Posted on

Long Island Summer Concert Calendar

summer concert calendar

By Lauren Jablonski & Victoria Evola

Summer on Long Island is all about finding fun things to do, but nothing beats loud music, late nights and bright lights. Every summer, Long Island hosts multiple music festivals featuring the hottest artists from all genres. Below is a list of festivals on Long Island to make your summer filled with memorable music.

106.1 BLI Summer Jam Music Festival

Date: June 15th

Location: Northwell Heath at Jones Beach Amphitheatre

1000 Ocean Pkwy Wantagh, NY 11793

Artisits: Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor, Zedd, Marshmello, 5 Seconds of Summer, Backstreet Boys, Alessia Cara, Bebe Rexha, Dua Lipa, and Why Don’t We

This is a huge year for BLI Summer Jam with the largest lineup of artists ever. Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor and 5 Seconds of Summer just released new singles. Don’t miss the Backstreet Boys performing their popular hits I want it that Way, Quit Playing Games with My Heart as well as their newest single Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.

KTUphoria Music Festival

Date: June 16th

Location: Northwell Heath at Jones Beach Amphitheatre

1000 Ocean Pkwy Wantagh, NY 11793

Artists: Dua Lipa, Ne-Yo, Charlie Puth, Enrique Iglesias, Sting and Shaggy, and Pitbull

KTU hosts a summer music festival featuring popular artists. Charlie Puth has had a strong start to 2018, with the release of his hit singles, How Long and Attention. His set will definitely be worth it! Enjoy a good throwback when Sting and Shaggy, hit the stage for a duo performance. This is one summer night that will be popping with hits.

 

Great South Bay Music Festival

Date: July 12, 13,14 &15

Location: Shorefront Park

99 Smith Street, Patchogue NY, 11772

Artists Playing: The Dickey Betts Band, Umphreys McGee, Sublime with Rome, The Front Bottoms, Dirty Heads, Electric Hot Tuna, Papadosio, Little Feat, Thrice, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Get Up Kids, Envy on the Coast, Less Than Jake, JGB Featuring Melvin Seals, The Devon Allman Project, The Imagination Movers, Bohemians, Awaken, Half Step, Reckoning, Memphis Crawl, Miles to Dayton, Callooh Callay, Dudley Music, Ritual Talk, Dharma 2.0, Nonstop to Cairo, and Albums we Love.

For the 12th year in a row, Great South Bay Music Festival is the largest four day festival on Long Island with 60 artists. This event will also have a diverse food court, with multiple beer and wine stands. The festival also has an artisan market with diverse collections of handmade creations made by local artists. All ages are welcome and kids under the age of 10 are free and can enjoy the Kidzone. Bring your favorite lawn chair and enjoy a relaxing environment with good music.

 

Warped Tour :: Bands & Tickets Update

QUESTIONS? :: don't worry we got you covered🐥 early bird tix on sale Feb 26 10AM local🎫 souvenir tix on sale Feb 26🎙️ bands announced March 1 at 3PM PT🎟️ regular tickets on sale March 8ℹ️ https://fanlink.to/VWTEarlyBirdTix#vanswapredtour #warpedtour #foreverwarped

Posted by Vans Warped Tour on Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Vans Warped Tour

Date: July 28th

Location: Northwell Heath at Jones Beach Amphitheatre

1000 Ocean Pkwy Wantagh, NY 11793

Artists: 30H!3, The Amity Affliction, As It Is, Asking Alexandria, Assuming We Survive, Broadside, Capstan, Chase Atlantic, Chelsea Grin, Crown The Empire, Dayseeker, Deez Nuts, Doll Skin, Don Broco, Every Time I Die, Farewell Winters, Four Year Strong, Grayscale, Ice Nine Kills, In Hearts Wake, The Interrupters, Issues, Knuckle Puck, Kublai Khan, Lighterburns, The Maine, Makeout, Mayday Parade, Motionless in White, Movements, Mychildren Mybride, Nekrogoblikon, Palaya Royale, Real Friends, Reel Big Fish, Senses Fail, Sharptooth, Silverstein, Simple Plan, Sleep On It, State Champs, Story Untold, This Wild Life, Tonight Alive, Trash Boat, Twiztid, Unearth, Wage War, Waterparks, We The Kings, and With Confidence.

Sad to say, this year will be the last cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour. This show has been running for 24 years. Veteran acts Reel Big Fish, Simple Plan, Silverstein, and Senses Fair are taking the stage for the final tour. Stay updated with the Warped Tour app, for news and updates on the festival

Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival

Date: August 18th-19

Location:  Northwell Heath at Jones Beach Amphitheatre

1000 Ocean Pkwy Wantagh, NY 11793

Artists: DJ Snake, Future, Rae Sremmurd, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, Bad Royale, Bhad Bhabie, Cheat Codes, Daya, Frank Walker, French Montana, Gnash, Jacquees, J.I.D, Justine Skye, Kehlani, Kim Petras, The Knocks, Krewella, LIIV, Lil Xan, Logan Henderson, London Richards, Loote, Machine Gun Kelly, Matoma, Matt Medved, Maty Noyes, NGHTMRE, Nothing Nowhere, Olivia O’ Brien, Phantoms, Rich the Kid, Rozes, Sabrina Carpenter, Sheppard, Shoreline Mafia, Taylor Bennett, They., Two Friends, Verite, and Yvng Svnt.

See Billboard’s hottest artists sing their top singles at the two-day Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival. This festival features a variety of acts include rappers Future and Machine Gun Kelly and singer/songwriter Daya who just recently released, Sit Still, Look Pretty.

Posted on

Outdoor Concert Survival Checklist

Heading to an outdoor concert or two this summer? Attending a music festival comes with its own unique challenges. Planning ahead can mean the difference between ending the day on a high note or feeling exhausted. Be prepared with this outdoor concert survival checklist. Put together this survival kit and get ready to rock.

A water bottle

More and more festivals have water refill stations at convenient locations. Bring a reusable water bottle or a collapsible water pouch and stay hydrated and energized all day without ever having to pay $5 or more for a small disposable plastic bottle.

Sun protection

Summer festivals can get really hot. Overexposing yourself to the sun is one of the quickest ways to get exhausted. Pack sunscreen and consider adding a hat to your outfit. Avoid getting sunburned by replying sunblock throughout the day. Also, bring a pair of sunglasses with UV protection so you can watch your favorite band without squinting.

Comfortable Footwear

If you’re going to be on your feet all day long, make sure you wear comfortable shoes. There’s nothing worse than leaving a festival at the end of the night when your feet are killing you. Wear a comfortable pair of sneakers and avoid wearing sandals, they don’t offer much support and someone might stomp on your feet in the mosh pit. Pack Band-Aids just incase your sneakers start to rub. If you have a large enough bag, bring a change of shoes so you can keep dancing all night long.

Snacks

Make sure you stay fueled to last the entire festival. Bring healthy snacks such as granola, protein bars, or fruit in your bag. If you find yourself feeling tired, have a snack. Boosting your blood sugar can help you get back in the game.

 

Hand Sanitizer/Hand Wipes

The bathroom situation at a festival or concert can be less than ideal. Make sure you bring have toilet paper, napkins or tissues on you incase the bathroom or porta potty doesn’t. Also bring hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes to clean your hands after you use the bathroom or before you eat.

Portable phone charger

Bring a small, portable phone charger incase your phone dies. You don’t want to lose your friends at the concert while you have a dead phone.

Enjoy going to outdoor concerts without any hassles with this survival checklist. Stay safe and have a great time!

Posted on

DIY Flower Crowns for Festival Season

Flower crowns are a fun and trendy accessory that can enhance any outfit. They’re the perfect addition to any festival-season outfits, and are fairly simple to make as a DIY project.

Crown Base

Use floral wire and bend it into the shape you want to make the base of the crown. Floral wire is great because it can easily bend into the perfect size. Floral tape can be used to secure the wire in the circular shape and since it’s green, it perfectly blends in with the flowers and leaves.

Crown Styles

There are a few different styles of crown that you can make. A full crown is made using a complete circle of floral wire, and these will stay on your head simply by being set there. You can also get a little creative and make a Grecian-style half crown. These can be harder to keep in place, so you can try adding earpieces to help keep it in place. This style of crown can also be kept in place by using bobby pins.

Real vs. Fake Flowers

Real flowers can have a beautiful appearance, but if you’re planning to wear the crown all day, the flowers will wilt. Silk flowers won’t wilt and you can wear your flower crown as many times you want and the flowers will still look beautiful.

Leaves and Greenery

Leaves and other greenery can be fun to mix in with the flowers. Greenery is a great way to fill in gaps between larger flowers without the crown and can mask the green floral wire and tape.

Flower Placement

Lay out your flowers ahead of time. Once you have everything arranged how you want it, attach it to the crown itself.

Assembling the Crown

Add the greenery first, once taped in place, add the flowers. Use flowers are with slightly longer stems, they are easier to tape to the crown. To make sure they stay in place, wrap the floral tape around the stem a few times. This will help keep them secure so they don’t come loose throughout the day. It’s better to have the stems too long than too short—any excess stems can be cut off.

Finishing Touches

Bring your flower crown to the next level. Fake flowers can be painted a wide array of colors. Glitter can also add the perfect amount of sparkle to a crown for a shimmering effect.

Posted on

6th Annual Pink Tie Event

Pink Tie

Long Island men and women wore powerfully pink attire to look good and do good at the 6th Annual Pink Tie event at The Carltun at Eisenhower. After losing his aunt to breast cancer, Mike Cave, the CEO of 1st Equity Title & Closing Services, founded PinkTie.org. Pink Tie benefits local organizations in the community by focusing on research to find a cure for diseases including breast cancer, pediatric cancer and autism.

Pink Tie’s goal is to host upscale networking events where the business community works hand and hand together to raise money for diseases that directly impact the community. Pink Tie supports charities that use 100 percent of donations collected to support the cause. This year the funds raised at Pink Tie event, benefit research and groundbreaking clinical trials for children at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

Event Highlights

Auction

There were several ways that attendees could show their support for Pink Tie and score cool prizes and experiences.

Style is all about the finer details and what better way to finish off an outfit than with a pink tie, especially during the spring and summer season. Sports fans bid on celebrity-autographed neckties and memorabilia from their favorite athletes, actors and musicians.

Win a BMW i8

The grand prize raffle at Pink Tie was a brand new BMW i8 from BMW & Mini in Freeport. For $150 attendees could test their luck and enter to win this luxury car.

Meet & Greet

Hulkamaniacs purchased The Hulk Hogan Experience, where they enjoyed a meet and greet and photo op with WWE wrestlers Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart.

Before the meet and greet, Brandon Steiner, CEO of Steiner Sports Marketing, interviewed Hulk Hogan in a VIP room at The Carltun for The Baller Series. Hulk Hogan talked about how he played baseball and joined a band before he became a wrestler. He even shared a rare photo of himself and Andre The Giant, the first wrestler to ever beat him. Hulk Hogan takes part in various charities and causes including the Boys & Girls Club of America. Hogan attended the Boys & Girls Club when he was a kid because his parents were worried he might go down a troubled path like his brother. The Boys & Girls Club taught him that he could achieve anything in life. Hulk Hogan ended the series by saying how grateful he is and how he wants to use him fame to make a difference and help others.

Live Music

Other celebrity guests included former New York Yankee, Bernie Williams. Bernie Williams is currently a Latin Grammy nominated jazz musician, he performed on the outdoor stage with his band, Bernie Williams & His All-Star Band.

Constantine Maroulis was a sixth-place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol and was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Rock of Ages. Maroulis performed at the Pink Tie event, but first he attended The Hulk Hogan Experience and was just as excited as the fans.

Sports Mascots

All of Long Island came out to show their support for Pink Tie including Mr. Met & Sparky the Dragon.

Sweets & Treats

No event is complete without a candy buffet table. Chocolate Works created beautiful Pink Tie chocolate pops for the occasion.

Guests felt like they were transported to the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory with the large assortment of sweets and umpa lumpas walking around.

Doughnut walls are the hottest dessert trend and Pink Tie did not disappoint. These of decadent glazed doughnuts were a big hit.

The sweetest thing about Pink Tie is it raised lots of money for Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, benefitting the Long Island community. For more information about Pink Tie, go to PinkTie.org.

Posted on

Rainbow Foods to Show Pride

rainbow

June is LBGT Pride Month! There are many parades, concerts and festivals across Long Island, but you can also celebrate the most colorful month of the year with rainbow and unicorn foods from the best local spots.The treats below are just as delicious as they are colorful.

Diner by the Sea

260 E Park Ave

Long Beach, NY 11561

(516) 431-2233

Diner by the Sea started making tie-dye milkshakes for a terminally ill boy, to bring some joy to his day. After Hurricane Sandy, the tie-dye milkshake because a huge hit and helped Diner by the Sea get back on its feet. Even though the staff never saw the little boy again, they believe he saved their lives because of this tie-dye milkshake.

Diner By the Sea also makes a rainbow stack of pancakes, topped with whipped cream. The tie-dye milkshakes are available year-around, but the rainbow stack of pancakes are only on special occasions. If you’re showing your LI Pride in Long Beach over the weekend, be sure to stop at Diner By the Sea for a colorful and quality meal.

Industry Kitchen

70 South Street

New York, NY 10038

Industry Kitchen is located next to South Street Seaport and offers a beautiful waterfront view of the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges as well as the Brooklyn Skyline, perfect for summertime. For Pride Month, Industry Kitchen created a special dessert for their menu called “Sweet PRIDE.” The Sweet Pride Martini Cheesecake is a lemon cheesecake topped with sprinkles, waffle cones, cotton candy, nerds, sour candy and a rainbow swirl lollipop, served in a large martini glass. If you are looking to add more foodie photos to your Instagram page, this dessert is decadent and dazzling!

The Bagel Store

754 Metropolitan Avenue

Brooklyn, NY

(718) 782-5856

The Bagel Store in Brooklyn broke the internet when they posted a video of their rainbow bagels. This location is the home of the “original rainbow bagel” and they make an edible glitter bagel that even Ke$ha would approve of. The Bagel Store also makes a funfetti cream cheese for the full rainbow effect. If you can’t make it to Brooklyn,The Bagel Store also ships nationwide. 

Carlo’s Bakery

946 Old Country Rd

Garden City, NY 11530

(516) 357-7900

Buddy Valastro, also known as the “Cake Boss”, is famous for his cookies and custom cakes. For Pride Month, Carlo’s Bakery makes a 6 layer rainbow cake covered with rainbow sprinkles. Enjoy a slice of pride right here on Long Island from this celebrity baker.

Posted on

Off to the Races at Belmont Park

Belmont

Saturday, June, 9, 2018, will be the 150th anniversary of the Belmont Stakes. Horse racing is one of the oldest and most widespread sports, which can be traced back to ancient times. Going to the track is also considered a popular pastime and form of entertainment.

Belmont Park is an ideal spot for a corporate outing, date night, and an afternoon with friends and family. Belmont provides a variety of premium hospitality amenities, sure to wow your finest clients. Remember to dress to impress and wear your finest hat to The Belmont Stakes.

(The Floral Park Chamber of Commerce)

Next date night, Party at the Park on Twilight Fridays. Belmont has different theme nights including 40s, 50s, 60s, 80s, 90s, classic disco, Latin and R&B. Choose the genre of music that you enjoy and have a night filled with fun.

Not sure where to spend an upcoming holiday? Belmont Park offers events for Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, and 4th of July weekend. Other family friendly events include Breakfast at Belmont and Family Fun Days.

Paint and Sip events are currently a big trend, especially among women. Plan an outing with your girlfriends on Saturday, June 16th and remember to BYOB and snacks.

For the entire Belmont Park race and event schedule, click here.

Posted on

Top 10 Summer Reads from BookExpo & BookCon

Summertime is almost here and some of the hottest new book releases from BookCon and BookExpo are hitting the shelves. If your summer TV selection is sparse, here are some of the best books that you can read by the beach, poolside or inside in the AC.

Political Pick-The President is Missing

By Bill Clinton and James Patterson

Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States and author James Patterson, wrote a thrilled novel called The President is Missing. Clinton is the first former president to ever write a thriller. According to sources, Showtime acquired the rights to this novel and is planning to adapt it into a TV series.  If you miss the TV show Scandal, you will definitely enjoy this political thriller. Thursday, June 28th at 11am, Bill Clinton and James Patterson are coming to Book Revue in Huntington, NY for a special appearance and book signing. All tickets for this event are sold out, but be sure to grab a copy of The President is Missing.

Scary Sci-fi-Awakened

By James Murray & Darren Wearmouth

James Murray, the star of Tru TV show Impractical Jokers and sci-fi and horror writer Darren Wearmouth released their new thriller, Awakened. The twists and turns in this eerie monster story make it a definite page-turner. Murray also hinted that this terrifying thriller is going to be adapted for television. Tuesday, June 26th at 7pm James Murray & Darren Wearmouth will be signing copies of Awakened at Book Revue in Huntington, NY.

Sexy Summer Read-Sex and the City and Us

By Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

Sex and the City and Us gives fans a behind-the-scenes look to this iconic TV show and features new interviews with the cast and writers. Sex in the City changed the way women see themselves and demonstrated the importance of friendship through life’s ups and downs. Strand Bookstore in NYC, is celebrating 20 years of Sex and the City by hosting a special screening, post-screening panel and are serving up the iconic Sex and the City cocktail, the cosmopolitan Wednesday, June 6th at 7pm.

Easy Cooking-Copycat Cooking With Six Sisters’ Stuff: 100+ Popular Restaurant Meals You Can Make at Home

by Six Sisters’ Stuff

Statistics show that 90 percent of Americans don’t like to cook at home and 44 percent spend their food budget eating out. Six Sister’ Stuff bloggers created a cookbook with easy take-out recipes, perfect for busy families. If you don’t want to blow your food budget dining out or want to learn how to make some of your fast-food favorites at home, pick up this book of copycat cooking recipes.

Perfectly Poetic-All of It Is You

By Nico Tortorella

Actor, model and podcaster, Nico Tortorella, unveiled his debut poetry collection, All of It Is You at BookCon. This collection is quoted as “provocative, enlightening, and emotionally charged.” This book will revolutionize the way you think about yourself and the world around you. If you are looking for a book to enrich your summer reading, All of It Is You will definitely inspire personal growth.

Yas, this is for Broad City Fans-I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff

By Abbi Jacobson

Abbi Jacobson, the co-creator and co-star of the Comedy Central series Broad City, wrote a funny and moving collection of essays called I Might Regret This. Broad City fans will feel like they are sitting side by side Jacbson’s as she shares her funny and charismatic journey to stardom.

 

Fantasy Fandom-Harry Potter 20

By J.K. Rowling

July 2nd marks 20 years since Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was published. Four new Hogwarts House Editions of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, will be released.  Book are available June 28th, follow #HarryPotter20 for magical events, activities and announcements.

Give Peace a Chance-After Gandhi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance

By Anne O’Brien and Perry Edmond O’Brien

Mohandas Gandhi’s words and actions encouraged others to try to achieve justice and freedom through peaceful methods. Anne Sibley O’Brien and Perry Edmond O’Brien, authors of After Gandhi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance, highlight the people and events that inspired Gandhi’s actions in this book. This book was originally published in 2009, but Gandhi’s world wisdom is relevant today.

For the Future Technologist–Baby Loves Coding

By Ruth Spiro

Baby Loves Coding teaches sequencing, problem solving, cause and effect as well as step by step thinking. This book introduces STEM topics to create a solid foundation for future coders and programmers. This book uses logic, sequence and patterns to teach babies how to fix the train in the book. Give your child an early advantage, this book provides the skills he or she will need in the future.

Confidence Booster-Elbow Grease

By John Cena

Professional wrester and actor, John Cena, wrote a children’s picture book featuring a little monster truck named Elbow Grease who wants to prove he can do big things just like his big brothers. This book is entertaining and helps young children build confidence and determination.

 

 

Posted on

Best Local Pop Culture, Comic & Gaming Events

comics

If you are into comics, gaming and collecting, Long Island is the place for you this summer. There are many festivals close to home that will keep any pop culture fanatic entertained. From gaming expos, to toy shows and anime conventions, you can find entertainment that interests you.

Five Points Festival

Date: June 2nd & 3rd

 Time: 2nd – 11am-6pm

3rd – 11am-5pm

Location: Brooklyn Expo Center

72 Noble Street, Brooklyn NY 11222

Cost: Saturday Single Day Pass- $35

Sunday Single Day Pass- $20

Weekend Pass- $45

Five Points Festival is a mixture of art, toys, counterculture and craft beer. You can see things such as, toys, original art, indie designers, posters, prints, apparel and more.

Borough Con

Date: June 15th -17th

Location: Brooklyn Expo Center

72 Noble Street, Brooklyn NY 11222

Cost: Friday Day Pass- $32

Saturday Day Pass- $36

Sunday Day Pass- $28

Weekend Pass- $45

This convention celebrates anime, gaming, comics, sci-fi, manga and much more. It will also include voice actors, comic book and cosplay guests and media guest Jamie Chung.

Eternal Con

Date: June 16th & 17th

Time: Saturday 10am-7pm

Sunday 10am- 5pm

Location: Nassau Coliseum

1255 Hempstead Turnpike

Uniondale, NY 11533

Cost: Saturday Single Pass- $29/adult & $15/child (6-12)

Sunday Single Pass- $25/adult & $12/child (10-12)

Eternal Con is the most popular pop culture event on Long Island. Last year, this event had over 12,000 fans in attendance. This event will feature celebrities such as, William Shatner, Margot Kidder, Jeff East and Steve Cardenas that you can meet and greet. Sunday is Kids Day; there will be fun activities for kids such as, Jedi training, and even a kid’s costume contest. This event will feature comedy shows, Jedi battles and live performances all weekend long.

Cradle Con

Date: June 23rd & 24th

Time: 23rd – 10am-7pm

24th – 10am-5pm

Location: Cradle of Aviation Museum

Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Garden City, NY 11530

Cost: Sat/Sun Day Pass- $20

Weekend Pass- $30

This brand new event was created by fans for the fans. This convention celebrates the comic book culture. Fans can meet and greet their favorite comic book creators. Collectors can find rare books and toys they have been looking for, and cosplayers can show off their best costumes.

Long Island Toy Show

Date: July 21st

Time: 10am-4pm

Location: Hofstra University North Campus Student Center

Multipurpose Room

900 Fulton Ave, Hempstead, NY 11550

Cost: $10 at door or $7 in advance (Kids under 12 are free)

If you are into collecting toys, this convention is for you. This toy show showcases local dealers who specialize in toys and collectibles from the 1970s to now. Bring your toys and money to buy, sell and trade toys. Some old favorites include Transformers, Masters of the Universe, G.I Joe, Star Wars and LEGO.

 

Long Island Retro Gaming Expo

Date: August 11th & 12th

Time: 11th- 10am-10pm

12th- 10am-5pm

Location: Cradle of Aviation Museum

Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Garden City, NY 11530

Cost: Saturday Single Day- $22/adult & $12/child (4-12)

Sunday Single Day- $20/adult $10/child (4-12)

Weekend Two Day Pass- $35/adult & $20/child (4-12)

Play all your retro favorites, browse gaming vendors and participate in panel discussions. Listen to music performers and enter tournaments to win prizes at the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo.

 

Terrific Con

Date: August 17th -19th

Time: 17th- 3pm-9pm

18th- 10am-7pm

19th- 10am-5pm

Location: Mohegan Sun

1 Mohegan Sun Blvd Uncasville, CT 06382

Cost: Friday Day Pass-$26.75

Sat/Sun Day Pass-$29.75

Three Day Pass-$75.00

Kids under 10 get in free.

If you are looking for a quick getaway that is only a ferry ride away, Terrific Con is an ideal weekend vacation. This convention is three days of fun and is only a short trip away to Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Terrific Con is considered the #1 Comic Convention for fans of comics, actors from super-hero films, sci-fi films and horror shows. You can purchase comic books, artwork, memorabilia and gaming goods.

INBEON CON

Date: August 25th

Time: 10am-6pm

Location: Hofstra University Students Center

East Cir Hempstead, NY 11550

Cost: $15 a ticket or $30 for VIP

INBEON CON is a Comic Con for artists. If you have a love for anime, comics, cosplay and gaming, this event is for you. You can meet local artists such as Sarah Hopkins, Mel Doodles, Kyle Horne and Eric Hutchison. Costume designers, animators and game developers will also be there. You can even learn how to become an artist at this event.

 

Posted on

Best Doughnut Shops on Long Island

It’s National Doughnut Day! Doughnuts are rings of deep-fried goodness and nothing beats a fresh handcrafted doughnut. Instead of buying a processed chain-store doughnut, support one of the mom and pop doughnut shops serving up the tastiest doughnuts on Long Island.

East Main & Main

250 E Main St

Port Jefferson, NY 11777

East Main & Main will be unveiling their June menu and are giving away free doughnuts to their first 100 customers for National Doughnut Day. East Main & Main also partnered with Po’ Boy Brewery for a craft doughnut/craft beer collaboration Friday, June 1st at 7pm at Po’Boy Brewery. East Main and Main will be offering bite size donuts made with a glaze that is infused with cider and stout from Po’ Boy Brewery. The Strawberry Margarita donut is a twist on a tequila margarita. This doughnut is made with Po’ Boy strawberry/watermelon cider and is topped with a sweet strawberry glaze, lime cream and a dash of sea salt. The Tall Dark and Dangerous is made with PB & J Nutsack Stout, a limited edition beer from Po’Boy Brewery. This doughnut is finished off with a rich chocolate frosting blended with stout and a double drizzle of peanut butter and dark chocolate. Doughnut lovers will go nuts over this collaboration!

Foughnuts

8 Bond St

Great Neck, NY 11021

On National Doughnut Day, the first 100 customers at Foughnuts will receive a free mini foughnut. Foughnuts are moist and flavorful baked cake like doughnuts. They make 20 different flavors including Cotton Candy, Samoa and White Chocolate Raspberry. They also have a variety of gluten-free and vegan foughnuts. The gluten-free foughnuts are made with tapioca flour, white rice flour, whole grain rice and potato starch and the vegan doughnuts are free from any animal products including as eggs and milk.

Grindstone Coffee & Doughnuts

7 Main St

Sag Harbor, NY 11963

Get ready for a sweet treat; Grindstone Coffee & Doughnuts will be serving up specialty doughnut ice cream sandwiches for National Doughnut Day. Instead of ice cream, Grindstone is using gelato from the famous il laboratorio del gelato in NYC. Customers have a choice between dark chocolate, chocolate hazelnut, dulce de leche, vanilla, toasted marshmallow gelato and an assortment of sorbets sandwiched between Grindstone’s signature brioche doughnuts. They are also making a key lime pie doughnut with custard and a whipped topping, the perfect summer dessert.

North Fork Doughnut Company

13175 Main Road

Mattituck, NY

The North Fork Doughnut Company is opening on Saturday June 2nd, just one day after National Doughnut Day. They will have a variety of doughnuts, including classic and creative flavors and special dietary options including vegan and gluten-free. They even make the latest dessert trend, galaxy doughnuts which are out of this world. If you are seeking seasonal flavors, try their S’mores cake doughnuts with toasted marshmallow layered with warm Nutella and a graham cracker crumble. If you’re looking for a fun and fruity flavor try the strawberry and cream cake doughnuts with homemade honey whipped cream and locally sourced fruit. This strawberry jelly filled doughnut also pairs perfectly with rosé.

Doughology

45 Atlantic Ave

Lynbrook, NY 11563

Even though some up-and-coming chain stores are serving up made to order doughnuts, Doughology in Lynbrook lets customers customize the doughnut of their dreams. First, customer must decide if they want a chocolate or vanilla doughnut, then they choose a glaze (chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter or strawberry.) Next, they pick dry toppings (crumbs, sprinkles, and nuts), type of filling and drizzles they want on top. After work be sure to stop at the Doughology doughnut bar for the happiest hour of the day.

Posted on

LI Music Scene debates Tribute vs. Original Bands

LI Music Scene

The Long Island Music Hall of Fame held two panels at The Space at Westbury to discuss the state of the Long Island music scene. The panels included original artists, cover bands, venue owners, talent buyers and music journalists. They discussed the Long Island music scene and what can be done to nurture and support original artists.

A hot topic debated was “Are tribute bands taking all the gigs.” Members of the panel had different perspectives depending on age and what type of band they play in. Overall, older artists just want to continue doing music in any form while younger ambitious bands are using any tool in their toolbox to create new music and get recognized.

Moderator, Jim Faith, producer of the Great South Bay Music Festival and co-founder of the LI Music Hall of Fame, stated 75% of Long Island is an adult market and people want to hear music that they know. Many people seem stuck in their era and rather listen to songs that they know over new music.

Ian Kenny, front man and song writer for King Neptune & NGHBRS, emerged in DIY Pop Punk community on Long Island that played in basements and VFW halls. Unfortunately, he’s seen the shift in the scene, instead of playing at multiple clubs and venues in Nassau and Suffolk County, he has to flock to Brooklyn, Manhattan and other boroughs to play.

Pop music writer, Glenn Gamboa, uses Taking Back Sunday as a benchmark to measure success in the Long Island music scene. Unfortunately, since records don’t sell anymore, no local bands have been able to reach the same heights Taking Back Sunday and Brand New did in the early 2000s. Gamboa stated, “If I hear the next Taking Back Sunday, I’m going to write about it.” However, if young people don’t read newspapers would his coverage even be valuable to up and coming bands playing local shows?

James Skidmore, music writer and chairman for Alive After Five, believes there should be a collaboration between venues and original music to support local music and creativity. He reminded the audience it takes lots of dedication to listen to new music, however some people don’t want to take the time to do so.

Michael “EPPY” Epstein, owner of My Father’s Place, a venue that has original rock, blues and reggae music, came out of retirement to help up and coming artists and bands. “I will help everyone I can,” said Epstein. Jeff Siegel, General Manager for The Space at Westbury, stated the problem with booking up and coming bands is they need to be able to draw an audience. However, Siegel believes building new music is important and he books original bands to play in the smaller lounge area of The Space on Thursday nights. Dan Welch, owner of 89 North, said the reason why venues book tribute bands on the same night as original bands is to draw a bigger audience so they can afford to let original bands play.

Louis Nava, 21, talent buyer for Revolution Bar and Music Hall, urges original bands to team up with like bands and trade audiences in order to grow a following. Mike Acampora, 22, from the band Times Like These, also encourages bands to follow bands that sound similar to yours and follow their followers.

Michael Delguidice, 47, lead vocalist and pianist for the band Big Shot (a Billy Joel Tribute band) and a singer/songwriter sees nothing wrong with playing in a cover band. “I have to feed my family, I rather play music than do something else,” said Delguidice. Big Shot can sell out The Paramount while Delguidice struggles to find fame with his original music. Instead of working a standard 9-5 job, Delguidice rather make money playing cover songs since “it’s about the love of the game.” He even considers artists/bands that sing and perform songs that are written for them “cover bands” because they are singing other peoples songs.

Katie Pearlman, a singer/songwriter and lead vocalist for The Joni Project (a Joni Mitchell Tribute band), uses the money she makes from playing tribute band gigs to fund her singer/songwriter project. She also urges artists to join the singer/songwriter community and share gigs with other artists.

Whether you want to see a tribute band or original band, continue to listen to music and support the Long Island scene.