Fight the Winter Workout Blues

As the saying goes, summer bodies are made in the winter. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been finding it more difficult to work out this winter than I usually do. Perhaps its because of the cold temps or maybe I just need a change in my workout routine. Finding a solution to the gym-drearies, which I seem to have a case of, is my current goal, so I decided to share some of my winter motivation tips with you:

  1. Buy some new gym swag- Personally, I really like Athleta but any new workout wear or footwear usually re-energizes me.
  2. Checking out the summer line in my fave catalogs- bathing suits included. This usually reminds me that spring and summer are right around the corner!
  3. Find a {new} workout friend- working out with a new buddy will allow you to sample someone else’s fitness routine and see what they’ve been up to at the gym. This could help get you out of a fitness rut.
  4. Try a new class- maybe hot yoga will transport you to a tropical place, on your yoga mat!
  5. Don’t skip exercise totally- even if you’re not in the mood for your usual fitness routine, at least do something. It could be a walk around the block or some ab work on your living room floor. A little something is better than a lot of nothing!

winter

Ian DiGiacomo, fitness director {and fantastic trainer!} at Healthtrax Fitness and Wellness in Garden City is here to shed some light on why some of us {not mentioning names here} find it more difficult to get our sweat on during the cold winter months.

Adults are inherently less active during the winter months. The low temperature and seeing less sunlight can diminish your energy levels for a number of reasons.

Physiologically, your vitamin D levels may drop due to less sun exposure. This can effect your serotonin levels, which is a hormone responsible for mood elevation. Consult your physician in regards to Vitamin D supplementation. Keep in mind that Vitamin D rich foods may not be enough to combat a true deficiency.

Psychologically the winter tends to be depressing. With shorter bouts of daylight and limited options for activity, we tend to fall out of our daily exercise or activity regimen. Do not let the winter blues get in the way of your health and fitness goals. Get creative and get moving! Find a local health club and feed off the energy of other motivated individuals just like you.

Wishing you all a winter filled with motivation and movement. Spring is almost here!

 

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Weekend Events Guide: February 6th Edition

This weekend sounds like a busy one around GC. So much to do, so little time. And no snow in the forecast until {maybe} next week, so no excuses… enjoy it!


Saturday- The basketball game between the Harlem Wizards and the Garden City Teachers starts at 1 p.m. in the Garden City High School gym. This bi-annual fundraiser is sponsored by the Garden City Scholarship Fund. Tickets are available for $15 in advance online at www.gcsholarship.org and at St. Paul’s on Saturday from 8am- 10am. There will be tickets sold at the door for $20, if still available.

Saturday- The Annual Chili Tasting For Charity takes place at Capo on Covert Ave. from 1pm-3pm. This Chili Bowl is a great way to start your Superbowl weekend and all proceeds benefit the Hance Family Foundation. $10, $5 additional for beer/wine. Children are free. 49 Covert Ave, Floral Park. 
Saturday- Explore the paintings and sculptures of the National Art League at Barnes Gallery Custom Framing throughout February. Catch the Artist Reception on Saturday from 5:30-7:30pm. Live music by Shawn Lovato and Joe Cupani. 2 Nassau Blvd., Garden City South.
Saturday- It’s National Fro Yo Day! Stop in at any 16 Handles location for free yogurt.
Saturday- Celebrate Chinese New Year at Orchid in Garden City. Enjoy a prix fixe dinner and fabulous, traditional Chinese entertainment. If you’ve never experienced this event before, it is definitely worth it! Call for reservations and celebrate the Year of the Monkey! 730 Franklin Ave, Garden City.
Saturday- Free craft for kids at Lakeshore Learning Store. 11am-3pm. 2079 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park.
Saturday and Sunday and repeating every day through April 3rd. Enjoy the Arcade Age at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. Explore the short history of video arcade games through exhibits and game play. With three daily sessions available (11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm) your 90 minute free play, timed-ticket for the Arcade Age exhibit also includes full access to the Cradle of Aviation galleries. For the 3:30pm session, arrive early to enjoy the galleries as they close promptly at 5pm.
Saturday and Sunday- Plant a small houseplant at the Children’s Valentine’s Day Planting at Hicks Nurseries. 11am-4pm. $10 per child. Main Greenhouse at Hicks Nurseries, 100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury.
Saturday and Sunday- See Pinocchio at BroadHollow Theatre at Elmont. Showtimes: 2pm on Saturday and 12pm on Sunday. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont.
Sunday- Summer Camp Open House at the Waldorf School of Garden City. Camp is for children ages 3-13. 11am-1pm. 225 Cambridge Ave, Garden City. 


What will you be doing this weekend? Thanks for reading InsideGardenCity.com!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Of course, we all have funny memories of things our children have said over the years. But where are these memories stored? Have you captured any of them- in a journal perhaps? Or a baby book? If you remembered to do that before the moment was forgotten, you’re one of the lucky few. More than likely, these gems are forgotten, or even if you did remember to record them somewhere, how often do you pull them out and enjoy them? Most likely, not often.

Local GC resident and dad, Matt Tepper, has found a way to change this and I love this idea so much that I wanted to share it. Matt has come up with Peanut Gallery Comics which turns a funny quote into a great-looking, original comic strip to be framed and hung on the wall. It’s a unique idea and so simple! Take a look:


Pretty clever and super cute!  This would make a fantastic gift- especially for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.  It’s pretty simple too. All you have to do is choose the illustration style you like best and upload your story or quote along with a picture of the people to be depicted. Click here to pre-order and to learn more about Peanut Gallery Comics.  


Thanks for reading InsideGardenCity.com


Chili Tasting For Charity

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your winter, Inside Garden City and Capo Ristorante are holding their second annual Super Chili Bowl~ Chili Tasting For Charity on Saturday, February 6th from 1-3pm. Warm up from the inside at Capo on Covert Ave. You can come just to taste lots of yummy chili (and have a drink or two) or you can enter as one of the competitors.


Enter as a team or individual. Just bring your chili, fully prepared, in a crockpot to Capo on Covert Ave at 12:45pm. The only cooking rule is that the chili must be homemade. The first place winner will earn a free stay at the beautiful Hotel Indigo on the North Fork! Cool prizes will be also awarded for 2nd and 3rd place. 

In addition to providing a spicy diversion from the winter blues, we will also be doing some good in the community. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Hance Family Foundation. Chili entrants will pay $10 to compete. Cost for tasting: $10 or $15 if you want unlimited beer, wine or soda as well. Children are free. 



If you think you make a good chili, email us at InsideGardenCity@gmail.com or Facebook message InsideGardenCity to enter.  


Chili, wine and beer, friends and neighbors- what better way to spend a winter afternoon? 


See you at the Chili Bowl!


Weekend Events Guide: January 30th Edition

There’s something for everyone going on this weekend! An opera, the Bacon Bash, Robert Alvey as Mark Twain? Grab a friend and enjoy some of these events.



Saturday, Sunday and repeating every day through April 3rd. Enjoy the Arcade Age at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. Explore the short history of video arcade games through exhibitry and game play. With three daily sessions available (11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm) your 90 minute free play, timed-ticket for the Arcade Age exhibit also includes full access to the Cradle of Aviation galleries. For the 3:30pm session, arrive early to enjoy the galleries as they close promptly at 5pm.

Saturday and Sunday- The Hofstra Opera Theater will be performing Jacques Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne (Parisian Life), a comic operetta famous for its exuberance and hilarious social satire. A parody of high-society life in Paris, La Vie Parisienne pokes fun at the rich and revels in the wit of their servants. John Cranford Adams Playhouse, South Campus. 7:30pm, Sunday 3:00pm. $15, $12 seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the door if available or you can buy them online by clicking here. Hofstra University, Uniondale. 

Saturday- The Tilles Center hosts Orchestre National de France at 8pm in Concert Hall. Tickets: $103, $78, $53.  

Sunday- See what some consider Bellini’s most famous opera. The musical tragedy, Norma, will be performed at 2pm in Concert Hall at Adelphi University. Tickets: $20. Click here to purchase. 

Sunday- Don’t miss the Bacon Bash at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Enjoy tastings of bacon, bacon foods, bacon desserts, CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON and more! Bacon Bash is a family friendly event. There are four sessions on Sunday. Purchase tickets here

Sunday- Don’t miss Robert Alvey in “How Did I Become Mark Twain? A Tall and Entertaining Tale”. Click here for more details. Garden City Community Church, Stewart Ave, Garden City, 9:15-10:15am

What will you do this weekend? 


Snowed-Inside Guide

In lieu of a weekend events guide, we decided to present you with a “Snowed Inside Guide” for this snowy weekend. If you’re not the frolic-in-the snow type, here are some ideas to keep you busy (aka sane) while you’re trapped inside during the first blizzard of 2016.

1. Stop putting off that DIY project. I don’t know about you but I have lots of them lying around the house. Maybe you can repurpose something that hasn’t seen enough (or any) use lately. I especially like this idea of turning an old crib into book storage.


2. Craft. Have some fun searching Pinterest for crafting ideas. Here’s an easy one (for those of us who are creatively challenged) to customize your phone charger. 


3. Upload all those great photos from your phone onto your computer and get them into your Shutterfly account or whichever service you use. There’s no time like the present! And here’s a Groupon for a Shutterfly photo book to get you started.


4. Organize, organize, organize! I know there’s probably a closet in everyone’s house that needs some color coordinating or just some basic organization. If not a closet, there must a few errant drawers or files around that are waiting to be straightened out. I love this idea for thinning out a clothes closet and check out this cool idea to organize your scarves.


5. Why not start watching a new series and binge on some Netflix?

 
6. Cozy up with a blanket and read, read, read. What better time to sink into Radiant Angel– the latest release by our own GC resident, Nelson Demille. 
 
7. Scrap those packets of hot cocoa mix and make your own from scratch. Here’s how I like to do it- a simple but delicious recipe from food.com that I make every winter. 
 
Enjoy the blizzard- things will be back to normal pretty soon!
 

New Andy Foundation Yard Sale Shop!

Good news everyone! The Andy Foundation Yard Sale Shop is up and running {successfully, I might add}. Its new location at 195 Herricks Road in Garden City Park, one block south of Jericho Turnpike, holds a collection of all sorts of great finds! 

If you haven’t been yet, make sure to stop by and check out their collection of furniture, artwork, tableware, jewelry, home decor and much more. The store is staffed only with volunteers and is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10am-4pm. 

Have no fear- the word is that the Andy Foundation will still hold their annual spring yard sale at St. Paul’s this year. 

New, gently used and vintage items will be accepted for donation, but please call516-739-1717 first before dropping items off.

Weekend Events Guide: January 15th Edition



Here we are already- MLK weekend is upon us and many of us are staring at a three day weekend. Will you be staycationers or are you heading out of town? For those of you sticking around GC, here are a few ideas to get your long weekend off to a good start.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday- Enjoy the Arcade Age at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. Explore the short history of video arcade games through exhibitry and game play. With three daily sessions available (11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm) your 90 minute free play, timed-ticket for the Arcade Age exhibit also includes full access to the Cradle of Aviation galleries. For the 3:30pm session, arrive early to enjoy the galleries as they close promptly at 5pm.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday- Hofstra University’s Explorer Family Backpacks continues. Enjoy beautiful works of art and create your own to bring home. Ages 5-10. 10am-5pm. Cost: free. Hofstra University Museum, Hempstead.

Saturday- Flying Model Contest at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City- Free with museum admission, participants (grades 3-5 ONLY) will form teams of three and together build their model airplane. A construction and aeronautics workshop, under the guidance of museum docents and members of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will offer guidance and support to get the planes ready for the contest. Pre-Registration is required. 9am-2pm

Sunday- Stop at Hicks for the Children’s Workshop. This weekend’s participants will learn how to create a pinecone bird feeder. Cost: $5. Ages 4-12. 11am-4pm. $5 + tax p/p. Jericho Tpke, Westbury

Sunday- Adelphi’s Photography Annual 2016 exhibit opens today and runs until August 14th. This exhibit showcases a variety of themes and motifs created by Adelphi University photography students. AU Performing Arts Center Gallery, 9am-9pm.

Saturday- Adelphi University welcomes back world-renowned concert pianist Philip Edward Fisher to the Westermann Stage of Concert Hall. The centerpiece of this performance will be all four of Chopin’s beloved Ballades. 4pm. $30 adults. $25 seniors.

Monday- Looking for a drop off activity for the kids? Camp Pump It Up at Pump It Up of Greatneck. $30 per session. AM session 9-12, PM session 12-3pm. 516-466-7867. 225 Community Drive, Great Neck

Best Dressed Houses in GC

While the warm weather didn’t exactly make it feel like the holidays, fortunately we live in a town that boasts some gorgeous holiday decor. Hopefully you were able to enjoy a stroll through our beautiful town while the weather was a bit warmer, but in case you didn’t, here are a few of my faves this season: 

Has anyone else noticed that white lights seemed to be the {unofficial} theme of GC’s holiday decor this year? 

There’s still some time to take a spin around town before the decorations come down if you haven’t down so already. But hurry before they’re gone! There are so many beautifully decorated houses to admire. 

Thanks for reading InsideGardenCity.com. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

Weekend Events Guide: December 18th Edition

The NutcrackerStar Wars {The Force Awakens} and Holiday Light Shows are what’s on tap this weekend. Enjoy!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday- You won’t want to miss The Nutcracker Ballet by New York Dnce Theatre. This is the largest production of The Nutcracker on Long Island. Guest artists from New York City Ballet will be in attendance. Cost: $20-$40. Fri- 7pm, Sat and Sun- 12pm and 5pm. Purchase tickets here. 118 Hofstra University, Hempstead. 

Running every day through January 3rd- The Holiday Lights Spectacular at Jones beach has over 150 beautiful displays. 5pm-10pm. Jones Beach, 1000 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh. Monday-Thursday: $20/car, Friday-Sunday & Holidays: $25/car. Tuesdays second time through is free. Click here for more information. 

Saturday and Sunday- Santa and his reindeer will be at Hicks Nurseries. You can bring a letter to Santa and mail it in their special mailbox… you just may get a response in the mail! See the animated Christmas story, enjoy some hot chocolate or a snack and pick up your tree if you haven’t already. It’s surely one stop shopping! Santa will be there from 1-4pm daily and again from 5-8pm. Saturday and Sunday, Santa’s hours are 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm through December 23rd. 100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. 

Saturday- Join Santa for brunch at the Carltun. $50 per adult, $25 per child. Price includes a professional picture with Santa. 11am. Click here for the deets. Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. 

Saturday and Sunday- Join Dorothy and her friends at Christmas in Oz at the BroadHollow Theatre at Elmont. Sat. 2pm, Sun. 12pm. Get tickets here. 700 Hempstead Tpke, Elmont. 

Saturday and Sunday- See The Nutcracker performed by Eglevsky Ballet at the Tilles Center. Sat- 6pm, Sun- 1pm and 5pm. Buy tickets here



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