Party Party

So you want to have some friends over for some drinks, but you don't want the stress of putting it all together? Or you don't want to have the same old thing at your house that everyone else has at theirs? At a party recently, I spied some pretty cool ideas that were pretty simple, yet fun and different. I thought I'd share them with you. 

First, the drinks...

 Make your own mimosa instructions.

Very simple, right? 

 Use any fresh fruit you like for garnish.

I thought the make-your-own mimosa bar was a cute idea and so easy. Also, you don't have to deal with making drinks during the party. It's completely self serve yet something a little bit different than the standard line-up of wine bottles. Set this up and you're done. 

Onto the next idea... Jenga anyone?

Jenga in a jar

I loved the Jenga in a jar idea as well. Sitting on a table at the party was a jar of Jenga pieces and some markers. Guests took a wooden piece of the Jenga puzzle and wrote a message on it for the honoree. The message could be a piece of advice, something funny or just a good wish. Then the personalized Jenga game becomes  a gift and also a great memory for the party's honoree. This is a great idea for an anniversary or birthday party, as well as a shower/engagement or retirement party. 

Last but not least, and my personal favorite, was the wine basket gift idea. See below:

A wine basket like no other!

If you're in need of a gift to bring to a party but want to give something different, this is a fantastic idea that proves you are a guest who goes the extra mile! Purchase an attractive basket or container and fill it with wine bottles but (and here's the thoughtful part) mark each bottle with a tag or label stating when the recipient is to drink that particular bottle. You could make the messages funny (To drink if you ever get a hole-in-one) or thoughtful (To enjoy on your next anniversary or Open on Valentine's Day). You could put as many or as few bottles in as you'd like. The basket I saw had a year's worth of wine in it (12 bottles- one per month) with a cute message written on each bottle. Who wouldn't love to receive this gift?

Hope I've given you some new and interesting ideas for your next gathering. Cheers!

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Weekend Events Guide: June 26th Edition

Hooray! It's officially summer and the last weekend of June. There's a lot to do this weekend before July 4th celebrations begin! Here's your guide to what's happening in and around Garden City.

Friday- Woo hoo! It's Mardi Gras Night at the GC Friday Night Promenade. Hang out with your friends and neighbors while supporting our local businesses. Enjoy face painters, balloon animals, live music, outdoor dining, shopping and socializing. Wear your mardi gras beads! 6pm-10pm on Seventh St.

Friday- The Salute to Motown concert takes place in Eisenhower Park. Lakeside Theatre. Cost: free. 7pm.

Friday- Live music at Doc O'Grady's. The fun starts at 9pm. 273 Nassau Blvd South, garden City South. 

Friday and Saturday- Enjoy live music at the Patio Bar at the Garden City Hotel. Seventh St. 4pm until closing. 

Saturday- The Cradle of Aviation Museum is holding it's "Saturday Space Lab" in their Jet Blue Sky Theater Planetarium. This interactive experience will teach you about space, science and astronomy. Call 516-572-4066 for reservations. Cost: Adult $8. Child, Senior $712pm-1pm

Saturday- Get in on a little pre-4th of July action with the "Celebrate America" Fireworks and Show at Eisenhower Park's Lakeside Theatre. Cost: free. 5pm.

Saturday- Free craft for kids at Lakeshore Learning Store. 11am-3pm. 

Sunday- If you're a bug lover, don't miss the Bug Bonanza at the LI Children's Museum. There will be bug scientists, bug face painting, bug crafts and more! Cost: free with museum admission. 12noon-4pm. 11 Davis Ave, Garden City. 

Sunday- It's Ukrainian American night at Eisenhower Park. Lakeside Theatre. Cost: free. 7pm.


Please email insidegardencity@gmail.com to add a special event or promotion to our weekend guide. Thanks for reading InsideGardenCity.com. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

A Review- MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Back on the blog today is Carly Hampton, our resident movie and TV expert. Below, she gives us a movie review of Mad Max: Fury Road. Read on and enjoy!

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

It’s got chills! It’s got thrills! It’s got cliché opening lines. It’s my review on Mad Max. Let’s dive in! 

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ starring Tom Hardy (Max) and Charlize Theron (Furiosa) was an amazing action packed film. It was so good that I felt the need to see it a few times. I typically don’t go for action movies but this was amazing. The movie has nonstop action, great acting and epic visuals.  

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is the 4^th and newest installment of the Mad Max films. The film takes place in a post apocalyptic society set in a desert wasteland. Max is a lone warrior captured by a band of “War Boys”, the army of warlord, Immotan Joe’s Citadel. 

Furiosa drives a war rig for Joe used for picking up fuel. When she unexpectedly changes course, Joe discovers she has taken his slave wives. Joe and his War Boys set out to get them back. Furiosa is bringing the girls to the “Green Place”, a place where Furiosa grew up before being taken by Joe herself. 

Nux, a sick War Boy, brings Max, a universal donor, into battle as his blood bag. I know. Super gross. Finally crossing paths, Max teams up with Furiosa and the chase begins.

The film focuses more on Furiosa and the wives than it does Max, despite the title of the film. I loved that the women in the movie weren’t depicted as “damsels in distress” which action movies often do with women. These ladies didn’t just sit around hoping they would make it to the “Green Place”. They would gear up and battle. Some might not like the fact that the movie doesn’t focus totally on Max but if that’s what you’re looking for, then watch the original film “Mad Max”. I think the movie is forward and wasn’t buying into cliché tropes. Everyone in the movie was human and acted and reacted as such.

 Remember when I told you earlier that this movie has nonstop action? I wasn’t kidding. From the moment Max is captured to the very end of the movie, we are given maybe 3 times to take a breath. This film gives credit to it’s audience which I personally love. Nothing about this film was clunky or expositional. We catch on as we watch, leaving a ton of room for action. Even when there wasn’t much action, the War Boys were right on their tales leaving me in suspense the entire time.

Visual choices the director made really helped this movie pop. Some action sequences were very theatrical and although intense, very mesmerizing. The movie would get a little bit graphic but nothing I couldn’t stomach. The opening sequence, when Max is captured, was awesome. They made the scene more intense by pulling frames out of the shots and using quick cuts. They do a lot of these things during the entire movie.

I think this movie is definitely worth seeing. Maybe on a rainy summer day you can head to the theater or wait until it’s released on DVD- either way I think it’s a must see. If you love action movies, this is the film for you.  

If you’ve seen it or go to see it, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading! 

Quick. Easy. Brownies.

You know the feeling- you want something sweet but don't know what. There's nothing in the kitchen that appeals to you. You know home baked is always healthier than store bought but you don't have a ton of time (nor do you want) to follow a long recipe. We've got three words: Quick. Easy. Brownies. 

If you're short on time or if you are not a baker (you know who you are), you can definitely succeed at these brownies and impress someone! I love the simplicity and ease of this recipe: 

1 1/4 cup of Nutella, 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of flour. Mix it all together, pour into a pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 mins. Be careful not to overbake. 

And that's it. So simple. Here's how mine turned out: 

Not bad for 15 minutes- from start to finish. Click here to see the clip I watched which inspired me to try this recipe. Yes, it really is this easy. Happy baking!


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A Long Lasting Mani? It Does Exist!

A friend recently had some great looking nails and when I complimented her on them, she told me she had gotten the manicure nearly two weeks ago. I almost spit out my iced latte right then and there. Had I heard wrong? Could a long lasting mani really exist?

After a little coercing, she let me in on her secret... a GEL manicure. Gel? She said it usually lasts her two weeks! As someone who long ago gave up getting color on her nails during a manicure because it chips within a day or two {it's true... I only get clear nail polish- to the dismay of the nail tech who always seems disappointed}, that was all I needed to hear! 

I asked Yuri at Nail Boutique on Franklin Ave about the gel mani and she confirmed that it usually lasts ten days to two weeks. I figured it would take an extra long time to administer {I'm not very patient with these things} but she said that it took about the same amount of time as a regular mani. Sign me up!

I chose my color from a selection of plastic nail samples, not the regular line-up of bottles on the wall. Then we began. It was pretty much like a regular manicure. The gel nail polish and the LED light {no harmful UV rays here} were the only things that differed from the norm. But, and here's the best part... there was no waiting for my nails to dry post-manicure. As soon as the tech was done, they were dry! And I mean dry as in I-could-rummage-through-my-bag-for-my-keys-dry immediately after. This was such a pleasure because I almost always smudge my mani right before or right after leaving the salon. Not anymore!

As always, I received a great shoulder and back massage during the mani- which is a nice little treat. And the salon was clean as a whistle. I really appreciate smaller shops rather than chains. So next time your nails need a little sprucing, try a gel mani. I'm already five days in and without a nick or chip in sight, I'm feeling pretty positive about this mani's staying power!

PERK ALERT: Nail Boutique will provide a 10% discount to all new customers when you mention Inside Garden City.

I also sneaked in a pedi and a little waxing while I was there. 

Always neat. 

Clean as a whistle.  

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I Never Did Like My Scale...

The awesome and knowledgable personal trainers from Studio Strength on Franklin Ave are back on the blog today! They're here to give us some fit-spiration {womp, womp} as we enter bathing suit season! With the GC pool now open, the official start of summer is just a few days away....

Don't Be a Slave to the Scale

Hey you! Get away from that scale! That's right, I said get away from that scale. When trying to lose weight, the scale is not your friend. 

People who are dieting can become fixated on the number on the scale. But it's important to know that the scale doesn't give you a clear picture of your fat loss progress. Notice I said FAT loss and not weight loss. When dieting and exercising, your goal is to maintain or build lean muscle mass while reducing body fat. That will give you the lean, sculpted look everyone wants to achieve. It's about losing body fat, not just losing "weight".  Therefore, factors other than weight need to be considered. Those factors include: How do your clothes fit?  A looser waistline or a baggy shirt tell you your body is getting smaller. How do you feel? As you lose body fat, you will have more energy. How do you look? As the body fat decreases and you develop lean muscle mass, you will look leaner and tighter.  Are you getting stronger?  Notice how much easier it is to perform every day tasks or to play your favorite sport?  That means you're gaining strength. Have you done your body measurements?  Body measurements will change and you will lose inches as you lose body fat.

All this being said, there is a time and a place for weighing in. But before you do, there are some things you need to keep in mind. First of all, muscle weighs more than fat.  You might look leaner and your clothes might fit better because you lost body fat and gained lean muscle  mass, but your weight may not have changed. Also, it's important not to weigh yourself every day. You can expect daily weight fluctuations base on what you eat and drink, your salt intake or eating right before you get on the scale. A weekly weigh in will give you a clearer picture of your progress. So pick a time each week when you will weigh yourself using the same scale, with an empty stomach and under the same conditions. 

Remember, there are several ways to judge your progress while dieting and working out. Pay attention to how you look and feel and don't be so tied to that number in the scale. It doesn't give you the whole picture.




This article was written by the owners of Studio Strength, Juan Mayoral and Christine Inguanta.  Studio Strength is located at 960 Franklin Ave., Garden City.  Please visit our website www.studiostrength.com, email studiostrength@aol.com or call (516) 385-8188 with any questions, comments or information about our articles, fitness or training studio.  If you enjoy this article, please like us on Facebook and share. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram.   


Thanks for more helpful tips Studio Strength! Please remember to follow InsideGardenCity.com on Facebook and Instagram.

Weekend Events Guide: June 12th Edition

From festivals to promenades... it's going to be a  great weekend! Here's your guide to what's happening in and around Garden City.  

Friday- The GC Friday Night Promenade kicks off summer tonight! 6pm-10pm. Seventh St., Garden City

Saturday and Sunday- The Annual Eternal Con: Long Island Comic Con takes place at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Come and celebrate all things pop culture! Sat admissions: Adult $25, Children 2-12 $12. Sun admission: Adult $20, Child $6. Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City. Sat 10am-7pm.

Saturday and Sunday- Enjoy the classic tale of Cinderella at the Long Island Children's Museum. Cost: $12 nonmember, $10 member. Showtime: 11:30am, 2pm. 11 Davis Ave, Garden City.

Saturday- Hit the Garden City Pool for opening day! Take advantage of one of this town's greatest offering's and join the pool (GC residents only). Click here to register.

Saturday- Take part in the Caribbean Festival in Eisenhower Park. Lakeside Theatre. 2pm-9pm. Cost: free.

Saturday- Free craft for kids at Lakeshore Learning Store. 11am-3pm. Cost: free. 2079 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park. 

Saturday- Free soccer clinic continues at Eisenhower Park. Ages 3-6. Clinic is provided by Rock Star Sports. Field 2, 10am. Click here for more information. This weekend will be the sixth week of the program.

Saturday- Eisenhower Park's Family Fun Festival. Enjoy raffles, 26 different rides, games and international food court! Fri 6pm-11pm, Sat 1pm-11pm, Sun 1pm-6pm. Field 2. 

Saturday- Enjoy the music of From Classical to Contemporary at Adelphi University. Players from Adelphi's Symphony Orchestra join professional conductors to present selected works from Mozart, Beethoven, Copland and Stravinsky. Westermann Stage, Concert Hall. Cost: $20. Click here to purchase tickets.


Enjoy your weekend and please remember to follow Inside Garden City on Facebook and Instagram!

Email us at insidegardencity@gmail.com to have an event or special promotion published on the weekend events guide. 

Get Your Smile On {with Cosmetic Dentistry}

Now that summer has {almost} arrived, get your smile on with Dr. Dominique Lizzio of Long Island Family Dentistry in Garden City. Below, Dr. Lizzio tells us how to get the smile we want with cosmetic dentistry. Dr Lizzio has just been featured in the May issue of the Long Island Pulse as a 2015 Doctor of Distinction in the category of Cosmetic Dentistry. So you're hearing from a real pro folks! Congrats to Dr. Lizzio on that great honor. 

Whether you want to improve your smile for a job interview or have a perfect smile on your wedding day, cosmetic dentistry has quickly become one of the most popular ways to improve your appearance. From subtle changes to overall repair, adults are finding themselves at the dentist discussing more than just preventing cavities. Procedures such as Invisalign or porcelain veneers can dramatically change your smile while sometimes providing added benefits of improving oral problems, such as your bite. Less invasive procedures such as tooth whitening or tooth recontouring can be a quick fix that can have you walking around with better looking teeth in about an hour. 

If it's whiter teeth you want, tooth whitening is a fast and simple way to get rid of years of stain that have embedded onto your tooth surface. Whitening can be done in two ways, either at home or in the dental office. Both treatments, when supervised by a dentist, can whiten and brighten teeth with no adverse effects to tooth enamel. 

If you are bothered by a few teeth that are slightly misaligned or misshapen, bonding or recontouring can be done easily in just one dental visit. In most cases, even spaces between teeth can be closed easily by bonding tooth colored material onto tooth surfaces. This treatment can last for several years.

Although usually requiring more than one visit, porcelain veneers or crowns offer a strong, color stable alternative to improving your smile. This procedure usually requires the dentist to take an impression of your teeth, which is sent to a dental laboratory to have the desired restoration made. These types of restorations are a great and long lasting way to permanently change the shape and color of your teeth, giving you a picture perfect smile. 

Making time to consult with a dentist that has experience in cosmetic dental care is the best way to begin to understand which option is best for improving your smile. With the right treatment you can increase your self confidence and be comfortable knowing that your smile reflects who you truly are.


Dr. Lizzio can be reached at Long Island Family Dental. 901 Stewart Ave, GC. 516-747-2400

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GC's Belmont Festival 2015

The annual GC Belmont Festival proved to be another success this year. The festival brought a lot of to the table with live music by Jerry and the Newcomers, dancing by the Broadway Bound performers, pony rides, a dunking booth, lots of fun children's activities, raffles, vendors, firetrucks, volleyball and so much more! Take a look for yourself if you missed it:

 Jerry and the Newcomers rocked!

 Thank you Cradle of Aviation Museum. 

 One sample of the many kids' activities. 

The Mad Science table was pumpin'. 

Long waits for the horses.

Maybe we need a few more for next year? 

One suggestion for next year- three ponies may not be enough for the amount of kids that attend the festival. There was over a 30 minute wait at various times which is really too much for small kids. How about four or five ponies next year? It is the Belmont Festival after all.

After the children went home and night fell, the festival shifted to a more adult atmosphere. With Seventh St. still closed to traffic and restaurants turning out great food and beer, the crowd at "Belmont After Dark" enjoyed a night of friends, neighbors and fun. A fantastic tradition and a great way to start the weekend!


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Weekend Events Guide: June 5th Edition

Jockeys and horse owners checked into the GC Hotel this week-making it evident that the big weekend was approaching. Now here we are and it's an especially big weekend for American Pharaoh! Will he take the crown?? There are lots of race {and also non-race} related events to going on in and around Garden City this weekend. Enjoy!

Friday- The 18th Annual Belmont Festival on 7th St in Garden City takes place from 6pm-10pm. Come for live music, facepainting, bouncy houses, food, drinks, live entertainment and more. This is always a great night to catch up with your friends and neighbors!

Friday and Saturday- Head to BK Sweeney's because betting is open for the Belmont Stakes. No OTB lines for you! Enjoy their Belmont drink special on Saturday while you're there. 636 Franklin Ave, Garden City. 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday- The Eisenhower Park Family Festival will have music, games, rides, vendors and an International Food Court. Dates/Times: Fri 6pm-11pm, Sat 1pm-11pm, Sun 1pm-9pm. East Meadow.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday- Wear your "Belmont Best" to the Polo Lounge in the GC Hotel. Enjoy special Belmont food and drink menus. 

Saturday- Capo on Covert Ave is in the Belmont spirit with $15 bottles of wine {wow!}, $5 sangria and 15% off your bill of $30 or more! 49 Covert Ave, Floral Park. 

Saturday- Watch the race at the Polo Lounge in the GC Hotel and enjoy a cocktail or two- appropriately named after the race horses!

Saturday- The free soccer clinic continues at Eisenhower Park for ages 3-6. Clinic is provided by Rock Star Sports. Field 2, 10am. Click here for more information. This weekend will be the fifth week of the program.

Saturday- As on every Saturday, Lakeshore Learning Store holds a different free craft for kids each weekend. 11am-3pm. 2079 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park.  

Sunday- Stop by the Floral Park Street Festival from 2pm-7pm. Enjoy live bands, food, vendors, clowns, facepainting and more! Tulip Ave, Floral Park. 


Where will you be watching the race? Thanks for reading www.InsideGardenCity.com and please follow us on Facebook/Instagram. 

Healthy Summertime Snack

I'm sure you've tasted strawberry milk before, but have you ever tried it from scratch? I'm not just talking about blending some berries in a glass of milk.

I had some about-to-go-bad milk that I had to use fast, so I searched online for recipe ideas calling for milk. Scratch strawberry milk came up. Now, I would never call myself a strawberry milk drinker. I've probably only had it once or twice in my life. But fresh strawberry milk is a whole 'nother ballgame! It was easy, delish and I highly recommend for a healthy snack or treat.

Here's my photo essay. It's pretty self explanatory: 

 Fresh, chopped strawberries.

Add sugar and water. Boil. 

 Strain and this beautiful syrup comes through (no seeds!). 

 Pour milk into frosted glasses.

Stir in syrup. It turns light pink (not Pepto Bismol pink like the artificial kind). 

Again, I have to emphasize- I have never been a strawberry milk fan, but this is Da Bomb. Easy to make and if you use reduced fat milk, it becomes a healthy, low fat snack. Great with fresh summer berries! Give it a whirl and let me know what you think:

1 cup chopped strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 1/2 cup whole milk

Chill glasses in freezer for 10 minutes. Combine strawberries, sugar and water in saucepan and boil for 10 minutes. Pour mixture through a strainer into a small bowl. (Save the cooked strawberries and any leftover syrup to add to smoothies, yogurt or pancakes).  Add 3/4 cup milk to each glass and stir 2-3 tablespoons of the strawberry syrup (depending on how sweet you like it) into each glass of milk. Garnish with a fresh strawberry or straw if desired. 

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