the begining of a new year and we hope you're feeling refreshed and rested. We're excited to announce that we will now be publishing South Bay's Seasons® Magazine every month in 2025! We look forward to bringing you seasonal features, local news and happenings, along with ads from your favorite merchants. Looking to advertise? Contact us today at 631.226.2636 or via email at info@longislandmediagroup.com. We thank you for your loyal readership!
Thedawn of a new year marks a great time to turn over a new leaf. Many people begin a new year by making resolutions, and aspiring to eat healthier is annually among the most popular pledges healthconscious individuals make. A recent Statista survey of hundreds of people across the globe found that eating healthier was the second most popular New Year’s resolution. In fact, 50 percent of respondents indicated they set goals to eat healthier in the year ahead. Though each year is different, it’s fair to assume a similarly large percentage of resolutionminded individuals will aspire to eat healthier this year. As people begin their journeys to a healthier lifestyle, they can consider these strategies to stay the course with a new diet.
• Do not eat too close to bedtime. A study published
sparks feelings of misery will prove harder to commit to than one that allows for the occasional indulgence. Moderation is the name of the game, and that should be a rule of thumb for both healthy foods and indulgences. Don’t make indulgences part of your daily routine, even if you eat them in moderation. Rather, save treats for special occasions, and even then only eat them in moderation.
in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found that eating more of a day’s total energy intake in the evening is associated with a higher risk of being overweight or obese. The researchers behind the study concluded that eating more of the day’s energy intake at midday can lower the risk of being overweight or obese. Individuals are more likely to stay the course when they see positive results, so try to eat dinner several hours before bedtime and resist the urge to snack after dinnertime.
• Treat yourself, but only periodically. It’s unreasonable and potentially counterproductive to completely avoid foods seen as treats. Cutting out indulgent foods may seem appropriate, but such an approach could make you miserable, and a diet that
• Consider eating less, but more frequently. Data is conflicting in regard to eating smaller but more frequent meals. A 2015 study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that individuals who had six or more eating occasions in 24 hours had a lower mean body mass
index than people who had four or fewer eating occasions in 24 hours. The researchers behind the study concluded that eating a larger number of small meals throughout the day may be associated with improved diet quality and lower BMI. This approach is commonly referred to as “grazing,” and some research has indicated it has no metabolic advantage over other approaches to eating. So what to make of the mixed results? Dieters can decide for themselves and eat more frequent but smaller, healthier meals to combat hunger pangs that can arise when switching to a new diet. If hunger is no longer posing a threat that can derail your diet, then this approach might increase the chances you stay committed to eating right.
couples make plenty of decisions when planning their weddings, and some may be more significant than others. Choosing a wedding reception venue is among the most important decisions couples will make.
The reception venue is where couples and guests will spend the majority of the day, and no two venues are the same. As couples begin shopping for a place to host their reception, they can ask themselves and venue representatives a multitude of questions to narrow down their options and ultimately make the best decision for them.
What are we looking for in a venue?
Some couples may know precisely what they want their receptions to be like, while others may not have the slightest idea. Of course, some couples may be somewhere in the middle. Prior to beginning the process of choosing a venue, couples can identify what they're looking for. Is a venue with outdoor entertaining space a priority? Do you want to hold the ceremony and reception at the same venue? How many guests will the venue need to accommodate? Answering these questions and others can help couples narrow down their search.
How much can we afford?
Budget is a significant variable when shopping for a wedding venue. Some venues offer multiple spaces that can accommodate couples with a wide range of budgets, while others are singular spaces suited to receptions within a specified size. Itemizing a budget and determining how much can be alloted to a reception venue can serve as a guideline when couples begin searching for sites.
Is our date available?
Once couples know what they want and what they can afford, they can prepare a number of questions that are worth asking at every venue they visit. Perhaps the most important, at least for those couples who have already chosen a wedding date, is the availability of the site on that date. If couples have not yet chosen a date, they can ask for a list of available dates at each venue they visit and perhaps use that knowledge to pick a day, particularly if they prefer a given venue.
Who will cater the meal?
Some venues do their own catering, while others may have working relationships with outside caterers. And some venues rent only the spaces and require couples to hire their own caterers and arrange all the details on their own. If a venue caters the meal, ask if they accommodate people with various restrictions, such as food allergies and gluten intolerances.
How many hours are included in the rental agreement?
It's important that couples know what they're getting, including how much time they get in each space they consider. The online wedding resource The Knot notes a standard wedding reception is five hours, the first of which is generally designated as cocktail hour.
What is the payment structure?
Identifying the payment structure, include down payment due date and when the final payment must be made, is important as well. This knowledge can allow couples to map out their expenses, the most significant of which is typically the reception venue.
These are just some of the questions couples can ask as they plan their wedding receptions.
mark a turning point from one stage in life to another. The significance of that transition is perhaps one reason why couples and their guests dress so nicely for a wedding ceremony and reception. Formal garb is a wedding tradition, and guests anxiously await seeing which type of gown a bride will wear. In western cultures, white wedding gowns have been the standard since the nineteenth century and are believed to symbolize purity and grace. In eastern cultures, wedding gowns often have been elaborate, colorful creations that have their own symbolic meanings unique to various areas of the world.
Shopping for a wedding gown can spark mixed emotions. While it is exciting to try on some remarkable garments, there also is the pressure of knowing all eyes will be on you while wearing this couture creation. Narrowing down wedding gown prospects can take vision, time and patience. The following pointers can help when it comes time to visit bridal shops.
Make an appointment
Many bridal shops operate by appointment only. That's because the staff wants to devote complete attention to a client, and having people simply walk in from the street can draw their attention away and/or lead to long wait times. Identify the stores you want to visit, and then call to secure your time slot.
Narrow down styles
Think about what your personal style might be and how you want to look on your wedding day. If you're not sure about the vocabulary surrounding dress silhouettes, visit Pinterest or Instagram and save images of dresses that you love. Then you can show the sales staff what you are thinking instead of going in empty-handed.
Keep an open mind
Try on a few different styles even if you have a particular dress in mind. You never know if something might be a better fit for your body type or the scope and style of your wedding unless you give it a go.
Start the process early
Unlike off-the-rack clothing, most wedding shops will have to order your dress and have it shipped. Then comes a few weeks for alterations. KWH Bridal notes eight to 12 months before a wedding is a good time to choose and order a dress. Brides magazine says most made-to-order wedding gowns take about six to nine months to create. There also are three separate fittings to ensure the gown will fit like a glove.
Invite a handful of confidantes
It's best not to arrive at the shopping appointment with an entire entourage. Pick, at the most, four people whose opinions you trust; otherwise, it could be a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. As a bride-to-be you'll already be anxious, and you'll want soothing, supportive people with you.
Plan your budget
Know well in advance what you can afford to spend. According to data from The Knot, wedding attire accounts for 7 percent of the average couple's budget. Most wedding gowns are in the range of $2,000. Don't forget about additional costs, such as veil, shoes, alterations, undergarments, and any add-ons.
Theorieson the origins of the tuxedo vary significantly. Some believe that this formal garment was created by wealthy aristocrats attending an autumn ball in Tuxedo Park, New York. However, the Wall Street Journal has reported that the tuxedo might be a British invention, spearheaded by the fashion-conscious King of Wales Edward VII in 1865. No matter where the tuxedo originated, it has become standard attire for formal occasions, including weddings. It may seem as though every tuxedo is the same, but that’s not the case. Tuxes come in different styles, so those tying the knot or attending other formal functions can choose an option that fits their personality and physique. Here’s a look at what sets tuxedos apart and some noteworthy tux trends.
Suits versus tuxedos
Some may wonder what sets a tuxedo apart from a suit. One of the more notable differences is that tuxedo lapels are designed with silk, satin or textured grosgrain to provide that signature V-look, says Brides magazine. Suit lapels are made from the same fabric as the suit jacket. Tuxedos traditionally are held up with suspenders, while suit pants have belt loops for use with a belt. Suits are styled with a dress shirt while tuxedos are worn with a particular tuxedo shirt that likely has a spread collar, bib, decorative studs, and French cuffs fastened with cufflinks.
Men who want to set themselves apart can opt for what The Knot calls the most popular styles of tuxedo lapels. Notch lapels are the most common and feature two lateral points. Shawl collars feature a smooth, sleek looped lapel without notches or peaks. Peak lapels have the lower point of the lapel peak above the upper. Trying on the different jackets can give individuals an idea of which lapel look is best.
A traditional tuxedo will be black, although navy tuxedos have gained a following. But individuals can find a tuxedo in any color. Those who want to add some extra flair to their weddings may opt for a tuxedo in a color that coordinates to the season or aligns with what the rest of the bridal party is wearing.
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LEVEL UP KITCHEN LIBRARY CAFÉ
LITTLE VALENTINES: BABY SUPPLIES DRIVE
February 1 - 23
Emma Clark Library is collecting new store-bought and handmade baby clothes, as well as diapers, wipes, pacifiers, toys & other baby-related items for local organizations that help babies (and their families) in need. Please drop
off donations at the table located in the Library lobby. Anyone (residents or nonresidents) is welcome to donate during Library hours.
Game Day
Every Friday, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
We provide the space, tables and chairs. You bring your friends and a favorite board or card game to play. We also have 2 Mahjong sets available upon request. (You must supply your own cards.) No registration required.
Knit, Crochet, And Chat
First Friday of every month, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Join with friends, old and new, to work on your current knitting or crochet project. Share tips, techniques, and conversation. No registration necessary. No instruction will be provided. Please bring your own supplies. If you have any questions about this program, contact Emma Yohannan at eyohannan@ emmaclark.org.
Evening Book Discussion
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. Copies of the book are available to borrow at the Circulation Desk in the Library’s Lobby. No registration required. Wednesday, February 12 – The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (Book pickup starts 1/8)
KIDS “DROP IN” ACTIVITIES
Perler Palooza
Friday, January 31.
Stop in anytime between 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Kids can grab a template or let their imaginations run wild to create a fuse bead project
of their choice. All children in Grades K - 6 welcome (with parent/caregiver). No registration. Bring a friend!
Newspaper Village
Thursday, February 6.
Stop in anytime between 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Stop by the Children’s Library and use recycled newspaper to make a wintery scene. All children ages 3 – 12 years old welcome (with parent/ caregiver). No registration. Bring a friend!
Super Bowl “Saturday”
Saturday, February 8.
Stop in anytime between 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Get excited for the big game! Elementary-aged kids and their families are welcome to stop by Emma Clark Library anytime between 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. to enjoy football-themed festivities.
Includes a raffle to win a special prize. Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite team’s jersey or football-themed attire. All children in Grades K - 6 welcome (with parent/caregiver). No registration. Bring a friend!
Saturday, February 15.
Stop in anytime between 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Join us in the Children’s Library to create a work of art with recycled materials. All children ages 3 – 12 years old welcome (with parent/ caregiver). No registration. Bring a friend!
Winterfest
Saturday, February 22. Stop in anytime between 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Frosty fun with games, crafts, & contests! Families with children up to grade 6 welcome. No registration. Bring a friend!
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
Emma Clark Library is closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 20) and Presidents’ Day (Monday, February 17).
INCLEMENT WEATHER AND EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
When Library hours are changed due to inclement weather or an emergency, information can be found through the following:
• Website: emmaclark.org
• Facebook: @
• Instagram: @
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is pleased to announce that the Long Island State Park Region will host its 30th annual Winter Run Series, which began this month.
The first series was Sunday, January 12th at Heckscher State Park with an 80’s theme. Additional runs will be held January 19th at Robert Moses State Park with an oldies theme, January 26th at Sunken Meadow State Park with a 90’s theme, and February 2nd at Jones Beach State Park, where you can come dressed as your favorite band or artist. All races are 5K in length and will start at 11 a.m.
Registration is open for both full series signups and individual runs. Registration is online only, there will be no in-person registration. The entry fee for full series registration is $50.00 and day-of-race registration is $20.00 per race. Full series registration will close when the maximum amount of 1,100 registrants is reached. Day-of-race registration is available online, beginning the Monday prior to each race, and accepted until 9 a.m. the day of the race.
Register online at: https://events.elitefeats. com/25nyswinter
Sponsors supporting the series include: Natural Heritage Trust, Connoisseur Media Long Island, Runners Edge, Newsday, and New York Cancer & Blood Specialists. For additional information, please call the Regional Recreation Department at (631) 321-3510, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
knows there’s no cure for the common cold. Though colds can strike at any time, cold season tends to occur when the weather cools down and people spend more time indoors. Inside viruses can circulate and spread more easily, thus leading to elevated rates of infection. Though there might be no cure for the common cold, that does not mean people are helpless against it. Many people have their own remedies to help them manage and potentially shorten the duration of a cold, and chicken soup features prominently in those antidotes. Whether cold season is kicking into high gear or people are confronting the common cold at other times of year, they can incorporate this recipe for “Chicken Barley Soup with Vegetables courtesy of Lines+Angles into their cold remedy routines.
Makes 6 servings 8 cups chicken stock 4 cups water 1 teaspoon marjoram 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 1 medium onion, sliced
1 cup carrots, sliced 2 cups cooked chicken breasts, diced 1 russet potato, peeled and cubed 1 cup broccoli, chopped 1⁄2 cup barley
Salt, to taste, Pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. In a large pot, combine chicken stock, water, marjoram, rosemary, and parsley. Simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Add onion, carrots, cooked chicken, potato, broccoli, and barley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve.
Themonth of January has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in January 1924.
• Millionaire oil broker Courtland S. Dines is shot in the abdomen at his home on January 1. When police arrived on the scene, they found alcohol on the premises, causing a scandal during the Prohibition era.
• Flooding causes the water level of the Seine to rise in Paris, forcing the closure of railway stations on January 2.
• The exiled King Ferdinand is granted permission to return to Sofia by the Bulgarian government on January 2, prompting an immediate objection to the move by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
• On January 3, the governor of the Mexican state of Yucatán, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, is executed by rebels fighting for General Adolfo de la Huerta. de la Huerta was attempting to overthrow the government of President Alvaro Obregón, and Carrillo and three of his brothers were among 11 people killed by the rebels.
• The automobile
manufacturer Walter P. Chrysler introduces his first car, the Chrysler Six Model B-70 sedan, on January 5 at the 24th Annual New York Automobile Show.
• Turkish President Mustafa Kernal Atakürk survives a bomb attack at his home on January 6. A visitor to the president’s home asked to see him and then threw the bomb when Atakürk appeared.
• The British submarine HMS L24 sinks during a training exercise on January 10. The sub collided with the battleship HMS Resolution, and all 43 crew members aboard perish in the accident.
• Bengali activist for Indian independence Gopinath Saha shoots and kills Englishman Ernest Day, a civilian, in Calcutta on January 12. Saha believed he was shooting Calcutta police commissioner Charles Tegart, who was helping to lead the fight against the independence movement. Saha is arrested and subsequently tried and sentenced to death.
• The SMS Berlin embarks on a two-month tour of the North Atlantic Ocean on January 15. It is the first
German Navy warship since the end of World War One to depart on an overseas voyage.
• On January 16, Argentine engineer Raúl Pateras Pescara breaks his own record for helicopter flight. Pescara keeps his model 2F aloft in the air for eight minutes and 13.8 seconds at an altitude of around 15 feet near Paris.
• Ailing Russian leader Leon Trotsky is rumored to have been arrested on January 18. Despite the rumors, Trotsky is ultimately revealed to have been traveling to the Black Sea in an effort to overcome his illness.
• Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game” appears in the weekly magazine Collier’s on January 19. The story’s theme of the hunter who becomes the hunted has since been adapted for countless stories.
• Following a stroke, semiretired leader and founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin dies on January 21 at his estate in Gorki.
• On January 23, Britain and the United States sign a treaty that allows American authorities to search British ships suspected of rumrunning.
• Oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny testifies on January 24 that he lent Senator Albert B. Fall $100,000. Doheny’s admission exacerbates the Teapot Dome Scandal that enveloped the administration of United States President Warren G. Harding.
• The first Winter Olympics open in Chamonix, France, on January 25.
• Prince Regent Hirohito marries Princess Nagako in an elaborate royal wedding in Tokyo on January 26. Within two years, Hirohito would become the 124th Emperor of Japan, a position he would retain, despite controversy, until his death in 1989.
• Lenin is laid to rest in a state funeral in Moscow’s Red Square on January 27. Mourners brave frigid conditions, as the temperature drops to -35 F during the funeral.
• Benito Mussolini addresses 10,000 Blackshirts in the Palazzo Venezia in Rome on January 28. Mussolini predicts complete victory for the Fascists as he campaigns for a general election in Italy.
• On January 31, within weeks of his wife’s death, Prussian state executioner Paul Spaethe dresses in formal evening wear and lights 45 candles. Each candle signifies a person Spaethe had beheaded, and once each candle is lit, Spaethe takes his own life with a revolver.
tri-annual and award winning Long Island Restaurant Week is warming up the winter season with an opportunity to bring customers into Long Island restaurants in the off season! In a recent survey sent to diners, over 70% said they are very likely to dine out during Restaurant Week again in the future, and more than 45% said they dine out twice during the promotion. The Winter edition will take place from Sunday, January 26th to Sunday, February 2nd, 2025, with several prix fixe options. Restaurants may offer a $24 two-course lunch, a $29 three-course dinner menu, a $39 three-course dinner menu and/or a $46 three-
course dinner prix fixe. They may offer one, two or any combination of the four prix fixes during the promotion. Each participant is required to offer three options per course (appetizer, entrée and dessert) for dinner.
Participating restaurants MUST offer the $24 twocourse lunch prix fixe, $29, $39 or $46 three-course dinner prix fixe all night every night they are open (or during lunch hours) from Sunday to Sunday, with the exception of Saturday when it may only be offered until 7 p.m.
Back by popular demand, the Gift Card Giveaway returns for the winter promotion and diners have
the option to enter to win one of three gift cards to redeemed at a participating restaurant of their choice. To enter to win, diners must visit the Long Island Restaurant Week website between Monday, January 20th, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. EST and Monday, February 3rd at 11:59 p.m. EST and input their information. Winners will be selected on or around Friday, February 7th, 2025, and will be notified via telephone and/or email.
“What better way to celebrate the cold days of winter than with a delicious affordable warm meal! We are expecting over 150 restaurants to participate this winter in offering discount
meals for Winter Long Island Restaurant Week. With diners sharing that almost 50% of them dine out more than once during restaurant week, it is lining up to be quite a busy week,” shares Nicole Castillo of Long Island Restaurant and Hospitality Group.
For a full list of participants and to view menus, visit www. longislandrestaurantweek. com.
Long Island Restaurant Week is proudly sponsored by Long Island Restaurant News, Discover Long Island & Newsday.
Tea has been enjoyed as a beverage for thousands of years and has featured prominently in many cultures during that time. The cultural practice of drinking tea is believed to have originated in ancient China. Although there are many different types of tea, the World Tea Council says black tea is the most consumed tea across the globe, comprising around 75 percent of total tea consumption. The most popular type of black tea is Assam tea, which is grown in India. The second-most widely consumed tea is green tea, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of total tea consumption.
Now - March 2, 2025 • See times at bryantpark.org
Bryant Park • 6th Ave., between 40th & 42nd St., NY
Visit the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park in Manhattan! The 17,000 square foot rink features free-admission ice skating, high quality rental skates, free skating shows, and events.
Now - April 27, 2025 • 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Spirit of Huntington Art Center • 2 Melville Road North, Huntington Station
The Huntington Winter Farmers Market is back and ready to bring local goods to you! Running every Sunday through April 27, 2025, the market offers a cozy indoor experience at the Spirit of Huntington Art Center. Come browse an impressive selection of produce, jams, honey and more.
January 18, 2025 • 8:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Baja Boathouse • 31 Baker Place, Patchogue
This 10 Mile Brewery Run in Memory of Ric DiVeglio boasts a scenic, flat USATF certified course. Participants will race and then enjoy a variety of complimentary Blue Point beer, food, and live music. This event is 21+ only, $75/person.
January 18, 2025 - January 19, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Port Jeff Village • Main Street & W Broadway, Port Jeff
Bring your family and friends to this fun festival, where you can enjoy interactive photo opportunities, marshmallow roasting, horse and carriage rides, live music, an ice-skating demonstration, raffles, and of course, ice sculptures. Not all offerings are free of charge.
January 19, 2025 • 7:00 PM
Port Jeff Bowl • 31 Cherub Lane, Port Jeff Station
Enjoy a fun night of painting with the talented Samantha Bonacorsa-Mayer! No painting experience necessary - Samantha will guide you step by step in creating your own masterpiece while you sip on delicious drinks. All participants submit their pet’s photo ahead of time. For teens and up. $55/person. Register at paintnite.com.
February 8, 2025 • 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Bayard Cutting Arboretum • 440 Montauk Hwy., Great River
Join a certified forest therapy guide on a walk to slow down, wander, and notice the beauty of nature. This will be a lengthy walk, so please wear comfortable, study shoes and warm clothing. $45/person.
