Seminar Logistics Mariandale

last updated: October 15, 2007


Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center
299 North Highland Avenue
Ossining, New York 10562
914-941-4455
http://www.mariandale.org
Google Map

Mariandale is a beautiful spiritual retreat center with a large campus that overlooks the Hudson River. There is a palpable feeling of peace and prayer when you enter the grounds. There are a handful of Dominican Sisters of the Sick and Poor in residence, wonderful ladies you will meet in the dining room or see around campus. Mariandale is strongly interested in peace, nonviolence, and prayer. There is a labyrinth and a chapel. There is a strong Catholic feel to the place, with many beautiful statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus adorning the grounds and nooks and crannies. The buildings are very clean, spacious, and the entire place is well-kept. They are happy to have us there and have been very welcoming.

All the rooms are singles, with a single bed, desk, closet and sink. To view a room, click here. There are shared baths in the hall. Sheets, blankets, towels, and soap are provided; bring your own hairdryer, travel iron, etc. The price is a great bargain and the seminar room is one of the quietest venues we have found.

The food is decent, basic, 50’s style, cooked with love, and plentiful. Hot water, tea, hot chocolate, coffee, and juice are always available in the dining hall. The kitchen will accommodate food allergies or vegetarian diets if you alert us when you enroll and if it is at least ten days before seminar start date.

Please alert us to your special food needs by using the appropriate "Special Diet Request" button on the on-line enrollment page, and then follow-up with your specific details by phoning and leaving a message in the RoseLight voice mail. Please do NOT assume we remember your special needs from other seminars; we do not assume they will be the same, as people’s diets/medications often change. So, please alert us EACH TIME you enroll about your current situation. Many thanks.

Please note that as a retreat center Mariandale is not set up to take your individual reservations, so please contact RoseLight about your meals and lodging rather than contacting Mariandale directly. We have changed our system and you now pay for your accomodations at the time you book them. Many thanks.

Check-in times at the Mariandale Front Desk: Mariandale personnel are at the front desk until 8:00pm daily. An elevator is available to gain access to rooms on upper floors, and is most easily accessed through a side door called the “shield door”, so-named because a shield is etched in the glass door. After 8:00pm, the front door and the shield door are locked. The code to enter into the building will be sent to you when you enroll, in the welcome letter.

Nearby Hotels

All are about 20 minutes or less from the retreat center by car.

Peekskill Motor Inn in Peekskill, NY 914-739-1500;

Comfort Inn in Hawthorne, NY 914-592-8600;

Courtyard by Marriott in Tarrytown, NY 914-631-1122.

Meals

Mariandale serves three meals a day. The usual fare is:
  • Breakfast - cold cereal, fruit, breads, hard boiled eggs, brown rice, juices, coffee, tea, hot chocolate

  • Lunch - always salad bar, including cold cuts like turkey, cheese; homemade soup; dessert

  • Dinner - standard meat, chicken, or fish, 2 vegetables, starch, dessert.

If you are coming as a day student (not sleeping at Mariandale) you may pay for meals and eat with the group.

Food: If you have any food allergies or if you are a vegetarian please notify us as soon as possible and no later than 45 days before the start date of class.

There is a full size refrigerator available to RoseLight just off the classroom. There are no cooking facilities available, however. There are restaurants within driving distance of the retreat center but given the full teaching schedule and driving distances it is probably best to plan on eating at Mariandale.

Payment and Reservations

Mariandale is a retreat center, not a hotel, which means that there are a certain number of rooms available for our group. To be assured of a lodging space, book with RoseLight as soon as you know you are coming and your plans are firm. If the spaces fill you will need a car and there are local hotels; the one people have used most often is about a twenty minute drive; most people prefer to stay on campus when possible. If you reserve meals and lodging for Mariandale you will be responsible for payment, as we make that commitment to Mariandale based on your reservation and they may turn away others who would have taken that space. You cannot cancel last minute without payment unless we can re-book your reservation for you.

Airports/Ground Transportation

If you are flying, the closest airport is Westchester County. The next closest is Laguardia, then Kennedy, then Newark. You do not need a car if you are staying at Mariandale. Prices are not guaranteed, please call and doublecheck for current prices.

Hospitality Limo 914-591-5404 or 800-700-7113 www.hospitalitylimo.com is a private car service that takes people up to Mariandale. The prices to Mariandale quoted below are per car whether there is 1 or there are 4 people (that is maximum, with little luggage).

- Westchester Airport to Mariandale is $58 for car + tip.
- Laguardia to Mariandale is $69 for car + $9 tolls + tip.
- JFK to Mariandale $81 for car + $9 tolls + tip.
- Newark to Mariandale $93 for car + $12.50 tolls + tip.

Make reservation 48 hours ahead and someone will be waiting. Call when you land and driver will pick up outside. When they call, need to give a credit card to hold the reservation. Can pay with credit card if want to, driver will process. Amex, VISA, Mastercard. have to have credit card on them. Cancellation at the airport minimum three hours before pickup time. Can do reservation on web site if at least 48 hours in advance, you’ll get email confirmation

Greenburgh taxi 914-592-4949 or 800-270-8294 (works in USA but not 914 area code) All prices - add tolls and tip please. Prices are for 1 person; for each additional adult add $2. Greenburg accepts cash, credit cards, debit cards. Suggest you make reservation 24 hours ahead.

- Westchester Airport to Mariandale $47 for car + tip.
- Laguardia to Mariandale $85 + $9 tolls + $6 parking + $10 if international flight + tip.
- JFK to Mariandale $85 + $9 tolls + $6 parking + $10 if international flight + tip.
- Newark to Mariandale $110 + $12.50 tolls + $6 parking + $10 if international + tip.

Train from New York City/Amtrak

The Metro North train line from Grand Central takes a little over an hour to reach Croton-Harmon station. The station is about a ten minute cab ride from Mariandale. For current fares and schedules visit http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm.

Croton-Harmon is also an Amtrak stop, for those coming from more distant points via train.

Driving Directions to Mariandale

Going North from New York City:
MAJOR DEEGAN EXPRESSWAY to New York Thruway (Rt. 87) North Tarrytown Rt. 9 North (DO NOT CROSS TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE). Exit will take you off to the right. Left at STOP sign. Right at traffic light (Rt. 9 North). Small shopping Center on right. Stay on Rt. 9 through Tarrytown, North Tarrytown (Phelps Hospital on left), Scarborough, Ossining, about 8 miles. About 1/2 mile north of center of Ossining, still on Rt. 9, Mariandale, Dominican Sisters of Hope, is on the left. If you pass Eagle Bay Condominiums, you have gone too far.

Saw Mill Parkway North:
To Taconic Parkway/Albany sign (Exit 26) follow road into Taconic for a short distance. Take exit 9A and continue north through Briarcliff (do not take Ossining/Millwood exit). Continue on 9A until overhead OSSINING EXIT SIGN. At bottom of exit ramp turn left, go to traffic light and turn left on to Rt. 9 South. Mariandale is on right, first driveway after Eagle Bay Condominiums.

Sprain Brook Parkway:
To Taconic Parkway to exit for 9A, continue on Rt. 9A thru Briarcliff (do not take Ossining/Millwood exit), continue until you see overhead sign OSSINING EXIT. At bottom of exit ramp turn left, go to traffic light and turn left on to Rt. 9 South. Mariandale is on the right, first driveway after Eagle Bay Condominiums.

Going South from Rockland County:
NEW YORK THRUWAY. Cross Tappan Zee Bridge. Take exit after toll. At traffic light go right onto Rt. 9 North and follow same directions as Going North from NYC.

Taconic Parkway South:
Exit on Rt.134 West and continue west to Rt. 9A. At traffic light turn right onto Rt. 9A North. Take exit ramp where overhead sign states OSSINING EXIT. At bottom of exit ramp turn left, go to traffic light and turn left on to Rt. 9 South. Mariandale is on right, first driveway after Eagle Bay Condominiums.

Coming West from New England Thruway:
Take CROSS WESTCHESTER EXPRESSWAY to Tarrytown exit, go to Rt.9 and then go North as in Going North from New York City.

From New Jersey:
George Washington Bridge to Major Deegan (87) North. Then follow directions Going North from New York City.

From Long Island:
Take either Throgs Neck or Whitestone Bridge to Hutchinson River Parkway, North to Cross County Parkway West. You may take either Sprain Brook Parkway North or Major Deegan Expressway.