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Reflections on an
PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Angela Susan Anton
Amazing Summer
GENERAL MANAGER William M. Delventhal, Jr.
The summer of 2007 leaves us far too quickly! The glorious sunrises and spectacular sunsets, the Hamptons parties with beautiful people and celebrities, and the glamorous designer summer attire are fast fading into memories. This was a summer to remember for charities and nonprofits. People of all ages and economic categories, as well as corporations, are realizing how important it is to help our community and our fellow men, women and children. In the wonderful world of giving, summer highlights included a televised Live Earth Concert with Madonna, Shakira and other recording stars worldwide in the fight to help stop global warming. The North Shore, the Hamptons, and NYC had so many notable events, but a few stood out from the rest: A beautiful NCMA Ball honoring a dear friend and Boulevard supporter, Michael Mazzei. Michael has always remained down-to-earth and never forgot his roots. Throughout his amazingly successful career as the owner of Nubest and co-creator of Artec hair color products, he has always given back to the community. A fabulously successful Children’s Medical Fund Golf Outing at the Glen Oaks Club honoring Dennis Riese, chairman of the Riese Organization. Dennis helped his company fight back from financial adversity to become one of New York’s leading restaurateurs. Dennis is a warm and wonderful person and someone who is committed to helping his community. This month, soap opera legend and Emmy winner Susan Lucci is both our cover photo and feature story. Susan remains as glamorous and charming today as when she first was introduced to the always dramatic and exciting soap opera world. Our August issue also features profiles on a fast-rising media star, the very lovely Uma Pemmaraju of Fox News; world famous author Carol Higgins Clark; and Islander superstar and hockey legend Bobby Nystrom. You can read about growing up as the son of Hollywood legends as told by Steven Humphrey Bogart, son of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and publisher of Icons magazine, or learn about the most fabulous homes in the Metropolitan area from Panache Partners LLC’s new book Dream Homes. Our hotel and restaurant section reviews one of India’s most spectacular hotels, the Oberoi in Mumbai, along with insight into two of Long Island’s most celebrated restaurants: Prime and Annona. The Boulevard has continued its dynamic growth by merit of its diverse, eclectic, and fun to read articles. Our magazine has expanded its scope to include events and people on both a local and national level. Our distribution now extends from Montauk to New York City and all points in between. Each new issue of The Boulevard will continue to be filled with fabulous cover stories and new features as The Boulevard travels to Las Vegas and reviews some of the hottest attractions and hotels in America’s fastest growing city. As always, the best way to travel from Montauk, to the Hamptons, to NYC and beyond is The Boulevard.
Angela Anton
The Boulevard offices are located at: 132 E. 2nd Street, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 Supplement to Anton Community Newspapers
EDITOR IN CHIEF/ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER Jason Feinberg SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Tomas Baade SENIOR EDITOR Dagmar Fors Karppi EDITORS Carla Santella Ilena Ryan ART DIRECTOR Paul Scheuer CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND DESIGNER Damien Monaco ASSISTANT PAGE DESIGNER Lucia D’Onofrio PHOTO EDITOR Andrew Vardakis CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Barry Kay TRAVEL AND FEATURES EDITOR Christina D. Morris CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom Albright Mike Barry Lauriana Capone Dr. Barbara Capozzi, D.O., CNS, CHT Jennifer Dunlop Barberi Paull Feit Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg Dorian Iafeliece Andrew A. Jacono, MD, FACS Barry Kay H. Kelly Keaton Lauren Lawrence John Lomitola Dr. John Loret Kathryn Moschella Heather Muhleman Heidi Muhleman Venus Quintana Robert Rizzuto Harry Rocker Bob Ronzoni Michael Russo Maria Saperstein Dr. Deborah Sarnoff Dr. Robert A. Scott Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum Maria Strong Tim Sullivan David Tabbert Maria Vaiano Courtney Wells Sara Duncan Widness Dr. Michael A. Yorio CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Courtney Davidson Paula Kaminsky Davis Jason Feinberg Dagmar Fors Karppi Tina Guiomar Gene Lesserson Bob Lew John Lomitola M. Cyril Morris Stan Phaneuf Pat Dillon Photography Joe Schildhorn Kathleen Wickham Austin Young CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHER Patrick McMullan
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PROUDLY WELCOMES TOKU: A NEW DINING EXPERIENCE
TokuModernAsian.com
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MODERN ASIAN CUISINE
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DESIGN
A variety of European Classic styles inspired this vintage 2002 Medieval Tudor complete with turret and fabulous water views.
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fter alerting North Shore realtors of her interest in waterfront property perhaps with a teardown type residence, Mercedes Courland, a prominent architectural interior designer, discovered the search proved more elusive than she thought. However, keeping her options open, the availability of an acre property in a highly unlikely location finally appeared. The virgin site untouched by development had been protected by the courts for 20 years due to litigation in the settling of an estate. It is an extraordinary piece of real estate perched above a view of Hempstead Harbor surrounded by towering white beech trees and 100-foot oaks. The neighboring property came with an 1866 Italianate Villa complete with turrets, towers and a European-styled courtyard entrance. Also nearby is a 12,000-square-feet baronial brick Tudor, rebuilt in the ‘90s. 6
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A Personal Dream House in a Fabulous Waterfront Location
It was obvious to Courland and her partner Robert LaPorta (they recently tied the knot) that the site would not be complemented with a California-style ranch or even a developer’s mega-mansion model. No, the site demanded a residence worthy of the established genre of majestic, architecturally splendid, period residences. LaPorta was inclined towards Tudor style, having observed many grand Tudors growing up in Larchmont. Courland had collected vast files of dream house concepts. What better time than now, she surmised, to bring out her best ideas and incorporate them with LaPorta’s Tudor styling? She saw it more as a European chateau with a semi-medieval influence, and therein the collaboration was launched. The interpretation was accomplished with the help of architect Charles D’Alessio who created an authentic interior and exterior plan from the design concepts
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By Christina D. Morris Photos by M. Cyril Morris Photography Design and Architectural Plans: Mercedes Courland and Robert LaPorta Architect: Charles D’Alessio Fabrics: Kravet Wall Treatments: Modeworks Electronics: Harvey Electronics Landscaping: Nicky Peccoro
The pool and hot tub are perched high above Hempstead Harbor.
developed by Courland and in doing so created a roofline reflective of a Tudor mansion. The slate roof with its greenish coloring is complemented by the exquisite stone façade, and here and there sections of pale yellow (pre -weathered) shingles contrasting with the stonework. A 30-foot sea wall on the perimeter of the property and a bold landscaping design featuring boulders and Belgian block-trimmed flower gardens achieved a fortress-like appeal. While Tudor windows tend to be small, here mullioned casements with transoms to maximize light are oversized to give the structure an undated look. Courland arrived at a floor plan typical of grand European homes with a circular entrance from the central turret. This concept allows all rooms to have a water view as well as eliminating long, uninteresting hallways. A decorative curving staircase with wrought iron railings and mahogany cap creates a balcony on the second floor where bedrooms and a home office are located. A massive chandelier drops from a plaster dome soaring three stories high. Jerusalem limestone flooring with brass medallion inlays harmonize beautifully with faux stonewalls accessorized with antique, medieval, fleur-delis sconces and small gothic windows. A huge mahogany carved door with proportionate door handles validate the elegance of the entrance, a replica of an entrance Courland saw in France. As general contractors and project managers, our creative duo had complete control over the site. Each room revealed evidence of custom designed furnishings, upholstery, draperies, area rugs from her designs, both woven and handmade. For
example, a round hallway table was created from a trio of gargoyles Courland found and a console was carved to her specification to complete the ensemble. Armchairs in the family room swivel to view the water or the TV. A pair of 12-foot high mahogany framed glass pocket doors with decorative bevel design provides egress to the kitchen. More than a working kitchen, the room features a built-in unit that includes a sofa/lounge and desk, giving it multi-purpose functionality. LaPorta’s attractive breakfast table with wide apron, claw feet, and matching chairs purchased in Scotland offers diners a water view. The cabinetry in butter crème tones appear as if from another century, but countertops, an impressive stove hearth and appliances are strictly state-of-the-art. In fact, period theme aside, the entire house features cutting edge technology suitable for the 21st century, including radiant heat in wood and stone floors. High-tech conveniences and comfort dwell amiably with the classic details of this authentic Tudor design that includes coffered ceilings, jumbo crown moldings and corbels. While all ceilings are 10 or 12 feet high and all mahogany doors are eight feet wide, the 6,000-squarefoot house reflects a human scale. Wall treatments are additional aesthetic components that further enhance the medieval and Tudor themes. Venetian plaster walls in the family den harmonize with a stone fireplace where the TV is built into the stone. The wall finish in the living room is “Encaustic,” a 4-step process that includes marble dust and flecks of gold given a bowling alley wax finish. Courland credits her brother, Norvel Hermanovski of Modeworks for his expertise in wall finishes. www.boulevardli.com
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DESIGN French doors lead from the kitchen and den to the broad bluestone patio running the length of the house. This expanded outdoor space culminates in a turret gazebo with Tuscan tapered columns, ideal for outdoor dining and contemplating the panoramic water view. The patio also features an outdoor fireplace for chilly evenings. On the lower level, a tiled bar, game room and conversation/TV hub gives easy access to the hot tub and pool. The second floor features four bedrooms and three baths plus a home office. The office holds center stage on the circular balcony and features a pair of glass pocket doors. Off to the right is the master suite where the architectural details of the roofline add significant design forms to the room. A fireplace enveloped in a white frame with marble trim and a four-poster bed festooned with luxurious personally designed pillows and covers in pastel green anchor the room. Spring green walls catch the sunlight from spacious windows with water view. Two additional bedrooms have water views, one with an impressive bay window. A third bedroom faces the garden; all have the architectural interest of the roofline. Courland’s keen eye for detail leads one to believe there is a desire to fully explore all design possibilities a room offers. Leave no element seeking a finish or straying from the vision of a semi-medieval Tudor.
The den with stone fireplace overlooks the spacious patio and water view.
The dining room highlight is a wallscape of the famous California Pebble Beach Golf Course, in honor of a favorite pastime of the owners.
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The huge mahogany carved door into the circular entrance hallway sets the tone for elegance as well as functional design that affords all rooms to face the water view.
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The living room with mahogany beamed ceiling with stenciled appliquĂŠ also features a custom wall unit that conceals the high-tech wiring and speakers.
The kitchen is an artistic pallet of pastels as well as a multipurpose space.
www.boulevardli.com
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DESIGN
The Artist Colony Abounds
With Creativity
By Maria Saperstein t the extreme end of Idle Hour Boulevard in Oakdale, NY, a 16-acre complex once owned by the Vanderbilt family and used as a massive farm has since been converted into the Artist Colony. The Idle Hour section of Oakdale was named by William K. Vanderbilt in 1901. Vanderbilt was inspired to build his estate along the banks of the Connetquot River by its tranquil setting. Many people live along the river today in both new and historic homes. The compound, which once contained such fads as the Palm House, has now been a private residence for years. Dowling College acquired much of this property and has utilized it as a practice space for the college’s performing arts center for music, dance and theatrical presentations. The Colony, constructed by 1.5 million bricks at a cost of $100,000, consists of an archway entrance connected to a tall water tower, a large clock on its north face and a nine-story brick buttressed tower topped with a battlement parapet. The area, originally used by the Vanderbilts to raise the finest chickens on Long Island, had a creamery, metal workshop, horse barn, dog kennel and housed the superintendent. Today, these structures are privately owned individual residences. The forge still contains metal work rails, handles and banisters handmade by the craftsmen of the day. In 1926, the Vanderbilt family left Idle Hour and the farm was purchased by two Manhattan artists, Sawyer Pritchard Thompson and her son William III, who turned the farm into living areas and studios to encourage more New York artisans to reside in the Colony. Many famous artisans found their home in Idle Hour and contributed art exhibitions and theater group presentations that opened for the public. The appearance of these small structures is quite charming, standing barely 7 feet tall. Most homes are low, one-story buildings, with gabled roofs and windows at eye level with an occasional arched opening. The roads were renamed Princess Gate, Featherbed Lane, Tower Mews, Golden Horn and Frog Lane. The original communal garden area still exists on the property. The lanes were used for the Pony Express rider who housed himself in his own little cabin in the community. Those who initially resided in the colony included interior designers, sculptors, landscape artists, painters, illustrators and musicians. Today, the Artist Colony continues to attract people of creativity who appreciate the history and uniqueness of living in this old world atmosphere with a century old legend attached to it. The residents of the Artist Colony respect its past and maintain a sense of authenticity with very little renovation done unless absolutely necessary.
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Bringing Homes to Life in
Dream Homes of Metro New York
By Ilena Ryan ream Homes of Metro New York, a new coffeetable book published by Panache Partners, LLC, is sure to bring any reader into his or her own fantasy world of architectural bliss. The book features fabulous homes created by some of the most skilled and imaginative architects, designers, and builders in New York, designed with specific clientele in mind. All of the homes in the book were someone’s dream at one point in time, and thanks to the architects, their dreams were brought to life. As a reader, you are welcomed into these dream homes, fantasies that have become realities for those living in them. Dream Homes includes homes from Manhattan, Westchester, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut, the Gold Coast of Long Island and the Hamptons. The full-color photos bring life to the pages, displaying the homes magnificently. In a successful effort to infuse personality into the homes, the book offers insight into the architect’s lives. Interviews are featured alongside the architect’s projects, showing how their personalities are reflected in their designs. The Q&As offer
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answers to questions about favorite books, greatest influences, what they would be doing if they weren’t designing homes, architectural troubleshooting, and much more. Although all of us typically see houses as inorganic, the photos in Dream Homes give these structures the same life that the architects have created in building them. The way lighting is used to create motion in the homes, as well as the spectacular lines and textures displayed in the designs, create life and movement in inanimate spaces of rock, steel, wood and glass. This book is meant for those who can admire the great skill and craft that go into designing a truly beautiful home. The houses featured in the book exude their own unique personalities, all equally enticing in their design. From modern masterpieces to traditional-style estates, all are works of art in their own right. Each home has a particular voice that speaks to the reader, exuding a particular mood in its design. One look at the full color photos in Dream Homes of Metro New York and you, too, will feel invited into the realms of these fabulous homes.
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14622914 6/16/06 8:42 PM Page 1
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FASHION
Oleg Cassini Sport Collection
Jet Set Sport Oleg Cassini Sport – The signature look of the OC Sport Collection. The Jet Set. A vibrant Sun Kissed Orange is the color for the jacket and it is accented with the Cassini signature Racing Stripes in Sailor White stripes accented with Jet Black. The Jet ‘jog’ pants feature a narrow orange piping along the side. The swim bikini is worn under in jet and white stripes. The ensemble look is complete with Oleg Cassini Sunwear Glasses in brushed steel trimmed in jet.
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Frosted Buffed Golden Mango Frosted Buffed Golden Mango is the fabulous color tone for this Oleg Cassini Sport ensemble of jacket and pant over an asymmetrical golden lycra swim or workout suit. The look is accented with Oleg’s Welder Look tortoise sunglasses with golden OC metallic trim. Worn with an OC combo trio of bamboo, onyx and coral jeweled bangle bracelets. The cropped zip front jacket features a quilted front with notched collar and matching drawstring signature “great fit” pants. The fabric is a soft cotton knit with just a hint of stretch for workout or Spectator Glamour.
www.boulevardli.com
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Bermuda Oleg Cassini Sport - Weekend wear - The fabulous Oleg Cassini polo shirt features an elongated placket button front and tailored collar with 3/4 sleeves. The color of the organic woven cotton fabric is a softly minted Pistachio. Worn with Cotton Bermuda length trousers of sheer white poplin belted in silk with a Tye Belt of signature striping in tonal colors.
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Newport Cassini Sport Oleg Cassini Sport..features a Royal Navy and Flag Red trimmed zip front jacket over a white stretch workout dress.
www.boulevardli.com
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Royal Navy Oleg Cassini Royal Navy V Sport’s most luxurious cotton velour two-piece jacket and pant ensemble. In the rich Royal Navy OC Sport color with zip front jacket. OC Sport “great fit” drawstring pant all matched with the Oleg Cassini stripe and dot silk scarf.
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A love affair that never ends.
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FASHION
Tiffany Makes Mesh The Hit of Summer Jeweler Highlights Rose Gold in Modern Mesh Jewelry of Spirit and Style
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Tiffany Mesh bracelet and ring in sterling silver.
recious metal is woven with a fabric-like feel and shaped into beautiful jewelry, leading with rose gold, fashion’s current favorite. The jewelry makes for gleaming chic that seamlessly combines with sterling silver mesh, micro-knit mesh in yellow and white gold, braided mesh and flexible mesh in streamlined steel. The designs are pivotal pieces for women and men that “mesh” perfectly with everything from tailored lines to tan lines. Mesh bracelets with hearts, traditional ID bracelets, earrings threaded in elegant hoops, woven rings, bangles narrow to wide, cuffs and silky necklaces that move easily with the body are all part of this fabulous summer collection. The collection starts at $150 for a narrow mesh ring and is available at Tiffany & Co. stores worldwide.
Tiffany Mesh rings in 18k yellow and rose gold and sterling silver.
Tiffany Mesh ‘flex mesh’ bracelets in stainless steel.
Tiffany Mesh bangles in 18k yellow and rose gold and sterling silver.
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Photos by David Sawyer Tiffany Mesh cuff bracelets in sterling silver.
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Dusting With The Stars At nuBest Salon and Spa
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ubest Salon and Spa has revolutionized hair care maintenance with its exclusive service called “dusting.” It is the ideal service for those who do not want to cut their hair, but want their locks looking fresh and clean. The trend has caught on and now celebrities are getting in on the act, too. Dancing With the Stars stunner Kym Johnson, the dancing wonder from down under, had audiences moving in their seats as she twirled, dipped and kicked in sync with her partner Joey Fatone (formerly of the topselling boy band N*SYNC). Joey has been a client of nuBest Salon and Spa for more than two years now, so when the two were in New York City and needed some pampering, they headed straight to the world-famous lifestyle spa and salon. Kym had her sleek mane dusted by Jamie Mazzei, creative director of nuBest. “Kym has great hair but she needed a dusting to refresh the edges. Dusting is the perfect way to maintain a style without making any noticeable changes,” said Jamie as he and Kym chatted about the show. “My hair looks great. Jamie did an amazing job,” said Kym when Jamie was finished with her dusting. Kym also enjoyed a luxurious nuBest signature spa manicure and pedicure during her visit. “The staff at nuBest is amazing. I can really use the pampering. Dancing is wonderful but it can be hard on the feet!” Dancing With the Stars is currently on a European tour but Kym says she can’t wait to come back to nuBest Salon and Spa for more pampering.
Jamie Mazzie and Kym Johnson. From head to toe, Kym has the look of a star.
page 022 FASHION michael russo:Pages 001-004
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Celebrity Event Planner MICHAEL RUSSO
Of Roses-N-Lollypops
Wedding 1 New York Institute of Technology’s de Seversky Center You have always dreamed of a storybook wedding. Now that you found that perfect someone, it’s time to find an elegant dining facility for your special day. With its opulent curved and columned loggia, enchanting white marble entry hall, grand staircase, and luxurious verandas, the nationally acclaimed New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) de Seversky Center offers a warm and intimate setting for weddings, corporate functions, luncheons and other special events. Whatever the occasion, de Seversky’s experienced and friendly event coordinators provide personalized service, making sure your event is one you and your guests will always remember. Events can be customized to fit within your specifications. The de Seversky Center is located on NYIT’s Old Westbury NY campus. For more information about NYIT’s de Seversky Center, to arrange a tour of the grounds or to discuss specific needs for your next event, call 516-686-7675 or visit www.nyit.edu/deseversky.
Wedding 2 To answer many of your questions, the color or colors I would suggest for any ceremony is white and/or cream. The main focus of the ceremony is what your hosts are exchanging; any other color makes things a little too distracting. Keeping it simple and clean will create an overall romantic ambiance.
For questions or comments, email Michael Russo @ MikieR@rosesandlollypops.com or call 631-979-0520 or 516-220-6843.
www.boulevardli.com
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Bara de Cabrol’s Designs…
Elegant and Versatile Jewelry for Any Woman By Ilena Ryan Sometimes, a woman grows tired of wearing the kind of jewelry that needs to be kept in a safe. That’s precisely why Bara de Cabrol designed her own line of jewelry, offering women “something easy, comfortable, sexy, and not outrageously expensive.” Bara herself is a radiant, energetic woman, who is half Welsh and half Parisian and spent a good portion of her youth traveling with her mother, singer, actress, and composer Petula Clark. Bara grew up backstage and vividly recalls playing with beads and jewelry while her mother was performing. She developed a love for the brilliant jewelry she nicknamed “shinies,” and chose to continue her love for the luminous jewelry in her own collection with a subtler brilliance – while still relatively shiny, her jewelr y is striking because of the colors and beautiful beads used to create them. Her multistranded necklaces and bracelets are complemented by her collection of intricate rings. Bara designs the jewelry herself and all of the pieces are handmade in South America for the vast and unique selection of glass beads and semiprecious stones. After Bara carefully laid out some of her necklaces before me so I could take a closer look, I immediately fell in love with their versatile, rope-like designs that allowed them to be worn in many different ways. Many of her necklaces are multifunctional, and can be manipulated to serve as chokers, longer necklaces, and even belts. The bracelet collection includes stunning thick ropes of beads with dangling clasps, as well as other bracelets
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designed using memory wire. Bara’s elaborate rings are equally brilliant, making the same bold, tasteful, and elegant statements as the necklaces and bracelets. These pieces can be worn to the beach, out to dinner, or to a party at night – versatility is what makes Bara’s jewelry so ideal. Bara, who doesn’t like the concept of looking at magazines and saying, “Oh, I could never afford that,” instead wanted to design jewelry that, she says, “any woman could feel like wearing.” She has been designing jewelry for almost two years now, and was inspired to start designing for no one other than herself, but “I did them for me, then people started to ask about them all the time,” she says. Her designs have an attentiongrabbing quality with their bright colors and elaborate beadwork, so it is no wonder that the jewelry began to catch on. Her ardor for jewelry design is fueled by the need to do things she’s passionate about. “You have to do things that you love,” she says, “I’m not afraid of strong colors.” Her liveliness and enthusiasm are evident in the jewelry she creates. Most of the pieces consist of bold colored hues: eye popping blues, bold reds, and brilliant greens, to name a few. The full collection of jewelry can be viewed at www.artleby/biz/bara, and is also being sold at ABH on 75th Street and First Avenue, Pan American Phoenix on Lexington and 65th Street, and Jeffrey Indyke Hair Salon at 11 East 10th Street. Her collection offers all women a simple yet beautiful way to add a little pop to any outfit, no matter what the occasion.
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Jewel of the Hamptons…
Lords Fine Jewelry and Diamonds
Keeps the Sparkle in the Hamptons
By Stephanie Wilson laying “keeping up with the Joneses” in the Hamptons can be a daunting task. You roll up to your house on Georgica Pond with the newest Mercedes SLR McLaren, your neighbor gets a Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe; you cruise the seas in a 126-foot Palmer Johnson, when your neighbor suddenly blows the horn from the bow of his 137-foot custom yacht. Lords Fine Jewelr y and Diamonds has been making keeping up a little bit easier with its selection of all things sparkling. The jewelry is all custommade with platinum, 18-carat gold, white gold, or other fine metals, making it all that easier to be the victor of your friendly competition. Located at 446 Plandome Road in Manhasset, Lords Fine Jewelry and Diamonds got its start more than 30 years ago when the family-owned business began importing rare stones. “We would cut the stones and sell them to other jewelry makers,” explains owner Jack Tawil. “We realized we wanted to branch out, and went into retail in 1999.” It was the right decision for the business to make, as it now operates one of the largest fine jewelry stores in the summer haute spot. Lords Fine Jewelry and Diamonds specializes in white and fancy-colored diamonds as well as rare stones. These stones all boast exceptional clarity, thanks to the rigorous inspection process of the staff. To ensure quality, the experts from Lords scour the globe for only the best diamonds, traveling as far and wide as India, Belgium and Brazil. “We want to be the main source of diamonds for the Hamptons,” says Mr. Tawil. It is a goal that has been realized, as Lords is the source for all types of jewelry, from engagement rings and wedding bands to diamond bracelets and glamorous earrings. So if this summer finds you in the Hamptons in need of something sparkly, turn to Lords Fine Jewelry and Diamonds for the answer. They can provide what is needed to make your season shine.
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n Pine Valley, there lives a supervixen. The quintessential deceptive diva, Erica Kane is a woman we have known since she was in high school. Temptress. Murderer. Adulterer. Kidnapper. Perjurer. Blackmailer. Embezzler. This black widow heroine is everything you want in an evil Venus. Seductive. Sexy. Magnetic. And in the way that only soap operas can portray…a sympathetic character. Erica Kane of All My Children is the soap opera character archetype, with a permanent position in the fabric of American daytime television. But equally ubiquitous as the character of Erica Kane is the woman who has literally given her life to the role – Susan Lucci. When I set out to put together The Boulevard’s August cover, I got one of two responses from people I told: “Oh! You are going to interview Erica Kane!” or “Oh! Susan Lucci is so terrific, I don’t like soaps but she is great and so are her cosmetics!” So I approached our cover girl armed with the insight that she represents different things to different people. To her television audience, she is a character that lives in a fantasy setting of alter ego. Intrigue, drama, spontaneity and deception all come to life and live out their fervor in a healthy outlet for our imagination where such catastrophes should be relegated – the television screen. We suspend our disbelief and we are entertained. To others who are disciples of another soap opera, choose sitcoms over chronic uber-drama, or simply work during the day, Susan Lucci is something completely different. To the rest of her non-audience, Susan represents elegance, beauty, and entrepreneurialism. But no matter which camp you fall into, this reporter discovered that there are few finer examples of the most coveted adjective in professional acting: integrity. Actors are taught to draw on real life experience in channeling a character. They are taught to remember specific circumstances, emotional imprints, sensations and feelings as ways of reaching “theatrical truth.” When an actor studies a character for a movie, play or television series, they employ Lee Stanislavsky’s Method technique for the duration of the role and then leave that character behind. But to play Erica Kane, Lucci has had to literally live the life of daytime television’s most famous diva. Lucci has delivered her “method” in character portrayal into an American icon for 37 years. Under the veneer of Erica Kane is Susan Lucci the woman: a Long Island native, an entrepreneur, a grandmother, philanthropist, fitness expert and one of the nicest women you may ever meet in show business. For the real life Lucci, Pine Valley is and always was Garden City, Long Island. Born and raised there, Lucci is still a 28
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fixture of the community where residents see her as the friendly woman they run into at church and the grocery store, who participates in all the usual trappings of suburban life. With her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the woman who is one of the most recognizable faces in show business is well balanced between supercelebrity and private citizen. Disarmingly polite and accessible, Lucci spoke to The Boulevard with an open canvas – the obvious discussions about Erica Kane notwithstanding, Lucci chatted about her work with the many charities with which she is involved, growing up in Garden City, and of course her nearly four decades with All My Children. My burning question for Susan was the distinction between Erica Kane and the woman she looks at in the mirror. Thirty-seven years is an extraordinarily long time to play any character – especially one the actor originated. And so I hit her with it – I asked where does Erica end and Susan begin, and is it difficult to break the circle? Lucci was immediate in sharing that she felt no ambiguity between life in Garden City and life in Pine Valley. “When I walk out of the studio I leave Erica behind. I know when I come into the studio I am myself when I am walking around the building, but I definitely feel the difference when I am playing the scenes,” explains Lucci. When Lucci began playing Erica Kane in 1970, she was in her early 20s and her character was a high school girl. The next three decades would be an unprecedented evolution of a character through extraordinary situations, dramatic twists and turns, betrayal and redemption, all with that ever-present dangerous smile. Erica Kane was the first daytime network character to have an abortion in 1973, creating a firestorm of controversy at the time. In reading through nearly four decades of her character bio, I presented Lucci with some of the major events in Kane’s life - abortion, adultery, miscarriage, becoming a widow, numerous marriages, perjury and even murder. I mentioned that most people may only experience one or two of these events in a lifetime, so how is it that she can portray a character that is a composite result of all these experiences? She giggles and reminds me it’s a dramatic show and through all of this, Erica has become quite strong. “It feels fantastic - I feel like such a lucky actress – talk about a part to sink your teeth into! It’s been very exciting to me,” she says. But I sensed there was more to it. I asked her if she ever started a season and in reading the episode scripts wondered how could her character endure even more than she has already gone through?
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“I saw Eva LaRue [former AMC cast member] over the 2000, her career widened its scope as she stepped out of weekend and we talked about the dramatic things that the soap opera realm to play Annie Oakley on Broadway in happen to the character and if even one of those things the revival of the classic musical Annie Get Your Gun happened to you in real life, you could spend your entire life opposite Tom Wopat. She was the first actress to play trying to forget those feelings and let it go. But what we do Annie after Bernadette Peters revived the role, and was for our work is you spend your life recalling these memories. received on the Great White Way to critical acclaim. So to make yourself go there day after day is very difficult,” “It feels wonderful to stretch and play another role and she reflected. “Right now there is some wonderful romantic work on a new character,” she says about the contrast of comedy in the show that is a joy to play. It’s written so well playing a character other than Erica Kane. “Annie Oakley and so character driven. But under that, there is a very was my favorite so far. The live audience is really incrediheavy-duty story line and my body cringes because I have ble. I have to take a leave of absence to do a Broadway done three years back to back of very heavy-duty stuff. So run, but at the right time I would love to do it again.” there it is - it’s on the page and you dive in and you do it.” The transition in environments was a strange adjustment as If someone never watched All My Children or heard of Erica she left the comfort of decades in the family-style production Kane, there is one thing that just atmosphere of All My Children to about everyone knows about backstage in Time Square. Regis Philbin and Susan Lucci’s Susan Lucci – her record“I was the little girl that they holding 18 Emmy nominations put up on the table before the next area appearances will be for Outstanding Lead Actress for cake came out to sing and dance. Friday, October 19 and the role before finally winning It’s just what I did. When I got out Saturday, October 20 at the coveted award in 1999. of college I started playing Erica Bally’s Atlantic City at 9 p.m. Marking one of the most right away so I didn’t think that I famous moments in television would ever get the opportunity, history was her facial expression so this is great,” she recalled. “I as they announced her win and the unprecedented fourdidn’t know if there would be resentment because I came from minute long standing ovation. While being nominated 18 TV, or a lack of confidence because no one knew if I could even times for anything without winning is enough to lead even sing. But, everyone in the cast was superb and supportive and the most serene person to question their sanity, Susan there was just as much camaraderie.” couldn’t have been more transcendent in the hype cycle Once she realized that she loved singing, Lucci wanted year after year. After all, what those 18 nominations really to do more with it. She created a solo cabaret act at meant was that whenever acting greatness was discussed, Feinstein’s at the Regency in 2001. Now she is taking it up Lucci was in the conversation and deservedly so. Erica Kane a notch and touring a major nightclub act with her dear has been described as one of the best roles ever written for friend, Regis Philbin, in larger venues. women in all of television. The 1999 win was a long-belated Lucci is also extremely dedicated to charity work and has coronation for the queen of daytime TV. Lucci holds a total of a very committed sense of mission in using her celebrity 21 Emmy nominations, making her one of the most honored for the greater good. She draws inspiration from the Aactresses in all of Hollywood. listers that have raised the bar for famous people and set While Erica Kane may be a staple of American television, new expectations in what it means to be philanthropic. Lucci has played various other roles in her lengthy career. “I look at Oprah Winfrey and Bono and I think what they are Some jobs were rites of passage for television stars in the doing is incredible. They use their fame for such good purpos1970s, such as the cliché guest appearances on both Love es and I hope that I can do more,” she says with humility. Boat and Fantasy Island. Others were testament to her Yet Lucci’s work with charities is cause for its own examiacting ability and dramatic prowess as she appeared in nation and emulation. While a former ambassador and the 1991 season of the classic evening network drama national celebrity chairperson for the March of Dimes, Dallas. That same year, she also hosted Saturday Night Live. currently she is heavily involved with Little Flower Lucci showed the world that she could sing when in Children and Family Services, the largest safe haven for abandoned and abused children in New York City and Long Island. Her involvement came after simply meeting Photos on opposite page courtesy of: Patrick McMullan, Heigi Gutman, Donna Svennevik, Jeff Neira some children at a fundraiser and hearing their stories. www.boulevardli.com
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“I think it’s great to work for the big national charities, but it’s important to work and contribute in your own back yard,” she declares about her work with Little Flower Children. Lucci is also an entrepreneur with a major brand enterprise across various product spectrums – cosmetics, jewelry, lingerie and even Pilates. She developed this exploding enterprise with her husband of 38 years – Helmut Huber, whom she credits for seeing the business opportunities. Her Youthful Essence line of cosmetics was the first celebrity brand to be carried by a major national retailer. “My husband and I were answering my fan mail and I couldn’t answer it all at once and I felt bad – in the days before email, we were going to set up a phone menu and then I got an invitation to go on QVC and one thing led to another,” says Lucci. Along the Hollywood Walk of Fame where Lucci’s star shines among all the acting greats who have defined our culture are piles of celebrity-endorsed products that represent the tipping point at which an actor becomes a brand. For every one success story there are probably 10 other examples of that fulcrum being no more than simple hubris or a dreadful mismatch born of greed and boredom. Lucci however, is the textbook case on how to do it right without alienating fans or the industry, while cultivating customers beyond the scope of your audience. “I was ver y reluctant because I had such a good relationship with my audience and I didn’t want to tell them something was good when it was not,” she explains. “I really believe in all the things I am selling, I am very hands on. I try to be involved in the design. If I am not involved with the original patent, I am involved as they expand the line.” Looking at the former Garden City high school cheerleader, it’s hard to believe that she recently celebrated her 60th birthday. Lucci is age-defying and stunning in her beauty. In researching our cover girl while huddled around a television set, this author and my couch mates all intuitively knew we were watching an actress on All My Children with a character bio true to her chronological age – yet it is nearly impossible not to feel as if you are watching a woman at least 25 years younger. Whatever Lucci’s secret is, the world needs to know, and I made my best attempt to bring up the timeless beauty with which she is graced without being coy. I am not
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“I saw Eva LaRue [former AMC cast member] over the weekend and we talked about the dramatic things that happen to the character and if even one of those things happened to you in real life you could spend your entire life trying to forget those feelings and let it go. But what we do for our work is you spend your life recalling these memories. So to make yourself go there day after day is very difficult.” sure whether I succeeded, or frankly, whether I care if I did. Could there be any shame in fawning over this graceful Aphrodite? She did share some insider tips with me on how she stays so gorgeous. Predictably our discussion turned to fitness. Lucci is an avid fitness enthusiast. So avid that she has researched and is launching a product for her favorite type of workout - Pilates. Rather than just jumping on the celeb-Pilates bandwagon, though, she went into an extended history with me of the origin of Pilates, the original intent of the creator and how her special chair, Malibu Pilates, was developed. “I started doing Pilates 12 years ago with a personal trainer and I found the results to be amazing. I have found so many benefits from it. I usually do it at 7 o’clock in the morning so all day long I know I did something good.” She said. “The best thing about Malibu Pilates is that it’s a combination of cardio and Pilates, which is rare. The original Pilates chair was developed in the 1920s, so by today’s standards it would be cumbersome and heavy. But my chair looks like a piece of Gucci! It’s sleek and easy to manipulate.” And as The Boulevard’s time in Pine Valley comes to a close, we bid our real life Erica Kane – the incomparable and fabulous Ms. Susan Lucci - a farewell. Emmy Winner. Soap opera icon. Broadway star. Nightclub headliner. Television movie lead. Cosmetics persona. Pilates guru. She is the epitome of all that a television star should be. She is the icon of daytime television and the serial soap opera as well as the quintessential suburban resident and businesswoman. No one will ever compare to her onscreen presence. But she will always be our Garden City supervixen!
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Behind the Scenes Photographer: Patrick McMullan Assistants: Jeremy Nelson, George Rippon, Sam Bolton Stylist: Michael Woll Hair Stylist: Joyce Carollo Makeup: Robin Ostrow Boulevard Magazine: Angela Susan Anton and Jason Feinberg Location: Paramount Hotel, NYC
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THE SALON AT BERGDORF GOODMAN
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754 FIFTH AVENUE
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picture of the Dalai Lama adorns her desk. It’s one of her more memorable and prouder interviews. The Boulevard profiles Uma Pemmaraju of Fox News this August as our featured journalist. In choosing a reporter to profile each issue, we look for journalists that have had an effect on the world on which they report. We look for broadcasters or writers who understand that through interpretation and communication, somebody’s world may change for the better. Uma Pemmaraju is one of these journalists. In her 26-year reporting career she has snagged three Emmy awards and various other accolades from news stations in Texas, Boston and now on Fox News. She is the Sunday host of the show Fox News Live on Fox News Channel. Uma sees her reporting career as an action step in fulfilling her responsibility to her fellow man. It’s that premise that made me want to talk with her. It’s also that premise that has made her reporting over the years so distinct and impactful. So back to the Dalai Lama. Years ago, I was working with a hospital that treated children with brain cancer and His Holiness showed up to do grand rounds with one of the pediatric neurosurgeons and sit in on the department patient review the doctors held once a week. It was then that I understood the depth of his place in the world and how relevant he was to the West – whether one is Buddhist or not. It was obvious to me that Uma had a similar impression and I immediately dove into her relationship with the religious leader. 36
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“He was an interview I feel very proud of because he is very extraordinary,” she recalled. “We did a whole half hour with him on Fox about China and Tibet and how he still takes the non-violent approach and how you can still find a middle ground and compassion. It was a lot of life lessons for all of us about dealing with conflicts like we are seeing all over the world right now.” Her outlook set the stage for a terrific discussion about the importance she places on her reporting and how she has approached the broad spectrum of stories over the years. “I think a lot of his principles are quite universal in terms of embracing some of the tenets that all countries and governments could pay attention to. Maybe we would all be a lot better off.” Pemmaraju was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India and raised in Texas. She was named Boston’s Best Anchor in 1996 and 1997 by Boston Magazine. Among her many citations are the Texas AP Award for reporting in 2002, the Woman of Achievement Award from the Big Sisters Organization of America and the Matrix Award from Women in Communications. Uma won an Emmy for an investigative piece on slumlords in Boston where she went underground and exposed landlords that were taking advantage of sick families, elderly and disadvantaged residents by forcing them to live in deplorable conditions. She presented her interviews to city hall and the Boston mayor took direct action in overhauling the housing department. The
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housing inspection process was revamped. Several landlords lost their licenses and some even went to jail. She told a story. There was cause and effect. Someone’s world changed for the better. Uma won her next Emmy for a story on the residual effects of trauma among people who are disadvantaged. It was during the time of Christopher Reeve’s spinal injury and she sought to tell the flip side of what happens to a non-celebrity person that experiences severe trauma such as a paralyzing accident if they are on Medicare, poor, or simply have no access to resources. The story spotlighted a 17-year-old man relegated to a nursing home because it was the only place that had the facilities to care for him. After the story aired, he eventually got the help he needed. Once again, she told a story and someone’s world changed for the better. Uma also won an Emmy for shooting an extraordinary breaking news situation when she and her camera crew happened to witness a toddler fall into a swimming pool. As the rescue unfolded, Uma and her crew caught the entire process on tape and thankfully the toddler survived. I graduated from journalism school in 1994. There was no email, Internet or cell phones. There was a fraction of the cable channels that are available today and almost
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twice as many daily newspapers in the United States. Being a reporter meant a completely different environment to work in. Most significantly, no one had ever heard of a blog. At that time, Uma already had close to 10 years on the job as a broadcaster and we discussed how drastically different it all was. These discussions among reporters are not self-indulgent nostalgia though – the changes are so fast and dramatic that they serve as peerto-peer therapy as we have to continually reorient our journalistic footing. I ask her to contrast it in her own words and tell me how that changing tide has affected her career. “It’s mind blowing sometimes when I think about where we have been and where we are going. When I started, you had a different sense of deadline pressure. You had a sense of responsibility to your network (there were only three!), and when cable and the Internet first started, many news directors and managers didn’t recognize the impact it was having on the younger generations. Myself and my colleagues had a hard time adapting because much of what we learned was on-the-job training – we were trying to be right rather than first,” she says as she illustrates a world so familiar to an older news hound, but completely alien to today’s graduating cubs. Consistent www.boulevardli.com
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PROFILES with the overview discussions I have had with other seasoned reporters and explored on the pages of The Boulevard previously, the 1994 OJ stor y is discussed again as the moment it was apparent everything had changed. “OJ Simpson changed the way news was processed and people’s appetite for news. That image (the famous car chase) was so surreal and it was happening on television. That transformed everything. After that, so much changed as there was so much breaking into regular programming with regular trial updates and it created the opportunity for more experimentation,” she recalls. Uma works in a world where network news ratings are plummeting and cable news – CNN, MSNBC and Fox News — act as a 24/7 watchdog for world events. Technology has opened the cable airwaves to limitless slots for special interest channels, financial news networks and foreign news stations to be a regular and expected part of the American news
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“I have a lot of faith in humanity. I believe that ultimately we will work things out and everything will be okay. I really do.” matrix. No one would have believed the world would look as it does now if you wrote it down on paper 20 years ago. I ask her opinion about what effect has this had on the story, and she replies rhetorically about the media industry as a whole – not necessarily her home network. “There is this tendency to place an emphasis on making sure the ratings are high. It’s (the media) no longer run by private families and entities that always think about the journalism first. In the process, it has allowed things to become relaxed to the extent that we don’t look at how we are doing. And we are not taking a look at what we are putting out there and how can we be held accountable when we make mistakes. And when we make mistakes, we need to let
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people know that and own up to it.” And while not one atom of my being disagreed with her cautionary admonishment that television news is never to lose its sense of purpose, I countered with my childlike fascination for the medium. Perhaps that fascination still flickers because I am not on television every day fighting the good fight like Uma – but after some prodding she revealed she still has some faith in some of TV news’ loftier tenets. “I still believe we can use television to illuminate, educate, inspire. I got into it for all those reasons and I still think it can. But I get troubled when I see that people are not thinking about television in ways to use it for those purposes.” Comforted by the inspirational twist in our conversation, I hit her with a question I ask every reporter we profile here at The Boulevard. What story are you dying to do that you haven’t done yet? Consistent with her sense of social responsibility, her answer was exactly what I expected. “I want to go to Darfur. I would like to go down into some of the areas in Africa and focus on the AIDS crisis and see how this generation of children are dealing with this devastating disease. Television can really put a spotlight on this in such a meaningful way, and those are stories I really want to delve into and explore what are our responsibilities as a society,” she declared. This is heavy stuff she was talking about. But consistent. Cause and effect. Worlds changing for the better.
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Uma wants to bring a sense of humanity to her stories. She did a lengthy series of stories from Mississippi about the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina long after the immediate flooding and crisis were over. She chose Mississippi because it was dreadfully underreported in comparison to the devastation in New Orleans. She chose to explore the impact the enormous tragedy had on children. “I spoke with 7-, 8- and 9-year-olds. I asked them what were the lessons they learned. I purposely kept it younger. Many were still living out of trailers. The response from the government had been horrible. They are still waiting on the checks from the insurance companies, they don’t have answers about when they can come back and rebuild. This is almost two years later,” she discusses. “And the question we struggle with is if we do the story will there be ratings and will there be an audience or do they want to watch something frivolous and sensational? I argue they are going to watch both. It turned out we got a very positive response from our viewers and it was really gratifying. I think the more we put out those kinds of stories the more we are making those connections.” As someone that had seen the devastation of Katrina firsthand, this resonated as a particularly familiar topic. In December 2006, a colleague and myself worked on a project with high school children who were performing their first Christmas concert since the storm in the St. Bernard Parish - a completely destroyed section of New Orleans where 95 percent of the residents had been forced to relocate. Those that remained were my subject, like the children in Uma’s series. I watched her weekend special. Any attention given to the scope of the problem
“I want to go to Darfur. I would like to go down into some of the areas in Africa and focus on the AIDS crisis and see how this generation of children are dealing with this devastating disease. Television can really put a spotlight on this in such a meaningful way and those are stories I really want to delve into and explore what are our responsibilities as a society.”
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Photo courtesy of Fox News
and the jaw-dropping resilience in the face of such adversity is the first step in addressing what feels like an overwhelming problem. I thanked her for her attention to the topic but specifically for approaching this hard reality by focusing on hope through the voices of the schoolchildren. “I have a lot of faith in humanity. I believe that ultimately we will work things out and everything will be okay. I really do.” I reflected on the above quote for a long time. Mostly because it was embedded in a long discussion about topics with such gravity – Darfur, Katrina, journalistic integrity – it was enough to leave one with a somewhat bleak outlook. Maybe that’s the attitude responsible for the cause and effect in her reporting all these years. Either way, as I clicked the stop button on my tape recorder I realized that as a result of my conversation with Uma, someone’s world – in this case mine – had changed for the better. www.boulevardli.com
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hore Robert Nystrom was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1952 and came to Canada at the age of 4. From the time he arrived in western Canada, he became involved in “pickup” hockey games with kids more gifted and far larger than he. Bobby was never the biggest kid or the fastest skater, but he had a competitive fire that helped him make up for his lack of natural skating ability. At that time, junior hockey in Canada was much like Little League Baseball or Pop Warner Football. In Canada, there really was only one sport that counted—hockey was it. In Canada, as you grew older and continued to pursue a hockey career, you progressed through various tiers, similar to A, Double A and Triple A minor league baseball. Ultimately, the best players became eligible for recruitment by professional hockey teams. During Bobby’s time, the minor leagues of hockey required lots of devotion and love for the game. Players were paid only a few hundred dollars each month, which was just enough to cover rent and odds and ends. Food had to be provided by family and friends. Bobby loved the game of hockey and never really thought about becoming a star player. He continued to move up the skill ladder in Canada 42
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until he was ready for the pros. He had been told by friends and coaches that he could not become a star because of his mediocre skating skills and lack of speed. Once Bobby turned professional in 1972, and for the next 14 years, he went on to prove his critics wrong. The Islanders, under GM Bill Torrey, drafted Bobby in 1972 as a right-winger. From the time he arrived at the Coliseum, Torrey and others on the team convinced Bobby that the only way he could live up to his potential in the pros was to learn to speed skate and take a hit. Bobby listened to their advice and hired power skating coach Laura Stamm to re-teach him the fundamentals of speed skating and balance. From early childhood, Bobby skated upright and could be easily toppled when hit by an opponent. Laura, his new mentor, taught him to lean forward to absorb hits and to practice his speed skating. Bobby learned to fly on ice and became one of the most feared players in the NHL because of his skating and scoring prowess. To this day, Bobby and Laura remain good friends. The Islanders’ fortune as a hockey franchise began to turn around when Nystrom began to play for them. Guided by Coach Al Arbour, Bobby was
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eventually joined by other hockey stars like Ed Westphal, Clark Gilles, Dennis Potvin and Brian Trottier. When all the pieces were assembled, the team was motivated to greatness by their brilliant coach, Al Arbour. This assemblage of stars provided the Islanders with a nucleus for a new dynasty in hockey. As each year progressed, Bobby improved and became one of the steadiest twoway forwards in the league. In each of his first five seasons, Bobby scored more than 20 goals and hit a career high of 30 in the 1977-78 seasons. He also was selected to play in the 1977 NHL All-Star game. Bobby Nystrom was always the epitome of a team player and left every ounce of energy and passion on the floor. He did whatever was necessary for the Islanders to win, and win they did! The legendary Islanders of the ‘80s won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980-1983 and were the toast of all of ice hockey. Nystrom proved to be a very good player all year long, but thrived on the tougher competition of the playoffs. To this day, he holds the franchise mark with four overtime goals in playoff history. His overtime goal on May 24, 1980 in game 6 of the playoffs against the hated Philadelphia Flyers brought the Islanders their
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first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Bobby played with the Islanders for 14 seasons and was forced into retirement in 1986 by an errant high stick from a teammate during practice. He suffered two tears of the retina, which required surgery and ultimately caused him temporary blindness in one eye. Today, through the miracle of modern eye surgery, Bobby has vision in both eyes and only has to wear contact lenses. In many ways, Bobby was to U.S. hockey what Mickey Mantle was to baseball; he was loyal, idolized by his fans, and never wanted to play for any other team during his pro career. Bobby Nystrom played 899 regular games in his 14-year career. His 900th game occurred when Al Arbour asked him to suit up for one more game during the ’85-’86 season; Bobby received the applause of the crowd and accolades he so richly deserved. He came in for one last face off and left after skating around the rink to overwhelming love and applause from the crowd. Bobby’s jersey, #23, was retired in 1995 in a very emotional ceremony at Nassau Coliseum. Bobby Nystrom embodied everything that today seems so alien in sports where free agency rules. To this day, he still talks and gets together with his original teammates Dennis, Clark and Brian. He also helps direct the Islander Alumni in fulfilling corporate functions. I have known Bobby Nystrom for many years as a result of being a lifelong Islander fan, and in later years as members of the same Long Island country club. For our interview, I met Bobby at his corporate offices in Melville. After some small talk, I asked him how he chose the insurance business as his second career. He explained that he did a great deal of “on the job training”
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in a number of different fields prior to figuring out that he could be most effective in selling insurance to corporations. He credited much of his good fortune in the business world to his friendship with Ed Blumenfeld, chairman of Blumenfeld Development Group. They have been friends since his Islander days and Ed was both a mentor and instrumental in helping Bobby plan for his new career after hockey. Bobby Nystrom is a loving father of a son and daughter. He is a highly successful insurance executive who is actively involved on a daily basis
helping charities such as Children’s Medical Fund, as well as former teammates and his community. He is an avid tennis enthusiast and loves being involved in physical activities to keep in shape. Bobby proved that sometimes it is not the God-given talent that one is blessed with, but the desire to succeed, that helps one achieve his or her goals in life. Bobby Nystrom’s success is due certainly to his focus and passion, but most definitely because of his mighty heart, which was on display for so many wonderful years with the NY Islanders. www.boulevardli.com
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I Regan Reilly is enjoying her honeymoon with new husband Jack when an inevitable mystery disrupts their newlywed bliss and the two are in pursuit in Carol Higgins Clark’s latest installment of the Regan Reilly mystery series, Laced. Author, actress and daughter of America’s No. 1 best-selling suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark, and on The New York Times bestseller list multiple times herself, Carol Higgins Clark leads the life few can fathom, although in speaking with her about her life and career, she is humble and delightful. Born in New York City where she still resides, Carol began her journey into the creative disciplines of an actress after studying at Mount Holyoke College and continued at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. Since the 1970s Carol has appeared in theater, television and film including the film A Cry in the Night, the movie adaptation of her mother’s novel, which was shown at the Cannes TV Festival. While writing was not something she had planned to venture into, Clark explained how she was turned on to writing while she was home from college for summer vacation. “[My mother] still had a full-time job, her first book was coming out 44
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and her second book had to get in to her agent… but in those days when you had to retype a manuscript it took time, so I volunteered to do it… and it was really fun, because I ended up talking to her about what she was doing… about the characters and the plot, and about what she might do. I learned so much from it.” It was the experience of watching her mother’s creative process that inspired Carol to shift her sights from the stage and screen to that of the
August – September 2007
blank page as an artistic outlet. In 1992, Carol authored her first novel, Decked, about a semi-autobiographical PI named Regan Reilly, the daughter of best-selling mystery writer Nora Reilly. At a class reunion in Oxford, England, the body of her long-missing college roommate is discovered near campus. Though a mystery, Decked is far from an imitation of her mother’s style or approach, as Regan finds herself in comical situations with a cast of characters that are eccentric, to say the least. Carol explained that her flair for comedy in her writing is one that was born of her first art. “I always liked doing comedy as an actor, and that came out when I started writing. I didn’t know my books were going to have humor when I started, but that was my voice as an actor and that became my voice.” A statement once made by a reviewer really does seem to ring true, that while “Mary Higgins Clark goes for the jugular, Carol Higgins Clark goes for the funny bone.” Decked went on to become a New York Times bestseller and was honored with nominations for both an Agatha and an Anthony Award for Best First Novel. Carol has now authored 10 Regan Reilly mysteries, all which have produced astounding sales and forged her a devoted fan base.
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Where Regan finds her next crime is very much based on locale. From England to Aspen, the Hamptons to Ireland, Regan is never far from the trail of a thief, kidnapper or murderer, and her stops around the globe are always inspired by Clark’s own travel. “I always go to a place first and get a feel for it, then come home and write the book,” Carol explained. Clark had done a semester in Oxford and returned there in preparation for Decked, and she visited Aspen for her third novel, Iced. In Clark’s latest book, Laced, Regan ventures to Ireland for her honeymoon after wedding Jack (No Relation) Reilly, head of New York City’s major case squad. Ireland is a place treasured by Clark, as her ancestors emigrated from the Emerald Isle and some of her family remains. Of course the newlyweds’ honeymoon is short-lived when Regan sees a ghost thought to be the spirit of an 18th century lacemaker who was denied payment by the castle’s owners for a tablecloth she made. In true Clark fashion, the action doesn’t stop there, as a fire soon breaks out, the tablecloth is stolen, and the newlyweds need to hunt down a couple of international jewel thieves.
The cover of Laced.
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While Carol continues to send Regan around the world, she has also managed to co-author four books for a Christmas series with her mother. When I asked how two such dissimilar authors came to create this best-selling series, she explained that she is not the only Clark with a flair for comedy. “My mother is very funny. Long before I was writing I was re-typing my mother’s book Weep No More, My Lady, and her character Alvirah Meehan, a cleaning woman who won $40 million in the lottery, was killed off; and I called up my mother and I said ‘You can’t kill off Alvirah! Please, she’s so funny, don’t kill her,’ so my mother left her hanging by a thread. Then my mother brought back Alvirah in her short stories, and there is always humor in them, so then when we were asked to write a book together we thought ‘Let’s bring Regan Reilly
together with Alvirah’ and it works really well.” Carol explained how writing the Christmas series is a truly collaborative process. “We spend time together over the summer, and we go down to her house in Spring Lake, NJ or [her] house up in Cape Cod, and we talk about the general idea of what we’re going to do, and then we sit down and write every word together.” For those of you who are diehard Regan Reilly fans, have no fear, as Carol doesn’t plan on deserting her beloved protagonist any time soon. “I’m not saying I would never do anything else, but for now I have more Regan stories to tell, especially now that she’s married to Jack.” Carol already has plans for Regan and Jack’s next adventure as they work their way through a suspense-filled New York City blackout in her upcoming novel Zapped.
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PROFILES
On Their Way Busy Blinding NY
Jak Style!
By Tom Albright Photos By Jason Feinberg
E
very music fan has an evening when they walk into a bar or club expecting absolutely nothing – perhaps not even knowing who is scheduled to perform – and leaves totally blown away by a band that ripped the roof off the joint. Those times keep us returning to see live music, hoping that ever-elusive feeling of a band sending you into the stratosphere will reemerge. Those times become less frequent as you get older. Its not because you are becoming your parents though, it’s the simple fact that truly great bands are rare. So it’s rarely that we write a “must see” article and join in all the obligatory hype that surrounds emerging acts in New York City. But The Boulevard took pause after bumping into one of the more popular bands that seem to be shaking things up. This accidental discovery of one of the rougher diamonds is our August music feature. They are not just possibly the next big act to break - they represent the hope that the live music scene in New York may have a shot at returning to its former glory and national influence. In the disappearing music scene of New York City, a phoenix is rising from the ashes. Legendary clubs which changed the world with the bands that leapt off their stages are closing each month. The scene, which was the destination for countless bands from all over America to arrive in Gotham for the last 40 years, is evaporating into a fine mist. Yet in the hazy fog containing the mere whispers of this musical history, a sound cuts above the nostalgia. That sound is a band that exemplifies the sweaty, dirty, feel-good rock and roll redemption, JakTripa. JakTripa lit up New York City and the surrounding tentacles of its music hub in 2005 and has been pumping electricity into packed clubs and bars each week. With their first video for the single Lights Are Blinding, available on their MySpace page, JakTripa is at the point when a band is bulging at the seams so drastically that the only thing left to happen next is a national explosion. Packing sidewalks with lines of fans that 46
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rabidly line up for one of the last remaining examples of true jam-band immersion, Jak is sweaty with anticipation and hungry on the cusp of their first full album release this August called Jak Style. Lights Are Blinding is a terrific single with a huge, airy chorus of lofty harmonies but with bite – it’s what Coldplay could sound like if they had any guts. The Jak Style collection is a mixed bag of their weird worldly sound, one born of straight rock roots mixed in with every genre and style that pulls and tugs at their tilta-whirl grooves. Tracks such as Music is a Weapon thunder in with horns ablazing as singer/frontman Alex Jones calls the audience to action with a Stevie Wonder-like battle cry. Think Fishbone covers Sir Duke. It’s everything that’s nice and melodic about funk but with a heavy snarl and a badass sax. Reggae, jazz, bluesy horn blats, three-part harmonies over sometimes Phish-like quotations – this is music without fear. This is a band that brings in a horn section on nights when the mood suits them. This is also a band that makes no hesitation about taking a standard cover like U2’s New Year’s Day and piling it on with so much Reggae spindrift that its unrecognizable – yet infectious. This is a band not to be missed. Their origins are unremarkable, but a poster child for the grassroots beginnings that spurned the dozens of indie headliners at South by Southwest, Bonnaroo, Coachella and Virgin Festival. All those acts came from somewhere and Jak’s chronology is a textbook case of how great music is born. In the summer of 2005, four guys met in a rundown studio in Hoboken, NJ and began to play a blend of rock, funk and reggae. Two summers later, they are one of the hottest bands in NYC. Simple story. Often, JakTripa will play for hours, mixing a set with their trademark originals and covers which they corrupt so shamelessly it’s impossible not to admire their re-invention. Most of the crowd is always moved to dance. Picture Dead Heads being timed-warped into a rave; no single thread connects
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the audience. Urban hip-hoppers, wannabe hippies, frat boys and even older 30-somethings all line up outside and wait an hour to get in. Jak has something for everyone and most fans are attached to the band for different reasons. This is old school. This is musical authenticity in its purest form. At the center of this funky sound is guitarist Kieran Sullivan. Sullivan serves as both the songwriter and producer of JakTripa, manning lead guitars, higher harmonies and ever seated at the mixing console in the studio as lead arranger and engineer. It was Sullivan’s vision that created the band and serves as the undercurrent to the album. His musical experience ranges from metal to Afro-beat and hip-hop to Grateful Dead-style jam bands. Frontman Alex Jones is, by day, a fifth-grade teacher in Manhattan and serves as the focal point and MC for their live shows. With his raw, natural and soulful voice, the Connecticut native polishes JakTripa’s unique sound, sharing songwriting with Sullivan in a Lennon/McCartney-style process. Always entering midway through the jam during the first song ala Anthony Kiedis, Jones is careful and deliberate in spotlighting the band and refraining from being too imposing. His charismatic and inviting stage presence makes an in-your-face lead singer attitude completely unnecessary. Jak’s appeal rests in its magnetic attraction rather than any shameless self-promotion. Go to see them and you get drawn in. They are an experiential act. Billy Carrion of Puerto Rico leads the horn arrangements with some of the smoothest and busiest soprano sax near the Hudson today. Carrion’s aggressive playing and pure sense of jazz roots and melody represent the baton being passed now that Michael Brecker is no longer with us. Carrion is also the onstage keyboard player ripping over Ray Manzarekstyle keyboard glitter and filling in on percussion. The rhythm section is driven by Cape Verde Islands native drummer Evaldo “Evil” Soares, formerly of the rap/metal group Phonenzix, and bassist extraordinaire Simon Olson from Sydney, Australia. The worldly perspective and influences of these three transplants are the foundation on which Jak’s broad sound scope is built. Their eclectic world music beats are evident in songs like One Track Mind. which could easily be vintage P-Funk with better horns. For anyone with an interest in seeing a great band right before their big break or just an evening of great live music, The Boulevard is officially sending you to see JakTripa. Help rescue New York’s music scene. Go enjoy some old school funk – Jak Style. Visit them online at www.myspace.com/jaktripamusic or www.jak-tripa.com.
See JakTripa Live • Thursday, August18, The Mercy Grill, 230 Washington Street, Hoboken 9:30 p.m. Free! • Friday, August 24, Fat Baby, 112 Rivington Street, NYC, 7 p.m. $6 • Thursday August 30, Lion’s Den, 214 Sullivan Street, NYC, 8 p.m. $8 • Friday Sept. 28, Rock Bottom, 437 Main Street, W. Orange, NJ, 8 p.m.
www.boulevardli.com
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page 048 aura:Pages 001-004
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F
or someone whose parents are Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Stephen Humphrey Bogar t remains remarkably unaffected and honest. His casual, candid and playfully sarcastic manner makes anyone feel at ease the moment he or she starts talking to him. He’s got quite an impressive résumé; from author to television producer to radio personality, it seems Bogart is involved with most aspects of entertainment, except actually being on screen. Although he says he’d never enter the acting world, his involvement in much of the behind-thescenes production displays a keen sense for the medium that seems to run in the family. Growing up, Stephen didn’t live as glamorous a life as one might expect. The media wasn’t invasive, like it is today, so Stephen’s parents, aside from being actors, were able to raise him in a very normal environment. Granted, things were a little far from conventional, however, he says that “When you grow up that way, everything is normal, it’s just different. I was still a kid. I played Little League, I went to public school, I played with my friends. I never grew up in California or Hollywood or anything like that.” As for celebrities frequenting his home, Bogart can’t quite remember who was there because he was so young at the time, but he assumes “Sinatra and John Houston and anyone that you can possibly name was in and out of the house.” Normal but different, as Stephen puts it. Not only were his parents two of the most prominent actors of their generation, they were also part of a controversial time in history. Though Stephen wasn’t born until McCarthyism was just about over, he retells what his parents went through. Hollywood was a key target 50
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during McCarthyism, and Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart were no exceptions. “My father and mother obviously went to the HUAC [House Un-American Activities Committee] hearings and testified in front of Congress as part of the Committee for the First Amendment in 1947 - they went with John Houston and Gene Kelly and a couple of others. The whole Communist scare was really an anti-Jewish thing…they were talking about Russian-born heads of studios, a euphemism for the Jewish heads of studios. Congress looked into Hollywood; it was an attack on the First Amendment. My father, of course, couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He was talking about how Congress was horrible for doing that, they shouldn’t have asked those questions or cared what a person’s politics were…he almost got in trouble, he had to come out and say that he wasn’t [a Communist]. People had to hide their Jewishness; there was no Civil Rights movement or any of that. No TV, no air conditioning…no iPhone,” he laughs. I asked him about the star-studded movie premieres that are so coveted to attend nowadays. Apparently, the prestigious red carpet wasn’t as sensational then as it is today. “I don’t know that there really was that back then, but there were openings when I was young. I went to the Academy Awards, which was good until she [Lauren Bacall] lost. They all say it’s okay, just being nominated is great, but that’s a bunch of crap…you want to win. We went to the opening of Casablanca’s 60th anniversary, there’s just a ton of people, look here, look there—that sort of thing, I don’t know how these celebrities do it…It’s not all its cracked up to be.” His attitude towards life in the spotlight explains why he chose to work from a behindthe-scenes perspective.
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Of course, the industry has changed dramatically since the days of Bogart Sr., Bacall, Kelly and Houston, which Bogart recalls as a time when “the movies were better, less reliant on special effects, and more reliant on writing and filmmaking. There was a mystery associated with the stars. There’s not that mystery anymore today, the pervasiveness of the media prevents that. It’s not necessarily that the people now are worse than the people then, it’s that they can’t do anything without being watched. After the ‘30s and ‘40s, there was a more positive time frame, and before that, it was film that people went to when the didn’t have anything else…movies were nationwide, that really is important, people have a lot of love for that.” Actors, directors, producers, and anyone else in the industry all worked together in the days of classic Hollywood, which promoted a strong sense of community: “In the old studio system, actors worked for the studio. Great actors associated with great directors and producers. Everything costs so much money now that it comes down to marketing, you think of marketing before the movie, and [good] writing is few and far between. The scripts, for the most part, aren’t anything like the old Hollywood greats.” That sense of Hollywood unity, age of innocence, positive attitude, and subtlety of classic Hollywood is part of the draw of the new Icons magazine, which Stephen and his company, Moda Entertainment, will release at the end of September, a publication which highlights the fabulous era of Classic Hollywood. The magazine will feature Humphrey Bogart as its first icon, which Stephen is justifiably anticipating. Stephen has dabbled in various media in entertainment. I asked him if it helped having the last name Bogart, and Stephen believes it has positives and drawbacks: “The name is great, but you have to come through once you get to where you are. I got a job with a place called the Satellite News Channel 25 years ago. Ben Bradley, who got me the interview, said to me, ‘Alright, now that you have the job, you have to do the job or you’re gonna get canned like anyone else.’ The name gets your foot in the door, but you have more scrutiny on you and you really have to do better.” And do better, Bogart did. He was a producer for NBC and CBS News for 25 years, has worked for ESPN and Court TV, and is now the president of Moda Entertainment, which runs the Icons brand and offers an Icons radio show that can be heard at www.modaenterainment.com, as well as the upcoming magazine. Moda also plans to add film production to its résumé. When asked about the types of films they will produce, Bogart says: “They have to be a certain style… as subtle as classic Hollywood, we’re not going to do $50 million movies with special effects.”
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Bogart has his own insights into the film industry as well, and has ideas for screenplays, though he readily acknowledges that there are people better than he who will write for the movies his company produces. However, given the opportunity, Bogart says he’d love to write a screenplay and laughs, “Sure, if I knew how. No really, I’ve got a couple of ideas. I’ve just been waiting for the right moment.” And absolutely no remakes, folks; Stephen doesn’t believe in them. After all, who would be able to fill the shoes of classic Hollywood? It just can’t be done, and Bogart recognizes that. Expect to be hearing about films from Moda Entertainment in the next six months. We live in a world where everyone seems overly concerned with the latest celebrity scandals: who’s dating whom, who’s divorcing whom, who’s in rehab and who’s going to jail - a land foreign to the realm of classic Hollywood. However, returning to a time when innocence, mystery, and a less invasive media is a refreshing escape, which is exactly where Icons magazine is going to take its readers. Location: de Seversky Center, New York Institute of Technology
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Lifehouse
Ready to Tell the World Who They Are By Ilena Ryan Photos By Tina Guiomar
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ith past singles such as Hanging by a Moment, You and Me and most recently, First Time, Lifehouse have grown up and taken charge in their newest album, Who We Are. Appropriately named, Who We Are is raw, energetic and honest, which will help fans understand more about the members of the band. After having the opportunity to talk to Jason Wade, lead singer/guitarist of Lifehouse, he offered some insight as to how the band has changed over the years until now, where the members are in a much happier and appreciative place.
Bryce Soderberg
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Though they’ve had a string of hit songs, Lifehouse had not always had an easy ride. “We had a really rough time about three and a half years ago. The bass player who I grew up with decided to leave the band, along with our guitar player who we invited in, so the band was split in half. Then we got a call that our record label was folding. It was a really rough time period for us. Dreamworks sold to Geffen and Geffen decided to make one more record, so we decided we would make the record ourselves and then audition bass players. We auditioned only one guy, Bryce, and we clicked right away and had a strong connection. I’m really happy with the lineup right now and I think this is going to be the last of the changes,” Jason said. Although Bryce Soderberg is the newest addition to Lifehouse, it seems as though the change was an easy transition. Jason and Rick Woolstenhulme, Lifehouse’s drummer, have been together since Wade decided to form the band, and instantly meshed with Bryce right from the start: “We’re really good friends, which is important. I’ve experienced the other side of things, where you grow apart from your band mates and that can be really stressful and not a good time on the road.” I watched from the audience during their recent concert at Jones Beach, where Lifehouse performed, opening for the Goo Goo Dolls. Jason pointed to one of the fans, asking, “You’ve been at a bunch of our shows, haven’t you?” The girl almost fainted as Wade dedicated their hit You and Me to her. It’s that kind of fan appreciation that Lifehouse is so rooted in. When asked how they want to be remembered as a band, Jason answers without hesitation, “As a band that writes great songs that lyrically tries to connect to their fans and maintain the ability to stay grounded. It’s important to us to keep a straight head and realize we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the fans buying and listening to our music.” It’s his genuine nature that seems to help in promoting the kind of honesty found in the band’s songs.
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Rick Woolstenhulme
Jason Wade
Jason’s impeccable songwriting ability started when he was around 15 years old. His parents’ painful divorce left him moving around from place to place with overwhelming feelings of isolation. Songwriting became his outlet. Encouraged by his mother to play the guitar, he began putting his lyrics to music. From there, Jason started playing acoustic shows and went on to form a band. “It just came from songwriting in my bedroom, to performing acoustically, to starting a band.” And Jason never misses an opportunity to write. Even on tour, he always has to have an acoustic guitar, a notepad and a mini cassette player, just in case inspiration strikes. “Sometimes songs come to me at 2 or 3 in the morning,” he laughs. “I never really know when I’m going to get that inspiration… Most of the songs that have defined our careers happened at really random moments where the song just kind of pours out of me in 10 minutes…It only happens every couple of years but I never know when it’s going to happen. A couple times I got really inspired and I didn’t have my guitar and didn’t have my cassette recorder and I forgot the song, so now I try to make sure I always have that.” Songs such as Broken, or Who We Are happened as a result of Wade’s spontaneous inspiration. He describes the song as one of his favorites to play live because of how emotionally charged it is for the lead singer: “I took a trip to Nashville to visit a friend of mine who needs a new kidney—he’s on a dialysis machine. I went to visit him and just be there for him, and I got really inspired one night, like I was saying, at, like 3 in the morning. I wrote the song Broken in 10 minutes and my friend had a studio and we recorded it the next day. We
made the demo and I brought it back to show it to the guys and I think it’s going to be our next single. For me, personally, that song live - it just has this crazy emotion.” Though he laughs while describing his 3-in-the-morning songwriting, his songs come from a very real and serious place. Listeners appreciate that kind of emotional honesty, which is evident on the rest of the album. Part of the electricity on Who We Are is due to the difference in the recording process, which contrasts the way that Lifehouse laid down the other albums. Though it took significantly longer than their other albums—about seven or eight months—the recording process was much more spontaneous. Most songs were recorded the same day they were written, which creates a sense of electricity and urgency that also translates well to stage: “The whole process in the studio was basically like playing live, we’d basically just roll the tape and play whatever we were feeling that day.” Though the tracks on Who We Are sound fantastic while playing on an iPod or CD player, seeing the band perform live brings the songs to a whole other level of intensity and helps the band to connect even further with the fans.
“We went through the peaks and valleys. It just makes you really appreciate playing music for a living. A lot of people take it for granted, until you’ve experienced both…success and failure, they really balance each other out.”
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Though great success is in the future of this album, Lifehouse always remembers to stay humble throughout the process. Never forgetting their beginnings, Jason says they always remain appreciative of the opportunity to play music for a living. The band has experienced their own ups and downs from the very beginnings of their career: “It was funny - for the first record, we had all these people around us telling us that one percent of all bands only make it in the industry, so we really weren’t expecting anything, and then Hanging By a Moment took off. We were only 19 or 20 at the time - it was just a complete whirlwind. If I could go back, I would just enjoy everything more. Our second album didn’t do so well, so we went through the peaks and valleys. It just makes you really appreciate playing music for a living. A lot of people take it for granted until they’ve experienced both. Success and failure, they really balance each other out.” You’d think a seasoned musician like Jason would be fine doing performance after performance, but he admits with a laugh, “I still get stage fright. I have to have 30 seconds of deep breathing and just trying to get focused and relaxed ‘cause I get a little 54
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excited. “ However, his calm, yet intense, exterior when he performs onstage masks any sense of fright he might be feeling. Accompanied by Rick’s fantastic drum skills, as well as Bryce’s energetic bass guitar performances, the band truly put on a good show, and seem less of an opening act for the Goo Goo Dolls then headliners in their own right. As for the band, all members are intending to stick around for quite some time: “It’s going so well and the vibe is so great between us right now, and that really means a lot to me. I had a rough couple of years where I wasn’t really enjoying it anymore. But I’m having the time of my life right now so I’m just going to ride this out as long as it goes.” The band is also starting a headlining tour after the current one in the fall, and will be doing some overseas tours to promote the record outside of the U.S. Who We Are is a worthwhile album that offers listeners a sense of honesty and passion that is rare to find. Fans will appreciate the openness and vulnerability in many of the tracks, which reveal how Lifehouse have matured as both recording artists and performers, ensuring that the band is no longer just Hanging By A Moment, but will be sticking around for a very long time.
August – September 2007
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Celebrity Dreams By Lauren Lawrence
Chris Kattan “In my recurrent childhood dream I am 6 years old. My mother has picked me up from Mt. Baldy, the school I used to go to up in the mountains. I get in the back seat of the car, which was parked in the middle of the road, when my mother says ‘Hold on. I have to lock up the school.’ As I watch my mother walk up to the school to lock it I feel the car starting to move a little bit as if the brake was released, and then the car starts rolling forward heading downhill. I yell for my mom who was choosing keys, and hit the window to get her attention but she could not hear me. She was too busy to notice me trying to get her attention.” The former Saturday Night Live star’s dream recalls the silent angst of Charlie Chaplin who made us laugh at the
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misfortunes and absurdities of life. This, after all, is the base of the comedic genre. Kattan’s childhood separation anxiety dream is a wake-up call that takes place during the pivotal age when the wish for independence is often challenged by the fear of loss of love. The school being locked represents the son in his dependent relationship with his mother. The minute the mother leaves there is the feeling of release — release from parental control. But this wish is conflicted. Keys symbolize entry as well as exit and the sense of abandonment; in the absence of his mother, life will go downhill. The mother’s affirmation to Chris, “Hold on,” is so he can move along at his own speed, a driving force to be reckoned with. The dream recurs whenever Chris feels stuck in the middle of the road of
Chris Kattan Photo by Patrick McMullan indecisiveness when the pressure is on to move forward in his life. Sitting in the back seat reveals Kattan is being driven. Feelings of loss of control are quelled by the craving for release. The wheels of accomplishment must roll to reach new levels. The symbolic wish to be noticed by his mother is a metaphor for the creative individual’s need for an appreciative audience.
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PHOTO GALLERY PATRICK MCMULLAN Becoming Jane Premiere
Hosted by Piaget and Miramax July 24, 2007
Landmark Sunshine Cinema, NYC Photos by Patrick McMullan PatrickMcMullan.com Patrick McMullan, Bettina Zilkha
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Robert Funaro
Leslie Stevens, Mark Gilbertson
Shanee Pink
Bettina Zilkha
The Boulevard • August – September 2007
Damon Dash, Rachel Roy, Larry Boland
Antony Todd
Anna Chlumsky
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T-Mobile Sidekick Lounge July 21, 2007
At Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge Photos by Patrick McMullan PatrickMcMullan.com
Debra Messing
Wilmer Valderrama
Alessandra Hubbell, Caitlin Hubbell, Abigail Hubbell
Alan Lieberman, Diane Lieberman
Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson
Callyeda Mourn, Rob Perdier
Joseph Cataldi, Sloan McClure
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PHOTO GALLERY PATRICK MCMULLAN
NY Screening Premiere of The Ten July 23, 2007
DGA Theatre, NY Photos by Patrick McMullan – PatrickMcMullan.com
Ken Marino, Winona Ryder, Gretchen Mol, Famke Janssen, Paul Rudd, David Wain, Zandy Hartig
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A.D. Miles
Cedric Sanders
Janeane Garofalo, Paul Rudd, David Wain
Mellissia Hill
Chris Meloni
Gretchen Mol
Rashida Jones
The Boulevard • August – September 2007
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Gucci, Christina & Chris Cuomo, and David Wolkoff’s Midsummer Night’s Dinner July 21, 2007
Photos by Patrick McMullan – PatrickMcMullan.com
Simone Levinson, David Levinson
Gregory Heyman, Brett Weisman
Charlotte Blechman, Brett Weisman
Chris Cuomo, Cristina Cuomo, Delfina Figueras, Nacho Figueras.
Cristina Cuomo, Charlotte Blechman, Stephanie Wolkoff, Dr. Holly Tavares, Kimberly Schulkoff
Nacho Figueras, Delfina Figueras
Dr. Holly Tavares, Jose Tavares
Mercedes Figueras
Greg Colejo, Cristina Cuomo, Thom Filicia
Sasha Lazard
Chris Cuomo, Nacho Figueras
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PARTNERS COUNCIL FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH North Shore-LIJ Health System 15th ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Old Westbury Gardens
Fashion Presentation by
Benefiting the Katz Women’s Hospital
For information call 516.465.2553 or visit www.northshorelij.com/womensevent
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Loris Diran Party Nikki Beach, NYC May 31, 2007
Photos by Jason Feinberg Loris being interviewed
NOELLE KAHAN, LORIS DIRAN, ELIZABETH SALISBURY, and guests
CELEB STYLIST NOLE MARIN, LADY BETTY, JOSE CASTELO-BRANCO, LORIS DIRAN
Designer LORIS DIRAN, Hairstylist CHRISTO and SLAVA
Photographer SEBASTIAN SMITH, LORIS DIRAN, LaG Magazine Editor FRANCIS LAGARET
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MODELS Steve Salis, ARUSALUM & GREG FOLEY
KELLY, Model Arusalum
Tiffany Moore & Friends
Tiffany Moore, BFH, Designers LORIS DIRAN and ROMAINE KAPADIA
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PHOTO GALLERY THE BOULEVARD
Sopranos Cast Fights To Wipe Out Cancer Pier Sixty, NYC June 14, 2007
Photos by Jason Feinberg Steve Forbes Yacht The Highlander
Tony Sirico
Vince Curatola
Less than a week after the airing of the final episode of the HBO series The Sopranos, the cast came together again, this time to fight childhood cancer. Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) and The Sopranos cast were joined by more than 500 people at Pier Sixty in New York City for an evening supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Joining Sirico were James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano), Steve Schirripa. Steve Van Zandt, Michael Imperioli. Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano), Aida Turturro, Jamie-Lynn DiScala (Meadow Soprano), Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Jennifer Melfi), Robert Iler (Anthony Soprano Jr.), Dominic Chianese and others. Attendees bid on one-of-a-kind items in a silent and live auction including a unique Sopranos pinball machine, a scooter owned by James Gandolfini, a number of signed, framed one-of-akind cast photos, trips to the Turks and Caicos Film Festival, and a private dinner with The Sopranos cast. In all, The Sopranos cast has raised more than $1 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Michael Imperioli and James Gandolfini FDNY Marine One John McKean
Steve Van Zandt and Robert Iler
Steve Van Zandt's Guitar up for Auction
Federico Castelluccio
Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum and Tony Sirico
Jamie-Lynn DiScala and Tony Lipp
Jamie-Lynn DiScala and Emily Kryger www.boulevardli.com
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PHOTO GALLERY THE BOULEVARD
Cocktails at Sunset
Home of Ross Bleckner
Bridgehampton, NY – July 7, 2007
Benefit for AIDS Community Research Initiative of America Photos by Tina Guiomar
Carrie Dennis, Tricia Moffitt, Alexis Phelps
Michael Okeefe
Daniel Tietz, Executive Director ACRIA, and Gina Glickman, News 12
David Storper, Iva Hosnova, Marina Zelle, Ted Farric
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Gillian and Amanda Hearst
The Boulevard • August – September 2007
Lynn Yaeger and Michael Musto
Debroah Hughes with Elsa Robert Romiti
Edward Callaghan and John Wegorzewski
Ross Bleckner
Calvin Klein and Angela Anton
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Bridgehampton Showhouse July 21, 2007
Benefit for Southampton Hospital Photos by Tina Guiomar
Greg McKenzie Pool Hs
Angela Anton and Denise Rinfret Of Rinfret Interiors
Leonard Barton, Peter Parankas, MichaelSantistean
Bograd Kids
David Granoff, Joan Jedell, Tom Lampson
Jeff Steinhurst and Greg McKenzie
Hampton Showhouse Pool
Mark Epstein Design
Emily Woollcott, Carey Tipple
Purdy, Arthur Fowler, Steve Ogle www.boulevardli.com
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AROUND THE TOWNS New Visitor Center Opens at Planting Fields
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isitors to Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park may now enjoy an interactive visitor orientation center, restrooms, a newly renovated gift shop and soon-to-open café located within the historic Hay Barn. The M.O. & M.E. Hoffman Visitor Center and Long Island Regional Archives recently opened after an eight-year renovation that included a centralized visitor center with state-of-the-art topographical model and interactive
Guests mingle and enjoy the Planting Field’s new Visitor Center.
exhibits, and much-needed additional classroom space. Other wings of the building house the horticulture library, herbarium (collection of dried plant specimens) and Long Island Region Archive of New York State Parks. The Hay Barn was originally the central farm building of Planting Fields, the country home of insurance executive William R. Coe and Standard Oil heiress Mai Rogers Coe. The Coes enjoyed and developed Planting Fields from 1913 until W.R. Coe’s death in 1955, when it passed into New York State stewardship. The clinker brick and half-timber building was designed by the renowned New York City architectural firm of Walker & Gillette, which also designed other buildings on the estate including the main residence, Coe Hall. Planting Fields’ major landscape features were designed by the firm started by Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York City’s Central Park. William Coe deeded Coe Hall and his beloved 409-acre estate to the People of the State of New York for public enjoyment and for horticultural education. The Visitor Center will be open every day until the end of October. Weekday hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends are from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Fall and winter hours have not as yet been determined. Planting Fields is located at 1395 Planting Fields Road between Chicken Valley Road and Oyster Bay-Glen Cove Road in historic Oyster Bay. For information call 516-922-9200 or visit www.plantingfields.org.
Scott Fish, regional capital facilities manager, NYSOPRHP; Bill and Ursula Niarakis, Hoffman Foundation; Planting Fields Trustees Judith Jedlicka, Morgan Browne, Meg Hayes, Rich Gibney, Claire Fairman, Peter Tilles, Richard Weir and George Gorman, regional director, NYSOPRHP.
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At the Tilles Center
eginning in September, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts’ 2007/08 season brings the grandest, most prominent internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles to Long Island audiences. The Tilles Center Gala, its major annual fundraiser, is always a glittering evening highlighted by a fabulous concert. This year, Liza Minnelli commands the stage with her exhilarating, high-energy performance. Broadway’s (and Long Island’s) Patti LuPone opens the mainstage season in her one-woman show. The Monterey Jazz Festival pays a visit to Tilles Center as part of its landmark 50th Anniversary Tour. Musical icons Itzhak Perlman and Emanuel Ax present recitals in the Grand Duo series. Lovers of American musical theater will revel in top national tours of the hit shows Annie, Gypsy and Evita along with Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway. Other highlights include appearances by Miami City Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company and Paul Taylor Dance Company. Audiences of all ages will thrill to the ensembles Shaolin Warriors, Yamato Drummers of Japan and Golden Dragon Acrobats. The troupes are joined by Dan Zanes and Friends, the Russian American Kids Circus and Eva Dean Dance in an international array of non-subscription. Andrea Marcovicci, opens the new season of Cabaret at Club T., a series that includes Maude Maggart, Quinn Lemley in a tribute to Rita Hayworth, the mother/son team of jazz pianist Bill Charlap and Sandy Stewart; the sweetly seductive
vocalist Steve March Tormé, and John Pizzarelli with his wife, Jessica Molaskey. Tilles Center will present the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico and the State Symphony Orchestra Liza Minnelli of Russia, the New York Philharmonic; the Bergen Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony and the Czech Philharmonic. Music at Hillwood, Tilles Center’s original series of chamber music with commentary, celebrates its 20th season with actress Lynn Redgrave narrating the series opener, which includes musicians from the MET Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; and performances from Hillwood alumni Shanghai Quartet and Tokyo String Quartet. Robert McDuffie & Friends join pianist Caroline Stoessinger, the series’ founder and artistic director, during Music at Hillwood’s 20th year. Stage One introduces young audiences to the best of music, theater and dance for children. Designed for youngsters 5 to 9 and their families to enjoy together, this year’s lineup leads off with Jim West in Dinosaurs! followed by Paperbag Players, Charlotte Blake Alston and the John Blake, Jr. Jazz Quartet. The series concludes with Hudson Vagabond Puppets in two of Beatrix Potter’s most beloved stories.
Amazing Animals Take Up Residence At Sands Point Preserve
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mazing Animals, a 10,000 square-foot extravaganza The red eye tree frog is just one of the incredible which opened at Sands Point Preserve in Port Washing- creatures families will encounter at the exhibit. ton in June has live animals from around the world, including such fascinating creatures as the flying squirrel, red-eye tree frog, and the American alligator intermingling among larger-than-life robotic creatures. Amazing Animals also offers hands-on activities including an Endangered Species Area, Be-A-Vet, a Toddler Play Area, and the Xeko Zone, where kids can learn about wild animals by playing a fun eco-adventure game. “The purpose of the exhibit is to provide an exciting group event that teaches as well as entertains,” explains Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, one of the exhibit creators. The exhibit will run through Jan. 13, 2008. Castle Gould at Sands Point Preserve houses the exhibit. Families can also explore more than five miles of trails and one mile of beachfront on the Long Island Sound at the breathtaking, 216acre nature preserve. The preserve is open Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Tuesday. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 children/seniors. Special field trip rates are available. To learn more call (516) 571-7900 for recorded information, (516) 764-0045 for group reservations or other information, or visit www.CSTL.org.
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Tuning in With WLIW21 New York Public Television My Music: The ‘70s Experience Thursday, August 9 at 8 p.m. Relive the decade of disco, singer-songwriters and soft rock with some of the best-loved tunes from the 1970s in new and archival performances.
My Music: ‘50s Pop Parade Friday, August 10 at 8 p.m. New and archival performances of songs that defined the pop music soundtrack from the 1940s, ‘50s, and early ‘60s, including performances by Jerry Vale, Patti Page, the Ink Spots, and Margaret Whiting.
Tina Turner: One Last Time Live in Concert Friday, August 10 at 10:30 p.m. The legendary diva’s final two-night stint at London’s Wembley Stadium during her Twenty Four Seven Millennium Tour 2000 features hits from her amazing fourdecade career. Before 80,000 fans, with pyrotechnics, a moving stage and energetic backup dancers, this powerful performance proves why Turner is “simply the best.”
Johnny Cash: A Man and His Vision Saturday, August 11 at 7 p.m. A celebration of one of America’s greatest artistic treasures features highlights from The Johnny Cash Show (1969-71) including Ray Charles performing Ring of Fire, Roy Orbison’s Crying, Bob Dylan’s I Threw It All Away and Cash’s duet with Joni Mitchell on Long Black Veil. Tune in for our VIP Rosanne Cash ticket offer.
Helmut Lotti: The Crooners Saturday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. International singing star Helmut Lotti performs some of the world’s most romantic ballads from the great era of crooning.
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Beyond the TV Set Robert Kiyosaki Teaching Event Robert Kiyosaki hosts a two-and-one-half hour learning session for WLIW21, with a guest appearance by his wife and business partner Kim Kiyosaki, on Tuesday, September 18 in midtown Manhattan. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to get advice on investing, real estate and women’s business issues directly from the Rich Dad and Rich Woman authors. Tickets available at wliw.org.
Share Your World War II Story Participate in an interactive online event for Ken Burns’ THE WAR, coming in September. WLIW21 is hosting a landmark website dedicated to recording viewers’ World War II experiences. Send your story, or interview someone in your family. For details and suggested questions, or to upload the video, visit wliw.org. Mail submissions to War Stories, WLIW21, PO Box 2100, New York, NY 10116.
16th Annual Golf Classic WLIW21 hosts an outing to benefit its children’s educational services at one of Long Island’s prestigious North Shore courses on Thursday, Sept. 20. Sponsorships still available – visit wliw.org/golf or call 516-367-2100, ext. 8451.
WLIW21 New York’s diverse programming schedule is a destination for viewers of all ages, featuring public television favorites from PBS KIDS to celebrity chefs in the kitchen, enhanced by a rich local public affairs lineup.
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Old Westbury Gardens Plein Air Oil Painting August 10, 17, 24 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Paint in the outdoors in an awe-inspiring environment with Pratt Institute’s Art Instructor Bart Deceglie.
Twilight Garden Walk August 17 6:30 p.m. The colorful formal gardens of Westbury House are the perfect setting for a romantic escape. A landscape tour concludes on the South Terrace with seasonal desserts and music at sunset.
47th Annual Scottish Games August 25 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bagpipes, caber tossing, highland dancing, concerts, gifts and clothing, food, and kids’ games. Long Island’s own Kende Trio will be appearing at the Long Island Mozart Festival. Photo by Vince Kish
Beech Tree Concert Series Artist-in-Residence Cellist Suzanne Mueller and Friends perform under the West Porch Beech Tree. Bring a chair, blanket, or sit on the grass and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Free with admission. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held in the Red Ballroom. August 12 3 to 4 p.m. Cello n’ Reeds- In this interesting pairing of instruments in a varied program, Suzanne Mueller is joined by the versatile clarinetist/saxophonist, Mike Cohen, a founding member of Kleztraphobics. August 19 3 to 4 p.m. McCarron & Mueller- Guitar-cello duo with a signature mix of original works and innovative arrangements spanning classical, folk, jazz standards, show tunes, and several forms of fiddling.
Long Island Mozart Festival Sept. 1 to 3 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The finest in musical performances, arts, crafts, historic dancing and fencing demonstrations, Punch and Judy, gourmet food, and more.
A Royal Tea Sept. 8 1 to 3 p.m. Come dressed as your favorite princess, prince or knight for a magical outdoor tea party, including a takehome craft.
Kidsfest Sept.16 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Great music for adults and kids, interactive art, garden safari, petting zoo, scavenger hunts, and games.
Poetica Musica Family Fridays August 10, 17, 24 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children are invited to discover the intriguing world of Old Westbury Gardens every Friday in August.
Sept. 29 Come at 6:45 p.m. for a guided tour of house or gardens, followed by pre-concert talk and 8 p.m. concert. Artists-inresidence at Old Westbury Gardens perform chamber works in the Red Ballroom. www.boulevardli.com
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Upcoming Exhibitions and Events at NCMA Family Fall Festival Saturday, September 23 Noon to 4:30 p.m. The exhibitions Latin American Art: Myth & Reality and Pieter Brueghel the Younger have inspired the theme for Family Fall Festival. Activities will center on the many cultures of the Hispanic world and on the unique 16th and 17th-century Flemish culture. Admission to the Family Fall Festival is $8 for adults and $4 for children.
SeaFair: Opening Night Gala Aboard the Grand Luxe Wednesday, October 3
Meet Manolo Valdes Sunday, August 26 at 4 p.m. Manolo Valdes, the famed Spanish sculptor whose massive works are on view in the Sculpture Park of NCMA, appears at the museum for a Meet the Artist reception and a walk through the Sculpture Park. The program is free for museum members; the nonmember fee of $15 includes admission to the museum.
Family Sundays at the Museum Sundays, August 5, 12, 19 and 26 September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 Sponsored by the Town of North Hempstead Each Sunday afternoon, beginning at 1 p.m. NCMA offers family fun including live music, walks through the exhibition and art activities.
Nassau County Museum of Art has partnered with SeaFair to bring museum friends and patrons the most elegant new way to view and purchase fine art, antiques and jewelry while raising funds for the museum. SeaFair’s Grand Luxe, the world’s first fine art exposition ship, features 28 of the world’s most respected dealers showing in museumquality spaces. Nassau County Museum of Art is the exclusive beneficiary of the gala. Invitation-only opening night party on Wednesday, Oct. 3.
Nassau County Museum of Art is located at One Museum Drive in Roslyn Harbor. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the main building, the Arnold & Joan Saltzman Fine Art Building, is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62+) and $4 for children. There is no admission fee to view the Sculpture Park or gardens but there is a $2 parking fee every day but Monday when the museum is closed. Free docent-led tours of the main exhibition are offered at 2 p.m. every day. The Museum Shop and Red Room gallery are open all museum hours. Call 516484-9337 for current exhibitions, events, days/times and directions or visit nassaumuseum.com.
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Pieter Brueghel The Younger August 26 Through November 4 Sponsored by the Belgian Tourist Office — Flanders Region On Sunday, August 26, Nassau County Museum of Art (NCMA) unveils a never-before-seen small exhibition of paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Younger. The exhibition, which is supported in part by Astoria Federal Savings, remains on view through November 4. In conjunction with this exhibition, on Saturday, September 29, NCMA is presenting 16th Flemish Culture, the first in a series of Humanities Symposia devoted to Flemish culture. Visit nassaumuseum.com, for further details. For information about Belgium or the Belgium Tourist Office’s sponsorship of this exhibition, log onto visitbelgium.com.
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LIFESTYLES EVENTS Nassau County Musuem of Art
SurrealBall
N
assau County Museum of Ar t’s annual balls are always spectacular events but the surrealistic works of the exhibition Dreams on Canvas inspired one of the most fabulous balls ever. Under the leadership of chairs Angela Susan Anton of Anton Community Newspapers, Museum Trustee Lisa M. Eastman and M. Patricia Janco-Tupper of Citigroup Private Bank, dancers, models and decor were brilliantly employed to illustrate the dramatic, fanciful theme. Honoree Michael Mazzei of nuBest Salon and Spa, Journal Chairman Richard Piana, also of nuBest, and student artistic efforts under the leadership of professors from Nassau Community College all combined for an evening that no one present will ever forget.
Executive Director Constance Schwartz with Ambassador and Mrs. Arnold Saltzman. Mr. Saltzman is the founding president of the museum’s board of trustees and the museum’s main building is named for the Saltzmans in honor of their many contributions to the Long Island community.
Emily Franchina of Franchina & Giordano, a member of the museum’s Corporate Committee, with Franklin Hill Perrell, the museum’s chief curator.
Journal Chair Richard Piana, Ball co-Chair Angela Susan Anton, Honoree Michael Mazzei, Ball Co-Chair M. Patricia Janco-Tupper.
Honorees Michael Mazzei (second from left) and Donna Mazzei (third from right) with friends and family.
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Dr. and Mrs. Charles A. Riley II. Dr. Riley, a prominent art historian and author, was co-curator of Surrealism: Dreams on Canvas.
New York State Senator Craig Johnson, Nassau County Museum of Art Executive Director Constance Schwartz and H. Brooks Smith, president of the museum’s board of trustees. Professors Joseph Pescatore, Nancy Bloom and Pat Lupino and Dean Carol Faber, all of the faculty and administration of Nassau Community College, supervised students’ artistic contributions to The SurrealBall.
Museum supporter Lisa Greene, a founder of the Long Island Children’s Museum, is joined by Women’s Executive Network member Jill Citron and her husband as they check out the tempting items at the Museum Ball silent auction.
Black-clad dancers provided some of the Ball’s most Surreal entertainment. www.boulevardli.com
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Abilities! Hosts Annual Celebrity Sports Night Foundation Dispels the Dis in Disabilites
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bilities! (formerly the National Center for Disability Services) recently hosted its 41st Annual Celebrity Sports Night, raising more than $1 million to support programs and services of the Henry Viscardi School (HVS) and Abilities, Inc. to benefit children and adults with disabilities. Abilities! was privileged to honor Joseph L. Mancino, former chairman and CEO, Roslyn Savings Bank, for his outstanding commitment to the organization. John Filippelli, president of production and programming for the YES Network and Jon Litner, president of SportsNet New York were recognized as business Sportsmen of the Year. Baseball legends Keith Hernandez and Graig Nettles were named Executive Sports Stars and Aimee Mullins, president of the Abilities! 2007 Executive Sports Star of the Year Keith HernanWomen’s Sports Foundation and double amputee, received dez and wife Kai with Don Dryer, director, Nassau County Office for the Physically Challenged and HVS board member. the Roy Campanella award.
Abilities! President and CEO Ed Cortez with honoree Joseph Mancino.
HVS student Max Gold with Olympic Abilities! 2007 Sportsmen of the Year Jon gold medallist Sarah Hughes. Litner and John Filippelli.
Roy Campanella Award recipient and president of the Women’s Sports Founda- Senator Craig Johnson; Frank and Rita Castagna, Castagna Realty Co.; Susan Gordon tion Aimee Mullins with Karen Loeffler, Ryan, vice president of development at Abilities!; Ed Cortez, president and CEO of public relations manager, Lord & Taylor. Abilities!; and Thomas Moran, president, chairman and CEO, Mutual of America.
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CCFA Honors Peter Cosentino at Spring Gala
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he Long Island Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCFA) welcomed 400 guests to help the foundation honor Peter Cosentino as Man of the Year. Guests dined and danced the night away and enjoyed a live and silent auction as well as a raffle drawing to win a new Maserati. The gala raised an outstanding $500,000 in Tom DiNapoli (left) and Mike Balboni (right) receiving the support of CCFA’s mission of education, Catherine and Peter CCFA Awards from Richard Kleinman, CCFA, Long Island support and research. Pappas, Sr. chapter, immediate past president.
Man of the Year Peter Cosentino with his family: daughter Shelby and Bill Modell with Jane and Michael Axelrod and Stefanie, wife Diane, son Peter, Jr., and daughter Christine. friend.
Genesis School Annual Gala Raises Awareness of Autism
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ore than 340 guests celebrated the Genesis School’s Annual Dinner Dance and Auction on May 4. The Genesis School has been open since 1995 serving autistic children from ages 8-21, and added a new program in July that services adults. With 340 guests in attendance, the event honored Howard Rosen and Christopher Bennett of Time, Inc., John Zerillo of the Long Island Rebels Youth Hockey Association, and Dominic and Lori DiPrisco, Genesis parents. Radio personality Bob Buchman served as auctioneer for live items, which, along with the silent auction, grand raffles and an elaborate tribute journal, helped to raise more than $80,000 for the programs. John Zerillo, Erin and Mark Sparacio.
Top L-R: Dr. Mary McDonald, Dr.Joanne Gerenser, Allison Giangregio, Erin Sparacio and Michael Giangregio. Bottom L-R: Olga Brunot and Randy Horowitz.
Christine Zippi, Dr. Mary McDonald, Kerri Brandine and Dr. Joanne Gerenser. www.boulevardli.com
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Science Museum of Long Island Wins Big at Casino Night Gala
he Science Museum of Long Island (SMLI) chose the Swan Club for its 8th Annual Gala fundraiser on April 26. About 170 guests were treated to an evening of gambling, auctions and music. Gene Petracca, SMLI president, and Dr. John Loret, executive director, welcomed guests and introduced Dr. Mark Moffett, National Geographic photographer and entomologist who received the SMLI Science Achievement Award for his work.
Science Achievement Award recipient Dr. Eugene Petracca, SMLI presiMark Moffett shared dent with Dr. Barbara Capozzi his sense of humor and (l) and Angela Susan Anton. Photos by Dr. John Loret, executive director; Margie Suga, gala co-chair with SMLI knowledge of bugs Dagmar Fors Karppi members. with all.
Angels on Long Island: LICADD Hosts Angel Ball
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he Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (LICADD) held its 20th Annual Angel Ball in May for 270 guests, raising more than $269,000 for LICADD’s programs and services for children and families in crisis. The event was held at the Garden City Hotel, with master of ceremonies Scott Clark from WABC-TV Sports, and emphasized LICADD’s successful programs for children and teens. Guests learned about the effective programs initiated by the LICADD in local high schools.
Jack Jerdan, 2007 Honoree Thomas Croci, Scott Clark, WABC-TV, Adele Smithers, Angel Ball Journal co-Chairs Brian Lavin, Francis Galluccio and Bruce Kennedy. Patricia Pryor-Bonica, 2007 Honoree Curtis Webster.
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Epicurean Event Benefits Young Onset Alzheimer’s, Autism and Special Needs
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reat wine and food was abundant at an evening of Wine and Food Tasting held at the Metropolitan, Glen Cove. More than 30 of the finest restaurants and caterers on Long Island contributed to the event, which raised almost $100,000 for the Young Onset Alzheimer’s, Autism and Special Needs programs at Sid Jacobson JCC. Co-chaired by Debra Buslik, JCC Board member and Linda Marsden, with a fabulous committee including Lisa Brietstein, Marleen Donnenfeld, JCC Board member Rita Levy and Tammy Rosenbaum, the event offered guests a stylish and awesome Debbi Buslik, Rocco Sacramone, sampling of culinary Chef/Owner, Trattoria L’Incontro and delights. Linda Marsden. Pasquale, Stresa and Stresa East, Linda Marsden, Debbi Buslik and Georgio, Stresa and Stresa East donating a rare bottle of wine from the Alan King collection to the Epicurean Wine & Food Committee.
Front: Jeannie DiLillo, Linda Marsden, Debbi Buslik, Beverly Gelb. Back: Christina Gaughn, Lisa Brietstein, Rita Levy, Tammy Rosenbaum, Mark Spiegel.
Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, NJ, rode Roxanna 112, owned by Scott Hakim, to victory in the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix to culminate last year’s 31st annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. Photo by Jon Kassel
Hampton Classic Canters In for 32nd Anniversary
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hen the Hampton Classic returns to Bridgehampton this year, it will be celebrating its 32nd anniversary. The Hampton Classic is one of the country’s largest hunter/jumper horse shows. With more than 50,000 spectators and 1,500 horses, the classic is not only a sporting event of major proportions, but also one of the most extravagant social events of the summer. In addition to equine events, the classic includes more than 60 vendors as well as fun children’s events through Classic Week. Competition at the Hampton Classic runs from Sunday, August 26 through Sunday, September 2. Admission is $10 per person or $20 per carload, with children under 6 admitted free. Admission is free for all on Monday, seniors are free Tuesday-Thursday and children are free on Saturday. Reserved grandstand seating for Sunday, September 2 is $15 per person (in addition to regular admission) or $25 per person in the special Premium Seating center sections. Parking is free throughout the week. For further information on the Hampton Classic, visit www.hamptonclassic.com.
www.boulevardli.com
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COS Young Symphonic Ensemble Debuts at Carnegie Hall
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laying to a nearly full house, the Young Symphonic Ensemble (YSE) of the Children’s Orchestra Society (COS) made its Carnegie Hall debut on Friday, June 1, under the direction of conductor Michael Dadap. On that evening, COS celebrated its 38th anniversary and the 13th Discovery Concert Series with performances by renowned guest artists Jamie Laredo and Sharon Robinson, and 2007 Senior Discovery Winner Sara Aomori. COS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to teaching children the language of music from early childhood. YSE has toured in Scotland, the Philippines, Taiwan, and many major North American cities. The ensemble performs annually at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.
Sara Aomori is the principal flutist of the Children’s Orchestra Society YSE and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.
Jaime Laredo, soloist, conductor, recitalist and chamber musician and his wife, award-winning cellist Sharon Robinson shared the Michael Dadap conducts the Young Symphonic Ensemble of the Children’s Orchestra Carnegie Hall stage with the Young Symphonic Ensemble. Society at its Carnegie Hall debut.
Annual EAC Spring Luncheon Is Huge Success
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he Education & Assistance Corporation (EAC) hosted its 7th Annual Spring Luncheon, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. EAC was proud to honor Geri Gregor, chief financial officer of DOAR Litigation Consulting and Deidra Parrish Williams, manager, community affairs at Newsday. The organization also recognized EAC’s Unsung Heroes: Marian Conway, senior program officer, The Roslyn Savings Foundation and EAC Board Member Dave Widmer, president and general manager, Long Island Radio Group. The luncheon boasted a record attendance of 675 people and $215,000 raised to benefit the agency’s 72 programs.
Honoree Geri Gregor, left, is pictured with Lois Riccobono, vice president, RB Lewis Associates and EAC board member.
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From left is Linda Armyn, vice president of corporate development and government affairs, Bethpage Federal Credit Union and luncheon committee chair; Honoree Deidra Parrish Williams; and Lance W. Elder, Unsung Heroes Dave Widmer and Marian Conway. EAC president and CEO.
August – September 2007
page 079 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS sass golf-mcdonald:Pages 001-004
8/1/07
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SASS Foundation Raises Funds for Cancer Research, Education and Patient Care
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he Mill River Club in Upper Brookville provided the perfect backdrop for 100 golfers and 20 tennis players who participated in The SASS Foundation for Medical Research 15h Annual Golf Outing and Inaugural Tennis Tournament on May 7. The afternoon of golf included a shotgun start, an on-course barbecue and a vendor galleria. The afternoon turned to evening with a cocktail hour, awards, raffle drawings, and a silent auction by Steiner Sports. The first-ever tennis event included breakfast, a tournament, and an awards luncheon. A record-breaking $115,000 raised Tennis co-chairs Amy Dash and Lara will go directly into funding grants for medical research and education programs for Sass Sivin. a SASS Foundation patients and physicians. board member.
Michael Hyatt, Bear Stearns; Tom Constance, SASS Foundation board member, Kramer Levin; Fred Salerno, Verizon; Vincent Tese, Bear Stearns.
Bob Bunker, Sterling Healthcare; Marty Sass, SASS Foundation chairman and cofounder, MD, Sass; Steve Shenfeld, MD, Sass Ronald Robinson, Joel Robinson, Phil Macquarie Financial Strategies; Phil Sharf- Sivin, (SASS Foundation board and golf stein, Westerman Ball Ederer & Sharfstein. committee member) and Dan Feinstein.
Friends of Ronald McDonald House Celebrate Lloyd Frazier at Annual Golf and Tennis Outing
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he rolling greens and tennis courts of the Tam O’Shanter Golf Club were abuzz with players at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island’s Tenth Annual Golf and Tennis Outing. Following the games, nearly 200 friends of the House enjoyed cocktails and a wonderful buffet dinner. The highlight of the evening was a touching tribute to the life of the late Lloyd Frazier, former McDonald’s owner/operator. On September 11, 2001, Lloyd watched as the twin towers of the World Trade Center crumbled a mere four blocks from his Chambers Street restaurant. After rescuing a firefighter and police officer, he was an instant hero. His store, dubbed Hotel McDonald’s, was recognized as a safe haven and Lloyd set up an outdoor mobile unit and provided 700,000 meals to rescue workers. Jack Bert, chairperson of this year’s event, Pictured at the Ronald McDonald House 10th Annual Golf and Pro-Am Tennis Outing are board of director members George Keller, (chairman of the event), Jack Bert, Paul said that herefater, the event will Hendel, Stacie Rodriguez and Gerald Laurino with Executive Director Bob Weitzner be named The Lloyd Frazier Golf and Fundraising Manager Jeanne Ellis. and Tennis Memorial Outing.
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page 080 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS american cancer-celebration:Pages 001-004
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Surgeons Honored at American Cancer Society’s Gala of Hope Cancer Survivor Receives Humanitarian Award
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ore than 350 people attended the 2007 Gala of Hope on June 1 at the Hempstead House in Sands Point. Among the honorees were Dr. Randall Feingold of Syosset and Dr. Ron Israeli of Laurel Hollow, who were named as the 2007 Gala of Hope Physicians of Distinction, as well as Susan Cohen, a dedicated cancer advocate and breast cancer survivor who received the Humanitarian Award. A special auction during the event raised more than $10,000 for Camp Adventure, a one-week overnight camp program for young cancer survivors and their siblings. The gala was a great success, raising more than $280,000 for cancer research, early detection and prevention, education, advocacy and patient programs.
Dr. Ron Israeli, Physician of Distinction; Susan Cohen, Humanitarian Honoree and Dr. Randall Feingold, Physician of Distinction.
Physician of Distinction, Dr. Ron Israeli; Dr. Nancy Susan Cohen, Humanitarian Honoree with husband, Israeli; Dr. Sheryl Feingold and Dr. Randall Feingold, Glenn Cohen and children, Brianna, Stephanie and Daniel. Physician of Distinction.
L’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini Celebrates Long Island
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’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini (LBCC), LLP, one of Long Island’s largest law firms, recently hosted A Celebration of Long Island, a wine and cheese reception featuring premier artists of Long Island from the bj spoke gallery in Huntington. Gail Contini, wife of partner Peter Contini, worked with Marilyn Lavi of bj spoke gallery to assemble a collection of the finest works of Long Island’s artists for a gallery at the law firm’s newly designed offices. The art was comprised of paintings, photographs and sculpture that will be displayed throughout the firm’s conference rooms and conference center as well as its reception area for a period of months following the reception. bj spoke gallery is a membership of well-established cooperative artists who represent Long Island from Queens to Suffolk. The artists represented have shown internationally and are known for their diversity of styles. Many of the works in the collection were inspired by Long Island’s beauty. 80
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Founding partner of LBCC Kenneth Balkan, his wife Berta Balkan, and accountant Rick Sturmer of Buck Sturmer & Associates. Russell Albanese of the Albanese Organization, owner of the building; architect Michael Spector; and co-managing partner of LBCC Richard Byrne.
page 081 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS hamptons heart:Pages 001-004
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Heart of the Hamptons Gala Embraced by Community
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n July 10, 500 people traveled to Bridgehampton to attend the American Heart Association’s 11th Annual Heart of the Hamptons Gala, with a focus on Children’s Health. This year’s event, on the grounds of the Hayground School, was the American Heart Association’s most successful yet, raising nearly $500,000. The evening went into full swing with the entertainment portion of the night featuring the musical talent of Uptown – A Soul Systems Orchestra Band. The crowd was then treated to two very energetic demonstrations by the National Double Dutch League and Long Island Gymnasts. As always, the Heart of the Hamptons Gala Pictured from left are Nick Racanelli, highlighted amazing auction items. This year’s auction featured such items as special Long Island Board of Directors, Vicewines from around the world, New York City getaways, golf and sporting tickets, spa Chair Susan Somerville and Dr. Al Cuyjet. packages, jewelry and designer items.
Pictured from left are Honoree Dr. O. Wayne Isom and his Heart Survivor, Leah Olverd (in red) smiles with her family and wife and honorees Joan Ganz Cooney and her husband WCBS Weatherman John Elliot. Peter Peterson.
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page 082 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS ddi golf-bto lustgarten:Pages 001-004
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DDI 17th Annual Golf Classic Is Most Successful to Date
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he Developmental Disabilities 17th Annual Golf Classic proved to be the biggest and most successful for the agency to date, raising more than $160,000. Due to the ever-increasing demand for participation, DDI hosted the July 6 event at two of the North Shore’s most prestigious courses, the Pine Hollow Country Club and the Woodcrest Country Club. The post-golf reception was once again held at the Pine Hollow Country Club, where golfers enjoyed a gourmet cocktail reception and dinner followed by the awards presentation and live auction. Both courses Dedicated DDI Supporter Peter Chase of C & B Consulting (far and the post-golf reception were filled with men and right) with his powerful foursome of colleagues and friends women from across Long Island who shared a common from MetLife. commitment to raising money and awareness for autism.
Golfers shot for a hole-in-one to win one of the two Mustangs donated by Riverhead Ford. Golfers from HIP enjoy the beautiful weather and good company.
Annual Beating the Odds Casino Night Beats the Odds
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Lustgarten Foundation Raises a Half-Million Dollars
eating the Odds (BTO) Casino Night on May 3 welcomed more than 500 guests who were greeted by stilt-walkers and a three-piece jazz band at Oheka Castle in Cold Spring Hills. Event co-chairs and longtime Lustgarten Foundation supporters Len and Melissa Novick and Julie Mendik, helped organize the fun-filled evening featuring special auction items such as a one-week stay at a private Villa in St. Bart’s, a custom fitting for a Calvin Klein evening gown, and the opportunity to own BTO Honorary Chair actor Matthew Modine’s very own customized 1951 Willys station wagon. Grand prizes included an exquisite cocktail party for 30 aboard a 128-foot private yacht, and a glorious Ireland Golf Experience Foursome. The event successfully raised more than $500,000 for The Lustgarten Foundation as the crowd enjoyed an evening of charity gambling, while being treated to gourmet dinner and special magic and juggling appearances.
L to R: Neil Dolgin, Julie Mendik, Melissa Novick, Marcia Lustgarten, L to R: Todd Mendik, Julie Mendik, Melissa Novick, Len Len Novick, Mathew Modine, Stu Lebow and Kal Dolgin. Novick, Joann Quinn and Bill Quinn.
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page 083 carlyle:Pages 001-004
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page 084 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS innkeepers-summer-family:Pages 001-004
8/2/07
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A Summer To Remember
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ith a hazy, hot and humid summer already upon us, many children on Long Island dream of carefree days swimming in the ocean beaches and eating ice cream cones. For children who are not as fortunate, summer can mean a dismal time, spending the long, hot summer days alone while parents are at work, leaving them no choice but to take care of themselves. Family and Children’s Association’s Summer Camp Program offers Melvin Whitehead and Anita Wilson children the opportunity of a summer to remember. Making friends, learning new things, taking adventurous field trips…there truly is no better way to keep children safe and entertained than the camp experiences provided by Family and Children’s Association’s Summer Camp Program. Each year, this seven-week program lightens the heavy burden weighing on many parents struggling to provide for their families and is a dream come true for their children. Made possible through private contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, all of which give Left to right: Jonathan Torres, generously, more than 100 children, ages 6 through Jean Ferman and Kenyah Boyd 12, have the opportunity to spend their days playing, learning and having fun.
Treyvon Mason
Nicole Cuellar
Left to right: Melvin Whitehead, Nya Archie and Natasha Cummings
Roseanne Scordio, honored volunteer.
Scordio Honored by Family and Children’s Association
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he passion and commitment of volunteers are the lifeblood of organizations whose services to the community depend on their contributions. Sands Point resident and Rockville Centre restaurateur Rosanne Scordio is one such volunteer. Ms. Scordio will be honored for her numerous contributions at Family and Children’s Thanksgiving Ball on Thursday, November 15 at the Garden City Hotel.
INNkeeper’s Ball Nourishes Interfaith Nutrition Network
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he 2007 INNkeeper’s Ball, benefiting the Interfaith Nutrition Network’s soup kitchens and emergency shelters, honored Risa Pulver and David Fenton at the Long Island Marriott. In 2008, the INN will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. 84
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(L-R) Rune and Dev Ratnam.
August – September 2007
(L-R) Jeff and Risa Pulner and Rob Kammerer.
(L-R) Jean Kelly and David Fenton.
page 085 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS swing for kids:Pages 001-004
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Tilles Center’s 16th Annual Swing for Kids Tournament
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brief but powerful storm did nothing to dampen spirits at Tilles Center for the Performing Art’s annual Swing for Kids Golf and Tennis Outing at Meadow Brook Club and The Creek. The event raises funds to support arts education for Long Island’s schools and schoolchildren and this year honored Paul Tonna and his beautiful family of eight children from all over the world. To date more than $2 million has been raised through this tournament.
Honoree Paul Tonna and family.
Former NYS legislator Arthur J. Kremer is Tilles Center’s longRon Horowitz of Birchwood Associates and Philip time auctioneer, skillfully moving Tilles Center’s executive director, Elliott Wachtler of WK Equities are members of Tilles along bids for the spirited live Sroka, welcomes the hundreds of Center’s Council of Overseers. players to the awards dinner. auction.
Jack Bransfield, the chairman of Tilles Center’s Council of Overseers, with council member Charles M. Strain of Farrell Peter Tilles, the founding chairman of Swing for Kids, with Fritz, P.C. Both men have been honored at past Swing for Kids tournaments. honoree Paul Tonna. www.boulevardli.com
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North Shore Child & Family Guidance Achievement 2007 Luncheon
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orth Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Long Island’s leading specialty children’s mental health center for more than half a century, held its Annual Achievement Luncheon at Glen Head Country Club. This year’s honorees were Liza Burby, editor, Newsday’s Parents & Children; Ray Negron, author, The Boy of Steel, special consultant, New York Yankees; and the Northrop Grumman Corporation, represented by John Breitfeller. The afternoon offered lunch and touching addresses by the honorees and special guest speaker Toni Ann Fahey, all to benefit the center’s many programs and services. North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center was founded in 1953 and offers a wide spectrum of mental health services. It is also a major training facility for professionals, agencies, schools and community groups. The Achievement Luncheon allows the center to provide information to individuals and corporations throughout Long Island.
Deborah Hudak, Ellen Auster and Valerie Hammond.
Beatrice Cohart and Rochelle Lipton.
Sandra Radzanower Wolkoff and Jan Barberi.
Rosemarie Klipper and Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust.
Regina Barros, Bonnie Eisler, Andrew Malekoff, Liza Burby, Jo-Ellen Hazan, Ellen Auster, Ann Dorman Adler, Ray Negron and John Breitfeller.
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page 087 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS liff:Pages 001-004
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Lights, Camera, Action at Long Island Film Festival
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t began with an elegant evening at the Glen Cove Mansion and ended with swinging soiree at Page One Restaurant in Glen Cove. In between, from Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 3, the Long Island Film Festival (LIFF) celebrated its 24th year on Long Island screening independent films that ranged from documentaries to thrillers, comedies to dramas, shorts to full-length features. Stephen Humphrey Bogart, son of screen legends Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, was on hand to introduce the 1954 classic film Sabrina, which starred Bogart pere and Audrey Hepburn, and was filmed in large part in and around the mansions of Glen Cove. Chris Cooke, founding director of the LIFF, and Francis J. Leik, LIFF’s executive producer, were thrilled to honor silent film child star Kathleen Reilly O’Brien, a 95-year-old Long Islander whose film career, circa 1918, afforded her the opportunity to work opposite Francis X. Bushman, among other stars of the fledgling business of moving pictures. Fade to black…until next year.
Pictured at the Glen Cove Mansion on opening night of the Long Island Film Festival are Francis Leik, Stephen Humphrey Bogart, Kathleen Reilly O’Brien, Glen Cove Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi and City Councilman Nick DiLeo. Photo by Christopher Wells @kpictures.com
Chris Cooke, founder of LIFF, introduces Stephen Humphrey Bogart and the classic 1954 At Page One Restaurant, Jackie ‘The Joke Man’ Martling laughs it feature Sabrina. up with Angela Anton, Chef Jeanine DiMenna and Francis Leik. Photo by James Orlando Photo by Christopher Wells @kpictures.com
Kevin Keresey, writer/director/ actor of The Rat Thing grew up in Locust Valley and followed his muse to Hollywood. Photo by James Orlando
Francis Leik, director Stan Schofield and Karen Ialacci. Two of Mr. Schofield’s films, At the reception for the LIFF are Francis Leik, film director Carmen Maria Milito, Parting Words and Cost of Living, were producer Sebastian Milito, script writer Deanna Raphael and Vincent Pastore of screened at the festival. Sopranos fame. Photo by James Orlando Photo by James Orlando www.boulevardli.com
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page 088 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS make a wish- licm:Pages 001-004
8/2/07
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LIFESTYLES EVENTS
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Make-A-Wish Foundation Announces Record Breaking Gala at the Pierre
he Make-A-Wish foundation of Metro New York’s annual When You Wish Upon A Star Gala was the most successful fundraising event in the chapter’s history, raising more than $2 million. The gala, held at the Hotel Pierre in New York City, honored longtime Make-A-Wish advocates Vic Ascrizzi and Pamela Daley. The presence of seven wish children and their families added to the overall feeling of joy and excitement during the evening. Listening to the children’s wish experiences allowed nearly 700 members of New York’s business and philanthropic elite to experience firsthand the positive impact of a wish on a child’s life.
Dan Elsberry from K Advisers and former member of the board of directors, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York, with wife Lisa Parker Elsberry, enjoy Gala honorees Pamela Daley and Vic Ascrizzi with wish children the festivities. Samantha, Mercedes Chelsea, Robert, Maggie, Avril and Daniel.
Long Island Children’s Museum Cupcakes & Cocktails
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he Long Island Children’s Museum’s annual fundraiser Cupcakes & Cocktails is not your typical gala. Like the museum itself, the fundraiser is designed to encourage exploration and discovery in its guests. An ongoing cocktail party that allowed guests to roam the galleries as children do replaced the traditional sit-down dinner. Guests enjoyed a variety of fun activities ranging Craig Koenigsberg, Scott Rechler, David Glaser, Sheldon Stahl and Fred Stahl. from a games arcade to henna art tattoos and psychic readings. LICM is Long Island’s most well attended museum and its most recent fundraising effort raised nearly $1.1 million to support the museum’s educational and cultural programs and community outreach initiatives. The event was the Pall Corporation CEO Eric Krasnoff with museum’s most successful fundraiser to Pam Menowitz, Jill Koenigsberg and his wife Robin and LICM Board Chair date and its second million dollar event. Aimee Stoopler. Robert Lemle. 88
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page 089 LIFESTYLES-EVENTS american heart-jcc golf:Pages 001-004
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American Heart Hosts JCC Plays Fore the Rhythm of the Night Gala Children at Mid-Island Y n Friday, May 4, more than 470 people from the Golf Tournament medical and corporate communities came to the
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Garden City Hotel for a spectacular evening that raised more than $555,000 for the American Heart Association. The event recognized the outstanding accomplishments of those working in cardiovascular science and leadership. The 44th Annual Gala & Auction focused on children’s heart health, with a commitment to helping children live stronger, healthier lives. Guests enjoyed a silent and live auction conducted by WCBS-T V meteorologist John Elliot, as well as entertainment by the Times Leigh Somerville, Alexa Ray Square Orchestra and Alexa Joel and guest. Ray Joel.
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Celebration of Children was the theme of the MidIsland Y JCC’s 6th Annual Golf Tournament in Plainview, NY. More than 120 supporters and friends participated in the June 18 event, with proceeds being directed towards providing vital social services and programs that serve more than 10,000 members and patrons in Nassau and western Suffolk Counties. This year’s golf tournament honored pediatrician Dr. Bill Mesibov, who has served as a member of the Mid-Island Y JCC Board of Directors for more than 20 years and has cared for children on the North Shore for four decades. The tournament began with a buffet breakfast in the club’s dining room, followed by a noon shotgun star t and barbecue lunch. Guests then enjoyed a cocktail reception and buffet dinner. The event concluded with a drawing of an impressive array of raffle prizes as well as a silent Tournament Chair Bruce sports and entertainment Nuzie presents the Scroll of memorabilia auction. Honor to Dr. Bill Mesibov.
Honorees: Philip Wachtler, Gerald and Stuart Mordfin, Susan Somerville.
Sponsor Chair Mark Hankin and wife, Sheila, and Tournament Chair Bruce Nuzie and wife Harriet.
Michele Gervat, Arnie and Bobbi Greenberg, Ralph Palleschi, Martha Stark, Kathy Munsch.
Dr. Bill Mesibov’s extended family enjoyed the day with the golf honoree. Photos by Amy R. Manheim www.boulevardli.com
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SLCD Hosts Carnivale Veneziano Gala
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he School for Language and Communication Development in Glen Cove celebrated its 5th annual springtime gala Carnevale Veneziano on Saturday, April 21, raising an impressive $130,000. Guests had a fabulous time as they dined while being entertained by Broadway stars Nat Chandler and Jennifer Schraeder. North Hempstead Country Club was turned into an 18th-century Venetian Palace with a gondola, trumpeters, and jesters that greeted the guests for an evening of fun and elegance.
Executive Director Dr. Ellenmorris Tiegerman with her son, his wife, and Alice Ficalora.
Anthony Tedesco introduces the Bridge of Speech.
Linda Tedesco with jester and trumpeters.
Co-chair John Spellman, Mr. and Mrs. David M. Katz, Chairperson Linda Tedesco and Co-chair Tim Rembijas.
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Masked guests
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A Little Nip, A Little Tuck By Dagmar Fors Karppi tephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S. has a new wrinkle in his repertoire. The Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon has written a book, A Little Nip, A Little Tuck: an insiders guide to cosmetic enhancement. The book opens the door to the process of cosmetic surgery informing the reader of exactly what to expect from a procedure. It takes you from being an outsider to being an insider! As Americans are living longer lives, new technologies and medical breakthroughs are making that voyage beauti- Fran Ahern from Make-A-Wish presented Dr. Steven Greenberg with a plaque thanking him for donating a portion of the sales of ful. You can change the way you look. That is where Dr. his book to the foundation. Last year 407 wishes were granted. Greenberg comes in. His book is an education in all aspects of the procedure from first considering surgery to how to find a doctor, what to do before surgery and what the recovery process entails. Dr. Greenberg shows a respect for the patient. His book takes the mystery out of surgery. The book received a good response from guests at his book signing party held at the Carlyle on the Green recently. A portion of the book sales went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The party was a great celebration of life as it can be lived today.
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Publisher Angela Susan Anton with writer Barry Kay and Rita Kay, CMF executive director.
Jeannine Valone, Dana Caruso and Lindsey Fisher of the of L.I. Nail and Skin Institute with Steve Carl of the Carlyle on the Green, who will cater the new Donald Trump for the new Jones Beach restaurant.
The cover of A Little Nip, A Little Tuck: an insiders guide to cosHost/writer/Doctor Steven Greenberg with Laurie Introp and metic enhancement, by Jennifer Gabriel who represent the makers of Restylane and Stephen T. Greenberg, Every guest was made to feel special as they were escorted into the party. M.D., F.A.C.S. Perlare, (wrinkle removers). www.boulevardli.com
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LIFESTYLES TRENDS
iTested iBought iPhone
Photos courtesy of Apple
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By Harry Rocker hen new techie toys come out, I usually wait until the next revision so that the manufacturer works out the kinks. Of course, I was excited about the iPhone since Steve Jobs unveiled it at Mac World. Well, Apple did right with its campaign and promoted the phone well, selling over a half-million phones in its weekend debut in June. I restrained myself from even approaching an Apple Store so I wouldn’t be tempted. I was perfectly happy with my Motorola RAZR V3i (with iTunes built in). Besides, even as a techie, I have never liked using smar t phones. I felt that packing too much into a phone was never a good thing and made it difficult to use. One night at the office, my friend and Apple trainer Craig Cohen of HCS technology group came in. I didn’t even say hi. Instead, I said, “Ok, let’s see it.” He reluctantly handed the iPhone over to me, fearful he wouldn’t get it back. I pressed the single button on the front of the phone and it came to life. What you see on the T V commercials is an excellent representation of this phone. Clean, crisp and simple. Well, folks, I would be lying if I said I didn’t want that phone right there and then. So, I did it. I spent the $599, plus about $100 for a case, extra charger, and car charger. I have not been able to put this phone down! Every feature on the phone has been getting a workout from me and I am impressed. Let’s do the rundown!
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Service and Activation:
Touch Screen:
The service is under contract with AT&T (formerly Cingular). I have been a Cingular customer for almost a year and I am very pleased with the service. Activation was simple. Plug the phone into the computer and let iTunes do the rest. My phone was activated in seconds. Business customers may have to call AT&T for activation.
The iPhone is missing the conventional buttons of typical cell and smart phones. On the front of the iPhone is the home button, which brings you back to the main screen and wakes the phone from sleep mode. On the top of the phone is a power button; on the side, a volume button and one button to turn the phone to vibrate/silent mode. The touch screen is surprisingly advanced. It’s not too sensitive and is almost, for lack of a better word, error correcting. Since there is no conventional keyboard built in, everything is touch screen. After about a day of using the touch screen keyboard, I easily adapted to it. Another nice feature is the way you “pinch” the screen outward to magnify photos and webpages, as well as the ability to drag your finger to scroll the screen in a fluid motion.
Internet: On most cell phones, the Internet is a trimmed-down version; the web page is condensed or the phone can’t load the page correctly. On this phone you get the real Internet. When you magnify the page, it is very easy to read as well as to switch between pages. The iPhone can connect to the Internet via Wireless or via AT&T’s Edge network. There is no need to report on the iPod and email. Both work exactly as they are supposed to. The email program is excellent and easy to read and operate.
Phone: When you push the phone icon, you have a choice of favorites, recents, contacts, keypad and voicemail. Dialing a phone number is simple, you can either go through your contacts by choosing a letter of the alphabet and advancing to that section, drag your finger to the name, press on any of the missed, dialed or received calls and, of course, dial the number. The sound on the phone is clear and the touch screen shuts off automatically when you bring the phone close to your face. The new feature is visual voice mail. When you press the voice mail feature, the screen shows the contacts or phone numbers that have left you messages. When you press on that phone number or name, the message plays; you don’t have to sit there and listen to every message. In the end, this product is worth the price and it is a must-see.
Main Screen: Once the iPhone is turned on, there is an instruction to slide your finger across the screen to unlock. If you set the optional password, you would then enter it and come to the main screen. On this screen, there is no navigating—everything is right there in typical apple-fashioned icons. Your choices are: SMS text messaging Calendar Photos Camera YouTube Stocks Maps (google maps) Weather Clock Calculator Notes Settings Grouped together at the bottom of the screen are: Phone Mail Safari (web browsing) iPod We are all familiar with the apps listed above, so I’m just going to review what this phone has that makes its hype worth talking about.
Missing Features: There are some notable features missing from the iPhone, but this also is one of iPhone’s great features: the ability to add programs and functionality. Search feature in the contacts and email Copy and paste Spell check Video recording GPS iChat MMS (interestingly enough, the AT&T manual includes this in the data plan, indicating they are going to be available shortly.)
Battery: The battery life of the iPhone could be better. I am finding myself having to charge the phone every day, whereas on my previous phone I could go a few days. The fact that I cannot access the battery is not an issue for me as I can’t access the battery in my iPod either. I just need to be aware of the usage and charge it.
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page 094-095 LIFESTYLES-TRENDS mid island flying:Pages 001-004
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LIFESTYLES TRENDS
The Boulevard Soars to New Heights
With Mid Island Sport Flying Center
By Ilena Ryan Photos by Jason Feinberg s Angela Anton, Jason Feinberg and I pulled into the Brookhaven Calabro Airport, we were immediately fascinated with the various small planes in the Mid Island Sport Flying Center lot. Our eyes focused on a small, sleek blue and white plane that we later found out Angela would be flying. After taking a few moments to admire this great looking aircraft, we
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went inside and sat down with Michael Mancuso, the owner of the Flying School, a family-owned business that Mancuso’s grandfather started in 1942. Mancuso himself has been flying since 1980 when he was just 10 years old and is constantly performing in air shows. We also spoke with another pilot and instructor, Mike Bellenir, who also started flying at age 10, and obtained his pilot’s license when he was 17. Both men were extremely excited about the plane
August – September 2007
Angela was about to fly in – the light sport SportStar Plus, designed by the Evektor Air Craft Company. The FAA recently certified this beautiful new plane. What makes it special is its lightness; the plane itself weighs about 750 pounds when empty and can weigh almost 1,300 pounds when loaded up. The plane has a Rotax 912 100hp 4-cylinder engine and has a range of 800 miles on its full 32-gallon tank, which could take a pilot to Florida nonstop. Though it is not that fast, reaching speeds of 115-120 mph, it burns significantly less fuel. The plane has a joystick, unique to most small planes, which usually have a steering wheel-like device. The joystick controls the plane’s up and down movements, and the pedals move it from side to side. Mancuso told us that the plane “is the biggest change I’ve seen since I’ve been flying … it’s easy to fly, and the rules are more relaxed on learning to fly it … there’s a surge again in new pilots because it costs half as much to fly this plane and you can do it in half the time.” The plane itself is much less expensive than others; it starts at around $92,000 for a new model and costs only $20 an hour to fly. Jason and I watched as Angela took off in the plane with Mancuso. We trailed behind in a small photo
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plane, piloted by Bellenir, and flew alongside the Spor tStar to take pictures. Our planes got so close to each other they could almost touch – we could clearly see Angela smiling in the front seat as her plane hovered alongside ours. Angela told us how easy the SportStar was to fly, and we all agreed on the incredible adrenaline rush felt during the experience. With Mancuso, Angela did turns and stalls, and got a feel for how the plane worked. On our way back in the photo plane, Jason was allowed to fly to the airport and impressively managed a successful landing. When we stepped out of our planes, we couldn’t stop talking about how exhilarating it was being in the air. Bellenir couldn’t agree more with us, describing flying as “a very rewarding experience…it’s a different world up there. There aren’t many things that will give you a sense of accomplishment like flying solo.” After our experience, we couldn’t agree more. Craving that same sense of adventure and exhilaration that we felt for ourselves? Lessons to pilot these aircrafts are open to the public and occur in two stages. The first 15-20 hours are for preparing a person to fly solo, which costs $3,500. The second stage is for finishing the license, which is another $3,000 for cross-country time and preparation for the flight test. To sign up for flight lessons, contact Mike Bellenir at 631-965-8886 at the Mid Island Spor t Flying Center, or email
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mike.bellenir@mmairshows.com. If you’d like to see these pilots in action, Michael Mancuso has an upcoming air show on August 10, 11, and 12 which will showcase not only his own flight abilities, but more than 40 air balloons, as well as musical
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performances by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. For information about the show, call 516-794-4444. Mancuso also will be performing in the Grand Old Air Show – information can be found at www.thegrandoldairshow.com.
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page 096 LIFESTYLES-SINGLE matchmaker:Pages 001-004
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LIFESTYLES SINGLE SCENE
Dating Do’s and Don’ts
From Great Date Now Matchmaker
By Kathryn Moschella ore than half the population of the United States is single and the list is getting larger each day. Yet, despite the growing pool of available people, it’s not always easy to find that ‘special someone’ to share your life with, and even harder to find someone you would like to date. When the magic strikes, it’s important that your first date be a memorable one, according to Long Island’s successful matchmaker Dawn Tefel of Great Date Now, an offline dating company that offers personalized matchmaking services for successful singles in Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as the entire tri-state area. Dawn has dedicated herself to helping Long Island singles find their perfect match. She accomplishes this by taking the time to get to know everyone personally and learn what each is seeking in a mate. A critical part of the process is the first date and Dawn does whatever it takes to make the date a good one. “I’ll arrange the date, choose the location, make a reservation if necessary, and coach them individually before they meet. First impressions are lasting ones and a potential match could end in failure if one of the parties does something or says something that leaves a bad taste in the other’s mouth,” she says. The good news is that dating can be fun and exciting, especially if there’s instant attraction and you’re drawn to each other’s personality. If you follow some basic do’s and don’ts from Dawn’s experience helping couples through the dating process, there’s a good chance your first date will be terrific, with more great dates to follow.
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The Do’s: Think outside the box. Your dates don’t always have to take place in a restaurant. A creative date can be somewhere fun like the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium in Riverhead, biking on Jones Beach or even skydiving over the Long Island Sound in Calverton. Originality goes a long way toward making a good Dawn Tefel of Great Date Now helps make a love match.
first impression. You’ll be sure to get points for your effort! Be prompt. If you know there’s traffic on the LIE or the Southern State, leave a few minutes early. If you have any inclination that you will be late, call your date on your cell and let them know you’re on your way. This way, you appear reliable and it will seem as though you weren’t late at all. If you’re on a date where there is a large group of people, be nice to the people around you. Niceness is a great quality, especially when you’re meeting someone for the first time. Your date will be evaluating your personality, character and manners, so why not start off nice? If you made reservations at an expensive restaurant, find out ahead of time what the attire is and let your date know in advance. If a guy shows he’s conscientious, his date will appreciate this extra touch. Compliment your date. Always start the evening by complimenting your date and end the evening with another compliment. Both men and women love to be complimented. Compliments can make a person’s night. Have fun! You and your date will probably be a little nervous, especially if this is the first time you meet and you like each other. Try to relax and enjoy yourself, and above all, be positive and confident.
The Don’ts: Don’t dominate the conversation and tell your life story in one meeting. Allow your date to talk; and you listen. Don’t ask questions as if you’re conducting a job interview. If you think you’re talking too much about yourself, you probably are. And don’t answer your cell while on a date. It’s rude, impolite, and unnecessary. Don’t discuss the ex. You know it’s bound to come up and it’s probably unavoidable, but don’t bring up the topic of your ex, especially on the first date. If you make every attempt not to and still he or she is brought up in the discussion, limit it to a mention and don’t say anything negative (even if you’re thinking about it). Leave the controversial topics at the door. Don’t discuss anything that can potentially lead to a difference of opinion or an argument, especially politics, religion, or any subject you feel passionately about. Leave these deep, intellectually stimulating, emotionally charged conversations to later dates when you get to know each other better. Don’t drink too much. You are responsible for your actions even if you decide to take a tour of the Long Island vineyards. It’s normal to be nervous, especially on a first date, and even more on a blind date. However, minimize your alcohol intake. You don’t want to say or do anything that may cost you a second date with someone wonderful. Having too many drinks may not be perceived positively. For more dating tips and to reach Dawn at Great Date Now, call 516-673-0777 or e-mail dawn@greatdatenow.com. For information about Great Date Now, visit www.greatdatenow.com.
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August – September 2007
page 097 LIFESTYLES-HOROSCOPES:Pages 001-004
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Insightful Astrology: August & September Horoscopes by Maria Vaiano Maria Vaiano is one of the foremost professional astrologers in New York. For more information, visit www.InsightfulAstrology.com or email InsightsForLife@aol.com.
Venus, the planet of love and beauty, is retrograde from July 27 to September 8. It’s not a good idea to begin a new romance unless it’s with someone you’ve previously been attached to. Never get plastic surgery during Venus retrograde unless it’s a revision since you won’t be satisfied with the results! Finances are tied up for everyone until after August 7 when Jupiter turns direct. August and September are eclipse months and will trigger dramatic life events. How will your life be compelled by the stars? Don’t be surprised if an ex-lover reappears in your life. Push ahead in publishing, advertising or legal matters - things go your way. The lunar eclipse on August 28, triggers a breakthrough where you let go of what’s been holding you back. On September 11, the solar eclipse helps you establish a new set of priorities in work.
Domestic situations may not be pretty. Overcome the disharmony and superficial appearances. You move forward in a spiritual transformation. Shared resources are highlighted. With the lunar eclipse on August 28 you see a financial payoff. You take on more responsibility with an organization or media project or end your affiliation with one. With the solar eclipse of September 11, creativity is on fire. You could begin a love affair!
You doubt your intellectual capacity and must challenge feelings of low self-esteem in your communication ability. You and your mate will be expanding on shared viewpoints. The lunar eclipse on August 28 will find you completing a career project or ending a job. The solar eclipse on September 11 precipitates a move or home renovation. Expect major news from your parents.
You have felt financial restraint lately but now you’ll find opportunities opening up for work. The lunar eclipse on August 28 may have you finalizing travel plans or finishing up a certification or legal matter. You could make a spiritual decision. The solar eclipse on September 11 will present a new communication opportunity. Expect news from a sibling.
There’s an internal shift as you evaluate the capacity to give and receive love. After August 7, you open yourself up. Chances to conceive a baby will be enhanced. The lunar eclipse on August 28 will bring some type of death to your environment, not necessarily physical. An investment goal could be realized. The solar eclipse on September 11 may trigger changes in your pattern of income. You feel a need to acquire assets.
A secret love or your personal fears concerning love need to be focused on. Family matters improve and any real estate matters will go well. The lunar eclipse on August 28 could end a par tnership in business or with a close friend. A marriage could either end or become more committed. The solar eclipse of September 11 is sure to be an impetus for personal emphasis. You’ll enjoy renewed energy and your outlook on life may change.
There could be uneasiness in friendships or groups. You’re inspired to move ahead with any writing, speaking or business projects such as sales or contract negotiations. The lunar eclipse on August 28 will help you give up a bad health habit. You may lose a pet. One of your co-workers or an employee may leave. The solar eclipse on September 11 could reveal secrets. Work through psychological issues. Whatever begins under this lunation will be karmic. Alone time is especially valuable.
Self-worth is compromised in terms of professional status. After August 7 Jupiter will help you expand on your talents and resources. The lunar eclipse on August 28 will help you complete a creative project or possibly end a romance. Any significant matter with a child will be resolved at this time. The solar eclipse on September 11 is a fabulous time to join a new organization. You’ll form new friendships. This is the time for you to set new goals.
You’re scraping away at inner discontent concerning your spirituality or a romantic matter with someone of another background. When Jupiter turns direct, your powerful reward cycle will be recharged! The lunar eclipse on August 28 could find you ending a matter significant to your overall life experience. The solar eclipse on September 11 will be your most for tunate time to star t a new business or promote yourself professionally. It sets off a public time and you’ll understand why the ending from two weeks before was necessary.
You’ve been internalizing deep intimacy needs and now reveal them. After August 7, all that is hidden will be shared and this will be powerfully transforming. The lunar eclipse on August 28 could find you completing a course of study, writing project or speech. The solar eclipse on September 11 helps you begin a spiritual quest important to your personal evolvement. You may take or complete a major long distance trip or go back to school for an advanced degree.
Personal worth in marriage is highlighted. After August 7, it’s time to manifest that dream. Friends will help you. With the lunar eclipse on August 28 you’ll examine feelings about values. There could be an ending to a source of income. The solar eclipse on September 11 is an opportunity to re-evaluate your investments. Major changes in finances are indicated.
You may not love your job or may feel devalued in the workplace. Fortunately, you’ll be able to enhance personal success. There could be a new beginning in terms of career. The lunar eclipse on August 28 will be in your sign and you’ll experience a permanent ending to a specific matter. The solar eclipse on September 11 will bring a new alliance or a focus in personal relationships.
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page 098-099 WINE AND DINE grilling rizzuto:Pages 001-004
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WINE & DINE
A Time to Grill Sizzling Tips for Summer Cooking By Robert Rizzuto or some, grilling is a way of life. If you’re like me, you have a grill at arm’s length throughout the year. Its popularity is attributable to several factors. Grilling can be a healthy style of cooking. Preparing grilled foods with marinades or rubs can add wonderful flavor. Finally, grilling is a relatively quick and easy method of cooking—always a plus in this hectic age. Grills vary in size and construction, and it is important to understand how their construction impacts on how to cook certain foods and enhance their flavor. Most home units use heat sources of wood, charcoal, gas or electricity located along the bottom of the grill. Different woods such as mesquite, hickory, cedar or vine clippings can be added to create special flavors. Grilled foods should be tender cuts and small in size. Large foods tend to char on the outside before the inside is sufficiently cooked, but this can be remedied by placing them in an oven. Fat adds flavor to meat, but trim the excess prior to cooking or it will cause the grill to flare up and burn the food on the outside. In addition, choose meats that are wellmarbled (the whitish streaks of inter- and intra-muscular fat found in the meat). Marinating foods is another grilling option. Fish can be brushed with oil (olive oil is my preference). Pork and veal, which have a tendency to dry out when grilled, may be brushed with oil or butter throughout the process to help keep them moist.
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Grilling Methods Direct heat: Using direct heat means placing the food directly over the heat source to lock in natural flavors. This
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technique works best when using thinner cuts of meat. Grilling hamburgers directly over coals is one of the most widely used forms of direct heat grilling. Indirect heat: Using indirect heat requires you to place the food to the side of the heat source. The temperature won’t be as high as direct heat grilling, but this permits you to grill larger pieces of meat without burning them. Techniques include pushing coals to one side of the grill and placing the food on the other side. You can also use a metal pan to block the heat source by separating the coals into two piles on each side of the grill and placing the pan between them. Then, cook the food on the grill grate directly above the pan. If you have a gas grill, you can obtain this result by leaving the center burner turned off, and then by covering it with the pan. Partly filling the pan with water will add moisture to the food during cooking and help prevent it from drying out. You can always refill the pan during cooking.
Tasty Advice Before placing food onto the grill, allow it to cool down to room temperature, if possible. When pieces of meat drop into your gas grill, small fires will flare up. As such, you should keep a plastic spray bottle nearby to douse any flare-ups with water. Ignoring these may scorch your food and set it on fire. Fat is what often causes flare-ups. Grillers who choose less fatty meats will have fewer instances of these fiery encounters. Don’t use sugar-based or tomatobased barbecue sauces on your food before grilling (always check the ingre-
August – September 2007
dients). Those sauces will crust and burn. Instead, wait until you are almost finished grilling before applying the sauce. Add pastes, glazes and bastes during grilling for flavor. Always turn foods over when grilling to ensure both sides are cooked accordingly.
Tips for Specific Foods
Meat For larger pieces, some grillers will sear the food using direct heat and then use indirect grilling techniques to finish cooking the meat. Instant-read thermometers help you assess whether your food is raw, welldone, or overcooked. Seafood Use skewers to prevent small pieces of food, such as shrimp, from falling through the grill. Fish often fall apart or stick to the grill. To avoid this problem, try using hinged wire baskets. Lightly coat the basket with oil to prevent sticking, insert the fish, and grill away. Flat baskets are available for cooking filets, and larger baskets will grill a whole fish. Vegetables To cook smaller vegetables, use a grill basket or put a layer of foil on the grill and poke holes in it with a cooking fork. This prevents the vegetables from falling into the heat source.
Don’t Forget to Follow Up! After grilling food, it retains much of the heat and continues to cook. If you aren’t careful and let the food sit for too long, it may become overcooked and dry out despite being taken off the grill.
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Food safety is important. If you used one plate to bring raw meat and fish to the grill, use another clean plate to bring cooked food to the table. Grillers make this mistake more than we care to admit. Extinguish fires after grilling. Sure, it’s easy to turn off your gas grill, but charcoal grillers should take note. Closing the lid and covering the vents (caution, they will be hot) will help starve the fire of air. Once you’re finished cooking, you can clean your gas grill by closing the lid and bringing the temperature up to high to sear off food residue. Then, turn off the gas and let it cool before using a wire brush and paper towel to remove any remaining particles. Don’t forget to clean residue under the grill lid and the grill grate. For wood and charcoal grills, discard the coals and ashes to prevent corrosion. Although you can re-use half-burned charcoal, it won’t burn as hot the next time around. Always use a grill cover to protect your investment from the outdoor elements. Robert Rizzuto is director of dining services at New York Institute of Technology.
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Grilled Pizza Use your favorite toppings on this quick and easy meal. Ingredients: One 12-oz. frozen pizza dough (thawed in refrigerator overnight) Two tablespoons of olive oil One-and-one-half cups of pizza sauce Two cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (low moisture) Two tomatoes, seeded and chopped Two tablespoons of chopped fresh basil Half teaspoon dry oregano Preparation: Prepare and heat grill. Place a little flour dough on pizza peel or pizza stone and press to form a 13-by-9-inch rectangle or 10- to 12-inch circle. Brush with oil. Invert dough onto grill and peel foil off the back of the dough. Cook over medium heat, 4 to 6 inches from the coals for three to five minutes (until dough is golden brown). Turn dough over, using large spatula. Spread pizza sauce, oregano, tomatoes, and cheese over browned dough. Grill four to five minutes longer until bottom of the crust is well-browned and the cheese is melted. Remove and top with fresh basil and serve. Makes four servings.
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WINE & DINE
Prime Restaurant
Heats Up Huntington Harbor
Spectacular Setting With Cuisine to Match By Venus Quintana ith summer in full swing and temperatures rising, our eagerness to be outside whenever possible is apparent. Diners are in search of the alfresco experience, and waterfront destinations have become temporary hotspots. Prime, an American Kitchen and Bar in Huntington, is a stunning newcomer to Long Island’s shoreline, announcing itself with bold style, enticing new American cuisine and breathtaking views of Huntington Harbor. Since opening in November, Prime has risen impressively on the waterfront site once occupied by CoCo’s. The restaurant is owned by the Bohlsen family, who also owns Tellers, a top-rated steakhouse in Islip, NY, and H2O Seafood Grill in Smithtown, another Long Island favorite. Prime is an offspring of the two, serving up classic favorites with modern twists. The exterior of Prime is reminiscent of a traditional American-style boathouse. Once inside, rainbow sandstone steps lead to grand mahogany doors that open to a breathless view of the waterfront. The main dining room has a clean, sophisticated appearance with beautiful pale brickwork and white marble trim. The Vine Room is a separate dining area created for private parties, boasting velvet textured walls and an illuminated view of an 8,000-bottle wine cellar. The grand showpiece is the Wave Bar, an undulating
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32-foot polished concrete bar with a giant periscope hanging above it, displaying an extended view of the harbor. For a more relaxed atmosphere, step into the Lodge, a stylish lounge complete with leather couches, fireplace, an 18-foot sushi bar and a communal table. Across from the bar is the gleaming open kitchen, where executive chef Richard Farnabe, formerly of Manhattan’s Montrachet, applies his world-class experience and French cooking skills to create classic American dishes with playful twists. Some notable appetizers were the seared sea scallops over roasted beets in a clementine-almond sauce, a mellow lobster bisque with hints of lemongrass and ginger, and a wild mushroom risotto. For entrees, the veal chop with Parmesan crust and Dover sole grilled over hickorywood with roasted fingerling potatoes were cooked to perfection. Desserts dazzled us with a tasting sampler of warm bananas Foster crepes, apple fritters, créme brulée, and chocolate torte - all created by Pastry Chef Vita Shanley. For those warm, summer nights, step out onto the patio and take in the stunning views of the harbor while enjoying dinner under the stars. With all of this to offer, Prime ultimately proves that you can find great cuisine in a desirable setting all under one roof!
Prime Restaurant 117 New York Avenue (Route 110) Huntington, NY 631-385-1515 www.restaurantprime.com
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August – September 2007
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The Beach House Cookbook Entices the Senses By Heidi Muhleman ith just one glance at The Beach House Cookbook, I could feel a cool summer breeze pass over my cheek, taste the tender lobster meat dripping with butter and smell just a hint of summer charcoal. I’m not one to choose lobster as a meal, but I began to crave that crustacean, an Adirondack chair, a spiked lemonade, and a warm sandy beach in the afternoon … and that was just from looking at the cover! As for content, the recipes are not earth shattering, but together they create a summer seafood resource with the perfect mix of beach barbecue and clambake. The recipes are just as appropriate for the outdoor cook as the cabin fever kitchen grillers. Sections include appetizers, soups, sandwiches, main courses, salads, desserts and cocktails. While there is an abundance of recipes with seafood as the focal point, such as lobster rolls, steamed mussels in tomato-fennel broth and shrimp fritters with ginger-soy sauce, there is other BBQ and beach fare including Thai barbecued chicken and spicy grilled chicken satay. The desserts are full of luscious summer fruits, as are the refreshing drinks. The pictures are amazing and the book is worth the modest price, even as just as a coffee table conversation starter.
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The Beach House Cookbook Barbara Scott-Goodman, author Rita Maas, photographer Published by Chronicle Books
A recommended dessert: We had a gathering in April at the house. It was the first sunny day this spring and this elegant, but simple-to-make pudding was a hit with every guest.
Lemon Pudding With Blackberries ¼ cup cornstarch 2 ½ cups whole milk 3 large egg yolks 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest Pinch of kosher salt ½ cup fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon vanilla extract ** ½ cup heavy (whipping) cream 2 cups fresh blackberries In a medium saucepan, combine the cornstarch and 1/3 cup of the milk. Whisk until smooth. Add the egg yolks, sugar, 1 teaspoon of the zest, and the salt. Whisk again. Stir in the remaining milk and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until heated through, 4 to 6 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is boiling and smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. It may thicken and then thin out a bit. Strain the pudding mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Stir in the remaining zest and the lemon juice and set the bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice cubes and cold water. Let the pudding cool, stirring occasionally, until it starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. With an electric mixer set on high speed, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Fold into the pudding mixture. Spoon into six 6ounce custard cups or ramekins, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Top with the berries and whipped cream if desired. Serves six. * On a personal note, I substituted ground vanilla bean for vanilla extract. The taste is the same but adds those little speckles into that dreamy yellow color of the pudding.
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WINE & DINE
Annona Restaurant
Runs at Full Throttle
Serving up Meals and Wheels By Venus Quintana n a quiet stretch of Riverhead Road in Westhampton Beach, far from the frenzied heart of the Hamptons, a gleaming car showroom steals the attention of motorists passing by. Lust after a Lamborghini or marvel at a Maserati—these cars are the cream of the crop but the excitement does not end there. Take the elevator to the second floor where a world of culinary pleasures awaits you. Step into the realm of Annona, a stunning restaurant that has perched itself royally atop Manhattan Motorcars of the Hamptons, drawing in epicureans of fine cuisine and fast cars. Named after the Roman goddess of the harvest, Annona has been reaping success since its opening in July 2005. Walk past the two-story waterfall flowing over a marble wall and you enter a dining room that exudes modern Italian sophistication, with wheat-toned walls, subdued lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows.
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For those mild evenings, enjoy alfresco dining in the charming terrace garden. Annona’s sleek European style is ultimately showcased at the bar. Set under a glass rotunda, the slick 40-foot long bar is topped with imported blue Venetian glass and overlooks the impressive showroom below—a perfect setting for a martini with your Maserati. The real fruits of labor are revealed in Annona’s cuisine. Co-chefs Dan Ross-Leutwyler and Brian Leth are the driving force behind the Mediterranean inspired, modern Italian menu. Having worked in some of New York City’s finest kitchens, their extensive cooking skills and mutual interest in local, seasonal bounty make for a truly sensual, dining experience. Herbs are locally grown, pastas and desserts are house-made, and it seems as if Mother Nature herself gave a hand. Start off with the braised pork belly, a melt-in-the-mouth delight, with fava beans floating in a sea of English pea puree. The wood oven-roasted baby
octopus salad is a blend of sweet grapes and salty olives with fingerling potatoes and pureed yellow lentils. For entrees, the two pasta dishes give new meaning to the word pasta. The first dish, not a mountain of pasta drowning in sauce, is a delicate homemade black pepper pappardelle complemented by a vibrant Bolognese sauce. The gnocchi is an airy, moist dumpling in a light cream with morel mushrooms. Soft shell crabs are crisp and flavorful, served up with falafel and pickled cucumber. The Four Story Farm’s Rib Eye is a juicy, tender steak, sliced and served with herb butter and grilled red onion. For a more-thansweet ending, the moist fig tart with almond cream and vanilla gelato is dazzling, while the Panna Cotta is a creamy sensation with hints of Anise. The alternative ending- a test drive in that red Ferrari you’ve had your eye on all night.
Annona 112 Riverhead Road Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 631-288-7766 www.annona.com Dinner nightly 5:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday night summer entertainment performances 9 p.m. to midnight.
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Fish on the Barbecue By Bob Ronzoni y now, you’ve probably had your fill of barbecuing the usual hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks and spareribs! You might have ventured to chicken teriyaki, but it’s still in the same realm of meats on the grill. Why not grill something different – fish. When I think of cooking fish in the outdoors, I think of growing up and spending time as a young boy in Sag Harbor, where my family and I used to go fishing in a small boat on the Peconic Bay. The choice catch was porgies, a white meat fish that was shiny and scaly, with a nice clean non-fishy taste. There was no greater fun than simultaneously hooking two porgies at once and pulling them up with our lightweight fiberglass fishing rods. I often visit the town dock in Port Washington and watch the intensity that young fishermen have as they cast from the dock waiting to snag a fish, and the proud gleam in their eye as they show off their prize. Anyway, we would clean the porgies we caught, preparing them to be placed directly on
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Grilled Fish
the charcoal grill. There was no special seasoning or fancy recipe, just grilled fish as if they were cooked over a campfire. It was difficult to regulate the flame and temperature on those older grills, but somehow, we managed to keep the fish from burning. The end result was especially satisfying because they were caught by us. Today, fish on the grill is quite popular and has taken many forms, from direct contact to the use of cedar planks whereby the fish is placed on the cedar board and then placed on the grill. However, the method I like best is to cook the fish in a foil wrap complete with vegetables and seasoning. It can be used for a large variety of fish that will satisfy the pickiest eater. There are so many great recipes that can be shared, that I would suggest you be creative in forming one for yourself. Experiment with different types of fish and ingredients that you enjoy. The main idea is to set your sights on a new use for your barbecue. Try and get away from the obvious almighty hamburger. Step out and grill fish!
Bakery Cakes Pies Cookies & Biscotti Pastries Wedding Cakes Custom Designed Cakes Theme Cakes Breads & Rolls Sugar Free Desserts
Café Breakfast Lunch Brunch Specialty Sandwiches & Salads Cappuccino & Espresso Smoothies
One pound striped bass or halibut or your favorite fish ¼ cup olive oil Salt Pepper Paprika (optional) ½ onion, sliced thin 1 medium tomato, sliced Place fish on large sheet of aluminum foil and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and paprika on fish. Place onion slices first and then tomato slices on top of the fish. Seal fish in foil and place on grill over medium-high heat. Cook for approximately 15 minutes per inch of thickness. Check for doneness. Fish should flake when pierced with fork. Serve immediately. Enjoy !
Sweet Shop Homemade Ice Cream Soft Serve Ice Cream Italian Ices Gelato & Sorbet Ice Cream Cakes Sundaes, Shakes, Banana Splits and more
Gift Items
Chocolates
Custom made Baskets
Homemade Full assortment— creams, nuts, truffles and many more Molded Designs Supplies, Gift Boxes Sugar Free
Birthday Parties on site
Popcorn Many flavors Bags, Tins and much more
WE CATER WE SHIP WE DELIVER Open 7 days a week from 6 a.m.
Bakery•Cafe•Sweet shop 1992 North Jerusalem Road, North Bellmore
516-486-1670
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WINE & DINE
Country Club Dining at
The Hamlet
By Dagmar Fors Karppi arry Weisberg has an enviable job, to make people happy in an environment that is close to heavenly. He is the vice president of food and beverage operations for The Holiday Organization, Inc. and works out of The Hamlet Golf & Country Club in Commack. He is also in charge of its restaurants at Willow Creek in Mt. Sinai and the Windwatch in Hauppauge, both of which are now open to the public. The Hamlet Golf & Country Club is a private membership club but is open to the public for lunch and dinner, with a corporate membership fee of $250. (That provides access to the restaurant using a credit card with a 20 percent service charge plus taxes.) It provides spacious dining inside or out on the terrace – in a club atmosphere, perfect for businesspeople. The Hamlet at Commack is unique in the world of Long Island golfing; it is gender neutral. Ladies, as well as gentlemen, can decide what time they want to be on the golf course. It breaks the cloudless ceiling that for years has kept women golfers swinging their clubs at specified times only. In actuality, most women don’t seek the early hours that many men prefer, said Mr. Weisberg, but it’s nice to know that they have the option. The Hamlet also has a diverse membership which includes those who live on the 160-acre site or off the course with a non-resident membership. The clubhouse is available for weddings and special occasions. “Yours will be the only party taking place that day,” assured Mr. Weisberg. The banquet food is spectacular as shown by Chef Caesar
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Luncheon guests can eat inside - or outside on the terrace with a view of the 18th hole.
when Mr. Weisberg hosted a gourmet luncheon that included a spring salad with blue cheese, soft field greens and prosciutto. The entrée was sea bass with caramelized onions in a rice paper package. The edible crust kept the dish warm and at peak perfection to the last bite. Dessert was a sampling of chocolate cups with sorbet; crème fraiche and berries; and custard – just delightful!
A view of the 18th hole at the Hamlet Golf & Country Club.
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A Must See When Planning Your Event
Be The First To Experience Our Newly Perfected Ballroom
Your guests will enjoy singular service in our newly renovated ballroom at The Hamlet Golf and Country Club. We have enhanced and refurbished even the smallest of details, from the flatware to the ceiling, to bring you the most breath-taking surroundings for your event. We’ll take care of the extraordinary cuisine, the unrivaled service, and the atmosphere of understated elegance. You, simply, enjoy your day, knowing your every need will be anticipated and luxuriously fulfilled in our beautiful private country club setting. For information and reservations, call 631.499.5200 or visit www.hamletgolfandcountryclub.com
Bring this ad in when booking your next event at The Hamlet Golf and Country Club to receive a complimentary ice sculpture at your event.
COMMACK, NEW YORK
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WINE & DINE
Panama Hatties The Ultimate in Fine Dining Still Captivates Long Island By Barry Kay handful of Long Island’s fine restaurants have earned acclaim in Zagat along with respectable reviews in The New York Times. There are few, however, that can match the consistently stellar ratings of Panama Hatties in Huntington Station. The restaurant had won over the palates of both The Times and Newsday as early as 1992, with the former exclaiming Yes, There is Extraordinary Dining on Long Island in a headline in 1999. From 1992 to 2007, The Times, along with other reviewers, concluded that Panama Hatties is Long Island’s jewel in the fine dining crown. I have followed Panama Hatties’ rise to epicurean excellence for years. Finally this month, my wife and I had the opportunity to meet owner and Executive Chef Matt Hisiger, and see firsthand whether Panama Hatties lives up to its enviable reputation. Matthew Hisiger has been at the helm of Panama Hatties for the past four years, having purchased the place from previous owners in 2003. A 1991 graduate of SUNY Oneonta, Hisiger learned quickly that he detested corporate life and had a passion for cooking. Self-taught by practicing in his parents’ kitchen, he received intense hands-on training working at Michaels-aBistro—a graceful, comfortable 3-star restaurant in Roslyn. In the summer of 1992, he became sous chef at Panama Hatties, at the time a well-regarded dining destination favored by those in the know. It was a place where Hisiger could showcase his natural talent and one he could call his own. We arrived at Panama Hatties early on a balmy Monday evening in July. I found the location of the restaurant curious – nestled in a quaint strip mall on Jericho Turnpike. We entered a regal entrance and bar area where we were escorted to a classically decorated dining room reminiscent of a fine hotel – regal, with vibrant paintings and vivid flowering branches. There are also elegant private banquet rooms for catered affairs and corporate events.
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After a lovely tour of the restaurant with Matt and Ron Wood, his PR man, we talked about the evening ahead. Matt selected his favorite dishes from a seasonal menu filled with exquisite seafood and prime steaks. Starters included addictive house-made warm cottage cheese rolls followed by a beautifully plated fresh mesclun green salad adorned by a summer palette of red onions, cucumber and goat cheese croquette, enlivened by a spirited passion fruit vinaigrette. A dazzling array of succulent appetizers appeared soon after, including beautifully glazed pork spare ribs with pineapple and tamarind sauce and a savory seafood risotto brimming with maiitake mushrooms, haricot vert, baby shrimp and crisp calamari. Entrées, plated on dramatic fine white china, consisted of both fish and meat selections. Blue cheese-encrusted filet mignon – aged, delectable, and cooked to perfection. Tender French beans, red onion confit, Spanish onion rings, potato gratin and cabernet jus made satisfying complements. Tantalizing panroasted wild striped bass, with garlic sausage, glazed carrots, leeks and asparagus drizzled with a littleneck clam reduction. A dazzling dessert tasting – presented on two sparkling silver platters – consisted of six dreamy creations: house-made exotic fruit ice creams, delicate French pastries and silky flan. The service was excellent and Chef Hisiger presented himself throughout the evening to describe the components of each selection. Sous Chef Jeffrey Wang and Pastry Chef Alexandra Lawson are among Hisiger’s rising stars. Panama Hatties is an enchanting delight for the senses. The restaurant enjoys a loyal following and has recently embarked on a patron appreciation program to communicate special offerings.
Panama Hatties 872 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station Reservations: 631-351-1727 Special events and catering: 631-351-1732 www.panamahatties.com
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India
Governed by Its Long and Vibrant History, Is Clearly Part Of the 21st Century By Christina D. Morris Photos by M. Cyril Morris
Qutab Minar is an impressive fluted sandstone tower built as a symbol of Muslim domination over the Hindus.
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nowledge of India’s intriguing cultures, historical background and fabulous foods are not uncommon in western countries. Jewel in the Crown, the PBS television series, gave everyone a taste of this exotic land. With a recorded history spanning 2,500 years, travelers today will experience the history of the last 1,000 years of conflicts, invasions, and cultural advances. Invaded by Muslims in 1100, Muslim dynasties ruled until the 1700s when the last of the Mughals succumbed to the British takeover in 1807. To quell the insurgencies between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and other indigenous people, the British governed the nation until 1947, leaving an indelible mark in language, railroads and architecture. The Golden Triangle, Delhi/Jaipur/Agra, is a popular twoweek visit. We added a two-day visit to Varanasi, the holy city on the Ganges River. In Delhi, the Hyatt Regency was an ideal choice; set back from the road on large acreage, its towering palms and exotic plantings were a fine example of 108
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an oasis in the center of a noisy, chaotic, modern city. A city tour with an English-speaking guide can be arranged by the concierge and is an excellent intro to this vast city. Old Delhi is where much of the city’s historical monuments depict the Muslim history. Most Hindu temples were destroyed but remnants of artifacts remain as the Muslims superimposed their artifacts on top. Most notable is Qutab Minar an impressive fluted sandstone tower tapering skyward for 72.5 m. The tower, built in 1206, was a symbol of Muslim domination of the city and a fine example of both Hindu and Muslim art. The splendid Humayun’s Tomb (1500s), inspired by a grieving wife for her husband, was designed by Mirak Mirza Ghujas, a Persian, and was considered a template for later Mughal monuments including the Taj Mahal. The ramparts of the Red Fort are so large it mesmerizes most visitors. Shah Jahan moved the capital from Calcutta to Delhi, commissioning the fort in 1639. Once inside this monolithic structure every façade, palace, courtyard and garden is extraordinary in architectural grandeur, artisans’ skills and use of exotic materials. The baldachin canopy decorated with pietra durra (mosaic) work is magnificent; a gigantic lotus fountain carved from a single piece of marble and the inlaid decorated walls, once encrusted with jewels (all plundered), simply overwhelms the senses. A highlight of the old city is the 16th century Chandi Chowk marketplace … as bustling today as it was then. New Delhi’s broad boulevards, colonial architecture and billboards distinguish it from Old Delhi. There is a youthful cosmopolitan air to the city where western garb mingles with brilliant flowing saris. Restaurants, commercial enterprises, schools and hospitals line the city streets and traffic appears to
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be in a constant chaotic spin. British architects Edwin Luytens and Herbert Baker get credit for impressive colonial architecture in the twin government (parliament) buildings. Equally splendid is Rashtrapati Bhawan, the imperial residence built for the British viceroys. Today it is the official residence of the president of India and its Mughal designed gardens are considered the finest in the country. The residence anchors the Rajpath, a ceremonial esplanade where Republic Day parades take place culminating at the magnificent India Gate, a memorial in honor of India’s soldiers. Jaipur, called the Pink because of its pink palaces, is a five-hour drive from Delhi. Travelers to India can only rent cars that include an English-speaking driver. Not all Indians speak English, especially outside the cities where dialects are numerous. Mr. Singh, our driver, wore a sparkling white uniform with green and gold epilates. In addition, he arranged guides at all tourist spots, recommended good restaurants for lunch and provided information along the way. He was quite literally indispensable. The Rambaugh Palace hotel in Jaipur is magnificent and typifies the extravagant, opulent lifestyle of the ruling classes. Jacqueline Kennedy’s visit here in the ‘60s is welldocumented with photographs, as is the polo match played in her honor. The Maharaja remains a resident. Polo is big here and the staff at Rambaugh Palace is outfitted in jodhpurs, riding boots and plaid waistcoats. A butler is assigned to each guest room and serves in many capacities. The hotel also arranges for your driver to stay
The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan’s monument to his wife Momtaz Begum.
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The Red Fort
Entrance to the Taj Mahal illustrates the height of the monument. www.boulevardli.com
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TRAVEL
The fabulous pink Palace of the Wind with its open stonework is where women of the court discreetly viewed city life.
The Amber Fort (1500s) in Jaipur dominates the city. The elephants wait to take visitors from the interior of the fort to the base. Prepare to be astonished by the intellectual, cultural, and artistic heights the Mughal dynasties reached as illustrated in this palace-fort-museum.
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overnight and have meals. All of this comes at a price, but indulge yourself; it is worth every penny. There is much to do and see here, including the City Palace museum which provides examples of the royal family’s ceremonial dressage. Artists demonstrate their craft throughout the spacious courtyard and rooms. It continues to be used as a residence by the Royals. The Amber Fort dominates the city and an elephant ride to the entrance is very special indeed. Here again, the size and scope of the fort overwhelms. The Palace of Wind is also an incredible architectural site. Be forewarned, each of these tourist attractions involves many hours of walking in order to experience the full grandeur of the past. The guides are articulate and enthusiastic and will provide much information. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; our August visit proved to be fairly hot. We arrived in Agra late in the day after visiting Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted red stone palace built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. A blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture, the awe-inspiring monument was abandoned due to lack of water. Settling into the The Taj hotel for one night, we planned an early morning visit to the Taj Mahal in order to experience the changing colors of the facade depending on the time of day. By 7 a.m. tourists are everywhere viewing this magnificent white marble monument to love. A memorable experience without equal, it was built for Mumtaz Begum, Shah Jahan’s wife who died birthing her 14th child. Hundreds of Persian artisans spent 22 years completing the monument. Forced to remain in India for fear of their replicating the Taj, they assimilated into the Indian population, but continue to work with marble to this day. We made a visit to the Agra Fort, another example of opulence and privilege enjoyed by
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the rulers, and then we were on our way back to Delhi with a fond farewell to Mr. Singh. It is best to fly from Delhi to Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities in the world, where we stayed at a Taj hotel with a swimming pool. This holy city where more than 100 Ghats (holy steps) line the Ganges River is also the home of Benares University. The faithful gather to worship and bathe in the Ganges and visitors can sit and enjoy a cup of char, strong sweet tea. A boat ride on the river gives the best views of the Ghats and a huge pyre operated 24/7 can also be seen. The city is not for the faint of heart with its narrow lanes crowded with locals making it difficult to walk. It could be a scene from a movie depicting ancient times, but daily life does not change; it is where time has truly stood still. Nearby in Sarnath is where Lord Buddha gave his first sermons following his enlightenment. A small museum provides local artifacts. This was our first visit to this fascinating country; I feel confident it will not be our last. Continental cuisine is readily available in all the hotels. Guides are also available to escort visitors. The official website is www.incredibleindia.org.
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Street vendors offer a yogurt pick-me-up with a dash of marijuana.
Cattle frequent most streets and are revered. The Rambaugh Palace Hotel in Jaipur where the Maharaja continues to reside.
A Ghat, a place where worshipers bath on the banks of the holy River Ganges.
Sarnath, located 12 km from the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, is the site of where Lord Buddha first taught the Dharma after his enlightenment. www.boulevardli.com
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They Will Always Be Grand
In the Grand Scheme of Things
A Journey to the Only Remaining Wonder of the World – The Pyramids at Giza By Heather Muhleman youthful obsession with Egyptology proved gratifying when an invitation from a former college colleague to visit the land of the pharaohs crossed my desk. Having studied hieroglyphics and the polytheistic culture, and marveled at the engineering feats of the pyramids, I did not require much persuasion. Flight time from New York to Cairo is over nine hours and the time difference in summer is six hours, so I expected a measure of jet lag. Once settled and rested, my anticipation was soon to be rewarded. Arriving at the pyramids, we reverently walked up the side street to the site, impressed with the immense size and majesty of these structures even from a half-mile away. A small kiosk serves as the ticket booth where general admission is about $3.50 for adults and $1.75 for students. There is an extra charge to go inside the pyramids or the other monuments in the area. I barely noticed the 100-degree temperature as I stood at the foot of one of the greatest structures ever built by man, that had up until this point been only known to me in legend and in photos. It was all put into perspective as I stood in awe of these monolithic pyramids at Giza. There are three main pyramids built in Giza for three separate kings (largest is Khufu, midsize is his son Khafre and smallest is Menkaure) along with six other smaller pyramids for their queens. The Sphinx sits to the east of the midsize pyramid and is said to be the guardian of the Giza plateau. The half-man/half-lion is much smaller in person than it appears in photos, but again, it’s all in one’s perspective. As we walked in the heat I thought about
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how long these structures have been here; the only Wonder of the World still standing, possibly the oldest, and most arguably the best built. Egypt’s main revenue stream comes from tourism. As a result, every day of the year there are tourists at the pyramids. Locals offer many items for sale and thankfully, a man was carrying a cooler with water, which in the 100degree heat was very helpful. A note of caution: When taking photos of the pyramids be discreet. Otherwise, the tourism and antiquity police will tell you that you owe them money for the photo. The best way to get around this is to just ask one of the locals if you can take their picture, pay them what they want, and they’ll give you the best shot. Occasionally, they might let you climb on the actual pyramid, or at least over the rope surrounding the structure. The small gratuity really goes a long way. We decided to get the full pyramid experience, a camel ride into the hills and across the desert. It costs very little to get onto the camels, but to get off is a different story. Travel tip: Come to an agreement for the roundtrip before you take the ride. The camel master was an expert at “experiences” and wanted to make this one special for us. He even wrapped his scarf around my head to make a turban in a somewhat chivalrous gesture to shade me from the intense sun. We hopped onto the camels, Daisy and Moses, and bounced across the desert about a quarter-of-a-mile to a small hill on the south side of the site. When we reached our destination, we got off the camels to take in a breathtaking view. It was truly a postcard site…unique as well as inspiring. All three pyramids are next to each other, built perfectly to fit
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within my view. Looking across the half-mile of desert we traveled, I noticed two other men on camels. They looked so small compared to the monuments behind them. Returning to the Pyramids, this time sharing Moses, we rode east toward the Sphinx. The camel master took photos while we trotted and bounced together on the camel. It was an exhilarating experience. On my second trip, solo, to the pyramids a few days later, I was more comfortable in the surroundings and planned on seeing the Sphinx close and personal. There is a small road behind the Khufu pyramid that leads straight to the Sphinx. The Sphinx is much like seeing your favorite movie star in person – exciting and memorable but also a little disappointing. It was much smaller than I had envisioned and its size is in no way comparable to the monuments it guards. Nevertheless, worth every photo. I wandered around the back and sides of the pyramids, under the camel masters’ gazes as they offered their services to the many tourists. “Salaam, where are you from?” “Amrica.” I respond using the Egyptian slang word for America. “Ah…America!!! Howdy partner, how is Mickey Mouse? Ride ‘em cowboy!” Cartoons and cowboys? I realized that no
matter what culture you are in, there are always stereotypes. They then offered me camel rides or a personal tour of the pyramid. “La shukran,” I responded, meaning no thank you. Leaving these majestic monuments, I was reminded that I wanted to purchase a few souvenirs; but since I’m not much of a negotiator and the pace of haggling spun my head, I had put it off. On the side road, a store called Ekhnaton, filled with beautiful glass and essential oils, caught my eye. I met the owner, Atef, a breath of fresh air, saying hello and asking if I needed help. I responded that I was just browsing. He nodded and let me shop. I decided on a beautiful set of glass cups which he graciously wrapped for me. I also purchased some perfume. It was a pleasure dealing with him and I believe I got a good deal without the customary haggling. Walking down the street to hail a cab, I glanced back and took one last photo. It is my favorite, with the bustling modern street framed with the peak of Khafre high above in the distance – the contrast of yesterday and today’s Egypt. I contemplated my trip to the Pyramids in the cab back to the hotel. I was leaving the next day and already planning the next time I could come back to sit in the shadow of these grand wonders.
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Belize Hacienda Offers Volunteer Program for Vacationers By Sara Duncan Widness hree years ago Jodi and Vance Benté went birdwatching on their honeymoon. They fell in love again, this time with 8,866-square mile Belize, a small countr y bordered by Mexico and Guatemala with 170-plus mile coastline on the Caribbean Sea. After Costa Rica, it is home to more birds than anywhere else in the region. They purchased 23 acres turning an abandoned hacienda on the property into Casa del Caballo Blanco’s Main House, surrounded by six guest cabanas. They instituted the not-for-profit Casa Avian Support Alliance focusing on Belize’s biodiversity that sustains more than 530 species of migratory and resident birds. Their work supports the government of Belize’s efforts to protect critical habitat, the loss of which threatens the avian population.
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Gringo with Casitas in the background.
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“Birds are the farmers of the world – help us to help them continue to sow their seeds.” Their sanctuary opened to the public this spring. Interested guests are invited to help with nest-box building, maintenance and feeding, as well as habitat restoration, trail building and signage. “Things just evolved to what we see as our dream – to help the birds that for us symbolize what it means to really have balance with the environment,” say the Bentés. “We’re thrilled that we can offer this stunning location to folks who are environmentally conscious and who, like us, are looking for opportunities to make vacation time meaningful.” Casa del Caballo Blanco overlooks the Mopan River Valley. It is 9.5 miles from the Guatemalan border and the significant Maya ruins and World Heritage site of Tikal. The Hispanicthemed main house has high, beamed ceilings, tile floors, handmade furniture and its interior design features handcrafted furnishings and accessories by local artisans. Each fully screened guest accommodation, sleeping up to four, has an ensuite bathroom, refrigerator, handcrafted furniture and Mayan-inspired fabrics. Meals are served in an airy, thatch-roofed dining room including Mayan food prepared in centuries-old Quiché, Mopan and Yucatecan traditions. Creole foods combine exotic Hispanic and Caribbean flavors. Fresh produce from Casa’s own gardens and local markets is prepared locally by Belizeans. With advance notice most dietary restrictions can be accommodated. At the site birds, some recently released from captivity, can heal, rehabilitate and eventually be released back into their natural habitat. Jodi suggests that the best way to experience both the region and their work is to spend some time with the resident team that assists the avian project, and also to visit archaeological sites and such attractions as the numerous caves that can be explored on inner tubes and by canoes. There are multiple-day programs that help visiting guests-cum-volunteers organize their time in a meaningful but relaxed way, including pre-dinner conversations on the patio with a cold beer or glass of wine in hand.
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Early morning view from casita veranda.
“We take our work very seriously, but like our guests we like to have fun too,� Jodi says. Their four night/five day vacation program called Toucan Eco-Tour offers a supervised participatory avian/biodiversity learning experience, breakfasts, dinners and some lunches, accommodations,
off-site archeological tours and airport transfers. The per person rate is $815. For more information visit www.casacaballoblanco.com or call 707-974-4942. For information on the avian support program visit www.casaavian.org.
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Visit Vail in Summer and Fall
For a Special Travel Experience
By Christina D. Morris Photos by M. Cyril Morris Photography he success of Vail, Colorado, as a world-class ski resort need not be explained, but a well-kept secret is the glorious summer and fall season of this Rocky mountain region. Many locals have said, “Winter is why I came here, but summer and fall is why I stayed.” If you have an image of what a Swiss village looks like, you have imagined Vail and her two friendly sisters, Beaver Creek and Avon...all three make up Vail Valley, and all exude the charm and attractiveness of Swiss villages. Window flower boxes and pots everywhere, buildings colorfully painted, flags blow in the wind and the sound of rushing water is everywhere since both Vail and Beaver Creek have creeks running through them. All of this beauty is framed by mountains, many in the distance clinging to their white snow mantels straight through the summer/fall season. Vail, the eldest of the three communities was launched in the early ‘60s, followed by Beaver Creek and Avon in the early 1980s. All share that clean, coordinated architectural appearance, not much left to chance, and no discernable eyesores in any of the communities. Vail Valley is strictly upscale. Million-dollar homes cling to lower mountain ridges, golf courses meander through condominium complexes and everywhere, mountain scenery dominates. In summer, the only signs of the valley’s favorite pastime (skiing) are the patterns created by the smooth grasscovered fissures visible while driving along the highway.
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The open road with mountains everywhere.
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City planners deserve kudos for these villages. Designed with the pedestrian in mind, there is no need to dodge traffic since traffic is forbidden as well as hidden in many areas! The result is once again a European influence, the encouragement to stroll. While strolling, one is entertained. The number of art galleries escapes me, but be assured they are numerous. Boutiques, restaurants of course, and numerous courtyards displaying life-size sculptures, fountains, waterfalls, and once again, you are never very far from an eye-catching mountain vista. The mountains really intrigued us and soon we donned our hiking boots and headed for a shor t, easy trail...according to the trail guide. Many SUVs are in use in this area and many of the mountain trails can only be explored with such vehicles. Since we are novice hikers, we followed the easy trails...all very well marked with signs, distances, as well as being rated. Good guidelines to follow, I might add. What does a hike in the lower mountains of Vail Valley offer? Flowers and birds abound. In seemingly solid rock, bluebells dangle in the soft breeze. Entire fields of wild flowers too numerous to name flood the hillsides. These breathtaking, colorful alpine plants and flowers can be seen in greater detail by visiting the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens located in the Gerald R. Ford Park at an altitude of 8200 feet, comprising the highest public garden in the world. The Ford family lend their name to many important events that take place here, including an annual golf tournament and they have added their name to the amphitheatre.
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There’s no shortage of upscale 5-star hotels in Vail and Beaver Creek. The Hyatt in Beaver Creek was our first stop and it was a delight. Young, attractive staff sport their first name and the state that they come from on their name badge. Good for starting a conversation. In Vail we stayed at the Sonnenalp Resort, a cavalcade of Bavarian alpine architecture, style and opulence. Since my visit some years ago, the hotel has engaged in a $25 million expansion completed in 2006. In addition, Vail Village’s streetscape beautification project was recently completed while work continues on 130,000-square-feet of proposed new retail space, additional accommodations and a new base area. I’m looking forward to my next visit for sure.
The Vail Valley has something for everyone. Some items I may have forgotten to mention; hot-air ballooning, horseback riding, bicycling, mountain climbing, trips to old mining towns and old mines, and a few museums. There is so much to do and so much to see that memories of Vail Valley in summer and fall, could easily keep you warm all winter long. Visit www.visitvailvalley.com.
Getting there NY to Denver: many airlines Denver to Vail: less than 100 miles; rent-a-car or bus services.
Fly fishing with a great view. The Sonnenalp Resort surrounded by the spectacular fall colors especially the Aspen Groves.
Guests around the fire pit at Beaver Creek Hyatt grab some Rapid running on the Colorado River. rays at the foot of the slopes. www.boulevardli.com
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TRAVEL
Inn at Fox Hollow Takes Luxury to Whole New Level
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hen you travel, you always seek a hotel that feels like your “home away from home.” While no bed can truly replicate your own, the staff at the Inn at Fox Hollow in Woodbury hope they have come in a very close second. Considered by many to be Long Island’s Gold Coast luxury all-suite hotel, The Inn at Fox Hollow recently replaced all of its beds and bedding. Referred to as “iBeds,” the Simmons HEALTHSmart Beauty Rest pillowtop, washable mattresses are adorned with 300-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets by Frette and topped with plush goose-down comforters and oversized pillows. The name “i-Beds” was derived from the terms that were being used to describe the bedding by the company’s president and CEO, Anthony Scotto. According to Franklin
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D. Manchester, the Inn’s general manager, “Mr. Scotto kept saying the new beds were inviting, invigorating and incredible. He kept using adjectives that began with “i,” so it wasn’t too difficult to come up with a name.” Manchester says The Inn has always provided its guests with comfortable bedding, yet felt it was time to elevate his guests’ sleeping experience. “We wanted to raise the bar to new heights and provide our guests with the most luxurious, comfortable and clean beds in the industry. Washable pillowtop mattresses are certainly unique to the Long Island hotel industry, as well as the [hotel] industry as a whole. It’s really our guests’ experience we care about, and we think they will experience all those great “i” adjectives when they experience the new beds for themselves.”
TRAVEL oberoi:Pages 001-004
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Indian Culture and Heritage In Exquisitely Modern Surroundings The Oberoi Hotel Welcomes the International Traveler By Barry Kay e flew Emirates from Europe to Mumbai, India, with a short stop in Dubai, UAE. It was a relaxing 15 hours of travel, and I should add that Emirates now also offers nonstop flights from NYC to Dubai. Once we were through customs, the personal service granted to the guests of The Oberoi Hotel set in. We were greeted in the typical gesture of the land by our guide and accompanied to the luggage carousel. Our butler pulled our recognizable golden Rimowa luggage and off we were to the Town Car, which was parked conveniently at the main entrance. Three highly trained people executed the top service process. We received cool towels on the way, and arrived within less than an hour in the heart of Mumbai’s business district on the Arabian Sea. The heart of Mumbai beats fast, allowing the skyline on the banks of the Arabian Sea to be compared with the most famous cities in the world. The modern appearance of The Oberoi seemed to blend seamlessly into the Indian culture, we felt, as we were guided into the arrival hall. VIPs such as Bill Gates, Richard Gere, Michael Jackson, Rupert Murdoch, and the Heads of State of China, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Russia and the United States (just to mention a few) have resided and held meetings at this truly exceptional hotel on Marine Drive. The Oberoi has a personal butler dedicated for each floor. Our luxurious, superbly designed suite was immaculate by any standards, with a smashing 270-degree view of Marine Drive and the Queen’s Necklace. The bedroom was adorned in soothing pastels and was well-appointed, equipped with lavish bath facilities and the finest spa amenities. All rooms and
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suites feature a separate shower and a private dressing area and are arranged around an exquisite marble-floored atrium at the center of the building. However, for now we were scheduled for Jet-Lag Massages at the Oberoi Spa. These spas are celebrated worldwide for their serene, tropical spa experience and holistic therapy and massage techniques, combining the wisdom of Eastern and Western practices. Managed by Banyan Tree, they offer highly skilled and trained therapists handpicked from the Spa Academy of Phuket. Oberoi Spa recipes feature only the finest natural ingredients and are committed to remaining true to the Asian tradition of respect for the environment. Within minutes I surrendered to the soothing strokes and stretching of Miss Apple, an unsurpassed massage therapist. Her surreal technique was meant to loosen muscular tension, encourage lymphatic flow, balance the internal system and inspire my body to respond positively to the caring language of touch. We then jumped into the amazing blue sweet water pool, not only completely refreshed and very relaxed, but also very hungry. The hotel offers several exclusive restaurants; we had reservations at the Vetro and were looking forward to experiencing the great talents of Executive Chef Emanuele Lattanzi.
The management of The Oberoi Mumbai focuses on consistency and attention to detail and as a result, some of the best restaurants are found in this one-of-a-kind destination hotel and spa. Executive Vice President Rattan Keswani believes in global marketing and keeps his brand visible in the most affluent key markets around the world. Keswani is a strong believer of bringing the international traveler to India and providing him or her with an unforgettable experience of modern day India, as well as its heritage and culture. GM Mohit Nirula lives at the hotel and is father of two lovely daughters. Nirula, an alumnus of the Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development, has been with the company since 1988 and worked in various positions. He handled the pre-opening work of the Oberoi’s hotels in Agra, Mashobara, Mauritius and Egypt. Nirula is hands-on, charming and leads with great ease. For more information, go to www.sevenstarsandstripes.com or call 1-800-7AWARD1.
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page 120-122 HEALTH peter mellios:Pages 001-004
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HEALTH It Ain’t Over…
Training With America’s Top Senior Body Builder By Tim Sullivan he feeling you get as you hear another 45pound plate being slid onto a barbell causes the acids in your stomach to jolt you a bit. The second plate slides on the opposite side and you do the math quickly in your head – two plates on each side is 180 pounds of added free weight, plus another 45 for the Olympic size bar, totaling 225 pounds. Thoughts of whether or not you will be able to lift this ridiculous amount of steel are quickly quelled as your trainer peers over the top of the bench press, grinning an encouraging smile. “Ready?” he asks and starts to count to three. I am lying flat on my back as I lift that enormously heavy contraption over my solar plexus, trachea and skull. Muscle failure could mean death. I feel gas bubbles in my vertebrae and shoulder girdle crack and pop. Total trust in the guy standing behind me is what transcends reason and sensibility – if he does his job then the laws of physics won’t apply to me. I bang out eight reps. Feeling spent, I start to rest the bar onto the rack only to have Peter gently guide me into another rep, then another, then finally sharing the weight as he spots for the last one. I ask him why he kept pushing and he says, grinning, ”Because it ain’t over.” Humans are built with wonderful internal risk assessment instincts. We know when something looks dangerous. We are trained to shy away or run if necessary. But I am training with a champ, and I place a lot of credence on what he says because, while he is the portrait of fitness as a professional competitive body builder and able to effortlessly press twice the amount of weight of my recent triumphant set, he has another element in his character that helps eradicate any doubt about his instruction – he is 60 years old!
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If there were a human manifestation of a strength-training muse, Peter Mellios would be it. And those words, “It ain’t over” are more than motivational cheerleading to make me feel better mid-rep. In Peter’s case, they mean that a man of his age is still going strong at a level of performance few can achieve. Anything short of the “It ain’t over” perspective is simply unacceptable. Until you feel your vertebrae crack on that elusive 12th rep, you haven’t internalized the meaning of these words. I met Peter when I signed up for simple fitness training at my gym. I had already trained with several certified trainers over the years; it was always a mediocre process – many were aloof or out of shape. They really didn’t seem concerned whether I reached my fitness goals or not. Like a lifeguard daydreaming at a municipal pool, as long as I didn’t get hurt on the equipment, they felt their job was done. But from the second I shook his hand, I knew Peter was different. Peter is Lord of our gym in New Jersey; everyone knows him. He walks down the center aisle and seven people will come up and shake his hand, congratulate him on his recent tournament placing, confirm an appointment or ask him a technical question. He has time for everyone, always with his everpresent inviting smile. Mellios has the type of physique that would stop you dead in your tracks even if you didn’t know his advanced age. His form represents over 40 years of hard work and tens of thousands of hours in gyms fighting gravity. Younger body builders morph into freakish sizes that blast ego, bravado and narcissism. They seem adolescent and bold. Peter holds a sage-like aura around his statuesque stance. There is a wisdom that is apparent, that which
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only a grand master can radiate. In preparation for this profile, The Boulevard staff met up with Peter the evening before he competed in a New Jersey Statewide Amateur body building competition. As editor-in-chief Jason Feinberg and photographer Tina Guiomar watched him go through his posing routine against the blank backdrop of one of the racquetball courts, I hit him with questions about which poses highlighted his various perfect muscles groups. The poses are all decades old and part of a standard series of postures on which contestants are judged. Muscle striation, symmetry and of course, size, all form an overall score that determines who on stage the perfect Adonis is. We shot Mellios in various workout routines. All of his reps involved more weight than Jason, Tina and I could lift together if using a hoist and some prayer. He told
us about the critical week leading up to a stage competition: “Aquatic dehydration, the potassium/sodium relationship, a high protein diet and making sure as much blood as possible gets to the muscles – all critical the week before a competition,” says Peter. “You also have three days worth of tanning with the various shading makeup. I no longer use lamps or the sun – not at my age.” I accompanied Peter to one of his body building competitions where he is a regular fixture in the Masters category. The Masters group isn’t divided into weight class; rather, it just means anyone over the age of 45. It’s easily the hardest section to place and win because the competition is far from even – men are on stage next to contestants that may be three times their size or 15 years younger. Body building may be the www.boulevardli.com
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only sport where a competitor has a decent chance of athletic excellence and winning at such advanced ages. As I go backstage with Peter, he points out each entrant – every single person involved with the show knows him. The younger guys know him as the nice older guy who has been at every competition since they were introduced to the sport. The older guys, the men over 45, see him as the guy to beat. They know Peter has raised the bar in the Masters division and that no matter what they do, they will at least have to surpass him in form and size. Every body builder I see has several cans of Pam cooking spray and actively sprays one another with vegetable oil. As a stunning woman in a bikini – a female competitor – hugs Peter and asks him to spray her down, he obliges and then says he has to pump up with some free weights before his first appearance. He hands me the can and tells me to take over and immediately starts aggressive bicep curls with 50lb dumbbells that a group of body builders are sharing. “I am gonna lift while you spray me, ok?” says the female competitor. I sheepishly nod and contemplate a career change between each spritz. But as I stand and watch everyone get ready for the judging portions, there is a camaraderie backstage that is unusual for any competitive situation. These body builders are friendly and supportive. They are spotting one another’s reps, helping balance one another’s tanning makeup, and giving each other advice on which bathing suit colors look best. Peter explains to me that it’s a sport born of mutual support – the opposite of the pro wrestler aura one associates with anyone over a certain size. “When people approach me about being a trainer and I tell them what 122
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“Day in and day out, there are people out there who don’t want any recognition who are fighting the good fight. These are the people who inspire me.” they have to do and their next question is how much it pays, I genuinely recommend they do something else.” I am most intrigued by the dedication Peter has – he is literally in the gym from 7 a.m. until 11 at night every single day. It’s beyond the scope of normal employment. It’s a way of life. I spent a lot of time discussing that sense of mission with the master trainer. “If you are in this for any reason other than solely to help people, you are in it for the wrong reasons. I don’t consider it a job; it’s a vocation. You want to better yourself and there is vanity in it, but you are helping others because you can identify with where they are – not happy with the way they look or being out of shape. Then you witness the changes that take place in them - better self esteem, better health, better quality of life - you can’t help but be affected by it. It’s directly because of your influence. You can leave people one of two ways after knowing you – either better or worse. I think I leave people better off. If I had to make a scorecard of what that’s worth, it’s immeasurable.” So what began as a simple practical effort on my part to lose some weight and stay healthy became an internship in perseverance, longevity and aspiration to excellence. Peeking into the world of the pro body builder was interesting. Training side by side with a top competitor who is as old as my parents was humbling. There can be
August – September 2007
no better teacher than the one who eliminates all excuses by personifying the example. That is why I will lift more weight under Peter’s smiling guidance than the drill sergeant-like shouting of other trainers. Peter took first place in the regional competition in early July. His trophy is proudly displayed on the front desk where all gym members scan their membership cards. A huge banner under it reads “Congratulations Peter.” Everyone who saw him over the next weeks shook his hand in congratulations. The next two weeks were spent preparing for a national competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I told Peter that I absolutely wanted to hear from him as soon as the competition was over to know how he did. This past Saturday night my cell phone rang and a very dejected Peter told me from his hotel room in Pittsburgh that he didn’t place in this particular event. I told him that whatever sadness I sensed in his voice was misplaced – he was competing in a national fitness contest when most people were planning for retirement, fighting major health battles or simply giving up. “I just was hoping to do a bit better this time,” he said with gravity in his voice as heavy as the weight he has taught me to lift. But what Peter didn’t realize is that there is an army of people back in his gym and scattered throughout his life to whom he is already a hero. There comes a time in every mentor/trainee relationship when the student knows which words of wisdom to repeat to the teacher. It’s in those moments when the mentor has truly changed the trainee’s life for the better. So I repeated Peter’s words back to him…“Chin up man, because it ain’t over!”
page 123 HEALTH heat illness:Pages 001-004
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How to Stay Cool
When Exercising in Summer Tips for Avoiding Heat Illness
By Michael A. Yorio, MD any weekend warriors of all ages continue their crusades into the hot and humid months of the summer, a time when the risks for developing a heat-related illness are at their highest. How can you reduce your chances of experiencing a potentially dangerous medical condition when exercising in the heat? The first step is to understand how our bodies respond to heat. Our bodies are heat-making machines, and during strenuous exercise our bodies produce a huge amount of heat. Under normal conditions, our bodies do a very good job of dumping excess heat and maintaining a normal body temperature. Temperature sensors in the brain trigger two things to occur: our hearts pump more blood to our skin and our skin produces sweat. Cooling occurs in four ways: evaporation of sweat from the skin, releasing heat into cooler air (like a cool day), transferring heat into a cooler object (like an ice pack) and movement of air over a warmer object (using a fan or
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wind). On hot, humid days, the body loses its ability to cool itself, which can be dangerous. Sunlight is a source of heat; dark clothing absorbs more heat from sunlight. Also, an athlete who is not used to exercising in the heat can’t cool himself or herself efficiently. When sick, the body can’t get rid of heat as well, especially a body with a fever. Vomiting, diarrhea and sweating can make the body dehydrated. When dehydrated, heat gets trapped in the body due to less sweating and an inability to pump blood to the skin as efficiently. Certain medications and supplements can cause increased heat production or block cooling mechanisms. Some chronic illnesses present unique problems when it is hot outside. Ask your doctor prior to exerting yourself in the heat if you have any concerns. Also be cautious about alcohol and caffeine; they will make you dehydrated, which increases your risk of developing a heat illness. Some tips for exercising in the heat. First, wear light colored and
lightweight clothing. Avoid the peak sunlight hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and watch out when the heat index is high (high temperature and high humidity). Before exercising on a hot day, check with your doctor about any medical conditions or medications or supplements you take that could affect heat production or block cooling mechanisms. Do not exert yourself in the heat if you have a fever or are feeling sick. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, and be sure to drink enough fluids to replace what is lost in perspiration from the previous day’s activity. Be sure to have plenty of cool water or spor ts drinks available during exercise. At the end of a run be sure to walk rather than stand still to keep blood from pooling into your legs, which can make you lightheaded or cause you to pass out. If you find yourself feeling adverse effects from the heat, sit in a cool and shady area, drink cool beverages, remove sweat- drenched clothing if possible, and use cool towels or compresses on your head or back of your neck.
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page 124 HEALTH journey:Pages 001-004
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The Journey By Maria Strong – mariastrong@si.rr.com
Inspiration Is the Word
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et us all take a moment to think about inspiration. Have you ever been inspired so intensely that your life was recognizably affected? Or perhaps you have inspired an individual that brought his or her life to a level of intrigue. Maybe you have touched numerous lives through your lifestyle or teachings or simply by just being you. Have you ever noticed that words, whether written or verbally expressed, may have inspired you if not just for the moment, possibly eternally? It would be unfortunate to allow an act of inspiration pass us by. Inspiration is a gift, whether you are the creator or the recipient. I am sure there are many of you who have at least once in your life inspired someone or have been inspired. Recognizing you have inspired or accepting inspiration can be rewarding all around. I find that inspiration comes in different forms: the silent, the intentional, the contagious, and the exceptional. How many of you can relate to any of the foregoing? I can, and to all of them I would like to share my experiences and hope they will inspire you. Silent inspiration typically goes unnoticed whether given or received. Why not communicate acceptance of such inspiration? I can remember when my grandmother passed away when I was 16. Her death was the first significant loss in my life. Years later that I realized her elegance, femininity and ladylike qualities were exuded upon my mother and passed along to myself, hence creating inspiration. To my late grandmother and my mother, I thank you; I wish I could have verbalized it earlier. In the world of fitness, I confess, I use intentional inspiration, forcing my inspiring words upon all of you: Get fit now.
Excuses are simply unacceptable. Twelve years ago, when I was intentionally inspired to compete in a bodybuilding competition, I was elated. I welcomed the encouragement from my friends and coworkers who supported me from inception of training to their cheers at the event as I accepted my trophy for first place. I admit I even came up with an excuse or two why I should not compete but those excuses became short-lived. So come on, just do it! Thank you, Dad, for those athletic genes you bestowed upon me. Without those I may have only come in second. The contagious inspiration can be so much fun because some of us do not realize that we are the receiver or the giver, and when we do notice, yes, you guessed it, there goes the ego, up, up and away. Contagious inspiration comes in the form of imitation. It could be with the clothes you wear, the car you drive, your ladylike gestures, gentlemanly behavior, or being followed around in the gym because people wish to acquire your physique. Get it everybody? Contagious inspiration becomes an epidemic – I love it. Let’s keep the energy positive. The exceptional inspiration is special, for it is the culmination of all types of inspiration. As a professional in the fitness industry, I have experienced all of these aspects – guiding people toward a healthier lifestyle and educating them on the components of not only attaining good health, but maintaining it as well. It is why I feel truly blessed to have shared this type of inspiration and to actually be able to observe its enormously contagious effect. To my mom, late father and grandmother, friends and family, co-workers past and present and especially my children, I thank all of you for your support and continued inspiration. Until we meet again, keep it fit.
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Cosmetic Surgery Corner By Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D.
Do You Have an Aging Face?
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ging doesn’t happen overnight. Every person’s face ages differently. Some people get jowls early. Others have more of the “turkey neck” or wrinkling of the cheeks. You don’t just wake up one morning and look 25 years older. However, you may wake up one day and suddenly realize, Wow! I look a lot older than I feel. A common misconception of cosmetic surgery is that once you have a facelift, you’ll have to keep having them. In fact, the opposite is true. If you ask how long a facelift will last, the answer is forever. You will always look better after having had a lift, whenever you do it. Since the face continually changes with age, the benefits of having undergone surgery will ensure that you will look younger than your chronological age. Aging is not limited to the surface of the skin. Time and sun damage take a toll on each layer of the skin and supportive tissues. A facelift addresses all the layers in the face. The goal is to look younger and more refreshed, without dramatic changes that give away the fact that you had cosmetic surgery. As with the rest of the body, the appearance of the face and neck changes with age. Muscle tone is lost or the jowls may begin to sag, contributing to a double chin. The nose lengthens slightly and may look more prominent, and there is an increase in the number, size, and color of pigmented spots on the face. The eyebrows and eyelashes lose pigment and turn gray. The skin around the eyelids becomes loose and wrinkled, often making a crow’s feet pattern, and the eye socket loses some of its fat pads, making the eyes look sunken. Droopy upper eyelids can occasionally contribute to limitations in vision. The fat pad that lies below the eye starts to thin over time, creating a sunken look to the area, and the lower eyelid tends to droop, creating a “tear trough.“ The light that hits this area gives the illusion of a dark circle.
So, if “40 is the new 30,” and “50 is the new 40,” then what do we do about all of this depressing aging? There are some decent non-invasive techniques to restore a youthful look, but nothing will give you the results of a traditional facelift. A welldone facelift will not change your looks or make you look like a different person. It will not make you look fake—a well-done facelift will take years off your appearance and have people saying things like...”wow, you look great!”...but they won’t be sure why/how you suddenly look so good. In a facelift, tissues are elevated to where they started out; the underlying musculature is tightened, leaving you with a refreshed appearance and a sharper jaw line. A facelift should do more than just tighten sagging skin. It should redrape the skin over the facial fat and muscles that have been restored to the position they held in your younger years. Plastic surgeons use smaller incisions now for facelifts to avoid the tell-tale signs of an operated-on face. When you spot someone who has undergone a facelift and looks radically different, it is usually a sign that more than just a facelift has been done. For example, adding a chin implant will make you appear slightly different than if merely a facelift is done as a standalone procedure. Facelift surgery has become more accepted as a rite of passage, rather than a frivolous self-indulgence. The ideal time for a facelift is when you think you need it, or feel ready.
Questions and Answers About Plastic Surgery I wanted to take a moment to thank my readers for the many recent emails I have received - questions from people all over Long Island. I thought it would be helpful to reprint some of the questions with my answers. I look forward to receiving more emails from you at docstg@aol.com.
I am 67 years old. Is that too old to have cosmetic surgery? Improvements in appearance can be made at any age. It is not uncommon for healthy older men and women to have cosmetic surger y. One of my recent facelift patients was 78 years old! As you get older, results may not last as long, or be as dramatic. How soon after I have a baby can I have cosmetic surgery? Cosmetic surgery can be considered three to six months after delivery of a child. This will allow you to recover from the pregnancy, lose any excess weight, strengthen your abdominal muscles and possibly finish breastfeeding. It will also eliminate the stress of caring for a newborn child. I am about 40 pounds overweight. Do I weigh too much to have cosmetic surgery? Obesity does increase the risk of complications of many cosmetic surgery procedures. I recommend that you be within 20 pounds of your ideal weight. I also suggest that you complete any desired weight loss prior to surgery. Reducing your weight will optimize the result of your surgery, reduce your risks of complications, and may affect what surgery you choose. I am a 49-year-old woman and about 70 pounds overweight. I have always had a double chin, even when I was slim. In any case, my chin is now older and bigger, truly double, and looks just awful. I was wondering what the best option is for me? Liposuction performed on your neck should definitely improve your neck contour and there will be some skin shrinkage following the procedure. If you then loose significant weight, do not be surprised if you need a follow-up necklift procedure to take care of lax skin and underlying muscle. Dr. Stephen Greenberg is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery. He is the director of New York’s Premier Center for Plastic Surgery with offices in Woodbury, Long Island and Manhattan. Dr. Greenberg can be reached for complimentary consultation at 516364-4200. If you have a question for Dr. Greenberg, please e-amil docstg@aol.com. Listen to Dr. Greenberg’s radio show on Sunday, 6:30 p.m. on both Party 105.3FM and WLIR 107.1 FM. or on 98.3FM, KJOY.
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HEALTH
Nutrition Starting Points for Healthy Eating By Dr. Barbara Capozzi, D.O., CNS, CHT utrition and information about eating can be confusing and sometimes even conflicting, but it’s important to realize that common sense and sensible eating habits should be the underlying theme when making food choices. Here are 10 quick tips to keep in mind. 1. Motto: variety, balance and moderation. This helps to ensure that no one food group is consumed exclusively or inclusively, and that the most valuable source of calories and nutrients (vitamins and minerals) are from various natural whole food sources that have beneficial effects on overall health. For example, eat a whole piece of fruit instead of having a glass of fruit juice. The whole piece of fruit comes complete in its natural package with fiber, vitamin C and other nutrients, while the juice does not have the fiber that is nutritionally beneficial. When you’re hungry, chewing a piece of fruit is far more satisfying than guzzling down a glass of juice. 2. Never say never when it comes to food, unless of course you have a food allergy or have been advised to do so by your doctor. Do not deprive yourself of something that you are craving, but rather try to have a smaller portion of that food. Do not totally avoid fats, protein or carbohydrates. Your body needs all of these, just as a car needs good gasoline and oil. 3. Avoid fad diets. Fad diets may produce fast weight loss, but they usually focus on eliminating one or more food groups, or concentrating on getting calories from a limited source of foods. Example: The Atkins’ Diet focuses on low carbohydrates and emphasizes eating protein and fats which are not only high in calories, saturated fats and dangerous trans fats, but also necessitates avoiding carbohydrates, which means not eating many healthy fruits and vegetables. Yes,
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you may see fast weight loss, but the means to the end is more important. 4. Don’t develop “dieter’s delight.” In other words, do not blend or combine different diets. Many people eventually abandon one particular fad diet and then start to combine other diets to make their own diet. A downside to fad diets is that they are difficult to stay on long term, when eating out and especially during the holiday season. If you are trying to lose weight or eat healthy, it’s not a good idea to mix or choose some of your favorites from Atkins with some of your favorite foods from another diet. The problem is two-fold. First, you will most likely not lose weight and, even more alarming, you may be combining excess fat calories as well as excess calories from carbs and protein – food which translates into weight gain! 5. Avoid the “3F’s”- Fast, Fried, or Free food. Fast foods tend to be high in calories (usually in fats and carbohydrates) and high in sodium, not to mention trans fats and preservatives and additives; they are generally low in healthy nutrient content (lean protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals). Fried foods are high in calories from fats, which quickly promote added pounds, and they are for the most part unhealthy. Fats from fried foods are not only high in calories, but they raise blood cholesterol and are bad for your arteries. Free food. Try to avoid eating too many free hors d’oeuvres, the second slice of pizza, an extra dessert, or second helping at a buffet. The trick is to be prepared. Try not to arrive absolutely famished, even if it means eating a piece of fruit or a handful of unsalted nuts (which contain protein, healthy fat, fiber, minerals) in the car before you arrive. 6. Know your friendly fats. Not all fats are equal. “Good fat” includes monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and oils such as olives, olive oil, canola oil,
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and nuts. “Bad fat” refers to saturated fat like beef, butter, and dairy products. “Ugly fats,” which are known as trans fat, are found in baked goods and commercial frying oil. Although they all have nine calories per gram, all fats are not equal in quality. Remember that all fats need to be eaten in limited amounts. 7. Consume complex carbohydrates in place of simple carbs. Simple carbs, like those found in white bread, white rice, white potato and in sweets generally have high amount of calories and a low nutritional content (low vitamin and mineral content and low fiber). The soft white bread may be enticing because the label reads reduced calorie, but you may be sacrificing a few calories for many nutrients. White bread is soft because it is “processed,” and processed foods means that the outer layer of the grain, fiber and nutrients has been removed. Simple carbs raise blood sugar, have a higher glycemic index than the more beneficial complex carbs (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grain products). 8. Sauces stay on the side. Avoid creamy or thick sauces as they are high in saturated fats that raise blood cholesterol. Try to choose salad dressing that’s low in saturated fat. Also, ask for the dressing to be served on the side and dip your fork into the dressing before putting the salad on your fork. 9. Mentally digest. Stop for a minute before taking the first bite. Know the difference between the good and not so good food choices. Stop and think about what you are eating, why you are eating it, and if you really want to eat it—are you hungry, bored, just being social, or eating because it is lunch time? 10. Put yourself first. Make an appointment with your doctor to have a full physical and create a thorough nutrition and diet history to help you with your personal healthy eating plan.
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Health Watch By Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum Director, Women and Heart Disease Heart and Vascular Institute Lenox Hill Hospital, New York
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The Art of Communication
t’s been a long week. I am standing in front of the mirror with a tearstained red face, swollen eyes and mascara running down my cheeks. I have been here before. Sometimes it happens just when I am purely exhausted and I lose the power of speech. Literally. I can’t communicate. I can’t piece together my thoughts, find the right words and somehow make myself understood. So here I am, again. With the best solution I have in front of me. Crying. I’m not the only one that feels this way. I haven’t cornered the market. It’s just that I can’t believe I did it to someone else. A patient I had known forever told me that she was leaving me. She was finding a new physician. We had been through so much together. I met her five years ago, after she had come from a spinning class. She had palpitations and a stack of papers from three other doctors that said nothing was wrong with her. Why would she waste her time at the doctor’s office if she weren’t sick? The long and the short of it was that after reviewing her tests, I found one little blurb that stated a minor abnormality, which was “most likely normal.” But she was in my office and she had palpitations, so maybe it wasn’t normal. I checked her out and found that she had a hole in her heart that was causing her heart to get larger and causing an irregular heart rhythm. She had palpitations because her heart was irregular, fast and racing. After she received a procedure to close her hole, we spent a lot of time talking about everything that led up to that day. All the doctors, all the tests, all of the time being told that she was okay. And how during this time she
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had nothing to say, no answers, no comments. She was not being heard or listened to. The verdict was in. She was fine. Her response was to just cry. This happens often. Well, more than often. This, In fact, happens a lot. I am saying this not to criticize my colleagues, because the majority of the time, they translate the language into diagnoses that lead to excellent treatment. It’s just that sometimes they listen, but they do not necessarily hear. It really is about communication. It took four years of medical school, an internship, a residency and a fellowship to learn the language of medicine and cardiology. It is a foreign tongue; its nuances, just like any language, mean something else to the listener. And, the listener, being the doctor, is the interpreter of this language. Its qualitative words imply things to doctors—are the symptoms real, fake, physical or psychological? It seems strange to have this kind of conversation when only half the party speaks the language and the other half knows the words but not the culture behind it. It’s like taking Spanish in high school, then going to Spain and trying to fit in. It’s not going to happen. This is a recurring theme in my office. I am often the second or third opinion. Fairly recently, another patient came to me with desperation. She was a 26-yearold woman, who seemed very much like a young girl. She was reserved, unsure and uncertain. She knew the healthcare system quite well and almost spoke the language fluently. She had had a valve replacement at 16 years old and was having extreme shortness of breath. After seeking out multiple physicians who all ran the right tests and did the
August – September 2007
exact work that should be done, she was told that it was anxiety. Except she couldn’t walk or breathe. But there she was, in my office, so something must have been wrong. It took a long time to figure it out, but with a team, I think we did. Regardless of the outcome, she told me that all that mattered to her was that she was heard and listened to. I still can’t get over the other patient whose heart I had invested so much in. We had a relationship, not just a doctorpatient encounter. The reality was that, despite all these many years, this patient whom I had known, helped, worked with, worked on, invested in and took care of, was leaving me for another doctor. She was having palpitations again. I had given her a monitor, the same kind that we had originally used, and everything seemed normal. I gave her the good news and she looked at me blankly, like she was about to cry. I smiled over the great results, and was overtaken by my own satisfaction. I didn’t hear the silence. I forgot that she came to me for help. After all, she was there in front of me. She was in my office. I decided to use a different monitor to figure out if she was having an irregularity in her heart again. I called her and apologized. I was supposed to be the one to listen and hear the silence behind the words. We talked, and with relief, we will move forward to figure out why she is not feeling well. I don’t know what books to read or what dictionary or thesaurus fills in the blanks. A patient who is frightened and trusting and dependent on the doctor’s interpretation of a language foreign and unclear at times must feel misunderstood. That’s why I am looking in the mirror. No matter how many words or how carefully selected, sometimes they are lost without intention, direction and satisfaction. I stand here with that frustration for a whole other reason, but I too was not heard, was misunderstood and not listened to. And I never, ever want to forget what this feels like.
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Skin Deep W By Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D.
e’ve all tried dieting, sit-ups, and crunches to target our midsections, but fighting the “battle of the bulge” isn’t easy, especially when stubborn areas of fat just don’t seem to respond to diet or exercise. Fear not! Problem areas, Dr. Deborah Sarnoff which once required lengthy medical or surgical procedures, can now be improved quickly and safely. The development of new medical treatments and technology makes it easy to lose those love handles or reduce the appearance of unsightly cellulite with minimal discomfort and recovery time. Today, women and men can avail themselves of several safe and effective alternatives:
Smartlipo Remember when liposuction meant having to endure a long procedure with scarring, stitches and an extended recovery time? Those days are history! The FDA-approved Smartlipo laser is a world apart from traditional liposuction. It does not use large tubes or powerful suction that withdraws fat traumatically and can be damaging to tissues. Imagine instead a fiber optic wire thinner than a strand of uncooked capellini that emits a laser beam at the tip. This beam of light is inserted through a tiny opening in the skin, made with a needle prick instead of a scalpel. Those dreaded areas of unwanted fat - saddle bags, inner thighs, tummy, love handles, arms, or that aging neck - all gently melt away when the laser is activated. That’s precisely what the revolutionary Smartlipo can do. All of this miniaturization yields less trauma to the tissues, as well as less bleeding, less bruising, less discomfort, less downtime and fewer side effects than traditional liposuction. The amazing bonus from the procedure is that the gentle effect of the laser beam on the overlying skin can break the bands that cause dimpling, increase collagen production during the healing period, and improve skin tightening after the fat removal. The result can even smooth the appearance of cellulite. Smartlipo is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia. No stitches are required and there is virtually no scarring and a much quicker recovery time than traditional liposuction. Smartlipo is ideal for treating smaller areas of the body, such as full necks or double chins, upper arm batwings, and male breast enlargement (gynecomastia). It can also treat more challenging areas, such as the lower legs and ankles, and it can be used to produce a flatter, tighter abdomen with that “six-pack” muscle definition – abdominal etching at its very best! People who respond best to the procedure are women and men from their late teens into their 50s who are at, or near, their ideal
weight. Think of it as a sculpting technique as opposed to a treatment for large volume fat removal.
TriActive
What do 45 million American women between the ages of 20 and 50 have in common? Cellulite. Cellulite refers to dimpling of skin that can appear on the hips, thighs and buttocks. Although cellulite is harmless, it is a cause of concern for many. The cosmetic industry claims to provide many remedies, however, to date there are no supplements or topical creams that have been FDA-approved as being effective for cellulite reduction. The TriActive is an advanced, FDA-approved laser that is designed to reduce cellulite and facilitate the development of a more contoured, healthier-looking physique. The TriActive delivers a painless treatment that smoothes and tightens the skin, and is suitable for all body and skin types. It works through a triple combination of a low energy laser to increase circulation, localized cooling to reduce inflammation, and suction massage to promote lymphatic drainage and stimulate collagen growth. Several treatments are usually required to achieve firmer, smoother skin; results may vary among individuals depending on factors such as diet, exercise, and the severity of the problem. The TriActive can also be used as a follow-up to a Smartlipo procedure to further enhance smoothness and toning.
Lipodissolve Lipodissolve is a new, non-surgical alternative to liposuction. Treatments consist of a series of micro injections that target and dissolve small areas of fat such as love handles, a double chin, bulges of fat on the back above the bra line, upper arm and tummy fat, etc. Lipodissolve “dissolves” the fat over a series of three to four treatments, given every four to six weeks. Lipodissolve requires a fraction of the healing time compared to many other types of cosmetic surgery. Benefits are generally seen within a few weeks. While it is possible to undergo Lipodissolve at almost any age, the best results are obtained when the skin has enough elasticity to be able to achieve a smooth contour following fat removal.
What Lies Ahead? The current trend in cosmetic dermatology and body sculpting is toward less invasive types of treatments. Many people prefer shorter downtime compared to larger procedures with a need for a greater recovery period. It is important to remember that the latest techniques such as those described above should not be considered a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise. If you are considering any type of elective cosmetic procedure, it is important to be well informed. Be sure to consult with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who can guide you in selecting the most appropriate option.
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