5 Simple Steps to Hosting a Bunco Party

Last week I hosted my very first "Bunco Night." For those of you who don't know, bunco is basically the woman's alternative to poker night- it's a fast paced dice game. (Actually, it's really just a thinly-veiled excuse to go out, hang out and chill out.) Right now it's a hot suburban trend, but it isn't something new. Bunco has been around for years and it's a great game that gets everyone involved- if your group actually plays, that is. 

I'd say my first time hosting bunco was a success. It didn't take much time to plan. Below, I've outlined my bunco party planning in 5 simple steps:

1. Invite your group- pick a date about a month in advance and get your email invites out. 
2. Plan your Menu- my group goes with a light dinner menu, others may only do apps. Up to you. 
3. Buy some alcohol- very important.
4. Have a clean house- cleaning woman made a special trip this week : )
5. Buy some more alcohol- can never have too much!

For food, I went with Capo in Floral Park (my go-to for catering and fab panini) and it was a hit. I served an assortment of bruschetta (my fave was the portobello mushroom with walnuts, goat cheese and arugula),  a variety of panini (yes, they're better than La Bottega), grilled asparagus and a green salad with pears and gorgonzola. Yum. My guests had seconds… and thirds… and some maybe even fourths but I'm not mentioning names… always a good sign! I kept it simple with dessert- fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and strawberries with cream.

Of course, the alcohol was flowing and that always helps at any party. I had plenty of red, white and white zin on hand and also served sangria for something different. I take the fifth on how many bottles were opened, but let's just say it was a fun night! 

This should be enough to motivate you to try your hand at bunco. If you don't have a group to join, start one! You only need four people to start (or any number divisible by four), although the traditional number is 12. In some groups… ahem… it doesn't even matter how many people you have because you may be having too much fun to actually play any bunco! Truth be told, I don't even own a bunco set ; )

Inside GC Disclaimer: This article is used for informational and entertainment purposes only. Inside GC provides this information to the public and does not condone drinking and driving or excessive alcohol consumption. You must be 21 to consume alcoholic beverages.

The Scoop on the GC Real Estate Market

Kathy Lucchesi adores her home town of Garden City. Both she and her husband Chuck grew up in town and raised three children here. Her obvious love of Garden City goes hand in hand with her career in real estate. Recently, she partnered up with The Donnelly Group's Steve Baymack, fellow long-time resident and die-hard GC fan. Seeing as Kathy is a true GC Insider, I thought it would be fitting for her to guest blog today and provide us with the inside scoop on the current GC real estate market. 

Hello all! We are very pleased to be offered an opportunity to contribute to “Inside Garden City” where we can chat about all things Real Estate in Garden City. Lots of excitement surrounds the Garden City real estate market right now!

First of all, the inventory of homes in Garden City is currently at a historical low. This is wonderful news for sellers. Low inventory means more buyers fighting for your home. Sellers should know that if you are considering selling your home, seriously consider it right now. 

The market is better than ever with buyers looking to take advantage of low interest rates. We have many serious pre-qualified clients looking to buy in every area of Garden City.  Houses have been selling in record speed, and with multiple offers at very close to asking price and many times actually over the asking price. With the Spring market right around the corner, we have buyers popping up every day looking for homes in all different price ranges in town.

We would be thrilled to offer a complimentary, confidential meeting to discuss the current value of your home or to speak with you about any questions or concerns you may have in regard to your home. Please pass this offer on to any friends, family members or neighbors who you feel we could be of assistance to in any way at all.

Thanks everybody!

Best regards,

 Kathy Lucchesi, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

The Donnelly Group

516-741-4333

KathyL@TheDonnellyGroup.com

  


Steve Baymack, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 

The Donnelly Group

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IGC Weekend Events Guide March 21st Edition

Our weekend events guide is up and ready! Check out the guide below to see what's happening in and around GC:

1. Book Sale at the GC Public Library. Saturday, 3/22 from 9:30am-4:00pm. Fiction and non-fiction books available. Hard cover 25 cents, soft cover 10 cents. Can't find bargains like that anywhere these days! Proceeds benefit the GCPL.

2. Live music at Leo's. "His Boy Elroy" will be playing on Saturday, 3/22 at 9:30pm. 7th St., Garden City. 

3. Mussel Mania at Waterzooi. Sunday, 3/23. 3 course lunch or dinner for $21.95. Franklin Ave, Garden City.

4. WNET Thirteen and WLIW 21 present Family Day at Nassau Coliseum. Sunday, 3/23 starting at 11:30am. Come and meet Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat, Sid the Science Kid, Wordgirl, Buddy from Dinosaur Train and Daniel Tiger. Islanders vs. BlueJackets play at 1pm. Hempstead. 

5. MommaCon is holding their biggest event of the year. Here's a sample of what you'll see and do: Tiger Schulmann martial arts demo class, CrossFit class for kids, petting zoo, obstacle course, crafting fun, fastest lacrosse shot contest, Music for Aardvarks, Bricks 4 Kids, Music Together, acting and improv classes for kids, parenting tips, Bach to Rock, etc... Over 125 exhibitors will be in  one place to to show you everything kid and parent related in our area. Plus prizes and giveaways. $5 admission. www.mommacon.com Sunday, 3/23 from 10am-4pm. LIU Post, Brookville. 

6. LI Children's Museum presents Messy Afternoons. Saturday and Sunday from 3:30-5pm, Age: 18 months to 4 years. 11 Davis Ave, Garden City. 

7. See a funky organ and drum duo from Oklahoma City called Sugar Free Allstars at the LI Children's Museum. 11:30am and 2:00pm. 11 Davis Ave. Garden City.

And for Monday…

8. Feng Shui expert and owner of Feng Shui Manhattan, Laura Cerrano, begins her Feng Shui instructional course, Feng Shui for the Body, Mind and Spirit. This series starts on Monday, 3/24 in RVC. $50. Here's the link to register and for more information: http://fengshuimanhattan.com/feng-shui-long-island-class/


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NYC Delight

Spring has officially sprung! When the temperatures are more mild, I venture into NYC pretty often for my city-fix.

This Spring, why don't you take advantage of Garden City's close proximity to NYC and treat yourself to one of the city's best kept secrets: Daniel. Hair.

Those two words sum it up. They're all you need to know to find Daniel, NYC's hidden gem. He runs a one-man hair nirvana of sorts and has a very loyal following. He has his own space and works autonomously, from start to finish. I should mention that he is no-frills. Hate to disappoint, but there won't be any cappuccino served while you're there. No mineral water with lemons. No massages, no manis or pedis. No pushing products. He does without all of the pomp and circumstance and I appreciate that. I just care about the talent and he is it. He is All. About. The Hair.

In the past, after every haircut, I usually haaated the way it looked and went home immediately to wash and style it myself. But with Daniel, I always love it right off the bat.

So ladies (and gentlemen), if you've thought about brightening things up this spring and want to change your hair color, he's your guy. If you're unhappy with your last coloring, he can do the rehab. I myself have never colored yet, so I can't rave about his coloring skills from personal experience but I know friends who say it's fab. And if you're just thinking about freshening things up with a new cut, he's the one.

It doesn't hurt that Daniel (who is one of the nicest people I know) regularly works on Broadway shows. Occasionally, he'll provide you with a bit of Hollywood-star gossip. That's always fun. Like the time when Jack Bauer begged him for a haircut. But I'll let him tell you that story...

You may wonder why I'm sharing this secret with you. Plus, it's not "Inside Garden City." Frankly, it's simply because when I know a good thing, I like to share it, even if it seems geographically incompatible. I know I may be shooting myself in the foot by making it more difficult to get an appointment for myself, but that's okay. I'll deal. If you think it's too far of a schlep… think again.

If you want an appointment, don't call the salon's receptionist. There isn't one. Simply search www.schedulicity.com for Daniel. Hair.

You're welcome ; )

March Madness- The Search {For The Final Four of GC Pizza} Continues

Let's put aside all the madness about college hoops for a minute. It's time to get a proper pizza bracket going.

Those of you who've read my pizza posts know that I've been on the hunt for the best pizza in or near Garden City since I moved here. If you order pizza as often as I do (once a week), you start to become a little discriminating. There are some legendary spots of course- John's of Greenwich Village, Patsy's in East Harlem, Grimaldi's under the Brooklyn Bridge, Lombardi's in Little Italy and it would be a sacrilege if I didn't go back to my roots and give a shout to Crosby's in the Bronx- all of which various people would argue serve the perfect pizza. Not to mention, every pizza place on any random corner in Hoboken is pretty fab. Therefore, my tastebuds are a bit spoiled when it comes to pizza. Hence, my GC final four pizza search…

Seeing as it's the weekend, you might be feeling a little bit lazy (I know I am), and possibly even making an imprint on your couch as I type. This is called "delivery time." Moving from urban to suburban, I was very happy to see that there are plenty of food delivery options in GC. Actually, "Is there food delivery?" was one of the first questions I asked my realtor when we began our house search. If you're like me, there are a few go-to delivery options that you continue to come back to time and again. Pizza is one of those staples for me. I order this on the reg.

This time, I followed the recommendation of a friend and tried Bella Rosa pizza on Jericho Turnpike in Garden City Park. This friend is a Brooklyn native, so I take her pizza suggestions very seriously. This picture does all the justice:

The pizza was a relatively thin, crispy pie- which is good in my book. Not too dough-y. Sauce was a touch on the sweet side- also a positive for me. Nice ratio of cheese to sauce. Friendly service and prompt delivery. If I had to criticize, I'd say the crust was a little bland, but overall Bella Rosa delivers a solid pie. Would I put it above Umberto's (the GC majority's favorite from my informal surveys)? Probably not. But it's definitely good and does have a shot to end up in my Final Four.

Who's in yours?


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St. Patrick's Day Weekend Events Guide

Lots of great events going on in and around GC this weekend such as all-day bashes, live entertainment and food specials. Check them out below in the St. Patrick's Day weekend events guide. At 57 degrees on Saturday, be sure to do something outside (even if it's just walking from one bar or restaurant to another)! 

Stop at Doc O'Grady's in Garden City South for live music at 9pm on Friday. If you (and your waistband) are up for it, they'll be serving traditional Irish breakfast at noon on Sat, Sun & Mon. Think bacon… ham… sausage… etc. On the big day~ St Patrick's Day~ don't miss the Irish sing-a-long at 3pm and live Irish band from 6-9pm.  

BK Sweeney's Uptown Grille on Franklin Ave is bringing you some fun events for St Patrick's Day this weekend. Fueled by corned beef and cabbage, you may want a break from Irish music by Saturday night. If so, come over for some live classic rock (while enjoying a Guinness, Harp or Smithwick's) by Mike Tessler at 10pm. On Monday they'll have beer specials all day/night, bag pipers, some heavy green decor and employees decked out in their finest Irish costumes!  Try a Sweeney's "Famous" Irish coffee which I've heard is quite tasty.  

 

Head over to Jack Walsh's Irish Pub on Saturday at 3pm for their pre-St Patrick's Day bash. They're serving up corned beef and cabbage, shepard pie, bagpipers and dancers. The St Patrick's Day feast on Monday begins at 4pm. 108 Covert Ave in Stewart Manor.  

Leo's will be in the spirit with live music on Monday, St. Patrick's Day, starting at 5:30pm.

On Sunday from 11am-6pm come out to Hofstra's Annual Irish Experience Festival. Celebrate with live music, Irish dancing, authentic Irish food and lots of vendors. Mack Sports Complex. 

 

Don't feel much like going out? You can still celebrate by stopping at Town Meat Market on 7th Street to pick up a delicious cooked corned beef dinner- complete with cabbage, potatoes and carrots. Now that's Irish!   

If you're ready for a little non-Irish entertainment, check out the Ruth Harley Gallery at Adelphi University for the “Outdoor Sculpture Biennial” featuring 10 sculptors. Now through May 31. Mondays-Fridays, 11-7; Saturdays & Sundays, 11-5. 

What will you be doing this weekend? 

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Disclaimer: This article is used for information only. InsideGardenCity.com provides this information to the public and it does not condone drinking and driving or excessive alcohol consumption. You must be 21 to consume alcoholic beverages.

Dear GC, The Holidays Are Over...

Dear Garden City,

The Holidays are over... Decor down, please.

Well, that about says it all. Really folks, it's almost St. Patrick's Day and out-of-season decor is still hanging on many of the homes in GC. Here's a sampling of decorations I've seen just in the last week:

Quit The Pizza Habit This Lent

For as long as I can remember, pizza has been the go-to dinner for my family on Friday nights during Lent. But this year, I need a break from pizza Fridays and will try to think outside the pizza box.

My Happy {Sunday Morning} Place

It's hard to resist purchasing more than what you came in for when you walk into La Bella Bakery on Covert Avenue in Franklin Square. When the delicious cookie-filled aroma welcomed me as I walked through the door on Sunday morning, I knew I was in for a treat. It's a great no-frills place to stop in on the weekends and pick up some Italian cookies (I hear the regular chocolate chip cookies are very good too), cakes, pastry and the like...