'Spider-Man: No Way Home' will be shown at Crab Meadow Beach in Northport on July 13.
Supervisor Ed Smyth and the Town of Huntington Department of Parks and Recreation will launch the 2022 Drive-In Movies on Wednesday, July 13 at Crab Meadow Beach on Waterside Road in Northport, expanding additional movie dates to new locations across Town.
“In an effort to make Huntington’s recreational experiences more accessible, we are taking our Drive-In Movies on the road,” said Supervisor Ed Smyth. “I hope to see you all at the movies!”
The 2022 Town of Huntington Drive-In Movies lineup is as follows – all movies start at 8:30 p.m.:
Wednesday, July 13
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Crab Meadow Beach
Waterside Road, Northport
Wednesday, July 27
GREASE
West Neck Beach
West Neck Road, Lloyd Harbor
Wednesday, August 3
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
Dix Hills Park
Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills
Wednesday, August 10
BLACK PANTHER
Huntington Senior Center
423 Park Avenue, Huntington
Wednesday, August 17
ENCANTO
Huntington Senior Center
423 Park Avenue, Huntington
*Admittance is free and limited to Town of Huntington residents.
Gates open at 6 p.m. and movies start at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m). Movies are shown on a 40-foot screen, easily seen from all parking spots.
Movie audio will be broadcast on FM radio frequency (channel 99.3) to watch the movie from a vehicle. There will also be speakers for attendees who bring lawn chairs to sit outside.
For information, or in the case of inclement weather, please check out the Parks & Rec Facebook page or visit huntingtonny.gov/parks
For up-to-the-minute movie information, call (631) 351-3089.
THRILL SEEKERS
The Terryville Fire Department Carnival is up and running through July 10.
File photoby Giselle Barkley/TBR News Media
Ongoing
Huntington Summer Arts Festival
The 57th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival continues at the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington this week with Alsarah & The Nubatones on July 7, Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co. on July 8, Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience on July 9, the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra on July 10, Huntington Community Band on July 13 and the Oran Etkin Open Arms Project on July 14. All shows start at 8 p.m. Bring seating. Free. See children’s shows on page B23. For more information, visit www.huntingtonarts.org.
Thursday 7
Terryville Fire Dept. Carnival
Terryville Fire Department, 19 Jayne Blvd., Port Jefferson Station invites the community to its annual family carnival tonight and July 8 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., July 9 from 5 p.m. to midnight, and July 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. Enjoy rides, games and carnival food. $25 entry fee includes all rides. Call 473-1224.
Inside/Out art reception
Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket invites the community to an opening reception of its Inside/Out group exhibit featuring the works of over 50 local and regional artists from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 751-2676 for further details.
Smithtown Library concert
The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Main Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown tonight at 7:30 p.m. with the Just Sixties Band. Bring a chair or blanket for seating. For more information, call 360-2480 ext.150 after 3 p.m.
Harborside Concerts
The Village of Port Jefferson kicks off its free Harborside Concert series at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with Beach Boys tribute band Endless Summer at 8 p.m. Bring seating. For more information, call-473-4724 or visit www.portjeff.com.
Community Band concert
The Northport Community Band continues its summer concert series at the Robert W. Krueger Bandstand in Northport Village Park tonight with a concert titledHoliday Make-up Celebration at 8:30 p.m. Pre-concertby the NCJO Big Band. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. Call 261-6972 or visit www.ncb59.org
Friday 8
Terryville Fire Dept. Carnival
See July 7 listing.
Concert at the Library
Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket hosts an outdoor concert on the lawn from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with Paige Patterson featuring songs of Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Michael Bublé, and more. Bring seating No registration required. Call 941-4080 or visit www.emmaclark.org.
Happenings on Main Street
The Northport Arts Coalition presents a free concert by Harper Lovey & The Waitlist at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor at 7 p.m. as part of its Happenings on Main Street Series. Bring seating. Call 827-6827 or visit www.northportarts.org.
Smithtown Family Concert
Town of Smithtown Family Concerts return to Long Beach Town Park, 555 Long Beach Road, St. James tonight with Naked Truth at 7 p.m. Call 360-7512 or visit www.smithtown.gov for further details.
Long Island Comedy Festival
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson hosts the 16th annual Long Island Comedy Festival at 8 p.m. Line-up includes Paul Anthony, Tom Daddario, John Ziegler, Gary Vider and Maria Walsh. Tickets are $49. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Saturday 9
Terryville Fire Dept. Carnival
See July 7 listing.
Antique & Working Truck Show
The Long Island Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society presents the 20th annual Antique, Classic & Working Truck Show today and July 10 at 5951 Sound Ave., Riverhead from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Held in conjunction with the Long Island Antique Power Association’s 30th Annual Antique Farm Tractor Show & and Hit & Miss Engine Run with garden and large tractor pulls, truck and engine exhibits, kids corner and craft vendors. Admission is $10 adults, children under 12 and Veterans are free. Call 339-3065 or visit www.athsli.org.
Print Your Art Out event
The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington will host a Print Your Art Out free community event at the museum and Heckscher Park today and July 10 from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Join them for a creative weekend of printmaking activities. Featured artists will be printing large-scale woodcuts with master printmakers from BIG INK, Inc. Free. Reservations recommended by visiting www.heckscher.org.
Second Saturdays Poetry Reading
All Souls Church in Stony Brook continues itsSecond Saturdays poetry series via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Melissa Fadul. An open reading will follow. Participants can access the program at https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/.For more information, call 655-7798.
Corn Festival & Pow Wow
The Setalcott Nation’s annual Corn Festival heads to Setauket on July 9 and 10. File photo by Rita J. Egan/TBR News Media
Join the Setalcott Nation for their 15th annual Corn Festival & Pow Wow at the Setauket Elementary School, 134 Main St., Setauket today and July 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The weekend will feature Aztec Dancers, Taino Dancers, storytelling, specialty dances, flute players, traditional drums and audience participation. Grand Entry at noon. Bring seating. Free will donation. Call 917-415-5139 or 631-698-5517 for more information.
Old Burying Ground tour
Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Groundwalking tour at 4 p.m. Established soon after the Town’s 1653 founding, Huntington’s earliest public burying ground features stunning folk art and beautiful epitaphs honoring Huntington’s residents and rich history. Tour begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington .Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children. For reservations, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Saturdays at Six concert
Join All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook for a Saturdays at Six concert featuring Gospel Road, a wonderful mix of impressive performers from the scenes of jazz, bluegrass, country, gospel and western traditions including Tom Manuel, Steve Salerno, Buddy Meriam, Keenan Zach, Darrell Smith, and Laura Landor, at 6 p.m. Free. Call 655-7798 for more information.
Tribute to Billy Joel
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport welcomes Billy Joel tribute band We May Be Right for a courtyard concert from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person in advance, $40 at the door. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Concert on the Lawn
The North Shore Community Band kicks off its annual Summer Concert Series with an outdoor concert at St. Mark’s Church, 105 Randall Road, Shoreham at 7 p.m. Enjoy an evening of Sousa, Gershwin, Glenn Miller, Sondheim, Disney, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic favorites. Free. Bring seating. www.nscbli.org.
Tribute to Chicago
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 2022 Summer Concert Series withBeginnings — A Celebration of the Music of Chicago! at 8 p.m. The show will bring the magic of a live Chicago performance to life and exceptionally recreates their enormous songbook of contemporary hits. Tickets are $59. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Sunday 10
Terryville Fire Dept. Carnival
See July 7 listing.
Antique & Working Truck Show
See July 9 listing.
Corn Festival & Pow Wow
See July 9 listing.
All GM Car and Truck Show
Long Island Vettes presents the Plycar Automotive Logisticss all GM Car Show at 54 Lake Avenue South, Nesconset from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring Buicks, Cadillacs, Chevrolets, GMCs, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles. Food vendors. Free for spectators. First 100 cars/trucks to preregister will be judged. Rain date is July 17. Call 516-216-0217 or visit www.longislandvettes.org
Mustang Car Show
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host a car show by the Mustang and Shelby Club of Long Island on the Great Lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Empire Ford. Visitors pay only museum admission of $10 adults, $9 students and seniors, $7 children 12 and under, which includes estate-grounds access. Call 371-1432.
Summer Splendor Garden Tour
Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for its annual Summer Splendor Garden Tour from noon to 4 p.m. This outdoor, self-led tour will feature six beautiful gardens in Northport, East Northport, Fort Salonga and Greenlawn. Tickets are $45 per person, $35 members//$50 Day of event. To register, call 757-9859 or visit www.northporthistorical.org.
Art exhibit reception
Sidewalk Alley Art& Framing of Mount Sinai will hold an offsite exhibition featuring local artists at 41 North Country Road, Port Jefferson from 3 to 5 p.m. (collectors from 2 to 3 p.m.) to view the works of artists David Arteaga, Robert Bellassai, Paul Cammarata, Jenise Craig, Leslie DeValera, Ellen Ferrigno, Barbara Hutter, SallyAnne Keller, Louis Mangieri, Lorraine McCormick, Lauren Nardone, Robert Tuska, Michael Zaferatos and the works of Mac Titmus. Enjoy refreshments including cheeses, chocolate and wine tasting. For more information, call 521-4577 or 474-2787.
Wind Down Sundays
The popular summer concert series returns to Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket tonight with the Claudia Jacobs Band at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. Call 689-6146 or visit www.frankmelvillepark.org.
Celebrate St. James Concert
The Celebrate St. James’s Summer Concert series returns to Long Beach Town Park, 555 Long Beach Road, St. James tonight with The Eagle River Band from 6 to 7:30 p.m.Call 984-0201 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.
Hoyt Farm concert
Hoyt Farm, 200 New Highway, Commack continues its free Sunday concerts with Radio Flashback at 7 p.m. Bring seating. NOTE: Smithtown resident stickers required to park on property. Call 543-7804.
Concert in the Park
Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mount Sinai will host a free concert with Bon Journey paying tribute to rock icons Bon Jovi and Journey at 7 p.m. Presented by Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker and the North Shore Youth Council. Bring seating. Call 403-4846 for more info.
Summer Concerts on the Green
Summer concerts are back in front of the Stony Brook Post Office at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook from 7 to 9 p.m. every Sunday from July 10 to Aug. 21, courtesy of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. Tonight’s performance will be by The Precisions. Free. Bring seating.Call 751-2244 or visit wmho.org.
Monday 11
Monday on Main
The Kings Park Chamber of Commerce presents a Monday on Main celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy music, food, an antique car show, art in the park, live music, rides and games for the kids. Visit www.kingsparkli.com.
Northport Fireman’s Fair
The Northport Volunteer Fire Department will hold their 96th annual Firemen’s Fair today to July 16 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the fire department grounds on Steers Ave, off of Ocean Ave in Northport. The six day fair will have carnival rides by Blue Sky Amusements, festival food, carnival games and more. Questions? Call 261-7504.
Virtual Movie Trivia Night
Do you know a lot about movies? Well here’s your chance to prove it! Join the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington for a virtual Movie Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Hosted by Dan French, the winning team will get up to four CAC Gift Cards (1 per team member) and bragging rights. Tickets are $10 per team, $7 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org to register. Questions? Email [email protected]
Tuesday 12
Northport Fireman’s Fair
See July 11 listing.
Cooking with the Stars
The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown continues its cooking series featuring local culinary pros sharing tips, techniques, and a taste to bring the community together in front of the Roseneath Cottage from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Chefs Marco Pellegrini and Sabrina Vallorini of Osteria Umbra share their homemade pasta technique and top off the evening with something sweet! Tickets are $25 per person in advance, $35 at the door. Questions? Call 265-6768.
Concerts at The Gazebo
Enjoy Tuesday night concerts at The Gazebo, 127 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset through Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. kicking off tonight with Billy Joel Tribute Band Songs in the Attic, courtesy of the Nesconset Chamber of Commerce. Rain dates are the next day. Bring seating. Questions? Call 672-5197, or visit www.nesconsetchamber.org
Concerts in the Courtyard
Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Road, Northport will host an outdoor concert in the courtyard featuring the Gold Coast Jazz Band at 7 p.m. Enjoy a “Salute to America” with this rousing medley of U.S. Armed Forces theme songs followed by classic big band music from the Great American Songbook. Rain dte is June 13. No registration required. Call 261-6930.
Community Band concert
The Smithtown Community Band continues its 36th annual summer concert season at the Smithtown Historical Society’s Brush Barn, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown at 8 p.m. This year’s theme is American Pop Culture: A Journey Through Time featuring music attributed to popular books, movies, video games, television, advertising and Broadway shows of the 20th and 21st century. Free. Bring seating. Call 265-6768 for more info.
Wednesday 13
Northport Fireman’s Fair
See July 11 listing.
STEPPING BACK IN TIME The Huntington Historical Society hosts a tour of the 18th century Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill on July 13 at 10:30 a.m. Photo from Huntington Historical Society
Tide Mill Tour
The Huntington Historical Society will lead a tour of the Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill, one of the best preserved 18th century tide mills in the country! at 10:30 a.m. The tour begins with a short boat ride from Gold Star Battalion Beach into Puppy Cove, past waterfront mansions with sightings of egrets, ospreys, and visiting waterfowl. Your guide will explain the workings of the mill with some related social history, and each tour participant will receive a comprehensive, illustrated booklet. Ticket are $20 per person, $15 members. To purchase, call 427-7045 or visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Historic Walking Tour & Pub Crawl
The Huntington Historical Society hosts a Historic Walking Tour & Pub Crawl beginning at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, Main Street, Huntington at 6 p.m. Led by Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, this walking tour will guide you through the notable buildings and events in the history of Huntington Village. Along the way participants will stop at local establishments, (with a great history or in a historic building) to enjoy some refreshment before continuing the tour. $25 per person, $20 members (drinks not included). To register, call 427-7045 or visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Summer Concert Wednesdays
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce continues its Summer Concert Wednesdays at the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber Train Car Park, Nesconset Highway and Route 112, Port Jefferson Station from 6 to 8 p.m. with Paige Patterson (Paint Night). Call 821-1313 or visit www.pjstchamber.com.
Port Jefferson Sunset Concert
Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council presents Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 31. Tonight’s performance will be by theEast End Trio. Bring seating. Call 473-5220 or visit www.gpjac.org.
Thursday 14
Northport Fireman’s Fair
See July 11 listing.
Smithtown Library concert
The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Main Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown tonight at 7:30 p.m. with One Step Ahead (Greatest Hits). Bring a chair or blanket for seating. For more information, call 360-2480 ext.150 after 3 p.m.
Harborside Concerts
The Village of Port Jefferson continues its free Harborside Concert series at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with the Ed Travers Band at 8 p.m. Bring seating. For more information, call-473-4724 or visit www.portjeff.com.
Community Band concert
The Northport Community Band continues its summer concert series at the Robert W. Krueger Bandstand in Northport Village Park tonight with a concert titled Scenes from Childhood at 8:30 p.m. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. Call 261-6972 or visit www.ncb59.org
Film
CatVideoFest at the CAC
CatVideoFest returns to the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington on July 10 at 2 p.m. with a hilarious and adorable compilation reel of the latest, best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and, of course, classic internet powerhouses. The screening will include a kitten adoption pop-up with the local rescue Golden Paw Society, Inc. Everyone is welcome to come and meet the cats, with a portion of the film’s ticket sales going to help support the Golden Paw Society. Tickets are $17, $12 members. To order, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
GIRL POWER The Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington closes out its Maritime Film Festival with a screening of the documentary ‘Maiden’ on July 12 at 7:30 p.m. Photo from CAC
‘Maiden’
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington closes its Maritime Film Festival with a screening of Maiden on July 12 at 7:30 p.m. In 1989, long dismissed and belittled as the only woman crewmember on the ships where she worked, British sailor Tracy Edwards set out to prove herself in the biggest way possible. She assembled the world’s first all-female international crew and entered the Whitbread Round the World Race, a 32,000 mile global circumnavigation competition that, until then, had been the exclusive domain of male seafarers. Featuring a post-film Q&A with Maiden sailor Dawn Riley, Director of Oakcliff Sailing School. Tickets are $17, $12 members. Call 423-7610 or visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
‘Uncharted’
Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for a screening of Uncharted starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg on July 14 at 2 p.m. Open to all. Registration is required as seating is limited. Visit www.cplib.org or call 928-1212 to sign up.
Theater
‘Every Brilliant Thing’
Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, in association with Response Crisis Center, presents the Long Island premiere of Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show starring Jeffrey Sanzel, on the Second Stage Sundays at 3 p.m. from July 10 to Aug. 28.You’re seven years old. Your mother is in the hospital. Your father said she’s “done something stupid.” So, you begin a list of everything that is truly wonderful about the world—everything worth living for. With audience members recruited to take on supporting roles, Every Brilliant Thing is a heart-wrenching, hilarious story of depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. All seats are $20. Fifty percent of the gross proceeds of this production will benefit Response Crisis Center. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘On Your Feet!’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan from July 14 to Aug. 28. From their humble beginnings in Cuba, Emilio and Gloria Estefan came to America and broke through all barriers to become a crossover sensation at the very top of the pop music world. But just when they thought they had it all, they almost lost everything. On Your Feet! takes you behind the music and inside the real story of this record-making, and groundbreaking couple who, in the face of adversity, found a way to end up on their feet. Get ready to get on your feet, and dance to the smash hits “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Live For Loving You,” “Conga,” and many more. Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Troilus and Cressida’
The Carriage House Players continues its annual Shakespeare Festival at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Troilus and Cressida from July 1 to 24 (excluding July 15 and 22) on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Performances take place outdoors on stage in the courtyard, where the Spanish-Mediterranean architecture adds a touch of timeless charm and magic. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy before the show and bring your own lawn chair. Inclement weather cancels. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children ages 12 and under. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
‘Spring Awakening’
Up next for Star Playhouse at Suffolk Y-JCC’s Stage 74, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack is Spring Awakening, the Tony Award-winning rock musical adaptation of the seminal play about the trials and tribulations of growing up, on July 30 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on July 31 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $20, $15 seniors and students. To order, call 462-9800 x-136 or visit www.starplayhouse.com.
‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’
The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents the hit musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change from Aug. 4 to Aug. 14. This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, ‘Say, what are you doing Saturday night?’ Tickets are $45 adults, $40 seniors. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
◆ The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River has vendor opportunities available for its upcoming outdoor Farmer’s Markets on July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept.17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 631-929-3500 x708 for an application.
◆ The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks glass enthusiasts (both sea glass and historic glass) and vendors to be a part of it Suffolk County Seaglass Festival on Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee for vendor participation is $50 and entitles you to a 72” banquet table for displaying your items. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org for an application or call 631-367-3418.
◆ Nesconset Chamber of Commerce seeks vendors for its Nesconset Day street fair along Smithtown Blvd. in Nesconset on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 631-672-5197 or email [email protected]
◆ St. Thomas of Canterbury, 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown seeks craft or new merchandise vendors for its Craft Fair and Car Show on Oct. 8 (rain date is Oct. 15 for craft fair only). Visit www.stthomasofcanterbury.net or call 631-265-4520 to obtain an application or get more info.
◆ Stony Brook Community Church, 216 Christian Ave., Stony Brook is seeking vendors for its Apple Festival on Oct.1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Oc. 2). Spots (10’ x 10’) are $40 each; vendors can call or text 631-252-0777 for an application to reserve a space
Mark your calendars! The New York Marine Rescue Center will host the following beach cleanups for the summer. Join them in their effort to eradicate marine debris from our local beaches and help save our wildlife.
Cleanup’s at the following locations will take place on Sunday’s from 6 to 8pm.: Cedar Beach, 244 Harbor Beach Road, Mount Sinai on July 10, Aug. 7 and Sept. 18; Crab Meadow Beach, Waterside Avenue, Fort Salonga on July 24, Aug. 21 and Sept. 25; and FINS at Smith Point County Park, 1 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley on July 24, Aug. 21 and Sept. 25.
To participate in one of these cleanup’s, call 631-369-9840 or visit www.nymarinerescue.org.
In the U.S., 24.4 million people over the age of 40 have cataracts. Pixabay photo
Reducing oxidative stress with diet may lower risk
By David Dunaief, M.D.
Dr. David Dunaief
The likelihood we will have cataracts that affect our vision increases as we age, but we can take an active role in preventing them.
A cataract is an opacity or cloudiness of the lens in the eye, which decreases vision over time as it progresses. Typically, it’s caused by oxidative stress, and it’s common for both eyes to be affected.
Cataracts affect a substantial portion of the U.S. population. In the U.S., 24.4 million people over the age of 40 were afflicted, according to statistics gathered by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health (1). This number is expected to increase approximately 61 percent by the year 2030.
Cataract prevalence varies considerably by gender, with 61 percent of cases being women, and by race; 80 percent of those affected are white. There are many modifiable risk factors including diet, smoking, sunlight exposure, chronic diseases (such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome), steroid use, and physical inactivity. Here, we will focus on the dietary factor.
Impact of meat consumptionon cataract risk
Diet has been shown to have substantial effect on the risk reduction for cataracts (2). One of the most expansive studies on cataract formation and diet was the Oxford (UK) group, with 27,670 participants, of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) trial. Participants completed food frequency questionnaires between 1993 and 1999. Then, they were checked for cataracts between 2008 and 2009.
There was an inverse relationship between the amount of meat consumed and cataract risk. In other words, those who ate a great amount of meat were at higher risk of cataracts. “Meat” included red meat, fowl and pork. These results followed what we call a dose-response curve.
Compared to high meat eaters, every other group demonstrated a significant risk reduction as you progressed along a spectrum that included low meat eaters (15 percent reduction), fish eaters (21 percent reduction), vegetarians (30 percent reduction) and finally vegans (40 percent reduction).
There really was not that much difference in meat consumption between high meat eaters, those having at least 3.5 ounces, and low meat eaters, those having less than 1.7 ounces a day, yet there was a substantial decline in cataracts. This suggests that you can realize a meaningful effect by simply reducing or replacing your average meat intake, rather than eliminating meat from your diet.
In my clinical experience, I’ve had several patients experience reversal of their cataracts after they transitioned to a nutrient-dense, plant-based diet. I didn’t think this was possible, but anecdotally, this is a very positive outcome and was confirmed by their ophthalmologists.
Do antioxidants have an effect?
Oxidative stress is one of the major contributors to the development of cataracts. In a review article that looked at 70 different trials for the development of cataract and/or maculopathies, such as age-related macular degeneration, the authors concluded antioxidants, which are micronutrients found in foods, play an integral part in eye disease prevention (3).
The authors go on to say that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as lifestyle modification with cessation of smoking and treatment of obesity at an early age, help to reduce the risk of cataracts. Thus, you are never too young or too old to take steps to prevent cataracts.
Among antioxidants studied that have shown positive effects is citrus. The Blue Mountains Eye Study found that participants who had the highest dietary intake of vitamin C reduced their 10-year risk for nuclear cataracts (4).
Cataract surgery
The only effective way to treat cataracts is with surgery; the most typical type is phacoemulsification. Ophthalmologists remove the opaque lens and replace it with a synthetic intraocular lens. This is done as an outpatient procedure and usually takes approximately 30 minutes. Fortunately, there is a very high success rate for this surgery. So why is it important to avoid cataracts if surgery can remedy them?
There are always potential risks with invasive procedures, such as infection, even though the chances of complications are low. However, more importantly, there is a greater than fivefold risk of developing late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after cataract surgery (5). This is wet AMD, which can cause significant vision loss. These results come from a meta-analysis (group of studies) looking at more than 6,000 patients.
It has been hypothesized that the surgery may induce inflammatory changes and the development of leaky blood vessels in the retina of the eye. However, because this meta-analysis was based on observational studies, it is not clear whether undiagnosed AMD may have existed prior to the cataract surgery, since they have similar underlying causes related to oxidative stress.
Therefore, if you can reduce the risk of cataracts through diet and other lifestyle modifications, plus avoid the potential consequences of cataract surgery, all while reducing the risk of chronic diseases, why not choose the win-win scenario?
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com.
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington closes its Maritime Film Festival with a screening of Maiden on July 12 at 7:30 p.m.
In 1989, long dismissed and belittled as the only woman crewmember on the ships where she worked, British sailor Tracy Edwards set out to prove herself in the biggest way possible. She assembled the world’s first all-female international crew and entered the Whitbread Round the World Race, a 32,000 mile global circumnavigation competition that, until then, had been the exclusive domain of male seafarers. Featuring a post-film Q&A with Maiden sailor Dawn Riley, Director of Oakcliff Sailing School.
Tickets are $17, $12 members. Call 423-7610 or visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Above, a stand of Christmas Fern. Photo by John Turner
By John L. Turner
Throughout the forests, woodlands, and wetlands of Long Island exists a group of plants with great lineage and I do mean GREAT lineage, with a fossil record that goes back approximately 360 million of years, well before the appearance of dinosaurs. In some places in the world, but not Long Island, these species reach tree size. Dozens of examples of this group can be found here, perhaps one or a few in an untouched section of your yard. What group might this be? Ferns and their relatives — the clubmosses and horsetails (the latter two will be the subject of a future article).
Because they aren’t colorful, ferns are often thought of as “background plants” in landscape settings. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t beautiful because many are very much so, given their fragile, graceful, and lacy appearances. Generally you can think of a fern frond as being “undivided, once-divided, twice-divided, or thrice-divided,” the lacier a fern the more “cuts” or divisions it has. (We don’t have any undivided ferns native to Long Island).
Rare ferns seen at Fort Totten. Photo by John Turner
Remembering how many times a fern is divided is a convenient way to classify and identify species (it’s how I learned it many decades ago). So a fern like the well-known Christmas Fern, is a “once-divided fern” since its one division creates just a series of leaflets that collectively make up its frond surface. A twice-divided fern, like Bracken Fern, has leaflets like the Christmas Fern but in the Bracken Fern’s case, the leaflets themselves have cuts, creating subleaflets or pinnules. If, in turn, the subleaflets are cut to form even smaller lobes, as in Hayscented Fern, you’re looking at a thrice-divided fern.
Ferns have no flowers — no nectar, pollen, or seeds and depend upon no insects or animals to successfully reproduce. Rather, they depend upon spores and vegetative spread (through rhizomes in most cases but also, as in the case of Walking Fern, an undivided species that doesn’t grow on Long Island, in which the fern tip arches downward to anchor in the soil from which another fern grows, hence the term “walking”).
The tiny, almost microscopic, spores develop within a case known as a sporangia. Often the sporangia are clustered together in what are known as sori or fruit-dots (although this isn’t accurate). The location of the sori can be very helpful, in fact diagnostic, in identifying fern species. With some, such as Sensitive, Cinnamon, and Netted Chain Ferns, the sori are located on a separate stalk, while in others like Grape Ferns they are connected via a stalk to the main frond. Most often though, the sori are located on the underside of the frond leaflets and their shape and location on the leaflet can be diagnostic as to species. A five to seven power hand lens opens up a new world to you while inspecting the many distinctive spore cases produced by our native ferns.
You might reasonably assume that a spore, wafting away from a sporangia upon the slightest breeze, will eventually land in a suitable location, germinate, and develop into a new fern. Your assumption, while most reasonable, would be incorrect as the process is more complicated and this is where the concept of “alternation of generations” comes in. The spore does germinate and develop, but not directly into a new fern. Rather, it grows into a prothallus, a small structure shaped like a Valentine’s Day heart. The prothallus is the “gametophyte” stage because the prothallus contains the gametes or sex cells (sperm and egg) On one part of the “heart” is the antheridia, where the sperm come from, and nearby is the archegonia, which produces the egg. In optimal conditions, that is, when the prothallus is wet, the sperm travels the short distance to the egg. Upon germination a new spore-producing fern (the sporophyte stage) develops. The sporophyte is the fern stage that is before your eyes to identify and enjoy. So we have sporophyte-gametophyte-sporophyte-gametophyte, ad infinitum.
As mentioned, some ferns spread vegetatively through the growth of underground horizontally oriented rhizomes from which new fronds grow in a perpendicular fashion, emerging from the surface of the soil. Bracken Fern, the common fern species of the drier upland habitats in the Pine Barrens, is an excellent example of a fern that spreads through rhizomes. In some places bracken fern stands can cover as much as an acre or more.
Long Island is home to several dozen fern species, present in most habitats occurring here. Freshwater and forest habitats are especially well represented with ferns; however, none occur in salt marshes or on beach dunes. Let’s look at some!
The previously mentioned Christmas Fern is a common and widespread species growing throughout Long Island’s woodlands. It is often noted the species received its name from the similarity of a leaflet to a Christmas stocking hanging from a fireplace mantle. A competing explanation is that this fern species is one of the few plants still green through the winter, standing out around Christmas time.
Similar looking to Christmas Fern but smaller is the Common Polypody, so named due to the resemblance of the leaflets to lobed feet (think pody-podiatrist). This fern is uncommon here, growing on steep slopes and large boulders. This species was a favorite of Henry David Thoreau who on several occasions remarked about the “cheerful communities” of polypody growing on rocks in New England.
Sensitive Fern grows in more sunlit locations and is easy to identify, with a “once-divided” look. As mentioned above, the sporangia are on separate stalks growing from the rootstock. Come the fall and frost, Sensitive Fern quickly dies back, hence its name.
Cinnamon Fern is an abundant fern growing in moist woodlands and wooded swamps. It is quite distinctive with a beautiful growth form in which several sterile fronds radiate from a central rootstock with the spore-producing fronds coming up through the middle. The sterile fronds appear as unfurling fiddleheads (there are no species of ferns known as fiddleheads per se; a fiddlehead is a growth stage of some ferns in which the emerging frond at first is curled like the head of a fiddle; in some species, the fiddleheads are edible). They are coated in a cinnamon “wool” — giving rise to the common name — which is reportedly used by hummingbirds and a few songbirds as nest lining material.
Bracken Fern is, as mentioned earlier, locally common to abundant in the Pine Barrens, forming an extensive thigh-high layer, unmistakable due to its triangular growth form. Bracken Fern is one of the more widespread species of ferns, found in many other places in the world including Japan and Asia. While it spreads mostly vegetatively, it also produces spores located on the rolled margins of the leaflets. It was once harvested for food but this came to an end when the species was determined to be carcinogenic.
New York Fern is another common woodland fern. It is distinguished by the tapered nature of both the top and bottom of the frond. Supposedly, a New England botanist thought this tapered growth form reminded him of New York socialites who “burned their candles at both ends” and the name New York Fern stuck.
Most native ferns here are adapted to acidic soils and as a result we don’t have many ferns that prefer more basic, calcarious soils found in limestone regions. On a birding field trip six years ago to Fort Totten in northern Queens Andy Greller (a very fine botanist, naturalist, retired Biology Professor from Queens College, and all around good guy) and I found some Purple Cliffbrake and Blunt-lobed Cliff Fern growing in the mortar seams holding together the large stones of the fort. The mortar provided the right conditions for these limestone loving ferns to thrive.
There are many other ferns awaiting your discovery — Royal and Interrupted Ferns both of which are related to Cinnamon Fern (the latter so named because the leaflets on the sterile frond are “interrupted” by the fertile leaflets in the middle of the frond), the Chain Ferns, the Grape Ferns, the hard to identify but lacy Wood Ferns, Lady, Marsh and Hay-scented Ferns, the distinctive looking Ebony Spleenwort, and a few others.
Right now these species await your visit and if you go exploring, don’t forget to bring a hand lens!
A resident of Setauket, John Turner is conservation chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, author of “Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Nature Guide to Long Island” and president of Alula Birding & Natural History Tours.
They’re here! Grab one and bite into it. Let the juice run down your chin, down your arm and onto your shirt. If it’s a good peach, who cares? If it’s not, you’ve wasted your money and made an unnecessary mess. And in my experience there’s no way of knowing whether it will be succulent and delicious or taste like a raw potato. It’s also been my experience that a peach’s quality has nothing to do with its price.
I’ve bought peaches that are all rosy and perfect looking in green quart baskets at local farm stands and paid a handsome price for them only to have them go furry on me before they’re even ripened, and I’ve bought peaches on saleat the supermarket that are not so rosy and are hard as rocks and had them ripen and taste wonderful. It’s really anybody’s guess what the variable is.
The only thing I can say is that one should never ever buy a peach with any blemish whatsoever because it will not end well. You’ll ultimatelyhave to salvage parts of that peach that have not started to rot and cook them up to go with a nice dish of vanilla ice cream. Should you have to do that, here are a few recipes to try.
Peach Tart
YIELD: Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
7 tablespoons butter, softened
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons apricot jam
4 medium peaches, cut into 1/2” wedges
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
DIRECTIONS:
Place oven rack in lower third of oven, then preheat oven to 375 F. In a food processor combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and butter. Pulse a few times to blend, then add the egg and egg yolk and pulse just until a soft dough forms; turn the dough out onto a pastry board and knead until it all comes together. Press the dough onto the bottom and sides of a 10 1/2” fluted tart pan with a removable bottom.
Spread the quarter cup jam over the bottom crust, then arrange peaches in concentric circles on top. Bake for 20 minutes or until crust is a light golden color and peaches are still a little hard; spread the remaining two tablespoons jam over the peaches and return tart to oven and bake for 25-30 minutes more, until crust is a nice golden color and peaches are tender.
Let cool about 30 minutes, then dust with confectioners’ sugar, remove from pan and serve warm with creme fraiche.
Peachy Barbecue Sauce
YIELD: Makes about 2 cups
INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large shallot, diced
One 3” piece ginger, peeled and diced
3/4 pound peeled, pitted and diced fresh peaches
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon dried hot pepper flakes
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium saucepan over high heat, warm the oil, then add the shallot and ginger; stirring often, cook until shallot is soft, about 3-5 minutes; add peaches, vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper, and hot pepper flakes; stir and bring to a simmer, lower heat and maintain a gentle simmer until the peaches are very soft, about 25-30 minutes. Using an immersion blender, puree the sauce until it reaches desired consistency, then use to baste ribs, chicken or pork and serve with corn on the cob.
Peach Crisp
YIELD: Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
3 pounds fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, diced
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled or quick oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Pinch salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter a 9” square baking dish. Arrange peaches evenly in baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and butter. Mix until it achieves a crumbly consistency; sprinkle over peaches; bake until golden brown and crispy on top, about 30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
A CELEBRATION OF DANCE
The L.I. Dance Consortium heads to the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park in Huntington on July 1. Photo from HAC
Ongoing
Huntington Summer Arts Festival
The 57th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival continues at the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington this week with the Huntington Men’s Chorus on June 30, the L.I. Dance Consortium “A Celebration of Dance I” on July 1, Cabaret Night with Anthony Nunziata on July 2, The Mikado; A Long Island Fantasy on July 3, and Huntington Community Band on July 6 and Alsarah & The Nubatones on July 7. All shows start at 8 p.m. Bring seating. Free. For more information, visit www.huntingtonarts.org.
Thursday June 30
St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival
Fr. Thomas Judge Knights of Columbus celebrates its 29th annual St. Anthony’s Family Feast and Festivalat Trinity Regional School, 1025 Fifth Ave., East Northport tonight, July 1 from 6 to 11 p.m. and July 2 from 3 to 11 p.m. Featuring rides, games, food, craft beer, live music, circus shows and Saturday fireworks. Special attractions include the Royal Legacy Circus, Scotto’s Carnival Stage, a Zeppole eating contest on June 30anda St. Anthony statue procession on July 2. Free admission, pay-one-price rides or individual rides. Call 262-1891 or visit www.newtonshows.com.
Vanderbilt lecture
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents an evening lecture titled Gentleman Bankers from 7to 8:30 p.m. Guest speaker Dr. Susie J. Pak will discuss J.P. Morgan and the world of investment banking in the early the 20th century. Tickets are $10 per person at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Music Made in America concert
The Northport Community Band kicks off its summer concert series at the Robert W. Krueger Bandstand in Northport Village Park tonight with a concert titledMusic Made in America at 8:30 p.m. featuring scores by Hamilton, Sousa, Armed Forces Salute and more. Pre-concert by Island Winds Chamber Ensemble. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. Call 261-6972 or visit www.ncb59.org
Friday July 1
St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival
See June 30 listing.
Happenings on Main Street
The Northport Arts Coalition presents a free concert by The Dead Ahead Band featuring the music of the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers and more at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor at 7 p.m. as part of its Happenings on Main Street Series. Bring seating. Call 827-6827 or visit www.northportarts.org.
Musical Moments in Kings Park
The Kings Park Civic Association kicks off its 2022 Musical Moments series tonight at Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main St., Kings Park at 7:30 p.m. with the Hoodoo Loungers (New Orleans Mardi Gras). Bring seating. Call 516-319-0672.
Saturday July 2
St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival
See June 30 listing.
Nature Walks
The Town of Brookhaven will host a nature walk at West Meadow Beach, Trustees Road, Stony Brook at 10 am. and at Cedar Beach, 200 Harbor Road, Mount Sinai at 2 p.m. Explore the unique ecology of the beach and salt marsh and learn about the different and overlapping ecosystems of flora and fauna, and the habitats that comprise these beautiful places. Please wear closed, comfortable shoes. Free but registration is required by emailing [email protected].
Independence Day concert
Join the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport for an concert titled Independence Day on the Gold Coast by members of the Long Island Chamber Music in the Vanderbilt Mansion courtyard from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature a musical celebration of American composers spanning the Gilded Age of the late 1800s to the Jazz Age of the early 1900s. BYO chairs and picnic. $30 per person, $25 members. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
An evening of jazz
As part of the 2022 Douglas Elliman Summer Music Series, the Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook welcomes Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks in concert at 7 p.m for an evening of classic jazz. Tickets are $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free. To order, call 751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.
Sunday July 3
Holbrook Car Show
Holbrook Commons, 480 Patchogue Holbrook Rd, Holbrook will host the 2nd annual Holbrook Commons Car Show by Native Ceuticals from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry fee will be $5 with all proceeds going to charity.
Hoyt Farm concert
Hoyt Farm, 200 New Highway, Commack continues its free Sunday concerts with X-Session at 7 p.m. Bring seating. NOTE: Smithtown resident stickers required to park on property. Call 543-7804 for further information.
Fireworks in Port Jefferson
The Village of Port Jefferson will hold a fireworks display tonight at 9 p.m. from West Beach (residents only). Also viewable from Cedar Beach, 244 Harbor Beach Road, Mount Sinai. Call 473-4724 or visit www.portjeff.com.
Monday July 4
Fourth of July Parade
Grab yourself a lawn chair and head down to Main Street so you don’t miss a moment of the Port Jefferson Fourth of July Parade on July 4 at 10 a.m. Fire trucks, dancers, bagpipe players, classic cars and more. The event is sponsored by Port Jefferson Fire
Department. Rain date is July 8. Call 473-1414 for further info.
Celebration of Hometown Heroes
VFW Post 6249, 109 King Road, Rocky Point and the Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce present A Celebration of Hometown Heroes at 11 a.m. Followed by a live reading of the Declaration of Independence. Refreshments will be served. Call 729-0699 or visit www.rpsbchamber.org
Fireworks at Bald Hill
Celebrate Independence Day at the Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater at Bald Hill, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville with live music from Solid 70s and The Chiclettes starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Questions? Call 648-2500
Tuesday July 5
Concerts in the Courtyard
Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Road, Northport will host an outdoor concert in the courtyard featuring the Just Sixties band at 7 p.m. Come enjoy the biggest rock, pop, and folk hits from one of the most important periods in music history. Rain date is July 6. No registration required. Call 261-6930.
Community Band concert
The Smithtown Community Band kicks off its 36th annual summer concert season at the Smithtown Historical Society’s Brush Barn, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown at 8 p.m. This year’s theme is American Pop Culture: A Journey Through Time featuring music attributed to popular books, movies, video games, television, advertising and Broadway shows of the 20th and 21st century. Free. Bring seating. Call 265-6768 for more info.
Wednesday July 6
Estate Walk & Talk Tour
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport offers Estate Walk & Talk tours at 11 a.m. and again 12:30 p.m. Come for an intriguing walking tour of the Vanderbilt Estate with knowledgeable Museum educators. Learn about the history of the Eagle’s Nest estate; Warren & Wetmore’s design and exterior architectural details of the 24-room Spanish Revival mansion; and the striking ironwork of Samuel Yellin, considered the greatest iron artisan of the early 20th century. Tickets, which include general admission, are available for purchase only at the door: Adults $16, seniors/students $15, children under 12 $13, and members free. Visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org for more information.
‘Young at Heart’ concert
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will be highlighting Big Band Jazz in July as the popular Young at Heart daytime concert series continues this afternoon at 1 p.m. The concert is co-sponsored by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. The band will feature the Young at Heart Trio, with Jazz Loft Founder Tom Manuel on cornet, Steve Salerno on guitar, and Keenan Zach on bass. Tickets are $10. To order, call 631-751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.
Summer Concert Wednesdays
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce kicks off its Summer Concert Wednesdays at the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber Train Car Park, Nesconset Highway and Route 112, Port Jefferson Station from 6 to 8 p.m. with SouthBound (Veterans Night). Call 821-1313 or visit www.pjstchamber.com.
Terryville Carnival
Terryville Fire Department, 19 Jayne Blvd., Port Jefferson Station invites the community to its annual family carnival tonight, July 7 and 8 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., July 9 from 5 p.m. to midnight, and July 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. Enjoy rides, games and carnival food. $25 entry fee includes all rides. Call 473-1224.
Port Jefferson Sunset Concert
Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council presents Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 31. Tonight’s performance will be by the The Famous Dr. Scanlon Band. Call 473-5220 or visit www.gpjac.org.
Thursday July 7
Terryville Carnival
See July 6 listing.
Inside/Out art reception
Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket invites the community to an opening reception of its Inside/Out group exhibit featuring the works of over 50 local and regional artists from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 751-2676.
Smithtown Library concert
The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Main Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown tonight at 7:30 p.m. with the Just Sixties Band. Bring a chair or blanket for seating. For more information, call 360-2480 ext.150 after 3 p.m.
Harborside Concerts
The Village of Port Jefferson kicks off its free Harborside Concert series at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with Beach Boys tribute band Endless Summer at 8 p.m. Bring seating. For more information, call-473-4724 or visit www.portjeff.com.
Community Band concert
The Northport Community Band continues its summer concert series at the Robert W. Krueger Bandstand in Northport Village Park tonight with a concert titledHoliday Make-up Celebration at 8:30 p.m. Pre-concertby the NCJO Big Band. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. Call 261-6972 or visit www.ncb59.org
Film
‘Leave it to Beavers!’
The Four Harbors Audubon Society continues its First Friday Movie Night series with Nature’s documentary Leave it to Beavers at the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown on July 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Discover why this curious animal is so important to our landscapes and ecosystems.Unfortunately, it hasn’t received much recognition for that accomplishment until now. A growing number of scientists, conservationists and grass-roots environmentalists have come toregard beavers as overlooked tools in reversing the effects of global warming and world-wide water shortages. A discussion will follow. Free but registration is required by calling 766-3075.
Theater
‘Kinky Boots’
John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Kinky Boots from May 19 to July 3. With songs by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, this dazzling, sassy and uplifting musical celebrates a joyous story, inspired by true life events, taking you from the factory floor of a men’s shoe factory to the glamorous catwalks of Milan! Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Every Brilliant Thing’
Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, in association with Response Crisis Center, presents the Long Island premiere of Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show starring Jeffrey Sanzel, on the Second Stage Sundays at 3 p.m. from July 10 to Aug. 28.You’re seven years old. Your mother is in the hospital. Your father said she’s “done something stupid.” So, you begin a list of everything that is truly wonderful about the world—everything worth living for. With audience members recruited to take on supporting roles, Every Brilliant Thing is a heart-wrenching, hilarious story of depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. Presented with unflinching honesty, the play perfectly balances the struggles of life while celebrating all that is “truly brilliant” in living each day. All seats are $20. Fifty percent of the gross proceeds of this production will benefit Response Crisis Center. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘On Your Feet!’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan from July 14 to Aug. 28. From their humble beginnings in Cuba, Emilio and Gloria Estefan came to America and broke through all barriers to become a crossover sensation at the very top of the pop music world. But just when they thought they had it all, they almost lost everything. On Your Feet! takes you behind the music and inside the real story of this record-making, and groundbreaking couple who, in the face of adversity, found a way to end up on their feet. Get ready to get on your feet, and dance to the smash hits “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Live For Loving You,” “Conga,” and many more. Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Troilus and Cressida’
The Carriage House Players continues its annual Shakespeare Festival at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Troilus and Cressida from July 1 to 24 (excluding July 15 and 22) on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Performances take place outdoors on stage in the courtyard, where the Spanish-Mediterranean architecture adds a touch of timeless charm and magic. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy before the show and bring your own lawn chair. Inclement weather cancels. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children ages 12 and under. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
‘Spring Awakening’
Up next for Star Playhouse at Suffolk Y-JCC’s Stage 74, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack is Spring Awakening, the Tony Award-winning rock musical adaptation of the seminal play about the trials and tribulations of growing up, on July 30 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on July 31 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $20, $15 seniors and students. To order, call 462-9800 x-136 or visit www.starplayhouse.com.
‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’
The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents the hit musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change from Aug. 4 to Aug. 14. This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, ‘Say, what are you doing Saturday night?’ Tickets are $45 adults, $40 seniors. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Vendors Wanted
◆ The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River has vendor opportunities available for its upcoming outdoor Farmer’s Markets on July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept.17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 631-929-3500 x708 for an application.
◆ The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks glass enthusiasts (both sea glass and historic glass) and vendors to be a part of it Suffolk County Seaglass Festival on Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee for vendor participation is $50 and entitles you to a 72” banquet table for displaying your items. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org for an application or call 631-367-3418.
◆ Nesconset Chamber of Commerce seeks vendors for its Nesconset Day street fair along Smithtown Blvd. in Nesconset on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 631-672-5197 or email [email protected]
◆ St. Thomas of Canterbury, 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown seeks craft or new merchandise vendors for its Craft Fair and Car Show on Oct. 8 (rain date is Oct. 15 for craft fair only). Visit www.stthomasofcanterbury.net or call 631-265-4520 to obtain an application or get more info.
◆ Stony Brook Community Church, 216 Christian Ave., Stony Brook is seeking vendors for its Apple Festival on Oct.1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Oc. 2)). Spots (10’ x 10’) are $40 each; vendors can call or text 631-252-0777 for an application to reserve a space.
Above, Tom Hanks as Colonel Parker and Austin Butler as Elvis. Photo courtesy ofWarner Bros.
Austin Butler in a scene from the film. Photo from Warner Bros.
Austin Butler in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
Austin Butler in a scene from the film. Photo from Warner Bros
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
Australian auteur Baz Luhrmann has left his kinetic imprint on a range of cinematic works. Known for his bold visual style and thumping soundtracks, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), and The Great Gatsby (2013) are among his most prominent projects. With Elvis, he has turned his sights on one of the most iconic performers of the twentieth century. Working from a screenplay co-written with Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce, and Jeremy Doner, Luhrmann presents an almost hagiographic portrait, smoothing out many of the rougher edges.
Elvis begins with Luhrmann’s usual frenetic assault. Slow-motion, quick cuts, aggressive music, and even a dissolve into a comic book set the tone for an original, if over-the-top, approach. However, within thirty minutes, the film settles into a traditional biography with only occasionally departing from a straight narrative. It becomes surprisingly pedestrian, given Luhrmann’s signature style. Predictable montages with cities superimposed on a map indicating travel seem a throwback to films of a previous century. Perhaps this is to put the action in its time, but it leans more towards creaky than homage.
The film tells the story from the perspective of Elvis’s agent, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). He serves as narrator and villain, tracing the singer from his poverty-ridden childhood through Parker’s elevation of the singer and Elvis’s meteoric rise. Much is made of Elvis’s fascination with African-American music of Memphis’s Beale Street. The huckster Parker becomes guide and gatekeeper to the naive young man, with something Faustian about the story: Parker as a corpulent Mephistopheles making dreams come true.
The film covers little new ground. In two and a half hours of playing time, Elvis reveals bits and pieces but never creates a full portrait of any of its characters. Luhrmann pulls his punches, making Elvis an almost benevolent figure, eschewing many darker elements. The drugs and sex are touched upon but then relegated to the background. While Parker states that Elvis was “the taste of forbidden fruit,” these are seen only in sanitized glimpses.
The greatest star of many generations was the victim of bad choices and insidious management. There are harrowing moments—particularly when his father decides to get him on stage when he should be in a hospital. But these moments are too few and far between. Instead, the movie focuses on performances and the push-pull relationship between the manager and the managed. Nods are made to Elvis’s devastation over the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy and his desire to make bigger statements. But they are skimmed over.
His career is played in fast-forward, his army service and movies receiving only perfunctory glances, segueing to television, and finally to Vegas. The Steve Allen debacle, with Elvis in tails singing to a hound dog, makes for a decisive moment, and the entire residency at the International Hotel receives more than a cursory treatment.
Tom Hanks gets points for giving the least “Tom Hanks” performance of his career. His almost freakish Parker is an obese fat suit and distorting prosthetics, calling to mind Jiminy Glick or Danny DeVito as the Penguin. The shadowy “Colonel” was a fraud and a charlatan, not southern but Dutch. For some strange reason, Hanks opted for an untraceable European accent (and sounding nothing like any of the available clips of the real Parker). One expects lines like “He’s the greatest carnival attraction I’d ever seen; he was my destiny” to be followed by a maniacal laugh. He creeps around the film’s periphery, wandering in his purgatory casino.
In theory, the reason for biographical films is to explore historical figures, acknowledge their accomplishments, explore them in the context of their times, or gain insight into what made them unusual, exceptional, and memorable. However, more often, the films become a celebration of the actors’ work: Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln; Jennifer Hudson in Respect; Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line; Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody, etc. Somewhere along the way, the portrayal subsumes the persona.
Austin Butler delivers as Elvis. He captures the King in every look, shift, and shrug. He embodies the roiling doubts and the desire for more. Whether struggling with career choices or trying to care for his dysfunctional parents, he infuses each moment with integrity and star power. His vocals are excellent, and he has found the required nuances. (Butler sings all the earlier songs and then is blended with actual Elvis recordings for the later years.)
By the film’s end, little has been revealed about the man or the myth. There are events and interactions and a bit of trivia but not much depth. Unlike Dexter Fletcher’s Rocketman, the gloriously messy look at Elton John, Elvis chooses not to reflect its subject in style or approach. There is nothing “Elvis” about Elvis. Instead, Baz Luhrmann offers a by-the-numbers biopic with a mesmerizing central performance. It is something, but perhaps not enough.
Rated PG-13, the film is now playing in local theaters.
One of the most anticipated movies this summer is 'Where the Crawdads Sing.'
By Jeffrey Sanzel
Ayear ago, studios wondered whether there would be a “return to normal.” The summer of 2021 straddled a mix of theatre attendance and residual streaming. Delays in various releases continued through the fall and into the winter and spring. This summer, the options seem to reflect the pre-pandemic era.
Elvis
Elvis is one of the most anticipated films. Directed by Baz Luhrman (from a screenplay by Luhrman and others), the biopic focuses on Presley (Austin Butler), from his early career to his iconic rise. Much of the story chronicles his complex relationship with Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Lurhman is noted for his non-traditional approaches (as evidenced in his Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet, and The Great Gatsby), so his take will most likely reflect his unique style.Rated PG-13 · Release date June 24
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Minions: The Rise of Gru offers a sequel to a spinoff. Minions (2015) followed Despicable Me (2010) and Despicable Me 2 (2013). The second film is in the wake of Despicable Me 3 (2017). For the franchise fans, the story picks up after the events in Minions, with twelve-year-old Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) striving to join the supervillains known as the Vicious 6.Rated PG · Release date July 1
Thor: Love and Thunder
For those craving the most traditional summer fare, there is Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8), the sequel to Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct. Taika Waititi directs Chris Hemsworth in the title role. The film also stars Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale. Rated PG-13 · Release date July8
Where the Crawdads Sing
Delia Owens’ bestseller 2018 Where the Crawdads Sing reaches the big screen with Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya, a self-raised girl from the marshlands of North Carolina who becomes the prime suspect in a murky murder case. One of the most popular novels in the last ten years, this tale of secrets hidden and revealed is one of the more serious offerings. Not Yet Rated· Release date July 15
The Gray Man
For those looking for action thrillers, The Gray Man offers the CIA’s most skilled mercenary (Ryan Gosling), uncovering dark, incriminating secrets about the organization. Chris Evans plays a psychopathic former colleague assigned to hunt him down. Produced and directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, The Gray Man hopes to be the first of a franchise based on Mark Greaney’s Gray Man novels.Rated PG-13 · Release date July 15
Nope
One of the more intriguing releases is Nope (July 22). Residents of an isolated town in California, including ranch owners James and Jill Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer), witness a mysterious and abnormal event. This science-fiction horror film is written, directed, and produced by Jordan Peele, whose brilliant and distinctive style always informs his work, including the highly effective Get Out and Us. Rated R · Release date July 22
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Equally as interesting is Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, a live-action/stop motion-animated mockumentary that trails the titular character (voiced by Jenny Slate) who embarks on a journey to locate his family. Rated PG · Release date July 24
The Black Phone
No summer is complete without the usual dose of horror. The Black Phone (June 24) reunites Ethan Hawke with Scott Derrickson, his director from Sinister (2012). Here, a kidnapped boy trapped in a basement realizes he can communicate with this captor’s previous victims.Rated R · Release date July 24
Bullet Train
Bullet Train is a hybrid action comedy/thriller based on the Japanese novel Maria Beetle. Brad Pitt heads an ensemble cast as trained killer Ladybug (Pitt), who wants to give up the life but is pulled back in by his handler (Sandra Bullock). On a train from Tokyo to Kyoto, competing assassins discover they are after the same briefcase. (There has been some backlash on the film’s casting, with two of the novel’s main characters becoming non-Asian.) Rated R · Release date July 29
DC League of Super-Pets
The family-friendly DC League of Super-Pets is an animated adventure with Superman’s dog, Krypto (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), organizing shelter pets who have special powers to free the Justice League, which mastermind Lex Luthor has captured. Rated PG · Release date July 29
Bodies Bodies Bodies
The satirical slasher Bodies Bodies Bodies (August 5) sees a group of friends gathering for a house party to play a murder mystery game, only to discover an actual murder has taken place, and they must now play the game for real. Rated R · Release date August 5
Samaritan
In Samaritan, a young boy (Javon Walton) realizes that a famed superhero, who was thought to have gone missing, may still be around. The film also stars Sylvester Stallone. RatedPG-13 · Release date August 26
3000 Years of Longing
There is a surprising dearth of fantasy, with Three Thousand Years of Longing being one of the few. Adapting and directing A.S. Byatt’s short story The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye, George Miller returns after a seven-year hiatus. The epic romantic fantasy chronicles a woman (Tilda Swinton) who encounters a djinn (Idris Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. Rated R · Release date August 31
Clearly, this summer hosts a variety of choices for all filmgoers.
*This article originally appeared in TBR News Media’s Summer Times supplement.