Holiday Guide 12-16-15 by Anton Community Newspapers

AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP SPECIAL

HOLIDAYGUIDE DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

Hot Gifts For The Cold Season INSIDE

Beef Wellington Tips for tipping ANTON cover Strip Final.pdf

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Celebrate the Season at ArtsAliveLI.org

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

HOLIDAY RECIPE

Beef Wellington: Pastry-Wrapped Steak BY CHRISTY HINKO

CHINKO@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

Beef Wellington is a preparation of filet steak coated with pâté and duxelles, which is then wrapped in puff pastry and baked. The pâté in traditionally prepared Beef Wellington is typically foie gras, a luxury food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened, but chicken liver is an acceptable substitution. Duxelles is a finely-chopped mixture of mushrooms, onions, shallots and herbs sautéed in butter, and reduced to a paste. It is a basic preparation used in stuffings and sauces or as a garnish. Duxelles can also be filled into a pocket of raw pastry and baked as a savory tart. As an entree, a whole tenderloin is wrapped and baked, then sliced for serving, or sometimes the tenderloin may be sliced into individual portions prior to wrapping and baking. Beef Wellington is an English dish,

but the origin is not exactly known. And although Beef Wellington is prepared and eaten throughout the year, many associate the dish with Christmas or special dinner gatherings. Other variations of the meat baked in pastry include sausage, lamb and salmon Wellington. Here is North Shore Farms’ take on the Beef Wellington as an appetizer:

Mini Beef Wellingtons Wrapped in Filo Dough Ingredients 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 lbs. filet mignon (cut in 1/2-inch cubes) 12 sheets of #7 filo (or phyllo) dough 8 oz. chicken liver pâté 1 small sweet onion (minced) 10 oz. white mushrooms (minced) 2 eggs 1 stick butter (melted) salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions • Coat filet mignon with salt and pepper. • Sear cubed beef on all sides, remove and set aside. • Saute mushrooms and onions in pan until soft. • Brush dough with melted butter. • Place meat cubes 1-inch apart on six sheets of Filo dough. • Top with chicken liver pate and mushrooms. • Place the remaining six sheets of filo

dough on the top, pressing firmly in the spaces between the filling. • Cut around the filling where the dough has been pressed to form a “purse”. • Brush with beaten egg and lay on greased baking sheet. • Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown*. *Cooking time may vary based on oven —Recipe provided by North Shore Farms

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

Enter to win an East End Culinary & Arts Experience with Chef George Hirsch! M

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You and a guests will enjoy a Culinary & Arts Master Class with Chef George Hirsch, host of George Hirsch Lifestyle on Create® TV & public television with a land and water experience provided by Seps Farm & Port of Egypt Marina. Includes a one-night stay for two at the Heron Suites, Southold, NY. Presented by George Hirsch Lifestyle in partnership with Long Island Arts Alliance.

A random drawing will be conducted on Sunday, January 10, 2016 during the New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

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DATE of BIRTH: Entrants must be eighteen (18) years age or older by the contest closing date and be a legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

Mail Entries to: Long Island Arts Alliance, 720 Northern Blvd., Hillwood Commons #137, Brookville, NY 11548.

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

Celebrate the Season with the Arts Visit ArtsAliveLI.org for a full calendar of events. Check out some events happening on Long Island! You Go Girl! Celebrating Women Artists Through April 3, 2016 Heckscher Museum of Art Audrey Flack Lady Madonna, 1972 Courtesy of the Louis K. Meisel Gallery & Audrey Flack.

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World Class Events

For the KIDS!

Dar Williams December 18 • 8:00 PM Landmark on Main Street

Princess Frog – A Musical Fairy Tale December 27 - December 31 Long Island Children's Museum

Maxfield Parrish: Paintings and Prints Through February 28, 2016 Nassau County Museum of Art

Holiday Party & Sing-along with Don Duga, the creator of Frosty the Snowman December 21 • 7:00 PM Bay Street Theater

Peter de Sève Exhibition Through January 8, 2016 The Memorial Gallery at Farmingdale State College

Beauty and the Beast Through December 20 Arena Players Repertory Company Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium

Visit our ON-LINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS to discover more ways to celebrate the season!

See the NUTCRACKER! Lumière Ballet December 19 • 7:00 PM December 20 • 2:00 PM Islip Town Hall West Frank Ohman’s New York Dance Theatre December 18 • 2:00 & 7:00 PM December 19 • 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM December 20 • 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM Hofstra University Eglevsky Ballet December 19 • 6:00 PM December 20 • 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM Tilles Center for the Performing Arts Facebook.com/ArtsAliveLI.org

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

Christmas

Traditions From Around The World

We’re all aware of how Christmas here in the U.S. works. We have Christmas trees, gingerbread houses and candy canes. We hang stockings

on the mantle and leave cookies out for Jolly Old Saint Nick every Dec. 24. However, have you ever wondered how Christmas is celebrated throughout the world? Here are 12 foreign Christmas traditions, paired with how to say “Merry Christmas” in their language.

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The Christmas season begins by decorating starting on the Day of the Immaculate Conception, (Dec. 8). The eight days before Christmas, also known as the Novena, are filled with carolers singing traditional songs around the neighborhood. To prepare and purify their bodies for Christmas Day, Italians avoid meat on la Vigilia (Christmas Eve). Although the idea is to eat lean, most indulge in multiple courses of fish, sometimes as many as seven. The official end of the Christmas season isn’t until Jan. 6, the Day of the Epiphany, and the twelfth day of Christmas. On the eve of the Epiphany, families usually prepare a large dinner to mark the end of the holiday season.

On Christmas Eve, children often go outside singing ‘kalanda,’ (carols) in the streets of their town. They play drums and triangles as they sing and will sometimes carry model boats that they’ve decorated with nuts and painted gold. Carrying a boat is a very old custom in the Greek Islands. If children sing well, they might be given money, nuts, sweets or dried figs to eat.

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Italy (“Buone Feste Natalizie”)

Greece (“Kala Christouyenna”)

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Yule logs made out of cherry wood are often burned in French homes. The log is carried into the house on Christmas Eve and is sprinkled with red wine to make the log smell nice while burning. There is a custom that

the log and candles are left burning all night with food and drinks left out in case Mary and the baby Jesus come past during the night.

Russia and Ukraine (“Novim Godom,” or “Srozhdestvom Kristouym”)

Christmas is celebrated on Jan. 7 rather than Dec. 25 because the Orthodox Church uses the old ‘Julian’ calendar for religious celebration days. In a traditional Russian Christmas, special prayers are said and people fast, sometimes for 39 days until their Christmas Eve, Jan. 6, until the first evening star appears. Then begins a 12-course supper in honor of the 12 apostles.

Czech Republic (“Veselé Vánoce”)

Single women in the Czech Republic perform a very unusual ritual on Christmas Eve Day to find out if they will marry the following year. With their backs to the house door, they throw one of their shoes over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the heel towards the door, it means that she will stay single for another year. If the front of the shoe points towards the door, it means she will move out of her parents house and should start making wedding preparations.

Sweden (“God Jul”)

The town of Gavle has constructed a giant goat made of straw for the past 40 years to mark the beginning of the holiday season. Every year, vandals do everything they can to burn down

ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

the entire goat before Christmas Day. Since 1966, the Straw Goat has survived until Christmas only 10 times. People even go as far as disguising themselves as Santa Claus or elves to get past the guardians to ignite the straw monument.

several months until it’s well into the decomposition phase. Greenland natives find it delicious and the mark of the holiday. “Mattak” is another tradition, which is whale skin with a strip of blubber inside and is served during celebrations.

Netherlands (“Lalig Kerstfeast”)

Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 6 in The Netherlands. The Dutch await the arrival of Sinterklaas and his sidekick, Black Pete, who come by way of steamer to leave candy and nuts for deserving boys and girls who have filled their shoes with hay and sugar for his horse.

For Australians, Christmas is in the summer! Children have their summer holidays from mid Dec. to early Feb. It is tradition to decorate houses with bunches of “Christmas Bush,” a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream-colored flowers. In the summer, these flowers turn a deep shiny red over a period of weeks, usually by the week of Christmas. It’s been said that when Santa reaches the land down under, he gives the reindeer a rest and switches to kangaroos.

Germany (Fröhliche Weihnachten”)

Dec. 6 marks Saint Nicholas day for the country. On the eve of that day, children leave a shoe or boot outside of their door. The next morning either candies or small toys fill the shoes for those who have been good. If they have been bad, children receive a golden birch placed next to the sweets.

Ireland (“Nollaig Shona”)

Rather than the traditional milk and cookies for Santa, the Irish leaves mince pies and a bottle of Guinness for him to snack on. There is an old

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tradition that in some Irish households, people put a tall, thick candle on the sill of the largest window after sunsets on Christmas Eve. The candle is left to burn all night and serves as a welcoming light for Mary and Joseph.

Greenland (“Juullimi Pilluarit”)

As opposed to a traditional holiday meal of turkey, ham, pies and pudding, Greenland enjoys “Kiviak,” which consists of the raw flesh of an auk wrapped in seal skin and is placed under a rock for

Slovakia (“Veselé Vianoce”)

Before the start of the Christmas Eve dinner, the head of the family takes a spoon of Loksa, (a traditional Christmas dish made out of bread, poppy seed filling and water), and throws it up to the ceiling. The more mixture that remains glued on the ceiling, the richer his crops will be the following year.

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Australia (“Merry Christmas” or “Happy Christmas”)

ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

BY JESSICA DIMEO

SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

The American Heart Association (AHA) is offering its annual Holiday Healthy Eating Guide to help people navigate the holiday season in a healthy way. The 13-page free guide has tips, recipes and resources to help maintain a healthy lifestyle during the busy holiday season. The guide is available free online (www.bit.ly/AHAHolidayGuide). The AHA recommends making small but impactful lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease and stroke, the nation’s number one and four killers. Studies show that more than 80 percent of heart disease can be prevented with simple lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, exercising 30 minutes most days of the week and eating healthier. More than 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, according to the AHA, so getting to and maintaining a healthy weight is important during the holidays and year round. The AHA recommends using the personal calorie calculator (www.heart.org/explorer) to first determine your daily calorie intake. The simple questionnaire offers calorie goals based on your height, weight, age and activity levels. Also knowing how many calories are in favorite holiday menu items can help manage weight. The AHA offers healthy substitutions in the guide as well as healthy recipes.

Tips For A Healthier December

“We hope people will keep the traditions and lose the extra fat, sugar, calories and weight gain that come along with the holidays,” said Dr. Paul Harnick, president of the AHA Long Island Board of Directors. “It can be done!”

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Holiday parties and dinners can throw off your healthy lifestyle goals. The AHA recommends healthy portions, limiting the empty calories in alcohol drinks and filling up on healthier fruits and vegetables first before the less healthy options. Keep dessert temptations to small samples of your favorites instead of full servings, and eat mindfully to enjoy every morsel. “Many of the traditional foods served during the holidays can be healthy— the trick is to not load on the butter, cream and sugar,” said Harnick. For many of us, more than half of annual weight gain occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Some studies say the average American puts on up to five to seven pounds in these few weeks. To avoid seasonal weight gain, fill your plate with veggies first and watch your portion sizes of the calorie-heavy foods. Of course, exercise is critical to weight management and overall health. The AHA recommends getting 30 minutes of vigorous exercise on most days of the week. A brisk walk before or after meals can help burn those extra calories.

10 tips to enjoy a healthy holiday season: -In order to maintain a healthy weight, you need to balance the amount of food you eat with the amount of energy you burn. -Limit the amount of sodium in your diet to the AHA recommendation of less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day, which is about two-thirds of a teaspoon of table salt. High sodium

intake can increase stroke risk. -Eggnog Swap—Fill your glass with half to three-quarter parts of low-fat or skim milk and one part eggnog. You’ll still get the flavor without all the calories. -Use more herbs and spices, like rosemary and cloves, to flavor dishes and less salt or butter. -Choose fresh fruits like cranberries and apples to add to holiday menu items and keep vegetables healthy by using low-sodium broth to flavor instead of smothering them in butter, cream and too much salt. -Keep portions in check. A serving size of meat is 3 oz., about the size of a deck of cards. So, be conscious of how much you put on your plate, and pass on that second helping. If you’re also having another meat, like ham or lamb, take smaller portions of each. Light meat is leaner than dark. -Enjoy an occasional sweet without losing control by sampling a selection or two, rather than having full servings. For example, have a few bites of pie or just the filling not the high-fat crust, a small cookie or one small square of fudge. -Eat healthy snacks like veggies or nuts before a holiday party so you don’t arrive starving. -Walk away from the party buffet. Get a small plate and fill it with the healthiest options and a few treats, then walk away. -Plan time every day for hearthealthy, stress-relieving exercise alone or with family and friends. Visit www.heart.org/ gettinghealthy for more tips and ideas.

ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

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Eggnog: Easy, Low Fat or Raw? BY CHRISTY HINKO

CHINKO@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

Whether you prefer a classic eggnog, or something lighter, but still as tasty, here are a couple of eggnog variations for you to serve at your next holiday event.

Traditional Eggnog 12 eggs, separated 6 cups milk 2 cups heavy cream 2 cups bourbon 1-1/2 cups sugar 3/4 cup brandy 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg In a large bowl and using a mixer, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar for approx 10 minutes. Mixture sure be firm. Slowly, add in the bourbon and brandy—just a little at a time. Allow mixture to cool in the fridge (for up to six hours). Approximately 30 minutes before your guests arrive, stir the milk into the chilled yolk mixture. Stir in one and a half teaspoons ground nutmeg. In a separate bowl, beat the cream with a mixer on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks. In yet another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Gently fold the cream into the egg mixture. Ladle into cups. Garnish with remaining nutmeg. Serves: 8.

Low Fat Eggnog For those of us who really don’t need any extra naughty bits over

the festive season, this low fat eggnog is perfect. 6 cups skim milk 1 cup “Egg Beaters” (or similar) 2 tsp vanilla essence 2 tsp rum extract sweetener or sugar, to taste 2 pinches nutmeg, ground 2 pinches cinnamon, ground In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, Egg Beaters and sweetener or sugar. Stir continuously. Heat and stir until the mixture thickens slightly—enough that it can coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the vanilla essence, rum extract, one pinch of nutmeg and one pinch of cinnamon. Remove from heat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the eggnog has cooled (at least three hours). Just prior to serving, ladle your yummy low fat eggnog into glasses, and garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon. Serves: 6.

Easy Eggnog A recipe that is easy to make. You’ll have this quick eggnog ready to go in no time. 6 eggs 3 cups milk 8 tablespoons sugar 3 teaspoon vanilla essence 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground In a large bowl, beat the eggs using an electric beater. By turn, add milk and sugar. Beat until mixture thickens slightly. Add in the vanilla essence and ground nutmeg. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled (at least 3 hours). Serves: 8.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

“Hot” Gifts For The Cold Holiday Season

BY ALEXANDRA CIVORELLI

SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

on. Easy to stick anywhere with adhesive backing, Hipstapatch is a perfect gift for teenagers who want to express themselves and show off their unique style. Hipstapatch are $4 each in Bluetique, 25 Main St., Port Washington, 516-734-1002. Pie Face from Justin’s Toys in Glen Cove The most popular game right now, Pie Face is a kid-friendly Russian roulette game of suspense—will you or will you not be the person who

gets a pie in the face? Great for anyone ages 5 and up, and perfect for family game nights. Pie Face can be found while supplies last in places like Justin’s Toys in Glen Cove, 516-801-3931; Toys “R” Us

and Target locations, $24.99. Spikeball from Marbles: The Brain Store in Garden City A fun and portable game that you can play in the house, in the backyard or at the beach, Spikeball is a unique twist on the game of volleyball—instead of a large net set up between two teams of six, the net is a small trampoline placed in the middle of teams of

Hipstapatch from Bluetique in Port Washington Hand-drawn peel-and-stick patches, teens love to accessorize their clothing, shoes, phone cases, suitcases, backpacks, skateboards, bikes and more with these cute and trendy throwbacks to the patches of old that had to be sewn or ironed

two who are trying to bounce the ball on the net to their opponents, with three chances to bounce it back. Harder than it seems, this entertaining game is a good gift for anyone to play nearly anywhere. Spikeball is $63.99 online at www. marblesthebrainstore.com and in Marbles: The Brain Store in the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City.

Zipfy from MJ Beanz in Plainview Do your kids love to go sledding once the snow starts falling? The Zipfy Mini Luge is the new and improved way to go sledding, with

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Schmovie from Funky Monkey Toys in Greenvale A new and creative board game perfect for family game nights, the premise of Schmovie is simple: make up funny titles for movies and see who wins! Shmovie—The Hilarious Game of Made-Up Movies is a great gift for anyone ages 13 and up who enjoy board games and having fun with family and friends. Shmovie is $19.99 in Funky Monkey Toys in Greenvale, 516-484-0966

MacKenzie-Childs Ornaments from Imperial China in Roslyn A home decor and gift shop with over 200 unique brands of giftware, stemware, fine china, crystal, etc., Imperial China also sells Mackenzie-Childs ornaments for Christmas trees. Beautiful and finely-made, some of these unique ornaments have a black-and-white checkered theme with snowflakes and black-tie balls that make for traditional, yet chic Christmas gifts for the people in your life.

MacKenzie-Childs ornaments range in price from $20 to $300, depending on the ornament, and can be found in Imperial China in Roslyn, 516-764-7311. Chocolate Gift Baskets from Chocolate Works in Manhasset Who wouldn’t love a gift basket filled with delicious chocolate for the holiday season? A great gift for family, friends, co-workers and anyone else who deserves your appreciation during the holiday season, Chocolate Works offers boots, sleighs and baskets filled with chocolates, in addition to chocolate molds of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, sleighs and toy soldiers. They even offer a Winter Tray Basket filled for those who don’t celebrate Christmas. The chocolate gift baskets range from $25 to $155 from Chocolate Works in Manhasset, 516-627-2340.

Adult Coloring Books from The Book Revue in Huntington Coloring books don’t have to just be for children anymore; a way to unwind from the problems and stress of adulthood, there is a wide-range of adult coloring books meant to soothe the mind while filling in pictures of flowers, animals, cities, mandalas and intricate designs that will appeal to every adult on your gift list. The Book Revue offers many varieties of these books that range in price from $10 to $25. The Book Revue is in Huntington, 631-271-1442.

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a handle attached that makes it possible to steer while you and your kids are tobogganing down snow-covered hills. Zipfy is great for kids and adults, designed to be light for carrying back up the hills but also to hold up to 250 lbs. Zipfy can be found in MJ Beanz in Plainview for $39.99, 516-827-7700.

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

Tips For Tipping

dish of coins is usually on display and the tip is placed there instead of in the attendant’s hand. If attendants do nothing but stand there, no tip is necessary. Valet Parking Attendants Tip the parking attendant at least $2. Give the tip when the car is brought to you, not when you arrive. Busboys Busboys are usually not tipped, with two exceptions: you spill something and the busboy cleans it up, and in that case give a dollar or two as you leave; or if a busboy in a cafeteria carries your tray to the table, then a dollar or two is also appropriate.

BY CHRISTY HINKO

SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

Tipping might be one of the most socially accepted forms of etiquette, but it is often the most confusing. When dining out with family and friends, it is often the topic at the end

of the meal. Should we tip for buffet service? How much should we give at a formal meal? The typical standard for tipping when dining out at a traditional restaurant is 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount of the bill, not the total bill with taxes included. But some

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Hostess and Maitre d’ Unless you are a frequent patron, it is not necessary to tip the maitre d’. If you are a regular, you may want to give the host $10 to $20 every once in a while to cultivate your relationship and to say “thank you” for special services. A tip may be appropriate if the maitre d’ has gone out of his way to find a table for you on a busy night. If your dining party is large, double or triple the tip, depending on the number of people.

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Bartenders How much you tip a bartender depends in part on whether you’re waiting at the bar for a table in the adjoining restaurant or you’re at a bar for its own sake. As you wait for a table, you can either pay for drinks as you order or run a tab, which will be added to your dinner bill. Leave a tip for the bartender before you leave the bar. One dollar per drink is standard. If you’re at a bar simply to have a drink, tip between 15 and 20 percent of the total. If the bartender has given you a free drink or two, add a couple of extra dollars to the tip.

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dining patrons need some guidance for tipping in nontraditional settings. In self-service restaurants, like buffet or cafeteria-style, it is acceptable to tip 10 percent of the bill for table services, and an extra $5 in any dining setting for extra accommodations or an extra 10 percent if your table receives extra attention on a particularly busy night at the restaurant.

Musicians In nicer restaurants with piano entertainment, do not tip the piano player unless you see a tip jar. You may tip musicians in more casual restaurants, $2 to $5 when you leave, even if you have not made a request. If you have made requests, add an extra dollar or more for each song. For strolling musicians, the basic tip is $1 per musician and $2 for a party of two; a total of $5 is enough for a group. If you make a special request, add an extra dollar to each musician’s tip. You needn’t stop eating when musicians perform table side. Just smile and thank them as you tip when the musicians finish. Tipping Less If something goes wrong during your ordering or meal, your tip depends on how well the waitstaff addresses the problem. If there was a successful resolution, tip the full amount. If your waiter did not get adequate results but doesn’t deserve all the blame, reduce the tip to 10 percent. If the problem wasn’t taken care of or your waiter was surly, tip eight percent. Other tipping tips: • Tip discreetly. Tipping is a private matter, so don’t play the big spender who likes to flash bills. • Money is the tip of choice in most cases, but sometimes a small gift, usually given during the holidays, can be substituted. • Check the bill to see if a gratuity (or a service charge) is included. Gratuities are typically included when a table has been booked for groups of more than six people. If you think it is deserved, you can leave an additional tip. • If you eat light or use a coupon, it is thoughtful to leave a tip commensurate with a full-priced meal.

Washroom Attendants Mike Lininger contributed to this Tip washroom attendants at least one article. He is the editor of Etiquette dollar for handing you a towel. A small Scholar (www.etiquettescholar.com).

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

You’ve Got Champagne BY JENNIFER FAUCI

JFAUCI@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

The gift of champagne and wine is both classy and sophisticated, not to mention easy and simple. But to make gift-giving a little more special, dress up your bottle this season. In what perhaps may be some of the most creative packaging ever, Veuve Clicquot has created a mailbox to hold it’s delicious Brut champagne. In 2014, Veuve Clicquot held the Re-Creation Awards—an open competition inviting emerging designers from around the world to create their own interpretation of the Clicquot Mailbox. The original mailbox, created in Veuve Clicquot’s iconic yellow hue, was inspired by Veuve Clicquot’s rich history of correspondence and entertaining. To celebrate this history and pay homage to creative design, Veuve Clicquot invited artists and novices from around the world to interpret their own version. The winning design, created by Canadian designer Eileen Ugarkovic, represents freedom of thought, conveyed through graphic images of paper planes in Clicquot yellow, blue and white adorning the exterior of the mailbox. “In creating my concept, I was inspired by Clicquot’s anchor, the symbol of hope,” said Ugarkovic. “When one thinks of hope, birds immediately come to mind. Birds also represent freedom and ideas. And

since freedom and ideas are conceived on paper, I envisioned paper birds, or paper planes, flying into Madame Clicquot’s mailbox.” Ugarkovic added that blue was chosen in addition to the brand color to symbolize Clicquot’s historical contribution to the city of Reims. “Combined, these colors are regal and royal just like the Clicquot brand itself,” said Ugarkovic. Feeling royal this season? The limited edition Re-Creation Awards Mailbox includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and retails for $49 at fine wine and liquor stores nationwide.

14th Annual

“Shop for a Cause” to save historic Hempstead House on the Sands Point Preserve

ome visit us at our shop and select a special gift from our Award-winning Jewelry Collections,

Atelier Swarovski exclusively at Glenn Bradford, Collectable Timepieces and important Estate Jewelry featured at our “Objects of Desire” event. Shop through the holidays and a portion of our holiday sales will be donated to Saving Hempstead House. It has been a successful fundraising season so far, and with your support, we can really make a difference to help save this symbol of the American dream. We look forward to seeing you. Warmth, Sharyn and Glenn Bradford

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Award-winning Jewelry Designer Selected One of America's Coolest Jewelry Stores

Holiday Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 - 5:30, Sunday 12:00 - 4:00, Monday December 21 11:00 - 5:30 279 Main Street, Port Washington, NY~516-767-1600 glennbradford.com ©2015 Glenn Bradford Fine Jewelry Corp.

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KARL V. ANTON, JR. Publisher, 1984–2000 ANGELA SUSAN ANTON Editor and Publisher FRANK A. VIRGA President IRIS PICONE Operations Manager CHRISTY HINKO Managing Editor, Special Sections ALEX NUÑEZ Art Director KAREN MENGEL Director of Production SHARI EGNASKO Executive Assistant JOY DIDONATO Circulation Director

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

Peggy’s Top Five For Stress-Free Gift Giving BY PEGGY POST

SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

You should feel good about the gifts you give. Keeping in mind that it truly is the thought behind the gift and spirit of generosity with which it is given that matter most, here are five tips for giving gifts without succumbing to stress.

Get Their Wish List

Ask people for hints or even a wish list. Gather ideas during the year, and write everything down.

Trust Your Judgment

Forget about being afraid the gift isn’t “perfect.” If you think the person will like it, chances are they will.

takes the fun out of gift giving. There’s nothing more stressful than overspending—and feeling uneasy about it.

Buy It When You See It

If you’re shopping in July and see a sweater that your mother would love, buy it. It probably won’t be there when you look in December.

Start A Gift Closet

Stash a few gifts that will work in a pinch: copies of your favorite cookbook, a good bottle of wine or boxes of beautiful note cards. That way you’ll be ready if you need a gift on the spot. —Peggy Post writes for the Emily Post Institute.

Stick To Your Budget

Spending more than you should

Rules For CHINKO@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

To Regift The best gifts for regifting are gifts that you really believe are best suited for a specific person. There are times when the person to whom you are regifting will get enjoyment out of something that doesn’t suit your taste. Don’t regift just to get rid of the gift. Just because you don’t want the gift doesn’t mean the person you are giving it to does either. Personalize the new and unopened regift. Rewrap it, and definitely change the gift card that it originally came with. Not To Regift Use common sense. Never regive a Christmas candle in the middle of the summer. Do not give anything monogrammed to your neighbor, unless, by odd chance, they have the same initials as you do. Do not regift handmade items or free promotional

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF

SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM

items like the tote bag from the perfume counter. Make sure your giftee is not related to the person who originally gave the gift to you. Do not discuss that your gift is recycled. It might be true, but you should not tell someone it is a regift. Do not feel bad about regifting. There is a slight work around for this though. If you are regifting something seriously expensive, you might want to tell the giftee so they do not feel obligated to gift you back with something equally expensive. Host A Regifting Party An idea mentioned on www. regiftable.com suggests hosting a sort of White Elephant Party, when people gather together for the purpose of exchanging essentially impractical items. This is a great way to regift without guilt. Just be sure that the original gift giver will not be in attendance.

Here’s how it goes: Each guest brings one wrapped regift.

hearty meal and quality time with your friends and family,” said Christy Jordan, author of Come Home to

One of the best parts about holiday entertaining is spending quality time with friends and family. If you’re rushing around trying to cook and prepare everything, your food may taste great, but you’re missing out on a key element of the season togetherness. But the quality of your food doesn’t need to suffer for great conversation, say Refrigerator cakes are great for entertaining because they can be made in advance. cooking experts. “With a little advanced Supper, a collection of budget-conplanning, you can have it all at your scious, kid-friendly recipes designed holiday gathering—both a delicious, for busy families. Jordan shared her handy checklist for a more fulfilling holiday entertaining season:

Regifting

BY CHRISTY HINKO Yes, it is being said. There are rules for regifting and whether you admit it or not, it is extremely resourceful to do so. But there are tactful ways to do it and not so tactful ways too. Regifting, giving a gift that you received to another person, has been happening for centuries, but there are some simple etiquette rules that should be followed.

A Handy Holiday Entertaining Checklist

All guests draw a number. The regifter with the lowest number chooses a wrapped regift and opens it for everyone to see. The person with the next lowest number can either take the opened regift or select a “new” wrapped regift. If they choose a “new” regift, they must open it for all to see. Each subsequent person is allowed to either unwrap a “new” regift or take any of the regifts already opened. If a regift is taken from someone, that person gets to immediately choose another “new” gift to open or they can get revenge by stealing someone else’s gift. Finally, when all the gifts have been opened, the person with the lowest number gets to trade with anyone or keep the regularly rejected regift they ended up with. On the off chance that you don’t love what you end up with, donate it to charity. So, maybe it is the gift that keeps on giving or it’s something you have a duplicate of—either way, make sure to thank the person who gave it to you with sincerity. If you cannot bring yourself to regift, some choose to donate their unwanted gifts to charity or sell them in an online auction. Gift thoughtfully.

Two to three days ahead

Shop for groceries and make your dessert. “If I know I am going to have company, I like to make my dessert a few days ahead of time so when it’s time for dessert, I know all I have to do is cut and serve,” said Jordan. Jordan points out that refrigerator cakes are wonderful for holiday entertaining, because they can be made in advance and actually get better as the days go by. They also taste great cold.

One to two days ahead

Assemble the main course. Many entrées can be made ahead of time, such as cold-weather soups and stews. Casseroles also do very well if assembled ahead of time and then placed covered in the fridge to be baked just before supper. You may also consider doubling your recipe and freezing half for later use. Since the season is a busy time of year, having extra meals on hand can save you a mid-week headache.

On the big day

Set the table, make the bread, pop the entree on the stove or in the oven and just enjoy. “I like to have as many things done as possible before company arrives, so I have more time to enjoy my guests,” said Jordan. Don’t be stressed by your entertaining schedule. Plan to be relaxed and ready when your company arrives. More useful cooking and entertaining tips can be found at www.southernplate.com.

ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

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THIS HOLIDAY SEASON…

NASSAU COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

wFind the gifts to fill any wish list! wHelp create local jobs and improve our economy! wHelp to revitalize our downtowns! wAnd keep more of your hardearned money right here in Nassau County!

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ANTON HOLIDAY GUIDE • DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2015

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