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Distance learning courses for January Session 2011 are offered in comparative literature and
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performance, information technology, international business, management, marketing, political
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 Pulse
Letter from Fall 2010 Staff
the Editor Editor in Chief
Kaitlyn De Foto Kaitlyn DeFoto

Assigning Editor
Denise McGuigan

Managing Editor
Long Island is overshadowed by the bright lights and big hap-
penings of New York City. Manhattan brings together a myriad
Max Sass
of cultures and attractions to a relatively small geographic area;
there is something unique happening on every street corner. For Copy Chief
many, Long Island conjures images of beaches, malls and traffic, Allison Klamkin
with not much else. However, Long Island has so much to offer,
from thrilling trapeze exercises to authentic Asian cuisine to Design Director
classical symphony orchestra performances and underrated sports Lisa DiCarlucci
players. These gems are challenging to find, so we have scoured
The Island to bring them to you.
Photo Editor
We would like to thank our experts for revealing their secrets,
Sean M. Gates
risking that their favorite spots will become exploited and
teeming with newcomers. We appreciate our sources who let us Web Editor
investigate, put up with last minute fact-checking calls and who Steve Rousseau
posed for multiple photographs, from every angle. We would
like to apologize to our roommates and family members, who Business Manager
we kept awake into the late hours with the tapping of our laptop Rachel Gonzalez
keys. Most of all, we would like to thank our advertisers, who
could not resist against our relentless sales pitches; without their
Circulation Manager
contributions this edition of Pulse would not be in your hands.
Ashley Scorziello

Designers
Sean Gates, Allison Klamkin,
Steve Rousseau

Reporters
Ashley Scorziello, Megan Tedeschi,
Steve Rousseau, Ray Hofmeister

Copy Editors
Carissa Nasso, Steve Rousseau,
Ashley Scorziello

Ad Sales
Victoria Vullo, Carissa Nasso

Faculty Supervisor
Daniel Van Benthuysen

Pulse Magazine is published every

semester by Hofstra University’s School
of Communication Advanced Feature
Pulse Fall 2010 Staff and Magazine writing class.

Hidden L.I. 2
 CONTENTS

4 Fitness 26 Museums
-DNA Museum
-From Trapeze to Ballroom, discover
-American Air Power Museum
hidden workout technicques from around the
-The Custer Observatory
Island.

7 Social 28 Sports
-Discover the best hidden spots for girls night, guys
night and date night.
28 C.W. Post Lacrosse
-Two-time national Champions
10 Dining 30 Bryan Dougher
-Kitchen10A Trattoria,
Dinner
The Lake House and The
-Stony Brook’s rising basketball star

33 Fishing
Orient
-The best spots to get hooked out East
13 Dessert
-Swyrl, International Delight Cafe and Cafe
34 Surfing
Barocco
-The most serious surf spots on the Island.
14 Drinks
-Brickhouse Brewery, Southhampton Publick House
35 Extreme Sports
and Blue Point Brewery
-Roller Derby Girls and Kiteboarding

15 Entertainment 36 Beauty
16 Comedy 36 New York Institute of Beauty
-Chesterfield’s Comedy Club
-The star treatment for much less.
18 Theater
-The Gateway Playhouse
38 Community Service
20 Film 38 Family and Children’s Association
-Cinema Arts Theater
-Giving back to your community.
22 Music
-Acoustic Long Island Cover Photo: Sean M. Gates /Pulse Magazine
-Long Island Baroque Ensemble

3 Pulse
 Fitness

Get Physical By Denise McGuigan

Sean M. Gates/ Pulse Magazine

Hidden L.I. 4

W
orking out can be a drag, especially if
going to the gym is not exactly your forté.
Luckily, some Long Island fitness centers
offer fun, exciting ways to work out - the
trick is, you need to know where to look.
From aerial yoga to salsa dancing to pole dancing, get-
ting in shape no longer has to involve your local YMCA.
These unique work outs are guaranteed to get you in
shape, while being fun enough to keep you coming back
for more.
“The way I feel is you have to find what works
for you, physically and psychologically,” says Dr. Steven
Frierman, Sports Psychologist and Associate Professor at
Hofstra University who recently wrote Commit to be Fit.
According to Frierman, the level of excitement
an activity creates, the more the person would want to
work out.
“These work outs are more for adventurous
people,” says Frierman. “I’ve never even heard of a couple
of these before looking over this article. We don’t offer
these classes at Hofstra, that’s for sure!”
Long Island Krav Maga
While jiu jitsu or karate may be the first types
of martial arts that come to mind, Krav Maga is the only
one that is actually implemented by an army.
Rockville Center Krav Maga is an ancient form of martial arts that has been
employed by Israeli Defense Forces for hand-to-hand
combat training.
“What makes Krav Maga unique is that it isn’t
like The Matrix,” said Kevin Williams, an instructor at
Long Island Krav Maga. “It’s real self-defense...we want
you to be the person who survives and is able to tell the
police what happened.”
Fitness is not necessarily your goal with Krav
Maga, but it is an excellent side-effect.
“If you are seriously training, you can expect
to see results very quickly,” said Williams. “Physically, it
works everything.You’re gonna throw punches and kicks.
We gotta make your heart stronger so you can fight back.
Heart rate and stamina are crucial.”
Long Island Krav Maga is unlike any other
studio on the island. These instructors, and their school,
are exclusively authorized to teach Krav Maga by the Krav
Maga Federation located in Manhattan. For this studio,
the first class is free, so why not try it?
“I think we have many more benefits in the
fitness aspect than just going to the gym,” said Williams.
“You’re taking something with you that could help you
Fitness
later. Especially for women, it’s good knowing you can
protect yourself.”
After the initial free class, each one is $15, or
$80 for the month.
For more information, go to their website at
likravmaga.com.
I Fly Trapeze
For the adventure-seekers looking for a less typi-
cal kind of work out, trapeze is the perfect way to stay in
shape.
I Fly, a company located in Rockville Centre,
offers classes for those interested in flying trapeze, whether
recreationally or as a fun way to stay in shape.
“Trapeze offers a core work out you can’t get
from the gym,” said Anthony Rosamilia, owner of I
Fly. “You use muscles you don’t usually use. I would
absolutely recommend it as a full-body work out. It takes
commitment but you see results.”
“The key is listening, not necessarily strength,”
said Leah Bank, a Hofstra University student who has
been doing trapeze for eight years. “You start off with a
knee hang trick (hanging from the bar by your knees) and
most students end with a catch (where an instructor hang-
ing on another bar catches you).”
Bank added, “When you make your first catch,
the trick isn’t over of course...but it’s this huge sense of
accomplishment.”
Classes tend to run $50 for adults and $40 for
children, though group rates are available. I Fly is only
open April through October on days where the weather
permits, and is the only one of its kind located on Long
Island, though there are several similar companies located
in NYC and Brooklyn.
“I Fly is more unique than the other places
because it is located outdoors in a beautiful environment,”
said Bank. “The instructors are so motivating and person-
able; they began in the hospitality industry.”
“Most of our business is word of mouth. For
a unique, seasonal business, there are a lot of hurdles to
jump,” said Rosamilia. “But there is certainly room for
expansion.”
“I’m addicted to this. It takes out your stress.
You have so much fun up there,” said Genesis Dawson, a
frequent I Fly participant who has been going since Labor
Day. “You’re thinking about what you’re doing up there,
not about what else is going on in your life.”
For more information, go to their website at
www.iflytrapeze.com.
5 Pulse
 Fitness
The Ballroom of Huntington
Dancing is no longer limited to the clubs, it
can also be a great way to stay in shape. While Zumba
may be the new fitness regimen everyone’s been talking
about, Argentine tango and salsa dancing are becom-
ing increasingly popular, particularly with the younger
crowd.
According to Denise DeFeo, seven-year
owner of The Ballroom of Huntington, salsa is great
for fitness. With its fast-moving beat, dancers are
forced to constantly be moving.
“The great thing about salsa dancing is you
can use this exercise and stay fit when you go out, not
just in a gym class like with Zumba,” said DeFeo. “All
of it is about exercise.”
While working your core muscles, you also
get to meet new people. Whether you arrive for the
class alone or with a partner, you rotate partners every
Huntington song.
“For singles, it can be a fun way to meet
new people,” said DeFeo. “For the older couples,
it’s about getting to know your partner again. After
having kids and careers, you tend to forget about the
romance. This helps to bring it back.”
DeFeo’s studio is also conveniently located
on New York Avenue in Huntington, allowing for the
students to walk just two blocks to the bars. Res-
taurants such as Black and Blue and Honu play salsa
music on Friday nights.
“I went to my first salsa dance class on a Friday night
and absolutely loved it,” said Kristie Curcio, a student
at Nassau Community College. “It was a
lot of fun, a little confusing at first, but once
I started feeling the music, I got the hang
of it.”
Curcio added, “I wasn’t too sore
afterwards, but I think this would be a fun
way to work out. My friend and I even
went to Honu afterwards for some martinis
and to continue the dancing.”
Wednesday and Friday nights
starting at 8:15 are walk-in classes, offering
a variety of dances such as swing, salsa,
Argentine tango, cha-cha, and samba. Belly
dancing will also be coming to the studio
soon.
Classes generally sell in blocks of
ten with the student rate running for $125
($12.50 per class). However, if you just
want to attend one, the going rate is $15.
For more information, go to the
studio’s web site at http://ballroomofhun-
tington.com/.
TRX Training
TRX training, or Total Resistance
Xercise, is an up-and-coming fitness rou-
tine, invented by a former Navy Seal, that
completely works the core muscles from
your shoulders to your hips and upper thigh
muscles. However, the routine is entirely up
to you with the bands’ dynamic capabilities.
Photo Courtesy of Ballroom of Huntington The work out consists of straps
Dancers at the Ballroom of Huntington. hanging from the ceiling, and allows you
Hidden L.I. 6
to choose which areas you want to work on since it
depends on the positioning of your body weight.
“It’s huge right now. All NFL players are
using it,” said Geri Ainbinder, a personal trainer at
Synergy in Merrick. “It’s a cheap, efficient tool that
you can’t get bored with since you can work any body
part. The bands are transportable and allow you to get
your heart rate up while working your core muscles.”
The TRX bands are now becoming inte-
grated with kettle bells (cast iron weights resembling
cannonballs with handles) for a more efficient work
out combining cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility
training. This work out is also becoming popular with
physical therapy.
“Physiologically, for permanent changes,
you would need to do the work outs for three
months,” said Ainbinder. “Attending classes is great to
perfect your form. These bands allow for endless pos-
sibilities. Everything that keeps you structurally sound
is being worked here.”
Speaking from experience, these classes are worth it if
you’re trying to work your core. I felt sore even two
days after my first session.
Synergy in Merrick offers TRX classes
several days a week for lower prices than most other
places, with classes ranging from $99 to $150 for six
weeks.
The Fitness Loft
The Fitness Loft, a recently renovated fitness
center located in Manhasset, has opened its doors to
many types of unique fitness
Cynthia Conde, owner of The Fitness Loft
and creator/producer of VH1’s Bridal Bootcamp, has
implemented unique classes including: aerial silks and
yoga, an indoor military boot camp, pole dancing,
static trapeze, barre burn and power pilates. Also,
a hot room (a room maintained at a temperature of
95-100 degrees) is available featuring hot yoga, hot
spinning, hot TRX, and hot kettle bell training.
“I’m building my own personal play-
ground,” said Conde. “This is a one-stop shop. Every-
thing I think is fun in fitness is being offered here.”
While many of these new features may sound unfamil-
iar, the three to focus on are aerial yoga, pole dancing,
and the boot camp.
For aerial yoga, picture a hammock
suspended in the air (about 3-4 feet off the ground).
You’re doing the yoga positions in the hammock. This
kind of yoga allows your body to more easily get into
the positions while helping to decompress the spine
and increase flexibility.
“If you’re looking for a more cardio-oriented
work out, pole dancing is ideal. This is a classier, more
artistic form of pole dancing,” said Conde. “However,
to get a full body work out that increases your stamina
and is physically challenging, go for the boot camp.”
In terms of prices, Conde tries to keep her classes more
moderately priced for the area of Manhasset. How-
ever, prices are likely to change since the Fitness Loft
just opened at the time this article was written.
For more information and to get a list of going rates,
go to their website: www.thefitnessloft.org.
 Social

Night
Life
A
ttractions like The Nautical Mile in Freeport, The Crazy Donkey
in Farmingdale and Boardy Barn in Hampton Bays draw thou-
sands of visitors every year. They are staples of the Long Island
bar and restaurant scene. But at some point, everybody needs something
creative or unusual to mix things up.

Because different occasions call for different atmospheres, I have sorted

out a few unique spots to accommodate everyone’s nightlife needs. These
hidden gems each offer something new and exciting, and guarantee a
one of a kind experience.

By Ashley Scorziello

7 Pulse
 Social

Ashley Scorziello/ Pulse Magazine

The Vine Wine Bar in Merrick has over 100 different kinds of wine from all around the World.

Date Night Van, Fragoli, cream, and a graham cracker rim, and
the Strawberry Fizz, made with Crop Cucumber, St.
Germain edlerflower liqueur, fresh strawberries and
Many couples have their special “spot” that
club soda. Strawberry’s is an entertainment house as
they go to time and time again; a favorite restaurant,
well as a bar and a restaurant. If you’re a fan of Law
bar, or maybe a music venue where their favorite local
& Order and CSI Miami, you and your significant
band plays. But there is a certain benefit to trying new
other can make reservations for an interactive Murder
things every once in a while.
Mystery Dinner. There is also a show called “The
Maureen Tara Nelson, a successful
Night Out on the Town Show”, complete with live
matchmaker on Long Island sees a positive outcome
music and comedy, as well as a Sinatra Show, an
for couples that do different things together.
Italian style dinner with live Sinatra covers. For those
Bethpage. Levittown “It is always good to step outside the box. If
who would rather be the entertainers themselves,
you just stay with what you know, you’re never going
Tuesday night is Karaoke night at Strawberry’s.
to grow together and you’re never going to experience
Dates don’t always have to be a nighttime
new things,” she said.
activity, and they don’t always have to include going
Jackie Rielly’s, a bar and restaurant located
out to dinner or to a bar. For dates that don’t involve
on Hempstead Turnpike in Bethpage, is not new and
food or alcohol, Nelson also added that learning
is not exactly different for a night out, but Nelson
something together is always great for couples.
pointed out that it’s not somewhere that couples
“Taking ballroom dancing or salsa dancing
necessarily think of for dates, but they definitely
is perfect for established couples,” she said.
should.
For dance lessons, you can check out
“I think it’s a fantastic place to go on a date.
Rhythm and Soul Dance Studio in Levittown. They
It’s private in the restaurant part but also really fun.
Huntington have classes for ballroom dancing, salsa, the hustle,
And the owner is very nice. He walks around to every
club style cha-cha and swing. The classes are ongoing,
table and introduces himself. It makes people feel very
so you and your significant other can start at any
comfortable,” said Nelson.
time. Group classes are $15, or you can buy a series of
At Jackie Rielly’s dinner is served seven days
sessions. Private lessons are also available.
a week, from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. During the week
they have specials such as, “2 for 1 Burger Night” on
Mondays and “Buy One Dinner Special Entrée and
Get One Free” on Wednesdays. Also on Wednesday
Girl’s Night Out
is Karaoke Night, after 10 p.m., which could be a A long-standing tradition for women
fun addition to your date night, where ladies drink of all ages, girl’s night is a special time when ladies
for free until 2 a.m. They also have a “Psychic Dinner get together to have some fun without the men
Night” on Tuesdays, when you can get a psychic in their lives. The Vine Wine Bar, 2259 Merrick
reading along with your dinner. Road, Merrick, could be a perfect spot for you and
Strawberry’s Bakery-Bar and Grill, a new your girlfriends to sit back, relax, and enjoy an
bar and restaurant in Huntington, opened its doors extraordinary array of wine and snacks. This new
a little less than a year ago. Strawberry’s has a little establishment, which opened in Spring 2010, has over
something for everyone. They have a full dinner 100 types of wine from around the world. Glasses
menu, a separate bar menu, a substantial beer list, range from $8 to $20, and bottles go for anything
and a list of specialty cocktails like the Strawberry from $13 to $325. The food menu features antipasto
Cheesecake Delight, made with Strawberry Stoli, Stoli platters, cheese and crackers, hummus and white

Hidden L.I. 8

bean dip. For after dinner treats they have desserts
including red velvet cake, S’mores, and chocolate
covered cheesecake.
The Vine Wine has specialty events like
wine and cheese pairing nights, wine tastings, and
wine and chocolate pairing classes where you can learn
how to create the perfect wine and chocolate platter.
The Vine Wine also hosts Sangria Sundays.
This is the perfect excuse to get out of the house, or
your dorm, and have some fun on Sundays instead of
doing homework or getting ready for the workweek.
From 4 p.m. on there are drink specials on red and
white sangria. During the week, the bar only offers
red sangria, but on Sunday, white sangria makes an
appearance on the menu.
“This is the perfect
excuse to get out of
the house.”
“I love going to Sangria Sundays with my
friends,” said Danielle DeLuca, 21, of Bellmore, NY.
“A lot of times I save Sundays for catching up on
school work, or watching football with my boyfriend
if there is a game on. Most of the time I’m in
sweatpants all day. Every once in a while it’s nice to get
dressed up like it’s a Saturday night and go out for fun
drinks with the girls. It makes me forget that Monday
morning is almost here.”
Sangria Sundays will eventually just be a
summer event said owner Lynn Mione. They were
planning on ending it on Labor Day, but decided to
extend it throughout the fall.
For more of a late-night, dance club scene,
try Sugar in Carle Place, which just opened in May
6, 2010. The new ultra-chic restaurant with a domed
ceiling and hologram artwork on the walls, doubles as
a nightclub. Executive chef Hok Chin serves multi-
ethnic family-style dishes that you and your girlfriends
can share while you sip on one of their 23 candy-
themed cocktails. The Black & White Cookie is made
with Van Gogh Chocolate vodka, white Crème de
Cacao, Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, cream, and
a swirl of dark chocolate. The Swedish Fish has Grey
Goose, Black Haus, Peach Schnapps, and cranberry
juice topped with Swedish Fish candy. They also have
a wine list of 37 wines, and bottle services available.
After dinner, get your dancing shoes on because as
the restaurant transforms into a club, with DJ’s, neon
lighting and smoke machines, dancing is encouraged
not only on the dance floor, but on the tables and
bars as well. After burning off your dinner from all
the dancing, the kitchen at Sugar has got you covered.
Their late night menu lets you choose from shrimp
cocktail, shoestring fries, corn dogs, fried calamari,
dim sum ice cream and many more.
You don’t always have to go out to have a
good time with the girls. The party can come to you.
Celebrity chef and spin master DJ CHEF Marc Weiss
offers in-home cooking class and dinner parties. For
his “Girls Night Out” parties he combines a cooking
class, where he brings all the ingredients and teaches
you to make a multi-course meal, a dinner party, and
then a dance party. After the class he serves the meal,
Social
mixes drinks during the party, plays music, and cleans
up after.
Guys Night
Let’s not forget about the men! Guys like
to go out and blow off steam together just as much
as women. Niko Krommydas, author of Long Island
Pulse Magazine’s beer blog, Super Neat Beer Adventure,
and their print column, The Red Zone, suggested a few
of his favorite spots for gentlemen’s nights. The Good
Life, a new English style restaurant and pub on 1039
Park Blvd. in Massapequa Park offers great outdoor
seating and is good for dinner, a night out, or Sunday
and Monday night football.
“They have a really solid list of beer,” said Merrick, Massapequa Park
Krommydas. “And the owner is really on top of his
game.”
They serve a whopping 99 beers, including
24 on tap, 70 bottles and three cans. Their beer ranges
anywhere from $4 Budweiser’s to a $40, 25 oz. bottle
of BFM Abbaye De St. Bon Chien 2007. They have a
food menu with appetizers, lunch, dinner and late-late
night food, including their wings, which, according
to fans on The Good Life’s Facebook page, are a
favorite among regulars. They are open until 4 a.m.
on Friday and Saturday nights, and 3 a.m. all other
nights. As a part of a new agreement with the village
of Massapequa Park, free cab rides are offered to and
from The Good Life if you are going somewhere
within the village. Patchougue
The Good Life holds beer dinners once or
twice a month. For a set price, you get a dinner and a
combination from their gigantic beer menu, and for
a higher price you can get an open bar after dinner.
They are usually themed dinners as well, like the
“Speakeasy,” Mafia Style beer dinner on November 9.
Another favorite of Krommydas’ is The Lark
Pub & Grub on 93 Larkfield Road in East Northport.
Like The Good Life, they have a wide range of beer,
and outdoor seating. According to Krommydas, there
is usually a diverse crowd as well.
“You’ll have a section of people who drink
really good beer, next to a table of seven or eight
firefighters drinking Bud Light,” said Krommydas.
The BrickHouse Brewery & Restaurant in
Patchogue brews their beer, which changes seasonally,
in-house. They serve fresh seafood, steaks, pizza, and
have 25-cent wings on Monday nights. It’s a great
place to go if you enjoy live music and hand-crafted
beer that is made in front of you.
Drinking beer and eating may be a popular
pastime for a lot of guys, but sometimes enjoying the
outdoors can be a real bonding experience. Shooting
at each other with semi automatic paintball guns
probably wouldn’t be too bad either. Cousins Paintball
has a facility in Coram that has 26 individual paintball
fields spread across 88 acres of land. It is the only
outdoor woods facility on Long Island. If you can opt
for open play, where you will get a 6 hours session for
$49.99 per person, or if you have ten or more people,
you can schedule a private group session. All packages
include 500 paintballs per person, a semi automatic
gun, a 20 oz. Co2 air fill, goggles and a mask system.
Whether you’re on a date, or going out with
your friends, these spots on Long Island will not fail to
give you interesting and unforgettable nights.
9 Pulse
 Dining

Good Eats
By Kaitlyn De Foto

N
ew York City is the
Mecca for foodies ev-
erywhere. Yet while
Manhattan is filled with award-
winning restaurants headed by
renowned chefs, Long Island’s
culinary reputation is underrated
in the shadow of the city’s skyline.
There is a myriad of eateries on
the Island that offer cuisine on
par with the best New York City
has to offer but without the portly
price tag. However, Long Island
is overloaded with restaurants,
those both exquisite and unfortu-
nate. Hunting for the gems is like
hunting for truffles. A good clue is
where chefs themselves choose to
dine when their apron comes off.
Joan Reminick, a Newsday res-
taurant critic for nearly 20 years,
is not a chef but she spends just
as much time in restaurants. “I’m
obsessed with food but, I like to
think, in a good way,” Reminick
admits. Even before she became
a critic, she wrote reviews of ev-
erything she ate at restaurants in
her head and kept a hefty stack
of cookbooks on her nightstand.

For Reminick, food never gets tiresome.
“Every time I go out to eat, I get a rush, a sense
of being on the threshold of a great discovery,”
said Reminick. She crossed that threshold when
she stumbled upon Kitchen A Trattoria in St.
James. During her first visit, Reminick reluc-
tantly took a bite of a surprisingly pink beet
risotto to find herself in the gustatory sphere she
calls, “The Zone.” The rustic Italian restaurant
dishes out more than it promises, making it one
of Reminick’s all-time favorites.
Located at the end of a little hard-to-find shop-
ping center, Kitchen A Trattoria, goes unseen
by most who pass by. The inner workings of
the small kitchen can be seen though a window
from the parking lot; the chefs are focused and
use their space wisely. There is a rhythm to their
movements; they seem to dance around one
another. The chefs’ performance is a joy for din-
ers who have front row seats to the action since
the dining room is so small. The cramped space
has no room for waiting, uneven floor boards
and no tablecloths, but chef and owner Eric
Lomando, 32, would have it no other way.
Lomando has fashioned the restaurant to
his own tastes. “I try to provide the dining
experience that I look for,” said Lomando, who
opened the restaurant in March 2009. “I want
to hear interesting music and I want to be able
to eat good food without having to get dressed
up. I don’t want all the fluff with white table-
cloths and servers clearing my crumbs because
that makes me uncomfortable,” said Lomando,
whose aim is to welcome everyone and make
them feel like guests in his home.
The same thinking is applied to the menu. The
kitchen takes a minimalistic, unfussy approach
to things and cooks with an intense respect
for the ingredient. “We cook the way we think
a passionate Italian cook would cook here in
America,” said Lomando.

Hidden L.I. 10
 Dining
delivering amazing dishes,” said Lomando, whose favorite
dish is the spring vegetable salad with a poached egg,
asparagus and Humboldt Fog goat cheese.
Connors grew up in Bayshore, just a few blocks from The
Lake House. He cooked in Manhattan for 11 years, seven
of which he served as chef de cuisine at the renown Veritas,
before returning home to open The Lake House in March
2006. The small converted inn sits adjacent to Lawrence
Lake on which gaggles of geese, ducks and swans buoy.
The atmosphere is serene and calming. The restaurant’s
three small rooms are washed in blues and pale greens,
a fireplace and warm wood accents add comfort St. James
while the simple artwork lends an air of understated
elegance. The only thing that outshines the atmo-
sphere is the food.
“We are kind of a monopoly with the kind of food
we are doing here on the South Shore,” said Con-
nors, whose menu reflects his well-rounded palette.
After being classically trained in French cooking,
Connors studied at the Culinary Institute of America
in Manhattan and then cooked abroad in Italy for one
year. The Lake House’s New American menu seamlessly
blends local American food with more European and Asian
techniques. Fresh Atlantic cod is accompanied by black
rice, tempura zucchini and a spicy red curry broth while
Photo Courtesy of the Lake House grain-fed veal is complimented by Mascarpone polenta and
One of many delicious dessert offerings at the Lake House. porcini black truffle sauce. Starters are priced in the low
teens, while entrees range from $28 to $39, and desserts
“It’s really rustic, straightforward comfort food. I’ve always are $8.
said it’s really hard to get a good bowl of pasta on Long The menu is tweaked weekly depending on what seasonal
Island. Italian food has been exploited.” Lomando has ingredients are available. The restaurant belongs to a com-
nothing against Italian-American dishes such as chicken munity shared farm, The Farm of St. Peters. “We go down
Parmesan but he feels it is the cheap way out to do Italian. the road and hand pick the freshest ingredients. That is
“A great restaurant reflects a respect for ingredients in the where our inspiration comes from,” said Connors.
simplicity of preparation,” said Reminick, who affirms that
the trattoria serves authentic Italian not Italian-American
food. Simplicity does not mean unsophisticated or dull.
The restaurant focuses on local and seasonal ingredients at
the peak of their flavor. The menu is adjusted daily. It may
include fresh bacon braised in red wine with a farm egg
or butternut squash with shrimp risotto one day and slow
roasted duck with Brussel sprouts and hazelnuts the next.
“The menu is ingredient driven which allows us the
flexibility to be fluid and to move with the best products
available,” said Lomando, who uses as many of his own
harvested vegetables in the restaurant as possible. “Some-
times we just go to the market without any concept of
what we will create, but we pick the best of what’s available
and get to the kitchen.”
In order to keep costs low, Kitchen A Trattoria accepts cash
only, has a BYOB policy and only takes reservations for
weekend dining. Appetizers are $7, pasta dishes are $20,
entrees are $19, and desserts are $6; there is a three-course
prix fixe for $32. Be aware that the restaurant shares its
reservation service with Lomando’s French restaurant,
Kitchen A Bistro, also located in St. James. On my first
attempt to dine, my reservation was sent to the wrong
restaurant and my party could not be seated. The situation
seemed commonplace according to the hostess’ unsur-
prised reaction. This system needs some work, but the
system in the kitchen is Grade A.
When Lomando takes off his chef coat, he chooses to dine
at The Lake House in Bayshore. “Matt’s cooking is very
robust and soul satisfying but at the same time it is vey
refined,” said Lomando, of chef and owner Matt Connors,
36. “Connors’s skill is highlighted by his consistency in

11 Pulse
 Dining
Bethpage The farm, which harvests over
25 varieties of pesticide-free
vegetables, in addition to herbs
and flowers, is not open to the
public, but is shared between 30
families. A representative from
each family works 30 hours on
the farm each season in exchange for a share of the harvest.
Even with Connors’s 14-hour-a-day, six-days-a-week work schedule, he
finds time to eat out about once every two weeks. His food of choice is
ethnic food, such as the Asian fare at The Orient in Bethpage. “They serve
really authentic dim sum,” said Connors, of the restaurant whose Hong
Kong style Chinese food compensates for the less than stellar surroundings.
Looks can be deceiving.
Owner Tommy Tan moved to the United States from Myanmar,
the Southeast Asian country bordered by China, Laos, Thailand, Bangla-
desh, and India, in 1980. Tan opened The Orient in 2002 with a menu
reflecting the sort of Asian fusion he grew up eating. Americanized versions
of Chinese cuisine, such as wonton soup and egg rolls, dot the menu, but
for diners who want to travel through Asia using their fork, Tan will be
delighted to oblige. Barbeque spare ribs are the only appetizer above $5; all
entrees are kept well under $15, except for the $21 crispy fried flounder.
Some unconventional choices are the spiced jellyfish and the salted fish
patty which Tan has nicknamed the Chinese hamburger. “People are willing
to take chances,” said Tan, who caters to a large Asian American clientele.
“The most important thing is to develop a good relationship with all of your
customers so that they trust to give your suggestions a chance.”
If not so daring, even the seemingly mundane is elevated to delicious new
heights. “We eat this at home,” said Tan of the simple chicken, spinach and
egg soup, surely able to cure any cold. Shrimp and rice powder are the only
ingredients necessary for the shellfish dumpling. “Everything is best natu-
ral,” said Tan, who discourages the use of the ginger soy dipping sauce. “You
don’t want to disguise the flavor. This is how nature intended.”
These culinary gems seem to abide by this ideal. They keep dining environ-
ments simple, and are not overly concerned with the entertainment of the
restaurant business. The focus is on the food, just how nature intended.
BAGELICIOUS
2 EAST MEADOW LOCATIONS!
1864 Front Street 487 Bellmore Ave.
516-794-0052 516-565-3917
10% off discount with Hofstra ID
Catering Available!
Hidden L.I. 12
Gluten Free Italian Food
By Ryan Sexton
- Hidden amongst the unending sprawl of
Hempstead turnpike is Frantonis, a true Ital-
ian gem doing gluten free pasta, pizza and pan-
ninis. Frantonis is nestled in a plaza that from the
outside appears to have seen better days. In fact,
many of the establishments surrounding Franto-
nis have seen better days. But opening the door
reveals a spacious restaurant with glass cases
housing fresh slices and take-out service,
and plenty of seating. The staff is absurdly nice
and the food easily passes for gluten full.
Frantonis uses “Still Riding” gluten free crusts, a
staple of the NY gluten free market.
-Café Formaggio in Carle Place NY is an
upscale restaurant, serving gluten free pasta,
entrees and desserts. It’s on the upper end of
the price range, but the service is top notch, and
they operate two kitchens to ensure that
no cross-contamination with gluten oc-
curs. The pasta they use is unlike any on the mar-
ket. A must, for any customer, is the gluten full or
gluten free Nutella pizza. You won’t find this
desert anywhere else. If you’re a celiac looking
to feel like a normal restaurant-goer, Formaggio
will likely do just that.
-Pizza Bistro in Massapequa is a unique estab-
lishment, serving regular and gluten free
Italian, but also selling prepared dishes and
frozen pizzas. Out of the three, Pizza Bistro
feels the most like the local pizza joint rather
than a true sit down restaurant. While the ambi-
ence may not impress a date, they make pure
comfort food served in giant portions. The
chicken or veal parmesan comes in an exorbitant
serving, enough for more than two people, and
tastes better than mom’s. Pizza Bistro is regis-
tered with GIG, the Gluten Intolerance Group,
but out of the three, I felt the least safe regard-
ing contamination. The staff didn’t seem very
concerned, nor did they talk about any measures
they implemented to guard against cross-con-
tamination.
 Dining
Sweet Treats By Carissa Nasso

I
f you are looking for a
hi- tech treat, try the
new frozen yogurt shop
Swyrl. Swyrl opened at the end of
August and allows customers to enjoy
their own unique self-serve yogurt
creation. Customers select their flavors
on computer screens, which display
ingredients and nutrition information.
Jason Lipset, owner of Swyrl, always
thought it would be fun to own an old-
fashioned-style ice cream parlor. He
relized that a self-serve frozen yogurt
store could be the modern-day version of
his dream.
“The customer can have exactly
what he or she wants,” said Lipset. “Adult
customers can control their own portion
size, and for the kids (or the kid in all
of us) you get a true ‘make your own
sundae’ experience.”
Swyrl has a modern décor,
using a pink, silver and white color
palette, lively music and hi-tech color
changing walls along with video
animations that are tailored to promote
local community happenings. Swyrl
Carissa Nasso/ Pulse Magazine offers eight flavors at a time and about
Swyrl Frozen Yogurt allows customers to make their own treat with 40 fresh toppings. Unlike many frozen
a variety of toppings to choose from. yogurt competitors, Swyrl has a wide
variety of flavors ranging from strawberry
& banana, cookies & cream, peanut
“ For 40 cents an ounce, butter, pistachio, red velvet cake, peach,
cake batter, Italian coffee, white chocolate
you can mix flavors, macadamia, Hawaiian pineapple, and
island banana.
syrups and toppings to “Our flavors change frequently
although some staples such as Vanilla,
are encouraged to contribute ideas,
recommendations and favorite flavors.
Swyrl’s frozen yogurt also
offers added health benefits over other
dessert options.  All of Swyrl’s flavors
contain live, active cultures and natural
probiotics, which help with digestion. 
Ninety-percent of Swyrl’s flavors are
non-fat, along with some that have no
sugar added. This extends Swyrl’s market
to dietetic and diabetic consumers.  For
40 cents an ounce, you can mix flavors,
syrups and toppings to make your own
original frozen yogurt creation.
Lynbrook
“I like eating frozen yogurt
over ice cream because it tastes virtually
the same, if not better, and [Swyrl’s
frozen yogurt] has far fewer calories,”
said Lipset. “If you are in the mood for
other desserts, say cheesecake, you can
have non-fat, cheesecake-flavored frozen
yogurt at Swyrl instead.”
Kristen Pastore, a Malverne
resident and junior at the University of
Delaware said she came home for the
weekend when her friend said she just
had to try Swyrl.
“I loved Swyrl so much, I
took my parents there the next day,”

make your own original Chocolate and Original Tart, are available
most of the time,” said Lipset.
says Pastore. “My parents thought it was
so different and unique,” she said. “My

frozen yogurt creation.”

Swyrl posts their flavors daily mom and I love the red velvet flavor and
on their website at www.swyrl.com and my dad mixed the chocolate and peanut
announces new flavors on their Facebook butter flavors together.”
page, where their fans and friends

International Delight Café Café Barocco

When you first see a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu at Interna-
tional Delight Café in Rockville Centre, you would be surprised that
they have a large dessert menu. International Delight Café serves gelato,
homemade Belgian waffle sundaes, milkshakes, sorbets, and assorted
pies cakes and cookies. “ I think families would really love International
Delight Café in Rockville Center,” said Nathalie Miranda of Elmont. “It
is less popular than the one in Bellmore, but equally delicious!”
Do not let this Tapas Wine Bar fool you; it has a homemade dessert menu
to satisfy the most the exquisite palate. Café Barocco, in Garden City, has
an extensive assortment of specialty desserts such as a napoleon puff pas-
try layered with a vanilla custard cream for $6. “Café Barocco is hidden by
their sister store, La Bottega, but do not let that keep you away from their
crepes!” said Samantha Leonardi of Malverne NY.

143 Nassau Blvd. Garden City South, NY 11552

241 Sunrise Highway, RVC NY 11570

13 Pulse
 Dining

On
Tap
Sean M. Gates/ Pulse Magazine
Left: Southampton IPA / Right: Southampton Pumpkin Ale

T
he Long Island brewing culture is as stout as the beers it produces. For over 100 years, Long
By Sean Gates Island has been producing beers, but only in recent years have the beers won international
awards while establishing the island as a mainstay in America’s brewing society. Despite having
Patchogue, a robust and award-winning brewing industry, many of Long Island’s residents are unaware of what lies in
Southampton their backyard.
Beginning in the late 1800’s, German immigrants moved to Long Island for the soft water that seeped
from the gravel and sand aquifers. Free from calcium and magnesium, the soft water made for a more
enjoyable beer. During the first half of the 1900’s the growth of microbreweries and larger scale breweries
was stagnant on Long Island. It was not until the 1990’s that America saw resurgence in the growth of
small-scale brewing. Since then, Long Island has been turning out world-renowned, award-winning beer.
Three of the best breweries on Long Island are all under 20 years old, but have established themselves
as reputable producers of quality beer.

Hidden L.I. 14

The Birckhouse Brewery and Restaurant in Patchogue is one of the only microbreweries on the Island.
Brickhouse Brewery
Brickhouse Brewery and Restaurant, located
in Patchogue, opened its doors in September
1994 as one of Long Island’s few microbreweries.
A microbrewery, by definition, produces less than
15,000 barrels of beer annually. The privately
owned Brickhouse led the way in the resurgence
of brewing on Long Island in the mid-1990’s.
Brickhouse is the oldest building in Patchogue
after spending over $1 million renovating
the former “Shands” dry goods store into the
facility it is today. Shortly after its opening,
four other microbreweries opened. Along with
Brickhouse, Long Island Brewing Co. in Jericho,
Atlantic Brewing in Island Park, Cobblestone
Winery and Brewery in Huntington Station and
Southampton Publick House in Southampton all
began brewing operations in the same year.
What makes Brickhouse unique is that it has
operated as both a microbrewery and restaurant
since the day it opened. Because of this, the
crowd that Brickhouse attracts is a cross between
the hardcore brewing connoisseurs and the less
well-versed drinker.
“We are definitely known for our beer,”
said Teresea Lewando, four-year employee and
bartender at Brickhouse. “People come from all
over the place to try our beer, because we are one
of the hidden gems of Long Island, but we also
have a great menu that draws people in on top
of that.”
Blue Point Brewing
Company
With no restaurant, Blue Point
Brewing Company, in Patchogue, is Long Island’s
only traditional microbrewery. Established in
1998, Blue Point has supplanted itself as Long
Island’s brewery. Co-founders Mark Burford and
Petter Cotter acquired equipment from defunct
breweries from across the country to create a
unique business of their own. What sets Blue
Point apart from the others is the use of a direct-
fire brick brew kettle purchased from a brewery
in Maryland and reassembled in Patchogue. This
style insures for a more toasted taste to some of
Blue Point’s creations. With its award winning
history and unique approach, Blue Point and
the Long Island brewing industry is receiving
Sean M. Gates/ Pulse Magazine
attention across the globe.
“I think the Long Island community has
done well, with ourselves and Southampton in
getting national exposure and international press.
And that has helped the view of the area and
the local craft beer community.” Said Burford,
“The strength of the craft beer community is the
strength of the people themselves that are into
it.”
Blue Point isn’t exactly the best-kept secret on
Long Island as those in the beer community rave
about it.
“I just got back from a beer festival is
Strasburg France and people had heard of Blue
Point over there.” Burford continued.
Southampton Publick
House
According to industry review powerhouse
Beeradvocate.com Southampton Publick
House is the best place to drink a beer in the
state of New York as voted by visitors to the
site. Despite being more than an hour’s drive
from the Nassau/Suffolk county line, people
flock to Southampton to enjoy this brewery’s
creations. Officially opened in 1994, the building
that houses the brewery previously served as a
restaurant, speakeasy and local watering hole sine
the 1800’s.
The latest generation of proprietors got it
right when they hired Connecticut native Phil
Markowski as brewmaster. Markowski originally
began brewing for the New England Brewing
Company in Norwalk before moving to the
Hamptons. His creations have won 14 medals
at the Great American Beer Festival, as well as
two bronze and two silver at the World Beer
Cup. Besides producing some of the best beer
on Long Island, Markowski has also published
articles in such industry publications as American
Brewer, Brewing Techniques, The New Brewer
and Zymurgy magazine. His brewing style and
expertise is what truly sets Southampton Publick
House apart.
“I think it’s my passion for creating beer
that people enjoy that keeps me at this,” said
Markowksi, “But the best part of all of this, I
guess, is that I get to have a hand in the whole
process, from the idea to the tap.”
Dining
The Best Beers
Brickhouse
Nitro Boom Stout
A creamy Irish stout similar to Guiness,
but with much more drinkability. This
beer features a limited frothy head
with a toasted malty smell and taste to
match.
Hurricane Kitty Pale Ale:
An American India Pale Ale (IPA) with
a twist of citrus. This beer has a clean
white froth complete with citrus and
pine aftertaste.
Oktoberfest
Brickhouse would be remiss if it did
not have an Oktoberfest beer in the
fall. But this beer veers from the norm
with a stronger wheat taste and less fall
inspired fruit or sugar taste.
Southampton Publick
House
Southampton Indie Pale Ale
This beer has the basic characteristics of
a traditional IPA with a stronger flavor.
This is an absolute must try for IPA fans,
but may have too much of a hop taste
for others.
Southampton Double White
Rooted in traditional Belgium-style
white brewing, this beer takes it a step
further with an infusion of coriander,
orange and lemon. Another must-have
for fans of this style of beer.
Southampton Pumpkin Ale
This beer alone is an excuse to make
the drive to Southampton in the fall.
This beer is in high demand for its rich,
pumpkin spice flavor and addicting
pumpkin pie aftertaste.
Blue Point
Blue Point Pale Ale
This beer is an American Pale Ale (APA)
featuring a classic golden appearance.
The malted taste and reasonable
bitterness make for a smooth drink.
Blue Point Hoptical Illusion
This is an American-style IPA with
strong hoppy flavor. The malty and
toasted flavor may drive some drinkers
away, but makes for a powerful and
flavorful beer.
Blue Point Toasted Lager
Voted best in the world at the World
Beer Cup, this beer is a must try for
anyone who enjoys lagers. The smooth,
toasted flavor and beautiful burnt,
amber appearance leaves out any
questions as to why this is the best in
the world.
15 Pulse
 Comedy

Knee
Slapper

By Ray Hofmeister

All Photos: Ray Hofmiester/ Pulse Magazine
Chesterfield’s Comedy Club is a hidden gem for the local acts it attracts to it’s Huntington location.
Huntington
A
re you looking for something with a little
more punch? Well, punch line that is. Long
Island is not lacking when it comes to getting
a few laughs. Being so close to New York City, it may be
worth it for one to pay for the trip to see their favorite
comedian. But there are places on Long Island where you
can get some quality laughs. With names like Jerry Seinfeld
from Massapequa, Rosie O’Donnell from Commack, and
Billy Crystal from Long Beach, Long Island should have a
reputation for being funny. So where’s the laughs?
As for the big names, Governor’s Comedy Club is
known to locals to fill that void for the island. This is where
the search begins. The club is located in Levittown and
according to Justin Flanik, a bar critic from West Babylon
“Governor’s is probably the best comedy club on Long
Island.” This could be true because they host shows every
Thursday through Sunday. Also, a variety of special event
shows are held when the mainstream comedians perform at
Governor’s.
John Trusen, part of the management at Governor’s
stated, “Special event shows usually are what more people
are eager to see. John Pinette is a headliner that is popular
among the comedy crowd, and the special events featuring
him book up weeks beforehand. Reservations are a must.”
A venue selling out their comedy shows was the prime place
to begin a search for the hidden gem of comedy. To the
comedy fans on Long Island, Governor’s is nothing new.
After speaking with various comedy club go-ers,
it was easy to pick out a hidden gem in their descriptions.
Why is this hidden? Maybe the reason is that it isn’t even
considered a comedy club to begin with. Chesterfield’s
of Huntington, is primarily known as a blues and jazz
lounge, but this reputation is slowly expanding, thanks to
Comedy to Go, Inc., a comedy promotions company for
comedians. Comedy club enthusiast Andrea Gorman of
Syosset stated Chesterfields is the best for comedy because
they get local acts, as well as smaller acts that are not as well
known. “New comedians are always going there to practice
sets, and I always get a good laugh from all the acts I’ve

Hidden L.I. 16

Chesterfields,” she said. Co-Owner
Michael Parenti explained that his business
started in early two thousand nine with the
intentions to make Long Island the new
hotspot for comedy. Comedy to Go Inc also
has the intentions of “Putting the Fun back
in Fundraiser.” As they provide options for
organizations to raise funds using a comedy
show. They take the hassle out by taking care of
the whole event. All the customer does is provide
the audience, and distribute premade flyers.
Co-owner Keith Godwin explained “ We
have worked with over 70 comedians to make
sure we can always provide a fitting comedy act
for the target audience.” With a comedy provider
having so much passion for laughter it is no
wonder they helped Chesterfields expand their
reputation. Godwin added, “We host multiple
comedy events around Long Island, but Sundays
at Chesterfields is always our time to work out
new material.” Every comedian needs to test
his or her jokes, and at Chesterfields you get
to be the guinea pig without a cover charge or
minimum drink requirement.
Comedy to Go Inc has the desire to bring
laughs. They do just that every Sunday with
their open mic night. The open mic night is the
comedians’ exercise,
and Chesterfields just
happens to be the
“I always get
training grounds for
the guys involved with
a good laugh
Comedy to Go. “New
comedians are always
going there to practice
sets. Each open mic
night is never the same,
from the acts
you can never tell who
is going to show up. I I’ve seen at
Chesterfields.”
always get a good laugh
from the acts I’ve seen
at Chesterfields.” stated
comedy club enthusiast
Andrea Gorman.
Another comedic supporter Vince Zafonte
from Huntington added, “The difference with
Chesterfields is that you’re not paying to see a
comedy show, as there is no cover charge. I find
these shows to be more humorous because the
comedians are comfortable as it is for practice
and not for salary.”
A variety of comedians invest their time
into Chesterfields open mic night. No matter
the experience level of the comedian practice
makes perfect, and this is something the guys at
Comedy to Go Inc are aware of. Comics making
a career out of humor will often be at the open
mic nights practicing, just as a newcomer would.
Since the open mic night is treated as practice,
veteran comics at Chesterfields can be caught
making some of the same mistakes as the rookies.
“Seasoned comedians thrown into a mix
of rising acts and newcomers usually add to the
hilarity when a mistake is made. A majority
of the attendees at Chesterfields are comics
Comedy
themselves, so banter is thrown around loosely It may get packed but the spacious setup allows
between the personalities.” stated Colleen Cisqa, there to be enough room to move around. On
a bartender at Chesterfields. top of that there is a variety of leather couches
The peanut gallery remarks from the other and chair scattered all around for anyone to
attending comedians makes open mic night sit in. It seems as if each seat was overstuffed
much different from a regular comedy show. purposely so guests could sink in. If being a
New jokes are tested frequently as performers couch potato isn’t your style there’s always the
often carry notepads with their latest material bar to sit at. Though jazz and blues may seem
written down. While the appearance of multiple to be the focus of Chesterfields, don’t pass up
local comedians may be intimidating, it is still the chance for some laughs. Chesterfields is a
an open mic night, so place to see rookie and veteran comedians a like.
anyone is welcome to Sunday’s open mic nights provide a less tense
go up to the mic and atmosphere which adds to the overall comfort of
take a shot at making Chesterfields. No cover charge, a comfortable
the audience laugh. setting, and a variety of comedians striving to
“We welcome anyone hear you laugh. These are just the underlying
to come say some jokes characteristics of this comedy gem.
at the open mic night,
and encourage local
comedians to book with
us. We believe anyone
can be the next great
name in the comedy
world,” stated co-owner
Michael Parenti.
To be a successful comedian you need
to get your name out there. Practicing at
Chesterfields is a great way to start, according
to Michael Parenti. Someone must have used
this to his or her advantage. Upon asking
Keith he informed me that before the days of
Chesterfields, the venue was originally known as
Cinnamons. The same building that Chesterfields
is now is the place Eddie Murphy, and Kevin
James were originally discovered. George Gallo,
a popular comic at Chesterfields, stated, “Eddie
Murphy and Kevin James getting discovered in
Huntington is not something people generally
know, but for someone trying to make a career
out of humor, it is inspirational to think that this
is where one of my idols lives drastically changed
for the better.” While it may be a lot of work to
make it big in comedy, the main goal of Comedy
to Go Inc is quality laughter. Comedy to Go Inc
can bring the laughs, so what does Chesterfields
Lounge have to offer?
Chesterfields is a very comfortable place.
17 Pulse
 Theater
Photo Courtesy of Gateway Playhouse
The entrance of Gateway Playhouse,
one of Long Island’s three professional
theaters, located in Bellport.
That’s Entertainment!
D
riving into Bellport, NY, there isn’t much
to see other than lovely scenery, charming
houses and long roads. But when you
reach a certain bend on South Country Road, behind the tall
bushes emerges what appears to be a large, well kept, barn
and farmhouse. But it’s not, it’s the Gateway Playhouse, the
most unassuming of Long Island’s three professional theaters.
For those who prefer a night at the theater without
the hustle and bustle of Times Square or the
Bellport commute into Manhattan, Gateway offers
an experience that is comparable to the Great
White Way. As a matter of fact, the Playhouse
features actors whom are members of the
Actors’ Equity Association, and in many cases,
played their parts on Broadway.
It’s an understatement to say that when I visited
Gateway for a production of “Avenue Q” I was pleasantly
surprised. Completely blown away is a far more accurate
description. In full disclosure, it’s important to say that my
expectations were low coming in to a theater I had never heard
of on Eastern Long Island. The rustic exterior and church-like
interior, though extremely charming and beautiful, did little
to heighten the anticipation of Broadway quality. But that is
exactly what I got.
Photo Courtesy of Gateway Playhouse
Actess Lisa Brescia performs “Don’t Cry for Me
Argentina in Gateway’s 2005 production of ‘Evita.’
Hidden L.I. 18
By Lisa DiCarlucci
The lead actor in the production, Howie Michael
Smith (Princeton/Rod), played the role on Broadway over
1,000 times before gracing the Gateway stage and now
performs in the off-Broadway production. “Avenue Q” is
technically a puppet show as the live actors perform with
puppets in hand while acting and singing. The puppets
for them were nearly identical to the ones used in the
original show, though they were created exclusively for
this production. The set followed in similar suit, giving the
audience an experience as close to the original Broadway
show as possible. Not to mention that the employees were
beyond professional and friendly.
Although the Gateway Playhouse is a hidden gem
on Long Island, it is by no means new to the theater scene.
Family owned and operated since 1941, Gateway holds a
long-standing tradition of bringing high-quality productions
to its patrons. What was originally a seven-acre farm is now a
property that holds the Mainstage theater, Barn theater (for
acting school classes and projects), scene shop, two rehearsal
studios, three dorm-style housing units, a newly remodeled
kitchen, costume shop, design office/studio, paint shop, box
office, business office, various storage spaces, a recreation room
and a large hedge-lined lawn with an outdoor swimming pool
(which holds the distinction of being the first ever in-ground

swimming pool on Long Island), according
to the Playhouse’s official history, which can be
found on their website
Aside from talent, service and vast
facilities, what makes the Gateway Playhouse a
true gem is the atmosphere it creates. Theater is
meant to be an escape, and tucked away on the
east end of Bellport, Gateway provides just that.
This atmosphere is particularly refreshing in a time
where Broadway has become so commercialized,
Times Square is littered with advertisements and
ticket prices have skyrocketed. At approximately
$50 each, Gateway’s tickets offer a more affordable
option for a comparable production.
A newer aspect of Gateway is that
they are now reaching out to college students,
making their theater even more affordable for a
younger crowd. Sarah Innes, a representative from
Gateway Playhouse said that in the 61 years that
the theater has been operating they have gained a
substantial number of subscribers, but that crowd
is getting older now. “We know it is imperative
to begin reaching out to a younger audience,
producing a season that appeals to people of all
ages. We’ve tried to do so by putting up a balance
of contemporary shows just off Broadway as well
as timeless classics,” Innes said, “This season we
found we were struggling in effectively reaching
out to younger generations of theater-goers, and
saw the consequential depletion in ticket sales.”
For “Avenue Q,” Gateway offered
student tickets for $25 each with a valid I.D.
which is an approximate 50% discount off the
usually priced tickets. They also offer group rates
when purchasing 25 tickets or more.
Another unique aspect of Gateway
Theater
is their Haunted House, which they have run
for Halloween for the past two years in order to
supplement seasonal ticket sales, since the theater
only runs during the summer.
Gateway’s mission is clear in the
friendly faces of the staff members and the
quaint and historic property. Back in 1952, Sally
Pomeran, one of Gateway’s original owners,
told the Christian Science Monitor, “We found
that working for a good production demanded
that many people work together cooperatively
to achieve a common purpose. When so many
differences were dividing the world, we found
unity in oneness. We realized moreover that
theater possesses the influence and power to link
larger groups of the world’s peoples.” That’s the
kind of theater that deserves recognition and
support.

Gateway Alumni
Many of these Broadway performers got
their start at Gateway Playhouse!
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D.B. Bonds (“Legally Blonde”)
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Jared Bradshaw (“Jersey Boys”)
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Norm Lewis (“Les Misèrables”)
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“Aida” 2005
Sarah Stiles (“Avenue Q”)
“Gypsy” 2004
Donna Vivino (“Les Misèrables”)
“Footloose” 2001
Adam Wylie (Into the Woods”)
“The Producers” 2008
John Lloyd Young (“Jersey Boys”)
“The Scarlet Pimpernel” 2001

19 Pulse
 Film
The Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington began in 1973 showing movies that were not brought to the bigger multiplexes.
By Allison Klamkin
I
n 1973, with just a bed sheet, a film projector
and a movie borrowed from the Huntington
Public Library, Victor Skolnick and Charlotte
Sky founded the New Community Cinema.
“They [Victor and Charlotte] had always loved
movies,” said Dylan Skolnick, co-director of Cinema Arts
Centre. “Movies had always been a big part of their lives,
and back in 1973 there really weren’t any venues showing
anything but the latest Hollywood blockbusters, “ he said.
“They could have just been kind of cranky about it, but they
decided to do something.”
Renamed the Cinema Arts Centre, which is lo-
cated in Huntington, began as a once-a-week film screening.
The Cinema Arts Centre is now a full-time organization;
Huntington and it has come a long way in 37 years.
“Now we have three state-of-the-art theatres that
are running 365 days a year, showing a really wide range of
films,” Skolnick said. “It just sort of grew organically from
that original idea. It was really meant to be a community
organization.”
Cinema Arts Centre has a membership base of ap-
proximately 8,000 people. Of that, 95% comes from Long
Island, with the other 5% being from New York City and
the Tri-State area. Suffolk County residents make up 80% of
Long Island members, with the remaining 20% from Nassau
County.
“We have members from all over Long Island,
New York City and the Tri-State area,” said René Bouchard,
Director of Development at Cinema Arts Centre. “Our larg-
est concentration is in the immediate area.”
Although most members come from Long Island,
Cinema Arts Centre tries to reach out to a larger commu-
nity.
“Much of our publicity is word-of-mouth,” Bouchard said.
“Our members bring in new people and share the Cinema
story with their own contacts all over Long Island. We have
a big social media presence, through Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, and MeetUp.”
Bouchard said that in 2009, the Cinema Arts
Centre was featured almost 150 times in the New York
Times, Newsday and other local Long Island publications
and on television and radio as well.
“We are always looking for new ways to do
Hidden L.I. 20
Big
Screen
Photo Courtesy of Cinema Arts Centre
outreach through partnerships with other organizations,
through presence at festivals and expos,” Bouchard said.
“Currently a group of member-volunteers (our Circle of
Friends) is developing new outreach strategies.”
Cinema Arts has truly become an asset to the Long Island
community. They often partner with local schools, universi-
ties and organizations to present films, lectures, discussions
and talkbacks with filmmakers and creators.
“The cinema is designed to be a community
center,” Skolnick said, “a place that draws people out of their
homes and into a public place where they’re all together.
We have a café, a garden, concerts, films with speakers and
discussions - all things designed to get people out into the
community talking to each other and seeing each other.”
Mario Murillo, a professor in the Radio, Television and Film
department at Hofstra University, has worked closely with
Cinema Arts Centre many times, most recently in 2008
when he returned from research in Columbia.
“I was working with this really interesting media
project in southern Colombia, and they had produced a
series of documentaries and films about their work, about
their community, and about what they were doing [about
the situation in Colombia],” Murillo explained.
“When I got back I was so eager to share that
material with the folks in the community that one of the
first persons I called was Vic Skolnick,” he said.
Murillo had brought back a documentary about the in-
digenous movements and struggles that had taken place in
Colombia.
“He said, ‘Send me the film,’” Murillo continued.
“He saw it and said, ‘Let’s show it and you can come and
talk.’”
They turned the screening into a big event, which
brought in over 100 members of the community, on a
Sunday morning, complete with a brunch, and raising about
$3,000 to support the indigenous communities back in
Colombia.
Cinema Arts Centre does not just show documen-
taries. They also screen art films from the United States and
several foreign countries that wouldn’t necessarily be shown
in a corporate cinema, and also host music concerts and film
festivals.
 Film
“We don’t have a single audience,” talkbacks. After a screening of “Genius Within: It makes going to the movies worthwhile and
Dylan Skolnick said. “The audience that comes The Inner Life of Glenn Gould,” focusing on the enjoyable.”
for new hit films, for film art or horror movies, life of the pianist, the filmmakers will take part Both Katzman and Murillo agree that
cult movies or silent movies or political docu- in a post-show discussion with the audience live the Cinema Arts Centre, and art theaters in
mentaries – there’s a lot of overlap. Each one of from Toronto, Canada via Skype. general increase the artistic spirit within a com-
these draws specific groups who are interested in Limited-release movies presented each munity.
that subject.” month, including the new films “127 Hours,” “Most of the art cinemas on Long Is-
“We do a gay and lesbian film series,” beginning November 19, and “The Black Swan” land opened up in towns where there was already
he said. “We have a Latino film series, African- on December 17. Each month includes a night some sort of artistic appreciation,” Professor
American film series, Native of silent films accompanied by Katzman explained. “Whether they had a mu-
American film series, and live music. seum, a legitimate theatre –they had something
we also just try to spread Phil Katzman of the Radio, where people were already appreciating art on
the word as widely as ”The ambiance is Television and Film Department other levels where they can potentially appreciate
possible through different at Hofstra University says that art cinema. They might have a small museum, a
media,” he explained. different from what art and independent cinema legitimate theatre, or some sort of art workshops
“In really took off in the 1960s, just and having an art theatre is just expanding that
October we have an ongo- you would see in those a mere 10 years before Cinema experience,” he said.
ing thing where archivists Arts opened its doors. Although Cinema Arts Centre has
and collectors will come megaplexes.” “The ‘60s is when the baby been in existence for the past 37 years, it is still
down and bring down rare boomers started getting exposed one of Long Island’s hidden treasures.
films,” says Skolnick. “This to French cinema and new “It’s a space to get people together,”
group called AV Geeks is wave cinema and a new interest said Murillo, of Cinema Arts Centre. “It’s a space
bringing down a bunch of old educational films peaked,” Katzman told Pulse. “All of a sudden where you go to the movies and you discuss the
that were shown to high school students in the there was a lot more talk of films being brought movie – very often with the filmmaker or with
‘50s and ‘60s.” There is also the Found Footage over from Europe and a lot more independent someone connected to the film - and then get
Festival, which features a collection of bizarre and art houses began to pop up. They were all over. outside in the lobby and participate in a com-
hilarious feature films and old movies found at It started with the international films coming in, munity discussion about the film, which is a
Goodwill, warehouses and garage sales. and then U.S. filmmakers started the same distri- different kind of experience. It’s true to what it
Cinema Arts Centre often partners bution avenues. It was because there were people does and it has not strayed away and it has not
with other cultural locations on Long Island to that loved these art and independent films. They sold out in terms of what its mission is, which
co-present programs and screenings. opened up the theatres and they started the is to provide alternative films to the community
“We’re doing this program on The distribution companies.” and bring people together.”
Summer of Love – a San Francisco rock band Cinema Arts Centre, and other inde- Cinema Arts Centre tries to reach their
from 1967,” Skolnick said. “This [is] in conjunc- pendent cinemas like it, differs from the typical audiences in the broadest sense possible, through
tion with an exhibit of rock photography at the movie-going experience. all sorts media, such as traditional newspaper
Heckshcher Museum. If you come down you get “The big multiplexes, they have 12 advertisements and brochures, to their web site,
to see the show and go to the exhibit.” movies on the screen – all of them are the same,” and pages on Facebook and Twitter to appeal to
Cinema Arts is also partnering with the Long Is- Professor Murillo said. “They have very little younger audiences.
land Roller Rebels, a roller derby club, to present variation. You go into the places and they all “We’re really trying to present the
the movie “Brutal Beauty.” smell and look the same. They play the same widest range of programs possible and to be a
“It’ll be a whole bunch of people from commercials prior to the film and there’s nothing resource for the widest possible amount of people
the Long Island Roller Rebels,” said Skolnick of unique or nothing authentic about it. It becomes here on Long Island, encourage people to come
the November 30 event. “They’ll be here in per- a superficial experience where you want to get out, enjoy seeing these things on the big screen
son talking about why they got involved in roller out of there as soon as you can. In an indepen- with hopefully a big crowd,” Skolnick says. “Our
derby, what’s involved, and all kinds of fun stuff.” dent cinema like the Cinema Arts Centre, and motto is ‘Long Island’s Film Window on the
Cinema Arts is also integrating new many of the others, the ambiance is different World,’ so it’s really designed to open people up
technologies into their group discussions and from what you would see in those megaplexes. to the wider world.

Photo Courtesy of Cinema Arts Centre, by Sheldon Pollack

Victor Skolnick, Charlotte Sky and Dylan Skolnick opened the Cinema Arts Centre in 1973.

21 Pulse
 Music
Steve Rousseau/ Pulse Magazine
Huck playing Acoustic Long Island.
By Steve Rousseau
Rows of wicker chairs are set up in one of the
parlor rooms of Deepwells Mansion in St. James. They are
all huddled around a Persian rug, a microphone stand, and
two stage monitors. A red velvet curtain hangs from the
wall behind the stage, which is bordered by two fireplaces
sporting burning candles on their respective mantels. A
set of purple and red lights give the stage a warm hue.
The recording equipment, a MacBook Pro and a mixer,
of Dave Dircks, host of Acoustic Long Island, sits in stark
contrast to the 19th century décor.
St. James This is all there is to the setup of
Acoustic Long Island, the monthly
acoustic music series featured at the
mansion.
Tucked away off on a dark
section of Route 25 in St. James,
the Deepwells Mansion and its
monthly acoustic music show is
“This building once something hidden, both literally
and figuratively speaking.
housed performers who Literally, the mansion
put on little acts over the itself can be hard to find on the
Wednesday nights that the concerts
summer,” he said, “We’re take place. Apart from myself, one
of the featured artists for October,
bringing it back to what it Huck, showed up a few minutes
late because he too had trouble
once was.” finding it. “I must have passed
it five or six times,” he told the
audience that night.
Built in 1845 for a descendent of Smithtown
founder, Richard Smith, the Deepwells Mansion has seen
a variety of owners including a New York City Mayor,
William J. Gaynor; who coined the mansion’s name after
Hidden L.I. 22
Tune
In
its two 125-foot wells. Now owned by Suffolk County, the
mansion is the venue for Acoustic Long Island’s monthly
shows.
“St. James was a place for people in New York
City that were artists and musicians and opera singers to
vacation,” said Dave Dircks, host of Acoustic Long Island.
“This building once housed performers who put on little
acts over the summer,” he said, “We’re bringing it back to
what it once was.”Although Acoustic Long Island features
the historic mansion, the two weren’t intertwined from the
start.
Five years ago, Dircks and his brother wanted
to get involved with the then new concept of podcasting
-- a web-based, program-driven, downloadable digital
audio show. They started a weekly talk show style podcast,
featuring a roundtable discussion of five people. “It only
took about a week or two before we realized this didn’t have
the energy we were looking for,” he said. At the same time
Dircks started his fledgling podcast, he was also frequenting
the open mic scene in the area – a combination which
sparked the first iteration of Acoustic Long Island. “It was
just one of those serendipitous moments,” he said, “my
brother and I were like ‘why don’t we just record an open
mic?’”
Initially dissatisfied with the energy of the
open mics he was recording, Dircks got the idea to have
a featured artist, chosen by him, at the end of every show.
Even if the open mic stank, there was still something to
look forward too, he said. Eventually the show grew again,
this time transforming into a weekly concert featuring an
acoustic artist at the local Cool Beans Café.
In 2007, while Dircks was working on his podcast, the

Steve Rousseau/ Pulse Magazine
Sign at the back door of Deepwells Mansion.
Deepwells Mansion in St. James was built in 1845. It is now home to concerts every Wednesday night.
Deepwells Mansion was in danger of
being shut down by the town of St.
James. “They wanted to turn it into office
space,” said Dircks. However, with the
help of Dircks, who is also on the Suffolk
County Historical Society board, and the
community, the mansion was spared a
dull future filled with cubicles and office
supplies. During the process of saving the
mansion, Dircks suggested that he move
his podcast to mansion. “It just kinda
happened at the same time we needed the
space,” he said.
As Dircks featured more and
more artists at the mansion, his podcast
began to take off. “The artists would
tell their friends, and the word started
spreading that this was a great venue to
play.”
In addition to its location,
Acoustic Long Island only features hidden
talent. Initially when Dircks was first
looking for featured performers, he would
spend a couple hours each day scouring
MySpace looking for “artists who where
kinda not making it yet,” he said. Now he
has to be a bit more selective. “There’s a
legacy now,” he said, “I have to handpick
the ones that I think are distinctly different,
and have something unique to share.”
Currently, there are around 300
Music
artists waiting to play at the mansion, and
they too recognize that it is a special place
to play. Kat Mulvaney, a Brooklyn-native
artist featured in October, told the audience
in between songs, “It’s been kinda a dream
of mine to play here.”
Mulvaney’s confession to the
crowd is an example of another great aspect
of the mansion – its intimacy. “It’s like a
house concert on steroids,” said Dircks. The
room itself only holds about 50 people.
The front row is just feet away from the
performers, and the closed in spaces lends
to banter to erupt between musician and
listener. After Huck played his first song,
a woman walked in. Just as she is about to
take her seat he tells her jokingly, “Hey you,
thanks for showing up late.” In between
another song, another audience member
comments on the profuse amount of sweat
dripping off of Huck’s face, “I sweat so
much because I love the music,” he replies.
Even though the mansion’s parlor seats so
few, there were still a handful of empty seats
to be found on October’s show. For such a
hidden and quality venue, featuring “a great
listening room,” according to Dircks, with
unknown talent one might feel they have
to reach for their wallet for this kind of
experience. Don’t. It’s free.
Steve Rousseau/ Pulse Magazine
23 Pulse
 Music
Strung
From left to right: Anca Nicolau, Aaron Brown, Myron Lutzke
By Steve Rousseau
S
onia Grib sits down at her harpsichord
while violinists Anca Nicolau and Aaron
Brown ready their instruments as Myron
Lutzke sits down with his cello. After spending a few
minutes getting in tune the ensemble pauses, then lifts
into Locatelli’s “Sonata in G Major.” Lutzke’s baroque
cello, in tandem with Grib’s harpsichord, fills the air
Oyster Bay with warm, yet somber tones, while Nicolau and Brown’s
violins produce soaring melodies. However, this baroque
performance didn’t take place on a Saturday night in
New York City. No, the Long Island Baroque Ensemble,
headed by Grib, regularly performs at Christ Church in
Oyster Bay on lazy Sunday afternoons.
New York City is considered the center of
classical music in the northeast, if not the entire nation.
Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the New York
Philharmonic, and the Julliard are all examples of its
excellence. However, Grib and her baroque ensemble,
along with Margaretha Maimone’s Ridotto and Naomi
Drucker and Blanche Abram’s American Chamber
Ensemble, show that classical music can also take root in
Long Island. These critically-acclaimed groups have been
offering Long Islanders a chance to experience quality
classical music close to home.
Now in its 41st season, The Long Island
Baroque Ensemble was started by Grib in 1969, in an
effort to bring early music back into the public eye. She
was, and still is, attracted to the “the period, the style,
and the wealth of material,” she said. The ensemble
performs works by famous composers such as Bach and
Hidden L.I. 24
Out
Steve Rousseau/ Pulse Magazine
Vivaldi, but also makes a point to present some lesser-
known pieces as well. LIBE was formed as a response
to a large interest in live performances of these post-
renaissance works. “I was intrigued with performing on
period instruments,” she said, “they’re very hard to play.”
According to Grib, the period instruments are tuned to
the relative pitch of A415 Hz, instead of today’s standard
of A440 Hz – this makes tuning a bit tricky.
Formed around the same time as the Long Island Baroque
Ensemble, the American Chamber Ensemble was started
by pianist Blanche Abram and clarinetist Naomi Drucker
in 1965; the group established a residency in 1978 at
Hofstra in Hempstead.
“We were looking to make opportunities
for more performances,” she said, “There really was no
chamber music at the University being presented by
professional groups.”
Since then the group has brought the sounds of
Chopin, Dvorak, and Beethoven to Monroe Lecture Hall.
However, the ensemble hasn’t forgotten its roots. Drucker,
born in Freeport and now a resident of Massapequa, is
always trying to bring in local inspirations. “One of our
goals is to present, at every concert, the work of a Long
Island composer,” she said. This season, the chamber
ensemble is presenting a composition by Long Island
native and Hofstra music professor Herbert Deutsch
entitled “Woman in Darkness.”
Despite having its roots in Amsterdam,
Ridotto, is the brainchild of Margaretha Maimone. The
“concerts with a touch of theatre”, as the Dutch-

born director describes it, has found a home and a
following in Long Island. Maimone, an accomplished
violinist who performed with the Amsterdam
Philiharmonic, started the first iteration of Ridotto
in Amsterdam 26 years ago. “Ridotto started in
anger,” she said, “We just wanted to play.” However,
Maimone had to put Ridotto on hold when she made
the hard decision to leave her music career behind
and immigrate to the United States. “I left many
opportunities behind,” she said, “But Amsterdam was
too dangerous.”
After completing a master’s degree in
theatre arts at Stony Brook University, Maimone
finally revived Ridotto in 2000. “I was well armed to
start Ridotto,” she said. Ridotto is more of a concert
series than traditional chamber music ensemble,
although she rarely plays in it now. Maimone,
through an enormous amount of research, finds the
pieces she wants performed, the artists to perform
Steve Rousseau/ Pulse Magazine
Nurit Pacht playing the violin.
Music
them, and then stages the accompanying
performances. She even does her own set design.
“I am Ridotto,” she said. She has had marionette
performances, flamenco dance, and even pantomime Huntington
accompany her concerts.
“The touch of theatre is very telling of the music,”
she explains.
In addition to the unique touch of
theatre, Maimone is very accepting of her audience,
and wants them to experience the music in their
own way. She does not mind if they move their
chairs around, read a book, or even fall asleep.
To have people to fall asleep in her concerts is a
compliment to her work. “That’s trust,” she said.
She is also accepting of noise the nearby road
makes during her productions. “I love the Harley-
Davidsons,” she said, “We need light, and music
and Harley-Davidsons.” To Maimone the outside
ambience can only add to Ridotto.
What makes these three groups special
is the quality of their performances. Long Island
Baroque Ensemble, American Chamber Ensemble,
and Ridotto all feature accomplished talent. They
each have their own respective Julliard graduate—
Misha Dichter performed a concert for Ridotto in
October, Myron Lutzke plays cello in LIBE, and
violinist Lois Martin performs with ACE. Also,
Grib, Drucker, Abrams, and Maimone can, and have
performed in the city. Grib isn’t joking when she
says that excellence comes from, “Practice, practice,
practice.”
Of course, the talent would be nothing if
there wasn’t an audience to listen. Over the years all
three ensembles have established a devoted following.
“People who love this kind of music have come to
the concerts,” said Drucker, ”and that of course has
grown and grown because we have existed for so
long.” Maimone knew she had gained the respect of
her audience when one woman came up to her one
day and asked, “Margaret, what are you going to
do today?” The woman had just shown up blissfully
ignorant of what Ridotto was going to feature. “To
be supported by the community is vital,” said Patricia
Berman, administrator of the Long Island Baroque
Ensemble, “and we are here for the community.”
These three groups aren’t outcasts of the city, but
musicians who want to bring their art to their home
communities. “To have this available this close to
home is a great thing,” said Berman. “Why shouldn’t
we be on Long Island?” said Grib, “We’re no longer a
stepchild of the city.”
25 Pulse
 Museums

Learning Experience Three Long Island musems that explore the

body, the country and the universe.

Megan Tedeschi/ Pulse Magazine

An evolution trail displayed at the DNA museum in Cold Spring Harbor.

DNA MUSEUM possible,” said Gottlieb.

By Megan Tedeschi For both visitors and Gottlieb, one of the most remarkable

E
ver wonder how unique you really are? Or where exhibits in the museum is “The Genes We Share” exhibit.
your ancestors may have originated? Finding the With the help of the Museum of Natural History and the
answers to these questions may be easier than you DNA Museum, you can step back in time through this
think. Through interactive and informative exhibits, the decorative replica of a cave complete with cave drawings and
DNA Museum, located in Cold Spring Harbor, makes fossil remains. The cave compares the skeletal structures of the
understanding the complex concept of first Neanderthal to today’s current humans and chimpanzees.
Cold Spring Harbor DNA fun and easy even if science isn’t your
“We have the very first Neanderthal that was ever put
expertise.
together. We worked with different museums around the
The DNA Museum is the nation’s first world and as of 2001 we were one of two groups to have the
science center dedicated entirely to genetics full body,” said Gottlieb.
education. The museum, which is now
“The Genes We Share” exhibit contains three skeletons that
directed by David Micklos, has been around for 20 years.
are positioned so that they can be easily compared. You can
According to Elina Gottlieb, an instructor at the museum,
see how DNA has changed throughout history through the
many Long Islanders aren’t aware that the museum is open
differences in the skeletal structures. Here you will also find a
to the public. Gottlieb describes the museum as the perfect
cast of 60,000 year-old Neanderthal fossil that was originally
place for all ages.
found in Kebara Cave, Israel. The cave features a time line of
“We run a school here for DNA learning and students come replicated human skulls, which aids in the visualization of the
from 8th grade through high school,” said Gottlieb. “Teachers
come for training and we also have guided tours for people
who come.”
The study of DNA has become quite important for many
reasons. Although it has been studied for decades, advances
in DNA research are starting to play a pivotal role in curing
some of the world’s deadliest and most dangerous diseases,
such as cancer or even Parkinson’s disease. The DNA Museum
is affiliated with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which
is well known for their treatments and studies in cancer and
neurological diseases.
The DNA Museum is also a learning center where classes
are conducted to teach children about the different aspects of
DNA research. The museum itself takes the complex structure
of DNA and breaks it down in a simple way. The museum
takes you through a timeline of the Earth to help you to better
understand our genes and historic roots through different
exhibits and interactive tools.
“We have a particular way in hitting the curriculum, we take Megan Tedeschi/ Pulse Magazine
this complicated structure of DNA and make it as simple as The Genes We Share Exhibit at the DNA museum.

Hidden L.I. 26

evolution of humans over the course of millions
of years.
One particular machine compares your face to
one of a cave man with a mirror like effect. By
sitting down in front of the replicated face, you
can compare your skull to one of a caveman’s. It
helps you to better understand the differences and
similarities between you and your 60,000,000
year-old ancestor.
An interactive exhibit that helps both children
and adults better understand DNA and genes is
one that helps you figure out how unique you
really are. At this exhibit, you can test your finger
print, or see the exact colors that make up your
eye. Your skin, eye and hair color, along with the
shape of your eyes and hands are asked through
a computer. Think you’re one of a kind? Test out
the program to see just how unique you really are
compared to others who took the test. You might
be surprised to see how common or uncommon
your traits are.
The museum is filled with information about
the origin of humans and provides a great DNA
model for people to view. You’ll be surprised by
how much you didn’t know about yourself and
where certain traits come from. Best of all, the
museum is free, so it’s a great place to take the
family to learn and interact while having fun.
AMERICAN AIR POWER MUSEUM
Interested in the history of America? Take a
step back in time at the American Air Power
Museum, located in Farmingdale. The museum
is a living memorial to those who served and
helped throughout World War II. It provides great
opportunity to support and learn more about
those who have fought in the war.
The Museum was originally located in New
Jersey in the 1990’s, but was later moved to Long
Island in May of 2000. Although the museum has
been around for ten years, many people are yet
to experience this hidden gem. Whether it’s large
numbers of families or students, the museum
has started to receive attention from all types
of people including international visitors. The
The “Our Family Tree” exhibit at the DNA museum.
museum contains unique exhibits you may not
find anywhere else.
The museum maintains a fleet of World War II
aircraft, which were all operational at some point
in history. Just a few of the displayed planes are
the Republic P47 Thunderbolt, the largest and
heaviest single-seater, piston-engined fighter in
history and the North American T6, which is the
only trainer in history that was used by multiple
countries.
Larry Starr, the museums curator and assistant
manager, wants visitors to learn from the museum
and really appreciate what it’s all about.
“The point is to concentrate on the men who
flew the planes and the women who built and flew
them,” said Starr.
According to Starr, one of the most exciting
things to do at the museum is to take part in an
actual flight experience. For a $300 charitable
membership donation you can wear the outfit of
a World War II trooper and fly in the Douglas
C-47, which was flown on D-Day. This is one
of the most popular planes at the museum. The
plane contains re-enactors dressed as combat
“People love
the flight
experience.”
troops and gives visitors a sense of what it was like
during this war.
“People love the flight experience,” said Starr.
The museum also has one of the very few exhibits
dedicated to the women who created the planes
during WWII and flew them from the factory to
delivery points. They also have a unique exhibit
called the “Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit,” which pays
tribute to African American pilots.
The American Air Power Museum is great place
Megan Tedeschi/ Pulse Magazine
Museums
to learn more about our nation’s history in a
fun and interesting way. It’s perfect for families,
students and people of all ages to learn about and
appreciate all the men and women who served
and fought for our country. The American Air
Power Museum is $10 for adults, $5 for children
and free for children under 5.
THE CUSTER OBSERVATORY
The universe is an amazing place filled with
different wonders and mysteries. Sometimes
you may find yourself wanting to step outside
of this world, and into a new one. The Custer
Observatory in Southhold let’s visitors experience
the universe and learn more about what surrounds
this planet, without having to step off of Long
Island.
When most people think of the Hamptons, they
usually picture beaches, restaurants and the famous
celebrities who occupy it during the summer.
However, after visiting the Custer Observatory
you might just find yourself star struck for
another reason. The Custer Observatory, founded
by Charles Elmer and Richard Perkins, is the
oldest public observatory on Long Island. Every
Saturday night starting at 7pm, the observatory
opens up to the public and allows people to gaze
into the night sky through telescopes. You don’t
have to worry about knowing what you’re looking
at because at every telescope, a staff member is
available to explain all of the astonishing objects
in the night sky..
Donna McCormick, the President of the
Observatory, loves seeing the reactions of those
who come for the first time.
“People are so surprised by the variety of colors
or how they can see the rings of Saturn,” said
Donna McCormick.
The Custer Observatory has one of the largest
telescopes on Long Island. It is located in a 22
ft dome and can be operated manually or by a
computer.
The Custer library offers visitors many astronomy
and science books dating back to the 1800’s. The
museum contains different artifacts, such as a
broken 1750’s roadside mile marker originally
ordered by Ben Franklin, a piece of tree planted by
Albert Einstein, and vintage astronomical devices.
On a clear night the observatory has been
known to accumulate about 300 visitors. It hosts
parties and events including a New Year’s Eve
party complete with music food and dancing. The
telescopes are open during the events as well.
The observatory is a great way to end a Saturday
night with your family, friends or even a date.
It’s the perfect setting for a once in a lifetime
opportunity. Why view the universe through
television or pictures when you can see the real
thing?
27 Pulse
 Sports

II
All Photos: Sean M. Gates/ Pulse Magazine
#3, Jason Murray of the C.W. Post Lacrosse Team (Above). #32, Eddie Plompen of the C.W. Post Lacrosse Team, (Right, below).

Timers

HX Salon
By Ashley Scorziello

Brookville

L
ong Island has been a hub for lacrosse for years
thanks to excellent high school programs and
Hofstra University and Stony Brook.
impressive Division I college teams like Hofstra

Student Center The C.W. Post Pioneers, a Division II team that has
won the past two National Championships, have achieved more

Hempstead NY
success on their respective level recently than Hofstra and Stony
Brook has. With the recent success comes some media coverage,
including a two-page Newsday spread, but lacrosse aficionados
516.463.7647 across the Island have yet to take as much notice.
“We have gotten a lot more support since we started
winning,” said John Jez, the head coach of C.W. Post men’s
lacrosse. “Before that we had some good turnouts for bigger

$5 off any Haircut

games, but not necessarily for the regular season.”
Tim Boyle, the head coach of Dowling men’s lacrosse,
another Division II team on Long Island, has been following

or Hair Color C.W. Post lacrosse for years.

“I’ve lived on Long Island my whole life,” Boyle said.
“So I grew up playing lacrosse on Long Island and I actually

Hidden L.I. 31
Service grew up watching C.W. Post as a child, when they were Division
I. I think back then there was obviously Division I support.
Then, they were still getting support, from my perception, but I
guess the support went a different way from the time they were
Division I to when they went to Division II.”

Hidden L.I. 28

Boyle felt things have changed for the Pioneers recently.
“We play them every year in our conference,” he said. “From
an outsiders perception, I’ve seen a definite change in support of their
program, in a very positive way, in the past 5 years.”
Hofstra men’s lacrosse drew an average crowd of 1,030 fans for
home games in the 2010 season and Stony Brook drew an average of 1,016
people. C.W. Post averaged only 640 people for the regular season.
“It’s tough with Hofstra and Stony Brook having so much
success, especially Stony Brook last year, and the spotlight on them with
that quarterfinal game where there was 10,000 people there,” Boyle said.
“I think we [Division II teams] are obviously a different level of lacrosse
than that. They’re on more of a national level. And
teams that play at that level, like Cornell or
Army, might travel very well with an alumni
association or a booster club and they bring out
many more fans.”
In May 2010 C.W. Post clinched
its second straight NCAA Division II
national title against LeMoyne College.
C.W. Post finished with a 16-1 record, the
most wins in program history, having lost
only to Dowling. The team was also East
Coast Conference champions. In 2009 it
finished with a 15-1 record, losing only
to LeMoyne, who it later defeated in
the championship game.
Junior attack/midfielder
Brad DeSouza said LeMoyne
and New York Institute of
Technology are C.W.
Post’s biggest rivals,
which made back-to-
back championship
matchups against
LeMoyne that much
more important.
“We
knew they didn’t
want to lose to us
two years in a row, so we
worked extra hard towards the end of the season,”
DeSouza said. “Our team was very unselfish and
everyone played a big part in winning that game.”
Senior midfielder Michaleas and
DeSouza are obviously a different level of lacrosse
than that. They’re on more of a national level.
And the teams that play at that level, like Cornell
or Army, might travel very well with an alumni
association or a booster club and they bring out
many more fans.”
In May 2010 C.W. Post clinched its
second straight NCAA Division II national title
against LeMoyne College. C.W. Post finished with
a 16-1 record, the most wins in program history,
having lost only to Dowling. The team was also East
Coast Conference champions. In 2009 it finished
with a 15-1 record, losing only to LeMoyne, who it
later defeated in the championship game.
Junior attack/midfielder Brad DeSouza
said LeMoyne and New York Institute of Technology
are C.W. Post’s biggest rivals, which made back-to-back
championship matchups against LeMoyne that much
more important.
“We knew they didn’t want to lose to us two
Sports
years in a row, so we worked extra hard towards the end of the season,”
DeSouza said. “Our team was very unselfish and everyone played a big part
in winning that game.”
Senior midfielder Michaleas and DeSouza both felt that
chemistry was important on their team.
“Being on the team is good because you have great relationships
with all your teammates,” Michaleas said. “They’re all there for the same
reason you
are, because they love lacrosse.”
“We are all very close, so winning that [national championship]
game just made the 2010 season amazing,” added DeSouza.
the The road for to a third straight national championship starts in
the fall semester, which consists of practices and two or three scrimmages
and then continues with a conditioning and strength-training program
during the winter.
“We have been working harder than ever to three-peat,” said
Michaleas. “We have a young team so we are putting in a lot of extra work,
to work on the smaller details in order to fine tune everything, especially the
defense. They are really working hard.”
The team lost ten seniors from last season, including
six or seven key players. To replace the players Jez hits the
recruiting trail. The team normally takes about 12 players per
season.
“We generally get videos in the mail, and if the
kid looks really good, we’ll go and watch him play, if he’s
still playing,” Jez said.
Two C.W. Post players are currently nominated
for Inside Lacrosse Magazine’s annual Laxie Award for
Division II Player of the Year. Midfielder and Levittown
native Mike Cama, who was named United States
Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Specialty
Player of the Year and USILA First Team All-
America in 2009, as well as defender and
Hicksville native Richard Schmidt.
Last year’s National
Championship game; played in
Baltimore, MD brought the team
some renown.
“Newsday came
out to the semifinal game
against Dowling and also
covered the championship
game in Baltimore,” said
Sarah Ralls, Athletic Media
Relations Director for C.W.
Post.” We also had good
coverage from News12 throughout
the season and they came out and
filmed games as well. The championship game
was carried live on CBS College Sports Network.”
The turnout in Baltimore for the
semifinals and finals surpassed any expectations
Division II coaches could have for regular season
games.
“For us [D-II teams] to have a
crowd of over 3,000 people at the semifinal
game, I think really speaks volumes about how
far Division II lacrosse has come, especially on
Long Island, and maybe where we’re going in the
future,” said Dowling’s coach Doyle.
If Doyle is right about where Division II
lacrosse is heading, the big boys of Division I may
have to watch their back and make Long Island more
than a two team town.
29 Pulse
 Sports

Net Worth By Max Sass

All Photos: Max Sass / Pulse Magazine

Hidden L.I. 30

N
orth Carolina and Duke men’s basketball
have nine combined NCAA Champion-
ships. Stony Brook and Rider have none.
The first two paid no attention to Bryan Dougher
coming out of the Scoth Plains – Fanwood High
School. The latter two were Dougher’s final pair to
choose from.
Dougher, now a junior at Stony Brook
was underrecruited and underappreciated coming
out of the high school. Does it leave a chip on his
shoulder to play harder?
“There is a little bit of a chip,” Dougher
said,” I wanted to play at the highest level I could,
but I couldn’t be happier here at Stony Brook.”
His head coach at Stony Brook, Steve Pikiell, knows
he found a hidden gem in Dougher that changed
his program.
“Really, he was the foundation of what I
wanted to bring here to Stony Brook,” Pikiell said.
“Overacheiving, tough kids that basketball and
school were important to and he really has started a
nice trend for us.”
The first school that heavily recruited
Dougher was Columbia, an oustanding academic
school from the Ivy League.
“They don’t give athletic scholarships so
it’s tough to pay $50,000 a year to go to a school
like that even though its something I would have
wanted to do,” Dougher said.
Dougher also turned down Princeton,
which is not too far south of his hometown of
Scotch Plains, NJ. That left Stony Brook and Rider.
The year before Dougher joined the Sea Wolves,
the team went 7-23. Pikiell could not be any more
thrilled that Dougher chose to be part of his turn-
around.
“Our first winning season was his fresh-
man year, our first league championship was his
sophomore year, our first postseason bid was his
sophomore year and he’s got two more years to go
with a lot more to achieve,” Pikiell said.
Labeling Dougher a winner is nothing
new though. In 2008, his senior year of high school,
Dougher led Scotch Plains – Fanwood High School
to its first ever New Jersey state championship. The
run to the championship was “definitely one of the
more exciting times of my life,” Dougher said.
Dougher’s team won Group II and
eventually lost in the Tournament of Champions
to Immaculata High School, but was able to play
against the best of the best players in the nation,
including Theo Riddick of Immaculata (now a
starting wide receiver on the Notre Dame football
Sports
team). The eventual ToC winner was St. Anthony’s
which featured Mike Rosario (Rutgers), Tyshawn
Taylor (Kansas) and Travon Woodall (Pittsburgh).
Part of the chip on Dougher’s shoulder comes
from being on the same court as players who were
recruited by schools that did not look at him.
“You always feel slighted if a program that
recruited some of your classmates didn’t recruit you
but you just have to go out and play your game,” he
said.
Being overshadowed by others continued
for Dougher from the recruiting trail to college.
Dougher made the America East All – Rookie team
in 2009, but has not been on a preseason All –
America East team in the two years following, an
oversight which upsets his coach.
“I know he’s one of the five best players
in the league but no one picks him as that, maybe
because he doesn’t pass the look test for a basketball
player,” Pikiell said.
As for the look test, Dougher is listed
at six feet and one inch tall and 185 lbs by Stony
Brook but is probably just a shade under six feet
tall in actuality. He is also a basketball minority,
Stony Brook
as white American players comprise less than 10
percent of the NBA.
”People have said he doesn’t look like
your typical basketball player,” Pikiell said, “but he’s
not your typical basketball player. He’s in the gym
all the time, he’s not an above the rim guy, he’s a
below the rim guy, but he’s figured out a way to be
such a valuable part of a good basketball program.”
Dougher is also, by his own admission, a step slow.
“I am not as quick, not as athletic but I
make up for it in other ways,” he said.
Dougher has struggled to even get recognition
within his own program. Last year’s America East
Player of the Year, Mohammed El – Amin, was
Dougher’s backcourt mate and overshadowed the
soft spoken point guard from New Jersey.
“Mo [El – Amin] could do more of the
spectacular,” Pikiell said. “He could hit a fade away,
he’s big, he could go baseline and dunk, so those
guys tend to get more of the attention but Bryan
has two more years of this so he’ll get more and
more attention as we go through this.”
Dougher has evaluated his strengths and
weaknesses and determined that he has to focus on
certain things he can do better than others. “You
have to kind of work on different things that other
people can’t do,” he said. “Shooting is a big thing,
to be the best shooter helps to make up for lack of
speed or athleticism.”
31 Pulse
 Sports
And Dougher can shoot. He owns the
Stony Brook program record with 95 three-point-
ers in a season his sophomore year. Dougher was
thirteenth in the nation in three-point shooting
percentage on the season at 42.4 percent and made
“I know he’s one
50.5 percent of three-pointers in conference play,
which was best in the America East. of the five best
players in the
His shooting has even become the stuff of legend,
at least for Pikiell. “I watched him play one AAU
game in Las Vegas and he went like 16 for 18,
didn’t miss a shot in the game and not only didn’t
miss a shot, he didn’t miss a shot in warmups,”
league but no
Pikiell said.
Dougher, who is the son of a basketball one picks him as
coach, is a leader on the floor for Pikiell. Though
Pikiell wants Dougher to become more vocal
with his teammates, his leadership helps the point
that”
guard be a coach on the floor which is why Pikiell
“believed in him from day one [and] handed him
the ball.”
Dougher watches a lot of tape of Phoe-
nix Suns point guard Steve Nash even though he
admits the two are very different players. Similar
to Nash though, the full effect of Dougher’s game
cannot be appreciated except in person.
“It’s easy to pick out that sexy basketball
player that is over the rim by 100 feet and running
the floor,” Pikiell said. “This guy [Dougher], you
really had to watch to appreciate what he could do
on a basketball floor and how consistent he was.”
Dougher has been consistent in his two years with
the Sea Wolves, starting every game. He averaged
13.8 points per game as a sophomore including
3.0 three-point field goals per game, but scoring is
just one part of why Dougher is so consistent.
“Everyday he brought 13, 14 points, didn’t turn
the ball over, a few assists, played good positional
defense,” Pikiell said. “I think sometimes that gets
overlooked.”
Dougher grew up a Seton Hall fan and
rooted for UNC when his sister was there, but he
is turning Stony Brook into a must-see team now.
After leading his team to the National Invitational
Tournament last season, where they lost to Illinois,
Dougher is planning on continuing to prove
people wrong.
“He’s really proven that a lot of people
kind of missed the boat a little bit,” Pikiell said. Hollywood Tans @ 2277 Bellmore Ave, Bellmore NY & 62 Covert Avenue. Stewart Manor NY

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Hidden L.I. 32

“Hooked Up”
Photo courtesy of Bill Wetzel
A Long Island fisherman tries for a catch.
“For me, fishing is a disease.” Bill Wetzel, 46, cannot
remember a time in his life when fishing was not a main
focus. “When the winds are blowing northeast at 40 mph
and I’m standing out on a rock with 10 foot waves, I can’t
worry about anything else except the task at hand. That is
what I love the most.” Ever since he moved from Ohio to
Long Island at the age of 13, Wetzel has been addicted to
the thrill of Long Island fishing.
Often when the words “Long Island” are
Montauk spoken, fishing is not the first thought that
comes to mind. “What Long Island people
need to remember,” says Wetzel, “is that
we are surrounded by water. We have every
type of fishing imaginable and people need
to take advantage of that.” After spending
30 years surf fishing in Montauk, Wetzel
turned his passion into a profession by becoming a New
York State Licensed Fishing Guide 15 years ago.
Wetzel, who specializes in surf fishing, says that his
favorite places are Montauk, Jones Beach, Jones Inlet,
Robert Moses Beach, North Shore, Democrat Point, and
the Long Island Sound. Surf fishing allows those who don’t
have access to a boat to still be able to catch a great deal
of fish, including the striped bass, which weigh up to 125
lbs and grow to 6 1/2 feet. Wetzel offers a true Long Island
fishing experience by providing personalized six hour fishing
excursions to all favorite “hot-spots” throughout the island.
For experienced fishermen, Montauk is described
as the “Mecca,” and is the most hardcore of all the
spots on Long Island. The greatest diversity of fish are
found in Montauk. Wetzel says the secret to catching
these fish is to become a student of your fish and
learn how to fish the spot. “It’s all about the hunt,”
he says, “You need to learn your winds, tides, and
bait migrations. It’s kind of like a puzzle; everything
works.”
Ben Treadwell, 25, works as an employee at Combs
Bait and Tackle in Amityville, NY. Like Wetzel,
Treadwell grew up fishing and shares a love for its
sport on Long Island’s waters. He has the most
experience in, and passion for, offshore fishing.
Sports
By Rachel Gonzalez
“Being away from land is quiet and peaceful,” he says, “It
is nice to be away from all of the problems for awhile.” His
favorite fishing spots are also in areas out east in Montauk.
He would recommend this area for all those who are
particularly interested in fishing during the winter months
because of its deep waters. Combs Bait and Tackle also
offers winter fishing trips every two weeks for all who are
interested in catching cod.
Not all fishing on Long Island has to be about catching
the biggest fish or getting the biggest thrill. There are many
areas on the island that also offer relaxing and scenic fishing.
For this type of experience, Treadwell recommends fishing
the Captree Fleet on the South Shore. Fleets are often
revolved around the sunset and various lighthouses around
the island. Another scenic experience would be offshore
fishing at the Fire Island National Seashore.
“Long Island has amazing fishing, and it doesn’t have
to be expensive,” says Treadwell “If you need help, call
us. We’ll point you in the right direction.” Whether it be
shore or offshore, relaxing or exciting, Long Island fishing
provides an abundance of unique locations that will make
any fishing experience an unforgettable memory. From first
time fishers to experienced fishermen, all are encouraged to
get out there and see what Long Island fishing has to offer.
Photo courtesy of Bill Wetzel
Three fishermen show off a catch.
33 Pulse

Sports
By Victoria Vullo
O
ctober, the peak of hurricane season, means one
thing for Long Beach surfer Dom Orban; it is time
to go to the beach. While most Long Island resi-
dents are heading to their attics for their Northface jackets
and Ugg boots, local surfers are grabbing their wetsuits and
surfboards. Surfing is most popular in the fall because hur-
ricanes along the coast generate larger, more chaotic waves.
Surfing is a lifestyle for many Long Islanders. Orban
learned how to surf in middle school on a trip to California;
however, when he returned to Long Island, he had to adapt
to the Long Island waves. “The waves were a lot thicker in
Lido Beach California,” said Orban. Long Island beaches
facing the south attract most surfers. When the
north-wind hits the base of each wave, it creates
a swell, or a long wave on water that moves
continuously without breaking.
“The wind forms each wave, but if the wind is
too strong, it could wreck the entire wave,” said
Steven Henry, an East Coast surfer.
Carl Nowicki lifeguards and surfs on Jones Beach. The 10
mile beach is sectioned by its parking fields. Since Field 4
and Field 6 draw the largest crowds, the more experienced
surfers head down to West End 2, known as the Inlet, an
area designated for fishers and surfers. This beach generates
Hidden L.I. 34
Surf’s
Up
Sean M. Gates/ Pulse Magazine
Man surfing at Lido Beach.
the best waves for barrels. Barrels occur as the wave curves
over itself, appearing like a horizontal tube, and allows the
surfer to surf inside of the curl.
“Although I lifeguard on Jones Beach, I surf on Lido West
[in Long Beach], but it’s always packed in the fall,” said Or-
ban. Lido West is one of the more crowded surfing beaches
due to its waves. However, while Lido West’s waves may be
substantial, they are not as strong as the waves on Lincoln
Boulevard, also located in Long Beach. Since Lincoln
Boulevard is located at a bend, stronger waves are produced,
drawing the more experienced surfers.
Jen Gomes began surfing two years ago. A native of South
Hampton, an area known for its waves, prefers to surf at
The Cut, a beach on the border of Bridgehampton and
South Hampton. “The Cut has really good swells because
of the way the bay merges into the ocean,” said Gomes. The
Hamptons attract the most tourists so the beaches gener-
ate large crowds, making it difficult to surf in the summer.
The beach along the Shinnecock Inlet Jetty has a strong
local crowd because of its powerful waves during hurricane
season.
Whether you prefer locals-only beaches or ones with a
diverse crowd, Long Island has waves to accommodate all.
Sean M. Gates/ Pulse Magazine
Men surfing at Lido Beach.

Rip It
By Victoria Vullo
Kiteboarding
Island Riders in Amity Harbor offers
everything from the actual equipment to private
lessons in kiteboarding, wakeboarding and
surfing. Their lessons and camps take place on
the Great South Bay.
There is a Kiteboarding School, the
Kiteboarding Experience and different level
Kiteboarding camps. Kiteboarding School
teaches students everything they need to
know about Kiteboarding but does not take
the students onto the water until the end of
the lesson, if they are ready. The Kiteboarding
Experience is similar to Kiteboarding School, but
includes a shopping trip to the store in Amity
Harbor and a boat ride around the Great South
Bay, before the lesson.
Island Riders Kiteboarding Camp has four
different levels. They first offer the Beginner
Kiteboarding camp for first-timers, which
includes a six-hour training session. Students
learn how to fly the kite and deal with
Kiteboarding safety; students do not actually get
into the water at this level. If a student does have
some experience with Kiteboarding, they are
advised to join the Elevation Kiteboarding Camp.
The Beginner and Elevation camps are both $499.
For advanced Kiteboarders, Island Riders
recommend the Transition Mission or Freeride
options. Both teach different stunts for students,
however, the Freeride option allows the student
to have more control over the lesson. These
camps are both $200 for two hours with the
professional.
Island Riders has fewer options for
Wakeboarding lessons; however, they offer
lessons in Port Jefferson and the Hamptons,
in addition to the Great South Bay. They offer
general lessons for $100 per hour and a Kids
Wakeboarding Camp for $60 per day or $200 per
week. “It only took me about five or six attempts
at wakeboarding before I was able to stand,” said
Nicholas Mercorelli, 20, of Centerport. “It was
really hard getting up, but in the end it was worth
it.”
Sports
Photo Courtesy of Long Island Roller Rebels
T
o most people, Captain Morgan, Tipsy
Rose Lee and Whiskey Lullaby sound like
something you would order at the bar, but
in Long Island Roller Derby, they are team members.
Despina Markidis went to a bar in Rockville Centre for
a night out, little did she know, it was birth of D-Ball.
At the bar, Markidis was recruited for the Long Island
roller derby team, the Roller Rebels. Without any actual
training, she went to the Roller Rebels open recruitment
night and officially joined their family as D-Ball.
There are currently over 450 roller derby leagues
worldwide, according to the Woman’s Flat Track Derby
Association, one of which is on Long Island. Roller derby
appears to be a purely violent sport, but in reality it is
about defending your teammates, according to Cory
“Hardcory Casella. “We are all really just looking out for
each other the entire time on the rink,” said Casella. “It is
one of the only sports where each team plays offense and
defense at the same time.”
Every bout, or roller derby competition,
Rockville Center
requires five people on each team on the rink
at once, a jammer, a pivot and three blockers.
Both teams skate around an oval rink, with the
main goal of passing players on the opposing
team. The jammer is the only one who could
receive a point every time she laps a member of the
opposing team. The pivot and blockers have to defend
their jammer, while trying to block the opposing team’s
jammer from scoring points.
The Roller Rebels are completely open to training the
“fresh blood.” D-Ball joined the team without ever having
rollerbladed and the team trained her from scratch. At
their open recruitment in October, they were mainly
looking for girls who were interested in joining the family,
rather than looking for skate techniques and aggression.
They accept everybody who displays enthusiasm for the
sport.
The Roller Rebels practice twice a week at United
Skates of America in Hicksville and Skate Safe America
in Old Bethpage. During the practices, the girls dress
up in their fishnets, black shorts and cut up hot pink
tee-shirts while training the fresh blood skate technique,
team strategies and endurance. After the practices and
bouts, a roller derby game, the girls go out together and
focus creating a bond. “We are like a sorority, just more
hardcore,” said D-Ball.
35 Pulse
 Beauty

Lookin’ Good
By Megan Tedeschi

P
icture yourself in a relaxing day spa while getting
the ultimate treatment in skincare or even nails.
Now imagine being treated like this without having
to empty your wallet. Sound unrealistic? It doesn’t have to
be. You don’t have to be a celebrity to feel or look like a star.
You also don’t need to have the bank account of one either.
The New York Institute of Beauty, located in Islandia, can
give you the treatment you want for the price you can
afford.
Islip These days it’s hard enough to pay for everyday
necessities and sometimes getting those nails of
yours done just isn’t in the budget. NYIB gives
you the same treatment at half the price.
NYIB might be well known by students for
their training programs in esthetics, but they also
treat the public at their facility. The institute, which treats Megan Tedeschi / Pulse Magazine
approximately 50-60 clients a week, has everything to make A student at the New York Institute of Beauty in Islip applies
you feel relaxed and beautiful. make-up to another student.
Students can treat clients to facials, waxing, nails and even
makeup application. They’re allowed to treat clients as they Facial, the institute offers clients a free skincare kit
pass exams. A little skeptical? Don’t be. worth approximately $40-$50. With every basic facial
Instructors are there making sure you get a complimentary makeup application, color match or
“Students are the best treatment possible.
Amanda Borruso, a former student of
lesson is also given to each client. The makeup room of
the institute contains high-end makeup such as MAC

eager to please
and Mineral Makeup, which is usually only available for
NYIB describes the treatments as being
purchase at higher end spas or salons.
as good as any other spa.
With the cost of application being only $10, it’s perfect

the client and

“They have a good technique in the
for those who want to look good and still have money to
way they taught us how to do facials.
spend after. You can even bring your own makeup if you
They treat the clients the same way as a
wish.
educate them.” professional spa,” said Borruso.
The institute prides itself on its
Here you can get a manicure for less than half the price
as most nail salons. Most nail salons charge anywhere
professionalism. The clinic room
between $15 and $20 for a manicure. A basic manicure at
contains four waxing stations complete
NYIB costs $5 and even acrylic nails only cost $10 versus
with a private “wet room” for any
an average of $30 at a salon. Students are well trained in
waxing that requires privacy. Here you can get a basic
sanitation and sciences for nails and NYIB requires that
facial for $30 versus an average of $70 at a salon or spa.
you bring your own nail kit or purchase one for sanitation
Only professional products are used on clients, such as
reasons so you are not using the same tools as anyone else.
Dermalogica.
“Everything is so sanitary and clean at NYIB, they
Linda Giardnello the Director of NYIB also feels that the
constantly change the tools after each client,” said Raikos
treatments are equal to professional salons.
Eva Pursino, an Admissions Director, feels that there are
“Many people have said the skin care is better here then
many benefits to NYIB.
when they go out to salons and spas because students take
their time and give it that extra effort,” said Giardnello. “Students are eager to please the client and educate
them. The client is getting that excitement and one on one
Clients seem to have the same reaction after being treated
attention,” said Pursino.
at NYIB. Anna Raikos, a client who frequently gets facials
and waxing done at the institute recommends coming here Students make sure that their client is getting the
to all of her friends. treatment they deserve. They are more worried about doing
a good job then making money. The New York Institute of
“One thing me and my friends like is how reasonable
Beauty also has a smaller location in Syosset that has the
NYIB is,” said Raikos. “You feel like you’re at a day spa here
same treatments. The institute is a great place to get what is
and not a school because of how professional all the girls
usually an expensive treatment at an inexpensive price.
are.”
With purchases of special facials that are sold in a For a complete list of prices and more information please visit
series such as an Age Smart Facial or a UltraCalming The New York Institute of Beauty’s website at www.nyib.com

Hidden L.I. 36
 www. .com

15% OFF
with student ID
*Limit one per customer. Must present coupon. May not be combined with any other offer. Valid until 5/31/11
 Service
Helping Hands
Two students at the Parents and Students Success Afterschool Program.
M
ost people volunteer at their churches within
their own community, since it is convenient
and the most available. However, many people
are not familiar with other volunteer services.
Mineola “I always want to give back to my community,
but I don’t know where to look for volunteer
opportunities,” said Brianna Levine, a junior
communication major at Hofstra University.
This seems to be a common thought among
Long Island residents.
Family & Children’s Association offers a
number of different volunteer opportunities, and is located
in Mineola, NY. Funded by various sources including
private donations and community, state and federal grants,
volunteers can apply to various different groups and services.
Whether your preference is spending time with children,
adults, or the elderly, the Family and Children’s Association
offers jobs in many areas. Volunteers are trained by the
program directors in their specific role. The directors are
always available to answer questions or provide feedback to
the volunteers.
Many Family & Children’s Association programs take
place at the Hagedorn Family Resource Center, located in
Hempstead, NY. According to their website, the Hagedorn
Family Resource Center grants services to the Village of
Hempstead families, along with all other Nassau County
Hidden L.I. 38
By Carissa Nasso
Photo courtesy of Family and Children’s Association
communities. The Center helps parents attain their personal
and family ambitions through services, information,
resources and referrals. The center works to improve
the study habits, and social and academic performance
of elementary school children through its after-school
program.
Family and Children’s Association host the Parents
and Students Success Afterschool Program (PASS)–in
conjunction with the Hempstead Elementary Schools. The
program is offered to elementary school children, free of
charge. PASS runs both in schools, during the day, and after
school at the Hagedorn Center. In schools, PASS provides
tutoring and one-on-one assistance with homework. The
volunteers help out for an hour, which allows them to
help with homework, establish a friendship and gain trust.
During the after-school program at the Hagedorn Center,
many PASS volunteers go in twice a week where they visit
with children in a group. About three volunteers assist 10 to
12 children for two hours.
Jeanette Scott, a Hofstra University graduate and the
Human Resources Assistant at the Family and Children’s
Association, said volunteers usually stay with their
programs.
“PASS is very popular, with a low turnover rate,” says
Jeanette Scott. “Most of our volunteers at PASS come and
stay.”

Program coordinator, Edith
Wasserman, trains and clears the
volunteers. She believes the PASS
program forms a strong bond
between the children and the
tutors. “The volunteers promote
a ‘can do mentality’. The children
tend to do well in order to please
their tutor, 85-90% of the children
do better,” says Wasserman. In
return, “volunteers get a sense of
satisfaction,” said Wasserman.
Family and Children’s
Association offers another program
for children, La Escuelita, , which
stands for The Little School. La
Escuelita is a bilingual day care
center.
“The program uses the
strengths the children
bring with them as a
foundation.”
According to their website,
the program is a dual language,
Pre-Kindergarten program for
four-year-old children living in
the Hempstead School District
from predominantly Spanish-
speaking homes. The program
was created to assist students in
preparation for kindergarten, by
helping children develop school
readiness skills and to learn
correct English. The program
uses the strengths the children
bring with them as a foundation,
by reinforcing their Spanish
and developing their English.
La Escuelita uses the students’
knowledge of Spanish to help
develop an understanding of
English language learning.
Since bilingualism is significant
in today society, the program is
also designed to help strengthen
the students’ native language. The
Family and Children’s Association
also supports parental involvement
throughout the school year.
Although La Escuelita is a bilingual
pre-k, Jeanette Scott said, “you do
not need to be bilingual in order to
volunteer at La Escuelita. It is very
popular among college students
who are seeking a degree in early
Service
childhood education”
Family and Children’s
Association also runs The Promise
Project, an after-school, learning
enhancement program open
to students from Hempstead’s
Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle
School. Volunteers help challenged
students to reach their full
potential and become the best
they can be both personally and
academically.
Jeanette Scott said the Promise
Project is a great volunteer
opportunity for someone who has
a special trait or talent, such as a
passion for videography.
“The Promise Project is looking
for someone to bring a skill or
tool to teach and deliver their
passion to the children,” said
Scott. The Promise Project seizes
volunteers to teach the children
other ways to succeed in life.
Audrey Gross, a three-year
volunteer at the Family and
Children’s Association, goes into
the classrooms once a week to
help children with difficulties in
reading and math. Gross said she
was looking for an organization
to donate her time, when she got
involved with the Family and
Children’s Association.
“I have grandchildren of my own
and some neighborhoods do not
have the resources they should,”
said Gross.
She believes there are faults in
some learning resources, especially
since largely populated classrooms
cannot focus on one-on-one
services.
Gross said her experience has
been nothing short of gratifying.
“The children need a fair
education, and they are so open to
the attention we give them,” said
Gross. She said the children are so
sweet; they just make you want to
do more. “They are so happy and
welcoming, I received hugs when
I walked into the classroom,” she
said, “It really is very rewarding.
Gross said it is not that difficult
to volunteer, “I wish more people
my age would.”
To volunteetr at Family and
Children’s Services or to learn
more about them, visit www.
familyandchildrens.org
39 Pulse