Hope House Ministries celebration on April 22. Photos courtesy Carol Acker
By Samantha Rutt
For 44 years, Hope House Ministries has been a place for the broken and lost.
Founded in the spirit of St. Louis de Montfort, what started as a neighborhood response to a neighborhood issue, has expanded its service area to include all of Long Island, New England and beyond.
Hope House Ministries began in 1980 as a 10-bed facility providing crisis intervention for young men aged 16 to 21, and has since expanded to a multifaceted human service agency with housing, counseling and educational assistance for individuals and families in crisis.
On April 22, the ministry hosted a celebration at the Hope Academy at Little Portion Friary in Mount Sinai, featuring a service presided over by founder and executive director Father Frank Pizzarelli. Alumni, volunteers and several members of the community were in attendance.
Hope House Ministries is located at 1 High St., Port Jefferson (www.hhm.org).
Responding to the critical National need for both blood donors and firefighter volunteers, The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF), and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO), will be hosting a blood drive, a Shed the Meds event, anda volunteer firefighter recruitment information table at the LIMEHOF, 197 Main St., Stony Brook Village on Saturday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Joined by State Senator Palumbo, Assemblyman Ed Flood, LIMEHOF and WMHO:
– The New York Blood Center mobile blood collection van will be collecting donations. (Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome. Call 1-800-933-2566 to make your reservation.) The first 10 student donors will receive a ticket to The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of
Fame (LIMEHOF), courtesy of Stony Brook University.
– Firefighters from the Stony Brook, Centereach, Terryville, and, Stony Brook University Campus will be hosting an information table.
-The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Deputies will be collecting pharmaceuticals.
-Stony Brook University students will be conducting a mental health research survey.
-The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) will be hosting a raffle!
Sweetbriar Nature Center is currently taking care of baby owls, ducks, rabbits, opossums and squirrels. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar
By Tara Mae
Spring harbors hope for new life. A promise of possibility soars on wings of a compassionate community that sees the specialness of not only the human species.
The most beautiful beasts will be in attendance at Sweetbriar Nature Center’s Baby Shower for Wildlife on Sunday, May 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. Come join staff members, volunteers, and ambassador animals to enjoy a meet and greet, crafts, and a walking tour of the property.
An annual event, this preparation party is thrown to help offset the practical and monetary strains that hatchling/birthing season puts on the Center. This year has been particularly taxing as a mild winter led to an early baby boom.
Sweetbriar Nature Center is currently taking care of baby owls, ducks, rabbits, opossums and squirrels. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar
“Honestly you are never prepared for baby season; it comes at different times every year. This year it was very, very early. Ducklings and goslings were being hatched in January. We never really had a winter so to speak…if it is warm and it never gets cold, animals get confused,” Sweetbriar Curator and Wildlife Rehabilitation Director Janine Bendicksen said.
Although it began sooner, it is not winding down, and so supplies are urgently needed.
Like any well organized shower, this one provides a detailed registry for its guests. Curated to the delicate needs of its charges, Sweetbriar’s Amazon Wish List includes rabbit and squirrel formula, meal and wax worms, and supplies like gallon size ziploc bags, trash bags, white vinegar, baby bottle warmers and latex gloves. Monetary donations are also appreciated.
“The public support goes a very long way,” Bendicksen said. “We are not allowed to charge for the care of wildlife, so we are not funded by government entities.” Caring for infants is time consuming, but Sweetbriar is determined that it not be cost prohibitive. It hosts the yearly baby shower as a way to gather the supplies it needs and garner public interest. True to its nature, this event offers opportunities for socializing and promises party activities.
Meet Turnip the Screech Owl at Sweetbriar’s Baby Shower for Wildlife. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar Nature Center
Its guests of honor are Turnip, a screech owl, and Little Blue, a bluejay. Although they are now adults, the attendance of these creatures is particularly poignant. As babies, Turnip and Little Blue each benefitted from a previous shower. Permanent residents of Sweetbriar, they are unable to be rereleased into the wild.
Turnip was injured when the tree in which he resided was knocked over, causing him to fall to the ground and sustain life-altering injuries. Little Blue was born blind. Witnessing their individual distress, concerned citizens reached out to Sweetbriar to save them. Neither animal would have survived without the intervention of the nature center. As with the other ambassador animals, Turnip and Little Blue continue to rely on its resources while educating the public about wildlife and conservation.
These are lessons that Bendicksen hopes citizens heed.
“If you find wildlife and you know it needs help, make a phone call before doing anything,” she said. “One of the biggest mistakes is feeding the animal, causing the animal to aspirate. It is easier to bring back a dehydrated animal rather than an aspirated animal. On our social media we give you options, including how to re-nest baby birds, baby squirrels, etc.,”
Sweetbriar’s primary service is as a rehabilitation for injured and/or orphaned animals, but part of its efforts include teaching individuals what to do if they encounter an animal they fear may be in distress. Correcting any well-intentioned misconceptions about “saving” wild animals is a large component of that.
“If you find a nest and everything seems normal — nothing has attacked it — leave it alone and enjoy it. For instance, baby birds fledge [go to the ground], parents feed them on the ground, etc. So educate yourself; do not just Google it. Follow Sweetbriar’s social media — we are constantly educating the public every day. Or just call us,” Bendicksen added.
It may still be difficult to leave an animal alone if an observer notes that an animal is not in distress but may be imperiled by a potential unfortunate encounter, such as with a feral or free range cat. In this or similar scenario, Bendicksen counsels that the animal still be left on its own but advises certain precautions may be taken.
Sweetbriar Nature Center is currently taking care of baby owls, ducks, rabbits, opossums and squirrels. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar
“We do not accept wildlife based on the fact that they may get eaten by something. We have come up with ways to protect wildlife. For a baby bunny nest, put a wheelbarrow over it upside down. For a fledgling on the ground, pick it up and put in a basket outside,” she said.
In general, the objective is to support the animal with as little human interference as possible.
A main goal of Sweetbriar is to rehabilitate the animals in its care so that they may return to their natural habitat. In instances where the animals would not survive being rereleased, they are able to live out their lives in protected enclosures on the nature center’s 54 acres of woodland, field, garden, and wetland habitats along the Nissequogue River.
This shower allows animal lovers to aid Sweetbriar and its charges in a way that enables it to continue offering a healing haven for both the temporary visitors and permanent population. “Our work is a service to the public, and any assistance is a great help,” Bendicksen said.
Tickets to the Baby Shower for Wildlife are $5 for adults and $15 for children. To learn more about the event and to shop the Amazon Wishlist, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. Located at 62 Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown, Sweetbriar Nature Center is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Its preserve is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 631-979-6344.
Fathom’s Big Screen Classics series continues with Sony Pictures Entertainment’s beloved 1989 Southern drama Steel Magnolias — returning to theaters nationwide just in time for Mother’s Day in honor of its 35th anniversary on May 5 and 8.
‘Steel Magnolias’
Six icons of the silver screen — Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts — come together in this hilarious and heartwarming story of life, love, and loss in a small Louisiana parish. At the center of the group is Shelby, newly married and joyfully pregnant, even though her diabetes could make childbirth life-threatening. Terrified at the possibility of losing her only daughter, M’Lynn looks to her four closest friends for strength and laughter as she battles her deepest fear of death to join Shelby in celebrating the miracle of new life.
The Oscar®-nominated film, with a screenplay by Robert Harling (based on his stage play) and directed by Herbert Ross features a star-studded ensemble cast featuring appearances by Tom Skerritt, Dylan McDermott, and Sam Shepard.
Exclusive to each Fathom Big Screen Classic film is a special introduction by esteemed cinema legend Leonard Maltin, this one shedding light on the heartfelt performances and gripping drama that has made Steel Magnolias a cherished favorite for more than three decades.
Locally the film will be screened at AMC Loews Stony Brook 17 on May 5 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on May 8 at 7 p.m.; Island 16: Cinema de Lux in Holtsville on May 5 at 4 p.m. and May 8 at 7 p.m.; Showcase Cinema de Lux in Farmingdale on May 5 at 4 p.m. and on May 8 at 7 p.m.; and Regal UA Farmingdale on May 5 at 4 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. and on May 8 at 7:20 p.m. To order tickets in advance, visit www.fathomevents.com.
"THE WHEEL": The largest Ferris wheel on Long Island at an impressive 110 feet tall, The Wheel offers a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the midway
and surrounding area. The ride features 24 spacious gondola cars, each with a 6-person capacity to accommodate the whole family.
Local family business focuses on family fun at carnivals as well as three major events featuring several fireworks shows and a stunning new Ferris wheel
Leading carnival midway and family entertainment provider Dreamland Amusements is bringing first-rate family fun back to Long Island this summer with exciting rides and games for all ages, favorite fair food, and a variety of special attractions including live entertainment, a series of spectacular fireworks shows, and “The Wheel,” the largest Ferris wheel on Long Island at a towering 110 feet tall.
This summer, Dreamland will also introduce a third signature event: the Bald Hill Fair at Catholic Health Amphitheater, which will kick off the 2024 Long Island Summer Tour May 9-19 in Farmingville.
The busy Long Island schedule includes the Long Island FunFest, June 13-23 at Suffolk County Community College’s Grant Campus, and the Empire State Fair, June 28 – July 16 at Nassau Live Center, the final stop before Dreamland continues on its northern route.
Among the signature event entertainment will be circus shows, live music, pirate thrill shows, petting zoos and much more. Be sure to visit the individual event websites for each one’s schedule of offerings.
In addition, a total of eight dazzling fireworks displays will illuminate the Long Island night sky this summer at Dreamland’s three major events. These crowd-pleasing shows will be produced by the renowned Fireworks by Grucci, a Long Island-based family business founded in 1850.
While Dreamland Amusements, another well-established family business, services the length of the East Coast from Florida to Maine, Long Island is particularly special to owners Kathy and Bob DeStefano, who make their home there when they’re not on the road with the two carnival units they operate with two of their daughters, two sons-in-law and a nephew.
Bob DeStefano said his family looks forward every year to seeing many familiar faces enjoying Dreamland’s Long Island events.
“These folks aren’t just patrons, they’re our neighbors and friends,” DeStefano said. “I can’t express how much it’s meant to have the support of the Long Island community all these years, and we’re very pleased to give them the best experience we can.”
The 2024 Long Island Summer Tour includes:
May 9-19: Bald Hill Fair at Catholic Health Amphitheater, 1 Ski Run Lane, LIE Exit 63 (North Ocean Avenue) in Farmingville (www.BaldHillFair.com)
May 9-19: Hicksville Carnival at Broadway Commons
May 23-27: Levittown Carnival sponsored by the Levittown Chamber of Commerce
May 23-27: Merrick Train Station Carnival at Merrick LIRR Station
May 30 – June 2: Herricks Community Fund Carnival at Herricks Community Center in New Hyde Park
May 30 – June 9: South Shore Mall Carnival in Bay Shore
June 12-16: Westbury Carnival at Samanea New York Mall
June 26-30: Hicksville Summer Carnival at Broadway Commons
June 28 – July 14: Empire State Fair at Nassau Live Center, Uniondale (www.EmpireStatefair.com)
July 4-7: Lynbrook Titans Carnival at Greis Park
“We’re really excited to be back on Long Island and provide a topnotch family-fun experience at all of our upcoming events,” DeStefano said. “And we believe our guests will be excited by the roster of rides at each event and the entertainment offerings at the Bald Hill Fair, FunFest and Empire State Fair.”
All Dreamland events feature mechanical rides for the whole family, from whimsical kiddie rides to state-of-the-art thrill rides, entertaining midway games, and deep-fried treats, sweets and other tantalizing carnival eats.
The Cinema Arts Centre will host a five-day celebration of Jewish Cinema and culture, with films that include thoughtful documentaries, captivating dramas, and historically significant films
This May, the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will return to Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre for the festival’s second year. The second season of the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will span five days, May 3rd – May 7th, and will include screenings of films at the forefront of Jewish cultural storytelling.
The festival will feature films that include innovative documentaries, riveting dramas, and rarely seen pieces of film history, all curated by David Schwartz, Curator at Large at the Museum of the Moving Image, who will also host and lead audience discussions after many of the festival’s screenings.
The Long Island Jewish Film Festival was organized to help celebrate the rich cultural traditions and history of the Jewish community in America and abroad. The films highlighted in the festival represent the apex of both historic and modern Jewish cinema, featuring films from over a 100 years ago, through today.
The Long Island Jewish Film Festival will begin on Friday, May 3rd with a screening of powerful historical drama “Kidnapped”. The second day of the festival will feature screenings of three films: the enthralling dramas “The Other Widow” & “The Goldman Case”, as well as the acclaimed new documentary “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer”. Sunday, the third day of the festival, will include a screening of the historic 1923 silent film “The Ancient Law”, with a live score performed by pianist Donald Sosin & klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals, a screening of the 1980 documentary “Brighton Beach”, featuring a discussion with director Susan Wittenberg in-person, as well as an encore screening of the film “Kidnapped” for those that observe shabbat and couldn’t attend the Friday screening.
The remaining days of the festival will also feature encore screenings of the films “The Goldman Case”, and “The Other Widow”. The screenings of “The Other Widow” and “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer” will feature pre-record Q&As with the film’s directors and our host and curator David Schwartz.
Public tickets are $16 per screening with the exception of the film “The Ancient Law”, for which public tickets will cost $18. The Films:
A scene from ‘Kidnapped’
Kidnapped Friday, May 3rd at 7 PM
& Sunday, May 5th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
The great Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio, now 84, has made one of the most stylish and operatic films of his career. Kidnapped depicts the scandalous true story of Edgardo Mortara, a six-year-old Jewish boy who, in 1858, was baptized by his caretaker, and abducted from his family by order of the Pope, to be raised as a Catholic. Edgardo became the center of an international firestorm as his parents fought to retrieve their child from the clutches of a ruthless theocratic government; the case led to historical change. (2023, 134 mins)
Promotional Image from The Other Widow. 2022. Lama Films, Cup of Tea, Tobina Films.
The Other Widow Saturday, May 4th at 2 PM
& Tuesday, May 7th at 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Maayan Rypp
$16 Public | $10 Members
Nominated for 9 Ophir awards (the Israeli Oscars) including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress, this wonderfully observed comedic drama follows Ella (Dana Ivgy) a costume designer who is in a long-term affair with Assaf, a married playwright. When Assaf dies unexpectedly, Ella decides to attend Shiva while keeping her identity under wraps, diving into a world once forbidden to her. Through intimate encounters with his family, she examines her place in his life and eventually demands her legitimate right to mourn. (2022, 83 mins)
A scene from ‘The Goldman Case’
The Goldman Case Saturday, May 4th at 4 PM
& Monday, May 6th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
This gripping courtroom drama delves into the sensational and widely followed 1976 trial of Pierre Goldman, a Jewish activist defending himself against multiple charges, including murder. Goldman steadfastly maintained his innocence, while the facts of his case became a flash point for a generation, raising questions of antisemitism and political ideology. Directed with vérité realism and pinpoint historical precision, The Goldman Case is both subdued and electrifying, communicating so much about the complexity of Jewish identity in recent European history. It was the opening night film in the Director’s Fortnight section at Cannes. (2023, 115 mins)
Portrait of Norman Mailer featured in How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer. 2023. Zeitgeist Films. Image provided courtesy of Zeitgeist Films & Kino Lorber.
How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer Saturday, May 4th at 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Jeff Zimbalist
$16 Public | $10 Members
Norman Mailer, a towering figure in American literature, had a life that was certainly stranger than fiction. From his formative years in Brooklyn, through his career as a preeminent cultural voice, we follow Mailer’s life through 6 marriages, 9 children, 11 bestselling books and 2 Pulitzer Prizes as he solidifies his place in the literary pantheon. With access to Mailer’s family and never before seen footage, this biography details the life and times of an American icon. (2023,100 mins)
Still from The Ancient Law. 1923. Comedia-Film. Public Domain.
The Ancient Law Sunday, May 5th at 2 PM
With live score performed by Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals
$18 Public | $12 Members
This rarely seen silent film from Weimar Era Germany tells the dramatic story of Baruch, a young shtetl Jew and the son of a Rabbi, who leaves his family and community, seeking a secular career as a stage actor. Featuring wonderful scenes depicting shtetl life, the film paints a complex portrait of the tension between tradition and modernity. Like so many other Jewish artists of the era, director E.A. Dupont and star Ernst Deutsch were both forced to flee their homelands as the Nazis rose to power. (1923, 128 mins)
Still from Brighton Beach. 1980. Carol Stein and Susan Wittenberg. Courtesy of Indiecollect.
Brighton Beach Sunday, May 5th at 5 PM
With director Susan Wittenberg in-person
$16 Public | $10 Members
Set against the iconic Coney Island boardwalk, Brighton Beach is a neighborhood in constant re-formation. This 1980 documentary offers a genuine portrait of the immigrant communities that changed the Brooklyn neighborhood—mostly Soviet Jews and Puerto Ricans—as they mingle on the boardwalk with long-time residents, eye one another, and coexist around a shared sense of uprootedness. From directors Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein, Brighton Beach is an unposed, seductively shot, color film about life’s simple pleasures and the creating of a community. (2080, 55 mins)
Location:
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743
You can purchase tickets or find more information about these and other events on the Cinema Arts Centre website: www.cinemaartscentre.org
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
Spring Fling Carnival 2024. Photo by Aidan Johnson
By Aidan Johnson
The 9th annual Fling Into Spring Carnival at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai saw its share of disorder Saturday night, April 20, after a fight broke out within the packed crowd.
“There were just a bunch of young kids acting out, acting crazy,” police officers said, expressing worry that little kids could get hurt in the chaos.
“Groups of unaccompanied teens acting out caused us to close early tonight,” the North Shore Youth Council, which partnered with Newton Shows to put on the carnival, said in a statement on Facebook.
“We had a wonderful day with many families and are extremely disheartened that the actions of these few individuals spoiled the rest of the evening,” the statement added.
The carnival continued on Sunday with packed crowds, despite the raucousness of the previous night. There was an announcement on the Heritage Center’s Facebook page that anyone under 17 years old would have to be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Police officers, along with the carnival’s own security staff, were present throughout the entirety of the second day.
The humble shepherd Strephon (Henry Horstmann) has fallen in love with wealthy heiress Phyllis (Kara Vertucci), but she’s a ward in chancery and his chances of winning her seem slim in a scene from the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island’s 2024 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe. (Photo by NanMagna. Copyright 2024 The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island.)
Mortals and immortals come face to face in the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island’s 2024 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic Iolanthe, coming to the South Huntington Public Library on Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m.
Iolanthe—which debuted in 1883, with book and lyrics by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan—is one of the most beloved of all the Gilbert & Sullivan operas, especially for its perfect balance of words and music, humor and drama, magic and political satire. The current production is the Light Opera Company’s first since 2015.
2) Phyllis (Kara Vertucci) is torn between competing proposals from Lord Mountararat (Kenneth Kopolovicz, left) and Lord Tolloller (Richard Risi) in a scene from the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island’s 2024 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe. (Photo by NanMagna. Copyright 2024 The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island.)
The story is a whimsical one, involving a shepherd lad named Strephon, who has the unusual problem of being half fairy and half mortal … his mother was a fairy, his unknown father a mortal, and he’s a fairy down to the waist, though his legs are mortal. When Strephon falls in love with Phyllis, a wealthy heiress who is a ward in chancery and sought after in marriage by half the House of Lords, it sets up a conflict between the wily Lord Chancellor and the cosmically powerful Fairy Queen, with the Queen’s band of fairies, the lovestruck Peers and Strephon and Phyllis themselves caught in between.
The dramatic side of the story involves Strephon’s mother, Iolanthe, who was sentenced to death for marrying a mortal, then reprieved at the last moment and banished from the fairy world. Her greatest concern is for her son, and when the Lord Chancellor himself falls in love with Phyllis, Iolanthe faces a dilemma that may spell the end of her immortal life.
In the new production of the opera, Kara Vertucci of Lindenhurst plays Phyllis and Henry Horstmann of Lindenhurst plays Strephon, with Traci Weisberg Gang of Rego Park playing Iolanthe. Chris Jurak of Brightwaters is the Lord Chancellor, with Kenneth Kopolovicz of East Islip and Richard Risi of Locust Valley playing, respectively, Lord Mountararat and Lord Tolloller. Ben Salers of Northport plays Private Willis, with Delaney R. Page as the Fairy Queen. Farah Chandu of Oakland Gardens plays Leila, Rebecca Rutkovsky of Manhasset play Celia and Hanna Roth of Upper Brookville plays Fleta. The director is Gayden Wren, and the music directors are Isabella Eredita Johnson and David Bernard.
“Iolanthe is everything at once,” said Wren, a longtime member of the company and also the author of an acclaimed book about Gilbert & Sullivan. “It’s a goofy slapstick comedy, a whimsical fantasy, a political satire and a drama of Shakespearean proportions, and it swings from one to another so gracefully that it seems perfectly natural.”
The score for Iolanthe is arguably Sullivan’s greatest, ranging from the jaw-breaking patter of the Lord Chancellor’s famous “Nightmare Song” to the romantic duet “None Shall Part Us,” from the swaggering “March of the Peers” to the keen-edged “When Britain Really Ruled the Waves,” offering literally something for everyone.
“It’s really Gilbert & Sullivan at their best,” concluded Wren, who admitted that it’s his personal favorite of the operas. “The real magic isn’t the invisible fairies or the hypnotic spell they cast, it’s Gilbert, Sullivan and the way that they seem to come together so closely that it’s hard to tell where one begins and the other leaves off. It’s one of the greatest works of musical theater ever written.”
Iolanthe will be presented on Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m. at the South Huntington Public Library, 145 Pigeon Hill Road in Huntington Station. Admission is free. For further information, call (631) 549-4411 or visit www.shpl.info.
1) The humble shepherd Strephon (Henry Horstmann) has fallen in love with wealthy heiress Phyllis (Kara Vertucci), but she’s a ward in chancery and his chances of winning her seem slim in a scene from the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island’s 2024 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe. (Photo by NanMagna. Copyright 2024 The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island.)
2) Phyllis (Kara Vertucci) is torn between competing proposals from Lord Mountararat (Kenneth Kopolovicz, left) and Lord Tolloller (Richard Risi) in a scene from the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island’s 2024 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe. (Photo by NanMagna. Copyright 2024 The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island.)
3) The Fairy Queen (Delaney R. Page) finds herself irresistibly drawn to the phlegmatic sentry Private Willis (Ben Salers) in a scene from the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island’s 2024 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe. (Photo by NanMagna. Copyright 2024 The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island.)
Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Whales, Ales, and Salty Tales becomes Whales, Ales, and BRINY Tales!
The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor announces the broadening of its classic event, Whales, Ales, and Salty Tales, now presented as Whales, Ales, and BRINY Tales! This year, the event introduces an exciting new feature: Pickles! Adults aged 21 and over are invited to this immersive indoor/outdoor experience on Sunday, June 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Whaling Museum.
“We are thrilled to unveil the next chapter of our well-received, annual event,” said Nomi Dayan, Executive Director, The Whaling Museum & Education Center. “After offering new pickle-themed programs a few months ago which sold out, we realized Long Island has a crowd interested in flavorful experiences. We are excited to hybridize tastings of pickles with craft beer offerings – a tasty combination that provides a lively backdrop for historical discussions about life at sea.”
The museum’s plaza will be transformed into a hub of activity, showcasing craft brews from local breweries such as Jones Beach Brewing Company, Secatogue Brewery, Take Two Brewery, Threes Brewery, and more to come. Horman’s Best Pickles will offer pickle samples, along with the option to purchase pickles on sticks. For the adventurous, one brewer will even offer samples of pickle- flavored beer. The event will be further enriched by live sea chanteys performed by Scuttlebutt Stu, providing a lively maritime soundtrack guests can sing along to.
Inside the museum, attendees can expand their knowledge through informative talks on pickles and preservation on whaling ships. Creative minds can participate in designing scrimshaw-style keychains or select the box option for a unique keepsake. The “Tales of the Tavern” adult scavenger hunt will offer a fun and educational experience for interacting with the museum’s exhibits through QR codes and a booklet of clues.
To commemorate this special occasion, the first 150 attendees will receive a commemorative tasting cup sponsored by Mercedes of Huntington, adding a collectible element to their experience. Tickets are available for purchase online at $40, $30 for members or at the door for $45, $35 for members. Designated driver tickets are also available for $15. Event t-shirts will also be available for purchase and are sponsored by local marina, H&M Powles.
“This event has evolved over the course of 10 years, beginning as a quaint tasting event inside the museum to a tented affair featuring new vendors and activities,” said Gina Van Bell, Assistant Director at The Whaling Museum & Education Center. “We are thrilled to see the ongoing excitement from guests, sponsors, and brewers who have supported the event year after year. We are eager to continue expanding the event, connecting the community with our maritime heritage through creative and delicious experiences.”
Tickets are on sale now. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit cshwhalingmuseum.org/ales.
Spring styles have sprung! Foodies and shopaholics unite for a three-part series of luncheon fashion shows in Stony Brook Village. From 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on three separate Thursdays, the event will be held at Country House Restaurant on May 2nd, Mirabelle Restaurant at Three Village Inn on May 9th, and Luca Restaurant on May 16th.
Each luncheon will feature different spring styles and accessories from Stony Brook Village shops. Returning this season are Chico’s, Mint, and Ecolin Jewelers. D.K. Brothers will be joining the luncheons for the first time, showcasing its collection of men’s clothing. Kate’s Vintage Rose will also make a debut, featuring its collection of vintage-inspired women’s clothing. Additionally, you can expect stunning hair and makeup styles, courtesy of the Village Hair Studio.
As guests enjoy their lunch, the models will stroll through the restaurants, sharing information about the
spring fashion and accessories they are wearing. Staff of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization will make an appearance to share a bit of local history. The three-part series will take place at separate dining locations – On May 2, at the Country House Restaurant ($45), on May 9 at Mirabelle Restaurant at the Three Village Inn ($35), and May 16 at Luca Restaurant ($39). For $45 at the Country House Restaurant, $35 at the Three Village Inn, or $39 at Luca Restaurant, attendees can enjoy selections from a pre-fix menu.
To make your reservation, contact the restaurants directly. Located at 1175 North Country Road in Stony Brook, Country House Restaurant’s phone number is (631) 751-3332. Located in the historic Three Village Inn at 150 Main Street, Mirabelle Restaurant’s phone number is (631) 751-0555. Located at 93 Main Street in Stony Brook Village, Luca Restaurant’s phone number is (631) 675-0435.
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