Author: insidegardencity

5 Simple Steps to Hosting a Bunco Party

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Last week I hosted my very first “Bunco Night.” For those of you who don’t know, bunco is basically the woman’s alternative to poker night- it’s a fast paced dice game. (Actually, it’s really just a thinly-veiled excuse to go out, hang out and chill out.) Right now it’s a hot suburban trend, but it isn’t something new. Bunco has been around for years and it’s a great game that gets everyone involved- if your group actually plays, that is. 


I’d say my first time hosting bunco was a success. It didn’t take much time to plan. Below, I’ve outlined my bunco party planning in 5 simple steps:

1. Invite your group- pick a date about a month in advance and get your email invites out. 
2. Plan your Menu- my group goes with a light dinner menu, others may only do apps. Up to you. 
3. Buy some alcohol- very important.
4. Have a clean house- cleaning woman made a special trip this week : )
5. Buy some more alcohol- can never have too much!

For food, I went with Capo in Floral Park (my go-to for catering and fab panini) and it was a hit. I served an assortment of bruschetta (my fave was the portobello mushroom with walnuts, goat cheese and arugula),  a variety of panini (yes, they’re better than La Bottega), grilled asparagus and a green salad with pears and gorgonzola. Yum. My guests had seconds… and thirds… and some maybe even fourths but I’m not mentioning names… always a good sign! I kept it simple with dessert- fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and strawberries with cream.




Of course, the alcohol was flowing and that always helps at any party. I had plenty of red, white and white zin on hand and also served sangria for something different. I take the fifth on how many bottles were opened, but let’s just say it was a fun night! 

This should be enough to motivate you to try your hand at bunco. If you don’t have a group to join, start one! You only need four people to start (or any number divisible by four), although the traditional number is 12. In some groups… ahem… it doesn’t even matter how many people you have because you may be having too much fun to actually play any bunco! Truth be told, I don’t even own a bunco set ; )






Inside GC Disclaimer: This article is used for informational and entertainment purposes only. Inside GC provides this information to the public and does not condone drinking and driving or excessive alcohol consumption. You must be 21 to consume alcoholic beverages.


The Scoop on the GC Real Estate Market

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Kathy Lucchesi adores her home town of Garden City. Both she and her husband Chuck grew up in town and raised three children here. Her obvious love of Garden City goes hand in hand with her career in real estate. Recently, she partnered up with The Donnelly Group’s Steve Baymack, fellow long-time resident and die-hard GC fan. Seeing as Kathy is a true GC Insider, I thought it would be fitting for her to guest blog today and provide us with the inside scoop on the current GC real estate market. 


Hello all! We are very pleased to be offered an opportunity to contribute to “Inside Garden City” where we can chat about all things Real Estate in Garden City. Lots of excitement surrounds the Garden City real estate market right now!

First of all, the inventory of homes in Garden City is currently at a historical low. This is wonderful news for sellers. Low inventory means more buyers fighting for your home. Sellers should know that if you are considering selling your home, seriously consider it right now. 

The market is better than ever with buyers looking to take advantage of low interest rates. We have many serious pre-qualified clients looking to buy in every area of Garden City.  Houses have been selling in record speed, and with multiple offers at very close to asking price and many times actually over the asking price. With the Spring market right around the corner, we have buyers popping up every day looking for homes in all different price ranges in town.

We would be thrilled to offer a complimentary, confidential meeting to discuss the current value of your home or to speak with you about any questions or concerns you may have in regard to your home. Please pass this offer on to any friends, family members or neighbors who you feel we could be of assistance to in any way at all.

Thanks everybody!
Best regards,
 Kathy Lucchesi, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
The Donnelly Group
516-741-4333
KathyL@TheDonnellyGroup.com

  

Steve Baymack, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 
The Donnelly Group



Please visit http://www.InsideGardenCity.com and like us on Facebook. 

IGC Weekend Events Guide March 21st Edition

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Our weekend events guide is up and ready! Check out the guide below to see what’s happening in and around GC:

1. Book Sale at the GC Public Library. Saturday, 3/22 from 9:30am-4:00pm. Fiction and non-fiction books available. Hard cover 25 cents, soft cover 10 cents. Can’t find bargains like that anywhere these days! Proceeds benefit the GCPL.

2. Live music at Leo’s. “His Boy Elroy” will be playing on Saturday, 3/22 at 9:30pm. 7th St., Garden City. 

3. Mussel Mania at Waterzooi. Sunday, 3/23. 3 course lunch or dinner for $21.95. Franklin Ave, Garden City.


4. WNET Thirteen and WLIW 21 present Family Day at Nassau Coliseum. Sunday, 3/23 starting at 11:30am. Come and meet Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat, Sid the Science Kid, Wordgirl, Buddy from Dinosaur Train and Daniel Tiger. Islanders vs. BlueJackets play at 1pm. Hempstead. 

5. MommaCon is holding their biggest event of the year. Here’s a sample of what you’ll see and do: Tiger Schulmann martial arts demo class, CrossFit class for kids, petting zoo, obstacle course, crafting fun, fastest lacrosse shot contest, Music for Aardvarks, Bricks 4 Kids, Music Together, acting and improv classes for kids, parenting tips, Bach to Rock, etc… Over 125 exhibitors will be in  one place to to show you everything kid and parent related in our area. Plus prizes and giveaways. $5 admission. http://www.mommacon.com Sunday, 3/23 from 10am-4pm. LIU Post, Brookville. 

6. LI Children’s Museum presents Messy Afternoons. Saturday and Sunday from 3:30-5pm, Age: 18 months to 4 years. 11 Davis Ave, Garden City. 

7. See a funky organ and drum duo from Oklahoma City called Sugar Free Allstars at the LI Children’s Museum. 11:30am and 2:00pm. 11 Davis Ave. Garden City.

And for Monday…

8. Feng Shui expert and owner of Feng Shui Manhattan, Laura Cerrano, begins her Feng Shui instructional course, Feng Shui for the Body, Mind and Spirit. This series starts on Monday, 3/24 in RVC. $50. Here’s the link to register and for more information: http://fengshuimanhattan.com/feng-shui-long-island-class/


Visit us at http://www.InsideGardenCity.com and Facebook at Inside Garden City. 

NYC Delight

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Spring has officially sprung! When the temperatures are more mild, I venture into NYC pretty often for my city-fix.

This Spring, why don’t you take advantage of Garden City’s close proximity to NYC and treat yourself to one of the city’s best kept secrets: Daniel. Hair.

Those two words sum it up. They’re all you need to know to find Daniel, NYC’s hidden gem. He runs a one-man hair nirvana of sorts and has a very loyal following. He has his own space and works autonomously, from start to finish. I should mention that he is no-frills. Hate to disappoint, but there won’t be any cappuccino served while you’re there. No mineral water with lemons. No massages, no manis or pedis. No pushing products. He does without all of the pomp and circumstance and I appreciate that. I just care about the talent and he is it. He is All. About. The Hair.

In the past, after every haircut, I usually haaated the way it looked and went home immediately to wash and style it myself. But with Daniel, I always love it right off the bat.

So ladies (and gentlemen), if you’ve thought about brightening things up this spring and want to change your hair color, he’s your guy. If you’re unhappy with your last coloring, he can do the rehab. I myself have never colored yet, so I can’t rave about his coloring skills from personal experience but I know friends who say it’s fab. And if you’re just thinking about freshening things up with a new cut, he’s the one.

It doesn’t hurt that Daniel (who is one of the nicest people I know) regularly works on Broadway shows. Occasionally, he’ll provide you with a bit of Hollywood-star gossip. That’s always fun. Like the time when Jack Bauer begged him for a haircut. But I’ll let him tell you that story…

You may wonder why I’m sharing this secret with you. Plus, it’s not “Inside Garden City.” Frankly, it’s simply because when I know a good thing, I like to share it, even if it seems geographically incompatible. I know I may be shooting myself in the foot by making it more difficult to get an appointment for myself, but that’s okay. I’ll deal. If you think it’s too far of a schlep… think again.

If you want an appointment, don’t call the salon’s receptionist. There isn’t one. Simply search http://www.schedulicity.com for Daniel. Hair.

You’re welcome ; )

March Madness- The Search {For The Final Four of GC Pizza} Continues

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Let’s put aside all the madness about college hoops for a minute. It’s time to get a proper pizza bracket going.

Those of you who’ve read my pizza posts know that I’ve been on the hunt for the best pizza in or near Garden City since I moved here. If you order pizza as often as I do (once a week), you start to become a little discriminating. There are some legendary spots of course- John’s of Greenwich Village, Patsy’s in East Harlem, Grimaldi’s under the Brooklyn Bridge, Lombardi’s in Little Italy and it would be a sacrilege if I didn’t go back to my roots and give a shout to Crosby’s in the Bronx- all of which various people would argue serve the perfect pizza. Not to mention, every pizza place on any random corner in Hoboken is pretty fab. Therefore, my tastebuds are a bit spoiled when it comes to pizza. Hence, my GC final four pizza search…

Seeing as it’s the weekend, you might be feeling a little bit lazy (I know I am), and possibly even making an imprint on your couch as I type. This is called “delivery time.” Moving from urban to suburban, I was very happy to see that there are plenty of food delivery options in GC. Actually, “Is there food delivery?” was one of the first questions I asked my realtor when we began our house search. If you’re like me, there are a few go-to delivery options that you continue to come back to time and again. Pizza is one of those staples for me. I order this on the reg.

This time, I followed the recommendation of a friend and tried Bella Rosa pizza on Jericho Turnpike in Garden City Park. This friend is a Brooklyn native, so I take her pizza suggestions very seriously. This picture does all the justice:

The pizza was a relatively thin, crispy pie- which is good in my book. Not too dough-y. Sauce was a touch on the sweet side- also a positive for me. Nice ratio of cheese to sauce. Friendly service and prompt delivery. If I had to criticize, I’d say the crust was a little bland, but overall Bella Rosa delivers a solid pie. Would I put it above Umberto’s (the GC majority’s favorite from my informal surveys)? Probably not. But it’s definitely good and does have a shot to end up in my Final Four.

Who’s in yours?

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St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Events Guide

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Lots of great events going on in and around GC this weekend such as all-day bashes, live entertainment and food specials. Check them out below in the St. Patrick’s Day weekend events guide. At 57 degrees on Saturday, be sure to do something outside (even if it’s just walking from one bar or restaurant to another)! 

Stop at Doc O’Grady’s in Garden City South for live music at 9pm on Friday. If you (and your waistband) are up for it, they’ll be serving traditional Irish breakfast at noon on Sat, Sun & Mon. Think bacon… ham… sausage… etc. On the big day~ St Patrick’s Day~ don’t miss the Irish sing-a-long at 3pm and live Irish band from 6-9pm.  
BK Sweeney’s Uptown Grille on Franklin Ave is bringing you some fun events for St Patrick’s Day this weekend. Fueled by corned beef and cabbage, you may want a break from Irish music by Saturday night. If so, come over for some live classic rock (while enjoying a Guinness, Harp or Smithwick’s) by Mike Tessler at 10pm. On Monday they’ll have beer specials all day/night, bag pipers, some heavy green decor and employees decked out in their finest Irish costumes!  Try a Sweeney’s “Famous” Irish coffee which I’ve heard is quite tasty.  

 

Head over to Jack Walsh’s Irish Pub on Saturday at 3pm for their pre-St Patrick’s Day bash. They’re serving up corned beef and cabbage, shepard pie, bagpipers and dancers. The St Patrick’s Day feast on Monday begins at 4pm. 108 Covert Ave in Stewart Manor.  

Leo’s will be in the spirit with live music on Monday, St. Patrick’s Day, starting at 5:30pm.
On Sunday from 11am-6pm come out to Hofstra’s Annual Irish Experience Festival. Celebrate with live music, Irish dancing, authentic Irish food and lots of vendors. Mack Sports Complex. 

 

Don’t feel much like going out? You can still celebrate by stopping at Town Meat Market on 7th Street to pick up a delicious cooked corned beef dinner- complete with cabbage, potatoes and carrots. Now that’s Irish!   

If you’re ready for a little non-Irish entertainment, check out the Ruth Harley Gallery at Adelphi University for the “Outdoor Sculpture Biennial” featuring 10 sculptors. Now through May 31. Mondays-Fridays, 11-7; Saturdays & Sundays, 11-5. 

What will you be doing this weekend? 

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Disclaimer: This article is used for information only. InsideGardenCity.com provides this information to the public and it does not condone drinking and driving or excessive alcohol consumption. You must be 21 to consume alcoholic beverages.

Dear GC, The Holidays Are Over…

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Dear Garden City,

The Holidays are over… Decor down, please.

Well, that about says it all. Really folks, it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day and out-of-season decor is still hanging on many of the homes in GC. Here’s a sampling of decorations I’ve seen just in the last week:












A random Valentine’s Day heart here and there is excusable, but holiday wreaths and lights are pushing it. The frigid weather and temperatures may have dissuaded you from taking down the lights, but it surely doesn’t explain why some people are still turning them on! The cold weather was a valid excuse for a while, I’ll grant you that, but not anymore…

If you’re still not ready to turn the page on the Holidays and move on, here are some other clear signs that spring has sprung:

  • Pitchers and catchers have reported to Florida almost a month ago, 
  • The groundhog saw his shadow way back in early February, 
  • The (slightly-less-than-exciting) winter Olympics have come to a close, 
  • All but the largest piles of snow have melted away, 
  • Azaleas are blooming down in Augusta in preparation for the Masters,
  • NCAA basketball tournament season is here
  • and my favorite… people are walking and jogging all over town without parkas and earmuffs!

I know it was a long and annoying winter, but let’s try and move on. Please get all of the winter anti-depressants… oops… I mean decorations, back up in the attic where they belong. It was 52 degrees on Saturday. It’s time people!


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Quit The Pizza Habit This Lent

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For as long as I can remember, pizza has been the go-to dinner for my family on Friday nights during Lent. But this year, I need a break from pizza Fridays and will try to think outside the pizza box.

Don’t get me wrong, all of you regular readers know that I’m a huge pizza fan and that hasn’t changed. But this Lenten season, I’m ready to expand my meatless dinner options. For instance, I’m going to take full advantage of the meatless menu that Capo Ristorante in Floral Park has created for Lent this year. See below and try to pick just one:

   

Prince Edward Island mussels with tomato and roasted garlic sauce

Roasted brussels sprouts with shallots, parmesan and truffle oil

Lump crab meat with avocado, spinach and butternut squash

Ravioli with fontina cheese and eggplant with a spicy tomato sauce
          
Old fashion grilled pizza with our fresh mozzarella & cherry tomato

Penne with butternut squash, eggplant & spinach in tomato sauce

Grilled whole Bronzino bone out, wine marinade, risotto and spinach

Sautéed clams w/ garlic, oil, white wine & cherry tomato w/ linguini

Other meatless and easy recipes I’ve made and will make more often this Lent- vegetarian chili, lentil soup with carrots and celery, parmesan crusted tilapia. So many delicious options out there that are meatless and (almost) just as easy as ordering a pizza.

Another option if you want to cook at home is zucchini pie. My mother would sometimes bake this on Lenten Fridays (when we didn’t order a pizza) and serve it with a big salad. Below is a recipe very similar to the one that she uses. Maybe you’ll try it and tell me some of your Lenten Friday dishes. Happy Lent!

My Happy {Sunday Morning} Place

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It’s hard to resist purchasing more than what you came in for when you walk into La Bella Bakery on Covert Avenue in Franklin Square. When the delicious cookie-filled aroma welcomed me as I walked through the door on Sunday morning, I knew I was in for a treat. It’s a great no-frills place to stop in on the weekends and pick up some Italian cookies (I hear the regular chocolate chip cookies are very good too), cakes, pastry and the like…

Today the staff of La Bella tipped me off to their ever-popular donuts, which they say were a huge hit for Super Bowl Sunday this year. Donuts aren’t the first thing that come to mind when I think of Super Bowl Sunday but I’ll have to remember this tip and try it next year. It’s definitely easier for the kids to manage than cupcakes and I know the adults won’t refuse them either. Unfortunately, I got this donut tip after I already ordered my mini cannoli and crumb cake- both of which are deeelish, especially the crumb cake. It may very well be the best crumb cake I’ve yet to sample. The cannoli were filled on the spot, of course. No soggy shells here.


The woman behind the counter couldn’t stop raving about the jelly donuts in particular. She said they could turn a jelly donut hater into a jelly donut lover. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ve ever really experienced a good jelly donut, which is probably why I’ve never been a fan. But there’s no good reason why a good jelly donut should be so hard to find- it’s just fruit in a donut, right? So next time I venture in, it will be for the donuts and maybe I’ll be converted. Stay tuned…

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Feng Shui Demystified {by Feng Shui Manhattan}

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I am totally intrigued by Feng Shui. I don’t have much knowledge about it but I’ve always been curious- Can it promise me health? Wealth? Successful relationships? Advance my career? Solve all my problems? Instantly make me a billionaire?? Although I’m pretty sure Feng Shui can’t magically make these things occur in my life, what can it do?

Who better to explain Feng Shui (from the beginning) than Laura Cerrano, founder of Feng Shui Manhattan. Ms. Cerrano has over 14 years of experience as a corporate and residential Feng Shui consultant and is guest blogging today for Inside Garden City. 

“Feng Shui” (fung sh-way), keep that pronunciation in mind and the words will flow out of your mouth with ease.  The literal translation of Feng Shui means Wind and Water, the essence of life and transformation.

Now that we have a bearing on how to pronounce Feng Shui, What is it?  The practice of this ancient art form dates back about 6,000 years. The core principles pull from spiritual teachings taught throughout India, China and Tibet, as to name a few.

In today’s society Feng Shui is commonly known for interior design. This is when you move furniture around and use colors, artwork and the placement of objects to make one feel more at peace and create the best energy flow in your living and working environments; which is true. Yet this will only change 20% of the energy.

The principles of Feng Shui state 80% of authentic change will come from emotional, mental and spiritual transformations that are needed in order to enhance your overall well-being.  Practicing Feng Shui is a lifestyle that teaches you how to be mindful of yourself, each other and your surroundings; understanding that everything is energy and interconnected.  It teaches you that every sub-conscious and conscious thought, spoken word and action will have a reaction.  It’s one of many metaphysical tools that could be used to help navigate through life’s challenging times while creating sparks of motivation and focus.

All that is required from you to start implementing the principles of Feng Shui into your lifestyle is to humbly approach the teachings with an open mind and heart.  A book I always suggest to my clients and those who ask after a lecture or during a casual conversation is “Feng Shui for Dummies.”  Yes, this is a great book for it was co-written by one of my teachers, High Holy Master Professor Lin Yun; who was credited for introducing Feng Shui into America.

Copyright © 2014 by Feng Shui Long Island Inc.

For more Feng Shui tips, see Laura Cerrano’s website at http://fengshuimanhattan.com/laura-cerrano-feng-shui-consultant/ or visit her on Facebook.