Holtsville Hal and his handler, Greg Drossel, during a previous Groundhog Day celebration.
Photo by Kristen D'Andrea/Town of Brookhaven
By Heidi Sutton
“Well, it’s Groundhog Day, again.”— quote from Groundhog Day (1993)
Pennsylvania may have the legendary groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, but here in Suffolk County we have our very own prognosticator of prognosticators, Holtsville Hal. The cute little rodent with his buck teeth and short bushy tail will be the star of the day as the Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve celebrates Groundhog Day with a special event on Feb. 2. Hundreds will gather to hear Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro announce Holtsville Hal’s famous forecast.
According to tradition, if a groundhog sees its shadow after stirring from hibernation on Groundhog Day, there will be six more weeks of winter weather; if not, spring should arrive early. Superintendent Losquadro will reveal Hal’s prognostication at approximately 7:25 a.m.
“Our annual Groundhog Day celebration is an enjoyable tradition for many local families,” said Superintendent Losquadro in a press release. “I’m always hopeful Hal will predict an early spring to help my snow removal budget, but either way this is a much-anticipated event each year in Brookhaven Town.”
“Holtsville Hal’s prognostication is anxiously anticipated every year and it’s always a relief when he predicts an early spring. Let’s hope that he doesn’t see his shadow on Groundhog Day and we can look forward to a short winter season,” added Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine.
Although he’s sure to be the center of attention, Holtsville Hal will not be the only animal available for viewing on Feb. 2. Following the ceremony, residents are welcome to enjoy some free hot chocolate and visit the more than 100 non-releasable, wild or injured animals residing at the Animal Preserve, including its latest resident, Leonardo “Leo” DiCatprio, the Eurasian Lynx, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Preserve is also home to a buffalo, black bear, bobcat, coatamundi, hybrid wolves, an artic fox, goats, horses, pigs, cows, alpaca, deer and many more.
Gates will open at the Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville, at 7 a.m.; parking is free.
Residents are asked to arrive as close to 7 a.m. as possible to get a good view of Hal. Call 631-451-5330 for more information.
This week’s featured shelter pets are Tomathena Maria (black and white tuxedo) and Donnatello Anthony (brown tabby), siblings that came from a very loving home. Unfortunately their mom found herself homeless and had to make the very difficult decision to give up her cats. They are now up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.
These two love each other and are very affectionate. Their lives have already been upended and the shelter would love for them to stay together as they comfort each other very much. They have not been around kids or other animals, but they are gentle natured.
If you would like to meet these two sweethearts, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with them in a domestic setting.
The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.
A scene from 'The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Fisherman and His Wife'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productinons, Inc.
A scene from 'The Lion and the Mouse that Returned the Favor'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Henny Penny'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'As Stubborn As A Mule'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
As scene from 'The Tortoise and the Hare.' Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
'A scene from Henny Penny'.Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Bremen Town Musicians'.Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'The House That Jack Built'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
By Heidi Sutton
Each time I go to review a children’s show at Theatre Three I am amazed at what I witness; from the performance of an original musical, to the audience reaction, to the lessons that are learned, to meeting the cast at the end of the show. Last Saturday’s production of The House That Jack Built was no exception.
Written by Jeffrey Sanzel and Douglas J. Quattrock, the play features seven stories inspired by the Brothers Grimm and Aesop’s Fables. It originally opened in 2007 but has been revamped with a brand new score and dazzling lighting design. The end result is pure entertainment.
Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, and starring Sean Amato, Samantha Fierro, Jason Furnari, Kaitlyn Jehle, Danielle Pafundi and Steven Uihlein, the show opens where six friends are hanging out in a beach cottage on a rainy day. Bored, they decide to have some fun and after reciting the timeless nursery rhyme, The House That Jack Built, they invite the audience to visit “some special places to see some special faces.” They proceed to act out The Lion and the Mouse That Returned a Favor, The Fisherman and His Wife, The Town Mouse and Country Mouse, Henny Penny, Stubborn as a Mule, The Tortoise and the Hare and The Bremen Town Musicians.
While all of the stories are wonderful, one of the best is The Fisherman and His Wife where the fisherman (Jason Furnari) catches a magical fish (played to the hilt by Steven Uihlein) who agrees to grant him a wish if he is released back into the ocean. After wishing for a beautiful home, his wife (Danielle Pafundi) gets greedy and sends the fisherman back to ask for a castle, to be king and then to become the Lord of the Sun and the Moon. But it all ends with one too many wishes.
The Town Mouseand the Country Mouse is almost too adorable for words. The Town Mouse (Steven Uihlein with a Brooklyn accent) visits his cousin (Samantha Fierro in a Southern accent) in the country but finds it very boring. Before leaving, he invites her to visit him in the city. Shortly after arriving, the Country Mouse is bombarded with sensory overload and dangers lurking at every turn. Oh, did I mention this story is acted out entirely in rhyme?
But the audience favorite hands down is the hilarious rendition of The Tortoise and the Hare. Bullied by the Hare (Sean Amato) “You have two speeds; slow and stop,” the Tortoise (Jason Furnari) challenges the Hare to a race. Sprinting through the theater, the Hare decides to take a nap in one of the seats. As much as they try, the audience cannot wake him and the tortoise, cheered on by the kids, meanders through the aisles and back on stage with a big grin to cross the finish line in slow motion. Great stuff.
The actors take turns narrating the stories while the remaining cast quickly changes costumes and act out the parts. A nice touch is the audience participation — helping to be waves in the ocean in A Fisherman and His Wife, and raising their index finger every time the actors say ‘I have an idea’ in The Bremen Town Musicians — which keep the young audience captivated at the edge of their seats.
Utilizing the mainstage set of The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, superb lighting design by Steven Uihlein, original rap songs arranged by Ryan Alvarado, expert piano accompaniment by Douglas J. Quattrock and the cute costumes by Jason Allyn tie everything together.
Funny, clever , brilliant and beautifully executed, The House That Jack Built is not to be missed. Your children are guaranteed to love it.
Theatre Three, 412 Main St. Port Jefferson presents The House That Jack Built through Feb. 4. Running time is one hour and 20 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. Children’s theater continues with Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 22 to March 18, The Adventures of Peter Rabbit from April 5 to 29 and the classic fairytale Cinderella from May 27 to June 17. All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Sometimes when your inner chocolate lover comes out, it’s time for a chocolate cookie. The following recipe for “Flourless Chocolate Cookies” from Danielle Rye’s “Live Well Bake Cookies: 75 Classic Cookie Recipes for Every Occasion” (Rock Point) offers the added benefit of being flourless. That means that even those with gluten allergies or intolerances can indulge.
What if you could replicate the taste of hot chocolate in a cookie? That’s just what happens with the next recipe for “Hot Chocolate Cookies” courtesy of creator Rachel Perry and American Lifestyle magazine. Enjoy them on their own, or paired with a mug of hot cocoa.
Flourless Chocolate Cookies
Flourless chocolate cookies
YIELD: Makes 24 to 36 cookies
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups powdered sugar
3⁄4 natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1⁄2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 large egg, at room temperature
11⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, sift the powdered sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder together, then whisk in the instant espresso powder (if using) and salt until well combined. Set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the egg whites, egg, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir until the mixture is fully combined and smooth.
Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, making sure to leave a little room between each one. Bake for 11 to 14 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies are set. Remove from the oven, and allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Hot Chocolate Cookies
YIELD: Makes 24 cookies
INGREDIENTS:
1⁄2 cup butter
1 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
11⁄4 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1⁄4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
11⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
11⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, cut into 1-inch pieces
12 large marshmallows, sliced in half
DIRECTIONS:
Place the butter and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat on high for 1 minute. Stir, and then heat for 30 seconds; repeat until chocolate is melted. Beat the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract together on medium speed, and then blend in the chocolate mixture. Add the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix on low until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 325 F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 12 tablespoons of dough onto each cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, remove from oven, and top each cookie with 1 piece of chocolate and 1 piece of marshmallow. Bake for another 4 minutes, and let cool for 5 minutes before placing on wire racks to cool completely.
Snowshoe through Caumsett State Park on Jan. 29. Pixabay photo
PROGRAMS
Snowshoe Hike
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington hosts a Snowshoe Hike for families on Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. Experience Caumsett Park with a winter blanket of snow. Look for animal tracks and signs of life as you travel the trails. No snow? Participants will then take a nature hike by foot. Bring your own snowshoes! $4 per person. Register at www.Eventbrite.com.
Star Quest
Calling brave explorers! Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor in a hunt for star constellations around the museum with a spyglass to navigate your journey, just like mariners at sea during gallery hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m . Solve puzzles to find your reward — a glittery star lantern you can decorate in the museum’s workshop to light your way home. For ages 5 and up. Cost is admission fee plus $10 per participant. Call 367-3418 or visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org for more information.
Open Play at the Explorium
Join the Long Island Explorium, 101 East Broadway, Port Jefferson for Open Play on Feb. 4 and 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. with hands-on activities, crafts, and more. Admission is $5 per person, Long Island Explorium members and children under 1 are free. Call 331-3277 or visit www.longislandexplorium.org for more info.
Searching for Sweetbriar Sam
Save the date! SweetbriarNature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents Searching for Sweetbriar Sam — A Groundhog Adventure on Feb. 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. Come find out if Nibblet the groundhog is planning to hibernate for another 6 weeks or predict an early spring. Take part in a fun scavenger hunt to learn some facts about groundhogs, play with shadows, and meet some other animal hibernators and others with different solutions for cold weather.Make a fun groundhog craft to take home. Best for families with children age 4 to 8. Tickets are $10 per child, $5 adults at www.sweetbriarnc.org.
THEATER
Disney’s ‘Frozen Jr.’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater with Disney’s Frozen Jr. on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. from Feb. 4 to March 5. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film and will thaw even the coldest heart! All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘The House That Jack Built’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St. Port Jefferson welcomes the New Year with The House That Jack Built, a delightful collection of stories, specially adapted for the youngest audiences from Jan. 21 to Feb. 4. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm and Aesop’s Fables, the seven stories include The Fisherman and His Wife, Henny Penny, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Bremen Town Musicians, Stubborn as a Mule, The Lion and the Mouse That Returned a Favor, and The Tortoise and the Hare. This original musical features bold storytelling and a tuneful new score. Tickets are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
ICE SCULPTURES GALORE
The Village of Port Jefferson hosts the 4th annual Ice Festival this weekend.
File photo by Julianne Mosher/TBR News Media
Thursday Jan. 26
Native American Drumming
All Souls Church Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will hold a Native American Drumming session from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Native American Drumming Meditation is a spiritual healing practice that is thousands of years old. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Call 655-7798 for more information.
Friday Jan. 27
Sound Symphony concert
The Sound Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor Alex Wen will be performing its annual Family Concert at John F. Kennedy, Middle School, 200 Jayne Blvd., Port Jefferson Station at 7 p.m. Program will include The Complete Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Video Games Live, Carmen Suite No. 1, and A Tribute to John Williams. Snow date is Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 , $15 seniors, $10 students at the door. Children 11 and under free. Visit www.soundsymphony.org for more information.
Northport Symphony concert
The Northport Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Hyman, will present a concert of classical music at Northport High School, 154 Laurel Road, Northport at 8 p.m. The concert will feature Symphony No. 1 by Felix Mendelssohn and Symphony and No. 1 (Symphony in C) by Georges Bizet. Tickets are $10 at the door. Visit www.northportsymphony.org for more info.
Friday Night Face-Off
Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, returns to Theatre Three’s Second Stage, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson tonight at 10:30 p.m. Using audience suggestions, FNFO pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an all-out championship! Recommended for ages16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door – cash only. Call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Saturday Jan. 28
Port Jefferson Ice Festival
The Village of Port Jefferson presents its 4th annual Ice Festival today and Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will highlight the sculptures of renowned ice sculptor and Guinness Book of World Records holder Rich Daly of Ice Memories, Inc.Many businesses will have their own personalized ice sculptures in front on their own shops along with all the larger ones spaced strategically in village. The free event will also feature unique interactive photo opportunities, including a graffiti ice wall, horse and carriage rides, live music, corn hole ice games, and demonstrations of figure skating, as well as dance performances. Rain dates are Feb. 4 and 5. Questions? Call 473-1414.
Journey Tribute Concert
The Moose Lodge Event Center, 37 Crystal Brook Hollow Road, Mt. Sinai presents Almost Journey in concert at 8 p.m. Featuring the best of Journey plus songs by Bon Jovi, Foreigner, Toto, Kansas and Led Zeppelin. Tickets are $30 at the door. Call 928-4490 for more information.
Sunday Jan. 29
Port Jefferson Ice Festival
See Jan. 28 listing.
Port Jefferson Farmers Market
The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market kicks off today at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held every Sunday through April 30. For more information, call 473-4778.
Huntington Farmers Market
The John J. Flanagan Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March with over 40 vendors plus guest vendors. Visit www.longislandfarmersmarkets.com.
Author Talk
Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead presents an Author Talk with Brad Kolodny from 2 to 4 p.m. Kolodny will discuss his latest book Historic North Fork Tales: The Jews of Long Island 1705-1918, which tells the story of how Jewish communities were established and developed east of New York City. Reading to culminate with a hands-on food preparation class. $30 per person. Visit www.hallockville.org.
A Band Called Sam in concert
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by A Band Called Sam from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.
Monday Jan. 30
Comedy Night at the Engeman
The John W. Engeman, 250 Main St., Northport will host a comedy night at 8 p.m. Join them for some laughs, enjoy some cocktails, and listen to some very funny comedians! Tickets are $45 per person. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Tuesday Jan. 31
NSJC Social Club event
North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station welcomes the Bretton Woods Players in concert in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Lucca grew up in Dix Hills and has performed as a soloist in numerous concerts around New York City. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 928-3737 for more information.
Wednesday Feb. 1
Pasta Dinner Fundraiser
Kings Park High School, 200 Route 25A, Kings Park hosts a Pasta Dinner Fundraiser to benefit the Kennedy family from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a spaghetti dinner with bread, salad, dessert and raffles. $10 donation at the door. For more information, call 269-3721.
Thursday Feb. 2
Groundhog Day celebration
The Town of Brookhaven will host its annual Groundhog Day Celebration at the Holtsville Ecology Center, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville starting at 7 a.m. Come meet Holtsville Hal and find out what his shadow foretells. Then grab some hot chocolate and visit with more than 100 animals that call the Ecology Center home.Free. For more information, call 451-5330 for more information. See story on page B16.
A Victorian Valentine’s Day
Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for A Very Victorian Valentine’s Day program from 7 to 9 p.m. Hear the alluring history of Valentine’s Day, told through wine and chocolate! You’ll take a journey from the early beginnings of the holiday, all the way to modern times, while learning (and sampling) an array of wine and chocolate pairings. For ages 21 and up. Tickets are $60 per person. To register, visit wwwnorthporthistorical.org.
An Evening of Jazz
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents the The Jazz Loft Big Band, a 17 piece big band directed by Jazz Loft Director Tom Manuel, in concert from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children. To order, visit www.thejazzloft.org. For further information, call 751-1895.
Theater
‘The Sweet Delilah Swim Club’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with The Sweet Delilah Swim Club from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4. This hilarious and touching show features five very different but deeply connected Southern women whose friendships began on their college swim team. Each summer they meet for a reunion at the same beach cottage in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Visiting them on four weekends over thirty-three years, we learn of their lives, loves, and losses. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St.. Northport presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from Jan. 19 to March 5. Con artist Lawrence Jameson is a longtime resident of a luxurious coastal resort, where he enjoys the fruits of his deceptions–that is, until a competitor, Freddy Benson, shows up. When the new guy’s lowbrow tactics impinge on his own work, Jameson resolves to get rid of him. Based on the uproarious movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels boasts a jazzy-pop score by David Yazbek, who also wrote the music for The Full Monty. Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Festival of One-Act Plays
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 24th annual Festival of One-Act Plays from February 25 through March 25 at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage. Selected from over 250 submissions world-wide, these seven cutting-edge premieres are guaranteed to entertain and engage. Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the plays will feature Steve Ayle, Tamralynn Dorsa, Antoine Jones, Brittany Lacey, Phyllis March, Evan Teich, Steven Uihlein, Sean Amato, Ava Andrejko, Angelo DiBiase, Samantha Fierro, Jason Furnari, Melissa Norman, Danielle Pafundi, and Tristan Prin. Please Note: Adult content and language. Parental discretion is advised. All tickets are $20. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Tape’
The Theatre at Suffolk County Community College, Ammerman campus, 533 College Road, Selden presents a production of Tape by Stephen Belber in Theatre 119 in the Islip Arts Building on March 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m. and March 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. A three-character ensemble piece set within the confines of a tawdry motor lodge in Lansing, Michigan. After 10 years apart, three disparate people come together to play out the unresolved drama of their final days in high school. Intrigued, we watch as layers of denial are slowly peeled away. Suspense builds as each character is provoked into revealing his or her true nature and motivation. Mesmerized, we are drawn into their lives as they choose which cards to play and which cards to hold. *Mature Content* General admission is $14. For tickets call 451-4163.
Film
TURN TO THE RIGHT The Cinema Arts Centre presents a screening of ‘Raising Arizona’ on Jan. 27. Photo courtesy of CAC
‘Raising Arizona’
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a special screening of Raising Arizona (1987) on Jan. 27 at 9:30 p.m. An ex-con (Nicolas Cage) and an ex-cop (Holly Hunter) meet, marry and long for a child of their own. When it is discovered that Hi is unable to have children they decide to snatch a baby. They try to keep their crime a secret, while friends, co-workers and a bounty hunter look to use the child for their own purposes. Rated PG-13. Tickets are $15, $10 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
‘City Lights’
Celebrate St. James kicks off its Classic Movie Series with a screening of City Lights (1931) starring Charlie Chaplin and Virginia Cherrill at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd. Ave., St. James on Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. Donation of $25, $20 seniors. For more information, call 984-0201 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.
‘Cinema Paradiso’
As part of its Classic Italian Cinema series, the Cinema Arts Cenre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a screening of Cinema Paradiso on Jan. 29 at 11 a.m. Cinema Paradiso is the beautiful, enchanting story of a young boy’s lifelong love-affair with the movies. Set in an Italian village, Salvatore finds himself enchanted by the flickering images at the Cinema Paradiso. When the projectionist, Alfredo, agrees to reveal the mysteries of moviemaking, a deep friendship is born. The day comes for Salvatore to leave and pursue his dream of making movies of his own. Thirty years later he receives a message that beckons him back home to a secret and beautiful discovery that awaits him. In Italian with English subtitles. Rated PG. Tickets are $17, $12 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.
Integrating more seafood into your diet can be a delicious and nutritious way to improve your health. Salmon, in particular, is good for your heart and provides a variety of nutrients that help keep your body functioning. It is also very delicious.
Teriyaki-Glazed Salmon withStir-Fried Vegetables
Recipe courtesy of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Teriyaki-Glazed Salmon with Stir-Fried Vegetables
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
Salmon:
2 tablespoons light teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup mirin or sweet rice wine
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons scallions, rinsed and minced
1 1/2 tablespoons ginger, minced
12 ounces salmon fillets, cut into four portions (3 ounces each)
Vegetables:
1 bag (12 ounces) frozen vegetables stir-fry
1/2 tablespoon peanut oil or vegetable oil
1/2 tablespoon garlic, minced (about 1 clove)
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon scallions, rinsed and minced
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
To prepare salmon: Mix teriyaki sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, scallions and ginger well. Pour over salmon and marinate 10-15 minutes. Remove salmon from marinade. Place salmon on baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with fork in thickest part and reaches minimum internal temperature of 145 F.
To prepare vegetables: Thaw frozen vegetables in microwave or place bag in bowl of hot water about 10 minutes. In large wok or saute pan, heat oil. Add garlic, ginger and scallions; cook gently, but do not brown, 30-60 seconds. Add vegetables and continue stir-frying 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Add soy sauce.
Serve one piece of salmon with 1 cup vegetables.
Feta Roasted Salmon and Tomatoes
Recipe courtesy of Marcia Stanley, MS, RDN, Culinary Dietitian
Feta Roasted Salmon and Tomatoes
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
Nonstick cooking spray
3 cups halved cherry tomatoes
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon oregano or dill weed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, divided
1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets, cut into four serving-size pieces
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 F. Line 18-by-13-by-1-inch baking pan with foil. Lightly spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. In medium bowl, toss tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano or dill weed, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place fish pieces, skin side down, on one side of prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining pepper. Lightly press feta cheese on top of fish. Pour tomato mixture on other side of prepared pan. Bake, uncovered, 12-15 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with fork.
Place salmon on serving plates. Spoon tomato mixture over top.
FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC: Pianist Doris Anne McMullen joins vocalists Ron and Julie Anne Meixsell for a concert at the Unitarian Fellowship in East Setauket on Jan. 22.
Thursday Jan. 19
Community Outreach Bus
The Catholic Health Community Mobile Outreach Bus will be in the Emma Clark Library’s parking lot, 120 Main St., Setauket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registered nurses will provide blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and glucose screenings along with patient education and referrals as needed. Free flu vaccinations will be offered as well. The last screening will begin at 1:45 p.m. No appointments are necessary, there are no fees, and insurance is not required. Open to all. Questions? Email [email protected] or call 941-4080.
Vanderbilt lecture
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Climate Change and Ecology lectures series with a presentation by Dr. Becca Franks titled What the Fishes Taught Us at 7 p.m. A leading scholar in animal welfare studies, Franks will speak about the concept of dignity and its role in thinking through our relationships with the non-human world. Tickets are $10, free for members, at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Friday Jan. 20
Third Friday at the Reboli
Join the Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St. Stony Brook for an engaging Third Friday Art Talk with local artisan, environmentalist and engineer Shamma Murphy from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Murphy will enlighten guests to the world of needle felting, how she sources sustainable materials, different types of fibers and will also provide a demonstration of her craft. The talk will be followed by a Q&A with the audience. Light refreshments will be served. Free. No reservations required. For more information, call 751-7707.
Saturday Jan. 21
Wine tasting event
Wines by Nature, 5786 Route 25A, Suite 1, Wading River at The Shoppes at East Wind will hold a wine tasting event from 1 to 4 p.m. Come meet the hardest to find and smallest wineries on the North Fork, in one room. They operate under the radar but they have outstanding quality and interesting origin stories. No tasting rooms, no scores or awards, no celebrity endorsement….Just great people making great wine. Featuring the owners and wine makers of Farrm Vineyards, Reilly Cellars, Montauk Daisy, Leo Family Wines, Onabay Vineyards, and North Cliff Vineyards. For more information, call 886-2800.
Sunday Jan. 22
Port Jefferson Farmers Market
The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market kicks off today at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held every Sunday through April 30. For more information, call 473-4778.
Huntington Farmers Market
The John J. Flanagan Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March with over 40 vendors plus guest vendors. Visit www.longislandfarmersmarkets.com.
Maple Sugaring Workshop
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington hosts a Maple Sugaring workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This interactive program, geared for the average adult, will teach you how to identify and tap a maple tree so you can make real maple syrup at home. You will also learn the culture, historical, economical, and scientific background of this uniquely American Craft. Very short walk. Not recommended for children. $4 per person, Call 423-1770 for reservations.189635
Living History program
Celebrate St. James continues its Living History Series at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second St.,Second Floor, St. James with Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the only daughter of Teddy Roosevelt, as portrayed by actress Kim Hanley of the American Historical Theater, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25, $20 members. To order, visit www.celebratestjames.org.
Historical Society reception – Just added!
Huntington Historical Society invites a=the community to an opening reception for its latest exhibit, “120 Anniversary of the Huntington Historical Society: Our Founding Mothers & Origin of Our Collections 1903-2023” at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington from 2 to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free. Call 427-7045.
Author Chat
The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor will host an Author Chat with Nelson Simon at 2 p.m. Dive into a discussion with the author of Soul of the Hurricane: The Perfect Storm and an Accidental Sailor as he talks about his harrowing tale of sailing into the perfect storm on a Norwegian Schooner. Listen as he shares about the experience in person, reads from his book and answers questions about the dangerous ride. Followed by a book signing. Free with admission fee. No reservations needed. For more information, call 367-3418.
Forever Simon & Garfunkel
Join the Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport in celebrating the best-selling duo in rock ‘n’ roll history at 2 p.m. Acclaimed pop craftsmen and master entertainers Sean Altman and Jack Skuller lead the audience through Simon and Garfunkel’s teenage roots, their early success as a groovy folk act,and their global dominance as hitmakers. Enjoy listening to Mr. Altman and Mr. Skuller’s precise harmonies as they recreate songs such as “The Sound of Silence”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “Mrs. Robinson”, “Kodachrome”, and many others. Open to all. To register, call 261-6930.
Le Petit Salon de Musique concert
Le Petit Salon de Musique at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stony Brook, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket welcomes vocalist duo Ron and Julie Anne Meixsell, with pianist Doris Anne McMullen in concert at 2 p.m. The program will include operatic selections, German lieder and art songs, as well as a second act of classic Broadway. Tickets are $20 in advance at www.lepetitsalon.org/, $25 at the door; seniors $20, $10 for ages 17 and under.Call 751-0297 for group pricing of 10 or more.
The Mary Lamond Band in concert
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by The Mary Lamont Band from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.
Monday Jan. 23
TVHS lecture
Three Village Historical Society presents its first lecture of the year at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket at 7 p.m. Titled Saving a Piece of Our History, The Hawkins House, historian Beverly C. Tyler will discuss how the circa 1720-1740 Samuel Hawkins House, home to the farming families and Patriots of two wars, was saved from demolition in 1993, or was it? The story of the 273 years of the home of the Hawkins and Matusky families and why we must continue to save the structures that illustrate our history and define our communities. Suggested donation, free for members. Lecture is also available online via Zoom if preferred. Register at www.tvhs.org.
Tuesday Jan. 24
NSJC Social Club event
North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station welcomes music entertainer and singer Tom Lucca to the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Lucca grew up in Dix Hills and has performed as a soloist in numerous concerts around New York City. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 928-3737 for more information.
Ring Making Workshop
Join the Huntington Historical Society for a fun evening of jewelry making at the Conklin Barn, 2 High St., Huntington from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This workshop will be an intro to silver smithing with artist Jennifer Salta owner of Unmarked Industries. You will learn how to cut, file and solder your very own silver ring. Each person will leave with a completed piece at the end of the night. All tools and materials will be supplied. $65 per person, $60 members. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistorical.org or call 427-7045, ext. 401.
PJS/T Civic Association meeting
The Port Jeff. Station Terryville Civic Association will hold its monthly meeting at Comsewogue Public Library , 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station at 7 p.m. Topics discussed will include civic reports/updates, SCPD Cope officer, high school liaison and library reports, community concerns and the recent developments at Lawrence Aviation. Visit www.pjstca.org.
Wednesday Jan. 25
Estate Plan webinar
Burner Law Group presents a live webinar titled Should I Put My Home in a Trust? at 10:30 a.m. Join Britt Burner, Esq. via Zoom at 10:30 a.m. as discusses how to protect assets, including property and second homes, the ways to reduce and eliminate taxes, and the importance of having a sound estate plan in place. Free. To participate, visit www.burnerlaw.com.
Thursday Jan. 26
Native American Drumming
All Souls Church Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will hold a Native American Drumming session from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Native American Drumming Meditation is a spiritual healing practice that is thousands of years old. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Call 655-7798 for more information.
Theater
‘Godspell’
Productions Over the Rainbow (POTR) presents a mainstage production of Godspell at Seneca Middle School, 850 Main St., Holbrook on Jan. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information or to order, visit www.potr.org or call 696-6817.
‘The Sweet Delilah Swim Club’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with The Sweet Delilah Swim Club from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4. This hilarious and touching show features five very different but deeply connected Southern women whose friendships began on their college swim team. Each summer they meet for a reunion at the same beach cottage in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Visiting them on four weekends over thirty-three years, we learn of their lives, loves, and losses. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. See review on page B13.
‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St.. Northport presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from Jan. 19 to March 5. Con artist Lawrence Jameson is a longtime resident of a luxurious coastal resort, where he enjoys the fruits of his deceptions–that is, until a competitor, Freddy Benson, shows up. When the new guy’s lowbrow tactics impinge on his own work, Jameson resolves to get rid of him. Based on the uproarious movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels boasts a jazzy-pop score by David Yazbek, who also wrote the music for The Full Monty. Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Festival of One-Act Plays
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 24th annual Festival of One-Act Plays from February 25 through March 25 at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage. Selected from over 250 submissions world-wide, these seven cutting-edge premieres are guaranteed to entertain and engage. Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the plays will feature Steve Ayle, Tamralynn Dorsa, Antoine Jones, Brittany Lacey, Phyllis March, Evan Teich, Steven Uihlein, Sean Amato, Ava Andrejko, Angelo DiBiase, Samantha Fierro, Jason Furnari, Melissa Norman, Danielle Pafundi, and Tristan Prin. Please Note: Adult content and language. Parental discretion is advised. All tickets are $20. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Film
ANYTHING BUT SILENT The Cinema Arts Centre presents ‘The Navigator’ starring Buster Keaton on Jan. 24.
‘The Navigator’
As part of its Anything But Silent series, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington The Navigator on Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. with live organ accompaniment by Ben Model. Buster Keaton’s 1924 masterpiece about a spoiled rich boy and his sweetheart (Kathryn McGuire) who are stranded on an abandoned ocean liner is one his most magical films. Tickets are $17, $12 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.
'The faster we swim, the sooner we win!' The cast, from left, Stephanie Moreau, Suzie Dunn, Elizabeth Ladd, Lori Beth Belkin and Tamralynn Dorsa. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Sweet Delilah Swim Club' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Sweet Delilah Swim Club' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
Elizabeth Ladd and Lori Beth Belkin in a scene from the play.
Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Sweet Delilah Swim Club' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Sweet Delilah Swim Club' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Sweet Delilah Swim Club' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Sweet Delilah Swim Club' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'The Sweet Delilah Swim Club' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
By Heidi Sutton
Theatre Three continues its 52nd season with a lovely production of The Sweet Delilah Swim Club. The show opened last Saturday and runs through Feb 4.
Written by Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, the play features five very different Southern women who begin a friendship on their college swim team and make a pact to get together one weekend in August every year to catch up on their lives. For over 50 years, they meet at the same oceanfront beach cottage, the “Sweet Delilah,” on North Carolina’s Outer Banks for conversation, drinks, dinner and a dip in the ocean.
The audience is treated to four of these reunions — the first is 22 years after their college graduation, the second and third 5 years apart, and a final visit to the cottage before it is to be demolished 23 years later.
Expertly directed by Linda May and armed with a cleverly written script, the cast is superb and put on a beautiful show.
Tamralynn Dorsa is perfect as Sheree Hollinger, the perennial team captain who is always governing the group, from serving healthy mung bean appetizers that the others quickly dispose of in a houseplant, to distributing a written itinerary for the week and even packing her friends’ suitcases.
Stephanie Moreau is incredible as event planner Lexie Richards, the four-time divorcee who has her plastic surgeon on speed dial and is always on the lookout for the next cute guy to come along (think Samantha Jones from Sex in the City).
Lori Beth Belkin plays workaholic (and perhaps alcoholic) Dinah Grayson who has put her successful career as an attorney before her personal life and now has regrets. Armed with a dry martini, her character delivers some of the funniest lines in the show.
We see the most change in Elizabeth Ladd’s character, Jeri Neal McFeeley, aka Sister Mary Esther, who goes from being a nun to a single mother at age 44 and then finds the man of her dreams to spend the rest of her life with.
Suzie Dunn is outstanding as school teacher Vernadette Simms. Bad luck seems to follow her everywhere and she appears in each scene with a different cast. She also shares tales of her dysfunctional family, from an abusive husband to a jailbird son. Her appearance in the last scene suffering from dementia is one of the most poignant in the show.
The set, a cozy beach cottage designed by Randall Parsons; period costumes and wigs by Jason Allyn; and sound effects by Tim Haggerty tie everything together nicely. Grab the girlfriends, a box of tissues, and catch a performance of this hilarious and touching show before it’s gone.
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents The Sweet Delilah Swim Club on the Mainstage through Feb. 4. The season continues with Side By Side By Sondheim from Feb. 18 to March 18, Pride @ Prejudice from April 7 to May 6, and Something Rotten! from May 20 to June 24. Tickets are$35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
BE INSPIRED Learn about the Lunar New Year with a focus on Chinese culture during the Heckscher Museum's free Winterfest Celebration on Jan. 21. Photos from Heckscher Museum
PROGRAMS
Make Ice Candles
Join the staff at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown for a fun family winter craft on Jan. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Using hot wax and cold ice, participants will create a unique candle to decorate and take home. Appropriate for ages 7 and up. $4 per person. Call 265-1054.
Crafternoons at the library
Stop by Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket on Jan. 21 anytime between 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for a winter-themed “Crafternoon”! Children ages 3 to 12 welcome (younger kids may need supervision). No registration required. Questions? Call 941-4080.
Winterfest Celebration
The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington hosts a Winterfest Lunar New Year Celebration on Jan. 21 from noon to 5 p.m. Get creative and enjoy a variety of hands-on activities including making a Chinese lantern, origami and a painting, Learn the Lion Dance with Patricia Shih and dance performances by Wendi Weng while you warm up with hot cocoa during this free family event for all ages. Call 380-3230 or visit www.heckscher.org.
Open Play at the Explorium
Join the Long Island Explorium, 101 East Broadway, Port Jefferson for Open Play on Jan. 21 and 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. with hands-on activities, crafts, and more. Admission is $5 per person, Long Island Explorium members and children under 1 are free. Call 331-3277 for more info.
THEATER
‘The House That Jack Built’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St. Port Jefferson welcomes the New Year with The House That Jack Built, a delightful collection of stories, specially adapted for the youngest audiences from Jan. 21 to Feb. 4 with a sensory sensitive performance on Jan. 22. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm and Aesop’s Fables, the seven stories include The Fisherman and His Wife, Henny Penny, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Bremen Town Musicians, Stubborn as a Mule, The Lion and the Mouse That Returned a Favor, and The Tortoise and the Hare. This original musical features bold storytelling and a tuneful new score. Tickets are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’
The Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown kicks off the holiday season with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. from Nov. 19 to Jan. 22. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. All seats are $25. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Disney’s ‘Frozen Jr.’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater with Disney’s Frozen Jr. on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. from Feb. 4 to March 5. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film and will thaw even the coldest heart! All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
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