The Boulevard February 2009

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Angela Susan Anton

PublisherThe Boulevard

W e are very excited about our February cover of The Boulevard, the legendary James Taylor, interviewed by our very own Jonathan Clarke. For other celebrity

profiles, Ruth Bashinsky spoke with the very beautiful and talented Linda Gray while Tara Butler sat down with Broad-way’s Shrek, Brian d’Arcy James, as well as actor Michael Gaston. Fox News’ Nicole Petallides spoke with Ilena Ryan about economic pitfalls and a new term we were unfamiliar with, the Ponzi Scheme. Jason Feinberg met up with former NY Knicks star John Starks to talk with him about his founda-tion.

In addition to our annual wedding section, The Boule-vard shares some great travel destinations for that honey-moon or much-needed family vacation, with information on great dining and rejuvenating spas.

While it seems like unsure times are ahead, remember this – the world isn’t ending. We have all heard stories of hard times in the past from our parents or grandparents and experienced hard times ourselves, and we have always managed to come out ahead. It’s a new year, our country has a new President and we have to just work hard, support our community and local businesses, and believe that everything will be okay.

Angela Susan Anton

community and local businesses, and believe that everything

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I f you’re contemplating affordable ways to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy costs, you might want to look into a solar hot water heating system.

Currently, companies are producing excellent systems that are no more obtrusive than a skylight, as opposed to the old solar hot water heating systems, which often were eyesores. Advances in technology have resulted in a number of hot water panels that fit seamless and attractively on a roof, with the water storage tank hidden away in a utility room or basement.

How do they work? Basically, two or three solar collector panels are installed flat to the roof on a part that has no shading, preferably with a south-facing exposure. The sun heats a solution in the collectors which is then pumped through pipes that take the solution to a heat exchanger in the hot water tank. The heat exchanger heats the water in the tank and the solution circulates in an endless loop back to the solar collectors. Solar hot water is then ready for consumption. The sun’s heat is supplemented with your existing fossil fuel-based hot water system, so you’re sure to have all the hot water you need.

GoGreenSolar Domestic Water Heating

By Alexandra Mcnear and Tom Burke

The Boulevard • February - March 2009�

Design

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Solar hot water heating systems will save you money. The cost of heating water for an average home on Long Island is approximately $1,500 a year. A solar hot water system should cut this bill by $750 to $1,200 per year. The typical out of pocket cost of a solar hot water system is $9,750, before the significant state and federal tax credits available making the net cost for a solar hot water system just over $5,000, resulting in a simple payback for a homeowner within four to six years. Between what you save over the long run and the extent to which you reduce your carbon footprint, you can’t lose.

Installation of the systems is relatively easy. For the last 12 years, the company Velux America Inc. has been designing solar collectors that look and fit just like a skylight, with the same proven flashing system that has been used on thousands of roofs. All piping is contained inside the roof structure and not on the outside of the home. Typically the flexible piping can be installed without disturbing interior spaces and finishes, and the full system is usually installed in one day.

By using renewable energy products such as solar water heating, solar electric (PV) and geothermal heat and cooling, your home’s energy costs can be radically reduced and even

eliminated along with your carbon footprint. Not only will you save money right away but your home will increase in value. The improvements in technology, the savings, the tax credits and the benefit to the environment all make this the time to explore alternative energy products.

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W hen Carol and Gerard Repole moved into their 5,000-square foot custom-built home in Muttontown, LI, they did not realize just how large a project decorating it would be.

The spacious two-story colonial – which features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a family room, a dining room, a living room and a finished basement - was a bare slate that needed everything from color on the walls to flooring, lighting, furniture, a banister along the stairwells, cabinetry and hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms, and decorative accents throughout the house. After interviewing several designers, the Repoles chose interior designer Wendy Garfield, owner of La Strada-Meuble, Objet, Décor.

“Many of the designers wanted to change the architectural design of the house; I did not want that,” says Carol Repole, who also worked with Paul Russo Architects in Locust Valley and contracting firm A.R.J.A.M. construction in Glen Cove. “My plans

were already drawn up. My goal was to have my house a home and make it look lived-in, rather than be a museum. Most of the designers we interviewed wanted you to purchase expensive items, which means that the kids would not be allowed in certain areas in the house. I did not want any room off limits. My house always has people in it and my children always have play dates here. Wendy knew exactly what we wanted. She understood our vision.”

Garfield listened closely to what the couple, who have two young children – Gerard, 7 and Gianna, 4 – were looking for in terms of their lifestyle, color and style preferences, and what they wanted from their home. Once that was established, Garfield was ready to begin. Working from a blueprint during the early stages, Garfield was able to help the couple transform their new house into their dream home.

Unlike other interior designers, Garfield’s approach to design is a unique one. The Montreal native, who is self-taught

A Muttontown MasterpieceBy Ruth Bashinsky

The Boulevard • February - March 2009�

Design

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and who grew up in the business (her mother owns a home décor shop in Montreal), is also a professional opera singer. Long Island audiences might recognize her as the leading soprano for the Yiddish Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Group. She is also the creator of OperaMoms, a program that features two sopranos –herself and another singer – who celebrate their motherhood by singing classic arias at venues all across Long Island. Drawing on her design sensibility and musical background, the multitalented Garfield created a warm and inviting home for the active family of four. “There are many parallels between singing opera and decorating,” says Garfield. “In music you have your guides on how a piece needs to be sung. For example, the composer will put markings in the music – a crescendo here and a pianissimo there. In decorating, the composer becomes the client and I become the interpreter of the piece. My goal is to ensure that I meet my client’s vision. Part of the decorating process is to make sure it flows flawlessly and that the effort involved is not evident.”

The living room is one of those rooms that make a grand statement. Garfield incorporated Carol’s favorite colors – silvers, blues and greens – into her decorating scheme. The soft blue backdrop is very serene. Old World molding lines the walls. A chandelier with crystal rosettes and strands of octagon crystals hangs in the center of the room. A silver faux finish is painted above the mantel on the marble fireplace, which adds a charming dimension to the room. Ceiling-to-floor custom draperies in silver, blue and beige hues frame the windows, giving the space an elegant flair. Two upholstered chairs give the

room its symmetry as they surround a glass-topped coffee table with a mosaic-tiled base that was designed by Garfield. These details combine to create an intimate sitting area for people to gather, and a timeless and formal look the homeowners sought.

For the dining room, Garfield brought in an artist to paint an intricate leaf design onto one of the sage green walls, adding a stylish component to the space. A silver mirror in a chain-motif design hangs above a dark-colored buffet, adding another stunning detail to the room with its unusual fiery red and orange mosaic tones, giving the dining area a very Old Hollywood feel. Additional elements that complete the room include a rectangular chandelier and an oversized dining table that seats 12.

Never afraid to take risks when she is on the stage, Garfield applies the same philosophy to decorating someone’s home. “As a designer I try and convince my clients to consider something different because [otherwise] over time they will become bored. This can be achieved by keeping the integrity of the look. For example, if you fall in love with a tile, you don’t need to fill an entire bathroom with it.” The powder room reference is a perfect example. Garfield put tile on one wall and added glitter into the paint that was used on the remaining walls, giving the room a chic vibe. Carol, who admits she was reluctant at first because she did not want her bathroom to look like a disco, ended up loving the result. “I was worried, but Wendy encouraged me and I am thrilled with the way it looks.”

For a design consultation, contact Wendy Garfield at 917-922-2072 or visit www.lastradadecor.com.

Master Bedroom Suite

Kitchen

www.boulevardli.com �

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W hen you stop to think about it, there are lots of common denominators when

thinking New Year and getting married. We enjoy romantic thoughts and wishes for both.

Starting with an ambitious New Year and a fabulous honeymoon, she’s dreaming love; he’s thinking how much? Prudent balance for 2009. Romantic, fun and sexy ideas don’t have to kill your

budget. A little creative naughtiness can be the perfect solution. Some brides have taken very personal photos on the big day, not to be included in the family albums, just for his eyes only. That can set up the mood for the entire honeymoon. An idea like that can take his mind off what was just spent on the wedding and realize a honeymoon should be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

It’s ironic how so many future wives want to be “different” on the big day, but

New Year New BrideBy Richard Calcasola of Maximus SalonPhotography by Creative Compositions

Richard Calcasola is founder of Maximus Spa/Salons and North American Creative Director, Intercoiffure Mondial. For a fresh point of view with Richard call 516-333-3511, ext. #217. By appointment only.

Hair and Makeup by Team Maximus Spa SalonWardrobe by Bridal Reflections

The Boulevard • February - March 200910

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still look the same. It’s impossible to look like you do every day when wearing a wedding gown. Your hair and makeup must be camera-ready; this is your day to look radiant in your own way. After all, this is possibly the most important day of your life.

It’s no secret that ’09 will come with some concerns. Where to cut spending, setting budgets, and what will not be sacrificed. It’s no longer indulgent to maintain your looks or to spa. It’s necessary grooming and wellness. Maintaining your professional appearance (if you still have a job) or maintaining so you can find one, must be a priority. As important is your need to feel good as well as look good.

This may be the year to think out of the box and try a new

look. Go online to see some of the fab celeb makeovers, not to imitate but to get some ideas. Of course, your favorite stylist should be able to make some well-suited suggestions. You can’t imagine how energizing and exciting it can be.

So, is this a metaphor for the beginning of the New Year? Possibly. It’s fine to think differently in ’09. Now you have a partner that shares in your plans. Please yourself so that you can please each other. It can be as simple as a change of polish and lipstick or removing a goatee – his, of course!

Congratulations. Pop the cork and best wishes for the New Year. Let me hear from you with new ideas for ’09.

Wedding



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Wedding

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F or many people, planning a wedding becomes very stressful with an overwhelming amount of details to address: the ceremony, reception, flowers, invitations/thank you notes, attire, photography,

honeymoon, limousines, videography, music, wedding rings and of course, the marriage license. If this list of major decisions is not daunting enough, throw in the minor details and your big task becomes ever bigger!

Since every wedding event takes on its own identity, those “minor details” become a reflection of the bride and groom’s personalities. What better way to have your affair be an occasion to remember than by having extraordinary design in your décor. Items such as wedding favors, table linens, chair covers and centerpieces are small details that will delight your guests when seated at their tables. Most brides have the desire to be different, but when it comes to table linens, remember to dine in elegant style. Beiges, creams and off-white tablecloths in brocades, solids or tone-on-tone stripes are classically beautiful.

The most popular banquet halls have existing backdrops of gathered neutral draperies, wall covering and flooring. Resist the temptation to put a contrast color bow on your seating and napkins. This will distract the eye from the more important accessories, such as the main centerpiece. If you strongly feel an additional color is necessary, choose black. You want to create an environment that will be a breathtaking experience for your guests as they are seated.

Flowers are an important part of any wedding and

centerpieces are a key factor in the overall appearance of the ballroom. Most grand rooms have elevated ceilings that allow for height in your floral design. This is one area where bigger is better. Regardless of what your florist may tell you, choosing flowers that are in season the month of your wedding will ensure freshness and availability. If you choose a flower that is not in season, it may be obtainable, but not look its best for the event. Historically, flowers have symbolic meaning. The orange blossom has always been associated with marriage as it represents purity. For those who are not superstitious, select the flower of your choice. Topiary-type centerpieces with an assortment of greens, candles and roses make a magnificent statement when placed in a silver candelabra holder.

As an extra touch always goes a long way, the wedding favor or parting gift is the one item that will leave your guests with a lasting impression of the unique event they attended. Favors such as candles, placecard holders and picture frames have been done to death. Wine stoppers, crystal barware, novelty salt and pepper shakers and unique candy dishes are both practical and more uncommon tokens. Guests will love anything that is edible. Personalized packets of tea, coffee or hot cocoa will be scooped up from the table quicker than pastel almonds! Quaint mint tins and mini jars of honey or jam are also nice ideas that everyone will enjoy.

Good luck to all the brides and grooms on your upcoming affair and best wishes for a happy and promising future together.

Customizing Your Event Decor

For That Special Dayby Maria Galgano


Wedding

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“To Be Well Dressed

Is a Little Like

Being in Love” ... Oleg Cassini

Something Blue ... The bride wears her Oleg Cassini strapless gown of ivory colored silk crepe de chine with a rounded train. The simplicity and purity of the gown is highlighted and accented with a wide cummerbund, smooth in front and tied in back with an Obi bow of blue silk taff eta. The taff eta is done in a vivid translucent blue color refl ect-ing the sea and the sky. She carries a bridal bouquet of pink roses tied in blue satin ribbons and she walks on a path of pink rose petals. Blue was a traditional color for a bridal gown prior to Queen Victoria’s choice of wearing white for her wedding in the mid-19th century. The color blue was thought to bring good luck to a bride.

The Oleg Cassini Bridal Collections are the number one, most chosen of designer wedding gowns. More brides wear Oleg Cassini gowns than any other designer label.


Wedding

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Good Grooming ... The Oleg Cassini Men’s For-mal Wear Collection features a rainbow of colors to coordinate the wedding party. The groom and best man have chosen sea blue and jonquil colors from the Cassini Heritage Vest Collection. The unique design of the Oleg Cassini vest is that the entire garment, front and back, is made of the same fine fabrics, done in smooth and jacquard finishes. The collection includes color-coordinated ties and acces-sories. A vest to party in.



The Oleg Cassini Formal Wear Collection for Men and Boys ... The ‘His and His’ Cassini tuxedos feature the classic Cassini tuxedo lines accented with coordinated for-mal accessories and matching Cassini Heritage vests in silver jacquard.


Wedding


The Oleg Cassini Formal Wear Collection for Boys ... The ring bearer is wearing his Oleg Cassini tux with his Cassini Heritage vest

and matching accessories.



The bride is wearing Oleg Cassini’s signature Empire bridal gown, inspired by the Nattier blue strapless gown Oleg designed for Jacqueline Kennedy as Frist Lady, which was one of Jackie’s favorite gowns. The classic simplicity of the line, the rounded strapless neckline, the bandeau caught with a pearl encrusted floral bow, the fabulous heavy silk, ivory colored fabric with long train ... all accented with a billowing rain-bow of tulle, make for a perfect destination or summer wedding event.


Wedding


A love affair that never ends.

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Ti� any Novo

Ti� any Novo diamond engagement ring. A brillant cushion cut with customized mounting of four tapered prongs.

The Ti� any Setting

The Ti� any Setting, a design classic that holds the diamond away from the band on six prongs, permitting a more complete return of light through the diamond.

Ti� any Legacy

Ti� any Legacy diamond engagement ring. Captures the opulence of the Edwardian period with a patented cushion-cut center stone and a lavish setting of bed-set diamonds.

Visitwww.tiffanys.com

24 The Boulevard • February - March 2009

Wedding

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The world-renowned Hamlet Golf and Country Club. A specialplace for your special day. Just one affair at a time is hosted.

World-class cuisine. Impeccable service. Private countryclub setting. Your needs aren’t just attended to, they’reanticipated. Elegantly, of course.

To arrange a tour, call 631.499.5200or visit www.hamletgolfandcountryclub.com.

One Clubhouse Drive, Commack, New York

$95per person++

Select Fridays &Sundays in 2009*

BOOK NOW!Call 631.499.5200

for details.

HCCAT-80011 • Boulevard Winter Bridal Issue • FP, 4C • 8.25" x 10.75" • EGC Group 516.935.4944

++Plus 20% service charge, plus sales tax. *Dining membership fee of $250 required for nonmembers. May not be combined with any other offer. Offer based on availability and valid for 2009 weddings booked by 4/30/09.

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H ow often do any of us get the opportunity to live out the fantasy of dining in a castle? For most people the answer would probably be never!

The Melius family, owners of the Oheka Castle, have spent millions of dollars restoring and refurbishing Oheka to exactly replicate the grand home of the original owner, Otto Kahn. During the 1920s, Kahn, a fabulously wealthy entrepreneur, spent a fortune importing the � nest marble and building materials, art and furniture to make Oheka a showplace for his Gold Coast friends, politicians and royalty. Today, Oheka is a major historic landmark on the North Shore of Long Island, as well as a unique, high-end boutique hotel and catering venue for weddings, con� rmations, parties, and bar/bat mitzvah.

My wife Rita and I were invited to live out a "dining fantasy" while experiencing the fabulous ambiance and exquisite cuisine of the Oheka Castle. Once a month, Oheka o� ers a select group of friends, associates and potential clients the opportunity to taste an amazing selection of culinary treats available at the Castle. Under the guidance of executive chef Chris Cappello and executive pastry chef Daniel Andreotti, a three-course prix � xe dinner menu is o� ered in one of the castle's dining rooms just o� the entrance stairway.

Entering the Castle dining room was like stepping back into history. Magni� cent crystal chandeliers, highly polished wood � oors and beautiful art set o� this venue from even the � nest hotel or restaurant dining room. Our tasting menu consisted of an intriguing and delicious assortment of appetizers: Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli and Mixed Greens and Shrimp Cocktail

with Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce. Appetizers were followed by Chilean Sea Bass with Sweet Soy and Scallion Rice, and Garlic and Rosemary Oven-Roasted American Lamb Chops with Caramelized Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Tied Haricots Verts, Baby Carrots and Mint Demi-Glace. For dessert we chose a trio of desserts: Chocolate Tru� e Cake, Cheesecake and Fresh Raspberry Tartlet with Raspberry Sauce along with co� ee and tea.

Each of our courses was artistically arranged on gorgeous imported china and crystal and served by an attractive group of young waiters and waitresses. The dining experience lasted almost three hours; the memories of Oheka Castle will last a lifetime.

Dining Fit for a King and Queen: GourmetDiningAt Oheka Castle

By Barry Kay


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“E ngaged couples prepare for their weddings long in advance and look for special touches and unique settings for their wedding receptions. With this in mind, we believe

we’ve created an outdoor oasis unmatched by any other caterer on Long Island…maybe even the New York metropolitan area,” says Tom Wright, general manager of the New Chateau.

And rightfully so. The New Chateau isn’t what you may remember. This past summer, the Carle Place facility completed

the construction of a $2 million outdoor venue. Outdoor weddings have become more and more popular over the last few years and the Chateau’s tropical oasis o� ers the experience of a destination wedding without leaving Long Island. Complete with beautiful gardens of swaying palm trees, cascading waterfalls, cabanas, pavilions and � re coves, you and your guests will feel as if you are at a tropical resort.

When searching for that distinctive blend of outdoor splendor and indoor elegance, the Chateau can accommodate

all of your catering needs. Inside, its timeless art deco motif embellishes a wedding with the ambiance and glamour of Manhattan. Dazzling photo opportunities beckon with elegant photo studios, a dramatic lobby staircase and a magni� cent white baby grand piano.

Guests will dance the night away on spacious dance � oors while savoring culinary delights specially prepared by the Chateau’s award-winning chefs. Banquet professionals will meticulously cover every detail of your wedding for a truly unforgettable occasion, and complimentary shuttle service is available to and from The Inn at Fox Hollow Hotel, located just a few miles away for out-of-town guests and wedding parties.

For a personal tour of The New Chateau, contact Tom Wright at 516-334-6125, or email [email protected]. Watch for the Chateau’s new website coming March 2009 at www.chateaubriandcaterers.com.

Sets the Standard…With You in Mind

The New


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nuBest salon and spa

Offers the Best in Bridal Beauty


Wedding

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well-planned wedding should capture the unique and personal style of the bride and groom. As the event’s main attraction, the bride sets the tone of her special day, which is why her dress, hair and

makeup are so important. When it is time to create the perfect look, a bride should visit nuBest salon and spa in Manhasset, New York.

nuBest has the best reputation for bridal hair and makeup and gives brides and their bridal parties personalized attention. Whether a bride wants a traditional look or a modern look, “nuBest salon and spa caters to brides’ unique beauty needs,” says Gloria Sombrotto, nuBest’s bridal coordinator. “We recommend coming into the salon for a trial of hair and make-up,” Appointments should be made three to six months in advance of the wedding.

Spring 2009 promises to be an exciting time for brides because there are so many new trends, styles and accessories. Jamie Mazzei, creative director for nuBest, says “Brides are

loosening up when it comes to their hair and wearing it loose and flowing. Elaborate up-dos are still popular but the hair is not pulled back as severely, allowing a more natural feeling.” Headpieces play a big role in determining a hairstyle. Smaller headpieces and simple, elegant bands that lay on the hair are very popular today.

Mazzei recommends that a bride bring pictures of looks that inspire her to give the stylist a direction to work with. Makeup is a key element to the overall bridal look. Anna Naso, nuBest salon and spa’s makeup artist, recommends airbrush makeup application. “Airbrush makeup lasts longer and is more natural looking. The overall look is flawless,” says Naso.

For over 35 years, nuBest salon and spa has offered hair design, color, straightening and perming; facials; massages; eyelash extensions; makeup application; spa nail services; waxing; threading; laser hair removal; special bridal services and personalized spa parties. nuBest salon and spa is located at 1482 Northern Boulevard in Manhasset. Visit www.nubestsalon.com.

A


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A re you looking for a new and exciting venue to enhance your most memorable day? The Village Club at Lake Success in Nassau County is a chic banquet facility located on the grounds of the

Village's 18-hole golf course. The club sits on the edge of pristine Lake Success with breathtaking views of tranquil waters and lush foliage. The elegant banquet room boasts dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows and features access to an outdoor terrace that takes you one step closer to the magnificent lake. The terrace is ideal for al fresco cocktails or an outside wedding ceremony. The hall holds 600 for a cocktail reception or 325 for a sit-down meal.

At the Village Club, yours is the only affair. Total and complete attention ensures that every inspiring detail of your celebration is perfect. Begin your day in the club's private and beautifully appointed bridal suite, where a personal attendant is on hand to service your every whim. As you dress in anticipation of the day's events, watch from behind your suite's terrace curtains as guests pull up to the circular drive where the waiting valet promptly tends to their vehicles. Then begin your descent to the outdoor ceremony or cocktail reception where views

of the day's transition from pink-hued sky to starlit evening complement the beauty and elegance of your distinctive affair. Your celebration culminates in the pristine banquet hall where guests are sure to articulate their enchantment with the day.

The Village Club at Lake Success opened in May of 2002 to rave reviews. Long Island's celebrated Philip Stone Caterers is the Village Club's exclusive caterer. Recognized as masters of the Long Island wedding with more than 40 years of experience, Philip Stone's unsurpassed service, magnificent menu design and delectable cuisine further enhance the Village Club's exquisite setting. As many a bride will attest, a Philip Stone wedding is one like no other.

Celebrate your wedding against a backdrop of Spanish-deco architecture and impeccably manicured greens. Indulge in an exclusive country club atmosphere that is both private and yet conveniently located less than 20 miles from New York City and easily accessible to all points on Long Island. For further information, visit Philip Stone Caterers online at stonecaterers.com.

Memories Are Made at the Village Club at Lake Success


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James Taylor

In the Studio with the Handy Man, Sweet Baby

By Jonathan Clarke


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Phot

o by

Dan

Bor

ris


W hen you meet someone for the first time who has sold millions of albums, won multiple Grammy awards, is in the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in a

career that spans over 40 years, naturally you would think there might be a certain caution or aloofness from the artist. Not James Taylor. You shake his hand and right away, you know that Taylor really is a gentle man, hence, a gentleman. Maybe it’s the southern hospitality from his early days living in Carrboro, North Carolina. Perhaps even some down-east hospitality, too, from his birthplace – Boston, and the majority of his life living up in Martha’s Vineyard and now, on a farm in Massachusetts.

Taylor walks into the room and you notice right away how tall and lean he is, but in a healthy way. He’s dressed like a well-to-do farmer, as if he’s on his weekly visit to town from the farm to pick up supplies. Makes sense, since he does spend most of his time, when not touring, with his wife and twin 8-year-old boys up on

that farm in Washington, Massachusetts.His popularity is undeniable. Over 11 million people own a

copy of his Greatest Hits CD. “That’s a lot of people,” Taylor says. “More than is possible really to get your mind around. That’s like the population of Australia. I am amazed at that and surprised that it’s so consistently well-received. The whole thing has been a gift. As time goes by I realize that more and more.” Taylor’s songs like “Fire And Rain,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Country Road,” Something in the Way She Moves” and “Carolina on My Mind” were all tremendous, worldwide hits. And they all happened early on in his career. Those songs incorporate what has become Taylor’s signature sound – subtle yet precise arrangements, sparse instrumentation, nothing overproduced and with an emphasis on melody and lyrics. “I remember recording those songs,” James says. “ A song is three to four minutes long and roughly 12 of them fit on an album. Those are the units or increments we work in and I remember them all as distinct chapters. The recording of the Sweet

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Baby James album, the album on Apple Records in 1968, Mud Slide Slim and One Man Band. My mind goes back to all of those albums and those days easily. Those records typically took me from two weeks to two or three months to record. I remember the studios I did them in and the people I was working with, too. All of the albums had very intense working environments.” And an environment, no doubt, influenced by Taylor’s early days as one of the first artists signed to The Beatles’ then-new Apple Records label. Not many people can say that Paul McCartney and George Harrison helped them out early in their career.

Taylor has a recording studio in the barn (that is actually called “The Barn”) on that Massachusetts farm. It’s a space he uses for both recording and rehearsals with his 12-piece band. He’s recorded his most recent release and his 17th studio album, Covers, there. It’s an album of some of Taylor’s favorite cover songs. “Over the years I’ve done a lot of covers on my albums,” he says. “Songs like Carol King’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend,’ ‘How Sweet It Is,’ ‘Up On The Roof,’ ‘Handy Man’ and the like. When we perform live, we have some cover songs that we perform as encores, or even set openers, and these songs are ones that we’ve played live enough times so that the arrangements are really crystallized, but we never had the chance to record them. I’ve always wanted to take these specific songs into the studio. So that really was our mission with this album. And we burned through them fast, like in two or three days. We really just basically recorded them live with no overdubs, other than a cool cello spot we have on one track with Yo-Yo Ma. This band that we’ve put together is just so great, and this was one of those

situations where every time we go out and play some of these songs, we say, wow, that was so great … this is the best … we need to record that one. So finally, we have. Once we started, the next thing you know, 10 days had passed and we had 20 songs done. Some did not make it onto this CD, so I’ll find a way to get the rest of those songs out there.”

Ask anyone and they will tell you James Taylor is one of those rare artists who can cover a song and somehow make it sound like it’s one of the songs he wrote. He makes it his own and that sentiment was echoed to me by Taylor’s good friend Billy Joel. When I tell him this, he smiles widely. “You know, every year I do this Rainforest Benefit at Carnegie Hall with Billy, and I have seen and heard him cover a wide range of songs and he is just amazing at that! He’s the best. But thank you for telling me

that he said that. It surely puts a spring in my step.” Covers has Taylor putting his stamp on 12 tracks including

beautiful arrangements of Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne,” Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman,” Eddie Cochrane’s “Summertime Blues, ” Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” and Lieber and Stoller’s “Hound Dog” among many others.

Both of Taylor’s children with former wife Carly Simon, Ben and Sally Taylor, have long been pursuing their own musical careers. Ben, whose warm baritone voice is eerily almost identical to his father’s and who also tunes and plays his acoustic guitar very much like his father, has released several albums, including a brand new one. “Ben grew up watching and listening to me of course, but also to others, so he has his own thing going now for sure, and it’s just been really gratifying for me to see him come along. He’s just made what I think is the best work of his life. It’s called The Legend Of Kung Folk Part One: The Killing Bite. It’s a great album that’s so focused, beautiful songwriting, excellent production. You should give it a try,” says the proud father.

James recently did several shows at and around the Obama inauguration and he tours every year. Last year’s shows included concerts at both Jones Beach and Holmdel. But he hasn’t played a proper New York City gig for a while. “I think we are overdue to come back into the city and play and I think it would be great,” says Taylor.

I don’t think – I know it will be great. And no one should miss it for the world, James.

Photo by Rob Fortunato


Profiles


Visit James Taylor websiteat: www.jamestaylor.com

On Location at Q104.3

Behind the Scenes photos by Jason Feinberg




profiles

I t may be 2009 and 17 years since the primetime drama Dallas went off the air, but memories of the

Ewing family still linger. Corruption and betrayal, lies, greed and power, affairs and scandal – all were just part of another day at the Southfork ranch.

At the center of it all was one of our favorite Ewings, the person we couldn’t help but root for each week as she drank and slept her way through one ordeal after another. This, of course, was the tortured and (sometimes) villainous Sue Ellen Shepard Ewing, former Texas beauty queen and trophy wife to the womanizing rogue J.R. Ewing, portrayed to perfection by actress Linda Gray.

“Hating you like I do is enough to keep me sober,” was just one of the salacious lines that Sue Ellen said to J.R., which made for irresistible television on the ’80s nighttime soap.

Gray, who calls the Sue Ellen years a fantastic period in her life, explains that even after all this time people still talk about J.R.’s mistreatment of Sue Ellen. “When Larry and I are in public together it is very funny because people come over and say, ‘We hated you, J.R. – the way you treated poor Sue Ellen,’” says Gray “We both laugh, knowing that we are dear friends after 30 years … I don’t know too many people who still have a lovely friendship with the people they worked together with 30 years ago … I think that is kind of rare, so I feel blessed.”

Despite all the angst the couple encountered during their tumultuous marriage, Gray believes that J.R. and Sue Ellen were made for each other. “They were absolutely in

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love in a strange, very dysfunctional way,” says Gray, speaking from her home in Canyon Country, California. “I think that is why they stayed married. No one else would put up with that nonsense on either side.”

When Gray landed the part of Sue Ellen Ewing, she was a stay-at-home mother caring for her two young children while working in some small acting roles. Once the show became a success, Gray, along with her cast mates, became instant celebrities. “We were shocked. No one expected it,” says Gray. “All of a sudden we were the biggest thing in the world and people wanted to know what we had for breakfast. It was like, ‘What? Where did that come from?’ We were all unemployed actors when we got the job.”

It was a glorious time in the actress’ life, particularly since Sue Ellen was never supposed to be a featured character in the show and in the first episode didn’t even have a name. “The producers and directors would lovingly call me ‘the brunette on the couch.’ Nobody knew what I was, whether I was J.R.’s wife or the tennis pro … We [Larry and I] were just bookends but, I was less than a bookend. I was just kind of there. It was Pamela and Bobby who were supposed to be ‘the stars of the show.’”

Wanting more for her character than just a mindless trophy wife who smiled and poured coffee, Gray applied her knowledge of psychology (she was a psychology major in college) to help her figure out just what made Sue Ellen tick. Spending days hanging around at the Neiman Marcus department store was all part of her research. “I was a California girl who had never been to Texas and I knew less than nothing about a wife in Texas,” she says. “I’d hang out at the beauty salons in Neiman Marcus and get my nails done and just listen and watch and see what these women bought. How they dressed. How they wore their hair and what they talked about. Then Sue Ellen started coming together and it was great.”

Once Sue Ellen evolved there was no turning back. The talented actress, who was also a director on the show, was so believable in the role that it was easy for the public to think that the person in their living rooms each week was the person Gray really was. However, according to Gray that could not

be further from the truth. “Sue Ellen was nothing like me at all. I am very down to earth and very spontaneous and have a lot more fun and a lot more shimmer in my life than Sue Ellen did. Plus, I would never be married to J.R. in the first place,” she laughs.

Her winning performance on the popular soap earned Gray an Emmy nomination for Best Actress, Germany’s Bambi Award (which is equivalent to our Academy Award) and Italy’s Il Gato for Best Actress on Television. She was also voted Woman of the Year from the Hollywood Radio and Television Society.

After the star’s 11-year run on the drama came to an end, Gray went on to appear in various television shows and theatrical productions including The Bold and the Beautiful,


Profiles




Melrose Place and Models, Inc., among others. Most recently, Gray made a guest appearance on the new 90210.

In 2005, the multi-talented actress starred in London’s West End production of The Graduate, playing Mrs. Robinson. It was a role she called “divine.” Says Gray, “To play on the London stage is like an actor’s dream and much different from television and film. There is instant acknowledgement of how your performance is being received. They laugh and they cry … and there is great fulfillment in the end.”

In fact, it was Gray’s stockinged leg (Gray was a model before she began acting) that appeared on the promotional poster for the film The Graduate back in 1967. How remarkable that 34 years later she would be playing Mrs. Robinson – the person she had posed for. "It was one of the weirdest coincidences on the planet … but so much fun,” says Gray, who got paid $25 for the modeling job.

In 2007, Gray continued to perform on stage, this time in the world premiere production of Terms of Endearment in the UK, a six-month tour in which she played widow Aurora Greenway.

A person who enjoys living life to the fullest, Gray continues to act, go on public appearances, and travel around the globe. Before our interview, she had just returned from Athens, Greece, where she filmed the feature film The Flight of the Swan and was getting ready to leave for her next destination, Dublin, Ireland, with former cast mate and close friend Patrick Duffy, as spokesperson for Newbridge Silver Company’s jewelry line. A few weeks prior, she and her Dallas co-stars Hagman and Duffy were in Dusseldorf, Germany, to appear in the Guinness World Records’ German Christmas show that aired on German TV in December. And in November, she was part of the Dallas reunion at Southfork with her former cast mates.

Despite all the fame and glamour that comes with the celebrity lifestyle, Gray is an extremely down-to-earth person who enjoys helping others. Since 1992, she has been an Ambassador of Goodwill for the United Nations, traveling to Nicaragua and India. She describes the experience as life-changing and even created a documentary film for the United Nations on women and children’s health issues. In February Gray, along with Morgan Fairchild and Donna Mills, will be co-mistress of ceremonies for the 2009 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards for the Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs, California. Although the days at Southfork are behind her, talking about that magical time never gets old for Gray. With talks of a Dallas movie coming to the big screen, she says, “We did what we did and we did it well. That was a wonderful time in history … I don’t know if they can do in two hours what we have done in 13 years. I bless them. Good luck.”



profiles

A ctor Michael Gaston may currently be best known for his role as Gray Anderson in the Emmy-nominated CBS drama Jericho, but the multi-faceted performer has recently made the switch

from the small screen to the silver screen, and not just with one movie, but with four.

I had the opportunity to speak with Gaston back in October, prior to the release of the highly anticipated Oliver Stone movie W, in which Gaston portrays Gen. Tommy Franks. “I did a tremendous amount of research,” Gaston said. “I read his autobiography, but actually learned a lot about him when [I read] an interview he did after retirement for Cigar Aficionado magazine.” What did he learn? “He is tough and would make anyone uncomfortable.” Gaston did reach out to the general while preparing for the movie, but Franks did not respond. “I would love to meet him,” Gaston said. “I am impressed by him personally.”

Another movie Gaston recently appeared in is Body of Lies, in which he plays the role of Holiday, a CIA operative working in Jordan. Not surprisingly, he revealed that working with Leonardo DiCaprio was a great experience. He also loved the opportunity to work with director Ridley Scott and appreciated that both Scott and DiCaprio gave him the chance to be creative with his character.

Gaston took on the role of Frank Landon, a Louisiana high school basketball coach, in Hurricane Season where he appears opposite Forest Whitaker. This post-Katrina story is based on a real high school basketball team; Gaston’s character is coach of

the opposing team. “It is a real feel-good sports team movie,” he said. Fans can also look forward to seeing Gaston in Sugar, a film scheduled to be released by Sony Classics in the spring.

If this doesn’t sound like enough to keep him busy, readers should know that the versatile actor has also finished shooting a pilot titled Last of the Ninth for HBO. Written by David Milch, the program features Gaston as a lieutenant in the New York City Police Department. I asked him how it was to work with David Milch. “He is the best writer and an extraordinary man and this pilot was a glorious thing to be a part of,” was Gaston’s answer.

Born in Northern California, Gaston’s intention was to be a teacher and it wasn’t until his senior year in college that he caught the acting bug. After graduation, he set out for New York and applied to the Tisch School at NYU, where he received his master’s degree. Not long after graduating from NYU, Gaston became a member of The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park and appeared in television shows such as Law and Order, The West Wing, CSI and, of course, Jericho, while racking up numerous film credits.

A true family man, Gaston presently resides in Ulster County, 90 miles outside of New York City. His family, which includes his wife and two children, lives on a 118-acre hay farm. True animal lovers, the family has three cats, two dogs, a pony and chickens. When asked what he would do if his pre-teen son and daughter were to express an interest in acting, he responded, “I would encourage the kids to act if they wanted to; however, I am adamant that they do not do anything professionally until they are adults.”

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profiles

famous frog once said, "It isn't easy being green" but for Brian d'Arcy James, star of Broadway's newest sensation Shrek the Musical, it sure has been fun. No stranger to Broadway, d'Arcy James

made his Broadway debut nearly 16 years ago, and has since starred in numerous productions, including Blood Brothers, Titanic, Carousel, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and the play that earned him a Tony nomination, Sweet Smell of Success.

How did the versatile actor, who sports All-American good looks, react when asked to audition for the role of a monstrous, green, grumpy ogre? "I couldn’t really compute it," he said. “It did take me aback.” But the modest star was excited about being a part of the Dreamworks production since he is “a big fan of the

movie." Asked if he used the film series to prepare for the play he said he “used it as a point of reference" for his character to evolve into something very unique.

Another aspect unique to d'Arcy James is the fact that he spends an hour and a half a day, six days a week, in makeup. In preparation for the show, makeup artists complete his green exterior by placing a prosthetic bulbous nose and a very pronounced chin on his face. His costume consists of heavy pants and a vest that appears a few sizes too small. Standing 5”9’ inches tall, d'Arcy James also wears giant boots with platforms to add to his height. Does morphing into someone unrecognizable and unidentifiable have an effect on his performance? "It is a wonderful feeling; it is liberating,"

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he explained. On matinee days, in between shows, d'Arcy James removes some of the heavier parts of his ensemble, but for the most part stays in costume. I was curious if he ever wanders out on to the streets. "Actually, in one scene during the play I exit the theater out to 53rd Street," he said. So what are the reactions of passers-by? "Most people say hi and honk their horns. And the others – well, they just have that ‘here comes Shrek again’ [look].”

On those matinee days, d'Arcy James usually remains in his dressing room relaxing between shows, since the play takes a great physical toll on his body and voice. It is not unusual to see his wife, actress Jennifer Prescott, and their 7-year-old daughter stopping in for a visit. I ask the Shrek star how his daughter reacted when she first witnessed him in costume." At first she was leery; then she was fascinated," he said.

Shrek the Musical has a phenomenal cast of Broadway's crème de la crème, including Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Shrek's love interest. "Sutton is extraordinary,” said d’Arcy James. “She has a great sensibility and she is a leader." Indeed, d'Arcy James speaks very highly of the entire cast.

I ask the actor if it is difficult to keep his performance fresh. "The trick is having excellent material that can sustain you," he answers. “Shrek has an enormous amount of great material to work with. When you have less material you burn out quicker.”

In addition to live theater, d'Arcy James has appeared in both television and film. "I love film work," he states, "but I love the novelty of theater. It is meat and potatoes."

I asked him what he does in his spare time. Laughing, he quipped, "I sleep," then added, "I love going to the movies and I write with my brother in-law." He also spends as much time as he can playing with his daughter.

A Michigan native, d'Arcy James' interest in acting started as a child. His uncle was Brian Kelly, star of Flipper. His two sisters are involved in show business as well. Initially, the actor had considered pursuing a career as an attorney because his father had practiced law and he says, " I idolized him." In addition, his grandfather was the governor of Michigan.

Well, theater fans can be grateful that Brian d'Arcy James didn't follow in his father's footsteps as the actor offers

audiences an amazing theater experience. This writer never thought that she would fall in love with a swamp thing, but she did, and she guarantees that you will, too. Brian d'Arcy James is committed to Shrek the Musical through December of 2009 and you don’t want to miss him.

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Photo Gallery66th Annual Golden Globe Awards -NBC Universal and Offical HBO After PartyBeverly Hills, CAJanuary 11, 2009Photos by Patrick McMullan

Colin Farrell

Drew BarrymoreEva Mendes

Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick Lisa Edelstein

Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried

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49www.boulevardli.com

Curious Case of Benjamin Button PremiereMann’s Village Theater, Los Angeles, CADecember 08, 2008Photos by Patrick McMullan

Julia Ormond

Maria Menounos Jennifer Lopez Eva Longoria Parker

Cate BlanchettAngelina Jolie, Brad Pitt

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At Tilles Center for the Performing Arts

Sweeney ToddSunday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m.$75, $60, $45 (seniors: $72, $57, $42)Performance PLUS! Event, 5:45 p.m., Hillwood Recital Hall, $5

Traditional Portuguese Fado MusicFriday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m.$65, $45, $30 (seniors: $62, $42, $27)

Verdi’s AidaSunday, March 1, 3 p.m.$75, $50, $35 (seniors, $72, $47, $32)Performance PLUS! Event, 1:45 p.m., Hillwood Recital Hall, $5

National Acrobats of ChinaFriday, March 6, 7 p.m.$50, $40, $30 (seniors, $47, $37, $27)

Chopin: Piano Sonatas 1, 2 and 3, Olga Kern on pianoSaturday, March 7, 8 p.m.

$90, $70, $50 (seniors, $87, $67, $47)Performance PLUS! Event, 6:45 p.m., Hillwood Recital Hall, $5

Sticks & StonesSunday, March 8 at 2 p.m.Theater piece for ages 10 and up, $7

Celtic Music with Natalie MacMasterFriday, March 13, 8 p.m.$65, $45, $30 (seniors, $62, $42, $27)

The Four FreshmenFriday, March 20, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.: $45; 9:30 p.m.: $35

Momix Dance PerformanceSaturday, March 21, 8 p.m.$65, $52, $40 (seniors: $62, $49, $37) Performance PLUS! Event, 6:45 p.m., Hillwood Recital Hall, $5

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Presents Goodnight Moon and The Runaway BunnySunday, March 22, 11 a.m. and 1p.m.Ages 3 and up, $20

C.W. Post Wind Ensemble and Symphonic BandTilles Festival Band5th Annual C.W. Post Band FestivalSunday, March 22, 7 p.m.$10 (students/seniors, $8) at performance only

Juan De Marcos, Afro-Cuban All StarsFriday, March 27 at 8 p.m.$65, $45, $30 (seniors: $62, $42, $27)

Idina MenzelSaturday, March 28, 8 p.m.$65, $54, $42 (seniors: $62, $51, $39)

Long Island Philharmonic, Long Island Philharmonic ChorusSunday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.$85, $68, $50, $38

Long Island University’s Tilles Center for the Performing Arts is located on the C.W. Post Campus, Route 25A in Brookville. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or

tillescenter.org, in person at Tilles Center’s box office or by telephone at 516-299-3100 or 212-307-4100. The box office is open Monday-Saturday, 1-6 p.m. For additional information,

call 516- 299-3100 or visit tillescenter.org.


Around The Town

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at the Heckscher Museum of ArtRobert Rauschenberg and His Contemporaries: Recent Prints from Universal Limited Art Editions

The exhibition will feature works of Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Helen Frankenthaler, Chuck Close and James Rosenquist. Joining the work of these modern American masters will be graph-ics by artists including Cecily Brown, Enrique Chagoya, Ellen Galla-gher, Orly Genger, Jane Hammond, Rosa Loy, Susan McClelland, Elizabeth Murray, Kiki Smith, Richard Tuttle and Lisa Yuskavage and others. The selection will show the diversity of the workshop’s production, including well-known and emerging artists, abstract and figurative imagery and a range of print types. Through April 5.

Rediscovering Slobodkina: A Pioneer of American Abstraction

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Russian-American artist Esphyr Slobodkina’s birth, a retrospective of her work will be displayed. The exhibition will include works from the Heckscher’s Slobodkina holdings, with works from the collection of the Slobodkina Foundation, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Abstract paintings, whimsical sculptures, and works on paper will be included in the installation, which will be on view through March 22.

For further information, visit www.heckscher.org or call 631-351-3250.


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Around The Town


Red Skelton as "Freddie the Freeloader." Photo courtesy of the Red Skelton Estate

Highland Heartbeat cast: Jim Malcolm, Jillian Isbister, Fiona Kennedy, Darren Maclean, Maureen McMullan and Daisy Chute star in Highland Heartbeat

Photo by Upfront Photography

Scottish singer/actress Fiona Kennedy and Emmy Award-winning Scottish actor Brian Cox

Photo by Upfront Photography

Live from the Artists Den: Premiering with Alanis Morissette live at Judson Memorial Church NY

Tuning In with WLIW21 New York Public TelevisionLooking for LincolnPremieres Thursday, Feb. 12 at 9 p.m.WLIW21 commemorates Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday with a special exploring controversies surrounding the American icon. Interviews include former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer.

The Best of Red SkeltonFriday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.A new special celebrates America's Clown Prince of Comedy and The Red Skelton Show. It features classic routines and characters, and guest appearances from Tim Conway, Phyllis Diller, Vincent Price, Mickey Rooney, Tiny Tim, John Wayne and others.

Highland HeartbeatPremiere in March - visit wliw.org for airdates and informationSinger/actress Fiona Kennedy (Tartan TV) leads a group of singers

in a concert that spans genres and generations with traditional Scottish compositions and pop hits. Also features Brian Cox reading Robert Burns poems.

Shoreline Sonata - A Love StoryWLIW21's new local production is a dream-like tribute to America's beautiful shorelines and the way in which humans inhabit the watery world. The special features excerpts from poetry and prose combined with on-location performances of classical music.

Live From the Artists DenSaturday, Feb. 21 at 10 p.m.Jakob Dylan at the Desmond Tutu Cultural Center, NYC

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Superman by Andy Warhol, Myth Series, ca. 1981

Babar from Babar’s Museum of Art by Laurent de Brunho�

Taking Chocolates to the Pleasure Pavillion, Piergrossi

At the Nassau County Museum of ArtFamily Sundays at the Museum Sundays, 1 p.m.Feb. 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 Each Sunday the museum offers a 1 p.m. docent-led walk-through of the exhibition and at 1:30 p.m., supervised art activities for the whole family.

Private Tea and Tour Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2:30 p.m.A behind-the-scenes glimpse at the museum’s current exhibitions, Long Island Collects and Poetic Journey: Hudson River Paintings from the Grey Collection features a private guided tour followed by tea, sandwiches, scones and sweets. Space is limited; reserve early.

Poetic Journey: Real and the Ideal in Hudson River PaintingMarch 7, 3 p.m. Chief Curator Franklin Hill Perrell offers a series of two talks. Exhibit runs through March 15.

Long Island CollectsThrough March 15Outstanding holdings of several Long Island art collectorsWinslow Homer: Illustrating AmericaThrough May 26More than 100 prints from illustrated weeklies and journals

Andy Warhol Silk ScreensThrough May 26In a select exhibition, NCMA displays some of Warhol’s classic pop subjects.

Collision CourseThrough March 15 Works by Peter Garfeld, Michael Piergrossi and Max Yawney

Babar’s Museum of ArtThrough May 26

The New Ridder MiniArtMuseum for ChildrenWith the launch of the Ridder MiniArtMuseum for Children, NCMA has a space devoted to exhibitions designed especially for young audiences. More programs and more fun for children and adults.

Nassau County Museum of Art is located at One Museum Drive in Roslyn Harbor. For further information including hours and

costs, call 516-484-9337 or visit nassaumuseum.com.


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Lifestyles

O n Dec. 17, 2008 Martin Luther King III and the Realizing the Dream organization presented Jamie Mazzei, owner of nuBest salon and spa, with the prestigious Champion of Hope Award for his work with 12-year-old Jonathan Olunga, the Gift of Life’s miracle child from Uganda, Africa. Realizing the Dream created the Champion of Hope awards to honor individuals worldwide who strive to make a difference in their community. Realizing the Dream

continues the humanitarian and liberating work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King; Champions of Hope serve as living proof that Dr. King’s dream is being realized in the acts of everyday citizens.

Hip-hop artist, actor, author, television producer, and two-time Grammy Award winner LL Cool J, a longtime supporter of the Long Island community, made a special appearance to recognize Jamie.

In September of 2008, Jamie and his wife Violet traveled to Africa with Gift of Life International to bring a child to the United States to receive life-saving heart surgery. Jonathan was that miracle child. “Traveling to Africa was an intense and amazing journey. The people we met and our experiences in Uganda have changed our lives forever,” said Jamie about his experience. He and Violet have provided a home with electricity and running water for Jonathan and his family in Africa and look forward to continue helping other children in need.

nuBest’s Jamie Mazzei Receives Champion of Hope Award from Realizing the Dream

Donna and Michael Mazzei with Jamie and Violet Mazzei LL Cool J, Simone Smith and Angela Susan Anton

Martin Luther King III, Donna and Michael Mazzei Martin Luther King III presents Jamie Mazzei with the Champion of Hope Award. Violet Mazzei and son along to support.

Photos by Tina Guiomar

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Angela Susan Anton HonoredAt Mill Neck’s Festive Fondue

Dickensian carolers charmed with a set of holiday-themed songs

Dr. Mark R. Prowatzke introduces Honoree Angela Susan Anton.

Angela Susan Anton spoke about her experience with and support of the Mill

Neck Family of Organizations.

Vivian Cummings and Patricia Eggerman

Festive Fondue celebration recently kicked off Holiday Mansion 2008 at the Mill Neck Manor House. Guests enjoyed fondue stations, a sign choir and Dickensian carolers. Several designers received awards for their table settings and holiday trees and the Mill Neck Family of Organizations honored Angela Susan Anton, CEO and publisher of Anton Community Newspapers and The Boulevard magazine, for her generosity and support to build awareness of its mission.

Holiday Mansion proceeds benefit Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf.

First prize winner: Santa Table by Benjamin Bradley

Second prize winner: Marilyn Table by Susan Costa

Third prize winner: Scarlet O’Hara Tableby Cathy Yohay

The Artistry of Table winners: Benjamin Bradley, Susan Costa and Cathy Yohay.

Ann Tarasoff, Carol Aronson, Arlene Travis and Gail Tarasoff-Sutton

Photos by Tina Guiomar

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Lifestyles


New Ground’s 8th Annual Groundbreakers’ Celebration

Senator Skelos Honored at 2008 Carnation Ball

The Honorable Joseph A. Suozzi; Emmet Agoglia Esq. and Vincent Albanese, Esq.

Emmet Agoglia Esq., Terry Baydala, Debbie Baydala, Shannon Boyle, Sheryl Albanese, Christopher Albanese and Edward McDougal.

Daniel Sisto, Senator Dean Skelos, Senator Kemp Hannon and Joseph A. Quagliata.

Geri Barish and Joseph A. Quagliata. Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg with wife Ellen; Sheila D’Nodal.

N ew York State Sen. Dean G. Skelos was the honoree of South Nassau Communities Hospital’s 2008 Annual Carnation Ball. Many of the region’s leading health-care executives and state and local public o� cials were among the 600 guests who attended the ball to honor Senator Skelos and recognize his exemplary leadership in state and local government.

The Carnation Ball honoree is recognized for exemplary leadership and contributions in support of South Nassau’s mission to provide cost-e� ective, high-quality healthcare. The 2008 Carnation Ball raised more than $500,000 in support of South Nassau ’s Comprehensive Cancer Program, thanks in part to many generous and benevolent sponsors, including Exclusive Ball Sponsor Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group.

O n Nov.13, 2008, New Ground hosted its 8th Annual Groundbreakers’ Celebration at the Carlyle on the Green in Bethpage State Park. New Ground was proud to honor Christopher Albanese and Terry and Debbie Baydala. A live auction was conducted by Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and honorary co-chairs for the evening were the Hon. Joseph A. and Marguerite Suozzi and Vincent M. and Niki Albanese. Proceeds from the event will

support the many critical services and educational programs designed to help New Ground’s homeless families and veterans become self-supporting and independent. New Ground, Inc. is a unique agency committed to educating and empowering families and individuals once caught in the vicious cycle of homelessness. New Ground recognizes that the key to solving homelessness is not only to help homeless families, but also to prevent homelessness. The organization identi� es and responds to at-risk families through educational, technical and emotional support.

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Mercy Corps Launches Celebration and Global Action Awards

Action Center, Battery Park CityPhotos by Tina Guiomar and Jason Feinberg

Neal Keny-Guyer, Nick Anderson, Ana Slavin, Caroline Kennedy, Ed Schlossberg, Sindu Ravishankar, Katie Simon and Nancy Lindborg.

Chevy Chase

CMA Hosts Independence BallA Benefit to Help Extraordinary People Lead Ordinary LivesPhoto by Lindsay Burdick

More than 150 cherished friends gathered at the North Hempstead Country Club to honor and celebrate the greater Port Washington community, which has welcomed many intel-

lectually and developmentally disabled men and women of Community Mainstreaming Associates, Inc. (CMA) for more than 30 years. The event was CMA’s Independence Ball, a bene� t to help extraordinary people lead ordinary lives.

During John Walter’s presentation of the John Walter Hu-manitarian Award he said, “Throughout the years, the individuals who live in the houses and apartments located in Port Washing-ton have learned to live a mainstreamed life. These individuals live, work and participate in all community activities.”

Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) accepted the award on behalf of the Port Washington community. “The Port Washington community cares about every resident and has long supported CMA’s vital mission to ensure that everyone is a� orded the opportunity to live independently and with dignity,” said the senator. “I am proud to accept this award on behalf of Port Washington, just as I am proud of CMA and all of the resi-

dents they help.”CMA’s Independence Ball was a spectacular evening, rais-

ing $100,000 gross. The � nancial success of this event will help ensure that decisions continue to be based on what is best for the men and women served at CMA.

John Walter presents the John Walter Humanitarian Award to Senator Craig Johnson.

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Lifestyles

Debs are introduced at 54th International Debutante BallWaldorf Astoria, NYCPhotos by Patrick McMullan

Hadassah HostsEducation Day Symposium

Christina Sophia and Arianna Hu� ngton

T he Nassau Region of Hadassah held its annual Education Day Symposium on Nov.13 at the Royalton at Roslyn Country Club. The topic was It’s STILL the Economy: Money Mat-

ters!! Speakers included Mark Lieberman, senior economic analyst, Fox Business Network; Dr. George Friedman, CEO, Stratford; and Charles Menges and Doris Meister, principals, Bernstein Global Wealth Management. Pictured are Dr. Friedman, Rhoda Smolow, Mr. Menges, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Meister, Judy Etra and Cheryl Sperber.

Frances Saylor White Elizabeth Amanda Richardson

O n Dec. 29, 2008, young women of distinction from the United States took their bow to society along with women from England, Hong Kong, France, Germany and Greece at the 54th anniversary of the International Debutante Ball and Dinner Dance at the Waldorf Astoria. The debutantes represented 11 American states and boasted � ve sets of sisters. Each debutante was accompanied by an escort in white tie and tails and a military cadet in dress uniform,

who carried the � ag of the country or state that she represented. The International Debutante Ball Foundation, founded in 1954, supports numerous charities including the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club, a home away from home for the military and their families.

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Heckscher Museum of Art Gala and Art Auction a Roaring Success

Holocaust Center Hosts Successful Dinner

O n Oct.18 the Heckscher Museum of Art held a Roaring ‘20s Gala and Bene� t Art Auction at the Meadowbrook Club in Huntington. The successful event raised $135,000 to support

the Heckscher’s educational programs. This year, the Heckscher had the privilege of honoring two wonderful members of the community, artist April Gornik and Christopher Mitchell of Marsh’s of Huntington.

Pictured Right: The Heckscher Museum Executive Director Erik Neil; Honoree April Gornik; Honoree Christopher Mitchell;

Margy Hargraves, board chair; and Judith Streiter. Photo by Michael Krasowitz

Humanitarian Award Winners: the Mindel Family of Great Neck. Former Governor Mario M. Cuomo, Education Award Recipient Senator Carl Marcellino and Congressman Gary Ackerman.

T he Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center’s Annual Dinner held Nov. 17 at the Woodbury Jewish Center was a huge success. More than 550 guests heard powerful messages delivered by the three honorees who voiced concern over the recent rash of hate crimes and emphasized the critical importance of the center’s tolerance workshops.

Senator Carl Marcellino, presented with the Bruce Morrell Education Award, credited the center’s programs for their in� uence on students. Alan Mindel accepted the Humanitarian Award on behalf of the Mindel Family and spoke passionately about his parents’ experiences during the Holocaust and their ability to turn the loss of their own families into a mission to help others. Jacob Stein, a founding member of the center, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Congressional Record Citation by Congressman Gary Ackerman for having been a champion of Jewish and humanitarian causes and advisor to several Presidents. Mr. Stein spoke with dignity about his work, particularly with the center, and his commitment to its ongoing mission. The dinner served to pay tribute to these important members of the community and reiterated the need for the center to continue and thrive as the premier source of education about the Holocaust and a leading voice of tolerance on Long Island.

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Lifestyles

HCN supporters Ken and Randy Villani Patricia, HCN chairperson, and Barry Bloomgarden

William A. Marino, Patricia Mulholland and Mary Jane Belt

H ospice Care Network celebrated its 15th Annual Crystal Ball Gala on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Glen Head Country Club in Glen Head. This year’s honorees were Maureen Hinkelman, president and CEO of Hospice Care Network, and William A. Marino, chairman and CEO of Allied North America. Close to 400 guests enjoyed an evening of Mardi Gras celebration, wining, dining and games of chance. The fundraiser raised a record-setting $300,000 in

net income. Half of the proceeds will go to Hospice Care Network’s general programs and services; the other half will go toward the Marks Center at Hospice Care Network.

Hospice Care Network Sees Great Future From Crystal Ball Gala

S id Jacobson JCC has received a $125,000 allocation to fund infrastructure improvements from New York State Assemblyman Charles D. Lavine. The funds will enable the JCC to replace a deteriorating

atrium in the main lobby. Susan Bender, JCC executive director, commented, "The JCC appreciates the support and friendship of Assemblyman Lavine. This funding allows the JCC to continue o� ering � nancial aid for critically needed programs, while maintaining the integrity of the JCC’s physical plant.”

“The JCC is an important part of our community and it gives me great pleasure to have allocated funding to restore the atrium. This project will enable them to continue providing vital services in a safe environment. I know every cent of this grant will be well spent," said Assemblyman Lavine.

Thanks to Assemblyman Lavine,Grant Will Fund Infrastructure of Sid Jacobson JCC

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Landmark on Main Street Celebrates 14th Spotlight Gala

Brian Stokes Mitchell with Honorees Anne and Vincent Mai.

Barbara Goldstein and Susan Isaacs present the Ti� any award to Joe Labenson.

Angela Jaggar and Susan Isaacs present the Ti� any award to Nancy Federlein.

LI Fund for Women Achievers’ Breakfast is great success!

L andmark’s Spotlight Gala 2008 was a resounding success on Nov. 8 with 300 guests in attendance for two-time Tony Award-winning Brian Stokes Mitchell’s return engagement. In an era of growing challenges for not-for-pro� t organizations, Landmark’s supporters made this the most successful fundraiser in the organization’s history.

Author Susan Isaacs hosted the awards ceremony at which Nancy Federlein, Joseph Labenson, and Anne and Vincent Mai were honored. They received engraved crystal awards donated by Ti� any & Company and presented by Angela Jaggar, Barbara Goldstein and Hersh Cohen.

The tent at Blumenfeld Park housed the Spotlight Club at which the gala’s two culinary receptions were held. The evening began with a VIP cocktail reception. Following Stokes’ exciting performance in the Jeanne Rimsky Theater, guests gathered in the Spotlight Club for a feast of desserts and savories. Rebecca Dorsey’s cabaret trio played throughout the party.

W ith a wonderful turnout of more than 650 attendees, the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls Women Achievers Against the Odds Breakfast is still receiving congratulatory responses for another successful event on Nov. 5. This year's event celebrated the granting of $149,940 to 23 Long Island programs that will bene� t women and girls and their families and honored three Women Achievers, a young high school Woman Achiever and three high school � nalists.

Marcia Welsh, Laurel Parker West and Honoree Angela Susan Anton.

Laurel Parker West, Honoree Lillian McCormick and Howard Weitzman.

Laurel Parker West, Joan Gilroy and Honoree Helena Williams.

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Lifestyles


Make-A-Wish Golf Outing is Swinging Success

Bob Donaldson and Pat Clemency pose with New York Islander Clark Gillies

Bob Donaldson, Pat Clemency and Stewart Rahr share a moment after playing the last hole.

Michael Senter, Pat Clemency and Bob Donaldson. Gia, Wish Kid Chelsea’s friend; Pat Clemency; Wish Kid dad, Dennis; Wish mom Lisa; Wish Kid Chelsea and Gail Freebody-

Monaco.

O n Monday, Sept. 29, more than 220 golf enthusiasts convened at the Winged Foot Golf Club to swing their clubs in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York. Now in its 12th year, the annual Golf Outing, presented by The Donaldson Organization, continues to be a significant fundraising event, raising more than $540,000 to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

The steady success of the event is due in great part to the tireless efforts and support of Bob Donaldson, a member of the board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and president of The Donaldson Organization. Participating power golfers this year included Clark Gillies of the New York Islanders hockey team, as well as other members of the philanthropic elite such as Stewart Rahr, president and CEO of Kinray, Inc. and Michael Senter, CEO, ABCO Refrigeration Supply Corp.

The event would not have been complete without the presence of a former Wish Kid and her family. The heartfelt words of Wish Kid Chelsea’s dad, Dennis, reminded everyone of the lasting, positive impact of a wish – not only on the child, but on the entire family.

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Lifestyles

Seated: Nancy Lane, Rosemarie Klipper, Jo-Ellen Hazan, Angela Susan Anton and Chris Brans� eld. Standing: Lewis Lane, Mitchell Klipper, Regina Barros, Floyd Ewing,

Josephine Ewing, Jack Brans� eld and Andrew Maleko� .

Frank and Rita Castagna

Nelson DeMille in the Red Ballroom. Marie Napoli, Jack Lenor Larsen and Paul Napoli

Rebecca and Charles Finelli.

N orth Shore Child & Family Guidance Center held its major annual fundraiser recently at Carlyle on the Green at Bethpage State Park. The 2008 Snow Ball, a "green" and sustainable event, proved to be a magical and successful evening, despite the dire economic situation for nonpro� ts. More than 250 guests danced to the music of the Sounds of Swing and Sinatra and enjoyed the live and silent auctions and ra� e.

The gala honored important community leaders including Angela Susan Anton; Chris and Jack Brans� eld; and Rosemarie and Mitchell Klipper. The event co-chairs were Josephine and Floyd Ewing and Nancy and Lewis Lane.

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center Hosts Successful Gala

Holiday Celebration at Old Westbury GardensPhotos by Vince Kish

O n Dec. 5, 2008 Old Westbury Gardens hosted a winter dinner party to bene� t preservation projects at Westbury House. Projects chosen for 2009 include the restoration of the Collyweston limestone slate roof. The dinner committee chairpersons were Paul and Marie Napoli. The honorary chairman was Jack Lenor Larsen. Mr. Larsen is an internationally known textile designer, author, collector and the founder of the LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton.

On Dec. 10, 2008 the Friends of Old Westbury hosted the � nal Books in the Ballroom event of the year with a special appearance by bestselling author and Long Island resident Nelson DeMille. The evening included a signing of Mr. DeMille’s latest book, The Gate House, and a talk and question-and-answer period, followed by a reception on the West Porch.

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Planned Parenthood Celebrates 75 Years of Service

PPNC Board Chair Haydock and Dr. Greta Rainsford, past board member.

Honorees Gerry and Lilo Leeds with granddaughter Lauren.

Symposium speaker Sondra Goldschein, JoAnn D. Smith and Traci Perry.

SASS Foundation Honors Rudy Giuliani and Jake Prigoff

S tarting in 1933 as a small group of women who wanted to provide birth control information to married women in Locust Valley, Planned Parenthood of Nassau County has grown into Long Island’s major provider of a� ordable family planning and other reproductive health services. Last year PPNC served 14,000 women, men and adolescents at its three health centers in Hempstead, Glen Cove and Massapequa, and 30,000 people through its educational programs.

T he SASS Foundation for Medical Research held its annual black-tie dinner dance at trendy Cipriani 42nd St. The event brought together more than 400 local and national business people, medical professionals and benefactors to pay tribute to two very special individuals – each a hero in his own right and both cancer survivors.

Keynote honoree Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressed the crowd and SASS co-founders Dr. Frank Arena and Marty Sass announced the launch of the Rudy Giuliani Cancer Symposium on innovative frontiers in cancer research, sponsored by The SASS Foundation in conjunction with NY Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. The symposium will bring test-tube research to a patient’s bedside with new and revolutionary treatments for all types of cancers. Jake Prigo� , a graduate of Roslyn High School and a freshman at the University of Michigan, was honored with the Courage Award. Channel 7 news reporter Stacey Sager conducted a live auction of Dr. Sassy Bears, signed by guest and former NY Giant Carl Banks.

Marty Sass, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Jake Prigo� , and Dr. Frank Arena Jay Black performs with Ric Mango orchestra and Jake Prigo� .

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Lifestyles

66

Mercy Ball Benefits Women’s Imaging Center

John R. O’Connor, Esq. receives the Bishop John R. McGann Lifetime Achievement Award from Rob Bossart

and Most Reverend John C. Dunne.

Seated: Nancy Simmons, Elizabeth Simmons, Alan Guerci, Leslie Guerci and Danielle Campbell, News12 Long Island anchorwoman. Standing: Msg. Francis

J. Caldwell, Patrice Miller and David J. Miller.

Hispanic Counseling Center Celebrates Season of Giving

Honorees with Mayor Hall and Thomas DiNapoli HCC sta� with Director Gladys Serrano

M ore than 400 people attended the 72nd annual Mercy Ball, held on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury and sponsored by the Friends of Mercy. The proceeds from this year’s black-tie event will support the recent acquisition of new digital mammography and other state-of-the-art equipment in the hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center.

C. Justin McCarthy received the Theodore Roosevelt Award For Outstanding Service presented by the Nassau-Su� olk Hospital Council to an individual contributing to the development of Long Island’s community hospitals. The Sister Mary Nadine Casey, CIJ, Award was presented to Colleen Vandermark. This award honors a member of the Mercy family who best personi� es the values of the Medical Center and the Congregation of the Infant Jesus whose members founded the hospital nearly a century ago. John R. O’Connor, Esq. received the Bishop John R. McGann Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to a distinguished individual dedicated to volunteering time and e� ort in support of the Medical Center.

T he Hispanic Counseling Center hosted its 31st annual gala celebrating The Season of Giving at Leonard’s of Great Neck on Dec.6, 2008. The evening’s honorees were Rosemary Aponte from A� nity Health Plan, Deidra Parrish-Williams from Newsday and Elizabeth Custodio from HSBC. Guests included Mayor Wayne J. Hall, Sr. of Hempstead, Mark Bonilla of Hempstead, Dorothy Goosby and Thomas DiNapoli.

Based in Hempstead, the Hispanic Counseling Center works to make vital services available to Long Island’s Latino community. They have been providing bilingual/bicultural treatment services in the areas of mental health, chemical dependence and family supportive services in Nassau County and now are providing those services in Su� olk County.

Photos by Pat Dillion

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VineVineBy Heather Muhleman

SpeakSpeakThe Venerable Vineyards of Hudson Valley

W hen people are asked about New York wines, the two main regions at the top of the list are usually Long Island’s North Fork, which we have explored in past Vine Speaks, and

the Finger Lakes, which I’m sure we will explore in future Vine Speaks. But what about the lesser-known Hudson Valley region – the 100 miles of river that run directly north of New York City? While it might not be known for its fantastic, heart-stopping wines, the area is absolutely known for its wineries. Stretching from Westchester County to Albany are 28 wineries, each with its own charm and amazing history. And some of them even make pretty good wines.

The Hudson Valley is America’s oldest winemaking region and has the oldest vineyards in the country. The French brought over the fi rst varietals in 1677, although no wines were made available for sale to the community until about 200 years later. The region is also very well-known for other fruits – pears, apples, watermelons, etc. – which has paved the way for some very nice regional fruit wines. Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir are key varieties here.

There are two main wine trails. The Shawangunk Wine Trail consists of 10 wineries in Ulster and Orange counties and the Dutchess Wine Trail includes three wineries located in Dutchess County. There are 15 other individual wineries not included in any of the trails. While each winery has its own personality and fl air, I do have my favorites.

Brotherhood Winery

Established in 1839, Brotherhood Winery is the oldest and only continuously running winery in America. Located in Washingtonville, the winery has not stopped making wine in 170 years, even during prohibition when they made sacramental wine for the Catholic Church. The atmosphere is historic and the crowds welcoming. Each season brings new events, always centered around the wines. Brotherhood has many award-winning varietals including Merlot, Port and their Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine. One of their best sellers is the Holiday Wine, a spiced wine perfect for the holiday season. (845-496-3661)


Wine & Dine

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Benmarl Winery

Sitting on the hills of Marlboro in Ulster County, the view from Benmarl Winery spans the Hudson River and its vast 37 acres of vines in the oldest continuously farmed vineyard in the United States, dating back to the late 1700s. Owned by noted artist Mark Miller, the winery has been at the forefront of New York State viticulture and legislation to recognize Hudson Valley wines. The grounds are spectacular and events are held seasonally. All artisan, some wines to note are the Baco Noir, a great Chardonnay and their first ice wine, Sweet Sarah. (845-236-4265)

Millbrook Winery

Millbrook Winery is the first vineyard in the region dedicated exclusively to the production of vinifera grapes. Since 1975, the winery has been making high-quality wines in a top-of-the-line facility three miles north of the beautiful town of Millbrook. This winery is considered one of the top wineries in New York State with award-winning vintages of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. One hundred thirty acres hold

their prized varietals, the renovated Dutch dairy barn tasting room and three beautiful ponds. Best wines are Pinot Noir Reserve, Cabernet Franc and the best-selling Hunt Country Red. (845-677-8383)

Stoutridge Winery

One of the newer wineries in the region, Stoutridge has been open for two years and is unlike any of its neighboring wineries in the valley. Stoutridge is a pump-free facility and relies solely on gravity in every aspect of the winemaking process. With no pumping, there is no filtering and as such, the wines contain sediment. But that sediment is pure antioxidants and, says owner Steve Osborn, “how wine should be.” Only recently able to sell their wines, some of the best are the Hudson Heritage Red and White, the Frontenac and the delightful Quimby’s Rose. (845-236-7620)

These are only a few of the amazing wineries located in the Hudson Valley. For more information, visit www.hudsonvalleywinecountry.org. And, as always, cheers to good wine!

The Inn at New Hyde Park has been transformed into a magnificent turn-of-the- century catering facility and gourmet restaurant. The award-winning Chef and partner Alan Kruger has prepared an extensive menu inspired by old Mediterranean tradition, wisely revised andrespectfully embellished to delight and satisfy A myriad of emotions and pleasure.

Frank Marino - Managing PartnerAlan Kruger - Executive Chef

The Inn at New Hyde Park will make your fairy tale wedding come true. A whole new catering venue has been created with one wedding taking place at a time, enjoy peaceful patios for outdoor cocktailreceptions, gazebos, waterfalls and fountains where you are transported to a world of “Civilized Grace and European Charm”. All your expectations will be surpassed.

214 JERICHO TURNPIKE, NEW HYDE PARK • 516-354-7797 • www.innatnhp.com

We CordiallyInvite youWinter BridalShowcase

March 4th 20096:30pm-9:30pm

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W hether it’s the massive waterfall that greets you at the entrance, the intricately carved stone walls that surround you, or the glass-enclosed kitchen at the heart of

the restaurant, you can’t help but wonder if the food will be as appealing as the décor at Sensi. Sensi has a very eclectic menu and o� ers a wide assortment of Italian, American, Asian and seafood selections, all of which are reasonably priced.

While the wine menu is extensive, at the suggestion of our waiter we decided to order the house-made ginger ale, which, we discovered, is not your typical ginger ale. What you get is a tall glass of ice � lled with sparking water combined with just the right amount of freshly grated ginger pulp. The concoction was surprisingly delicious and refreshing.

For an appetizer, we ordered a classic American favorite – the French fry. I have de� nitely eaten my fair share of fries over the years and I have to say that the Parmesan and Cracked Black Pepper French Fries at Sensi were some of the best I have ever had. They were crispy on the outside, � u� y on the inside and seasoned to perfection. We ordered a staple of most Chinese restaurants – fried rice. The Sensi Fried Rice was � avored with black beans, duck egg and Chinese sausage and we were pleasantly surprised by the delicate yet distinctly authentic � avor and familiarity of the dish.

We decided to sample some not so typical surf and turf selections for our entrées. I ordered the Crispy Tempura Maine Lobster and Avocado Salad and my companion ordered the Kobe Flat-Ironed Steaks. The lobster was tempura-battered, yet it didn’t have the oily taste that often accompanies tempura foods. The lobster was succulent and its natural sweetness was balanced by the surprisingly tart mango slaw and the creamy avocado slices that accompanied it. The steaks came with a salsa verde sauce and were accompanied by wine-glazed shallots and

a surprising all-American favorite, the Tater Tot. The steaks were tender and had all of the qualities one would expect to � nd from Kobe beef and the tots were a nice addition to round out the entrée. We were not disappointed with our selections.

We ordered the Mini Ricotta Cheese Doughnuts for dessert. They arrived dusted with powdered sugar and were delicious. My sorbet arrived in an ice sculpture that was almost too pretty to eat, but that didn’t stop me. To my surprise, our waiter told us that the pastry chef was going to modify one of her dessert recipes for my dairy allergy. A short time later, I was digging into the most heavenly dairy-free creation I have ever had. Floating atop a bed of powdered sugar was a meringue shell � lled with lemon curd, garnished with fresh raspberries and dusted with confectioner’s sugar.

The ambience, the attentiveness of the wait sta� , the talent of the chefs and their willingness to accommodate my needs made dining at Sensi one of the highlights of my trip to Las Vegas. Thumbs up and go!

in Las Vegasin Las Vegasin Las VegasA Treat for the SensesA Treat for the Senses

By Maryann Diaz

SENSI 41!: Four Light Dishes ... Presented in One Box. A daily changing, signature lunch featuring a selection of all four kitchen specialities.


Wine & Dine

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BelliniBy Jason Feinberg

Bellini’s East Side 1660 Third Ave. 212-410-6787

Bellini’s West Side 483 Columbus Ave.

212 724 4615Open Daily

W hen famed jazz singer Mercedes Hall says, “You have to try this place,” you don’t ask why, you just ask when. Located on Manhattan’s Upper East and West sides,

Bellini’s Restaurant and Brick Oven Pizzeria is not just a meal, it’s an experience that brings new meaning to the words family and friends. Simply put, this is because you’ll make new friends and become part of a family by the time you are finished eating. Owners Alp Zencirli and Bora Can are your personal concierges while dining at this fun and casual restaurant.

You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. One appetizer I’d always managed to avoid was calamari – it just wasn’t my thing. I had tried it once before, but once was enough. On our first visit to Bellini, however, Alp placed a plate of calamari in front of us. I wanted to fight the craving but found my mouth watering, so with fork in hand, I started sampling. One, two, three … empty plate!

The homemade lobster ravioli with fresh tomato basil sauce is highly recommended, as is the cappellini with clams, garlic and olive oil served in a white clam sauce.

Bellini offers several dessert choices and while the tiramisu is in a class by itself, the Bellini specialty is the tartufo, an Italian truffle-like ice cream; but I caution, make sure you save room for dessert, as you will surely be stuffed from dinner!

Meals can be prepared individually or family style. Both locations are perfect for small and large gatherings and feature a

brick oven for a magnificent brick oven pizza. Bellini’s West Side on Columbus Avenue offers a more

quaint and intimate dining experience while Bellini’s East Side sister restaurant features a larger dining area, wine cellar in the ceiling, and outside dining during the warmer months.

Mangiare Bene at


Wine & Dine

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SITE OF THE 2002 & 2009 U.S. OPEN

Bethpage State Park Bethpage (516) 501-9700

www.carlyleONTHEGREEN.NET

E X P E CT T H E E XT R A OR DI N A RY

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W hoever would have thought that fresh air, local lore, clean water and overall green would be so ‘in’? Even fashionistas are discovering the Green Mountains. Karl

Lagerfeld announced in the fall of 2008 that he now owns a landmark (1840) house in Vermont.

The only downside is that there are so few sidewalks in Vermont that wearing Manolo Blahniks can be challenging at best. But, hey, in the new economy, who can afford them anyway?

However, what is still affordable – and at the same time highly fashionable – is a Vermont country wedding. By definition this means pastures, barns, views and such guestly diversions as hiking, cycling, hot air ballooning and horseback riding that keep friends and complicated families amused for two or three days while waiting to be transfixed by the sight of a beautiful in-love couple vowing in this bucolic setting to remain true to each other for life.

The country wedding strategy is working for Joe and Courtney Desena. While living in Tribeca, with Joe devoting

weekdays to Wall Street and weekends traveling together to extreme endurance competitions all over the world, they started looking at a venue for their own wedding.

As Courtney recalls, “All the country clubs, Newport mansions and city spaces just didn't feel right. It was weird touring all these places and seeing all these pictures of weddings that were all exactly the same except for the color of the bridesmaid dresses. We wanted somewhere that we could create our own story that hadn't been done a million times.”

So in true storybook fashion, they bought a farm they had been eyeing in Vermont and renovated its existing post-and-beam barns on 300 gentlemanly acres so they could create their own country wedding. Views surrounding them and vows behind them, they started getting requests to hold weddings at Riverside Farm.

Today, on meticulously groomed former pastures surrounded by wooded hills near Killington, brides-to-be anticipating their own vows forego spiked heels and tour the premises with Courtney or her sister-in-law Liz Cotter who, together, review and execute every detail of the wedding planning in concert with the bride-to-be’s wishes.

By Sara Duncan Widness

Vermont Is Fashionably In:Lagerfeld Is at Home and

Country Weddings Are in Demand

Travel


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A transplant from San Francisco where she most recently owned and operated her own catering business, Liz has brought to Riverside and the little town of Pittsfi eld not only years of experience in coordination of food and customer service but also knowledge of high-end, unique event production.

With brides-to-be they look at the meticulously restored historic and new barns popular for receptions. They tour the stable where the groomsmen lodge. They peek at the intimate Bridal Suite Cottage and review the country chic-cum-funk accommodations with high thread-count linens that wrap the bridesmaids and close friends.

What they’re planning isn’t just one day, but a three-day experience for up to 175 guests where there’s enough room

so everyone can spread out and then re-mingle for a series of festive events. And believe it or not, the premises that can be rented for exclusive use for three days include overnight accommodations for two nights for the bridal party, use of all of the event venues and the services of a wedding planner from the day the contract is signed. It’s even possible to ask Joe if he’ll stage a toned-down mountain biking, ultra-running or some kind of Ironman event for interested guests. Others can sign up for Bikram yoga, Pilates or tai chi, all off ered in this tiny town called Pittsfi eld where the original General Store boasts the only country store wine cellar in New England – possibly in the States.

For couples seeking a smaller event, Riverside Farm’s sister, Amee Farm (about a mile down the road), hosts intimate and

green weddings for up to 125. Sixteen elegantly appointed guest rooms, a dramatic wraparound porch, two ponds and a waterfall can all be backdrops for ceremonies. On premises is a 4,000-square-foot event space for up to 200 for refreshments. A working organic farm across the road complements the country style.

Says Courtney, “We still think it's amazing that there are plenty of other couples like us who would want to host their wedding in an old Vermont barn like ours. It's no surprise that these same couples tend to be really wonderful and fun and become great friends of ours too, returning year after year with their families for reunions and getaways.”

Pittsfi eld is a quintessential Vermont village in a narrow valley on legendary Rte. 100 in the Green Mountains in south-central Vermont’s Rutland County, one mile from Rte. 4 and seven miles from the Killington Ski Resort. It was chartered in 1781.

Nearby airports are in Rutland (about 19 miles; Cape Air to Boston), Burlington (about 53 miles; Jet Blue to NYC) and Lebanon, NH (about 50 miles; USAir). Amtrak services Rutland, about 20 minutes away. Ground transportation (school buses, mini vans or 15-passenger vans) can be arranged for any event held in Pittsfi eld.

For more information, visit www.riversidefarmweddings.com and www.ameefarmweddings.com or email [email protected].


riversidefarmvermont.com.

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Travel


Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest By Barry Kay

B udapest has long been considered one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world. Today, Budapest is home to three million people, spectacular architecture and mind-boggling

precious sights with a recorded history that started around 89AD as the Roman town of Aquincum.

The location of this old majestic city was carefully chosen to off er the greatest protection from invaders and to assure ease of movement throughout the confi nes of the city. The Danube River fl ows through the heart of the city and the earliest settlers found it an ideal place to build a town. A center was built on both sides of the river and it came to be known as Pest. The word pest is of Slavic origin and means stove or kiln. It refers to the natural warm springs found on and near Gellert Hill near the Danube. The name Buda came about later, during the reign of King Bela IV who, during the devastating invasion of the Mongols (1241-1242), ordered that new castles and fortresses be built around the country. Buda became the royal seat of Hungary and prospered along with Pest until the Turks sacked and burned the towns of Buda, Pest and Obuda. Eventually Turkish rule ended and in the late 1600s Buda began a new cycle of growth and prosperity. Budapest was created from the unifi cation of the three towns of Buda, Pest and Obuda in 1873. From that time on, Budapest began a steady growth that helped create its image as a world capital.

Our Seven Stars review team was on its way to Hungary and to Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube. The city’s smashing skylines are righteously on UNESCO's World Heritage list as

"a place you must see before you die." Equally noteworthy, Hungarians are famous for their friendliness and legendary hospitality.

Our team took off business class from Hamburg, Germany with Malev, a respectable airline with a home base at Budapest Ferihegy International Airport. This offi cial airline of Hungary connects 50 cities in almost three dozen countries worldwide. Our team was greeted at Ferihegy by a group of delightful hostesses in traditional Hungarian costumes enticing us to try the palinka (fruit brandy) and other culinary specialties. Hungarian cuisine and music turned out to be the stuff that myths and legends are made of.

The latest edition of a distinctive BMW town car brought us within a half-hour of the main entrance of the Kempinski Budapest Hotel Corvinus. The hotel is ideally located in the heart

Relaxation for two in an Asian-accented setting

Society Extraordinaire

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of Budapest and within walking distance of the spectacularly beautiful Danube River. The word “dashing” best describes our first impression of the curved façade set atop square stone columns of the Corvinus Hotel. In fact, the façade of the Kempinski Budapest Hotel Corvinus resembles the face of modern Budapest.

Our hotel accommodations were spacious, elegant, stylish and superbly decorated. The designers chose all color-coordinated, natural fabrics, framing the fine furniture in our rooms quite eloquently. The king bed was dressed with exquisite linens; the luxurious marble bathroom, with both tub and shower, was inlaid with mother of pearl chips. The suite was also appointed with all the contemporary state-of-the-art amenities and office tools any executive /business traveler could need. There was a large, handsome, wooden desk, instant IT access, a dining set, a well-stocked mini-bar and an absolutely stunning view of the river and city below. The maid service, dry cleaning and shoe service must also be applauded.

After a long day of travel, we all looked forward to spa treatments and massages at the Kempinski Spa. The Asian-inspired spa offers a full range of world renowned and respected therapies in the field of contemporary and alternative medicine. This serene spa features a larger version of an endless indoor swimming pool overlooking the very heart of the city. The spa includes cutting-edge fitness facilities, a beauty salon and a fabulous organic juice bar. Additional features were saunas, steam bath, invigorating ice shower and tanning solarium. The spa services at Kempinski are on par with the top professional spas of the world.

The Hotel Corvinus Kempinski offers a number of world-class restaurants to choose from. The Bistro Jardin serves time-honored authentic Hungarian specialties. Ristorante Giardino, replete with circular dining, presents Northern Italian cuisine in a

casually elegant atmosphere inside a romantically lit venue. Kempi Brauhaus is a traditional wood-floored tavern that boasts an interesting Bavarian menu and has seven German beers on tap. For snacking and relaxing, there is all-day light fare and pastries available in the frescoed lobby lounge, while the Corvinus Bar entices guests with an extensive cocktail menu, live music and good company into the wee small hours.

The morning following our arrival, breakfast was a spectacular buffet spread throughout the dining venue, with culinary specialties from around the world. Our fabulous breakfast could only be topped by the views of the historic and romantic Danube River, which we would later experience on a thrilling river cruise.

A multitude of fascinating bridges, the colossal Parliament and the Royal Palace gave our team chills on a bright sunny day, again felt when we experienced the

historic Royal Castle by night on a special permit tour. We also saw Budapest above the clouds on an amazing helicopter tour.

General Manager Marcus van de Wal had chosen the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts, the largest of its kind in Hungary, for the official Seven Stars and Stripes Award presentation and gala. The museum, which celebrated its centenary in 2006, turned out to be a unique place for an elegant catered affair and a smashing Seven Stars and Stripes celebration.

Budapest's high society and movers and shakers, along with the national press, were invited to attend the celebration and award ceremony. Our guest of honor and Seven Stars and Stripes Lifetime Achievement Award recipient was Eckart Witzigmann, undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the culinary world. Witzigmann studied under the legendary Paul Bocuse of Lyon, France and was named Professor of Orebro University, the only culinary university in Europe, in 2007. Mr. Witzigmann was also welcomed as a new member of the Seven Stars and Stripes Advisory Board.

Mr. Witzigmann became the first German-speaking chef and the third outside of France to receive the esteemed three stars from the French Michelin Guide for his Aubergine restaurant in Munich. Previously, Witzigmann had been named Chef of the Century by the Gault-Millaut Guide, an honor awarded only three other chefs, including Paul Bocuse.

Budapest was indeed memorable for its beauty, fabulous cuisine and amazing people. We will always treasure the memories of that special award ceremony honoring Mr. Witzigmann. We will also remember the wonderful hospitality of the Kempinski Corvinus Budapest and GM, Marcus van der Wal.

Call 1-800-7-Award-1, Ext. 4 or visit www.SevenStarsandStripes.com for more information about the Kempinski Corvinus Budapest and Seven Stars and Stripes.

Presidential Corvinus Suite bedroom offers guests a wonderful view of the city.

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page 078-080 IntroDR_ExAire.indd78 78 2/2/09 4:43:33 PM


I t’s zero hour, 9 a.m., and I’m trying to contain my excitement for our 9:30 flight as we pull up to the ExcelAire terminal at Long Island’s only world-class FBO (Fixed Base Operator) located on the northwest

corner of Islip’s MacArthur Airport. As we walk inside, the first thing we notice, aside from the very friendly and welcoming staff, are the leather couches, bar and fireplace. No, this wasn’t the award miles lounge; this was the only lounge. “Oh, you’re here early,” said our host, executive vice president of ExcelAire David Rimmer. “Well then, in that case, if everyone is ready, we can leave.” When was the last time someone from an airline said that to you?

David oversees ExcelAire’s jet charter operations, in-flight service, customer service and business development. His previous career in radio helped him achieve the knack for understanding his clients and building very trustworthy relationships. He also has a passion for flying; and after leaving the broadcast industry, he moved on to become senior editor at Business & Commercial Aviation, which would eventually take him to ExcelAire, “I guess I have been preparing my whole life for this role,” he said, a role which allowed him to acquire his pilot’s license.

The Legacy 600, a 14-passenger aircraft, was parked right next to the terminal. We were welcomed aboard by our pilot Aaron Larson, copilot Scot Evans and flight attendant Katharine Miller. It was a tough decision as to which leather recliner I wanted to sit in. I couldn’t call the window seat since every seat had a window. After our pilot went over the standard safety procedures, we took off to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from MacArthur Airport, which is not an international airport for commercial flights. Not long after takeoff, we moved to the midsection where we were served a breakfast of bagels, fresh fruits, juices and coffee. Of course, you can specify whatever you would like to eat ahead of time. I lounged on the couch in the back of the plane to catch up on some reading and before



ExcelAire Airport Lounge

The cockpit A smooth landing in the Punta Cana airport.

Your appetite full� lled for breakfast.

I knew, it we were landing in the DR. The fl ight was, well, just what you would expect – smooth fl ying and a very unique and exceptional experience.

So at what point does the experience diff er from a commercial fl ight? The moment you decide to fl y private. As David explains, you choose everything and ExcelAire caters to your every need. While The Boulevard was in the lap of luxury, private jet charters aren’t just about luxury. They’re about total control of your time and destination. Gone are the hassles of lost and damaged luggage, lines at the terminals, security points, unreliable service and hoping you don’t have to pay for earphones or food on the fl ight. Smaller aircraft can access thousands of routes and airports that commercial airlines can’t or just don’t service. With live TV, telephone and Internet service on board, you are never out of touch. For business executives, if time is money, this is the only option.

ExcelAire is very service-oriented and off ers a personalized, unsurpassed level of service including charters, management,

maintenance and sales. It employs and hires its crews, and meets or exceeds every safety regulation, due to founder Bob Sherry’s background in aircraft maintenance. This is their core expertise. “It’s not [just about] how pretty the plane is, but what’s behind the plane that makes the diff erence,” says David.

While ExcelAire is rooted in Long Island, its wings span the globe and are ready to fl y you away to new heights. After all, this is what they excel at.

ExcelAire is located at 2221 Smithtown Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY. Call 631-737-0477 or visit www.excelaire.com.


O ur adventure continued after stepping off the private jet and being picked up in a private limo bus at the Punta Cana Airport. The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real Resort had

only been open about a week when we arrived. This was a brand new resort and a great way to kick off the new year.

While we were checking in, our luggage disappeared. The Reserve’s staff whisked it away ahead of us and instead of lugging suitcases, we found ourselves lugging frozen blue cocktails. We were led to our rooms through a series of buildings with courtyards and fountains. Between the buildings was the pride of the resort, a lounge with a personal family concierge at your beck and call. The Reserve features 190 concierge suites including 80 family suites, 32 suites with private garden, 28 swim-up suites and two Presidential Suites.

The rooms are nothing less than luxurious and absolutely perfect for the paradise setting. A long dining table and kitchenette area greet you as you enter. The room’s dark mahogany furniture set on marble fl oors mixes with tropical and trendy colors in the living room. It all blends perfectly as you make the transition through the sliding glass doors to your private patio, garden, lounge chairs and Bali bed with canopy on the way to your private swimming pool entrance.

The bedroom features a very comfortable king-sized bed, desk and an entrance to the outdoor patio and outdoor Jacuzzi. Separating the bedroom are two Asian-style sliding doors, which hide the indoor Jacuzzi in the dressing area. Just beyond the bedroom is the bathroom, complete with a dual European spa jet shower. Each room is also equipped with fl at screen TVs with satellite service, CD/DVD players and a coff ee/espresso maker.

PUNTA CANA D.R. INTRODUCES A

UBER-LUXURIOUS RESORT WITHIN A RESORT,

THE RESERVE


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At the end of the walkway just outside the room is an endless swimming pool oasis complete with fountains, rivers and coves, separate pool for the kids and a swim-up pool to the bar at the Gabi Club.

We met up with style manager Marcela Monge for lunch at the Gabi Club, just one of 11 restaurants offered to guests of The Reserve and Palma Real properties. The Gabi Club is the focal point of the resort. It is a large rotunda hidden under vast streams of palms that overlooks the swimming pool. At

night, the oasis transforms into a club and lounge that heats up the tropical air. As I was glancing over the menu, the Lobster Risotto caught my eye. I didn’t think much of it when I ordered lunch; after all we had quite a nice breakfast on the plane. But when my food arrived, I was transfixed. I took my first bite and something magical happened. I knew that this meal would soon rank at the top of a very short list. I overheard everyone asking, “Would you like to try some of mine?” I had to quickly think of a way that I could hoard this incredible meal without seeming selfish. I felt like I was the only person on earth to have found such a delicacy, forgetting that I was at an all-inclusive resort restaurant. Should I ignore them; should I pretend that in my culture it was rude to share your food? I think only Homer

Mouth-watering Lobster Risotto

Gabi Club Restaurant

Paradisus Palma Real Lobby

Enjoy the beach view from above on a Parasailing Adventure


Travel


Simpson could appreciate that type of bond a man could have with his lunch. From the way I was eating, I must have looked like someone who was stranded on an island and was finally rescued. I can only hope that I didn’t lick the plate when I was finished. Needless to say, I had underestimated what I was in store for regarding the food on this trip.

We finished lunch and hopped on a golf cart (the preferred mode of transportation, although bicycles are available for free) to take us over to the Palma Real. The majestic view from the Romanesque lobby overlooking the ocean is simply breathtaking. The Palma Real features a number of restaurants ranging from Asian fusion to Mediterranean flair to seafood, as well a nightclub, casino and 37,000-square feet of swimming pools.

The activities are endless at the resort and on the beach. From parasailing and diving to horseback riding and Segways, there is something for everyone. If you want something more relaxing, you can try wine tasting or candle making.

As we toured the resort, we walked along the pathways between the pools over to the Kids Zone, a retreat for kids for any age. The Kids Zone is filled with activities and babysitters. Everything in the zone caters to kids, right to the scaled-down

buffet and chairs. Next stop was the spa (see page 86). What made this spa extra special was that it is located in a separate building. When you walk inside, you feel like you are in another place, another time, another world … and that is before any spa treatments.

Before dinner, I decided to relax in my outside Jacuzzi with the resort’s signature Blue Aqua frozen drink. As the sun disappeared, the oasis was illuminated without intrusion, revealing a star-studded moonless sky, something that has become a rarity. Off in the distance, waves crashed

Gabi Club Tappenyaki Chef Frederico at Mizu

Jacuzzi for Two



The Dominican Life

The Dominican life is something a visitor cannot fully experience from within the confines of the all-inclusive resort. The true Dominican life and culture go beyond the concrete gates, begin-ning in the streets and wandering through rural pastures of the mountainous landscape of the Dominican Republic.

On a trip to the island, we took a Monster Safari trip that was an experience that will stay with us forever. The truck navigated through the rural villages within the safari where we met with school children, ate at a cheese farm and ended the trip with a dip in a cool lazy river.

The experience is one to recommend. You come to realize that you can live a life rich with happiness and not necessarily full of monetary assets. The Dominican people are happy, despite their small means.

Photography by Tina Guiomar

and the smell of salt water filled the air. I have to admit I didn’t want to move, but dinner was waiting. That night Chef Frederico would dazzle us with Teppenyaki at the Reserve’s Mizu restaurant. Chef Frederico insisted he was from Japan but his Spanish accent didn’t quite convince me. However, his comedic antics and impressive cooking style left us laughing and stuffed.

Every aspect of this resort has been perfected to the finest detail, from the posh wicker seating areas to stylish décor that hides accent lighting at night. The staff is nothing less than gracious, attentive and always ready to serve you. After all, this is paradise. For your own look at paradise, visit www.paradisuspalmareal.travel/reserve.


Travel


When paradise and romance UniteBy Tina Guiomar

Y ou fall in love, a marriage is proposed and a date is set. Where do a bride and groom go to create a memorable moment basking in paradise? Those who enjoy vacationing on a warm, sandy beach

with turquoise blue water think of one locale, the Caribbean, and there is no better place to create a destination wedding than Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The perfect wedding is a five-hour flight and a phone call away. The staff at Paradisus Palma Real is ready and able to fashion your customized wedding event. Color palette, cake design, photographers, videographers, a guitar trio or a DJ can all be customized to your personal taste.

A personal wedding planner at Palma Real will create the ideal destination wedding, down to the smallest detail. For the ease of the bride and groom, wedding packages are offered. Choose the Fantasy Wedding of a simple cocktail soiree, or Chill-Out Chic with a low-key lounge atmosphere where you can lay out on Bali beds. The Aqua is a designer package for any couple wishing for the ultimate dream wedding. It begins and ends on the beach. An ocean backdrop, warm air and Caribbean

melodies comprise the scene. A visual array of tropical colors, flowing libations and a gourmet menu are served on your own private beach. Hints of vibrant aqua organza linens, a beach-themed wedding cake and tea lights create the picturesque beach wedding of any bride’s dream. A champagne toast begins the evening and guests feast on cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by a three-course gourmet Caribbean meal.

The delights do not end there. The best part of being in the Caribbean is that the honeymoon begins when you arrive. Brides and grooms are served a romantic breakfast in bed with mimosas for two. You can indulge in a personal dinner on the beach or romance in privacy in your Jacuzzi for two, filled with bubbles, fragrant oils and rose petals.

You can almost hear the eloquent refrain: “I am Mr. Roake, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island.” A retreat for the fulfillment of all your dreams, Paradisus Palma Real creates wedding fantasies that do come true.

For more information about Paradisus weddings and honeymoons, visit www.romancebyparadisus.com.


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The Elements of

Air, Fire, Water

and Earth

BY TINA GUIOMARPhotos by Jason Feinberg

T he YHI Spa is environmentally designed within the Paradisus Palma Real Resort in Punta Cana, D.R. The spa is dedicated to invigorating the mind, body and spirit by using the elements of

air, � re, water and earth both in its design and in its luxurious treatments. It is a place to purify the body, balance the mind and elevate the soul.

As you enter the 24,401 square foot facility, you enter a Zen-like sanctuary. The architectural designs embrace the colors of red earth, blue water, brown earth and sandy beige. The air is � lled with soothing aromas and mystical music. The spa o� ers water rituals using Jacuzzis, cold plunge showers, saunas, steam rooms and an acupressure foot walk � lled with smooth stone pebbles and a shower of fresh water.

A day spa ritual is the ideal start to a relaxing vacation in the Caribbean. The Mind Enchanting Spa package consists of four di� erent spa treatments in the span of three hours: Gaia Spa, Make-A-Wish Hydrotherapy, Ancient Stone Biomassage, and Spa Manicure and Pedicure. Recommended at the beginning of your day is the hydrotherapy ritual. Developed from Roman cultures, the ritual alternates from a heat phase to a cool, short phase of water treatments, bene� cial to revitalizing the body.

Given a robe and slippers upon entering, you embark on a spiritual journey, free yourself of stress and plunge into the Gaia Spa. The therapist begins by exfoliating the body. An elixir of volcanic and sea clays, herbs and � owers is concocted. With a tingle of the cool clay mixed with the warm air, the painting begins. As every portion of the body has aliments, each area is given a special elixir of clay that heals, nurtures and energizes. Once the body has been fully painted, you are wrapped in a foil cocoon to intensify the detoxi� cation process. During that time, the therapist continues to help you relinquish your stress with

a scalp massage, then escorts you to a Vichy outdoor shower to cleanse and remove the clay.

The Make-A-Wish Hydrotherapy is a renewing bath � lled with bubbly waters infused with organic marjoram, sage, lime peels, sea salts and fragrant lavender � owers. The bath is followed by the Ancient Stone Biomassage. This Native American treatment runs warm stones along the body’s pressure points and is combined with a therapeutic massage. The heated stones and the herbed-infused massage oils bene� t healing by allowing the muscles and joints to relax. The treatment ends with a spa manicure and pedicure. The salon continues its environmental awareness with the use of Sparitual nail polish, a vegan nail lacquer free of DBP, formaldehyde and toluene.

The splendid experience leaves you with a harmonious feeling of rest, relaxation and connection to the air, � re, water and earth. YHI Spa takes guests to a spiritual plane that awakens the senses and energizes the whole body.

The YHI Spas have locations around the world and are featured at every Paradisus resort. Visit www.paradisuspalmareal.travel/spa.php to book a spiritual experience for yourself.


SPAS

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THE SPA

AT EQUINOX

A TEMPLE

OF WELL-BEINGBY TINA GUIOMAR

E quinox, the upscale fitness sports club, is not your everyday gym. The Spa at Equinox offers a multitude of luxury treatments that include massages, facials, skin and body treatments, and a full waxing service. Its fitness philosophy – To achieve optimal results,

you must work hard and recover hard – transcends to the spa. The Spa at Equinox has three treatment rooms outfitted with state-of-

the-art equipment to enhance any treatment. Completely designed with the client in mind, the rooms are adorned with warm lighting, ambience music, aromatherapy oils, and a touch of paradise with a glorious arrangement of orchids. With the menu of treatments available, any ailment can find relief.

The relaxation begins as soon as you walk through the door. The Equinox staff greets you with a Frette terrycloth robe. The candle-lit entrance is inviting and the room atmosphere continues the tranquility of candles, sweet aroma of lavender and eucalyptus, and tranquil background music.

A great treatment to accompany an intense workout and to release tension is a deep tissue massage that increases blood circulation, releases built-up toxins, and heals and restores balance to the body and nervous system. The pressure is customized to the client’s preference; you get exactly what works for you. The intoxication of the aromatic oils in combination with the massage creates an overwhelming sense of relaxation and a rejuvenation of the spirit. The fitness facility offers a steam room to finish the detoxification experience.

You leave Equinox with a rejuvenated spirit and a relaxed body. It’s a fitness facility not just focused on creating the perfect body but also focused on the importance of a healthy body. A spa treatment is the perfect balance of a fit body and mind.

Don’t fret if you are not a member of the sports club; nonmembers are welcome to utilize the spa. Member perks include a 10 percent discount on all treatments. To make an appointment, call 516-403-4444 or log onto www.equinoxfitness.com.

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SPAS

I was definitely in need of some stress reduction after significant losses at the craps table the evening before, so I was excited about reviewing the famed spa at the Bellagio Hotel.

I began my day feeling exhausted and defeated with a 9:30 a.m. appointment. I was almost late due to the pleasant distraction of the beauty of the arboretum and the “never gets old” elegance of the hotel itself. I went with a friend, although she had had no better luck than I the previous evening and we were both cranky and mute as we waited for our appointed massage therapists.

I chose the Deep Coconut Surrender treatment because the description of “coconut milk … drizzled along the spine and back of the legs” seemed like something almost so sensual I would have to confess it to my husband later – but then I remembered that everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so I went for it.

The room was very simple, without any overpowering aromatherapy common in some spas. I lay down and awaited the bliss to come, and I was not disappointed. This was my first time experiencing hot stones used in massage, and Steve used them as if they were extensions of his hands. Steve’s experience

and strength put me at ease and I was jelly within 20 minutes. I like a massage therapist who reads me: talk or no talk, more feet when I give the telltale groan of pleasure, and special attention to that one kink under my left shoulder blade from an old whiplash injury. I felt that Steve knew me like a 13-year-old girl knows every page of her Judy Blume novel.

However, I would have to say that the best part of my Bellagio spa experience was the whirlpool area after my massage. My friend and I met up there and tested the waters. There are three hot whirlpool baths and one very cold tub. We traveled between the hot tubs and the eucalyptus steam room. We even gingerly tested the cold tub to refresh ourselves for a third go at the steam room. This is what it must have been like at the Roman baths for hundreds of years – all kinds of women coming together, in any state of dress or undress, to talk and revel in the seclusion. I spoke at length about the cultural and architectural resurgence of New Orleans with a woman who was from a parish devastated by Hurricane Katrina. I learned about the best airline to take the next time I made the trek to Las Vegas. My favorite conversation was with a woman from Michigan who had tried most of the treatments offered by the spa and described each in detail. I know it is secondhand, but I

Follow your Bliss at Bellagio Spa or Treasure Island’s WetBy Megan Sullivan

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have to recommend the Vichy Shower treatments. At first, the idea of lying on a table in a private room and having someone exfoliate my skin with sea salts hit my shy Irish Catholic gene, but after hearing her tell it, checking out the room, and watching someone emerge aglow, it’s on my to-do list for my next visit. And there will most definitely be a next visit – as long as my luck at craps turns around.

God must have been watching me trying to practice patience at home with my 1- and 4-year-olds and decided I needed the best day ever because good karma is the only reason I can give for the opportunity I received to review Wet, the spa at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. While I had enjoyed a morning of sheer bliss at the Bellagio and was convinced that I was ruined for all other spas, my experience at Wet was completely different and equally blissful.

I requested the Wet Signature massage now that I was a convert to the healing power of hot stones. I reveled in the warm oil scalp massage by Noah; there the aromatherapy hit the spot (probably because I was able to pick a scent I loved). However, the best part had to be the paraffin foot treatment (people just don’t rub my feet enough in day-to-day life).

After the massage I was shown to a smaller steam room and whirlpool area that was completely empty. I thoroughly enjoyed the solitude and reflected on my immense fortune to have had the most pampered, luxurious day possible. Then my thoughts turned to plotting how to convince my husband that this experience would be the perfect birthday present for future years, since my craps skills don’t seem to promise me another day like this.

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SPAS


ASereneRetreatForHealth and Beauty

D r. Andrew Jacono has introduced a new state-of-the-art medical day spa and surgery center in Great Neck, NY called J Spa Medical Day Spa. The unique establishment reaches far beyond

other medi-day spas, providing a luxurious environment that is designed as a day spa but with the cutting-edge medical services of a hospital. The beauty behind the design is the spa philosophy created by Dr. Jacono. He focuses on a mind-body connection in all his treatments and furthers that connection with massage techniques and a calming atmosphere.

Dr. Jacono is highly regarded as one of Long Island’s top facial and reconstructive plastic surgeons. He has taken his expertise in the field of beauty and, by applying the science and use of homeopathy, created a spa experience that integrates the science of beauty. The spa’s luxurious leather chairs, soothing artwork and customized music flowing through the private rooms are a comfort to every client.

There are two divisions to the J Spa, the surgical suites and the non-surgical spa rooms. The surgical suites are set up with state-of-the-art hospital-code operating rooms playing

satellite/iPod music to soothe the client’s surgical experience. In addition, there are post-op recovery bays offering comfortable beds, privacy and flat screen TVs, amenities that help patients rest and recoup. In the spa division, there are all the amenities of a day spa: locker rooms, robes, herbal teas, classical music and healthy snacks. Each non-surgical procedure culminates with an aromatherapy massage. Included in the pre- and post-treatment plan are Dr. Jacono’s signature J Pak Systems, a homeopathic regimen that nourishes the body before and after any aesthetic procedure.

Dr. Jacono explains, “When individuals are more comfortable, their vital signs are more balanced.” This spa philosophy of comfort benefits the patient because when one is at ease, the procedures go more smoothly and the recovery time is shortened. Offering numerous and varied surgical, non-surgical and homeopathic treatments in a private, comforting environment, J Spa is the quintessential rejuvenating retreat.

For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.jspamedspa.com or call 516-773-2424.

By Sasha Wallace

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Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Face Lifts

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440 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, New York 11021

(516) 773-4646

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990 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10021

(212) 570-2500

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Read Dr. Jacono’s BookFace the Facts:The Truth About Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures That Do and Don’t Work

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Dr. Jacono’s Tips for Great SkinHome Regimen for Glowing Skin

• Sun protection is a must. Protect your skin with SPF of at least 25 all year long.

• Increase cell turnover. Look for products that are vitamin- A enriched, and products that contain retinol or retinaldehyde.

• Exfoliate weekly. Use an at-home microdermabrasion kit to improve the texture and color of your skin.

• Keep your skincare regimen going overnight. Use anti- aging creams with antioxidants to even skin tone, increase firmness, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and brighten the skin.

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HEALTH

92

By Dr. Suzanne SteinbaumHealth Watch

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is the director of Woman and Heart Disease

at the Heart and Vascular Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York

Controlling Our Fate and Our Destiny in Continuing Uncertain Times

In these insecure times, we are all reaching for answers, looking for something to grab on to, some sense of certainty. There has been an increase in visits to psychics, tarot card readers, and even health-care practitioners

including cardiologists such as myself. Everyone is looking for security anywhere they can get it.

There is nothing more unsettling to deal with than the unknown, where your sense of uncertainty can drag you into fear and paralysis. For the first time, as a nation, we are all in this same place. Together. Young or old, rich or poor, we all just don’t know what is going to happen.

Recently, a 61-year-old patient came for a visit. She has significant blockages in her arteries and multiple stents, but her pretty face and sophisticated manner give her the aura of being young and optimistic. She looked at me wide-eyed only to tell me that her husband had recently visited a psychic and was told that she had two months to live. She decided to stop her medications and succumb to the psychic’s warning. We reviewed her medical records and discussed her lack of symptoms and her general feeling of wellness. She expressed her fears of suddenly having one of her stents close and I told her that if she stopped her medications, the likelihood was that one of them would. I told her that she did, in fact, have the final say and that she could control her destiny. Her actions were simply enabling the psychic’s prediction to come true, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I often see patients whose family history is riddled with heart disease. Their cholesterol may resemble that of their father, or maybe their mother was taking nitroglycerin for chest pain. These patients sometimes share their family history as if they were reading their autobiography. They seem resigned to what they believe is their destiny, their pre-ordained medical fate. But the

past is not prologue. You can do something about it. It is the one area where you do have control over your future.

We all want to know what is ahead of us. We want a psychic, a doctor or someone to tell us when our time is going to be up and how it is going to happen. We believe we will find some solace in knowing. The truth is, we all make our own destinies, have our own truths and our own paths to follow.

There are certain things we can’t control, but what we can control is our choices and the plans we make for our health, our minds, our bodies and our souls.

These are one’s daily decisions. When we wake up we can choose how to go about making the best of each day that we are given. Forego the psychic; eat a little healthier and a little less. Walk to work, take the stairs, stop and breathe. Make your own future, control your destiny. And, of course, look both ways before crossing the street.

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Cosmetic Surgery TodayBy Stephen T. Greenberg, MD

Dr. Stephen Greenberg is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery. He is the director of New York’s Premier Center for Plastic Surgery with offices in Woodbury and Manhattan. For a complimentary consultation, call 516-364-4200. If you have a question for Dr. Greenberg, e-mail him at

[email protected] or listen to his radio show on Saturday nights at 10 p..m. on WKJY (98.3 FM). Visit www.GreenbergCosmeticSurgery.com

A Youthful Appearancefor the Job Market

F or people older than 45, the likelihood of having difficulty finding a job is the highest in 15 years, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. In fact, job seekers 45 and older spend several

more weeks unemployed than younger competitors. The “older” applicant is often more qualified, but unfortunately may be judged on appearance and not skills.

Given this state of affairs, there has been a huge increase in the numbers of cosmetic procedures that are being performed on those people (both men and women) who are job hunting.

Surgical and non-surgical procedures can make you look substantially younger, potentially opening the door to many opportunities that might have otherwise gone to younger applicants.

The non-surgical procedures include such things as micro-dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser peels, Botox and other new injectables. Other laser procedures such as Refirme, Trinity and Thermage can help to tighten and rejuvenate the face without

invasive procedures. Many techniques can give that “quick” lunchtime lift and have patients back to work in only minutes looking refreshed and younger!

The hottest surgical techniques to make you look younger include eyelid lifts, facelifts, deeper laser resurfacing and rhinoplasty. The eyelid lift only takes about an hour and can give a very youthful appearance to both upper and lower lids. After an eyelid lift, patients can go back to work in about five days with minimal discomfort and swelling. A facelift, whether it is a mini, lower or full lift can take years off facial appearance

and is a great way to pull up the excessive skin, rejuvenate the neck and lift the jowls. The downtime with a facelift is one to two weeks. Mini or modified facelifts are often performed on much younger patients before the signs of aging are advanced. Overall, the natural look is of utmost importance. Laser resurfacing procedures and rhinoplasty can often be combined to complete a full facial rejuvenation.

One of the most important things to consider in facial rejuvenation is to combine a good skin care regimen with any facial rejuvenation procedure. Cosmetic Surgeon in a Jar is a skincare product line specifically designed to reduce the signs of aging. This

revolutionary line is enriched with antioxidants, peptides and many other ingredients to get rid of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. The comprehensive skincare program can take years off your facial appearance in just a few weeks.

Overall, all of us want to reduce the signs of aging, whether it is for a job search or just to regain the youthful appearance. There are many techniques that can be performed to turn back the hands of time.

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Health

Fitness CornerBy Pam Polestino

Fitness Professional646.261.3350

E xercising regularly is part of living a healthy lifestyle. Many people tend to over-train prior to vacationing so that they look and feel their best before putting on a bathing suit. One of the best ways to keep your

lifestyle of exercising while on vacation is to keep your program going strong so that you stay in the game.

Avid exercisers know that if they take several days off they may notice a drop in energy levels and a feeling of fatigue. I know firsthand if I don't get a great sweat-and-burn, the day is not going to be as fabulous.

Before I choose a hotel or resort I always research their fitness facility. Even if the resort claims to be renovated, I still like to see pictures or tours online so that I have I have a vision to look forward to. There is nothing more amazing than having a gym as glamorous as the resort itself.

Changing your routine on vacation can be a great

advantage to your becoming more responsive to exercise. Trying new machines, exercises, activities or practices are a great benefit. Yoga is something I add when I travel because the experience of sunset yoga on the beach is incredible. If you feel like you do not want to see weights and cardio equipment for a few days, use the lap pool, tennis courts or go kayaking and make it a 30-minute program for that day.

Most spa-oriented resorts can offer you the services of personal training and private aerobic or Pilates classes. This may be a new experience for you or a great fill-in for your trainer at home.

One of my favorite places to travel is the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. This hotel is ultra glamorous and the gym makes me want to work out. I love the view of the ocean while on the treadmill. After I train, I can step outside for poolside yoga. After an intense workout, the spa is one door away and the friendly experienced technicians are waiting for you! To shake up my workout, I also speed walk to Worth Avenue to cardio shop and then jog back to the hotel. What could be better?

An excellent choice for the fitness enthusiast to vacation is the Miravel Spa in Tucson, Arizona. Voted the No. 1 spa year after year, it is a one-of-a-kind experience. It has a world-class spa and fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment. Whether you want to practice yoga or Pilates, rock climb, horseback ride, swim or take a fitness class – it's all here. You can feel the serenity while viewing the photographs online – take a look.

Another alternative for working out while traveling is to bring resistance tubing and bands in your suitcase. The workout from tubing and bands can be unbelievable. If you are not familiar with these, there is a video called the SPRI Exercise Guide that can teach you the basics. They can be the ultimate workout accessories if the gym is not an option while you are on vacation.

Plan your workouts in advance and stay focused on how great you will feel when you are finished. Enjoy your workout and your vacations!

Getting Away but Staying With the Program

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Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D., with offices in Manhattan and Greenvale LI is a pioneer in state-of-the-art cosmetic dermatology, lasers and Mohs surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. A clinical professor of dermatology at New York

University Medical Center and vice president of The Skin Cancer Foundation, Dr. Sarnoff has demonstrated her procedures on The Today Show, 20/20, Good Morning America, Dateline and The View. Dr. Sarnoff is co-author of Beauty and the

Beam and Instant Beauty: Getting Gorgeous on Your Lunch Break. For additional information, call 516-484-9000 or visit www.cosmetiqueMD.com


By Dr. SarnoffSkin Deep

O ver the past several years, the use of injectable products to temporarily eliminate wrinkles and restore fullness to the skin has increased exponentially, due to sun damage, heredity

and age contributing to frown lines and wrinkles. Injectable fillers, with or without concurrent Botox® or laser resurfacing, are the perfect way for women and men to enhance their facial appearance quickly, safely, and cost-effectively, without having to “go under the knife.”

In the skilled hands of an experienced board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, a variety of hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Restylane® and Juvéderm®, can be used to temporarily diminish wrinkles and return a more youthful appearance by binding to water in the skin and replacing lost volume. Radiesse®, a gel composed of calcium-based microspheres, works by stimulating the growth of new collagen as microspheres break down and are absorbed by the body. With any of the above treatments, be sure to allow for a few days of possible swelling and bruising (easily covered with makeup).

The injection of collagen itself, however, is widely considered the gold standard for wrinkle-reduction and volume replacement in the aging face. Collagen comprises up to 80 percent of the skin and helps maintain its strength and structure. Collagen naturally breaks down with age and exposure to UV radiation from the sun, contributing to the appearance of wrinkles, lines and folds. The first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved injectable filling agent, bovine (cow-derived) collagen, was approved over 25 years ago, and since then several other collagen products have appeared on the market. Many of these require a skin pre-test to check for an allergic reaction, and results are often not long lasting.

In June 2008, collagen-based fillers

took a giant step forward with the FDA approval of Evolence®, a porcine (pork-derived) collagen product, which I find to be particularly effective in achieving a beautiful, youthful appearance after a single treatment when injected into moderate-to-deep facial wrinkles and folds.

While new to the U.S., Evolence® has been available in Canadian, European, Israeli and Russian markets since 2004. The collagen used in Evolence® is the most genetically similar to human collagen and has been used safely and effectively for decades in various medical applications, including heart valves and lens implants.

No pre-test is needed, and its structural technology delivers a longer-lasting durability than previous collagen fillers – up to 12 months. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, the collagen structure of Evolence results in very minimal bruising and swelling.

Evolence® and other types of modern injectables can help you look refreshed, younger and healthier. If you are considering a treatment with any injectable product, be sure that it is administered by an experienced, board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Fillers Evolve ... With Evolence®

Before 12 hours after

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Music

E veryone tells you how great parenting is. When you are expecting a baby, strangers offer car salesman-style stump speeches in public places about how their kids are “the greatest thing to

ever happen.” They are right….kinda. As a father of two small children, I can agree about the fulfilling part. But I can also take issue in their sins of omission with respect to certain details such as the fatigue, loss of your independence, your house always looking and feeling like 25 hand grenades just exploded and the constant noise…oh, god, the noise! What people almost never mention is how kids’ music is going to drive you absolutely bat crazy. You find yourself in this dilemma frequently – their favorite TV program may be the only thing that calms down the tiny tyrants, but if you have to listen to that damn Lazy Town theme song one more time, it’s off to the workhouse with them! Well, not really, but Dickens does takes on a new relevance to parents of toddlers. The

Strange Kidz, a new children’s entertainment extravaganza is the aging rocker parent’s saving grace – and secretly…shh…it’s for us!

Created and composed by producer/songwriter Patrick Shaw, the Strange Kidz have firmly established themselves as the defining sound of “Kindie Rock.” This relatively new genre is borne out of the mega-commercial pseudo-kids’ acts such as Ralphie and Laurie Berkner who play heavier than Barney, but still keep a Fisher Price veneer. The Strange Kidz gobbles up these acts with a sophisticated arrangement so cool that I listened to the album six times before even showing it to my 4-year-old. What the Strange Kidz and other kindie rock pioneers, such as Mr. Ray, have long known is that children have an enormous capacity to consume, understand and enjoy complicated music. These artists never write down to the kids – they simply give them music and invite them to be included. Parents, take note – you are about to get really

By Tim Sullivan

for Adults Will Find You Secretly Bopping on Your child’s iPod

Kid’s Music

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excited about rock music again.“This ain't your ‘Raffi /Wheels on the bus go round and

round’ type of kids’ music,” says Shaw as he takes me through the recording while we are seated at a gargantuan mixing console in Tainted Blue Studios in Times Square. “We're a new band in the growing Kindie Rock scene,” he explains.

And that “new band” is exactly that – a six-piece rock band of all-star musical virtuosos complete with lead guitar and thundering drums. The Strange Kidz members are all accomplished musicians long familiar to the New York City rock scene. Each has years of writing and performance experience behind them, none of which is lost in the intensity of this record. Patrick describes the Strange Kidz as a super-powered orphan rock band that solves crazy mysteries and battles evil villains.

“We are a band,” Shaw explains further. “We formed as a band, we wrote a record as a band and we have built a show and world as a band. While I have always planned to do a kids’ record at some point, there is really nothing on this record that we wouldn’t do for an adult audience. It was just a matter of allowing ourselves to be a little silly…maybe a lot silly.”

And the “a lot silly” to which Shaw refers are songs about robots, forgetful girls and bananas. The band he speaks of refers to itself as an “orphan band.” But silly can also mean cool – the type of cool that can quickly garner a huge cult following. The archetype of whacked-out cult rock, They Might Be Giants, are exactly that type of smart, zany and musically intricate artists to whom Shaw points as an infl uence and as role models. The Kidz’s plans for an off -Broadway show and tour are well under way, and they are already a well-known off beat act on the New York scene. The Strange Kidz will continue to do both, says Shaw – bring their stage show to a children’s party or just off er an evening of odd entertainment for grownups who played a lot

of Pac Man and were in the Dungeons and Dragons club in high school.

In concert, the Strange Kidz do either an interactive rock show or a more involved scripted mini-musical full of hilarious props, multimedia, jokes for children and their parents, and a ton of music. The type of show they perform depends largely on the performance space, with shows running anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

In addition to the stage show and off -Broadway show, Strange Kidz off ers a comic book series as well – classic fairy tale themes teach life lessons in a large format that kids can color on, too. With all of these elements making up the Strange Kidz world, they have created a parallel universe a lot less polished than the Wiggles but a hell of a lot more interesting and fun.

And so as I sit writing this article and blast “Robotland” and “Time Machine,” I have a strange epiphany that seems to alleviate that “Holy S#@%, I am too old to rock” feeling and I realize that just because you answer to the title of Dad doesn’t mean that you have to turn down your guitar volume. You can keep playing and enjoying that essential music which remains the only place where you feel understood – better yet, you can groove right along with your kids and watch their joy of discovery under loud drums and ripping guitar solos.

“We are expanding the genre of Kindie Rock beyond the folksy singer-songwriter sound,” observes Shaw pensively. “And we get to practice animal noises a lot.”

Do not miss Strange Kidz if you have the opportunity to see the show! To check out or buy their record, go to myspace.com/kidzalbum or www.sonicbirds.com/thestrangekidz.

Strange Kidz music is available at iTunes, cdbaby.com/cd/strangekidz and

www.strangekidz.com

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Detail of Gray Painting

A Driven Artist… New Paintings by Ellen Hallie Schiff

By Lillian Litvack


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I knew a little bit about Ellen Hallie Schiff and her work as a student of Steve Lampasona’s art class at Nassau County Museum of Art. The powerful sensuality

of Ellen’s oversized canvases struck me in a way I immediately connected to, so I was excited to attend her show at the South Huntington Library. The open, sunlit space was ideal for the strikingly vivid art.

Ellen’s work is not shy – the feminine form and psyche is boldly rendered with strong strokes and vivid colors. Even when the human body is not visually apparent in her paintings, the presence of her physical being is always there. Feminine and masculine are juxtaposed, although it is her female perspective that is dominant. In Ellen’s work, the physical and the emotional are intricately intertwined, impossible to separate. Her canvases are large, 60 x 48, requiring her to utilize her full body when she paints. The results are both powerful and intimate. Her work draws you in because she has no ego: she is completely transparent and fearless, unafraid to strip her emotions to the core. One feels myriad opposing emotions when viewing this artist’s work – fear, frustration, rage, loneliness, disillusionment, searing pain, deep sorrow and ultimately, the extreme joy of being set free. Is the act of creating her art what sets Ellen free or is her art the culmination of the freedom she has achieved as an artist and as importantly, as a woman?

Ellen is blessed with a tall and lanky model’s figure. She is comfortable in her own skin and her physicality is evident when you watch the video of her painting: her ease of movement, her ability to stretch the length of the painting—she makes herself part of the painting by throwing herself into the process … the dripping red paint that every woman understands, the horror of being trapped, ignored, rejected, dismissed and the exhilaration of being reborn. When you look closely, all of the paintings include Ellen in one form or another, sometimes obviously and sometimes deeply under the surface. The colors she utilizes, the oranges and deep blues and reds, are strong and vibrant and raw – her bravery as she literally transfers her emotions to the canvas is inspiring and brought me to tears.

The artist has said of her current exhibition, “The majority of these works, painted during this year, are a series based on one composition that I have found particularly compelling. The series, titled ‘Elemental Id,’ deals with myself in the world.

However, in painting these pictures, I hope that I connect with something universal in others. My wish, in part, is to create an emotional response in the viewer, and the emotion does not need to be the emotions that I experienced while painting. Using the paint to help communicate that which cannot be spoken has become endlessly fascinating and thoroughly addictive. I wish never to be cured.”

In addition to her current exhibition at the South Huntington Library, Ellen’s paintings have been exhibited at various shows over the last 10 years on Long Island and New York with an upcoming show slated for this spring in Laguna Beach. She is the recipient of several Arts Awards and she is a favorite of local and international collectors.

Ellen is every woman, bare and fearless, emerging from the abyss of the fire. You can learn more about Ellen’s work by visiting her website at www.ellenhallieschiff.com. You can also contact the artist at 516-603-1931 or email her at [email protected]. This is an artist to keep your eye on.

Black Figure on Orange


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John StarkS - a three-Point Slam Dunk!By Jason FeinBerg


Sports

100

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I n the final minutes of game two of the 1993 Eastern Conference finals, John Starks took the NY Knicks to a win over Chicago in what would become one of the most memorable dunk-wins in the team’s history.

The undrafted basketball pro is now retired from the NBA and continuing to make history, both as an entrepreneur with Zipway Athletic Clothing, an innovative breakaway clothing line that uses zippers instead of the customary snaps, and as a philanthropist with the John Starks Foundation.

The Foundation provides academic scholarships through the Three-Point Scholarship Program to high school seniors that show exemplary academic achievement, a commitment to community service and a financial need and are from Tulsa, John’s hometown, and the New York Tri-state area. In addition to scholarships, the Foundation also provides community programs focused on furthering the educational, recreational and career development of children and their families.

John recently held the Key a Day for 30 Days event sponsored by Rallye Lexus of Glen Cove, a regular supporter of the Foundation’s golf outings since 1999. “It’s important to support causes like this, especially in hard economic times,” says General Sales Manager John Tetta, who was instrumental in organizing the event. “Throughout the years, we have supported about 5,000 children.” Says Starks, “I can’t thank Ralley enough, as well as the people from the community, for all their support.”

One of John’s fondest memories comes from his experience with a young girl in Tulsa who was having problems at home and was in need of a scholarship. “While I was playing with the Utah Jazz, a young woman came up to me and said, ‘You probably don’t remember me.’ She looked familiar. She said, ‘I was the recipient of your scholarship; I just wanted to thank you and I’m now graduating from college.’ That says it all, to see how you affect young people’s lives. It’s paying off.” The winner of the $500 a ticket event walked away with a brand new Lexus IS 250 AWD 2-year lease, courtesy of the dealership, and raised $15,000

for John’s charity. John will be hosting his Casino Night at the Marriot in New

York City on March 14 and his annual celebrity classic golf outing on Sept.8. For information on helping to support the John Starks Foundation, visit www.johnstarks.com.


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By Ilena Ryan


Business

N icole Petallides is hopeful for the new year. As the New York Stock Exchange anchor for the FOX Business Network, Petallides is well aware of the economic pitfalls of 2008. From the

beginnings of panic with Fannie and Freddie to the $50 billion loss associated with Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, consumers rely on reporters such as Petallides to deliver the news—difficult as it might be— to them. While it’s a hard job, which has recently become even harder, Petallides couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Petallides grew up in Great Neck, NY, and is a self-described “Long Island Girl.” She says, “I love Long Island. I grew up there, I’m always there, I go there every weekend, from the vineyards to the beaches to the recreation. There’s so much to do there.” It was in the place she loves that she interned with Cablevision’s News 12 after her junior year in college, cultivating her passion for television and the news. “It’s so exciting,” she says, “I love when they’re in my ear and they say ‘30 seconds!’ and news is breaking and I can deliver it as it happens. I hope to connect with the viewer. I enjoy what I do a lot. I love it!”

Able to thrive in a high-pressure environment, Petallides has been working inside the NYSE for more than 10 years and has spent that time establishing connections and learning when to follow the story. “I’ll be standing here and I’ll hear, ‘Nicole, I’m hearing this…’ and throughout the day they’re handing me papers. It’s one thing to sit behind a desk in an office; it’s another to sit here on the trading floor.” The connections she’s made

include high-profile investors who are constantly on the phone with Europe, Japan, and other global markets. She says she loves the ever-changing environment, and that she is constantly learning.

Recently, however, Petallides has been learning the not-so-positive aspects of the economy. Though it’s been difficult as a business reporter, Petallides knows how to handle it, and maintains a positive attitude while sympathizing with her viewers and the general consumer population. While she says it’s always easier to report good news than bad news, “I tread carefully and I try to be empathetic because as a business reporter, everyone tells me their stories of loss and it really is tough. I mean, I sometimes can’t sleep at night.”

In her efforts to remain optimistic and recognize the resilience of the market, Petallides understands consumer resentment, but she encourages patience and says that the second half of 2009 will probably be when the public starts to see improvements. But she also sees this time as an opportunity. “Dare to take a chance now. There are great buying opportunities. Dip your toe into the market – not your whole foot – your toe. Do your research. I think [that] long term, if you’re buying at these levels, you won’t go wrong,” she advises.

The key point is: Do your research. Petallides explains that disastrous and sometimes unpredictable situations such as the Bernie Madoff scheme are completely unprecedented, and the way to avoid such a thing in the future is to “do your homework.” “Madoff himself was on a ‘trust me’ sort of basis,” she says. “He

Nicole Petallides: Looking Forward in 2009

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would tell people ‘just trust me.’ In an effort to avoid such a situation happening again with your own investments, you really have to do your homework, research bigger firms.”

Petallides notes that a major problem has become the investors’ lack of confidence in the market, and the news about Madoff only added to that concern. “People are worried for so many reasons, and it just makes it worse for the confidence of someone who was thinking about investing again. It increases the nervousness and jitters that people have,” she says, emphasizing that Madoff represented a “very unusual circumstance.”

In this post-holiday season, consumers can expect to see a few things, according to Petallides. Her contacts in the market are talking of a bottom for housing before summer, when things will start to turn around. As far as trading, there’s been talk of a sideways market, she says. “Sideways to up, not sideways to down. I think people think that the government has been very productive in turning it around.”

Petallides says that consumers can learn from what the big companies are doing. “They’re hitting the treadmill,” she says, and producing a “lean and mean” environment. Consumers

should follow suit. “Try and be lean and mean just like these companies. I think that Americans and America are strong entities, and I think that everyone everywhere has tightened their belts, and it’s a better way to live. Companies that were leveraged, people that were living beyond their means … that’s not the best way to live. In some ways this has helped a lot of people get their ducks in a row,” she says.

Petallides suggests if you have an extra small amount of cash (as little as $10 to $50), you should buy a share of stock and “take a chance. If you have a favorite store, favorite food, favorite something – if you love it, chances are others love it, too. Buy some stock!”

For those still reeling from the economic events of 2008, Petallides reminds us that everything is cyclical, and stresses that people’s worst fears about the economy are not going to come true. But we can all take away something from what we’ve seen. With everyone tightening and trimming, we’re learning how to spend more wisely. Hopeful for a turnaround in the second half of 2009, she remains optimistic. “We’re at the end of it now,” Petallides says. “It’s a cycle and you have to wait, be patient, and think long term.


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Cover 003 PMCAd.indd 1 2/2/09 10:47:41 AM

NO MORE HIDING PLACES

NO MORE WORRIES WHEN

WORKERS ARE IN YOUR HOME

NO MORE INCONVENIENT TRIPS

TO THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

6 EAST 39TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10016 212.684.2255 www.empiresafe.comIMMEDIATE DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION THROUGHOUT THE USA

©2008 Empire Safe Company, Inc.

The world’s finest jewelers rely on usto protect their valuable collections.

You can too.SM

Since 1904 we have supplied safes and vault rooms to the jewelryindustry, from Fifth Avenue to Rodeo Drive. This wealth ofexperience has enabled us to design a complete selection of burglaryprotection safes specifically for apartments and private homes.All shapes and sizes. All levels of protection.

Handcrafted interiors are offered in a variety of exotic wood andlacquer finishes. Drawers are fitted with luxuriously covered insertsconfigured to organize jewelry, watches and other valuables.

A high security digital or biometric lock provides instant access toyour valued possessions.

Jewelry Inserts

Adjustable Shelves

Empire Blvd 11/08:Empire Florida Design 8/06 11/26/08 12:15 PM Page 1

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The Boulevard February 2009

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