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Weekend Events Guide: Sept. 19th Edition

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Inside Garden City is here to prep you for the weekend in and around Garden City. And what a fun-filled weekend it will be!


Friday, Saturday & Sunday- Fall Festival at Hofstra University. Click here for more information on specific events.  

Friday- Glow Jump at Pump It Up in Great Neck. Grab your glow necklace when you arrive and join the glow in the dark open bounce. Suggested attire for the GLOW Party: white, neon, tie-dye, stripes or glow in the dark clothing. Don’t forget your socks! Ages: all. 7pm-8:30pm.

Saturday- St. Anne’s Spirit Day in the St. Anne’s parking lot. Come for games, bouncers, a dunk tank, food, music and more. Maybe you’ll even take home a goldfish! Click here to find out more. 35 Dartmouth St. 1pm-10pm.

Saturday- see the Long Island Children’s Museum production of Winnie the Pooh. Ages: all. 11:30am and 2pm.

Saturday- International Music Nights Concert Series at Eisenhower Park presents Latino-American Night. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater. Ages: all. 7:30pm.

Saturday and Sunday- Fall Family Fun Festival at Hicks Nursery starts this Saturday and runs until 10/31. There will be children’s workshops, pumpkin contests, planting demonstrations, hayrides, Otto the Ghost’s animated story, farm animals and more. Jericho Tpke in Westbury. Ages: all. 9am-5pm. 

Saturday and Sunday- 32nd Annual Queens County Fair. Enjoy a traditional county fair- think pie eating contests, livestock, pig races, hayrides, corn husking contests, carnival rides, games, crafts and much more. Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park. 11am-6pm.

Sunday- The West Hempstead Street Fair. Hempstead Ave, West Hempstead. Rare antiques, arts, crafts, food and more. Ages: all. 11am-6pm.

Sunday- Blood drive at St Joseph’s School on Fourth Street. 7:45am-1:30pm.


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New{ish} Kid on the Block

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If you’ve been down Franklin Ave recently, chances are you’ve seen that it has become the home to a few hot {relatively} new openings- The Nail Boutique- which is under new management, a beautiful new Kidville and a boutique called Isabella’s- filled with women’s contemporary fashions. You might miss it nestled between Cecilia’s Hair and The Barber Shop, but Isabella’s is here, as well as  in Rockville Center, and worth a peek inside. 



Isabella’s is neatly laid out inside- clothes on either side of the store with jewelery-filled tables throughout. The clothing is fun and chic- my fave being this cool but casual look for fall:

There is also a assortment of jewelry that has a slight edgy vibe to it. Here’s one bracelet that I absolutely love- being modeled for us by a store employee:


I loved the mix of chic and trendy with casual. Besides clothes, there are also some cute bags in an assortment of colors and styles. Their summer sale is happening now so it’s a good time to stop in and check out the goods. 


Isabella’s is a lovely store (with a friendly staff) to peruse as you’re shopping along Seventh/Franklin. There are casual but hip clothes for a night on the town or a day out to lunch, plus accessories, bags and more. A perfect mix!


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Weekend Events Guide: September 12th Edition

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Woo Hoo, it’s Friday! Here’s your go-to list of things to do in and around Garden City this weekend. 


Friday- The last GC Promenade of the season will be held on Seventh St starting at 6pm. Live music by Fivestone, outdoor dining and entertainment for the kids. 6-10pm.

Friday- Molloy College in Rockville Centre is hosting Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney- a Tribute to the Beatles and Paul McCartney. A four piece band and full symphony orchestra led by conductor Martin Herman will perform hit songs like “Hey Jude”, “Penny Lane”, “When I’m Sixty-Four” and many, many more. 8pm. $45 and up. 516-323-4444

Saturday- Kidville at 960 Franklin Ave will hold it’s Grand Opening Weekend. Come and try out the Big Muscle Gym in the Kidville Playspace from 10am-2pm. 516-900-2462

Saturday- The Annual San Gennaro Festival started yesterday and runs for eleven days. Click here  http://www.sangennaro.org/event.htm for the schedule of events. (I know it’s not exactly in or around Garden City, but it’s not too far either and worth the 30 min train ride IMHO if you’re looking for something different to do this weekend!) 

Saturday- See The NY Cosmos vs The Atlanta Silverbacks. 7pm at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

Saturday- Play It Again, Sam is playing at the BroadHollow Theatre in Elmont on Saturdy at 2pm and 8pm. http://www.broadhollow.org/home/broad-hollow-elmont.html

Sunday- Hofstra’s 22nd Annual Italian Festival from 11am-5pm on Hofstra’s South Campus. Come for the concerts, dancers, singers, native food, wine tasting, crafts, vendors and more! 516-463-6582

Sunday- The Wizard of Oz is showing at Family Movie Night at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park. 7pm. All ages. Free.516-572-0200

Sunday- The Annual Antique Motorcycle Show will take place from 11am-4pm at the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park. There will also be historic house tours, music, hayrides and food. Fun for all ages! $5. 718-347-3276

Sunday- Play It Again, Sam is playing at the BroadHollow Theatre in Elmont on Sunday at 2:30pm. http://www.broadhollow.org/home/broad-hollow-elmont.html


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The Nail Boutique- 10% off for Inside GC Readers!

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End of summer always seems like a good time to treat your feet to something special. Flip flops, heeled strappy sandals, walking barefoot… these all take a toll on our feet (at least that’s the rationale I use). So I stopped into The Nail Boutique on Franklin Ave the other day for a quick pedi while I had the time (rare) and I wanted to share my wonderful experience!

Instead of the normal pedicure which I usually opt for, I tried an aromatherapy pedicure and it was great! I didn’t know what to expect, having never had one before but my senses were in for a total treat when the aromatic essential oils went in. It was as if an aura of relaxation was created for my feet- more so than from the typical pedi. Of course the comfy spa pedicure chairs didn’t hurt either as my lumbar area received a nice massage. 

I went with a bright, summer-y polish color. I figured I may as well try to hold onto summer just a little bit longer before settling into those fall hues.  

Post pedi, I was treated to a nice little shoulder and upper back massage by the very friendly and professional owner, Yumi, while my toes dried. She has the magic touch as she treats her customers to a little acupressure. Ahhhhhh. A very nice perk which a lot of salons are skimping on. 

As another treat, Yumi is offering a 10% discount off of any services (which includes waxing!) to all Inside Garden City readers- and remember they see men and women there. Just mention that you read this article on Inside Garden City and you’ll get the discount. We love to see this type of generosity from our local business owners! 

Next time you want to treat someone to an unexpected pleasure, give them an aromatherapy pedicure as a gift or just stop in and get one for yourself!

Nail Boutique is located at 729 Franklin Ave, between Seventh St and Stewart Ave. 516-739-0099. Open every day except Sunday. 


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Art Classes, Art Therapy For Kids

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Peggy Leder has been holding children’s art classes right here on Nassau Blvd in Garden City for four years. Peggy grew up in Garden City and now lives in Sag Harbor, splitting her time between Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Peggy holds a BA in art education from the University of Vermont and is also a registered clinical art therapist with an MA from LIU, CW Post. In addition to weekly art classes at the studio, she has a private art therapy practice allowing her to work privately in her clients’ homes conducting “hidden therapy with art.” Peggy believes that all children could benefit from art therapy, especially those facing anxiety, low self esteem, depression, anger management, learning disabilities, autism, trauma, eating disorders, divorce and much more.

Through the process of creating art, which in itself is therapeutic, Peggy notes that a lot is revealed to her that may be difficult for children to verbalize. She creates an atmosphere where children can release much more than they can with words. Peggy has fifteen years of experience working with children and teens and explains that every art therapy session is unique. Sessions are based on each child’s individual needs and capabilities. The focus is on the process rather than the finished product and Peggy always keeps it FUN!

Children’s Art Classes begin September 17th at 13 Nassau Blvd S., located at FOS Living, in Garden City. The studio is downstairs within FOS. 
6-10 year olds- Wednesdays 3:45-5:00pm, Thursdays 4:00-5:15pm.
3-5 year olds- Thursdays 3:00pm-3:55pm.
516-647-2862. pegleder@msn.com

Feel free to call or email Peggy and let her share her passion with you and your children!

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Weekend Events Guide: September 6th Edition

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There’s no better way to end the summer than with a fun-filled weekend. There are lots of events going on in and around GC this weekend so there will be no shortage of things to do. Hopefully, this will take away some of your end-of-summer blues. 

Friday- This Friday night will be the second to last promenade on Seventh St. If you haven’t been to one all summer, tonight’s will be a good one! Fivestone will be performing starting at 6pm. There will be a meet and greet with Queen Elsa at 6:30pm. Following that, Elsa will be singing hits from the movie Frozen. Also, Gina Naomi Baez will perform her own original songs in two sets. Note: This is the last time Queen Elsa will be performing live at the Promenade so be sure to catch it if you haven’t already. There will also be activities for the kids such as balloon sculpting, face painting and more. Street close to vehicular traffic at 5:45pm. Come and hang with your friends and neighbors!

Friday- See Eddie Sessa and a 19 piece orchestra perform their Tribute To Sinatra at Eisenhower Park at 7pm. Lakeside Theatre. Parking fields 6 and 6A. Free. 

Saturday- The Covert Ave Street Fair will take place from 11am-6pm. If you haven’t heard about it yet, you can find out lots of information here: http://www.insidegardencity.com/2014/09/its-that-time-of-year-again-covert-ave.html

Saturday- See the Cosmos play against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at 7pm. Shuart Stadium, Hofstra University. 

Saturday and Sunday and every day until December 21, 2014- Explorer Family Backpacks at Hofstra University Museum, Hempstead Turnpike. Pick up a backpack and discover the world’s cultures through various works displayed at Hofstra and create your own artwork to bring home. Ages 5-10. 10am-5pm. Free. Runs daily with a few exceptions. Check website for the complete list of dates. http://www.hofstra.edu/Community/museum/museum_family_fun.html

Sunday- See a film screening of Shakespeare’s The Tempest at Adelphi at 2pm in Concert Hall. Tickets $20. Click here for for info: http://aupac.adelphi.edu/newsevent/the-tempest/

What will you be up to this weekend? 

It’s That Time of Year Again… Covert Ave Street Festival This Saturday

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There’s a street fair coming to town. Well, not to Garden City per se… but close enough! The Covert Ave 20th Annual Street Fair is on Saturday from 11am-6pm. Inside Garden City was happy to speak with the Covert Ave Chamber of Commerce President and owner of Capo Ristorante, Mr. Paul Capoziello, and we got the inside scoop.

As always, this year’s fair promises a lot of activities for all ages and interests and a big turnout is expected. According to Mr. Capoziello, the street fair will include lots of family fun- live musical acts and dancing, vendors, raffles, rides, games, a petting zoo, pony rides and the Covert Ave Express- a kids train that will be running up and down Covert Ave. And of course, there will be fantastic food and drinks (my favorite part). 

On an average day, most of us know you don’t have to go much further than Covert Ave to find a good cannoli or fresh seafood. So don’t be surprised at what you will find there to feast on this Saturday. Capo Ristorante will have a stand outside their establishment where they’ll be serving barbecue pulled pork, baked mac ‘n cheese, Spanish roast pork with rice and beans as well as some good ‘ol chicken strips and fries. Talk about delish comfort food! Try some of their sangria while you’re there. That’s on Saturday’s menu too! Hey- bathing suit season is over, isn’t it?

Pellegrini Prime Meats will also have a similar set-up, as well as Manor Fruit Shack and V.I.Pizza. Personally, I believe calories don’t count at street fairs.

Mr. Capoziello also shared his secrets for best places to park for the event: “Best parking is on the side streets in Floral Park and Stewart Manor or on the southwest side of the New Hyde Park train station.” When I asked him to describe the tasks involved in the planning of the street fair, he said it was way too long to list but he did ensure that this year’s event would be a fun-filled day out with family and neighbors. Sounds good to me. Will you be going?



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LDW Weekend Events Guide: August 30th edition

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Apologies for a late Labor Day weekend events guide (hey- Inside Garden City needs a vacation too sometimes!). If you’re sticking around town this weekend, there are a few fun things happening that might help you feel less blue about the unofficial end of summer (not really).

Now through Labor Day- Throw In The Towel! Bring your new or gently used beach towels to the GC Pool for donation to a charitable organization. Towels go to the Mary Brennan Inn, a local food pantry. Blue bins will be set up at the pool for towel collection.

Saturday and Sunday- 7th Annual Street Fair at Eisenhower Park 10am-5pm. Vendors, crafts, jewelry, home decor, clothing and giveaways. Free parking. Field 8.

Saturday- Summer Festival at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in East Meadow. Raffles, flea market, children’s activities, vendors, Greek food and live music.

Sunday- Play Bingo at the GC Pool at 2pm then shake whatcha got at the hula hoop contest in the picnic area.  The Pool DJ will play music from 2-4pm.

Sunday- Adventureland will feature The Magic and Comedy of Jim McClenahan. 1pm. 631-694-6868

Monday- GC Pool Labor Day hours 10am-9pm. Enjoy the last day of the pool season! DJ Bob will be playing from 6-9pm.

Have a happy LDW and enjoy the last days of summer!

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Weekend Events Guide: August 22nd Edition

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Summer is quickly flying by! Enjoy the little that remains by taking part in some of the activities listed below.



Friday- The Garden City Promenade starts tonight on Seventh St. at 6:00pm with traffic blocked off as of 5:45pm. Join your neighbors for outdoor dining, balloon sculpting, face painting and more. Stop in at your favorite local shops and catch Frozen’s Queen Elsa and Princess Anna performing at 7:20pm. There wil be a meet and greet at 6:20pm. Gina Naomi Baez and Tinkerbelle the Dog will be performing at 8:00pm. Once again, the band Fivestone will be performing from 6-10pm. Don’t miss it! 

Friday- The GC Pool will be showing Disney’s Planes tonight for Friday Family Night and they will also be having Dollar Dog Night at the snack bar. Movie start time- 8:15pm

Friday- Disco Umlimited Concert at Eisenhower Park. 7pm

Friday- ET, The Extra Terrestrial is being shown at Nickerson Beach Park. 7:44pm

Friday- BK Sweeney’s Uptown Grille will hold their Friday Night Lobster Bake tonight. $31.95 for a 2-lb lobster dinner. When summer ends, this fabulous deal ends too!

Saturday- Catch KC & The Sunshine Band performing at CBS-FM’s Saturday in the park. 7pm at Eisenhower Park’s Lakeside Theater. Gates open at 3pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. 

Saturday and Sunday- Marvel Universe Live at Nassau Coliseum for the superhero fans. 7:00-9:00pm Ages 5 and up. Tickets: $55-$170. www.nassaucoliseum.com

Saturday and Sunday- catch a performance of “The Little Mermaid JR” at the LI Children’s Museum. 11:30am and 2pm (same time both days). $12, $10 for LICM members. To purchase tickets please contact Plaza Theatrical Productions 516-599-6870 or at http://plazatheatrical.com/index.php/long-island-children-s-museum. **Tickets are not available for purchase at LICM**



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Anyone Up For a Run?

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Reporter: Why are you doing this?
Forrest Gump: I just felt like running.

With new work out trends popping up left and right, sometimes it feels good to go back to the basics- a good ol’ fashioned run. No equipment necessary (except sneakers of course). No gym membership required. No muscle heads to contend with at the gym. Sounds great, doesn’t it? 

Some runners especially like the feeling of accomplishment they get when the run is finished. Others speak of a runners high. I, for one, have never experienced this because I loathe running. I’m a fan of just about everything else- weights, spinning, squash, pilates, kickboxing (I’ve been too intimidated by CrossFit to try it yet) and more… but just don’t ask me to go for a run.

So you may wonder what explains my current love with the New York Running Company on Seventh Street? I can attribute it to three things:
-the staff is friendly, knowledgable and helpful.
-they have a good sneaker selection and cool workout clothes (I love new fitness gear!)
-they’re having a huge sale right now.

I visited the New York Running Company shortly after they opened in the fall and met a very pleasant manager, Karen. I hadn’t been back all winter (indicative of my waning winter workouts perhaps?) and was lured in again recently by the 50% off summer apparel sign in front. Plus, they’ve been open during the Seventh Street Friday night promenades which makes shopping super convenient.

The Seventh Street location is equipped with a treadmill on which the trained staff will perform a gait analysis on you. This feature seems to be a big draw for the store and makes for a great fitting process, fitting customers with the proper sneaker for their individual gait.

They also have a great collection of dry-fit shirts and tanks, running socks, sport bras and fun running gadgets, plus a good selection of sneakers- Brooks, Nike, Adidas and New Balance to name a few. I found some workout shirts and a fantastic zippered hoodie that they didn’t have in my size. They quickly contacted other stores and had it shipped from a Boston location in just two days. In other words, New York Running Company isn’t just for runners!

When I returned to pick up the hoodie, naturally I picked up a few more things. I’ve never been one to resist good sale. Note- a bunch of sneakers just got marked down as well so you may want to hurry in! My take away- New York Running Company has something for everyone, even those of us non-runners. While you’re there, check out their running programs and training groups too- a great way to find like-minded runners to keep up your motivation- but don’t ask me to join you.


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