NYE- Plans for Procrastinators

Ahhh.. it's that dreaded question again: What should we do on New Years Eve? If you're like me, you wait for the last minute. And here we are, at the last minute for making New Years Eve plans. Well, InsideGardenCity has gotten the roundup on GC hotspots for you that still have availability for some bubbly fun. But the availability is limited so don't procrastinate any longer, or you will definitely be left out in the cold!

BK Sweeney's Uptown Grill. 636 Franklin Ave., GC. 516-746-3075. Openings still available for their early dinner seating. They will be serving their regular menu in addition to festive New Years Eve dinner specials. You are almost guaranteed a good time at their bar at midnight and after. They will provide noisemakers and complimentary champagne as the ball drops. Sounds like a fun time!

Walk St. 176 7th St., GC. 516-746-2592. They will be offering their regular menu with enhanced New Years Eve specials such as lobster and T-bone steak, plus complimentary champagne at midnight.

Polo Lounge in the Garden City Hotel is hosting a jazz trio starting at 9pm. 516-877-9385. Cost is $50 per person which includes two cocktails and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. They will provide noisemakers and a fun atmosphere while you watch the ball drop on their large HDTV screen. Reservations are not needed for this. 

Revel. 835 Franklin Ave., GC. 516-246-9111. They are boasting a 10 foot projector screen for the ball drop, DJ and champagne toast. They have dinner seatings available between 4:30 - 6:30 and 6:30 - 7:15. The earlier seating offers an alla carte menu and the latter offers a 3 course menu for $65 per person. 

Novita 860 Franklin Ave., GC 516-739-7660. Their festivities go from 9pm until 2am and include sit down dinner, open bar, dj, dancing and champagne toast. Cost: $125pp + tax/gratuity. Openings remain but don't delay!

Where will you be for NYE? Make sure to drink responsibly and have fun! See you in 2014!

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Holidays Gangnam Style in GC

A fellow GC resident passed on some great inside information last week- the light show in Garden City. I hadn't heard of this before and certainly never observed when living in the city, so I definitely wanted to check it out. I went that night and it is definitely not to be missed. If you are able to drive by 4 Lincoln Ave before their last night on Jan 4, please do it. These are no amateurs. They've been doing this for seven years and their experience shows. It's simple- drive up, tune your radio to 105.5 and enjoy the show. You will hear traditional holiday tunes as well as more recent hit music, such as Gangnam Style. It's a pretty great show and I'm planning to stop by again before the 4th. 

Here's a more comprehensive list of their songs: 

The Fox - Ylvis

Wake Me Up - Avicii

Gangnam Style - Psy

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

Wizards in Winter - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Christmas Eve Sarajevo - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jingle Bells - Barbra Streisand

Post-Christmas Week

With Christmas 2014 behind us, I've discovered some less obvious holiday things that made me happy during this post-Christmas week. They are: 

1. Having a fridge filled with leftovers from Christmas dinner. 

2. Eating homemade rum cake for the first time. Yum!

3. Having extra down time to spend with my family & no schedules to follow! #Relaxation

4. Christmas cookies. Need I say more? 

5. Visits with family and friends who I don't see often enough. 

There were also several non-holiday-esque things that made me happy during the post-Christmas week: 

1. Take out from Orchid- Always a treat. This time I tried the chicken lo mein. Did not disappoint. 

2. Rediscovering ice skating. Haven't skated in years. A great time!

3. A sesame bagel from My Three Sons in GC. Surprisingly good. 

4. Continuing the hunt for best local pizza at Mama Theresa's in GC Park. Tasty but the search continues. 

5. Realizing I can still do the hula hoop! Great exercise and so fun.

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Something's Baking

I love the smell of something baking in the oven. With Christmas now over, I realized that I've done more baking in these last few weeks than I probably have over the entire year. I somehow squeezed in the time for scratch baking cupcakes, cookies, cakes and brownies. The baking is still going on in my house during this post-Christmas week and will likely continue right up to New Years. Here are a few of my faves that filled my kitchen with fantastic aromas this holiday season:

chocolate chip pumpkin bread

almond biscotti

pumpkin cheesecake

chocolate cupcakes

almond crescents

hershey kiss blossoms

sugar cookies

chocolate biscotti 
pumpkin cookies

chocolate chip cookies- everyone's all time favorite!

Of course, attending a cookie exchange party helps to add to your variety of baked goods without adding to your time spent in the kitchen. I came home from that party with a ton of delicious home-baked sweets. A big "Thanks" to whoever came up with the fantastic idea of exchanging holiday cookies. I'll bet it was a busy (and obviously very smart) woman! 

What baked in your kitchen this holiday season?

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Take Better Holiday Photos!

Photographer Kenny Lombardi is guest blogging today with some tips on how to take better photos- just in time for the holidays! I'm sure we could all stand to improve our pics a bit. Here's some advice from a pro:

Looking for some tips to make your holiday photos a bit more interesting?  It might be easier than you think. Many people think that a camera is the most important factor in photography, but it’s not.  In fact the most influential piece of the photography puzzle usually sits behind the camera. That’s right …YOU!

Envie of Seventh

It is pretty difficult to walk by Envie, a boutique on Seventh Street, without stopping by to see what unique items are in…and not very difficult to end up leaving with a shopping bag. Envie is neatly laid out inside and the items are fabulous. One thing I loved is the numerous pieces that are, as I call it, made with a conscience … for instance We Dream in Color is one designer you'll see whose jewelry is handcrafted in the US "in a socially conscious fashion with minimal environmental impact". And the pieces are awesome.

You'll also find an array of jewelry that has an edgy vibe to it: think metals and leather. You can definitely stop into Envie after your outfit is set and tie it all together with any of these pieces. These cuffs are gorgeous and are a sneaky way to tie in some subtle chic to any outfit.

Envie boasts some vibrant necklaces and bracelets as well. Get one (or two) of these into your repertoire for a classy update to any outfit. It’s pretty hard to choose a favorite.

Accessories are truly a great way to test out a bold color or style without fully committing to it. Plus, who doesn’t love a big beautiful necklace? Envie has a number that will make a statement. This beautiful piece is what outfits are made around:

Envie has tons of amazing necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and other great accessories that would make most anyone on your shopping list very happy. There are also some cute bags, hats and scarves too. Last but not least — I can’t forget to mention the Liquid Metal belts I spotted in a tucked-away basket. A must-have that would give any outfit just the right amount of swank. 

All in all – Envie is a lovely store to stop into as you’re perusing the boutiques along Seventh Street. There are a variety of quality accessories that fit the bill if you're looking for something a bit edgy or if you just want to spice up a more traditional outfit. A perfect mix! Envie's owner, Christina, is super sweet and the staff is equally gracious and professional. Worth a trip if you don't live in GC, even better if you do!

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A New Leaf

Considering tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water, A New Leaf Tea Emporium has got you covered. Located at 152 Seventh St, Garden City, A New Leaf is a cozy tea shop with an upscale vibe. It's warm interior with wood decor, trendy wall tiles and ample tables and chairs may give you the feeling of walking into your own kitchen- as well as your living room. I don't know about you but those are the two rooms in my house that I love the most! I appreciate their set up of tables and chairs vs couches. It's comfortable but less casual than the plush couches and chairs that you find in most coffee houses. I'm kind of over wanting to feel like I'm in an episode of Friends anyway. That's so.... [whatever decade that was...].

The teas smell fabulous and their names are very enticing- Bourbon Street Vanilla, Creme Brulee Mint, Nutcracker, Rocky Horror Spice, Golden Monkey, Blue Sapphire, etc... The gracious owner, Kimberly, brings the tea canisters to you so you can sniff their aroma before choosing your brew. There are too many teas to count and it was a tough call but I went with the Nutcracker. With a little bit of honey, it was fantastic although the most interesting sounding may have been the wine-inspired teas such as White Champagne Raspberry and Assam Cabernet. Next time...

There is also a nice selection of scones and cookies as well as delicious jams from Sarabeth's- one of my all time fave brunch places in NYC. Plus, there are some cute items that would make great gifts- tea cups with their own lids (I normally place a small saucer on my mug to keep my tea warm at home but a ceramic lid that matches and perfectly fits the mug would be much nicer), tea travel mugs, unique tea pots and tea sets. I've always thought that an interesting tea pot on your stovetop is a fun item to have in the kitchen rather than a traditional looking one that everyone has. My latest pot was made entirely of clear glass with a funky blue ball on top which was the knob for the lid, but I digress...

Some major pluses about A New Leaf- friendly and informative staff, a serious selection of teas, unique gift items, comfortable atmosphere- all good reasons to go back and try a different tea. I will definitely be making a trip back very soon. 

The Newcomer's Cocktail

Since I never pledged a sorority in college, I finally got my opportunity to attend a sorority-like event. It was the Welcoming Club of Garden City's Newcomer's Cocktail at Tiffany's in Manhasset- just the excuse my fellow suburbanites and I needed to "swank-it-up" a bit on a Thursday night.

The Welcoming Club certainly checked all the boxes on this night. They served delicious cocktails and appetizers. A good number of Tiffany's employees were on-hand in case anyone got the urge to shop during the evening (and shop they did). 

Groupon: Buyer Beware

If you're like me, you're often tempted by deals on Groupon or Living Social b/c you think you're going to save money. If you're even more like me, you often don't use the groupons you've purchased. But they always sound like a great deal, don't they? Think again... 

I purchased a Groupon for JC Penny store portraits- $25 for a photography session plus 3 digital images and two printed photos. Sounded great and much cheaper than using a private professional photographer. I'm not usually a fan of department store portraits and the typical holiday card- kids dressed in fancy clothes complete with red velvet, bows, ribbons, bells and reindeer sweaters, while sitting in front of a fake fireplace/reindeer/drunken Santa Claus.... But I decided to give it a try b/c $25 is an absolute bargain.  

ORCHID- Go to it.

If for no other reason than the comedy, go to Orchid on Franklin Ave, Garden City. As soon as you walk in, you're looking at mirrored ceilings and bright red-carpeted stairs. The restaurant is in a basement space and it's huge. When you get down the stairs, you'll see an abundance of cheerful Chinese waiters dressed in tuxedos running around. The downstairs decor does not disappoint: plastic flowers everywhere, lots of red and gold, mirrors on the entire ceiling and on every empty wall space, and plenty of large glitzy chandeliers that are reminiscent of an Atlantic City casino. It seems that time froze at Orchid in terms of decor. And for some reason, there's a large and very strange-looking stuffed animal creature that sits on top of the bar. The cheesy decor is all part of the charm. 

But the comedy stops here- they have an extensive menu and the food was great. It wasn't typical greasy, Americanized Chinese food that I usually get. It was lighter and tastier. Waiters were friendly and funny and very attentive. There was a lively party going on in one of the other rooms and most of the customers dining that Friday night seemed like regulars. I can see why this place is called a GC institution- it delivers quality food with a dose of entertainment. I will definitely go back and this time bring the kids. They'll love the bizarre creature on the bar. All part of the charm...

Hurricane Sandy Lessons

On the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, I am compelled to take a walk down memory lane and recap the lessons I learned after living through it and being displaced from my home for 5 months.

1. Don't ignore your neighbors. Especially in urban settings, people tend to say hello to one another (sometimes) but don't really become friendly. I learned that this was a mistake. When disaster struck, our Hoboken neighbors helped one another tremendously- sharing the news of what was happening by yelling it from house to house through open windows, lending lanterns and batteries, sharing food and water, charging flooded car batteries... the list goes on and on. 

2. Don't ignore your family- you might need to live in their house for five months one day (Thanks mom and dad)!

3. Appreciate what you have. Regardless of what you don't like about your house or apartment, you will miss it dearly after you've spent five months living with family (see #2). 

4. Write your address on your trash cans. They may end up floating many blocks away and someone just might return them to you. 

5. Never underestimate a hot dog. The only thing better than eating a hot dog at a baseball game is eating a hot dog that your neighbor passed through your second floor bedroom window (from his adjacent balcony) after you've existed on only pretzels and granola bars for two days.

6. You will find that something good happens after something bad.  

7. Weather forecasters can be accurate sometimes. 

8. Keep your flood insurance up to date. Enough said.

9. Talk to strangers. Their kindness may surprise you. People we didn't know at all, or just barely knew, helped in many ways.   

10. Move to higher ground. 

10 Things GC women will never say

1. I'm thinking of leaving my bunco group for one that actually plays bunco.

2. Does anyone know if Garden City has a lacrosse team? 

Fall Fun in GC

It's that time of year again: days are shorter, weather is colder, the windows close, the heat goes on, noses sniffle (particularly in the seat next to me when I'm on mass transit)... Oh the glories of fall! As I try to get into the fall spirit, I have to admit that it's a real effort for me. I just can't feel genuinely excited and happy about cold weather, jackets, no more days at the beach- especially when the only season worse than fall (winter) is right around the corner. I do get a small amount of pleasure from some fall-related indulgences though (leather boots for instance). However, the season is upon us and I am putting in a good effort to find and enjoy a few fall things in my new digs. Let's face it. it's either that or start looking at Florida real estate. Here's my list of 5 ways to enjoy fall in GC:

My First Bunco Night

"You're seriously playing Bunco??" is a question I would teasingly ask my older sister when I was living the life in the city and she was in the burbs with a husband and kids. I would envision her sitting around with a group of sweat pant-wearing moms, chatting about potty training, playing a silly game, eating chips and dip, while I would be out at some hot new club or restaurant. I vowed I would never play. My, how times have changed. 

Drive Everywhere Syndrome Challenge

One thing I've noticed since leaving urban life and transitioning to Garden City is that DES, Drive Everywhere Syndrome, is rampant. Even those suburbanites who've left city life and say they miss walking everywhere have fallen victim. This could be for a variety of reasons- convenience, things are naturally more spread out in the burbs, comfort, the euphoria of having ample parking, etc. 

Mmmm... Beer

A friend once told me that it's worth a trip to Belgium just for the beer. I think you can say the same for Waterzooi on Franklin Ave in Garden City: The beer alone is a reason to go. But the food doesn't take a backseat to the beer. Picture buckets of mussels, an extensive Belgium beer menu and great "frites" served with real mayo.

The restaurant looks like it belongs in the West Village. When you look up at the garage door hovering overhead, you could also be in the Meatpacking district. The ambiance was great- cool decor and lighting. If you're looking for a place to wear your trendier NYC clothes in suburbia, add Waterzooi to your list.

As for the food, there were so many combinations of sauces and toppings for the mussels, it was a tough decision. The bouillabaisse style- topped with shrimp and lobster in tomato/crab broth- was delicious. Of course they were served with crusty bread for dipping (not quite Dom's bread in Hoboken, but who cares when you're dipping into yummy seafood broth with a delicious Belgium beer on the side?). I drank the Sophie, which had a slight citrus flavor and was very tasty. It paired well with the Waterzoii entree- jumbo shrimp, lobster, little neck clams, mussels, sweet corn and yukon golds in a creamy broth- which was fantastic. I look forward to trying the escargot, oysters, steaks, lobster mac and cheese, and Belgium waffles for dessert... so many interesting options on the menu, plus friendly service, cool ambiance, Belgium beers... I will definitely be back.

What is GC wearing? (Sept. edition)

What is GC wearing?

I didn’t know what to expect fashion-wise when I first moved here. I had heard a variety of things that would send an urban girl running such as “you can’t wear the same thing twice” and “the women wear tennis skirts every day”. Well, I was pleasantly surprised.

Summertime revealed a lot of very simple, casual dressers. Whoever was not away at their summer homes was around town in shorts and tees, casual summer dresses and sandals. The sports fields had much of the same casual look. But the start of school has revealed a whole different fashion animal that did not disappoint- distressed jeans, skinny jeans, cool scarves, awesome shoes and great bags- with a notable Louis Vuitton presence.  I’ve also spotted a fair amount of studs (on clothes, shoes, accessories) and bright colors. Everyone seemed to bring their A-game to the start of the school year and I’d say the crowd is definitely well dressed and on-trend, but not overdone. Although I’m not a fan of the cold weather (or football), I am looking forward to seeing what fall fashion brings to GC.

Pizza Taste Test: Umberto's Cheese vs Grandma

So I had a few people at my house on Monday night and decided to order some pizza. I've heard Umberto's on Jericho Tpke in New Hyde Park is the place to beat, so I ordered two pies. I thought it would be fun to taste test two pies- the regular cheese and the Grandma pie which, I recently learned, originated on Long Island. I've had some pretty good, dare I say... fabulous, Grandma pizza and I was excited to try Umberto's- the local favorite.

When the pies arrived, the cheese pizza looked great but the Grandma didn't look like a traditional Grandma. Yes, it was square, but it appeared thick and cheesy- like a typical cheese pie. I was wary.

I first tasted the regular pie and it did not disappoint. I wouldn't tell you it's the must-have pizza of all time, but I wouldn't NOT recommend it. It definitely held its own. Then for the Grandma- it was a disappointment. It was thick and very cheesy- as I suspected- and didn't have garlic or thick chopped tomatoes on top. It had regular pizza sauce and what seemed like an abundance of cheese- like your everyday slice. It was heavy on the basil, as most Grandmas usually are, but it lacked the other ingredients that a real Grandma should have- square thin crust, light on the cheese, crushed chunky tomatoes and fresh garlic.

I have to say that I was underwhelmed with Umberto's Grandma pizza but would eat their regular cheese pizza again. Maybe I've been spoiled by great Hoboken and NYC pizza for too long. As for good Grandma pizza around GC, the search continues. Any suggestions?

Cool at the Pool

One thing I’ve discovered, and totally enjoyed, is the Garden City Pool. This has been great for me. I have a place to go with my kids on hot summer days when we are in town and still don’t have any friends. Lol. It requires zero planning and it provides tons of entertainment for them (i.e., less work for me).

City Fix: Coney Island

Woke up on Saturday morning and needed a city fix. The sun was out, mid 80s in August-- a perfect Long Island beach day. After some quick math: City + Beach = Coney Island. The drive was a quick 35 minutes from Garden City w/o traffic and plenty of parking at the NY Aquarium, which has made a nice recovery from Sandy. I hear it will be fully reopened and remodeled in 2016. You can see the Cyclone from the Aquarium parking lot, which sets a nice backdrop for the day. 

After the Aquarium (no need for more than an hour there), you're right in the middle of the boardwalk action. We caught an awesome sandcastle contest on the beach. My friend Kenny, who is also a fantastic photographer, captured the artists with his lens and gave us an insider's view of Coney Island. The kids loved the rides at Luna Park (definitely get the 20 ticket pack for 2 kids) and of course we stopped at Nathan's for hot dogs and lemonade. I wouldn't wait in that line again, but I would hit the original Nathan's next time. It's a little bit more than a block off the beach. Yes, this is the site where Joey Chestnut ate 73 hot dogs on July 4th to roaring crowds. 

Smackdown with the Mailbox

Funny thing about suburgatory- even the mailboxes are different.  Now maybe I’m a naive city girl, but I have never seen a drive up mailbox -- just one of the many “conveniences” that you get in the burbs. Forget those days of unnecessary walking to mail a letter. You simply pull up, throw the mail down the chute that sticks out like an elephant’s trunk and drive away in your minivan.  Seems like a perfectly safe and convenient way to deposit your mail. Well, sort of… if you’re not a suburb newbie.

Ever wonder what might happen if you try to stick 120 letters (i.e. new address cards) into one of these things at once? Well, they get stuck in the chute. Yup they got stuck and of course, instead of letting the professional mailbox people handle it, I took matters into my own hands and stuck my arm down the chute to push them in further. When that didn’t work, I then tried to pull them out and inadvertently pulled out another person’s mail. I think there’s a federal crime in there somewhere- but I did put it right back- 5 second rule?

City Girl Meets Costco

I had my first Costco experience last week. Coming from tiny food markets, specialty stores and one small grocery store, I didn’t know what to expect from the warehouse.

Truly massive containers of everything filled the shelves- salt, peanut butter, hummus, etc… After wondering why anyone would need such massive quantities, I realized what everyone must have in common: STORAGE SPACE. That is certainly one thing that city dwellers lack and constantly envy. Now that I have ample storage space, I was free to join the crowds and buy, buy, buy. Randomly placed free samples of food seemed to attract the shoppers. I think I saw the same guy in different disguises go back multiple times to rock extra crab dip samples.  I’ll have to remember this tip for next time if they’re offering something really good, like anything chocolate.

I wisely kept my first trip short and after being persuaded by the guy at check out to upgrade my brand new membership to the gold star executive level, I pushed my massive cart out to my minivan (yes, I now own a mini van). Now I’m at home with fifteen half gallons of milk in the fridge (seriously), a box of Cheerios that’s the size of my microwave and an eight-pack of Neosporin- some of which I will bequeath to my grandchildren. The take home: I prefer the intimacy and charm of those tiny, overpriced city markets, but I can say that I survived Costco, even accepted it for it’s place in suburbia, and will likely return for more Cheerios one day.

I moved to Garden City

I moved to Garden City, NY on June 30, 2013. I came from Hoboken, NJ- a vastly different place and one that grew dear to my heart. I went from urban to suburban with my four city kids and husband. I could proudly say that my kids didn't know what a lawnmower was and never played in playgrounds devoid of other children. But they could hail a taxi and order a latte.

As I am making my way in a completely different setting, I feel like I am in a new world, or on the other side of the fence. The Garden City side is a new place that is filled with possibilities- new faces, new places, new experiences. That's an exciting thought, but it's also unexplored, far from my bustling, energetic city where I knew every corner, store, and restaurant like the back of my hand; where I had countless friends and even more social activities. I was a true insider. 

It would have been so easy to linger a bit longer in Hoboken. But I am in a brand new place with very few friends and familiar faces- using my GPS every time I pull out of the driveway- and I am trying to get back onto the other side of the fence again. The insider side. My question- how does a former insider who is now an outsider become an insider again? I will let you know as I figure it out myself.