods, who have banked their expertise in the "Up the Hill" village shopping district of central Riverdale. For too many years there has been an absence of clothing stores in the area except for discounters "down the hill" in Kingsbridge such as Loehmann's, Targets and Marshall's. However, happily, times have changed, good value excellence are the new morays, cheap is oh-so-dear. One such notable newcomer is Scruples, a ladies clothing store which opened on Johnson Ave. The owner, Vlada Dembovsky, is the creative merchandiser who has patterned her boutique after Madison Ave.'s uptown chic salons. Scruples is the first hip modern investment clothier housed in a glamorous chandeliered salon, maybe the only one in the outer boroughs. Their exclusive clothing and accessory collections are from Italy, Eastern Europe, and Russia and include fabulous designer hats for all occasions, as well as being the exclusive importer of signed hand-crafted Bohemia crystal and authentic Orenburg Puhovyaralny handmade lacy knitted shawls (made of real goat down and silk which began in Russia about 250 years ago)...they're gorgeous and will keep you warm and while you'll be looking oh, so-HOT! Just two blocks away on Riverdale Ave., the main artery of Riverdale's heart is The Designer's Corner a ladies shop which caters to a more downtown or sassy suburban look clientele, a bit more casual, and featuring brand names fashions, handbags, accessories and costume jewelry. For the kiddies, there are two children's boutiques on Riverdale Ave. Mel's Boutique is a toddler to preteen sporty look shop, very practical and easy care. Then there's the fabulous, Baby It's You!, a wonderful petite version of an olde time F.A.O. Schwartz-ah, to reminisce...the perfect one stop haven for baby gifters, grandparents and the like to spoil their little-ones. The owner, Rose Ann Milo has also created the sweetest two car children's hair salon with separate adult chair for a one-stop mommy/daddy and toddler hairdo. Then there's the new gallery night art scene on Riverdale Ave. with Elisa's Contemporary Art Pop-Up Gallery which hosts special exhibits throughout the year with free meet the Artist Talks located at the Exclusive Properties Sotheby's International Realty's community space meeting room. These viewings are co-sponsored by a wine tasting from Skyview Wines and Spirits which happens to be New York City's largest kosher retailer located in North Riverdale...L'CHAIM-To Life! And does Riverdale have restaurants! You betcha-Foodies of all cultures, ages and pockets will always be greatly satisfied. There's a wide variety of Glatt Kosher (Japanese, Chinese, Israeli, Mexican and continental fare) plus Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Irish, Greek, diners and still more eateries to open this fall. Executive chef Ricardo Cardona will be opening his new sophisticated French Latin American fusion restaurant, Oregano Bistro and Bar. Riverdale is a suburb, no, not really, but its oh-so green environment prides itself in showing as much of nature as possible by surrounding most of the living spaces with setback gardens, landscaped parks, grand planted circular driveways, and a great many public spaces especially the gardens and cultural center of the Wave Hill on the Hudson River. You'll love being part of the new trendy attitude of the Bronx-living North of Manhattan in NoMA, in Riverdale is the very best of both worlds and for great opportunities! Call me. Susan Seidner Chasky, GRI, ABR, SRES, is an associate broker at Exclusive Properties Sotheby's International Realty, Riverdale, N.Y.