Weekend Events Guide: January 23rd Edition

The forecast is calling for snow this weekend, but there are still lots of events happening in and around Garden City. Bundle up and enjoy!

Saturday and Sunday- Head to the Lakeshore Learning Center between 11am and 3pm for a different craft every Saturday. Click here to see what crafts are being made on specific dates. 2709 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park. 516-616-9360. 

Saturday- See Aladdin at the Broadhollow Theatre at Elmont. Show starts at 2pm. Click here for more information. 

Saturday- DJ Paul spins the tunes at Doc O’Grady’s starting at 10pm. Sure to be a good time. 273 Nassau Blvd South. 

Sunday- The Tilles Center showcases the silent but delightful troupe Mummenschanz at 3pm. Join the fun! Ages: 6 and up. Click here for further information. 

Sunday- Head to Adephi University’s Westermann Stage in Concert Hall for a viewing of the film La Cenerentola. 2pm. Tickets are $20 per adult, $15 per senior, $10 alumni, $5 students. Click here for details. 

Sunday- Enjoy the just-opened Healthyville exhibit at the Long Island Children’s Museum. At 2pm make and enjoy a healthy parfait. Ages 3 and up. Cost: $3 with museum admission. 11 Davis Ave., Garden City. 

Sunday- International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Take part in the candle-lighting ceremony and view a special exhibit. Location: The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, 100 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove. Cost: Suggested donation of $10. More information can be found here.

Enjoy the weekend and thank you for your support of http://www.InsideGardenCity.com!

Weekend Events Guide: January 16th Edition

The weekend is here and so is your Weekend Events Guide. Enjoy the extra day!

Friday- See the Islanders play the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nassau Coliseum tonight. Tickets $20 and up. 7pm. 516-794-9300. nassaucoliseum.com

Saturday and Sunday- See Aladdin at the BroadHollow Theatre at Elmont. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Saturday at 2pm, Sunday at 12noon. Cost: $10 in advance, $12 at the door. http://www.broadhollow.org/broadhollow-at-elmont/elmont-childrens-theatre/aladdin-2/


Saturday- Participate in (or just watch) the Flying Model Competition at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City. Free with Museum admission. Teams of three will build a wooden airplane from a museum kit, then enter their plane in three different flying competitions. Prizes will be awarded but you must pre-register to enter. 9am-2pm. https://www.cradleofaviation.org/event/2015/01/17/flying-model-competition

Saturday- Lakeshore Learning will host a free craft for kids. Come anytime between 11am and 3pm to participate. 2079 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park. http://www.lakeshorelearning.com

Sunday- The Long Island Children’s Museum hosts Peaceful Paintings in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Create a colorful canvas painting of doves- the ultimate sign of peace. 2pm at 11 Davis Ave, Garden City.

Sunday- Join in the fun at Family Fun Time at St. Paul’s gym. From 3pm until 5:45, families can enjoy various sports and gym activities. 

Eisenhower Park’s skating rink, Twin Rinks Ice Center, is now open. It’s not as busy as Iceland yet so it’s a good time to head over if you want to check it out. Click here for directions, hours and cost.

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16 Handles- Nicely Handled?

I popped into 16 Handles at 3 Nassau Blvd today. It was my third time there since it opened in the fall of 2014. For those who haven’t yet been, 16 Handles is a self-serve froyo shop with an emphasis on being “green”.



The location is very clean and bright. The bold colors really give it some kick. The staff is friendly and offers tastings of any flavor you’d like to try before committing to it with a big cup. One cool feature is the screens posted above the flavors which contain the nutritional information of each yogurt. That’s something they’ve got over TCBY. The froyo has been pretty good each time I’ve been and there’s a nice variety of toppings.


As I was on my way out, separating my trash from my recyclables (because the trash canisters are divided into separate trash and recycle sections), I noticed that the actual canister below was one big trash bin. In other words, it appears that 16 Handles is separating and recycling, but the reality is that it all goes into the same trash can underneath. This alone wouldn’t be a big catastrophe- many restaurants don’t recycle- but I’m not a fan of these deceptive trash bins. I spoke with an employee there who confirmed that they do not recycle, they just use the recycle bins.



Take a look next time you visit 16 Handles. Tsk Tsk.

Weekend Events Guide: January 10th Edition

Brrr… It’s cold outside! This looks like a slow weekend for social events. Could be a good time to stay inside, watch football and perfect your chili receipe for the 2015 Super Chili Bowl. Enjoy the weekend!  

Eisenhower Park’s skating rink, Twin Rinks Ice Center, is now open. It’s not as busy as Iceland yet so it’s a good time to head over if you want to check it out. Click here for directions, hours and cost.

Saturday- Lakeshore Learning holds a craft for kids every weekend. This Saturday, January 10th, they’ll be making “Sweet Dream Catchers.” Drop in between 11am and 3pm for this activity. 2709 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park. 516-616-9360. Visit LakeshoreLearning.com

Saturday- Head to Doc O’Grady’s for some live music. Mike Volpe, Mike Spieler and friends will be playing live at 9pm. While you’re there, raise a glass to congratulate Mike Volpe as new partner of the bar/restaurant. Mike is a graduate of Wesleyan University and GC High School and co-owner of CrossFit Garden City.

Saturday- Catch William Shatner’s fun-filled performance in Shatner’s World: We Just Live In It. 8pm at the Tilles Center http://tillescenter.org/event/shatners-world-we-just-live-in-it/

Sunday- Join in the fun at Family Fun Time at St. Paul’s gym. From 3pm until 5:45, families can enjoy various sports and gym activities. 

Sunday- See “The Adventures of Perseus” with a mix of puppetry and live actors at the Long Island Children’s Museum. Ages 5 and up. 

Weekday events aren’t usually included in the Weekend Events Guide, but I thought this one deserved mention for our football fans: 

Monday- Head over to Doc O’Grady’s for the Ohio State University vs Oregon Game. The Mens Association is hosting! $30 for TMA directors and $40 for all guests. Appetizers starting at 7:30pm, box pool, 50/50 raffle and more.  



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Garden City’s Best Decked Houses

The beautiful houses in Garden City always light up the night, but they were extra sparkly this holiday season! Many of the houses were adorned in simple, classic white lights. They were so beautifully and tastefully decorated that I decided to wrap up the holidays with a photo essay depicting some of the lights around town this year. Here are a few of my faves- in no particular order: 

 Let it shine!


Beautiful and simple. 


 Completely classic. 


 They know how to string a few lights here. 


The tall lit trees looked fabulous.

 Tastefully done color. 


 Sometimes simplicity is all you need. 


There are plenty of more lights and beautiful decorations around town. These are just a few. Take a drive or walk around town and admire them- especially while this 50 degree weather keeps up. Well done Garden City!


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Weekend Events Guide: December 19th Edition

‘Tis the season for fun and cheer and stress and… Try to relax and enjoy the holiday spirit a bit this weekend by taking part in one of the festive events going on in or around Garden City.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday catch Annie, Jr. at the Broadhollow Theatre at Elmont. Friday- 7pm, Saturday 4pm, Sunday 2:30pm. Buy tickets here

Friday and repeating every night through January 4th- The Holiday Lights Spectacular at Jones Beach (west end). Over 2.5 miles of beautiful holiday scenes. There will also be pictures with Santa, a make your own S’mores station, refreshments, live performances by local school choirs, holiday music and more! 5pm to 10pm. Mon-Thur $20 per car. Friday-Sunday and Holidays $25 per car. Get more information here. Be sure to check the schedule before you go. 


Friday, Saturday, Sunday and every day until Christmas- enjoy the animated Christmas Holiday Story at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury. Meet Santa on Saturday and Sunday during these hours: 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm.

Friday, Saturday and every day until December 23rd, see Santa at the Roosevelt Field Mall. Click here for more information on dates and times and to schedule your appointment with Santa. Even Santa has an appointment calendar these days!  

Saturday- Have breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Garden City Hotel. Seatings at 8:30am and 11:30am. Reservations required. Call 516-747-3000.

Saturday- Get your song on at Doc O’Grady’s at 273 Nassau Blvd South. Karaoke from 8pm until 2am.

Saturday and Sunday- See Frosty the Snowman at the Broadhollow Theatre at Elmont. Show starts at 2pm on Saturday and 12pm on Sunday. Click here to buy tickets.  

Saturday and Sunday- Head to the Lakeshore Learning Center between 11am and 3pm for a different craft every Saturday. Click here to see what crafts are being made on specific dates. 2709 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park. 516-616-9360. 

Saturday- The Nutcracker Ballet by New York Dance Theater at Hofstra University’s Adams Playhouse. Friday- 2pm and 7pm. Saturday- 12noon and 5pm. Sunday- 12noon and 5pm. Cost $20-$40. Click here for more information. 

Sunday- Gingerbread house making at Capo Ristorante for kids. Includes your own gingerbread house, pasta or panini and a drink. $15 per child. Reservations required. 516-216-5177. 49 Covert Ave. 

Sunday- Max and Ruby in the Nutcracker Suite. NYCB Theatre at Westbury. 960 Brush Hollow Road. 1:00pm. Find more information here.

Thank you for reading http://www.InsideGardenCity.com. Please like us on Facebook. Enjoy the weekend!

A Local {Crowds Not Included} Holiday Gift Guide

With Christmas exactly one week away, Inside Garden City is happy to help you cross off those last few gifts from your list, all while keeping it local- our favorite ways to shop. You’ll find an array of perfect presents below, each one local and available to you same day- no waiting for UPS to arrive. We created this gift guide featuring local businesses in hopes of alleviating some of your stress and also to show you the many gift options that are basically right on your doorstep (no crowded mall and no long lines- woo hoo!). Now maybe you’ll have some extra time to grab a cup of holiday cheer.


The Pear Tree Shoppe at 169 7th St. is filled with treasures that are bound to please. I was so happy to see my fave black and gold horse bracelet. There’s even an elephant one too now. I also love the initial totes- I will be buying one of these for someone on my list. So many unique earrings too.  Fur wrist wraps are perfect for adding a little something to a sweater or jacket. Price ranges vary so there’s something for everyone here. 




Honestly Delicious at 61 New Hyde Park Road sells a fantastic gingerbread house that is already assembled and includes everything you need for decorating- including chocolate! This makes a great gift at $25. Throw in some gingerbread men (or ladies) and you’re all set. They also have gift certificates which would make just about anyone happy.  




Madison’s Niche at 186 7th St has something for everyone. For the guys on your list- gloves, the Bar Book, fancy bottle opener and other man cave-ish ideas. For the women- I loved the cozy slippers, this fab bracelet and more. For the hostess- cutting boards, hand towels, picture frames- like this cool tree frame below. You can add more picture frames to it as you like. In addition, their entire stock of Lysee Tops, Skirts and Dresses is 25% off!

 



A New Leaf Tea at 152 7th St is just the place to shop for the tea lover! The tea cups with built-in steepers make a great gift, as do the travel mugs. I love this red tea pot below.  




Envie 182 7th St. You’ll find something here that will outshine the tree topper. Grab a sparkly bag or a statement necklace for a friend (or yourself- no judgement here). I love the gold cuff bracelets and check out those cute little skirts- oh wait- they’re actually the most adorable aprons you’ve ever seen! There’s no shortage of WOW gifts at Envie- they may just make you want to behave for Santa. Plus, all ponchos, wraps and sweaters are 25% off. Everything else in the store is 20% off through Sunday!



Coquette 173 7th St carries a number of hot clutches that come in an assortment of colors- good for any woman of any age. They also have some fab jewelry pieces- such as this necklace below that I just may return for tomorrow. 


New York Running Company 191 7th St. carries OOFOS clogs and flip flops. Will these become the new Crocs next summer? Unlike most flip flops, they have great arch support and are super comfy. The vests will keep your runner warm and styling’ and you can always find great stocking stuffers here- like quality running socks or hats. 

 

  

Garden City Fine Wines and Spirits 166 7th St. Instead of the traditional Bailey’s this year, try a pumpkin pie cream liquor or if someone on your list needs to chill, a bottle of Relax wine will do the trick and make a cute gift too ; )

 



Sunflower Fine Art at 172 7th St will have just what you’re looking for if you want to show up with something a little bit different this holiday. There’s something to fit most budgets here. Of course, I spotted this pineapple immediately. And Santa’s sleigh would make the perfect hostess gift.




Salon Imperiale at 668 Franklin Ave is ready to fill your stockings with gift certificates and hair products. They’re offering a Rusk Hydrate duo pack- usually $30, now only $20 but just until Christmas.  




Beauty Kiss at 679 Franklin Ave has some delicious stocking stuffers for you- like their new lip scrubs, luxurious hand cream and cool soaps. 



You don’t have much time to get your shopping done, but if you shop local, I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll have a much more enjoyable, personal experience. And chances are there will be some pretty unique gifts under the tree this year. Happy Shopping!


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Walking Through A Feldis Wonderland

Have you been inside Feldis Florist recently on Seventh St.? It really feels like you have stepped into a mini winter wonderland of Christmas. 

Ed and Janine are there, as usual, welcoming and serving local customers. They always make me smile when I go in there to shop. Speaking of, Ed is very enthused about the food bank they are running and wants to get the word out. See picture below. When you have a few extra minutes, be sure to drop by and drop off some non-perishable food to help fight hunger this holiday season. Ed is committed to collecting a ton of food this year and encourages all to participate.


As far as the holiday season goes, Feldis is filled to the brim with goodies- flowers, wreaths, trees and gifts galore. You can’t walk out without feeling like you just got a little more Christmas spirit in you! I’ll let these photos do the talking:
 


This adorable shop is located at 160 Seventh St. Try to stop in- even if it’s just to catch a glimpse of the beautiful wonderland the Feldis crew has created. Happy Holidays! 

Phone: 516-747-3330



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Weekend Events Guide: December 12th Edition

The Countdown begins… Only 12 days of Christmas shopping left! If you are still looking for holiday gifts or just need to de-stress from the busy days of preparing, shopping and planning, we’ve got some great activities for you this weekend:

Friday- Join your neighbors and friends at the Garden City Christmas Holiday Spectacular on Seventh St. The event kicks off at 5pm and winds down at 10pm.  Elsa and Princess Anna will have a meet and greet from 6pm to 7pm, followed by a performance by Elsa at 7pm. Santa will make his way to Seventh St at 7:30pm. Head to TCBY for face painting and balloon animals. The band Fivestone will be performing Christmas music and the stores on Seventh St. will be open for business. Fire drums, carolers and beautiful new lighting promise to make the evening warm and bright. Don’t miss it!

Friday and repeating every night through January 4th- The Holiday Lights Spectacular at Jones Beach (west end). Over 2.5 miles of beautiful holiday scenes. There will also be pictures with Santa, a make your own S’mores station, refreshments, live performances by local school choirs, holiday music and more! 5pm to 10pm. Mon-Thur $20 per car. Friday-Sunday and Holidays $25 per car. Get more information here.

Friday, Saturday and every day until December 23rd, see Santa at the Roosevelt Field Mall. Click here for more information on dates and times and to schedule your appointment with Santa. Even Santa has an appointment calendar these days! 

Friday and Saturday- Celebrate a Night in Bethlehem at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Garden City. See what it was like in Jesus’ time- walk through Bethlehem, buy goods in the marketplace, visit the workshop and see the live manger. 7-9pm each night. 420 Stewart Ave. 

Saturday- See Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells based on the book by Barbara Park. Show starts at 2pm at the Tilles Center. Click here to buy tickets.


Saturday- Head to the Lakeshore Learning Center between 11am and 3pm for a different craft every Saturday. Click here to see what crafts are being made on specific dates. 2709 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park. 516-616-9360. 

Sunday- The Garden City Community Church will hold a Christmas Candlelight Vesper Service and Carol Sing. Catch this beautiful concert of Christmas music at 4:30pm followed by an optional dinner in Gardner Hall. Located on Stewart Ave between Kensington Road and Whitehall Blvd.

Saturday- Have breakfast with Santa at the Garden City Hotel. 
Seatings at 8:30am and 11:am. 516-747-3000.

Sunday- Head to the Winter Concert at Adelphi’s Westermann Stage in Concert Hall. The Waldorf Choral Society performs Christmas and Hanukkah songs. The 70-voice Adelphi Chorus will perform holiday classics and choral masterworks. Enjoy carols and folksongs from around the world. 8pm. Tickets: $18-$20. Call 516-946-1540 or click here for more information.

Sunday- The Fresh Beat Band performs at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury. Click here for tickets. Shows at 12pm and 4pm. 


Thanks for reading http://www.InsideGardenCity.com. Please like us on Facebook. Have a great weekend! 

Gingerbread House Party- Run, Run as Fast as You Can

A Gingerbread man walks into a bar with a parrot on his shoulder. Bartender asks “Where did you get that from?” Parrot says “The bakery next door.”

If you’re tired of getting shut out of the Garden City Library’s Gingerbread House making program but visions of sugar plums are still dancing through your head, we’ve got good news for you. Inside Garden City is excited to tell you that there is finally another {local} option. And it’s going to be the most bumpin’, pumpin’ Gingerbread House Party you’ve ever been to!

On Sunday, December 21st,  from 11am-2pm, bring your children to Capo Ristorante on Covert Ave, just one block south from La Bella Bakery and Maddy’s Toys. Capo will be set up with all the fixins’ for some serious Gingerbread House-Making. Children will not only build their own gingerbread house but they’ll also enjoy a pasta dish or one of Capo’s {ultra-delish} panini and a drink. Think candy canes, Christmas music and lots of holiday fun. $15 per child.

And since the adults don’t want to be shut out either, Capo is hosting a Gingerbread House Party for grown-ups! On Tuesday, December 16th from 7:30-10:30pm, enjoy your own Gingerbread House plus wine and tapas. $35 per person. A great idea for a girls night out (think of it as the holiday version of a paint night) or grab your significant other for something different to do this season.

Seating is limited and reservations are required so run, run as fast as you can… (womp womp)… . 

Capo Ristorante is located at 49 Covert Ave in Floral Park, between Salisbury and Marshell Aves. Call 516-216-5177 to make a reservation for either or both events.

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