An Easter Basket Sealed With A... Toothbrush?

Inside Garden City is happy to introduce our newest contributor: Dr Dominique Lizzio, DDS. Dr Lizzio practices and resides in Garden City with her family. She will be educating and informing us on all things dentistry and will be happy to take questions from our readers. Without further ado...

Making An Easter Basket That Your Kids And Tooth Fairy Will Love


Ok parents! Another holiday is upon us where candy and sweet treats supersede all else - EASTER!!! 

As a mom and a dentist, I have had to come up with some pretty creative ideas to keep the kids excited to see what the bunny left for them on Easter morning, while still keeping to my oath of promoting good healthy habits. Thought I would share some. Here you go...

Hard boiled eggs- those beautifully decorated eggs are not just for hiding under the dining room table. What better surprise that a genuine egg decorated from the Easter bunny himself?

Annie's Cheddar Bunnies- my kids love Goldfish crackers. Well, their bunny shaped cousin are made with real cheese. Healthy and perfect for Easter!

Clementines - Sweet, healthy and small enough make a beautiful orange splash of color in the Easter basket.

Plastic eggs filled with dried fruit or nuts. If you don't need to worry about allergies, this is the perfect surprise made by Mother Nature (a close friend of EB) herself.

Easter basket treats don't need to always be edible. I always include a copy the latest DVD or video game. Legos, stickers, temporary tattoos, bracelets, lip gloss, nail polish, silly putty and match box cars are also sure to get your little ones excited.

Trust me when I tell you, warmer weather will soon be here. Add some things they can use on the perfect spring days ahead... bubbles, sidewalk chalk, bouncy balls, a jump rope and one of my favorites- packs of seeds to help them create their own little garden.

Now don't get me wrong... the thought of an Easter basket with out some jelly beans or a chocolate bunny would be, well... sacrilegious. That's why a new toothbrush and some floss would also be a great addition!

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY EASTER EVERYONE!


Dr. Lizzio's office is located at 901 Stewart Ave., GC. 516-747-2400. You can visit her Facebook page by clicking here and the office website by clicking here. If you have a question, please email it to insidegardencity@gmail.com

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Weekend Events Guide: March 27th Edition

It's almost the end of March already. Can you believe it? Of course, there's no shortage of things to do this weekend in and around Garden City. Here are some faves:

Friday- BK Sweeney's Uptown Grille hosts Friday Fish Fest every Friday during Lent. 636 Franklin Ave, Garden City.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday- The Long Island Home Show comes to Nassau Coliseum. Find ideas, experts and inspiration all in one place for your next home improvement, landscaping or decorating project. Click here for more details. Cost: Free. Hours: Friday 11am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-6pm

Friday- Barry Manilow performs at Nassau Coliseum for the last time! 7:30pm. Click here to purchase tickets. 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday- How the Other Half Loves. "Two living rooms in two separate London flats are presented as one set, which serves simultaneously as two separate spaces, with two couples overlapping in the shared set. The wife of one couple is having an affair with the husband of the other couple-- much confusion and comedy ensues!" Showtimes: Fri 8pm, Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm. $10 per adult, $8 per senior. Click here to purchase tickets. Hofstra University's Black Box Theater, New Academic Building, South Campus.

Saturday- Easter Egg Hunt at Eisenhower Park. Come for the egg hunt, but stay for the bouncy houses, face painting, magician, live entertainment and of course... what egg hunt would be complete without... the Easter Bunny! Ages: 2 and up. 9am-12:30 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow

Saturday- Take part in the interactive Saturday Space Lab in the Cradle of Aviation Museum's Jet Blue Sky Theater Planetarium. 12pm-1pm. Cost: $8 adults, $7 children and seniors. Purchase tickets at the box office. Garden City. 516-572-4066

Saturday- Free craft for children every Saturday at the Lakeshore Learning Store from 11am-3pm. 2079 Hillside Ave in New Hyde Park. 

Saturday- Sleeping Beauty is at BroadHollow at Elmont at 2pm. Click here for details and to purchase tickets. 

Saturday and Sunday- 1776 A New Musical is showing at BroadHollow at Elmont Main Stage. Sat 8pm, Sun 2:30pm. This performance will be showing until April 20th. Click here for tickets. 

Sunday- Garden City Nursery School is hosting Brett Band For Kids at St. Paul's Cluett Hall. Come out and enjoy a musical performance for the whole family. Cost: $10. Visit GCNS.ORG to purchase tickets. 

Sunday- John Pizzarelli Big Band performs in honor of Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday! Click here for more details and ticket information. Concert Hall at the Tilles Center. 8pm

Sunday- Tricky Business is hosting The Magic Carpet Show- an hour long interactive family show which will contain music, balloons, magic and lots of fun! Cost: $5. 2590 Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow. 516-520-4004

Sunday- If you've got a budding musician, you won't want him or her to miss the New York Philharmonic in Very Young People's Concerts. Join them for games and hands-on music making. Ages: 3-6 years. Ticket cost: $20-$40. There will be two showtimes: 1pm and 3pm. Hillwood Recital Hall, Brookville. Find more details here. 

Sunday- Adlephi University is proud to host Swingtime! 
"Direct from London, The Jive Aces are internationally renowned for their superior musicianship and spectacular stage show and their energetic renditions of fresh arrangements of Swing, Jive and R & B classics by such greats as Louis Prima, Cab Calloway, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.  The Tinseltown Jitterbugs, a group of four swing dancers, and Makinna Ridgway of The Satin Dollz, will join The Jive Aces on stage for this high-energy afternoon of music." 
Westermann Stage, Concert Hall. 3pm. Cost: $35/$40. Get tickets here. 

Every day up to and including Easter Sunday, you can visit the Easter Bunny at the Roosevelt Field Mall and have your child's picture taken. Check  the Bunny's Facebook page (yep, he has one too!) for hours. 


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GC Hotel's Red Door Spa Awaits

While I don't often have a lot of time to pamper myself, I do enjoy it when I can sneak it in. However, I've often felt that finding the right place for the right pampering is easier said than done. I've been to a number of places in the past and found their pricey services left something to be desired. Last week, I hit the new Red Door Spa in the Garden City Hotel for some self-indulging.

The new location just opened in December and it's quite beautiful and zen. If you arrive early, don't sweat it since the lounge area is absolutely perfect- comfy leather seating, flowers, candles. It's more like you're in a chic apartment that just happens to have the perfect mood lighting. After I sipped my tea and relaxed for a few, I headed to the mini oxygen facial, lip facial and blowout that were awaiting me.

First I met with Morgan- a very knowledgable and pleasant aesthetician. She was completely professional and has eight years of experience under her belt. She explained what she was going to do and made sure I was okay with each step. 

Morgan first cleaned my face and removed the day's makeup.  She then exfoliated my skin with a revitalizing enzyme to help with cell turnover. It contained papaya which aids in exfoliation and smelled delish. She next focused on my pores with extractions (sorry if I'm giving TMI but I think this is a necessary part of any good facial). Morgan then added steam to soften and open up my skin and also make the products more effective.

The oxygen part of the facial was toward the end and helped hydrate my skin and reduce redness. The oxygen contains seaweed which is known for containing the most vitamins for skin nourishment and green tea for calming. The results of the oxygen treatment last 2-3 days which is why many people choose an oxygen facial before a big event. Plus, it has the added benefit of helping your makeup go on more smoothly- always a good thing. Keep in mind that you can schedule an oxygen mini facial, as I did, or just get a blast of oxygen as a quick pick me up for the skin. An oxygen treatment can also be added to any facial at Red Door and the best part- there's no redness from it or downtime at all!

Overall, my facial was fantastic. My skin was glowing and I felt completely rejuvenated as I headed to Justine for my blowout. Justine was, again, very professional and gave me the best scalp massage I've ever received. I got a great blowout too- not too straight and with a little flip at the ends. It had a good amount of body rather than blowouts I've had in the past that left my hair completely flat.

Before I left, I saw Linda for a quick makeup re-application. After having just had a facial, I was happy to see that I could easily wear makeup right after like nothing ever happened. Linda educated me as she worked. She taught me of the importance of under eye concealer in her own routine and how it's one of her can't-do-without products. I learned some good tips from Linda and purchased a few products after my time with her, although there was NO pressure to do so, which I liked.

I will definitely be back to Red Door's newest location. The staff was very professional and they all knew their stuff. Also, 2-3 days later, I still received a few compliments on my skin! I encourage you to take advantage of this new, beautiful facility right at our doorstep. Visit the Red Door Spa's website for more information on their services and to book an appointment. You can also call them at 516-747-7474. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and I never, evrrrr promote something I'm not 100% behind.


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Dear GC: The Holidays Are Over. Decor Down Please II

This feature got some laughs last year so here we go again. 

The title just about says it all folks. As we enter into Spring, some of you have been caught again with your decorations down... or should I say... up. I know it doesn't feel like it temperature-wise, but the first day of Spring has come and gone. There are no more excuses!

Here are a few of the decorations I've spotted around Garden City this week:

A beautiful wreath, but clearly holiday themed. 

These holiday bows look great, but not as we approach April!

Yet another holiday wreath with tell-tale red bow. 

 Lights. Need I say more?

Holiday wreath. Again.

 Love these holiday window boxes- for the holidays.

Even the lawn ornaments are tired of their Christmas attire. 

Wreath. Yawn.

Like the lights on the net but not for spring lax. 

I'll excuse St. Patrick's Day decorations and maybe even a stray Valentine's Day heart {because I did spot a couple of those this week too!}  but Christmas decorations have to go. Easter is a mere week and a half away. Perhaps Mother Nature is confused by all of the holiday decorations around town and if we take them down, she just might send some warmer weather our way. Now's the time, people! 


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Chocolate Peanut Butter {Healthy} Goodness

Fellow snack lovers- listen up! It’s not very often that chocolate, peanut butter and healthy all go together in the same sentence…but in this case, it’s true! Since I love food and eating but I also love "heathy", I'm always on the look out for sneaky ways to make guilt-free, yet yummy snacks. 

Ya gotta love social media. Thanks to Facebook, I came across a few snack recipes recently that are both delicious and good for you. The latest one is a bit of chocolate peanut butter goodness called Energy Balls. This is the perfect go-to snack to have lying around for those times when you're on the run but need a quick bite or when you're in-between meals and need a little somethin' somethin' but don't want to over-indulge. I've also found that they make a great pre- or post-workout snack. The best part may be that they don't need any baking- they are really very simple to make!

Here's the recipe:

ENERGY BALLS

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup old fashioned raw oats
2/3 cup shredded toasted coconut
1/2 cup ground golden flaxseed
1/3 cup chia seeds
6 Tbsp dark chocolate chips

Stir together all of the ingredients and refrigerate for 20 min, then roll into 1 inch balls and enjoy!

Tips I picked up from making these: 

-I've substituted almond meal for flaxseed.
-Slightly damp hands makes rolling into balls much easier.
-I store these in the fridge but the freezer works too.
-Use all organic ingredients if you can, but not necessary.
-Don't eat these while on a date. Those darn chia seeds get stuck in your teeth! 

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. Let me know what you think and please pass along any healthy recipes that you love!



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Weekend Events Guide: March 20th

Weekend? Yes, please! While it may not seem like the first day of Spring with snow in the forecast, there are enough events going on in and around Garden City this weekend to put some spring in your step!

Every day up to and including Easter Sunday, you can visit the Easter Bunny at the Roosevelt Field Mall and have your child's pictures taken. Check  the Bunny's Facebook page (yes, he has one) for hours. 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, catch a performance of How the Other Half Loves. "Two living rooms in two separate London flats are presented as one set, which serves simultaneously as two separate spaces, with two couples overlapping in the shared set. The wife of one couple is having an affair with the husband of the other couple-- much confusion and comedy ensues!" Showtimes: Fri 8pm, Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm. $10 per adult, $8 per senior. Click here to purchase tickets. Hofstra University's Black Box Theater, New Academic Building, South Campus.

Friday- Catch BK Sweeney's Fish Fest tonight and every Friday night during Lent and enjoy their happy hour specials from 4-7pm while you're there. 636 Franklin Ave, Garden City. 

Friday- The Tilles Center will hold the Celtic Woman 10th Anniversary Celebration. Enjoy a combination of traditional Irish music, classical favorites and contemporary pop songs. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. 

Saturday- Enjoy a night of family fun at the Long Island Children's Museum Spring EGGstravaganza! Enjoy egg relay races, face painting and more. Peter Cottontail will be a featured guest, as well as performers from National Circus Project. To see their clowning skills, catch one of these showtimes: 6:15, 7:00 or 7:45pm. $10 per person OR $14 per person including the circus. 6pm-9pm 11 Davis Ave, Garden City.

Saturday- Head to the Spring Craft Beer Festival which will showcase beers from over 50 craft brewers nationwide, including some from Long Island. 12:30pm. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1225 Hempstead Tpke, Uniondale. 

Saturday- Learn the Art of Bonsai at Hicks Nursery from 2pm-3pm. 100 Jericho Tpke, Westbury.

Saturday- See Sleeping Beaty at the BroadHollow Theatre at Elmont. 2pm. Click here for more details. 700 Hempstead Tpke, Elmont. 516-775-4420

Saturday- Enjoy the Spring Doo Wop Extravaganza at the NYCB Theatre. Showtimes: 3pm and 7pm. Click here to purchase tickets. 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. 

Saturday and Sunday-1776- A New Musical opens at BroadHollow at Elmont Main Stage. "1776 puts a human face on the pages of history as we see the men behind the national icons determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation". Showtimes: Sat 8pm, Sun 2:30 Click here for tickets. 

Saturday and Sunday- Children under the age of 12 can plant a snap pea seed at Hicks Nursery from 9am-5pm (same times for both days). 100 Jericho Tpke, Westbury.

Sunday- Pump it Up of Great Neck will hold Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Egghunt! Bounce, hunt for eggs, meet the Easter Bunny, do a craft, enjoy a bagel breakfast and even take home a goody bag! 225 Community Drive, Great Neck. $19.95 per child. Call or visit their website to register. 516-466-7867 

Sunday- Attend Summer Program Open House at the Waldorf School of Garden City. Learn about what this program can offer you and your child. 11am-1pm Visit their website for more information. 225 Cambridge Ave, Garden City


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Find Your Soul {Cycle}

I once heard someone say that spin class is what hell must be like- dark, hot, sweaty, you're pedaling but going nowhere... all while someone is screaming at you. That's not quite the feeling I get when I take a spin class (even though... confession: I hate cardio, as in haaaate!), but I can see why one might feel that way.

Spinning is the one type of cardio I can tolerate and would even say enjoy. I've taken lots of spin classes, but I never did a "serious" one at a studio like SoulCycle. Nervously, I decided I would try one. Would I kick butt or get my butt kicked? Would I "find my Soul" as the website promises? 

My friend, who is a spinning addict, somehow convinced me to try the Saturday 7:15AM class in Roslyn. Class sign-ups begin on Mondays at noon. I signed up online four days before the class and narrowly escaped being wait-listed. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd, right? Warning: registration here is the kind of thing where people set alarms on their phones and stop doing whatever they are doing to sign up ASAP, or else they are shut out. So if you see someone swerving (guardrail to guardrail) on the LIE on Monday, they may be a Soul-Cycler pulling over to sign up for a class. 

Once there, we were surrounded by the way-too-put-together-for-7:00am crowd: cycling junkies. Check in was fast and the space was clean and new. They lend spin shoes the way you would borrow shoes in a bowling alley, except these are slightly cooler.

For newbies, they provide a great service of sending an employee over to your bike to set it up for you, and in my case, help click the shoes into place since I never used spin shoes before. There's no time wasted- classes seem to run like clockwork here. Actually, the theme seems to be: get in, spin, get out. Our instructor was very professional and enthusiastic. He introduced himself and got us riding immediately. And ride we did.

Class takes place in a large room, which was a bit on the warm side, temperature-wise. They squeeze in about 50 bikes so it's tight quarters. SoulCycle puts their own spin (womp... womp...) on spinning. There are hand weights under each seat which we used for a little upper body toning during class. The music was awesome (although super loud) and the ride kept changing which is great for those of us who get easily bored with cardio. 

The room was dark for the most part, except for a couple of candles in the front. There are a few spotlights used occasionally throughout the class for effect. Darkness is good for us newbies who may or may not have trouble getting their shoes unlocked from the pedals when it's time to dismount.  I loved that the bikes and shoes are cleaned by the staff after each use, so the gross factor is kept to a minimum.

There are no locker rooms, just two bathrooms and a wall of lockers, so this isn't the answer if you like a pre-commute-jump-on-the-train type of workout. You'll be tempted to add some pieces to your workout wardrobe here. There is a lot of SoulCycle merchandise for sale- so you can get your Soul on and let everyone know you did. That's kind of the point, isn't it? 

I recommend giving SoulCycle a shot. It may not be for everyone but there's no commitment. The first class is only $20 and it's $35 per class thereafter, plus a $3 shoe rental fee. There is a little bit of a Starbucks factor here with the premium price- but for some people, it's worth it. Spin on!


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