Tags Posts tagged with "Charlotte Coté"

Charlotte Coté

Flowers bloom at The Shoppes at East Wind

Get ready for a day of family fun, fitness, and community wellness as The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River presents their first annual Family Health & Wellness Day, a motivating FREE event designed to inspire healthy living and bring our community together, on Saturday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

This exciting event blends health education with hands-on experiences for all ages. Enjoy high-energy fitness classes, soothing mindfulness sessions, and expert insights into healthy living—all while exploring the offerings of local health and wellness providers.

“We’re inspired to launch this inaugural event at The Shoppes,” said Charlotte Coté, Marketing Director at East Wind. “It’s about living well, supporting local businesses, and showing families all the incredible health resources right here in our own backyard.”

Highlights Include:

  • Live CPR & safety demos with the Wading River Fire Department
  • Narcan training by East End THRIVE
  • Meet representatives from the North Fork Breast Health Coalition
  • Learn natural calming techniques for kids from Wellspring of Life Acupuncture

FITNESS SESSIONS SCHEDULE:

  • 11:00 AM – Pure Barre Pop-Up Class
  • 12:30 PM – Family Yoga with Margot
  • 1:30 PM – Singing Bowls & Meditation with Andrea
  • 2:30 PM – Acupressure for Kids: Live Demo

SPECIAL GUESTS:

The Wading River Fire Department will be onsite with a full ambulance, offering demonstrations and valuable family-focused safety education. “We’re proud to support this community event,” said Denis Gluck, 3rd Assistant Chief. “It’s an opportunity to connect with families and share lifesaving skills like CPR and water safety.”

Don’t miss this energizing day of wellness, discovery, and connection! Whether you’re looking to boost your fitness routine, explore holistic health options, or just enjoy a fun day out with the family, Family Health & Wellness Day is the place to be.

Rain date is May 18.

For more information, visit https://eastwindlongisland.com/event/family-health-and-wellness-day-at-the-shoppes/ 

About the Shoppes at East Wind

The Shoppes at East Wind opened in October of 2016 with 28 free standing specialty shoppes connected by brick-paved walkways. The quaint walking village features a variety of local merchants, including jewelers, artisan goods, custom clothing, yoga instruction, an ice cream parlor, pizza shop, bakery, candy store and full-service restaurant. A custom-made indoor pavilion serves as the centerpiece of the courtyard, housing a stunning, one-of-a-kind carousel with hand-carved horses and fantasy figures. EastWindLongIsland/Shoppes

By Tara Mae

As we sail into the summer season, the Grand Carousel at the Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River offers a ride through nostalgia and a trail to making new memories.

An extension of the East Wind Hotel and Spa, the Shoppes is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year and, according to Marketing Director Charlotte Coté, the carousel has been the focal point since its opening in 2016.    

“Creating a quaint shopping village with specialty stores, food and more, the carousel became the centerpiece enjoyed by individuals of any age,” she said. “The custom indoor heated pavilion not only provides entertainment throughout the year but also protects the beauty and elegance of the carousel from the outdoor elements.”

Purchased specifically for the Shoppes’ indoor pavilion, the carousel was built by Chance Rides Incorporated of Wichita, Kansas in 1993, before residing at the Parmatown Mall in Parma, Ohio. It then sat in storage until it was rescued and shipped to Long Island. 

The handicap accessible ride is designed to resemble the elegance and majesty of carousels from yesteryear. An Americana carousel, it has an oak floor, beveled glass mirrors, a standard pietop with a lighted crown, as well as wildlife and horse designs created by ride manufacturer Bradley & Kaye Amusement Company. 

All jumpers, its animals include twelve galloping horses in the style of “country fair,” adorned with bright colors and jewels, a cat, a zebra, a reindeer, a rooster, a rabbit, and a dragon. The carousel also features a chariot and pipe organ calliope-style music.

A favorite of both the young and the young at heart, the carousel’s appeal is shared by both visitors and staff. 

“Everyone has a memory of riding a carousel and that is what makes it special,” said Coté. “We see many local families returning time and time again with their children. Our operators enjoy seeing the joy in people’s faces, riding the carousel for the first time, and parents and grandparents reminiscing [about] their carousel rides when they were kids,” she added.

For Carousel Manager Robert Cutinella, who said his favorite carousel animal is the reindeer, the public’s appreciation and amusement are the best aspects of the ride.

“What makes our carousel so special is that everyone has big smiles from the time they walk in … picking out an animal (not an easy decision, even for me), enjoying the carousel’s music, and the experience of the ride. It makes everyone feel like a kid again,” he said. 

This appeal perfectly complements the 28 free standing shops. Connected by brick-paved walkways and the carousel’s pavilion, they run the gamut from bespoke tailoring and boutique clothing to fine dining and assorted sweets. 

“We’ve been going to East Wind for Mother’s Day and Easter Day brunches since before I had kids,” frequent visitor Helen Partlow said. “Once we had kids, we would take the whole family, including grandparents, and go to the carousel.”

She enjoys the carousel and shops with her family and showcases them through her role as publisher of Port Jefferson Macaroni Kid, a subset of a national publishing platform for parents. 

“I think it’s a nice place to go when you’re already going somewhere, to add it to your day, or to go for a short visit … I’ll take them to the carousel, have ice cream, and pizza. We also go to the specialty food stores,” Partlow added. 

Tweets Ice Cream Café serves a wide variety of tasty treats, such as classic ice cream flavors, specialty milkshakes, and Starbucks. “The kids get what they like and I get something fancier,” she said. Partlow describes Brezza Pizza Kitchen as one of the “best pizza places.”  

Specialty food shops present niche or specific selections. The Cheese and Spice Market, for instance, has artisanal and farmstead cheeses and charcuterie take-out boxes, platters, and gift baskets. 

Yet out of East Wind’s many options, perhaps what most appeals to Partlow is the carousel. “It represents one of those symbolic things that all kids seem to like, but aren’t always [available],” she said. “It represents a stage of childhood, where they are still into imagination and play. It will be a nice memory that I will look back on as they grow up.” 

Coté sees the carousel as a symbol of the joy the Shoppes at East Wind may bring to the public. “The Shoppes is not just shopping. It is a place where families can come, enjoy the outdoors, grab a bite and have fun for a few hours and the carousel is a welcoming addition to that experience. The carousel is a beacon of happiness at The Shoppes.” 

Located at 5768 Route 25A, Wading River, the Grand Carousel is open seven days a week. Operating hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Fridays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The price of a ride on the carousel is $5 for one token (one token per ride) or 5 tokens for $20. Current COVID protocols are observed. For more information, visit www.eastwindlongisland.com.

*This article first appeared in TBR News Media’s Summer Times supplement on 06/24/21.

All photos by Heidi Sutton