The Boulevard June 2009

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How Do You Choose a Place For An Unforgettable Event?

We’ve Been Answering That Very Question For A Half- Century.

W W W . L E O N A R D S C AT E R I N G . C O M

Leonard’s

• Engagements • Anniversaries • Corporate Events • Sweet 16’s • Bar & Bat Mitzvahs • Christenings • Communions • and of course, “fairytale Weddings” Menus ranging from the Extravagant to the Simply Elegant and Anywhere in Between.

– a SESSA Family Owned and Operated Property

555 Northern Blvd.

Great Neck, New York

516.487.7900

“When you look this good, people are bound to talk.”

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elcome summer! We kick off our men’s issue with a Broadway show that no man will want to miss, Rock of Ages. Nominated for five Tony awards, the show certainly rocked my world, as I know it will yours! We continue our Tony-nominated features with Rock of Ages’ Constantine Maroulis and Kristin Hanggi, nominated for best actor and best director, respectively, and Gavin Creel, nominated for best actor for another sensational musical, Broadway’s revival of Hair.

We are very fortunate to have two legends featured in this issue. Actor and comedian Robert Klein sits down with us at NYC’s famous Friars Club and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac sits with Jon Clarke for an Out of the Box session.

Nothing says summer like good bar-b-q, and nothing says bar-b-q like the ultimate guy, Chef Guy Fieri, who cooks up some great dishes for The Boulevard, with a side order of spicy personality. Another official start to the summer is Fleet Week. The Boulevard is proud to have been invited aboard the USS Iwo Jima to spend the night with our brave sailors and Marines as the ship arrived in New York City. It was an unforgettable experience, and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy reading about.

We hit the Bahamas for some extreme adventure shark diving at Stuart Cove, the world's No. 1 shark diving destination, then headed to the Safari Surf School in Costa Rica. Think you’re tough? Read these articles and you may have to think again.

Our new website has been a great success and we continue to add content that is not featured in the magazine, so be sure to visit boulevardli.com. It’s a great place to “B” online!

Angela Susan Anton Publisher The Boulevard

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A M E R I CA NA M A N H A S S E T

Americana Manhasset is delighted to welcome ILORI to its collection of over 60 fabulous shops! ILORI boutiques have become the ultimate destination for fashion connoisseurs to discover, touch, feel, delight and fall in love with eyewear.

Derived from an African word meaning ‘special treasure,’ ILORI is an elegant shopping environment for those who consider the assemblage of an eyewear wardrobe to be as important as the ownership of other fashion fundamentals such as the bag, the shoe, the jewelry and the wristwatch.

Contact AMERICANA MANHASSET’s complimentary Personal Shopping Service at 800.818.6767 or americanamanhasset.com

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Design

Ultimate Garages

The Green Workshop

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hile in search of the ultimate “guy’s” garage we found something unlike anything we have ever seen. Harrison Architects of Seattle created the perfect blend of green building techniques, while providing a sanctuary for man’s best friend—power tools.

The workshop is situated in Kirkland, Washington about midway between Redmond, home of Microsoft, and green-friendly Seattle. The goal was to create a workshop that could be used for cabinet-making, material storage and, originally, display space for a vintage Mercedes 230SL convertible. The 230SL has since been sold, replaced by a more practical Mini Cooper convertible and a more ecological Prius.

The project incorporates a number of green features spread evenly across the categories of settlement ecology, energy

conservation, resource conservation and healthy building, but its planted roof garners the most attention. By setting the floor level low and digging the building partly into the site, then sloping the roof up and away from the neighbor’s yard and planting it, Harrison Architects minimized the visual impact of the new structure from the neighbors’ perspectives, as well as accruing all the environmental and aesthetic benefits that come with a blooming roof.

As the first permitted residential planted roof in King County back in 2003, the project had a few hoops to

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jump through, but also gathered a lot of support from local green building advocates. It was part of the Green Roof Project organized by the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild and sponsored by King County.

Materials for the green roof system employed – typically used on commercial roofs of more than 10,000 square feet—were donated by the manufacturer, American Hydrotech. Snyder Roofing donated labor for installation. Guild volunteers planted the roof. At around $15 per square foot installed, it is not inexpensive. It does come with a warranty like any other roofing material, which was a major plus.

Harrison followed the manufacturer's recommendations and details to the letter in order to have a control green roof system against which to judge the performance of the less expensive experimental systems of the Green Roof Project.

Owners: Jim Sproull and Susan Radke-Sproull Architects: Harrison Architects Structural Engineering: Swenson Say Faget Contractor: Sunshine Construction Green Roof: Hadj Design/NW EcoBuilding Guild volunteers, Snyder Roofing, American Hydrotech

The Green Garage

By Harrison Architects

Architect Rob Harrison spent the ’80s in New York City’s East Village, playing music at CBGB and the Mudd Club, and after working for local luminaries like Isamu Noguchi and Buckminster Fuller, established his own practice doing high-end residential work. In 1990, prompted by clients who demanded $5,000 carved marble toilets in their lower Fifth Avenue apartment, he relocated to Seattle to pursue greener pastures.

Planted roofs, also known as green roofs or eco-roofs, have many advantages. They're beautiful. They reduce the intensity and duration of rainwater runoff. They filter water in much the same way as a wetland does. They reduce the buildup of heat in urban areas. They absorb sound. To some degree, they provide insulation and thermal mass. They protect the roof membrane below from degradation caused by the sun and so increase the longevity of the roof. They provide habitat. They add garden space and can even produce some edibles.

Rob’s garage was designed to accompany a mid-century rambler in the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle. In 280 square feet (a one-car garage), it houses several bicycles, a motorcycle and a Mini Cooper, as well as providing space for a small workshop and every man’s dream – lots of pegboard. On the pegboard hang his father’s and grandfather’s hand tools. Planted on the east side next to the stairs

Harrison’s Green Garage www.boulevardli.com

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Design

down into the garage is the rose bush his grandfather brought with him from Scotland when he emigrated in 1907.

The previous owner of the house had built an illegal deck atop the foundation of the original off-the-alley terraced carport. The deck was deconstructed and the new structure built on the existing foundation and stem walls—almost entirely from wood salvaged from the existing deck.

Since it was Harrison’s own house (rather than a client’s), he thought it would be a great opportunity to experiment with a less expensive residential alternative to $15 per square foot proprietary (and warranted) green roof systems used on commercial projects, and so promote the use of green roofs in residential applications.

About a third of the roof is planted with a mixture of baby blue eyes, red clover, yarrow and fescues. The other two-thirds is planted with various drought-tolerant sedums, as well as strawberries, nasturtiums and poppies. Other than irrigating the roof through the first summer to establish the plants, maintenance on the roof has been minimal, Harrison says … a bit of selective weeding here and there and occasional watering in long dry spells.

He now rides a 2009 BMW F800GS, an “adventure bike,” all year, rain or shine, for both site visits to projects in construction and for moto camping trips. The big trip this summer will be the Nez Pearce Rally, six days off-pavement in the wilds of eastern Idaho.

Harrison doesn’t see a contradiction between the green approach to the garage and the motorcycles in it. “When I first started my green architecture practice in 1992,” he says, “I rode my bicycle everywhere. I didn't own a car. I started riding motorcycles after an over-use injury on the Seattle-to-Portland ride (200 miles

in two days) put me off the bicycle for a few months. And I didn’t look back. My current bike gets close to 50 mpg and has a catalytic convertor just like a car. I have to have a vehicle that gets mileage as good as a Prius—the car most of my clients drive! And, it’s way more fun.”

Owners: Rob Harrison and Frith Barbat Architects: Harrison Architects Structural Engineering: SlideRule Engineering Works General Contractor: Keith Ellis, CJR Associates Green Roof: Patrick Carey, Hadj Design Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Green Roof Project Post-Industrial Waste Concrete Skull: Scot Hasenkamp

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Eco-Friendly Pools

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he pool, with its blue dappled water, the sound of children splashing and the sight of bathers lounging, is the quintessential image of summer.

Alas, with the pool's beauty comes a list of environmentally damaging factors and a hole in your wallet.

Water pumps, heaters and pool lights squander energy and increase your carbon footprint.

The common use of strong chemicals like chlorine is hard on the environment, not to mention your skin and hair.

Fortunately, enough new green products have come on the market so that with a modest investment, you can now fully enjoy your pool without fretting over its cost and environmental impact.

Many water pumps run at one speed, but the new variable drive water pump allows you to lower the speed and adjust the flow rates. Lowering the pump’s speed cuts energy consumption dramatically, and with it, your cost.

By Alexandra McNear and Tom Burke A pool heater drives up costs but makes the pool more enjoyable and lengthens the swimming season. Most pools are heated with propane, but the switch to a heat pump typically results in a 60 percent annual reduction in heating costs.

To tackle the problem of using chemicals to keep pool water clean, some pool companies recommend converting from a chlorine system to a salt system that requires adding a high grade of table salt to the pool water. A salt generator needs to be installed and once the pool water passes through the generator, it takes the sodium hypochlorite out of the salt and expedites a naturally occurring chlorine.

For those who would like to zero out their pool heating bill and associated carbon footprint altogether, combine the variable speed water pump with an energy efficient heat pump and add a small solar electric system on the pool house or garage. You’ll generate enough electricity to cover the whole system.

I M P O R TA N T N E W S !

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Our clients can now benefit from a new federal tax law which provides a 30% uncapped tax credit on their investment in residential solar systems. Add that to the average $1,850 a year our clients already save on energy bills and the 17,500 pounds of greenhouse gases they prevent from entering the atmosphere, and those are significant savings. GreenLogic is the leading alternative energy company on Long Island. Call us for a free consultation.

Call today! Eliminate or at least stabilize your energy bills.

VISIT OUR NEW OFFICE IN ROSLYN 200 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, SUITE 108

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ROSLYN | MANORVILLE | SOUTHAMPTON | SOUTHOLD | GREENLOGIC.com | 516.625.6880

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Design

Sea Crystal Pools

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hy wait for summer when you could already be relaxing and swimming in your own swimming pool and spa? Just make a call to Sea Crystal Pools. With 35 years in the residential and commercial pool business, Sea Crystal Pools installs gunite and vinyl pools from Manhattan to Montauk.

They pride themselves in, and are committed to, offering their customers 'Simply the Best' product, workmanship and customer service.

You, too, can join the elite club of pool and spa owners with a Sea Crystal pool in your yard. At Sea Crystal Pools, you will find a universe of design choices; an amazing array of pool shapes and sizes are available, from traditional to custom, as well as a wide assortment of special features – in-pool sun decks, lap pools, access ramps, spas, waterfalls, beach entry and

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negative edge. Sea Crystal Pools is also the top pool restorer and renovator on Long Island and a complete service company providing weekly maintenance, summerizing, winterizing and leak repair.

Catch the latest trend with a grotto and pool combination, featuring a secret cave behind a glistening waterfall, giving owners that upscale resort experience without leaving home.

You can let your imagination run wild, because practically anything you can imagine, Sea Crystal Pools can bring from concept to completion. They also handle the permitting process with local municipalities and provide award-winning designs and plans.

Call Sea Crystal Pools today at 631-234-7023 or visit www. seacrystalpools.com to be ready to make a splash in your own private oasis.

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“Simply the Best” DEE SNIDER of Twisted Sister

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY WOLKE

CRIBS

200 Blydenburgh Road Suite 4 Islandia, NY 11749

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SERVING LONG ISLAND FOR OVER 30 YEARS

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Man at His Best The Cassini Signature

Oleg Cassini’s classic achievement is clothing attuned to values that don’t change with the seasons.

Cassini shows you at your very best, always. American spirit, European sophistication - it’s the unmistakable Cassini signature.

Oleg Cassini signature collection.

The clothes that make the man.

The two-button suit with the slim Cassini silhouette. The crisp hand and subtle lustre of this finely tailored suit adds a new dimension to style.

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The classic Cassini double-breasted blazer, tailored in a light and fabulous pure cashmere fabric in fashion colors.

The Cassini man ... fit, serene and successful

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Fashion

A Romantic Summer Weekend ...

The elegant and historic Box Hill Mansion sits on a hilltop of over 400 beautiful acres of green rolling hills.

Nestled amid unique floral planting in the fabled and lush countryside of York, Pennsylvania, it reminds one of an aristocratic English country estate.

As you drive through the gates of Regents’ Glen and wind your way past beautiful town homes along Sterling Lake, past rare white oak trees and box trees imported from England to the Box Hill Mansion and Dinner Club, you enter another world, a world of luxury, elegance and romance.

Guests are met at the door with Cassini crystal flutes filled with sparkling champagne. The cuisine and wine at the Regents’ Glen Dinner Club are first class and reminiscent of a 5-star Parisian restaurant. The luxury spa amenities begin as you are wrapped in a Cassini white cotton terry robe, after an energizing round of golf at the 18-hole championship course on the magnificent grounds. This grand historic site near the Delaware River was granted to William Penn in settlement of a debt by the King of England. It later became the setting for Box Hill Mansion.

The Box Hill Club at Regents’ Glen in York can be reached by telephone at 717-505-4455 or by email at jsnyder@regentsglen.com.

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A Wedding in the Country

The Bride wears her Oleg Cassini Princess in Wonderland gown.

A vision of enchantment and luxury embroidered with pearls, crystals and satin.

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“To be well-dressed is a little like being in love� ...

Oleg Cassini Her Oleg Cassini strapless gown of shimmering satin is done in a tonal petal pink. The bodice is covered in crystals and pearls.

He is wearing his Oleg Cassini tuxedo combined with a white-on-white shirt and white tie, all linked with a crisp, white, classic Cassini vest.

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Fashion

Bloomingdale's Summer Collection For Men

Michael Kors Navy cotton seersucker blazer $495 Michael Kors Classic linen shirt in white or sky blue $125 Michael Kors Flat-front shorts in chino stretch cotton/elastane twill, $145

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Michael Kors full-zip cardigan in navy or white cotton $195 Michael Kors navy gingham cotton shirt $145 Michael Kors white cotton denim jeans $195

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The nautical trend is back, but this time with a minimalist moderation. This summer staple can be created by playing up the fundamentals, using a variation of blues and stripes in combination with tones of khaki and cream. Add a splatter of color to the scheme with bright reds, greens and yellows. For the hot Hampton look, choose Bermuda shorts, a stripe shirt and a pair of comfortable Havianas. For formal attire add a simple blazer, khaki or grey pants and various forms of boat shoes, or the hot new moccasins from Donald J Pliner or Ferragamo. Get ready for summer!

Casual: Clockwise: Brooks Brothers Look -Country Club cotton Coolmax button cardigan, $145; non-iron slim fit tattersall Ainsley dress shirt, $79.50; Milano linen/cotton chinos, $98.50; navy satin Mogador tie, $125; classic bucks, $198 * All Brooks Brothers items available at retail stores nationwide, online at www.brooksbrothers.com or by calling 800.274.1815.

Banana Republic Look - Navy Trench, $275.00; Blue Chambray Shirt, $79.00; Lobster Red, Cotton Linen Shorts, $49.50; 'Otto' Pebbled Leather Wingtip, $185.00; Nantucket Red Nylon Web Striped Belt, $39.00 ** Available at select Banana Republic stores nationwide, call 888.

BRSTYLE for store locator.

Footwear - Ferragamo “Mango” moccasin, $440, www. salvatoreferragamo.it; Donald J Pliner “Conroy” Slip On in Denim, $275, www.donaldjpliner.com; Havaianas flip-flops in white, green, yellow, or black $22, Bloomingdales

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Dress Code: Clockwise: John Varvatos Eyewear, V902 & V903, www.johnvarvatos.com; John Varvatos ARTISAN cologne, $75, www.johnvarvatos.com ** Banana Republic Look -BR Monogram Cashmere Blazer, $800.00; Azure Cotton Striped Crewneck tee, $39.50; BR Monogram Piqué Pant, $110.00; 'Otto' pebbled leather wingtip, $185.00; Textured leather dress belt, $54.00; Pierre Sunglass, $98 * Brooks Brothers Look - cotton khaki suit, $598; non-iron slim fit hairline split stripe dress shirt, $79; stripe knit tie, $75; Peal & Co. antique tan penny loafer with perforated detailing, $488 Footwear Donald J Pliner “Vinny” shoe in Tang, $380, www.donaldjpliner.com Allen Edmonds “Strand” shoe, $279, www.allenedmonds.com

www.boulevardli.com

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1 Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Carbon Depth Meter, $699, www.citizenwatch.com; 2 Swiss Army Summit XLT Chrono, $425, www.swissarmy. com; 3 Omega Seamaster Mecanica, www. omegawatches.com; 4 Omega Seamaster NZL-32 Chrono, www.omegawatches.com; 5 TAG Heuer Aquaracer Automatic 500M Calibre 5, $2,450, www.tagheuer.com; 6 ESQ Men’s Criterion, $495, www.movadogroup.com; 7 Baume & Mercier Riviera Magnum XXL, www.baume-et-mercier. com; 8 Concord Stainless Steel Chronograph, www.movadogroup.com

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Divers require a timepiece that can endure working deep below the ocean’s surface. A watch of this caliber must tackle certain requirements and be equipped with definitive attributes of a high-performing dive watch. Dive watches range in water-resistance from 200 to 1200 meters. The ideal diver’s watch should have unidirectional bezel, highly luminescent markers and indexes and be scratch-resistant and anti-reflective, to provide an at-a-glance readability under water or in dim light.

Omega and TAG Heuer have included special features for comfort and damage prevention in their watches. They have an integrated extension system that allows for strap adjustment to fit the watch over a wet suit. To prevent further damage under crushing pressure, an automatic helium valve has been added that releases the helium atoms to escape during decompression.

Whether worn exploring offshore shipwrecks or diving off the coast of Costa Rica, dive watches take serious sports-inspired functionality to a new extreme.

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Tools of the Trade

Paul Labrecque Premium Hair Care Collection

Retain Your Youthful Look With ClarinsMen Products

The Paul Labrecque Gentlemen’s Salon & Barber Shop is designed specifically to cater to a guy’s busy schedule; it is part gentlemen’s club, part barbershop, part salon utilizing Paul Lebrecque’s “simpler is better” approach to hair care and styling.

The Paul Labrecque Premium Hair Care Collection is great for every hairstyle. Pomades for shorter hairstyles, protein mask for dry, damaged, color-treated hair, and control cream for thick, coarse, dry hair.

More than ever before, men are concerned with the visible effects of aging on their skin and want to take steps to stop the clock.

To that end, ClarinsMen has introduced its premier line of anti-wrinkle and firming products designed to counteract the aging process.

ClarinsMen product line tightens, firms and improves the quality of men’s skin.

Daily Shampoo($24) and Daily Condition ($32)

Anti-Fatigue Eye Serum to Refresh and Brighten Tired Eyes $29 for 0.7 oz.

Repair Condition Restorative Protein Mask $40

Line Control Balm for Firmed, Lifted and Revitalized Skin $52 for 1.7 oz.

Daily Finish Matte Pomade $24 Repair Finish Grooming Control Cream $24 For full range of products or to make an appointment, visit www.paullabrecque.com.

Line-Control Cream $52 for 1.7 oz.

Revitalizing Gel to Energize and Brighten Skin $36 for 1.7 oz.

Line Control Eye Balm for Smoother, Firmer, Brighter Eyes $35 for 0.7 oz.

ClarinsMen skin products are available at department stores and fine specialty stores nationwide, visit www.clarins.com. www.boulevardli.com

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Fashion

The Maximus Man

By Richard Calcasola

Richard Calcasola is founder of Maximus Spa/Salons and North American Creative Director, Intercoiffure Mondial. For a fresh point of view with Richard call 516-333-3511, ext. # 217. By appointment only.

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his is the time of year when we are at the beach wearing shorts, with shirts and shoes off, so it makes sense that we should pay attention to some basic grooming and hygiene.

Let’s start with the feet. Your feet work hard and need some pampering. They carry your (frequently) overweight body all day long, so a little TLC may be very appropriate. Many men have never experienced a pedicure and they don’t know what they’re missing. Dried calluses and scratchy toenails will be a thing of the past. I deal with women all day long so I know it’s a sore subject for them. A pedicure takes anywhere from a half-hour to an hour and it’s sheer relaxation. You’ll want to dance all night, and with pampered feet, you can.

Next, there’s that unwanted hair. During the summer we perspire from work, exercise and just plain hot weather. Hair removal is no big deal. There’s no need to go through long and arduous laser hair removal sessions; just ask your wife, girlfriend or favorite female where she goes for waxing. You can have your back waxed (ouch!), your arms, underarms and chest (more ouch!). You will be amazed at how much cooler you’ll look and feel. Notice that those buff bodies you see on TV and in magazines have very little hair. It’s cleaner, looks better and is much more appealing. Don’t forget your ears and nose. As for your private areas, you can figure that out for yourself. Simple grooming is all it takes.

On to the hands, especially hands of men that are doing manual labor; their hands are cut, callused and rough. Fingernails should always be trimmed and cleaned no matter what kind of work you do. A simple manicure provided by a professional on a regular basis is yet another thing women learned the benefits of

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long before we men did. And don’t forget to remove the hair on your fingers.

Now, hair on your head is a different story. A great haircut is critical to your image and to the way people perceive you.

The very basics of clean, shiny hair are a no-brainer but often choosing the best style takes some professional input. Whether you go to a barber or a hairstylist, it’s important to work with what you have. Some guys are blessed with a fabulous head of hair – curly, wavy or straight – and they have the most options. If you are anything like me, there are very few choices. Remember that the answer to hair recession is never the comb-over. Closely cropped hair or even a shaved head is a better choice than the comb-over or spray paint. Men today have great options. They can go from the gentlemanly look of George Clooney to the assorted Brad Pitt styles ­(long and below his shoulders to crewcut length) and always look good. Choose what’s right for you and your lifestyle.

This is the perfect time of year to tag along with a ladyfriend to her favorite salon, spa or grooming professional.

She may even treat you to an introduction to the beautiful life!

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M

y very soul has a mullet. I came of age in the 1980s in a town called Hillsdale in New Jersey. I bought turquoise zebra-striped spandex to wear with my studded belt and a Japanese lettered tank top to play my freshman year Battle of the Bands. Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister and Poison were all on our setlist. My world was MTV and I honestly believed that if I looked just right and used enough hair gel, the screaming girls in the Bon Jovi videos would scream for me. That mentality launched a thousand bands in 1987.

One town over from where I lived, in a village called Wyckoff, another shy, high school guy was learning the same cover songs, watching the same videos and striving for that same untouchable magic which we all felt in the big-haired ’80s.

His name was Constantine Maroulis. While Los Angeles was a fertile crescent for the music scene in the ’80s, New Jersey and the New York area was ground zero, launching such icons as Bon Jovi, Skid Row and Mr. Big. When you are an adolescent, you have this sense that the world will always be as it is right at that moment. I truly felt that the music I was tuned into would never, ever wane in popularity. Things change.

I didn’t meet Constantine until 25 years later. He is now a Tony-nominated actor in the hilarious and musically genius Rock of Ages. Me? I wear a suit and carry a tape recorder for a living.

He was a finalist on American Idol, gets to dress like it’s still 1987, and sing Twisted Sister songs. Me? Well, let’s just say all those

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hours spent learning Ritchie Sambora’s guitar parts never really paid off like I thought they would. My mullet is long gone; I’ve never even mentioned the spandex to anyone. However, I am one of those guys in the show’s audience that leaps to his feet to sing along to “Sister Christian.” But here is what’s important: Rock of Ages isn’t just some Broadway show, it’s the legitimization of an entire period of music full of beautiful complex melodies, which until now was ignored, satirized and ultimately shrugged off. For guys like me and Constantine, it is our time again.

“This is the soundtrack to my life,” said Constantine. “It’s a wonderful era in music – especially for an actor that is also a singer. The imagery, the celebration of rock, the over-the-top videos and fashion - everything was such an inspiration to me as a kid. When you grow up with a void and you are into rock ‘n’ roll

“These bands were huge at a time when giants walked in the music industry. We don’t have that anymore and it may never happen again.”

-Constantine Maroulis

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Profiles and you see stuff like that, it’s all you want to do – “I Wanna Rock” – that’s it. When I heard Twisted Sister and I saw that video, it’s all I ever wanted to do. I grew up with Bon Jovi and they were my heroes, especially growing up in New Jersey.”

There is finally something on Broadway for guys like me. As the world stands with a slacked-jawed gaze at the spectacular popularity of Rock of Ages – with its glitterclad portfolio of 1980s hair metal music – guys like me are standing tall and saluting something that to us is a vibrant cultural renaissance. People used to trivialize the music of Whitesnake, Twisted Sister and Poison. Looking at old pictures of myself and the album covers, I understand why.

The simple fact was that in the multimedia and marketing that overwhelmed the era, the real merit and stunning beauty of these songs was obscured by the ridiculous outfits, ostentatious stage presentation and overall sophomoric branding by the then-relevant major record labels. Unfortunately, this was our “culture’s” accepted memory of an entire era – that is, until Rock of Ages opened. Now once again … things have changed.

The premise for the musical is insultingly simple: a metal bar on the Sunset Strip is closing and with it will come an enormous shift in the musical landscape. There is a thinly veiled boy-meets-girl love story of Drew and Sherrie, which upon closer inspection is a spot-on depiction of anyone who fell in love against the backdrop of that time. Actual music from the period is intertwined into the dialogue and songs are blended in

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the tradition of Moulin Rouge, Across the Universe or Mamma Mia. But the main difference is that this music has never been given its due until now.

Amy Spanger plays the gorgeous Sherrie, a starry-eyed Hollywood hopeful and Drew’s love interest. Her character is, of course, the platform for Steve Perry’s bombastic solo hit “Oh Sherrie” to be weaved into the second act. She is diverted and corrupted by Stacee Jaxx, archetypical lead singer of Arsenal – the faux chart-topping band whose last gig at the bar is the metaphor for the closing of an age. The cast lets you laugh all you want because the writers shrewdly know that cliché always holds its charm – especially when it’s nostalgia served up as hyperbole. I asked Maroulis how close the character of Drew was to the real Constantine circa 1987. “He is about 10 years older, but pretty close – I was a shy kid,” he reflected. “I like to think Drew came from a big family with lots of sisters which is why he is so sweet and vulnerable and accepting of Sherrie’s betrayals. I grew up working in bars and rock clubs in New York, working in bands before the whole Idol experience and like Drew, I am a pretty nice guy at the end of the day.”

Everything about this theatrical excursion is unconventional and utterly delightful.

Drinks are served in your seat to create the ambience of a traditional rock club. Period costumed hotties in the chorus strike stripper poses, immediately transporting the audience into a Motley Crue video. David Coverdale of Whitesnake, an icon of the age, greets the

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© Joan Marcus

The blending of the songs is simply spectacular. Signature ballads of the era such as Damn Yankees’ “Higher” and Warrant’s “Heaven” re-emerge from mass media obscurity and are presented so beautifully that you wonder how anyone couldn’t

© Joan Marcus

audience in a voiceover opening as the lights dim and bang! The world outside simply doesn’t exist for the next two-and-a-half hours.

It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t had the time of their life at this musical. The phenomenon is well chronicled – people can’t resist singing along with the cast to songs they were told they’d be embarrassed they love.

Guys in suits caught in the ticking traps of corporate cubicle hell are suddenly time warped back to their freshman year of high school and are standing up and singing. Fists are pumping in the air. Ties get loosened. Collectively the audience feels young again. Real magic is happening. Magic that guys like me haven’t felt since, well … 1985?

Many of the rave reviews the show has received celebrate the theatrical spectacle and backhandedly describe a “guilty pleasure” aura. I think that’s too simplistic and narrow a view. For guys like me it runs a lot deeper … down deep in our soul where the mullet still gets combed.

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Profiles

love this music. Rocking up-tempo numbers such as Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock,” Joan Jett’s “Hate Myself For Loving You” and the huge first act closer – Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” – are expertly choreographed with the entire company gyrating.

The response from the audience, night after night, is a full-on assault of enthusiastic adrenaline that only genuine nostalgia can tap into. Forgetting this music would be a crime against humanity.

On opening night I sat a few rows in front of Dee Snyder and JJ French of Twisted Sister. Jim Petrick of Survivor was a few rows in front of me and members of Night Ranger were to my right. These legends all have pieces featured in the show. A few weeks later, I had the privilege of meeting with Tommy Shaw of Styx and Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon before the show where I told Tommy I never thought I would see someone hit his stratospheric high notes in the Damn Yankees song “Higher.” He just smiled his trademark Alabama grin and said that the cast does it beautifully. I then sat wide-eyed when after the show they jumped up during the encore to blast into a new single they had written. Why? Because for these musical giants and guys like me, the magic never went anywhere – it’s still as strong as it was 25 years ago. That feeling of being 15 and practicing these songs for the Battle of the Bands returns in full swing and for a moment you are back in touch with that elusive spiritual magic only a laser light and hairspray can conjure. You feel connected. You are understood, if only briefly.

Rock of Ages is the most entertaining and creative way imaginable to share that with the world, since it’s very hard to define unless you lived it. But there is something for everyone in this musical. Younger and older generations who never saw

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a Poison video will still have the time of their lives. When it’s pure and it’s authentic, this catalog of music will always hold its ground and deliver. And as Maroulis and the spectacular cast rip down the roof with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin!” as the huge show closer, you realize guys like us never did stop believing in the power of the music this decade brought us … and thanks to Rock of Ages, we’ll never have to.

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Going With Your Gut

By Tim Sullivan

Sometimes the best decisions defy any conventional wisdom. The return on investment is ambiguous. The market for the product isn’t clear. The uphill battle to reach your vision is, well, pretty far uphill. But then there is that little voice that you can’t escape that just says, “Do it!”

That’s what happened on a drive to Vermont a few years ago. Someone handed Jeff Davis a script for a play filled with music he had never heard. The music was hard rock from the ’80s and was easily 25 years out of date. It was no mystery why the authors were having trouble finding backers and producers for Rock of Ages. The music of Poison isn’t exactly Broadwayready. Hell, people won’t even admit it’s on their iPods!

But Jeff watched his sons’ reaction to the music – they were much younger than the generation that grew up on it but they loved every song. He knows magic when he sees it and the gears started turning. Whoever wanted to bring this show to life must have had a vision as well. Put the magic with the vision and people will always amaze you.

“I like to invest in people, not things,” explains Jeff. “Money isn’t enough. You have to believe in the people you are investing in and they have to know that you believe in them.”

Rock of Ages was a risk. It had even closed in two cities prior to opening off Broadway in New York in the fall. But Davis, a lifelong entrepreneur across many industry sectors, did what he always did – he listened to his gut and went full steam ahead as a producer.

In seeking corroboration for these appallingly uncomplicated principles, another “people investment” of Jeff’s provided perspective: none other than the writer of the critically acclaimed musical Brooklyn – Mark Schoenfeld – who is bringing another theatrical production to life with Davis as a producer. Schoenfeld describes a loyalty and emotional investment uncommon to anything he has experienced in almost 40 years in show business.

He also tells of a hands-off manager who doesn’t interfere with peoples’ work, but simply makes suggestions and maintains his faith in those people.

The loyalty, the emotional investment, the faith in writers and directors, the feeling in one’s gut that outdated and ridiculous music never tried on Broadway would draw an audience – those are the qualities this producer relied on in bringing Rock of Ages to life. It has led to five Tony nominations, so Davis must know what he is doing on some level.

“Anyone who meets Jeff Davis is lucky,” says Schoenfeld. I think everyone who worked on Rock of Ages would agree. The audience certainly does.

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Photo Gallery

Rock of Ages Opening Night The Edison Hotel, NYC April 7, 2009 Photos by Patrick McMullan

Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis

Dee Snyder

Scott Prisand, Jeff Davis, Matthew Weaver, Carl Levin, Barry Habib (Rock of Ages Producers)

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Kristin Hanggi, Kelly Devine, Chris D’Arienzo

Joel Hoekstra, Jay Jay French

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Profiles

Constantine Maroulis Guided By His Passion To Perform

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onstantine Maroulis walks through the bustling streets of New York City on the way to a meeting. “Jeez!” he yells as he weaves through crowds of people in the busy midtown area. “You know, I try and avoid these busy parts on most days.”

It’s a packed day for Maroulis and he called to start our interview a few minutes early so he doesn’t get behind schedule with his slew of interviews and meetings. As a singer, actor and star of the Broadway show Rock of Ages, he understands what it’s like to have very little spare time. But when you are as passionate about performing as Maroulis, it’s all part of following a dream.

Born into a musical family, it was inevitable that Maroulis developed an interest in music. He recalls his mother singing around the house. “She had a beautiful tone to her voice; it always caught my ear,” he says. His brother was a successful underground artist in the late ’80s and ’90s and went on to do jazz recordings as well. His sister, now a school principal, grew up doing musicals in high school.

“They were just a huge influence on me,” he says. After his family moved from Brooklyn to the affluent community of Wyckoff, New Jersey when he was 5 years old, it was essential that Maroulis learn how to play an instrument. “The schools had a very strong support for the arts,” he recalls. While he wanted to play guitar, it was difficult for his parents, who both worked full time, to support the expenses that went with it. Instead, his mother found a good deal on an old Bundy trumpet.

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“I loved the trumpet and I remember my teacher always said, ‘You have a great tone,’” Maroulis recalls. “I guess that sound comes from your mouth; you’re using that breath support, so it’s a lot like singing.”

Singing, Maroulis says, was always his first love. Though he played the trumpet in his school band, he knew deep down that singing was his true calling.

“It’s just one of those things that you’re pretty much born with,” Maroulis says of his vocal abilities. He remembers his first role in a school show, West Side Story, at the age of 13. “I was hoping for one of the leads but I wasn’t good enough yet; I didn’t have the confidence, so I was one of the Jets. You’d think some Greek kid from Brooklyn would at least have been one of the Sharks!” he says, laughing.

Slowly, Maroulis became more comfortable with the stage.

As he developed his craft, he knew that this was going to be his career path. While in high school, he played in professional bands, doing NYC gigs and getting paid for them.

“I always had high test scores when I was young but I had poor grades. I just didn’t care,” Maroulis says. “It’s funny because now I preach higher education and I tell kids to do their work. I realize how important it is. But I was a late bloomer.”

After high school, Maroulis continued to perform. His first equity job was an ensemble/understudy role in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Theatre in Nyack, NY. “It’s one of my favorite shows,” Maroulis says. It was there he met actors who had graduated from The Boston Conservatory,

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Profiles which put the idea in Maroulis’ head that it was time for college and more training.

“I gave it a shot. I applied, I auditioned, I think I even received a partial scholarship,” Maroulis says. Because he enrolled in some college courses prior to his acceptance at the Conservatory, he was able to dive right into his second year, taking three years to complete the program. He graduated from high school in 1993, and began college six years later. “A lot of people do that in conservatories,” Maroulis explains, “I know 30-year-old undergrads at Juilliard, so it’s kind of a ‘when you’re ready to go’ thing.”

After Maroulis tragically lost his cousin on 9/11, he had a difficult senior year at school and “barely graduated,” he says.

He did not perform in the senior showcase, where talent agents come to observe students. But Maroulis was determined to make it. He had his sights set on one role – Roger, the heartthrob rocker of the Broadway musical Rent.

Maroulis knows what he wants and that tends to get him what he wants. After school came New York City where he started a band called Pray for the Soul of Betty. Soon after, he

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assumed the role of Roger in the regional tour of Rent to a very enthusiastic audience and Pray for the Soul of Betty reaped the benefits. While he admits the band wasn’t very good musically, he says they put on a great show. The band followed Maroulis to the cities where he was performing in Rent, bringing the Rent audience to their rock shows.

“People loved the band because they loved Roger,” Maroulis says. “Roger was a rocker and the band was heavy, but we had no songs, so that was tough.” The band has since stopped performing together.

When he returned to New York from touring in the summer of 2004, he realized the paycheck and the attention from fans had faded. It was time for a new gig. His girlfriend at the time, whom Maroulis describes as “pretty and persistent,” insisted they audition for the popular television show American Idol.

They hopped on the $10 Chinatown bus to Washington D.C. and stood in line. She got cut the first round and “Well, the rest is history,” Maroulis says.

Maroulis commanded the stage and made it to the top six contestants before his elimination. Being in school and touring

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for the prior four years, he says he had never seen the show, and wishes he had an idea of what he was getting into. “If I had seen the show,” he says, “I think I would’ve done better.”

Maroulis says he learned skills and knowledge from day one on the show. “I learned the ins and outs of contracts, management, press, the pressures of going on a live show and performing at such a high level, working with fantastic professionals from the crew through the executive producers,” he says. “I’m a sponge. I just pick it up. It was the greatest boot camp you could ever ask for in performing arts training.”

Once eliminated from Idol, Maroulis “set his head on straight” and kept working. “Lots of great things happened,” he

says. “Lots of things fell through, but you’ve got to keep pushing and believe in yourself.” After Idol came solo tours, solo albums and the stage, as well as television appearances on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. When asked if he has a favorite media of performing, he says, “It’s weird. I like to do all this stuff. That’s what’s spread me out pretty thin and maybe that’s why it’s taken me a few years to connect with the right project.”

That right project, he says, is his current role in Broadway’s Rock of Ages, where he can “get to do it all. I get to go on stage, go on TV and talk about a great project, sing, act, all of it.”

And while he says he feels comfortable on Broadway, don’t expect him to stop there. He says he’d love to break into film, with dreams— “and this is really shooting for the stars here”— to have a career like George Clooney and Hugh Jackman, who write, direct, act and produce.

“I’d love to produce Broadway shows,” Maroulis says. “I know how to raise money; I know the media. I know what the fans want and that would be wonderful. Do I want to connect the radio to a song of mine? Of course.

Do I want to do new exciting theater projects in New York? That’s always been my dream; any actor wants that.”

As for specific film projects, Maroulis has a few ideas in mind. He’d love to be part of “some sort of underground independent film and some sort of big Twilight blockbuster film … that’d be freakin’ awesome,” he says.

And while he doesn’t have a great deal of free time, he makes sure to see his family and spend time with them. “I see my friends and go out socially a bit. It’s hard with my schedule and vocal demands, but I also love the Yankees and the Giants and love to go to the games. I play video games with my friends, read books, see other shows and travel. And someday I’d like to settle down and have a family of my own.”

He’s a self-described “regular guy,” but he has extraordinary talent. He loves watching Sports Center and putting his feet up.

But don’t let that fool you. His professionalism is impeccable, his passion is undeniable, and his drive to continue to take his craft further is unstoppable. “I’ve always known that this is my life, my job, my craft,” Maroulis says. “This is what I do; no one is going to deny me my work.”

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Profiles

W

hile it may seem that Rock of Ages, the musical, is a laid-back fun performance, the truth of the matter is, it is a precision tool that all comes together under the direction of Kristin Hanggi, Broadway’s youngest director … that is, Broadway’s youngest Tony-nominated director.

Seeing the musical through eyes of writer Chris D’Arrenzo, Kristin has done an amazing job of transforming the world around the audience and taking them back to the days of their youth. “Over time, you can see the picture in their heads and it almost stops being in [the writer’s] head and becomes a picture between the two of you, like a movie on an imaginary screen.”

Having a master’s degree in dramatic structure, Kristin was able to accomplish this with ease. “We knew what we wanted to create from early on and I love the experience of an audience walking into the theater. With Rock of Ages we were able to give [the audience] an atypical experience.” Hanggi is interested in making theater unique. Rock of Ages breaks the barrier of what theater is supposed to be. “That is what I want my theater to do.

I want to walk in one way and leave another way. Theater can be sexy; it can be dangerous; it can feel like a concert; it can feel in a way kind of primitive. You don’t have to come to the theater to sit and hold your program,” she says.

Rock of Ages gave Kristin a great opportunity as it was filled with perfect ideas waiting to reveal themselves and Kristin has a passion for bringing those ideas to life through trial and error.

She has cast people who she respects, and she trusts what they can bring to the table.

On May 5, Kristin received the shock of a lifetime. “I really wanted us to get nominated for best musical because our actors are so talented and it’s our little jewel of a show. I wanted people to really see what we were doing and that it wasn’t a little jukebox show. I was sitting having coffee and journaling while watching the nominations. I heard Constantine’s name and I said, ‘Oh, wow,’ and journaled it. Then all of the sudden, I said, ‘What did they say? Who was that?’” She had been nominated for

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best direction of a musical. “ I was totally in shock when they said my name. I remember watching the Tonys when I was younger and saying, ‘Okay, that is what I’m going to do with my life and some day … but to really work hard and be excited about it and then be recognized for it is mind-blowing. It’s incredibly surreal; I am totally grateful and feel that life is magical.”

While still directing theater, Kristin is currently directing her first movie, titled Dear Dumb Diary. It’s about a girl named Jamie Kelly and it captures the self-consciousness of being in middle school and feeling like the biggest loser while still having total delusions about your own grandeur. For example, Jamie, who knows where her popularity stands, decides to have a crush on the cutest eighth-grade boy in school, as she won’t dare cross the invisible boundary. Like most middle schoolers, Jamie generally keeps quiet and writes in her diary, which eventually becomes a musical. “It has a similar sense of humor as Rock of Ages but for middle schoolers,” she explains.

With Rock of Ages already a huge success, this is only the beginning for Kristin Hanggi. It’s true that she won’t stop believin’.

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hey say if you remember the ’60s then you weren't really there. Well, for those who would like to take a trip down memory lane, or if what you have heard about the decade sounds intriguing, then you must see Gavin Creel's Tony-nominated performance as Claude in Broadway's newest revival hit, Hair … and be sure you bring your dancing sandals.

It wasn't hard for the Ohio-born, 33-year-old actor with a bachelor of fine arts in musical theater from the University of Michigan to assimilate into a storyline that takes place 40-something years ago. It did, however, take a lot of research. So how did Gavin prepare for his role? “I went to the New York Library and looked through pictures from the time,” he said. “Besides the visuals, I listened to a lot of music from that era, too.” Gavin added that he was fortunate to speak to people and get firsthand accounts. “Lucky thing I wasn’t doing Camelot,” he joked.

To be or not to be? That was the question. Should Claude burn his draft card or should he accept fate and go to Vietnam? For Gavin, the irony of the question was uncanny. He explained how his own father faced the same challenging questions when drafted. “My dad was just a few months shy of his 26th birthday, married and expecting his first child when he was called to serve.”

Unlike Claude who went to Vietnam, Gavin’s father was headed for Cambodia when his superior officer intervened.

Ultimately, Gavin’s father was stationed in Thailand.

While the play depicts a very troubled time in American history, the energy level on stage and in the audience is tremendous. Throughout the show, cast members dance up and down the aisles. Audience members should not be surprised if they are suddenly pulled from their seats to dance along, as if they, too, were members of the cast. Everybody in the theater is in some way affected

by Hair. Gavin said that as he looks out from the stage, he is moved by what he witnesses. “There are 50-year-old dads wiping their eyes and next to them are their teenage daughters, wearing headbands and tie-dyed shirts,” Gavin said. “The best part of the show for me is at the end, when I am up on the platform and I can see the entire audience.” In the last scene, as the storyline comes to fruition, the audience is invited to join the ensemble on stage while everyone sings Let the Sunshine In. Gavin is no stranger to the Broadway stage. In 2002 he received his first Tony nomination for his performance as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He also made his television

debut in Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime.

When not performing on the Broadway stage, Gavin spends time writing music. He co-produced an album titled GoodTimeNation. “I am really proud of it. I wrote it with Robbie Roth and it is just 40 minutes of feel-good, sexy, fun pop music.”

But for now, all focus should be on Gavin Creel’s outstanding performance in Hair at the Al Hirschfeld Theater. It may not be Woodstock, but for the 50-something crowd, this is a trip of nostalgia and for the younger generation, it is a history lesson of a time when all was fair in love and war.

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Robert Klein A Comic God

By Ruth Bashinsky

Photography by Jason Feinberg

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ith Robert Klein, you never know when the jokes begin or when they end.

At the legendary Friar’s Club one rainy Friday evening in May, Klein greets me with a glass of red wine and that trademark grin. We find seats, I clip the microphone from my tape recorder to the collar of his shirt and head to the bar to get peanuts. As I walk away, Klein speaks slowly into the mic: “Reporting. Going over for nuts.

There is a flu virus, so use a spoon.” Seconds later: “Do you want some gefilte fish?” he asks, raising his brow.

After more than three decades, Klein is still the master of observational comedy, finding the humor in everyday things and doing what he does best: making people laugh. His delivery and style are still as fresh, witty and intelligent as they were back in the ’70s when he, along with comedians George Carlin and Richard Pryor, took the stand-up world by storm. Klein’s talent and wit helped change the comic landscape for the next generation of comedians – Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal and Richard Lewis, among others.

For Klein, a former pre-med major, comedy became his destiny when his college drama teacher encouraged him to pursue acting. After studying at Yale Drama School, Klein went on to the prestigious Second City theatrical troupe in Chicago, the comedy institution where many young, talented comedians such as Klein, John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Martin Short got their start.

After completing his stint at Second City, Klein came to New York and producer Mike Nichols cast him in the Broadway musical Apple Tree. In between performances, Klein worked on his stand-up material at the original Improv where he honed his craft learning from comedian Rodney Dangerfield. Dangerfield saw Klein’s innate talent and gave him the help he needed to launch his career. Klein was on fire and it didn’t take long before people started to take notice.

In 1975, the young star became the first comic to appear on HBO’s original live comedy concert series. His popular oneman shows were bold, innovative and edgy and helped set new standards in the industry. It was an exciting time for the young

comedian, as well as for cable television. “It was revolutionary because it took a young comedian like myself and showed a full hour at a college where I really bloomed, instead of that six minutes on The Tonight Show when you were restricted in so many kinds of ways. The language being free was one element of it. ” More than three decades later, Klein’s relationship with HBO is still going strong. In fact, at the time of this interview Klein was busy working on his next special for the cable giant – his ninth show ­– that is set to air in December. Enthusiastic about the upcoming production, he gives me a sneak preview by breaking out in song. While laughing out loud, I make sure to keep up my end of the deal by not publishing anything just yet, but what I can say is that Klein fans are in for a real treat. “It is not easy to write a new repertoire, but I feel like I have never been better at what I do, ” he says.

In 2006, Klein published his first book, The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue, a coming-of-age memoir about Klein’s early years growing up in a middle-class Jewish neighborhood in the North Bronx during the ‘50s and ’60s before embarking on a show business career. His autobiography became a labor of love for the actor, who spent four-and-a-half years working on it. The book earned him a glowing write up in the New York Times book review section. “There is so much in my life I would go back and change but with the book, there are very few things I would change. I have such a feeling of satisfaction.”

It is evident that at age 67, Klein shows no signs of slowing down. Earlier this year he appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and completed two comedies, Demoted and National Lampoon’s Dirty Movie. He is also working on a second book for Simon & Schuster. And he continues to travel across the country entertaining audiences with his stand-up.

Tossing another handful of peanuts into his mouth he reflects, “I am in the perfect business for me. I love show business.” And show business loves Klein. For the last 44 years, Klein has been a regular fixture on the show business scene appearing on stage, in film and on television. The multitalented actor has been in more than 40 films and countless www.boulevardli.com

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Profiles Broadway and theatrical productions. Over the last 20 years, he has been a regular guest on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

His accomplishments are vast. He was nominated twice for a Grammy Award in the Best Comedy Album of the Year category for his albums Child of the ’50s and Mind Over Matter. He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor and won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his performance in the hit Neil Simon musical They’re Playing Our Song. In 1993, he won an Obie and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in Wendy Wasserstein’s The Sisters Rosensweig. And his song Colonoscopy, which he collaborated on with his longtime producer/ composer Bob Stein for his 2000 HBO special, was nominated for a primetime Emmy Award as Best Song of the Year.

His act never gets old, whether he is talking about a recent trip to Radio Shack, discussing American politics, or singing songs about his personal experiences … it’s all part of the shtick.

One element that excites and inspires Klein are the comics of yesteryear: Lenny Bruce, Jonathan Winters, the Marx Brothers, Peter Sellers, Monty Python, WC Fields … “Lenny Bruce was a social critic, which excited me, instead of a comedian being funny, and Jonathan Winters, who was not a socially conscious comedian, took the stage like a whirlwind.”

Richard Pryor was another comic great that Klein admired and was

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one of the best comedians he’d ever seen in person, he says.

He talks about the exchange they had in the fall of ’66 at the Improv on 44th and 9th, which at the time was the only club of its kind. “He was collegiate, cute and dorky and could be funny in any style but after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. he disappeared off the scene for over a year and came back a different person … a harder, more authentic Pryor. One time I asked him, ‘What college did you go to?’ – you know, Jewish geography. He laughed for five minutes. [He said] he was

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brought up by whores and pimps in Peoria, Illinois [where] his grandmother ran a brothel. He had a heart attack and wrote about it. He burned himself up smoking crack and wrote a brilliant bit about it … all revealing and more than that, brilliantly funny. If you could be funny about something that is not so funny, that is comedy at its best.”

Johnny Carson is another comedian Klein talks about with passion. In the early days, Klein made close to 100 appearances on The Tonight Show. “I always get so nostalgic about Johnny because he meant so much for my career.”

Last summer at a comedy festival in Carson’s hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska, Klein said when he saw a photo of Johnny with his brother and sister that had been taken two weeks before Carson died, “It gave me chills.”

Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Larry David, Suzie Essman and Jon Stewart are some of the comedic talents of today that Klein enjoys watching; however, humor is not a criterion. The Sopranos is one show that Klein admits to being a big fan of. But, he asks, “Do you ever watch it on A&E? They have to take out the F-word so there is a lot of friggin’ and fugettin’ on A&E,” says Klein, doing his best

Tony Soprano impersonation. “Fuget me … fuget you … you mother fugetta. You fuget … I fuget … fuget him.” His normal voice returns. “It’s like Alzheimer’s has invaded the A&E version of The Sopranos.

A few minutes later, he tells me that he made up his own plagues for the Passover seder this year. Dipping his pinky finger into his glass of wine, he begins to pray, Kleinstyle: “Vermin … frogs … Kathie Lee Gifford … no cable….”

When you are with someone like Klein, the jokes just keep coming. Comparing stand-up to the sport of bullfighting, he adds: ”It takes courage because there you are, alone.”

Whether he is solo or not, Klein is one gifted individual.

“I love making people laugh. For a moment, you forget certain moments in your life … your illness, your marriage, your children, and you laugh …”

As the evening winds down and the crowd at the bar starts to thin out, Klein surveys the room, lowers his head, puts his thumb in his mouth and asks, “Can I go home now?”

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Profiles

By Tara E. Butler

Three Girls and Their Brother…

Theresa Rebeck Pens a Stylish Novel in Novel Style

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o say that renowned playwright Theresa Rebeck is a versatile writer is pure understatement. Now the award-winning writer has switched gears and has authored her first novel, titled Three Girls and

Their Brother.

“It has always been a dream of mine to write a novel,” Rebeck said. After her years spent writing for stage and television, I wondered if it was difficult for her to change her writing style. “It was challenging,” she acknowledged, adding that it took her two years to complete the first 50 pages.

However, once she got started, she certainly penned a novel that was very hard to put down.

For one thing, Rebeck utilizes an intriguing writing technique in Three Girls and Their Brother, changing the voice of the narrator throughout the novel. “I am interested in shifting points of view,” Rebeck explained. “I come from a very large family and I hear the world that way.” She also revealed that she is “very visual when writing; I see a movie in my head.”

Three Girls and Their Brother is the story of the Heller girls, three gorgeous, redheaded, teenage sisters living in Brooklyn who soar from obscurity to fame when a magazine names them the “It Girls” of the century. As they try to adjust to their newfound stardom, the girls must learn to deal with a so-called stage mother who just happens to be a former beauty queen;

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agents; photographers; makeup artists; hairstylists…and sibling rivalry. In the background is Phillip, their 15-year-old brother who brings readers his personal perspective and boy, does he spell disaster, as you learn when he narrates the first few chapters of the book.

Although the book was written for adults, it is a very good read for teenagers. In fact, Rebeck received a 2009 Alex Award for Three Girls and Their Brother from the American Library Association. The award is presented annually to books that draw a teenage audience. Rebeck said her son and nieces have all read the book and given it a unanimous thumbs-up.

Rebeck earned an MFA in playwriting and a PhD in Victorian melodrama from Brandeis University. Her work has been performed on stages across the country, including on Broadway where her play Mauritius premiered in 2007. Some of her work includes The Water's Edge, The Scene, Bad Dates and Omnium Gatherum, for which she was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Ms. Rebeck has an impressive list of television credits as well, including Law and Order, Third Watch, Brooklyn Bridge, LA Law and NYPD Blue, for which she has won an award.

Although many authors find themselves writing during the late night hours when most of the world is asleep, Rebeck said she writes primarily during the day, often on the subway. She is presently finishing her second novel, titled Twisted Inheritance.

The Boulevard • June - July 2009

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5/27/09 3:24:03 PM

Around The Town

Tuning in with WLIW21 New York Public Television epitomized the “San Francisco Sound.” Originally released in 1972 and long out-of-print, the documentary features highlights from all five nights.

Coming in July

New episodes of Mystery! Miss Marple, The Ascent of Money with Niall Ferguson, and the new PBS science-adventure-reality series Time Team America, which takes viewers deep into the trenches of America's most intriguing archaeological sites.

Coming in June Of Sharks and Men Wednesdays at 10 p.m. beginning June 24 Humans perceive sharks with both fear and fascination with the line between the two often blurred. This four-part series looks at the relationship between humans and sharks, and seeks to separate myth from fact.

Live from the Artists Den: Ben Harper Saturday, June 20 at 10 p.m.

Fifty thousand fans dancing in the sunshine of Manchester, Tennessee cheer on funk/folk superstar Ben Harper during his mainstage performance at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

Beyond the TV Set

Visit the new website wliw.org. Browse through WLIW21's online video library of full programs, including classic WLIW21 productions. Stream full episodes of WLIW21's mental health series Healthy Minds, get financial advice from Consuelo Mack WealthTrack and international news from Worldfocus. Watch WLIW21 web exclusives from Ashford & Simpson, Chris Botti, Dudu Fisher and Highland Heartbeat. Learn the inside scoop from WLIW21's Laura Savini in her new video blog and be sure to check the What's Up at WLIW21 blog for the latest news on programming and station initiatives.

Share Your Stories, Photos and Home Movies

WLIW21 seeks your family's Huntington memories for a new documentary! If you lived in Huntington Village, Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington Station, Northport, Greenlawn, Dix Hills and The Big Band Years Lloyd Neck between 1950 and 1990, share your memories of the This musical retrospective hosted by Peter Marshall features songs places and people that will always remind you of your hometown. from the 1930s and '40s that carried WLIW’s cameras can capture Huntington Ben Harper performing at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, today; you can help to tell the story of the country through WWII and kickManchester, TN on June 16, 2007. started the baby boom. Performances Credit: Danny Clinch yesterday. Details at wliw.org. from Glenn Miller, Jimmy and Tommy Send your photos or movies (any format) Dorsey, Cab Calloway, Frank Sinatra, to: The Andrews Sisters and others.

Stephanie Marsh WLIW21 P.O. Box 21 Fillmore: The Last Days Plainview, NY 11803 Legendary rock impresario Bill Graham closed The Fillmore West in Include a self-addressed, stamped the summer of 1971 with five nights envelope if you want your submission of all-star concerts, spotlighting returned. All photo submissions will be bands including the Grateful Dead considered for the film's DVD cover. Email and Santana. A gritty, behind-thestories to Hometown@wliw.org. scenes look at a fascinating moment Call 516-367-2100 x8461 with questions. in rock history by iconic artists who

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The Boulevard • June - July 2009

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5/27/09 6:00:19 PM

Old Westbury Gardens Photos by Vince Kish

Tai Chi

July 29

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. $15 per session ($5 for members)

Larry Chance and the Earls – Doo-wop

Yoga

West Porch Beech Tree Concert Series

Thursdays and Saturdays, 11:15 a.m. $15 per session ($5 for members)

June 20 Midsummer Night, 510 p.m.

See the gardens as you’ve never seen them before – illuminated by lanterns and decorated by magical faeries. Bring a blanket and a picnic Two of the many dancers who will be performing in Midsummer Night basket, or treat yourself to a gourmet dinner on the South Terrace of Westbury House.

Relax and enjoy music and dance inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed in different areas of the grounds throughout the evening. $12 in advance ($15 at gate).

Ages 18 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Call for reservations or more information regarding dinner ($75 per person).

Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon. In Old Westbury Gardens’ 50th anniversary year, sit by a historic 100-year-old mansion under a 150-year-old beech tree and listen to some soothing and timeless music. The series is produced by cellist Suzanne Mueller, artist-in-residence at Old Westbury Gardens. In case of rain, performances will be held in the Red Ballroom. All concerts are free with admission and begin at 3 p.m.

July 12 Cross Island Elinor Abrams Zayas, piano, with Susan Mueller, cello, in a program of classical music, rags, tangos, and more.

July 19 Hungrytown

June 26 5 at Five, 5-8 p.m.

Enjoy twilight at the gardens. Special admission: $5. Children 12 and under are free.

Roses in the Walled Garden in early summer.

Picnic Pops Concerts Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and a couple of friends, and OWG will provide the soundtrack for an enjoyable evening under the stars. Arrive early to picnic and stroll the gardens.

Gates open at 5 p.m. Dance lesson at 6:30 p.m. Concert starts at 7 p.m. $10 general admission; $8 over 62 and OWG members; free for 12 and under.

July 8

The DayTrippers – The popular Beatles tribute band

July 15

The Flying Neutrinos – New Orleans jazz

July 22

Singing/songwriting duo Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson join cellist Suzanne Mueller for an eclectic program featuring everything from retro folk to bluegrass waltzes.

July 26 McCarron, Mueller and Schatz Guitarist Mark McCarron teams with cellist Suzanne Mueller and percussionist Stefan Schatz playing classical, jazz, and some fiddling tunes.

June-July admission: $10 general, $8 seniors (over 62), $5 children 712, free for children 6 and under and Old Westbury Gardens members.

Grounds are open daily (except Tuesdays) 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Westbury House is open daily (except Tuesdays) 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Old Westbury Gardens 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury 516-333-0048 www.oldwestburygardens.org

The Last of the International Playboys – Vegas lounge/Latin dance

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5/27/09 6:59:07 PM

Around The Town

At the Nassau County Museum of Art NCMA’s Contemporary Gallery

NCMA Ridder MiniArtMuseum for Children

Private Tea and Tour of the Exhibition

Through Sept. 7 Dialogue: Sculpture, Alain Kirili and Painting, Frank Olt juxtaposes the work of these two important contemporary artists.

Through Sept. 7 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is the source for NCMA’s creative wonderland setting, an indoor and outdoor exhibit.

Wednesday, July 15 at 2:30 pm Exclusive docent tour introduced by Constance Schwartz offers a behind-thescenes glimpse at the museum’s current exhibition.

The 2009 Museum Ball Saturday, June 13 at 7 p.m.

The museum’s major annual fundraiser is a retrospective of the museum’s 20 years of artistic achievement and a salute to Constance Schwartz’s leadership during that time. For information, call 516-484-9338, ext. 19.

Inauguration Court Commerce, Napoleon III

NCMA’s Main and Second Floor Galleries Through Sept. 7 Napoleon and Eugenie portrays the opulent splendor that reflects the Imperial Court of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie from 1852 to 1870 with paintings, sculpture, decorative objects, memorabilia and historical artifacts.

Family Sunday at the Museum Sundays from 1 p.m.

June 14, 21 and 28 July 5, 12, 19 and 26 A docent-led family walk-through of the exhibition followed by supervised art activities for the whole family.

Manet’s Paris Saturday, June 27 at 3 p.m.

NCMA’s chief curator Franklin Hill Perrell explores the backdrop of the era of Impressionism.

Summer Artventures July 13 through July 24 July 27 through August 7 NCMA offers two-week art 2009 Museum Ball Honoree, workshops Constance Schwartz. that will immerse youngsters ages 5-7 and 8-12 in fun, creative classes.

Antique and Art Auction Cocktail Party Thursday, July 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.

An art auction and cocktail party to benefit the museum’s children’s program Autism and The Arts. An evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and music.

Antique and Art Evaluation Day Friday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring your treasures and learn their value.

Summer Young Artist Programs July/August/September NCMA’s Art Studio has a class this summer to intrigue every young artist, ages 5 and up.

Family Fine Art and Music Workshop Sunday, July 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Music and art sponsored by the Little Scholars Day School & Little Scholars Music School.

Tea Party, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

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Many events at NCMA have charges in addition to regular admission and also require reservations. Call 516-484-9337 or visit nassaumuseum.com for information and costs of events, current exhibitions, activities and camps, or for hours of operation and directions.

Nassau County Museum of Art is located at One Museum Drive, just off Northern Boulevard (Route 25A), in Roslyn Harbor.

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5/27/09 5:53:14 PM

New York Philharmonic to Perform at Tilles Center

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he New York Philharmonic’s music director Lorin Maazel and principal clarinetist Stanley Drucker present their final concert as members of the orchestra at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, June 19 at 8 p.m. The performance is a Bush-Brown Memorial Concert. Albert Bush-Brown was chancellor of Long Island University when the university committed to building the concert theater that was to become Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.

Lorin Maazel’s appointment as music director of the New York Philharmonic came 60 years after his conducting debut with the orchestra at New York’s Lewisohn Stadium. Prior

to becoming music director in 2002, he led the orchestra in more than 100 performances as guest conductor. Under his leadership, the orchestra has presented seven world premieres and has undertaken many international tours, among them the historic 2008 visit to Pyongyang, the first performance by an American orchestra in North Korea.

The Philharmonic has announced that Alan Gilbert will succeed Maazel beginning with the 2009-10 season.

Stanley Drucker became a member of the New York Philharmonic in 1948, at the age of 19.

He made his New York Philharmonic solo debut in 1971 and has since presented more than 150 solo performances with the orchestra as well as maintaining an active solo career, appearing with ensembles throughout the world.

Tilles Center is presenting a Performance Plus! event in conjunction with the June 19 performance. At 7 p.m. in Hillwood Recital Hall, Stanley Drucker will offer a talk in which he looks backs on his 60-year career with the New York Philharmonic.

Only concert ticket holders are eligible to purchase tickets for Performance PLUS! Tickets are $5. Tickets for New York Philharmonic at Tilles Center are $82 and $52 (seniors: $79, $49). For information on ticket purchase and program for the New York Philharmonic concert or the Performance PLUS! talk, call 516-299-3100 or visit tillescenter.org.

Tilles Center for the Performing Arts is located on the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, 720 Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) in Brookville, New York.

Tilles Center’s 2009-10 Season of Stars opens on Oct. 3 with Broadway headliner Bernadette Peters.

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Lifestyles

A

bout 25 of us stood in line and donned our helmets and eye protection. Our adrenaline was pumping fiercely as the Navy CH-53 slowly hovered above before making its landing at the South Street helipad. We followed cautiously around the massive chopper as the force of the rotors kept trying to push us away.

As soon as everyone was secured in their seats, we felt a slight jolt and the CH-53 was airborne, with New York City becoming smaller and more distant through the open cargo bay door.

For what can only be described as an adventure that few outside the military will ever experience, the United States Navy invited The Boulevard onboard the USS Iwo Jima LHD 7, a WASP Class amphibious assault ship, for an overnight stay as the ship arrived in New York City for Fleet Week. About an hour or so into our trip, the helicopter slowed down and started to turn. By now the ocean water was a crystal clear blue and we knew we weren’t in Kansas anymore. Another jolt and the wheels touched

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down on the 844-foot home to 1,897 Marines about 200 miles south of New York City.

The ship was overpowering and intimidating, everything you want in a U.S. warship. The crew was another story. As we were escorted into a room off the flight deck to return our helmets, no one knew quite what to say. It was noisy, hot, and filled with men and women in fatigues moving about, then disappearing behind a mysterious looking hatch. Then there was a smile; a hello; a “Welcome aboard, sir”; a “Pleasure to have you here”; and “Is this your first time”? Were these sailors or the concierge staff from a five-star resort? No, these were undoubtedly fine, sculptured sailors; kids who have become men and women overnight, protecting us without question, without judgment, and with nothing less than infinite courage. I wake up in the morning and make phone calls, take pictures, write and work on creating a magazine, but the-21year-old woman next to me was getting ready to launch a

6/1/09 11:23:13 AM

LCAC - Photo courtesy of US Navy

harrier jet, load a missile, handle classified information or fight a fire, just some of the many jobs taking place around us.

We made our way through a narrow passageway, down a ladder and into the wardroom or, in laymen’s terms, the commissioned officers dining room, where we were greeted and briefed by Naval personnel. Each group was assigned someone from the ship to escort them around. We were assigned ET1 (SW/ AW), Keisha Gibbs, who was normally assigned to the slightly larger USS Enterprise aircraft carrier. Gibbs showed us to our staterooms. The VIP guests were lucky in that each stateroom had only six bunks in an 8’ x 10’ space and about one-and-onehalf-feet of space between one bunk and the next, as opposed to the crew’s berthing.

“So where would you like to go?” asked Gibbs, words that would haunt me the rest of the day and have me exhausted and asleep by 2000 hours (8 p.m.). The quickest route between two points is a straight line, that is, unless you are on a Naval warship. The Iwo Jima is a labyrinth of metal with watertight compartments, hatches and ladders. It was a 10-minute walk to the hangar bay, where we headed down a very steep ramp to where a group of 19- to mid20-year-old Marines were setting up displays of their equipment for Fleet Week and were eager to show off their amphibious assault vehicle, the AAVP7A1 (RAM/ RS).

We were now two decks below the flight deck (decks are below the flight deck and levels are above). This is where the amphibious landing craft were kept, like the LCU (landing craft utility) boat that is able to come into two feet of water, drop its bow, and launch vehicles capable of forging or floating through

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Amphibious LARC

water, like the HUMVEE and LARC that were onboard. Behind the LCU was one of the coolest vehicles I have ever seen or wanted to see: the LCAC (landing craft air cushion), or as it’s more commonly known, a hovercraft.

We were then invited to the bridge, which was about seven flights above us. Although exhausted, I refrained from sitting in the XO’s empty seat as I caught my breath. The helm, which was steered by a woman who couldn’t have been older than 19 or 20, was set back from the windows with a large electronic screen that detailed her every move.

Forward and to port (left) was the CO, Captain Jeffery Charles Amick, sitting very relaxed and looking casual. He told us about his schedule for the upcoming week in the city and commented on how proud he is of his crew. “The best part of

my day is at night,” he said. “I get my final reports and look over everything. There is a seat outside the bridge that overlooks the flight deck. Once I’m finished, I go outside and sit back and look at the stars. It is one of the best parts of being here. Then I go inside to sleep and they wake me up five minutes later.” He laughed. I thought of all the Naval movies I have seen to find the character Captain Amick reminded me of, but there was simply no one. He seemed like an uncle, you know, the one

6/1/09 11:23:45 AM

Lifestyles

who gave you the fun presents at Christmas. I think that is a fitting description. Captain Amick is responsible for the crew’s protection and any crewmember would put himself between the captain and any danger imaginable, without question.

I remembered a line from A Few Good Men, when Tom Cruise asked Kiefer Sutherland, “Do you have a problem?” alluding to a problem a Marine might have with someone in the Navy, to which Sutherland replies, “No. I like all you Navy boys.

Anytime we need to go somewhere to fight, you guys always give us a ride.” Here we were firsthand on a Navy ship with 1,800 fighting sailors from both the Navy and Marines. There was no tension, no separation; it was all about teamwork. Teamwork – an understatement. This wasn’t about winning so much as it was about making sure you all come home together, looking out for your crew, helping each other. Their mission: to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves, to protect us.

By 1900 (7 p.m.) we had been all over the ship … the forecastle that housed the immense anchor chains, the gym (which put Bally’s to shame), the combat operations rooms, the

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ship’s store and even to a show put on by the USO, climbing up and down stairs, minding your head and watching your step. Suddenly 7 p.m. felt more like 11p.m. I headed back to my stateroom only to find my bags missing with a note that said, “Sorry, we had to move your room.” I can’t complain. I was moved to a lieutenant’s room that had TV. All I remember is watching King Kong and that was it. Throughout the night I could hear footsteps, doors closing and voices calling over the PA. That’s how the captain woke us at 0500. “Good morning, folks. It’s almost sunrise and we’ve opened up the flight deck if anyone wants to see New York City as we head up the Hudson.” I sprang to my feet and grabbed my gear. As I opened the door, I thought I was in the Twilight Zone – all the lights were red, which I later learned they do at night and when going to battle. As I walked onto the flight deck, I felt a cool breeze and saw the sun just starting to pierce through the buildings. We were surrounded by an escort of Coast Guard and Police boats and were welcomed by the Statue of Liberty, as if she were saying thanks. As we approached lower Manhattan, the sailors and marines started to line the starboard side of the ship. “Crew, attention!”

Their right arms snapped into position as they saluted Ground Zero, followed by a moment of silence. Almost the entire crew manned the rails as the Iwo Jima was welcomed by

6/1/09 11:24:26 AM

New York City. The morning news helicopters shadowed our every move, cars slowed down on the West Side Highway and the sun started to illuminate the decks. At 1000 we were tied up in port and it was time for us to depart. I looked back at this city of steel that glided us smoothly to our destination, the ship that participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and helped rescue and secure New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I think of how fortunate we were to have met the young men and women who courageously protect us and to have experienced this once-in-a-lifetime honor. We salute you.

Special thanks to Captain Jeffery Charles Amick, MCC (SW/AW) Public Affairs Officer Scott B. Boyle, ET1 (SW/AW) Keisha Gibbs, U.S. Navy, and all the sailors and marines on the USS Iwo Jima.

More photos and video are available online at www.boulevardli.com

Photos by Jason Feinberg and Tina Guiomar

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6/1/09 11:24:45 AM

May The Force Be With You Photography by Douglas Sonders

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f a toy store just doesn’t have that one toy that you want, why not build your own life-size model? Daniel Deutch did just that.

Daniel, a modern day hobbyist, built this fiberglass replica Star Wars landspeeder from the ground up on a custom aluminum chassis. The electric drive system is capable of a top speed of around 25 mph. The speeder is the same size as the original and can travel several miles on a single battery charge. Daniel also has a life-size functional R2D2 and C3PO, and a remote control fire hydrant that squirts water, among many others. You can check out Daniel’s website at http://web.mac.com/ danieldeutsch/landspeeder/Landspeeder.html#47.

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Lifestyles

“The Tumbler … oh, you wouldn’t be interested in that.” – Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox

The Batmobile Begins

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o matter which Batman he grows up on, at some point in a guy’s life he says, “I wish I had a Batmobile.” Meet Bob Dullam from Kalamazoo. He made that dream come true by building his own, just like Daniel. Like the Landspeeder and R2D2, this is a fully functional car and was built entirely by Bob himself, working from photos as well as the movie Batman Begins.

Obviously Bob is very talented. Originally a computer programmer, he is now a self-employed propmaker who works for collectible companies, private collectors and amusement parks, as well as film and TV. When he’s not building the ultimate guy toys, he’s busy weightlifting, running and jamming out with his band, SoundXcape (www.soundxcape.com.)

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5/29/09 5:05:32 PM

Confederate Motors

Introduces the B120 Wraith

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onfederate Motor Company, the American design company that created the prestigious Hellcat, has now released the revolutionary radial twin B120 Wraith. According to chief executive officer and founder, Matt Chambers, Confederate chose the pre-1916 era of motoring and the courageous free-spirited nature of the board track racer as the inspirational starting point of the Wraith. “Conceived in the spirit of celebrating art, and built with the motivation of creating an unparalleled riding experience, the B120 Wraith is the premiere luxury sport vehicle,” said Chambers. To experience the B120 Wraith is to experience the world’s most refined, pure riding machine.

The B120 Wraith features the world’s first triple load carbon fiber Monocoque chassis design, providing world-class torsion and bend rigidity with an extremely light weight. The world’s first carbon fiber multi-link double wishbone front suspension virtually eliminates stiction (friction that tends to prevent relative motion between two movable parts at their null), while perfecting geometry, enhancing rigidity and providing superbly

accurate engaging steering feel with a smoother, more luxurious ride. The Wraith offers lightweight single-side aluminum rear suspension and multi-adjustable Penske titanium coil over shock dampeners, the patented Confederate close ratio, a vertically stacked five-speed transmission with an output shaft bearing support at the swingarm pivot, allowing for the industry’s smoothest and most robust gearset. Counter-balanced 120 cubic-inch 45-degree radial twin power combines the world’s leading torque-to weight-ratio with linear smooth operation from off idle to its maximum RPM. “As Brough Superior, Vincent and Crocker most connected emotionally to the Hellcat, the 1911 Pierce would illuminate what the Wraith would be,” Chambers said, “which is, quite simply, the world’s most luxurious, sporting two-wheeled device.”

The B120 Wraith is handcrafted at the Confederate Motor Company facilities in Birmingham, Alabama. Only 250 B-series Wraiths will be built. Presently, 176 opportunities for ownership remain.

Founded in 1991 in Baton Rouge, Confederate Motor Company designs and handcrafts limited series motorcycles for the motoring connoisseur and aficionado. The creative team at Confederate has adopted a minimalist, holistic, avant-garde design imperative. The company’s dedicated goal is to be on the cutting edge of an exciting, innovative and relevant American design initiative. For additional information on Confederate Motor Company, the Hellcat or the Wraith, visit www. confederate.com. www.boulevardli.com

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Lifestyles

Top Ten Ways a Guy Might Get Out of a Speeding Ticket

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t’s one of the worst feelings in the world: you’re driving along, wind blowing, music blasting and in your own world when you hear that high-pitched scream and see the flashing lights in the rearview mirror. It’s only then that you realize you were just clocked at 20 mph over the speed limit. Panic sets in as you think of conjuring up some lame excuse, but the reality is that the officer behind you has already heard it all. So what do you do? We asked The Finest if there is anything a guy can do that might get him out of a ticket. You’ll be surprised how simple the answers are that might help you out.

Remember, the police have a job to do, so be respectful. Do not or huff and puff. A speeding ticket is up to the discretion of the police officer as long as you have not committed any other crimes. If you do receive a ticket, you can always plead not guilty and chances are that the ticket will be reduced. If you are caught without a seat belt, talking on a cell phone or passing a stopped school bus with its light flashing, there is usually no plea bargain.

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10. Don’t tell them you pay their salaries.

9. Be calm and don't freak out.

8. Don't try to lie your way out of it.

7. Don't be a smart ass.

6. Don't cry; it doesn't even work for women.

5. Tell the cop if you are in the milatary or a fireman.

4. Roll all of your windows down, turn off the music, put your keys on dashboard or roof, have your hands on the wheel. This shows you are not a threat.

3. Show a properly signed PBA card.

2. Show a courtesy shield, with a matching PBA card.

1. Be honest with your answers.

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6/1/09 11:29:10 AM

American Heart

Hosts Successful Annual Ball and Auction Hundreds of guests gathered at the Garden City Hotel for the American Heart Association’s 46th Annual Long Island Heart Ball to recognize outstanding accomplishments of individuals and companies in the area of cardiovascular science and leadership.

Honorees included Philip Lanzkowsky, MD, FRCP, DCH, ScD, former executive director and chief-of-staff, Schneider Children’s Hospital; John J. Gutleber, president and CEO, Castagna Realty Company; and Robert Isaksen, president, Long Island market, Bank of America.

Guests enjoyed a silent auction; an appeal by emcee Lonnie Quinn, WCBS-TV meteorologist; entertainment by the Andre Phillips Band, dinner and dancing. The highlight of the evening was 17year-old heart survivor Ali Bie’s moving rendition of “Because You Loved Me.”

Gala co-Chairs Herb Agin and Todd Fabricant and Gala Honorees Dr. Philip Lanzkowsky, Robert Isaksen and John J. Gutleber.

Photos by Richard Lewin.

A Glorious and Inspiring Day for All More than 250 people turned out for a true event to remember at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. In addition, 192 young people adopted the day as their community service project through J-Serve, planting flowers and cultivating the Children’s Memorial Garden. Dedicated to the 1.5 million children who were murdered during the Holocaust, a Memorial Walk took place through the magnificent grounds of the Welwyn Preserve on which the center is located. Along the way, Holocaust educators spoke of the experiences of children who were hidden by heroic rescuers, imprisoned in ghettos under unspeakable conditions, transported to England as part of the Kindertransport, or taken to concentration/death camps and gassed. The walk ended at the Children’s Memorial Garden, where walkers had the unique experience of meeting Holocaust survivors who shared their own personal stories.

Guests were treated to musical pieces performed by the Weber Middle School Chamber Players of Port Washington and children’s choirs from Memorial Presbyterian Church in

Roosevelt, the Solomon Schechter School of Jericho, and the Great Neck Youth and E. M. Baker School.

The angelic sounds filled the air as the mission of the Holocaust Center rang strong, encouraging visitors to honor the Holocaust children by treating others with respect and compassion and remonstrating against acts of intolerance.

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5/27/09 5:19:01 PM

Lifestyles

Crystal Ball Supports Roberta and Bruce Waller and DRI T he Garden City Hotel was host to the Crystal Ball on the evening of May 2. Attending in support of Honorees Roberta and Bruce Waller, dedicated advocates of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), more than 350 guests enjoyed cocktails, fine dining, live music and dancing. According to gala chairman Charles Rizzo, this year’s Crystal Ball raised more than $670,000 for the work of the DRI. The Wallers passion for the cause stems from the love of their daughter, Dara, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 20 years ago at age 8. The family has been staunch supporters since learning about DRI from Ms. Waller’s father, Rowland Schaefer, a member of the DRI Foundation’s National Honorary Board and a visionary of the organization, “I want everyone to know that the dollars they give this evening will go directly to finding a cure for diabetes,” Mr. Waller told the audience.

Ms. Waller added, “It’s so important to find a cure for this disease for children … if not for anything else, then for children.”

The Charles Evans Foundation received the Gillin Family Humanitarian Award. Charles Evans, who died in 2007, was a prominent philanthropist, co-founder of the fashion house EvanPicone and a successful film producer.

DRI Foundation Long Island regional board chairman Allan L. Pashcow, Art Gillin, Sue Gillin and 2009 Crystal Ball Chairman Charles Rizzo receiving the Gillin Family Humanitarian Award on behalf of The Charles Evans Foundation.

EAC’s Fabulous at Forty Celebration Is Talk of the Town

Frank A. Freda; Luncheon Honoree, Joe Lagano; and EAC Board member, Frank Frizalone.

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The Education & Assistance Corporation (EAC) Fabulous at Forty luncheon was a remarkable event. More than 600 guests toasted the agency for its 40 years as a mainstay in the community. The event surpassed all expectations, raising $246,000 despite the current economic challenges.

EAC honored Corporate Champion, CA, Inc. and EAC board member Joseph A. Lagano, senior managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. The Elena M. Perez Unsung Hero Award was presented to Monica Cavallo, Long Island market development specialist, Bank of America. Elena M. Perez was an EAC board member and the senior vice president, Long Island market development at Bank of America who passed away suddenly in 2007. She worked tirelessly for the not-for-profit community and EAC commemorates Elena’s memory by presenting the Unsung Hero award in her honor.

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Hadassah Pink and Blue Dress Luncheon On April 23, the Nassau Region of Hadassah held its Pink and Blue Dress Luncheon at the Carlyle on the Green in Bethpage. The successful benefit event, attended by more than 260 members and guests, supported the extraordinary work that Hadassah does in caring for children. Dr. Philip Lanzkowsky, recently retired as chief of staff and executive director of Schneider Children's Hospital, was honored for his lifelong commitment to improving the health and well-being of Long Island’s children.

Carson Kressley, noted TV star and fashion expert from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and How to Look Good Naked was the featured guest. He entertained the crowd in his flamboyant style, providing everyone with updated fashion tips.

Dr. Philip Lanzkowsky receiving Hadassah’s Award from Laurie Bernstein.

Carson Kressley entertaining the crowd.

SASS Foundation's

Second Annual Ovarian Awareness Day

Dr. Frank Arena, president and co-c-founder of the SASS Foundation, presents Dr. Andrew Menzin with his award.

The SASS Foundation held its second annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day to honor the memory of Gerry Trunz. The free daylong education event, held at the East Wind Conference Center in Wading River, was funded once again by Charles Trunz who lost his wife to ovarian cancer. More than 300 guests enjoyed a continental breakfast, support services showcase, town forum doctors' panel and special breakout workshops. The panel of expert physicians included gynecologists Dr. Eileen Krim and Dr. Mark Silver, renowned breast surgeon Dr. Dwight DeRisi and nutritionist expert and oncologist Dr. Anna Kurzyna.

Media personality Valerie Smaldone was the guest moderator.

The Humanitarian Award was given to Karen O'Neil, a seven-year stage IV ovarian cancer survivor and advocate. Dr. Andrew Menzin, chief of gynecological oncology, NSUH, delivered the Gerry Trunz Memorial Lecture.

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Lifestyles

Wine & Wishes Auction

and Tasting Raises Funds for Make-A-Wish

New York restaurants, well-known wineries and New York’s philanthropic elite came together to help raise funds for The Make-AWish Foundation of Metro New York on March 25. Close to 800 wine and food enthusiasts gathered at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, to enjoy exquisite wines from more than 40 wineries and delicious food from 18 of New York’s top restaurants and caterers while supporting a good cause.

Wine & Wishes 2009, presented by The Charmer Sunbelt Group, was emceed by CBS anchor Chris Wragge, who also assisted Christie auctioneer Lydia Fenet to encourage guests to bid high and often on luxurious live auction items.

Heartwarming words of former wish kids Steven Meehin, Michelle Churba and Maggie O’Neal conveyed the importance of helping to make critically ill children’s wishes come true.

Pat Clemency, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York, said, “Thanks to the tireless efforts of Charles Merinoff and his Charmer Sunbelt Group team, Wine & Wishes 2009 has become an esteemed event for wine and food lovers who support our cause.

Funds to grant the wishes of more than 50 children in need were raised.

On their behalf we express our gratitude to all who sponsored the evening, donated goods and services, or bid on the auction items.”

Pat Clemency, Charles Merinoff and Angela Anton, owner and publisher of Anton Community Newspapers and The Boulevard magazine.

Guild of St. Francis Hospital Luncheon and Fashion Show The Guild of St Francis Hospital held its 53rd Annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show on Tuesday, May 5 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Americana Manhasset sponsored a fabulous show that featured fashions and accessories for men, women and children from Brooks Brothers, St. John and Spring Flowers. The event was a huge success, raising more than $90,000 and hosting 350 guests. Proceeds will be donated to St. Francis Hospital toward a $1 million pledge to benefit a new outpatient surgery facility as part of the hospital’s Master Facilities Renovation Plan.

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Rita and Frank Castagna and Anne Maione

Photos by William Baker

Deirdre Costa Major from Americana Manhasset

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5/27/09 3:26:00 PM

Solar One Party April 1, 2009 Gracie Mansion, NYC

Photography by Tina Guiomar A small reception was held at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan to build awareness for Solar 1 and its June 2 Revelry by the River Gala. Chairman Harty du Pont welcomed the guests and Chris Collins, executive director, spoke about creating sustainability in New York and Solar 1’s Green Energy, Arts and Education Center's mission. Solar 2 Green Energy, Arts and Education Center will break ground in Stuyvesant Park this year and be the first platinum LEED-certified public building in the nation to leave a “zero carbon footprint.” Generating more energy than it consumes, Solar 2 will become a prototype for many major cities in this country.

Solar 1’s mission is to empower people with the vision, knowledge and resources to develop a more environmentally sound and sustainable future. Through education, green arts, outreach and advocacy, Solar 1 conveys the inspiration, tools and information needed to achieve environmental sustainability in households, communities, cities and the world.

Carol Higgins Clark and Carole Bellidora-Westfall

Rick Cherry, Chris Collins and Larry Graham

Junior Committee: Lauren Remington Platt, E. Paul du Pont, Stacy Slate, Hadley Nagel, Luke Seigel and Lake Bell

A “Night of Hope” Dinner with Pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen April 21, 2009 The National Arts Club, NYC Photos by Tina Guiomar

David Lauren and Lauren Bush

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Victoria and Joel Osteen with Angela Susan Anton and Jean Shafiroff

Sharon Bush, Jean Shafiroff, Joel Osteen, Victoria Osteen, Diane Bernhard, and Margo Langenberg

The Boulevard • June - July 2009

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Lifestyles

Henry Viscardi School at Abilities!

Holds Annual Luncheon

The Henry Viscardi School held its 27th Annual Reach for a Star Luncheon on April 2 at the Crest Hollow Country Club, raising more than $142,000 to support the programs and services of the Henry Viscardi School (HVS) at Abilities!. HVS is one of the foremost institutions for educating children with severe medical disabilities.

Clinton Brown III, business analyst at Cablevision, gave the luncheon’s keynote address. A graduate of HVS and the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University, Mr. Brown urged the audience to make the world a more welcoming place for the next generation of children with disabilities.

The Reach for a Star committee, formed by the late Clara Carucci and the late Marie Giffuni in 1982, continues to devote its time and energy to raise the funds that are desperately needed during these tough economic times in order to maintain the highest quality of programs and services required by the children of HVS. The Henry Viscardi School serves approximately 200 children from 72 school districts on Long Island, in New York City and Westchester County. It is part of Abilities!, a nonprofit agency that provides a wide range of services to adults and children with disabilities.

Clinton Brown III with Cablevision VP Peter Hall

Ed Cortez with Ralph Palleschi

Stuart and Nancy Rabinowicz with Saul Katz

Nassau Physicians Foundation Hosts Gala to Benefit Children With Autism

On April 3, the National Physicians Foundation sponsored a successful gala at the deSeversky Conference Center to benefit children with autism, with funds raised supporting Rockefeller University and The Cody Center of Stony Brook University. NPF awarded Dr. Nathaniel Heintz of Rockefeller University with its Medical Research Award and Dr. John C. Pomeroy of The Cody Center of Stony Brook University with the Physician of Distinction Award. Evelyn Ain, publisher and president of Spectrum Magazine, was honored with a Humanitarian Award, and Grandmother/Mothers of the Year Awards were given to Barbara Colwell, Toddi Gutner and Robin Havens, all of whom have been affected by autism. Robert Rizzuto, executive chef of the deSeversky Center, was given the President’s Citation.

Nassau Physicians Foundation was founded in 2003 by Dr. Bilha C. Fish.

It is a society of physicians whose mission is to partner with the community Nathan and Margo Capoor; Dr. Ernesto Molmenti; Dr. by donating time and expertise to educational and charitable endeavors.

Bilha Fish and guests.

www.boulevardli.com

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Lifestyles

Organic Food From Farm to Family Benefits NOFA-NY Christie Brinkley again chaired the annual luncheon and education panel to benefit the Northeastern Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) held at Guastavino’s on April 14. Brian Halweil, a senior researcher with Worldwatch Institute and editor of Edible East End, Manhattan and Brooklyn, moderated a panel discussion with honorees Deirdre Imus of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology and Imus Ranch, Bart Potenza and Joy Pierson, of Candle Cafe and Candle 79, and Elizabeth Henderson from the Governing Council of NOFA-NY. The conversation highlighted why everyone, including farmers, chefs, restaurant owners, butchers, food makers and plain old eaters, plays a role in creating a healthier food chain.

NOFA-NY is committed to bringing education and information on economically sustainable agriculture to the public. It supports local farmers, gardeners, and consumers who contribute to a healthier way of living by providing universal access to a fresh, regional food supply. It has broadened its mission beyond promoting organic agriculture to promoting healthy, local food systems.

Deirdre Imus, Elizabeth Henderson, Scott Chaskey, Margo Langenberg, Joy Pierson and Bart Potenza

Hilary Block, Cornelia Guest and Margo Langenberg

Hadley Nagel, Lauren Bush and Christie Brinkley

JBFCS Raises Record Funds at Gala Benefit

Photo by Michael Priest

At its gala attended by 400 people and held at Cipriani 42nd Street on April 2, the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services (JBFCS) reached a new record when it raised more than $1 million.

The event honored Weil, Gotshal and Manges partners and JBFCS trustees Michael Epstein, Lori Fife and Stephen Jacobs, and Lori and John Reinsberg for their outstanding contribution to the organization and commitment to provide the highest quality social services to New Yorkers in need.

According to Paul Levine, CEO of JBFCS, “We are seeing the repercussions of the growing economic crisis in the lives of individuals and families coming through the doors of our community counseling centers and in the voices we hear on the JBFCS Executives and Board Trustees - Paul Levine, John A. phone from people seeking help…and in the face of extreme Herrmann, Anthony E. Mann, Roger A. Goldman, Jamie B.W. Stecher, Laurie N. Sprayregen. Honorees - Michael A. Epstein, economic hardship we honor those trustees who have stepped Lori R. Fife, John Reinsberg, Lori Reinsberg up and made a tremendous difference – not only in our financial and Stephen E. Jacobs. coffers but in the fabric of the agency itself.”

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CHOCO ELEMENTS r4 final:Layout 1 4/13/09 5:19 PM Page 1

The French Room set for chocolate with Marie Antoinette

Planting Fields Foundation and Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Present the Exhibition

Chocolate: A Dip Into History ON VIEW FROM JUNE 6, 2009 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 • HOURS: 11:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. COE HALL AT PLANTING FIELDS

PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM STATE HISTORIC PARK 1395 PLANTING FIELDS ROAD, OYSTER BAY, NY 11771 • 516.922.8678 • WWW.PLANTINGFIELDS.ORG

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5/29/09 11:55:53 AM

Lifestyles

Sid Jacobson JCC Hosts 3rd Annual Epicurean Event Nearly 250 people attended Sid Jacobson JCC’s latest event, An Evening of Wine and Food Tasting, held at The George Washington Manor. The fundraiser featured tastings of some of the finest Long Island cuisine, along with wine pourings from six outstanding wineries. The event featured the work of 40 restaurants, caterers and wineries. In addition to serving on the committee, Mark Spiegel of Mark of Excellence Catering joined the prestigious chefs by presenting his delicious cuisine and volunteering his culinary expertise to organize the event.

Attendees also participated in a silent auction, bidding on restaurant and wine tasting packages. Merchant Marines in full dress uniform walked the auction items around the room to attract the attention of prospective bidders.

The evening of epicurean delights benefited the JCC’s Young Onset Alzheimer’s, Autism and Special Needs Programs. According to Beverly Gelb, JCC director of philanthropic initiatives, “This event helps support the JCC programs for people who need us most.

Co-chairs Debra Buslik and the committee and Linda Marsden delivered a spectacular, elegant culinary affair and it truly was a night to remember.”

Beverly Gelb, Debra Buslik, Linda Marsden and Jeannie Cardali with midshipmen from the Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy

Mitchell and Kathy Jacobson, Peter Baum, Alice and David Brand

Mitchell and Kathy Jacobson, Debra Buslik and David Levy

Plan USA

A Conversation With Anil Kapoor and Meredith Vieira

Meredith Vieira and Ahuma Adodoadji

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On Thursday, April 30, Plan USA hosted almost 200 guests at a special event in New York City, featuring a conversation between Anil Kapoor, award-winning Slumdog Millionaire actor and Meredith Vieira, co-host of NBC’s Today show and host of ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

The night at the Asia Society celebrated Plan's work of empowering vulnerable children in India and also raised public awareness about Plan’s community development programs in more than 49 countries worldwide. Asked

by Ms. Vieira why he chose to support Plan over other organizations. Mr. Kapoor, who donated his entire acting fee from Slumdog Millionaire to Plan India, said, "I feel comfortable with Plan. I know they are people who really care about children."

Ahuma Adodoadji, CEO of Plan USA, said that "Plan is grateful to be working with such a true champion of children like Anil Kapoor." Bhagyashri Dengle, executive director of Plan India, presented three programs that are truly making a difference: Dreams on Wheels, School on Wheels, and the Campaign against Child Trafficking.

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Hospice Care Network Gala Benefits Children’s and Family Bereavement Programs Hospice Care Network, a notfor-profit organization that has been providing comfort and care to terminally ill individuals since 1988, held its 20th Anniversary Celebration at Captain Bill’s Bayview House in Bay Shore on Saturday, April 25. The fundraiser honored the Gravina family for their exceptional support and commitment to Hospice Care Network and their community.

The event, which raised over $78,000 for Hospice Care Network’s Children’s and Family Bereavement Programs and Services, was attended by more than 300 guests.

Hospice Care Network’s Friends of Children’s and Family Bereavement Committee

LICADD – Celebrating Angels on Long Island Photo by Dana Harris

LICADD Vice Chair and host for the 22nd Annual Angel Kickoff, Fr. Phillip K. Eichner with faculty of Kellenberg Memorial High School and Chaminade High School.

Hosted by the Rev. Philip K. Eichner, S.M., the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence’s 22nd Annual Angel Ball Kickoff Celebration at Kellenberg Memorial High School raised an unprecedented $137,000 for LICADD’s children and family programs prior to its May 7 Angel Ball held at the Garden City Hotel. Ball Chair Michael Schaffield stated, “It was inspiring to see the depth of the loyal commitment of so many members of the Long Island Community to LICADD’s unique family services. This was a great beginning [toward reaching] our goal of $250,000.”

The 2009 Angel Ball honored Maureen and Mickey Brennan of Oyster Bay and Scott Clark, WABC-TV, for their dedication to providing assistance to children and families in crisis. LICADD’s Executive Director, Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, stated, “In challenging fiscal times, the use of alcohol and other drugs skyrockets as individuals and families look for ways to cope. Tens of thousands of Long Islanders are losing their jobs, along with their health insurance, creating new barriers to treatment. Paradoxically, as the need for services increases, many nonprofits have been forced to cut or eliminate programs. LICADD has remained strong for 50 years and through the generosity of our supporters, we will continue to meet the challenges of addiction and re-double our efforts to save lives.” www.boulevardli.com

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Wine & Dine

Port The Manliest of Wines

T

he stereotype is that men drink beer and women drink wine. I beg to differ. Most of the men I know love wine, and in particular, they enjoy a nice glass of Port – a rich, heavy, full-bodied wine. I don’t know if it’s the added brandy that makes them think it’s a manlier wine or if it just looks good in their hands, but either way, this characteristic red wine is a winner with men.

Port, a fortified wine, is named after its country of origin – Portugal. The brandy stops the fermentation process of the grapes, leaving more residual sugar and a sweeter taste. Over 100 grape varieties can be used to make Port, so the type really depends on what the winemaker fancies.

Port wine comes from the Douro region in northeast Portugal and is heavily regulated. Australia, the U.S., Canada and South Africa also make excellent fortified wines in the Port style but under the regulations, the wines cannot be referred to as Port.

There are many different types of Port, all with unique

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properties. The main types are rubies, tawny Port, white Port and vintage Port. Ruby Port is the most basic and inexpensive and tends to have a bit of spice mixed in with the sweetness.

Tawny Port is aged in wood for a very long time – some up to 40 years – and has an amber color with a nutty flavor. White Port is made from white grapes and can be either sweet or dry. Vintage Port is the top of the line. It is the most expensive and the most coveted, and is only made once or twice a decade, since it is based on the highest quality vintages.

Port is very complex in the process as well as in the flavors.

I suggest you try each type of Port before you decide if you like it or not. One male friend’s favorite is a blueberry Port made at Duck Walk in Southold, Long Island. It is billed as a dessert wine and is amazing with chocolate. And I consider him a manly man.

So before you men go pick up your beer, try a Port wine or two. They could surprise you. And as always, cheers to good wine.

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Wine & Dine

Cachaça –

The Brazilian Secret to Summer Drinks

S

ummer in the Hamptons includes beaches, beautiful people and some amazing house parties. The hot trend for a summer cocktail is something muddled that will dazzle your friends. LeBlon cachaça is the key ingredient for making this summer’s most popular drink … the caipirinha.

Cachaça is a Brazilian spirit distilled from sugar cane juice, the “Brazilian rum.”

LeBlon cachaça has a delicate, fruity nose, combined with an ultra smooth finish. With the fame of Brazilian supermodels and Rio de Janeiro’s amazing Carnaval party, it’s obvious why this spirit has made its way to popularity this summer.

Like the mojito, the caipirinha is a great cocktail that requires art and skill to make.

It starts with sugar and lime, muddled with a stick to blend into a lime sugar syrup. The bartender adds the LeBlon cachaça, crushed ice and club soda. Swaying her hips, the bartender shakes up the concoction and pours the sweet, cool drink into a rocks glass garnished with raw sugar cane and a lime slice. The artistry of the drink is the visual satisfaction of how it tastes.

For more fabulous summer recipes and more information about LeBlon, visit www.lebloncachaca.com.

Summer Recipes LeBlon Caipirinha 2 oz Leblon cachaça ½ lime 2 tsp superfine sugar or 1 oz simple syrup Rocks glass Cut the lime into four wedges. Muddle the lime and sugar in a shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and add LeBlon cachaça. Shake vigorously. Serve in a rocks glass.

Garnish with a slice of lime and raw sugar cane.

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A Trip to Flavortown with

Guy Fieri

By Heather Muhleman

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M

any of the shows on The Food Network drum up thoughts of bar-b-q’d chicken, hometown potato salad, beef empanadas and any other mouthwatering food you can imagine. At the head of the table is Guy Fieri, winner of the second season of Food Network’s The Next Food Network Star in 2006. As the most popular winner over four seasons of this enjoyable reality competition, Guy now hosts four of his own shows on The Food Network and is one of the most recognizable and in-demand chefs on TV. What makes him so hot? He’s a guy’s guy, through and through.

Born and raised in Northern California, Guy’s style of food was very different from his parents’. Given the opportunity to “make it himself” one night, he fell in love with big bold flavors, whereas his parents’ food was more along the lines of blander diet food. He experimented in making healthy food with real personality and in-your-face taste. His entrepreneurial side kicked into gear at the age of 10 when he started selling soft pretzels on “The Awesome Pretzel” – a three-wheeled bicycle cart he built with his dad. Always the life of the party, it’s no wonder Guy’s personality put him at the top of The Food Network’s list of top chefs. He is the coolest and most personable bar-bq’n’ man in America – the one that all others aspire to be.

While Guy says that picking his favorite show is “kind of like picking my favorite kid,” his newest show, Guy off the Hook, is the exact show that he envisioned while competing in The Next Food Network Star. “It feeds my crazy guy style. I

call it rock ’n’ roll throw food. Just let me loose!” Guy says about this fun and energetic show.

In Guy’s Big Bite, he teaches viewers to make creative and flavorful dishes and feels that helping people is really the greatest gift you can give. He says, “I love helping people create and it’s just so meaningful to me to be able to do it on this show.” And home cooks, don’t fret, he has a show for you, too.

Ultimate Recipe Showdown profiles cooks and their best recipes.

And lastly, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives drips with Guy’s outgoing personality and huge taste for life – literally.

In October 2008, Guy released Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip...with Recipes! that landed on The New York Times bestseller list. The book offers stories and recipes from some of the local landings Guy discovered on his journey across the country to find the best diners, drive-ins and dives.

Guy owns and runs five restaurants in the Northern California area (as if he wasn’t busy enough with four shows and being the face of TGI Friday’s). At his three Johnny Garlic

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Saigon Sub Recipe Courtesy of Guy Fieri locations, Guy creates food choices that reflect his and his business partner’s personalities. A mix of gourmet and Tex-Mex brings patrons flocking to taste dishes like the famous Tri Tip Dip and Breath Mint Pie. His other restaurant, Tex Wasabi’s, has two locations and is anything but typical with its combination of sushi and bar-b-q. While this endeavor is quite “out of the box,” they are never short on patrons who want something different and crazy.

Although “crazy busy” with hosting, cooking and running his restaurants, Guy is also the quintessential family man. With a wife of 15 years and two kids, you would think he’d be busy enough. But you can’t pin this guy down. He always makes time for his family and feels blessed that he really can have it all. While it is quite a balancing act, Guy manages to talk to his family every day when on the road.

And to whet the asphalt appetite of anyone with testosterone, Guy is an avid collector of classic race cars and dirt bikes and even has his own custom-built monster golf cart. Of his seven cars, the favorite is his 1971 Chevelle SS. Give him anything that is old school with a lot of horsepower and this man is in heaven. His golf cart has oversized tires, chrome, tattoos custom painted on, the names of his kids, an air horn and last but not least, it’s nitrous methane-powered.

It’s all street legal and when he comes down the block, people know.

Between his sense of humor and his Joe Cool attitude and style, Guy is idolized by men and adored by women. His “Guy-isms” have become extremely popular and with catchphrases like “It’s on like Donkey Kong,” “My food’s out of bounds” and “Flavortown” (where the best food lives), he really relates to anyone with an appetite. There is no way to sum up Guy Fieri in one word. The family man is gracious to no end, has a huge taste for life and is a chef of some of the most inventive and best-tasting food around. There really is nothing that this man cannot do. Keep an eye out because I have a feeling that we’ll see a lot more of Guy – at least we all hope so.

Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 2 hr 40 min Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients 2-pound pork butt, cut into 4 pieces Salt and pepper 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1/3 cup water 1/4 cup chili garlic sauce 1/4 cup ketchup 1/2 cup white vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/4 cup white wine 1/2 cup peeled and thinly sliced cucumbers 2 tablespoons olive oil Italian party hero bread, cut in 1/2 lengthwise 1 cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoons Sriracha hot sauce 1/4 romaine lettuce head leaves 1 tablespoon minced fresh mint leaves 1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves

Directions Season pork pieces with salt and pepper. Place in a braising pan and add 1/4 cup soy sauce, water, chili garlic sauce, ketchup, and 1/4 cup vinegar. Braise for about 2 1/2 hours, covered, until fork tender. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and “pull” with forks until shredded. Add braising liquid, to taste. Cool.

Mix the remaining 1/4 cup vinegar, brown sugar, wine and the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Add the cucumbers and marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.

Drizzle the olive oil on the bread. Brown lightly, if desired.

Spread the mayonnaise on the bread and drizzle with hot sauce. Arrange the meat on the bread, top with the lettuce, marinated cucumbers, mint, and cilantro. Slice in half and serve.

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6/1/09 4:51:40 PM

Nico at the Gatsby Mansion ...

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A New Gourmet Italian Restaurant By Barry Kay

obert and Diane Nicolia have transformed the Gatsby Mansion in Islip into Nico Italian Ristorante. The beautifully restored 130-yearold mansion on the South Shore of Long Island offers the appearance of an estate from the halcyon days of the Gold Coast.

The dining room and lounge features a 28-foot mahogany bar topped by illuminated quartz marble and is decorated in burgundy and sepia tones with velvet drapes, upholstered wingback chairs, and alabaster chandeliers.

We were greeted by general manager John Estevez and served a special tasting menu

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prepared by executive chef Richard Lanza. Our choices included sautĂŠed lump crab cakes with corn relish and mozzarella en carozza, egg-battered bread and cheese melt with tomato vinaigrette, and the signature Nico Salad. Our pastas were gnocchi al pesto and orecchiette con rabe. Entrees consisted of crispy branzino (striped bass) with warm eggplant caponata, pine nuts, golden raisins, sautĂŠed broccoli rabe and filetto di manzo (grilled filet mignon), sauteed spinach, cheese and spinach ciambella.

We completed our culinary adventure on a sweet note: molten chocolate cake with caramelized bananas and vanilla ice cream and a New York-style cheesecake with blueberry compote.

Nico Italian Ristorante is an outstanding dining experience for those who crave elegance, fine service and authentic Italian delicacies at reasonable prices.

Nico at the Gatsby Mansion 712 Main Street, Islip, NY, 11751.

631-581-1900

5/28/09 4:58:10 PM

Wine & Dine

Limani Sparkles for Brunch, Lunch, Early Supper and Dinner

By Diana Marks

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hen I first visited Limani, I was struck by the warmth and enthusiasm of its operating partner, Reno Christou. He told me his goal was to bring brightness and excitement to Long Island dining. He has accomplished this with unique, light, airy results, a comfortable bar, an open kitchen and a display of the iced fresh fare of the day. The chandeliers glimmer on Mediterranean blues and golds, evoking the blue, calm waters of Greece. In fact, the word limani translates into seaport in Greek.

Limani’s core menu is an offering of fresh, whole fish by the pound, coal-grilled to perfection to be shared among the guests.

Beginning with warm, perfectly fluffy pita and Greek spreads such as melitzanosalata (eggplant and garlic puree) and ktipiti (feta with sweet and spicy peppers), our table of six ordered two fish entrees: Arctic char from Iceland and Canadian halibut.

Our sampling was delightful, as were the creatively prepared side vegetables, salads and potatoes. Other fresh fish offerings include Nova Scotia lobster, Mediterranean loup de mer and Wild Pacific salmon; for the carnivore, Limani serves up a variety

of grilled chops, steak and chicken.

The staff at Limani is welcoming and the restaurant offers a glass-enclosed wine sampling room and a private dinner party room. Between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, or 4 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, a four-course dinner special is $39. There is also an extensive Sunday brunch.

Limani is an oasis on a busy strip of Northern Boulevard in Roslyn. This is dining at its finest, yet if you order properly, it is no more expensive than other good restaurants and you walk out feeling healthier, lighter and renewed. Reservations are recommended.

Limani 1043 Northern Boulevard Roslyn, New York www.limaniny.com.

516-869-8989

The Cugine Is Here!

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ctor, chef and author Joe Gannascoli has put out a new line of cigars. The Cugines are blended with prime Dominican longfillers and Honduran Sumatra-seed binder rolled in a milder Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper or a more full-bodied Brazilianseed maduro wrapper grown in Ecuador. Created by Arganese Cigars, Gene Arganese and Mr. Gannascoli, the cigars offer bold yet sweet flavors with a lasting burn. They are available in two sizes –Torpedo and Robusto.

For more information visit www.joesoup.com or www.arganesecigars.com.

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Wine & Dine

South Beach at The Chateau

New Chic Look for Catering Giant

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ummer is here and so is the height of wedding and party season.

For more than three decades, Chateau Briand has been the premier wedding and event site on Long Island. After two years of planning and execution, Scotto Brothers has successfully debuted its spectacular new outdoor oasis that is quickly becoming the most talked-about hotspot of the season.

Guests who visit The Chateau will be amazed by the new outdoor design, which blends outdoor South Beach chic with modern elegance.

Wedding and partygoers will think they have stepped into a tropical paradise, complete with beautiful gardens of swaying palm trees, cascading waterfalls, cabanas, pavilions and fire coves. In addition,

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a new state-of-the-art sound system streams through the entire outside area so guests can dance the night away.

Inside, The Chateau’s timeless art deco motif embellishes any wedding or special event with the ambiance and glamour of Manhattan. Dazzling photo opportunities beckon with elegant photo studios, a dramatic lobby staircase and a white

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baby grand piano.

The Chateau’s food and first-class service remain a focal point of all its events. Visitors will be wowed by exceptional cuisine prepared especially by award-winning chefs and culinary experts in the Scotto Brothers’ tradition. Menus can be customized to complement any wedding, bar or bat mitzvah, corporate or special event.

‘Setting the Standard for Excellence’ has always been a trademark of Scotto Brothers, so it was no surprise that Anthony Scotto himself had the vision to create an entirely different way to host a wedding or event.

“My vision for the new Chateau was to create an atmosphere unlike anything else on Long Island. We want our

guests to have an outdoor experience that they will remember for years to come,” he says. Clearly, Scotto Brothers has spared no expense and guests are sure to appreciate every detail of this new event destination.

The Chateau brings class, elegance and sophistication to any event or party, indoors or outdoors, and wedding planners, social coordinators and corporate directors are always available onsite.

Tuesday nights at The Chateau offer the latest in social and business networking events that are sure to be the hottest outdoor parties of the summer.

For more information, call 516-334-6125 or visit www. chateaubriandcaterers.com.

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5/27/09 5:29:51 PM

Travel

Toughing Up in Tough Times

By Sara Duncan Widness

Photography by Cronin Hill Photography

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here’s a village in central Vermont that may well be dubbed “Endurance Town USA.” This is Pittsfield, near Killington, where at 5 a.m. on June 27 runners will assemble to tackle the 2009 Pittsfield Peaks Death Division Race, 10 miles of obstacles that must be faced, tackled and completed in order to continue in the race.

This is the third year of the event. Designed to be the toughest race in the world, it was won by Chris Mitchell of Boston and Steven Bartlett of Middlebury in 2008. This is a 24-hour obstacle course run that can include, among other tasks, splitting wood, hiking through a river, chiseling marble, and even mucking out nearby sheep stalls. Described as very challenging mentally and physically, race organizers say it’s the mental part that gets competitors to the finish. In 2008, out of 50 starters, eight ran the whole course.

Jason Hayden, who designed the race, says it’s “tougher than the Tour de France in the sense that there’s no end in sight. You don’t know how long it goes for; we don’t give you a

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starting point. The goal is to get everybody to quit.”

In preparation, from May 1-3 there was a training called Death Camp for serious athletes who want to be pushed to their mental and physical limits and who don’t quit. For the competitor who is extremely fit, the camp included a minimum of 30 hours of extremely painful and grueling training.

The winners from the previous two years of a Death Race competition were on hand to speak and give advice on how to go beyond what you can do. The camp included lodging and a Saturday night dinner plus events and lectures, all for $200.

Wolverhampton, England, hosted its 2009 Tough Guy Challenge earlier this year to test the mettle of participants who endured – or not—a series of arduous obstacle courses resembling a battleground. Pittsfield’s Joe Desena won’t release details of the obstacles planned for his June event but he says they will be the most challenging ever.

Death Race is one of a series of competitive events on the 2009 calendar for Peak Races, headquartered in Pittsfield. Peak Races is New England’s premier provider of adventure sport,

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travel and entertainment activities/experiences to business executives and adventure seekers worldwide.

Its mission, says Desena, founder of Peak Races, is to provide innovative, challenging and high-quality experiences that are among the most unique and exclusive competitive adventures available. Desena is committed to the greater Pittsfield region that he calls an “endurance community” because of its hundreds of miles of trails for running and mountain biking, and also roads for running.

“There’s a common belief that the high altitude in the West is better for training,” says Desena. “But here in the East the roads and trails are steeper. People from the West who come here to race don’t do as well against the East Coast people.” He also says there’s the advantage of being able to run anywhere in the woods here and not get eaten by a mountain lion or falling off a mountain.

A veteran in the world of adventure racing, extreme sports and ultra marathons, Desena is an avid adventurer who has quickly gained recognition and credibility as a tough athlete

and strong competitor both on and off the course. From his Pittsfield office he has brought the world of extreme sports and adventure to Wall Street. “Wall Street is about relationships, and I wanted to share my love for the sport and the benefits it has brought to me with my clients and their colleagues. By training with them, I can build a stronger bond while enabling them to experience a sense of accomplishment and a reason to feel better. This line of work leaves little time to exercise and now I can accomplish both my professional and personal goals while at the same time acting as a mentor and trainer,” he says.

In Pittsfield he tends to his office, sitting many hours a day at a desk equipped with bike wheels so he can cycle while he types and talks. Even though he’s in the country, he’s not lacking the bells and whistles of Manhattan.

For information, visit www.peakraces.com. For more information on a series of racing and endurance camps scheduled this year in Pittsfield visit www.peakcamps.com.

Visit www.boulevardli.com for more photos.

www.boulevardli.com

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Travel

Giving Sharks The Right of Way

By Tim Sullivan

Diving At Its Best

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he white and pink bus barreled down the road and screeched up in front of our timeshare on Paradise Island in Nassau. The telltale pink Stuart Cove logo was a logo that for 17 years has created the excitement familiar to the 8-year-old watching Jacques Cousteau. Today was a dive day in Nassau, and even though I have been diving all over the world, few destinations and resort operators deliver the consistent quality, experience, professionalism and safety profile as Stuart Cove in Nassau.

Stuart Cove is the highest profile and highest quality dive destination in the world. In a typical year, they put more than 50,000 divers in the water – many for the first time who are trying scuba through a resort course. I grew up snorkeling in Nassau as a kid and watching the reefs change colors as the ocean temperatures warmed. I became a certified diver in New Jersey in 1994 and have been scuba diving in Nassau my entire diving life. I did some advanced coursework with Stuart Cove in 1996 and have returned each year to dive in my favorite spot. If you are not a diver, Stuart Cove offers unbelievable snorkel trips, submarine excursions and various other underwater sports that will introduce you to marine life.

But Stuart Cove is world-renowned for one main reason – sharks! Stuart is the dive operator who has brought shark diving to the masses and taken more divers on close encounters than any other man on the planet. He is so good at what he does and understands sharks so well that he is the most soughtafter technical and production consultant for major Hollywood entertainment – he constantly has some production under way.

His film credits include Cocoon, Splash, Open Water, Into the Blue and Deep Blue Sea, as well as the James Bond films The World is Not Enough, Never Say Never Again and For Your Eyes Only.

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Chances are if you are watching a movie or TV program and there is a shark or underwater scene, Stuart and his team shot it.

The underwater movie sets are intact for divers to explore: wrecks from the James Bond movies, sandy patches in coral arenas that were the seascapes for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies – all sites I have dived and loved. While unexplored ocean realms are the Holy Grail of intrigue among old divers like myself, splashing with a group of divemasters that acted as safety spotters for Jessica Alba does hold its intrigue. Much of the diving is extremely beginner-friendly and shallow, with great visibility. There are deeper sites with bigger wrecks that allow for some penetration for the more experienced divers, such as the famous Ray of Hope – an enormous freighter that lies in 70 feet of water and is swarming with reef sharks.

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It’s impossible to overstate Stuart’s contribution to the world of scuba diving and shark conservation. He has succeeded in safely bringing divers close to the most feared creatures on the planet and having them leave with a sense of wonder and appreciation. He has instilled an enormous respect for these vulnerable and captivating apex predators in the hundreds of thousands of divers he has taken on feeds. And for this diver who was glued to network television on Sunday nights in the ’70s watching an old Frenchman with a heavy accent narrate grainy footage of darting sharks, he kicked off the adventure that has

led to ocean floors all over the world with a mission to interpret and preserve our troubled seas – with no end in sight. You want to get closer to the beauty that lies beneath or to some toothy apex predators? Book your trip. Visit www.stuartcove.com

Diver’s Log

By Tim Sullivan April 2 2 p.m.

We board the shark feeding boat with more than 20 other divers and head straight out to a spot where Stuart Cove has been feeding sharks every day for more than 20 years. Nervous glances are exchanged among first-time “sharkers” and new divers peer into the water to see dorsal fins cut the surface as dark patches cruise past the boat and disappear under the waves. The sharks know they are going to be fed and the sound of the engine makes them congregate around the boat. The divemaster gives a detailed briefing about the natural history of the Caribbean Reef shark, the predominant species on the dive.

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over 15 years, and seen hundreds on various dives, that giant stride entry into the water never gets old …

2:45 p.m.

We glide over the edge of the Tongue of the Ocean, a dramatically steep dropoff that borders the south end of New Providence Island. It’s here that the water goes from 50 to over 6000 feet in a cliff-like structure. Sharks swim past us in every direction, casually keeping their distance, completely oblivious to the guests bubbling though their realm.

3:30 p.m.

Our divemaster and shark feeder, Rupert, briefs the entire boat about the upcoming feeding. He tells everyone this will be a different dive than our first “encounter dive.” He tells us to stay kneeling in the sand, keep our hands tucked in, and not get anxious when the sharks come close – and they will be coming very close on this dive. Little did everyone know…

As we splash into the water for the second time, we are instantly surrounded by more than 50 sharks. Sharks are swarming around the divers knowing that a bait box with giant chunks of fish will be served up for dinner. Twenty divers kneel in a wide circle as Rupert floats overhead and then descends into the center of the “arena.” Sharks are everywhere – it absolutely cannot be overstated how exhilarating this dive is. They are bumping into your elbows, swimming six inches from your nose, looking you straight in the eyes. Suddenly I feel a massive shark rubbing under my thigh and lean over to let the beast swim

Out Of The Blue

By Kieran Sullivan

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through my legs. This is by no means a harmless animal, but reef sharks are predictable and they have no interest in the divers whatsoever – only the contents of the bait box.

Rupert opens and closes the bait box with a rope and spears chunks of fish. As soon as the bait is out in the open, three sharks will fight to be the first. There are times when there are so many sharks grabbing for the bait that Rupert is completely obscured from view.

Only after the bait is gone do I know if our trusty feeder is still there. A massive goliath grouper, which is as big as some of the sharks, swims into the middle of the feed, completely unthreatened by the predators. A fish that big doesn’t have to be. I learn later this grouper’s name is Gary and he shows up each feed as well.

When the bait is gone, so are the sharks … well, most of them anyway. We use the rest of our air to comb the sand for any teeth that may have dropped out during the frenzy.

4:30 p.m.

Back topside as the adrenaline wears off and we sit on the bench and debrief, I hear person after person say this was the most spectacular diving day they have ever had. And they are right, since it’s a one-of-a-kind exhilarating encounter with the most beautiful creatures on the planet. I take Rupert aside and ask him a question – I want to know what a bad day at work is like for him. He replies, “There is no such thing as a bad day at work for me. I love my job.”

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espite my passion and respect for the water, I am a new diver. Yes, I am comfortable in the water, but when it comes to diving, experience is everything. Attention to detail, safety and protocol not only ensure a fun dive, but also your survival. This became evident on my first dive on a recent vacation to Nassau, Bahamas, during which I had an encounter with a very large and intimidating shark.

Our first dive was along a coral wall called Lampton’s Wall, aka The Tongue of the Ocean. It’s on the south end of Nassau off Lyford Cay, where the coral reef suddenly drops like a cliff into over 6000 feet of pure blue. As you approach the edge of the coral wall, the color of the water changes into a dark, deep blue as the ocean floor disappears out from under you.

I was at 60 feet along the wall when I heard the divemaster start tapping his tank. I turned to look at him, when out of the blue came an enormous Great Hammerhead. This is the largest of all hammerheads, regularly exceeding 20 feet and though generally shy, is considered extremely dangerous. This one was

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The Great Hammerhead which unexpectedly show up on our dive off of Lampton’s Wall. We gave our endangered and gigantic hostess a wide berth.

easily over 12 feet and was swimming straight for me. I let a little air out of my BCD and attempted to tuck up into the wall.

I quickly recalled my PADI book instructions that when seeing a dangerous predator, you should stay on the bottom and wait until it is gone. Considering the ocean floor was 6,000 feet down, tucking against the wall was my only option. I also recalled the number one rule: don’t panic. I even said to myself out loud in my regulator, “Don’t panic,” along with some other swear words I will leave to your imagination.

The massive, hard-featured, sublime hunter turned its head, tipped its dorsal fins down, and went in close toward the diver directly in front of me. The shark then turned away and headed back toward me. Staring straight into my eyes, coming within about four yards of my face, the great hammerhead shark checked me out and swam on by.

My brother and I gave each other high-fives underwater and billowed incoherent words and noises of excitement regarding the majestic beast we just encountered. A cocktail of disbelief, hysteria, and relief packed in the bubbles exhausting

out of our regs.

I realized my divemaster brother, with over 18 years of diving under his weight belt, had just had his first experience with one the most endangered fish in the ocean. Great hammerheads of this size are almost entirely depleted due to overfishing. I then reflected on how lucky I was. In my short career as a certified diver, I had already had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. I learned how important it is to take every inch we swim with grace and respect for the ocean and for all the creatures that call it home. I emulated the golden rule to never, ever panic and saw what most people never see.

I have no doubt that if I had tried to swim away, flailing my arms and freaking out, I would have risked injury from decompression sickness and would have missed the experience.

But it was ocean etiquette, and I was its guest. This was his ’hood, and I got a pass. You’d best believe for the rest of that dive, I was looking over my shoulder and from now on, I will be always wondering what is lurking out there in the blue.

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ere I am, sitting on a longboard, out past the breakers, wondering what the hell am I doing here. Yesterday I was surfing the Internet, doing research, and today I’m about to surf my first wave. It was always a childhood dream to be a surfer and now I’m about to make that dream a reality.

Welcome to Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica, a secluded sleepy surf community five hours west of San Jose, on the Pacific coastline. It offers a variety of waves for every experience level. This beach offers some of the most consistent year-round surfing and a no-fighting-inthe-lineup opportunity to catch a wave. Lush jungles of Guanacaste trees, chirping birds and howling monkeys surround the beach. Playa Guiones encompasses a pura vida lifestyle of complete relaxation and an obsession with waves and surfing. This is why Safari Surf School landed here.

Playa Guiones, a vibrant tranquil village filled with expatriates, ticos (locals) and surfers is a true surfer’s playground. Once you arrive, via taxi shuttle or a short 45-minute flight from San Jose on Nature Air, you are greeted by your new family, the Safari Surf School team. Tyler, Sonja, Ileana and Kimbo’s warm personalities ensure your stay will be a memorable one.

The Safari Surf School was created and continues to be run by Tim and Tyler Marsh, experienced surfers from Hawaii. They impart their surfing techniques to the students with the basics of “popping up,” finding your “sweet spot,” “paddling hard” and gaining the experience of knowing when to ride the wave. The School brings a unity of self, strength and brotherhood to the experience. You are there to explore your strengths and weaknesses, enjoy the culture and cuisine and connect with a group of similarly driven people.

The School has created an “all-inclusive” type surf package that includes transportation, varying luxury accommodations, two surf lessons per day (morning and afternoon), yoga lessons, breakfast and dinner, and a much-needed one-hour massage at the Tica massage studio. The accommodation choices are Arco Iris, The Harmony Hotel and L’Acqua Viva.

Arco Iris is great for the VIP surfers who want to grab a bungalow rental or a private suite.

The owners of Arco Iris will customize your trip to your liking with a helicopter transportation and a Ford Excursion limo. Arriving in style, they continue with a welcoming beach party. The property has a state-of-the-art fitness facility that offers private jiu shi tzu lessons. They even include access to a private chef during your stay.

The Harmony Hotel is for the eco-conscious traveler. The hotel has received the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism from the CST Committee. The Harmony prides itself on being a sustainable property, using solar panels to heat the hot water. The restaurant serves organic, vegetarian food, and a juice bar serving drinks with sustainable bamboo straws. The healing center is another highlight of the hotel, with daily yoga sessions, relaxing holistic

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spa treatments and sustainable tropical grounds.

L’Acqua Viva is Nosara’s five-star resort.

Tucked away from the main road, in a secluded area about one kilometer from the beach, L’Acqua Viva’s architecture brings life to the property in a harmonious Bali-esque style. The 35 Bali villas are surrounded by Costa Rican tropical forest. Salt-water pools, a restaurant, a Bacardi bottle bar, and spa facilities centralize the suites. There are deluxe rooms, master suites and presidential suites. Much detail went into planning the rooms, as evidenced by the mahogany furniture, bamboo steps and vibrant Costa Rican colors. L’Acqua Viva is a great resort for the family vacation. While you’re out surfing, the wife can spend time at the spa and the kids can spend the day at the kiddie pool.

A typical day at the Safari Surf School is packed with lots of activity. Everyone gathers at the hotel, Casa Tucan, the school’s home base, where the day starts with fresh fruit, checking in with your instructor and finding the right board for your size and experience. Then there’s a three-minute walk down to the beach at 7 a.m. for a low-tide one-hour surf lesson. My first lesson with Tyler was the best; he had great tips about finding your “sweet spot” on your board (for balance) and the best way to “pop up” for a wave. The first few lessons consist of riding the white break just to get your bearings and proper form when riding a wave. I got sage advice on how to avoid drowning by utilizing the “turtle roll” (flipping the board and your body under the break of the whitewater).

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After a banana pancake breakfast, there’s downtime. Most surf students take a nap, splendor in a massage, or just explore the Nosara village. I decided to venture to the yoga studio for some lessons with a couple of the guys. Tim Marsh explained that yoga immensely helps with surfing techniques. Yoga and surfing both require balance, strength, focus and a clear head.

With a group of guys, it can be different, as Jason from Aspen explained his yoga experiences: “It’s Thug Yoga … and we end the class with a ‘Namaste Motherf**ker’.” With that mentality, we walked in and the instructor asked what areas hurt; Adam, with silent gestures, just banged on his chest. It was hilarious, but I have to admit, the yoga really helped. Yoga is a great prestretch for surfing as it strengthens your core and puts you in the right mindset. I had much better surf lessons after taking the yoga classes. It’s an added value to the package that I strongly recommend to any surf newbie.

Through the days, you alternate instructors for each lesson. It’s a great way for students to gain different insights and tips, and you end up finding your perfect instructor. All the instructors– Tyler, Kimbo, Rolo, Cristian, Pio and Alonso – are enthusiastic, and each has a strong connection to the ocean; they just love to surf. After the lessons, the instructors go out during high tide and it’s amazing to watch the talent that they exhibit. It’s a realization that surfing is truly an art form, a connection between man

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and ocean. When Cristian, the local surf celebrity, is in the water, it is mesmerizing to see his talent, a unique style he has been perfecting for 13 years.

In the afternoon session, students go out for high tide, a great time for more experienced surfers.

The waves are higher and a little stronger. I had a hard time getting past the impact zone (where the wave breaks). The ocean can be very unforgiving and high tide is when you feel it. We had joked about the instructors constantly telling us to “paddle harder,” but after a few lessons, you understand why… you have to paddle for your life to get past the impact zone to make it to the “outside.” There are many moments of tumbling and turtle rolls to get to the sweet lineup of waiting for the waves.

After the second lesson, you’ll want to nap and shower before dinner. Either Tyler or Kimbo introduces you to an evening exploring the gastronomy of Nosara. This is a great time to really get to know the culture of the country, the other students and cut loose with some strong margaritas and ceviche.

The best places to eat in Nosara are pretty much any restaurant, but my favorites were La Luna, Marlin Bill’s, Dos Lorenas, Harmony Hotel and Casa Tucan. La Luna has the best view of the ocean at night. The atmosphere has a South Beach vibe with candle lanterns and pumping music. Dos Lorenas has the most amazing ceviche with fresh dorado (mahi-mahi).

Marlin Bill’s has great seafood and the service is impeccable.

Harmony Hotel has a sushi bar and a vegetarian menu. The juice bar is a definite plus. The smoothies are the best, with holistic additives to really nourish the body. And Casa Tucan, our home-away-from-home, has a warm staff, great breakfast and the best Margarita pizza in town. The Jungle Java serves great gourmet teas and coffees and the locals seem to love the breakfast burritos and an added bonus, they offer free Internet and free calls to the U.S. If you’re still not tired, there are other adventure excursions provided by Nosara Paradise Rental. The tours include sport fishing, a nature tour, a canopy tour, snorkeling, kayaking, whitewater rafting, a unique turtle experience, and rentals of bikes and ATVs to ride around Nosara.

You’re in the lineup, it feels right, you paddle as hard as you can, the moment comes, you pop up and cruise down the line (either left or

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right) and it’s the most amazing experience, an exertion of adrenaline, a feeling of accomplishment. Now I know why the hell I was here. Coming away from this trip of six days, seven nights, there is an understanding as to why so many students end up coming back to Safari Surf School – it’s like coming back to old friends and some awesome waves.

For a guy’s getaway, a chance to surf the waves of the Endless Summer, it’s time for a visit to Nosara, Costa Rica.

Check out SafariSurfSchool.com for more information about the school, the package deals and to book a trip. For the hotels’ information, please visit Arco Iris Resort at www. costaricaresortproperties.com, The Harmony Hotel at www. harmonynosara.com, L’Acqua Viva Hotel & Spa at www. lacquaviva.com. Check out Nosara Paradise Rental excursions at www.nosaraparadiserentals.com.

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Health

Epigenetics:

Revolutionary Cancer Treatment

By Barbara Capozzi, D.O., CNS

Board Certified in Family Practise Certified Nutrition Specialist Assistant Professor of Family Practise Clinical Coordinator at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Guest on Cable Television “Ask the Doctor,” CNN, Channel 55 News, Channel 4 News, Television Channel One-Live

D

r. Samuel Waxman, founder and scientific director of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, is a cancer specialist with a passion for three factors with one mission: patient care, curing cancer, rallying exceptional cancer researchers to collaborate on developing a cure as soon as possible. For the past 10 years, Dr. Waxman has been committed to expanding this unique foundation, which was originally established by a former patient’s grateful uncle.

Dr. Waxman sees new patients with all types of cancers, consults and continues to provide follow-up care for his existing patients. Known as “The Quarterback,” his years of experience and expertise give him a diverse background and access to the best specialists for each type of cancer. Dr. Waxman knows when and how to get a patient to the right cancer specialist.

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has funded approximately 160 researchers around the world. Based at Mount Sinai in New York City, it currently provides grants to 50 scientists on the cutting-edge of cancer research. Researchers supported by the Foundation have developed a cure for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and are making breakthroughs in understanding how cancer develops at the molecular level. The foundation helped establish the well-known Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program.

According to Dr. Waxman, progress in cancer treatment has shown that genes contain instructions in the form of DNA which determines cell behavior. Cancer develops when a cell is given the wrong genetic instructions. Whether genetic instructions are expressed or suppressed depends on signals from the DNA itself as well as signals from outside the gene. The outside signals come from the “epigenome” (above the genes). Programming in the DNA is very difficult to modify, but programming in the epigenome can often be changed through the use of drugs, once the details are identified.

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Developing the treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia was an “unparalleled cancer breakthrough,” says Dr. Waxman, “as there is now a high cure rate in this devastating disease. It also introduced a whole new approach to treatment, starting in the ’80s. This targeting helped open the field of epigenetics.

We now have new approaches to cancer treatment and FDAapproved treatments that we only dreamed about 20 years ago.”

Dr. Waxman is both realistic and optimistic, stating that, “While the mortality rate has not changed significantly, there has been a tremendous improvement in how cancer is treated.” Further information is available at the foundation’s website: www. waxmancancer.org.

Dr. Waxman is committed to the foundation’s pursuit of the innovative research that is unlocking the molecular key to many types of cancer. You may meet the good doctor at the Sagaponack Sculpture Field on Saturday, July 25 at the foundation’s sixth Hamptons Happening benefit. The evening’s hosts are Susan and Louis Meisel. There will be gourmet stations from many great Hampton and NYC restaurants, an al fresco casino and a live auction with unique items. Visit www. waxmancancer.org/hamptonshappening for details of the event.

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B otox R estylane J uvedeRm R adiesse FRaxel laseR

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Health

Fitness Corner

By Pam Polestino

You Are Your Best Investment Fitness Professional 646.261.3350

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e have all made investments that have resulted in poor rates of return. Investing in yourself by exercising and eating healthy can give you the greatest return

you have ever had.

With the current economy, stress levels have increased and many of us are uncertain as to what will happen with our careers in the future. This uncertainty can lead to health-related physical and sometimes emotional problems. The addition of exercise can help reduce stress, create more energy and get endorphins running, actually making for a better job performance.

Most people have taken time to plan their portfolios and attempt to set up their financial future. If you look at your physical self and realize that fitness is a safe and secure

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investment, it may help get you started. There are several ways to begin working toward your personal self-investment. Most men like visuals, so if you can think about what you would like to achieve and how you would like to look, you can customize an exercise routine to address your specific goals.

The first step is to make an appointment with yourself and/ or your trainer. You need to be fully committed. Starting slowly and being realistic can help you stay with your routine. Working out every other day gives your body 24 hours to rest, which is great recovery time. For some, the routine gets broken if they do not exercise daily. You have to find what works for you and go with it.

Weight and cardiovascular training done together can double your benefits and be time-effective. If you are just beginning, 30 minutes is a good start. Whatever you start with, if you add three to five minutes to each workout, you are going to increase your endurance. Try adding stair climbing, jumping rope and pushups to each workout for that extra sweat.

Weekend warriors can enhance their performance by training specifically for their sport or hobby of choice. For tennis, try boot camp-style drills. You work laterally at all different paces with different formats. If you are a golfer, training obliques and core with rotation will not only create strength, but will add flexibility and control to your swing. Basketball players who train using plyometrics can make that jump shot. Skiers need to fall in love with squats and lunges to last the whole day on the slopes.

If you have injuries, swimming can be a great beginning.

Swimming does not put wear and tear on your body. Varying your strokes can benefit all your different muscle groups.

Remember, if you are going to try for that ultimate payoff, stretching will increase flexibility and help prevent injury.

All investments take time to produce a positive return. If you stay focused, you could see results in just weeks, and feel stronger and more energetic in just days. The most growth in your personal portfolio will come with consistency. The benefits of enhancing you will definitely be the investment with the highest return!

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5/27/09 2:39:40 PM

Cosmetic Surgery Today

By Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS

Men and Plastic Surgery

Dr. Stephen Greenberg is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery. He is director of New York’s Premier Center for Plastic Surgery with offices in Woodbury and Manhattan. For a complimentary consultation, call 516-364-4200. If you have a question for Dr. Greenberg, please e-mail him at docstg@aol.com or listen to his radio show on Saturday nights at 10 p.m. on WKJY (98.3 FM).

Visit www.GreenbergCosmeticSurgery.com

W

hen most people think of cosmetic surgery they think of women, primarily young women. But the fact is that an increasing number of male baby boomers in the age category of 40 to 58 are now turning to plastic surgery to try to look younger. It seems that America's youth-oriented culture is the driving force behind this trend, coupled with men's increasing comfort factor in admitting they do care about their looks and the perception of others. Although the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recently reported that women still account for the majority of cosmetic surgery procedures, 13 percent of all procedures are now done for men. This trend is significant as the number of male procedures continues to grow each year.

Currently, men comprise about 20 percent of my patients.

The culture we live in today places a great emphasis on looking and feeling young, as well as on living a healthy lifestyle. The stigma associated with having plastic surgery has largely

disappeared, which has resulted in a continued growth in the number of men seeking plastic surgery and making an investment in their appearance.

To this end, the total number of cosmetic surgery procedures has increased almost 18 percent since last year, reaching an impressive 7.2 million. The current state of our economy is another compelling reason for men to seek plastic surgery. The competitive and challenging job market is a common reason for men to seek a more youthful appearance, as more often than not they are competing with younger men for the same job. Additionally, men who are divorced, widowed or seeking a relationship believe that a more youthful appearance can only work to their benefit in the social arena.

Liposuction tops the list of most popular procedures for men, followed by male chest (breast) reduction, nose reshaping, eyelid lifts and hair transplantation. The most common areas for liposuction in men are the abdomen and love handles.

The downtime is minimal (often men can take only 1-2 days off from work) and the results are usually fantastic. The newest liposuction technique (smart-lipo MPX) works great in men as well.

Male breast reduction (gynecomastia) is a very common procedure that can get rid of both excessive breast tissue and fat from the chest wall. The procedure takes about 45 minutes and patients are back to work in 48 hours. Some men choose to combine abdominal liposuction and chest reduction at the same time. Eyelid lifts is a 45-minute ambulatory procedure that removes excess skin and fat from both the upper and lower eyelids and provides a fresh, rejuvenated appearance to the face.

Lastly, hair transplantation has made huge strides in the last several years, to the point where it is virtually undetectable and can provide naturally growing hair to the thinning scalp.

The male cosmetic surgery market continues to grow rapidly. Natural results with quick recovery can be obtained to help the guys look great. www.boulevardli.com

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5/27/09 2:45:44 PM

Health Watch

By Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum

Men and Growing Old Gracefully Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is the director of Woman and Heart Disease at the Heart and Vascular Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York

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© Patrick McMullan.com

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ust the other day I was at a fundraising luncheon when a man approached the group of women I was with. As he walked away, each of us made a remark about the physical nature of the gentleman. We wondered how old he was and then realized, “Who cares?” There are certainly men we all know who, as young men, were adorable and sexy, but as they aged grew, well, slovenly and old. There are those who age with grace, beauty and sexiness. Think Harrison Ford, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, George Clooney. And those who don’t. Think Marlon Brando, Mickey Rourke, and some old classmates.

There’s clearly something that makes the difference, that allows some men to become more attractive with age. Certainly there’s a mental component of being comfortable in your own skin, but there’s more to it than that. There’s a definite physical side. A recent article I read considered modifiable risk factors and their effects on living to a ripe old age. It looked at smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle. Each factor greatly reduced the probability of living to 90 years old.

But it’s more than how long you live, it’s also how well you live, the quality of those years. An overweight, diabetic, inactive, hypertensive person on multiple medications simply does not have the quality of life, the vitality that gives him that certain je ne sais quoi.

Those attractive aging men with a glimmer in their eye elicit comments of how men become “distinguished” with age.

Think about their lifestyle choices and how they have chosen to grow older. With simple things like exercise and a healthy diet, growing old becomes a number as much as a mindset. Years bring experience and understanding. None of us can stop the progression of age, but we certainly can slow the effects of time.

When lifespan and health are boiled down to the basics, it is truly attributed to the five modifiable risk factors. It is simple in

diagnosis and theory but a little harder in execution and treatment.

In a recent documentary, Barbara Walters described a group of individuals, known as calorie restrictors, who consume 30 percent fewer calories than the average American. Certain experts believe that caloric restriction is the only proven way to extend life. Overall, staying slim decreases the onset of high blood pressure, diabetes and, clearly, obesity. Simply stated, how could it not prolong life?

We all envision life as we age. Joints get stiffer, vision gets blurry, hearing becomes duller, but we all hope to maintain that glint, that charm, that sexiness. The next time you see a George Clooney movie or the latest People magazine, look at the men whose bodies and faces belie their age. Their toned muscles and slender frames establish their obvious concern for physical wellness. Yes, they are growing older, but they have shown us that aging well is doable. As the gracefully aging Indiana Jones said, “It ain’t the years, it’s the mileage.”

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5/27/09 2:46:52 PM

SKIN DEEP

By Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D.

Body-Jet® ... The Best of Both Worlds With offices in Manhattan and Greenvale, LI, Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD is a pioneer in state-of-the-art cosmetic dermatology, lasers and Mohs surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. A clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Medical Center and in private practice with her husband, board-certified plastic surgeon Robert H. Gotkin, MD, Dr. Sarnoff has demonstrated her procedures on The Today Show, 20/20, Good Morning America, Dateline, The View and The Doctors TV show. Dr. Sarnoff is co-author of Beauty and the Beam and Instant Beauty: Getting Gorgeous on Your Lunch Break. For additional information, call 516-484-9000 or visit www.cosmetiqueMD.com

N

o matter how much we diet and exercise, the “battle of the bulge” is a struggle for many. Some stubborn areas of fat just don’t seem to disappear. Have you ever wished you could shed fat from one area of your body while simultaneously adding volume to another? That’s precisely what the revolutionary Body-Jet® can do!

Traditional liposuction has been in existence for about 30 years, but the new, FDA-approved Body-Jet® enables you to quickly transform your body in a whole new way. Using a technique known as water-jet assisted liposuction, the Body-Jet® gently sculpts your body like ocean waves shape the sand. Ideal candidates are men or women between 18 and 55 years of age, with the presence of fat in the abdomen, arms, neck, hips, flanks or thighs.

While traditional lipo requires a lengthy pre-infiltration phase, the Body-Jet® uses a water spray technique to gently dislodge fat cells for removal. This novel approach eliminates the need for the traumatic suction that is typically used with lipo. In other words, fat is virtually washed out of the body without the use of a powerful vacuum. This makes the procedure much less traumatic to the tissues.

A Body-Jet® treatment takes less time than traditional liposuction and there is less bruising, swelling and pain associated with recovery. Complications are few and normal activities can be resumed more quickly.

However, if you want soft tissue volume enhancement somewhere else on your face or body at the same time as your liposuction, the Body-Jet® opens up a whole new world to an increasingly popular technique – the transfer of your own fat.

This unique feature of the Body-Jet® has to do with the way in which fat is removed from the body. Unlike techniques in which the fat is melted or destroyed prior to removal, the BodyJet® gently removes fat in a pure state, with cells largely intact.

This means the fat remains alive and viable. Therefore, if you desire, the fat can be removed from one area and transferred to other areas of the body.

For example, fat removed from your abdomen, hips or thighs can be safely and easily placed into your face to plump up sagging cheeks or fill in hollows under the eyes. It can also be used to enhance your buttocks or breasts, or to fill in dimples of cellulite to get rid of the “cottage cheese” appearance. Losing fat from one area and moving it to another is almost like having your cake and eating it, too!

The Body-Jet® is gentle and minimally invasive, while offering rapid recovery and outstanding results. If you are considering the Body-Jet® or 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.

www.boulevardli.com

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5/27/09 1:41:24 PM

Music

Mick Fleetwood: Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Drummer, Solo Artist ... and Vintner?

By Jonathan Clarke

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ho do you think of first when someone brings up the band Fleetwood Mac? Probably Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, right? Then, maybe, Mick Fleetwood. Understandable, since they did have most of their success in the ’70s and beyond with that particular incarnation of the group: Nicks and Buckingham as the main singers and songwriters, along with drummer Fleetwood, and John and Christine McVie on bass and keyboards. Some people remember, but probably more do not even know, that Fleetwood, along with legendary guitarist Peter Green and John McVie, founded the “blues” band Fleetwood Mac, back in 1967 in London, way before the Fleetwood Mac of the ’70s with Stevie and Lindsay.

Fleetwood had previously been playing with John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and was also in a band with Rod Stewart and Long John Baldry.

Mick Fleetwood – It was a real scene in London at that time. We were just a bunch of people that were totally married to this blues genre of music; we couldn’t get enough of it.

Blues bands were really the underground scene at the time, playing little clubs and small rooms, and on the other side of the spectrum, there were the pretty boy, Beatle-ish pop groups.

Then the Stones came along, and they were a blues band but also had that fashion thing going on, too. So I guess they sort of helped to bring that style of music more to the forefront in London, and even we, who were wearing jeans and T-shirts, 100

became sort of Stone-ized eventually, pretty boys playing Elmore James.

Jonathan Clarke – And really, there are three versions of Fleetwood Mac – the first with Peter Green where you had the hit with “Black Magic Woman” and of course the last version that we all know about and that is still touring today with Lindsay and Stevie. And you and John have always been the continuity, the constant as the rhythm section that’s always been there in every incarnation. But that middle version of Fleetwood Mac, with Bob Welch, has always fascinated me. It was such a departure for the band sound-wise, considering where the band had been, because this version of the band had this great song and hit with the very jazzy “Hypnotize.”

MF – Well, you’re right and I think it was a good thing that John and I were always there as the rhythm section, because it allowed these different incarnations to really bloom and allowed their separate talents to really come through. That song is so about Bob Welch. That’s what he brought into the band, this Wes Montgomery-style of jazzy playing. I was living in a hippie house in the country in England at the time and I met Bob through a mutual friend. So we decided to meet, I met him at the train station, and I instantly liked him. He is very intellectual as you can tell by some of the subject matter of some of his songs. And “Hypnotize” is so simple, yet so many of our musician friends comment on that song and make the same observation

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you make. His tenure with us was four or five albums before he left and then he had success on his own after Fleetwood Mac, too. He lives in Nashville and is alive and well but, yes, Bob Welch is a big part of Fleetwood Mac that sometimes gets forgotten.

JC – Fleetwood Mac are on tour again which is great, playing a few shows in our area in fact this month, but what is the one Fleetwood Mac song that really sort of stands out to you – that brings you right back to the heyday of the band in the ’70s and that you still really get into playing live?

MF – “Go Your Own Way,” selfishly, because being the drummer, of course, there is no halfway for me on that song.

That song is bittersweet for obvious reasons, but it always reminds me of how I got turned on to working with Lindsay in the studio. His solo at the end is such a complete solo and it seemed to just fall into place. But knowing Lindsay, it probably didn’t just fall into place. I am sure he worked hard on every note of it and the essence of Lindsay as a guitar player is on that song.

JC – And this year it all sort of comes full circle with your solo album release of Blue Again from the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, which has an old friend of yours in the band, Rick Vito on guitar, and Rick replaced Lindsay on guitar for a few years in Fleetwood Mac when Lindsay was doing his solo albums.

MF – Yes, and I found out then that Rick was totally connected to Fleetwood Mac’s early blues era. So we got together about three years ago and this really is a celebration of where I came from musically and where Rick came from musically, too. Once we got together and started playing out and doing shows, it really grew. This is a live album and live albums are great because they don’t tell any lies. And this project shows my musical training ground in Fleetwood Mac and we revisit some of the old songs like “Black Magic Woman,” “Albatross” and others and we are just having a ball with this!

JC – So there is Mick Fleetwood wine?

MF – Yes, there is and we will have to get you a bottle. My wife and I like to entertain and 18 years ago I started to enjoy wine, after drinking too much of the hard stuff for too many years. It all started over a conversation at dinner. I knew nothing about winemaking but here we are now, eight years into this journey of Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar, and are now working with a few vineyards. The premise really is that I don’t bottle anything that I don’t love myself, so I figure if I do that, then I’ve done everything I can. You know, it really is sort of like making music. You do everything you can to make it sound just right, and then you release it, and hope for good reviews. www.boulevardli.com

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6/1/09 11:32:15 AM

Sports

Joe Rehor Extols Long Island Golf Scene

By Jules Rabin

Photography by Jason Feinberg

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es, it is just seven years later and the United States Golf Association Championship is already returning to the Black Course at Bethpage State Park. Wonder why? Joe Rehor, head pro and director of golf at Bethpage has the simple answer: “The socioeconomic status of Long Island assures the U.S. Open of big crowds who have, and spend, big money.” And it certainly would not surprise Rehor if there was a U.S. Open “trifecta” in another few years as well.

Long before the June 18 tee-off for the Open there are corporate tents in place or sites being scouted for the worldclass event. A 40,000 square-foot products tent is firmly ensconced and key golfing merchandise managers are scouring the nation for the latest, smartest and most popular tidbits in the world of golf. In 2002, some 40,000 spectators, each of whom bought a $300 block of tickets, entered Bethpage Park daily during the four-day event. This year the smart money says ticket sales will soar upward by at least 5,000 patrons per day.

But smoothing the U.S. Open’s organizational operations, daunting as that may be, is hardly the stuff that makes Joe so well known in the Long Island golf world. He is a dedicated teaching pro who has won innumerable awards for instructing students from kids to grandpas. He oversees the Bethpage

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operation, “ the busiest golf facility in the United States,” to the tune of some 280,000 rounds of golf annually. A staunch backer of the Metropolitan PGA Grow The Game program, Rehor has brought more than 3,000 youngsters to the greens since the advent of his Bethpage Junior Golf program in 1985.

During four consecutive years – 2004 through 2007 – Joe Rehor nailed down the Titleist Symbol of Excellence Award for dedication and commitment to the game of golf. Additionally he was a Top 10 finisher of numerous Met PGA tournaments and in 2007 was runner-up in the Met PGA Pro-Am championship. But there’s another side to the former captain of the St. John’s University golf team. He was also the 2002 Merchandiser of the Year in the Met PGA as well as runner-up for the National PGA Merchandiser of the Year award.

Rehor is also a frequent contributor to a host of prestigious publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, Newsday, the New York Post, Travel and Leisure magazine and Short Game Secrets of the Pros, educating golf enthusiasts about teaching concepts as well as critiquing new golf equipment. He is also endlessly sought after by the electronic media, including the Golf Channel, Jim Rome of ESPN radio and the ESPN Golf Talk Show.

So what does this heralded pro have to say to newcomers taking up the sport? He offers three sage rules: “One – Never try the game without taking lessons. It rarely, if ever, works.

Two – Do your homework to find the right pro, especially by word of mouth with current players, and only settle on a teacher with a proven reputation. Three – Practice, practice, and then practice some more. In golf, more than any other personal sport, you achieve little without an ongoing, dedicated effort.”

How has the game of golf changed over the years?

According to Rehor’s observations, the newer golf balls travel much farther, the newer clubs have metal heads and graphite shafts which allow the player to hit much farther and to compensate, the courses are now much longer.

When asked who the best tour player of all time is, Joe says he believes Jack Nicklaus now has that distinction. “But,” he adds, “ if Tiger Woods stays healthy, I believe he will be the greatest ever. Keep in mind, though, it is really one tough task to compare the golfers of today with those of yesteryear.”

Married to wife Marianne, with two “wonderful” daughters (Christine and Denise) and three “marvelous” grandkids (Emma, Kate and William), Joe is now carefully observing the economic scene nationally and locally. He predicts big boom times for Long Island’s public golf courses over the next year. “ We already see private clubs hurting big time. Public golf courses will have to work long and hard to handle the huge throngs seeking lower costs for their pleasure. But,” says the longtime resident of West Babylon, “ I still love the prospects for Long Island golf. It may not be 12 months long as in some other parts of the country, but we are stocked with blue ribbon people from top to bottom.”

And as one of those blue ribbon people, Joe Rehor has proven for over four decades that he knows of what he speaks!

www.boulevardli.com

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5/27/09 5:40:00 PM

Business

Continuing Success Year After Year…

Spotlight on Joe Mandaro

Scotto Brothers Executive Director of Corporate and Special Events

I

f you have ever planned a corporate event on Long Island, chances are you’ve worked with Joe Mandaro.

As the executive director of corporate and special events for Scotto Brothers, his office is located at Chateau Briand Caterers in Carle Place. Joe has been in the catering industry for over 35 years and has loved every minute of it.

A graduate of C.W. Post and a theater arts major, Mandaro worked throughout college in the restaurant and catering business. In 1980, he launched his career with Scotto Brothers as the director of catering at Chateau Briand. Under the tutelage of owners Anthony and Victor Scotto, he moved on to become general manager of Westbury Manor. He continued his string of success working as a senior manager in the company, which includes Fox Hollow Restaurant and Caterers, and the opening of The Inn At Fox Hollow’s all-suite hotel in 2001. With each new position, Joe remained a leader in the industry, raising expectations for hospitality and service standards across Long Island and he continues to be the driving force behind the success of Scotto Brothers corporate events.

Times have changed, yet Mandaro remains consistent and always delivers on his philosophy: “Give people more than what they expect. Always deliver food made from the freshest ingredients and never settle for anything less than exceptional service.” He adds, “I love what I do and I make sure that each and every event is true to our clients’ expectations.”

While Joe makes it look effortless, he admits the true secret to success is to remain adaptable in times of uncertainty. “In today’s economic climate, it’s imperative that businesses are sensitive to their clients’ changing financial resources,” he says.

“You have to be as business-considerate as possible. Remaining flexible is the key to good business.”

Maintaining a stellar reputation for delivering exceptional food and service, the catering maverick believes it takes something extra special to remain on top. “In this day and age, everyone is looking to do something different, so you have to be innovative. Chateau’s newest addition, our Outdoor Oasis, is exactly that – innovative and different. Swaying palm trees, cascading waterfalls, cabanas, pavilions, fire coves …

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where else will someone experience a corporate event or wedding like that on Long Island?”

Over the years, Joe has always given back to the community of Long Island and remains active with several not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He has received a certificate of merit from Chefs de Cuisine Association of America and the American Culinary Federation of Long Island. He’s been honored as Man of the Year by United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County and Italian Americans in Government, and he’s been featured several times in the business section of Newsday. Recently, he was named “Who’s Who in Catering” by Long Island Business News.

Joe’s humor and quick one-liners have become trademarks of his personality. He injects passion and leadership throughout the building, and his clients always feel that they are part of the Scotto Brothers family. For 35 years, Mandaro has never lost sight of his goal and always delivers on his promise of exceptional service, quality and value.

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