Original Soup Man Famous Delicatessen, Grill Grand Opening in Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Shoppers gathered with a line around the corner at Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall on Long Island to attend the The Original Soup Man Famous Delicatessen and Grill’s Grand Opening in the mall’s food court from 12 – 3 p.m. on March 21, 2015.

Actor Larry Thomas, The Soup Nazi, from the hit TV Show “Seinfeld” was on hand to sign autographs and serve the many varieties of soup to shoppers during lunch time.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Founder Seb Rametta. Mr. Rametta is founder and member of the Board of Directors of the subsidiary, The Original Soup Man, Inc. and is responsible for the executive management, focusing on strategic relationships, driving sales and distribution. He served as the Executive Vice President and a director of Soup Kitchen International from January 2005 to December 2009.

Soup Man Delicatessen Larry Actor Larry Thomas and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at The Original Soup Man Famous Delicatessen and Grill’s Grand Opening, Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall, Saturday, March 21, 2015

Tell us about the Orignal Soup Man Famous Delicatessen and Grill:

Reb: It’s about the ingredients, the abundance of the ingredients. We are so happy to be here at Roosevelt Field Mall with our new delicatessen grill concept. The crowds have come out.

This is amazing, the line is wrapped around the corner.

Reb: Because it’s all about the soup and the food. We deliver great food to people. They like it and they come back. It’s that comeback flavor that is created here and it is so wonderful. We are excited and I think you should try a cup.

I will. I am going to try the Lobster.

Reb: We are going to open these stores in casinos, malls and airports all around the country. I also have six of our varieties in Tetra Pak cartons. These cartons lock in the freshness and made it available on the shelf next to Campbells and Progresso on the soup aisles.

So you can actually buy the soup?

Reb: You can buy this soup in supermarkets across the country. These are new lines for us. Now we bring something new and exciting to the grocery aisles for soup because there is nothing that taste quite like our soups and we are excited about opening here in Roosevelt Field and we have new stores coming.

Tell my audience, how did you get involved in this and why did you get involved?

Reb: Because it’s about the food and Al Yeganeh started this in the 1980’s in Manhattan and he made these wonderful soups, Best of Zagat of New York.

Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information.

Reb: The website is http://originalsoupman.com

I also spoke to the “Soup Nazi” himself Actor Larry Thomas from “Seinfeld” who made an appearance to serve the soup to patrons at the grand opening.

Tell my audience why is this soup so spectacular?

Larry: It the way it’s made. It’s the best soup out there. The best soup there ever will be. You have to taste it for yourself but you will see. I never had anybody taste this soup without telling me “This is the best soup they ever had.”

Do you have a favorite?

Larry: I do have a favorite, New England Clam Chowder is my favorite.

Later I had the chance to chat with Co-owner Rakesh Chada who owns several franchises in Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall.

Tell my audience why you decided to open up such a brand of restaurant?

Rakesh: Soup Man was always known for the lobster bisque, a world famous soup and that inspired “Seinfeld” to do a show on him. It was the best soup in the world Zagat rated and with my current experience that we could take this brand into a second level and with the delicatessen, with the great sandwiches, we have a grill and I think this brand is ready to give Long Islanders great food at a reasonable price.

SoupManDelicatessen Larry Thomas, Cognac, Seb Rametta and Rakesh Chada at The Original SoupMan Famous Delicatessen and Grill’s Grand Opening, Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall, Saturday, March 21, 2015

In 1984, The Original Soup Man opened its doors at 55th Street & 8th Avenue in Manhattan and quickly became a worldwide destination. Rated number one by Zagat and honored by the New York Times as “Art, not Soup,” it set the standard for innovation and excellence long before the famous “Seinfeld” soup episode made it a cultural icon. The company sells soup across America to grocery stores in their Tetra Pak cartons and at their The Original Soupman restaurants and food services. Shaquille O’Neal is an adviser and equity partner, as are Mr. October, Reggie Jackson and the award-winning actor, Jason Alexander. Lloyd Sugarman, co-founder of Johnny Rockets Hamburgers is their Chairman of the Board. SoupMan Inc.is a fully reporting public company trading under the symbol SOUP.

Health and Wellness Fair at Freeport Recreation Center in Freeport, Long Island, March 14, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Long Islanders enjoyed participating in the Health And Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the Freeport Recreation Center located at 130 East Merrick Road, Freeport, NY 11520.

The fair featured an array of vendor exhibits. Special attention was given to all senior attendants. There was also senior housing applications, updated information on OBAMACARE, Healthy food, a Zumba class, health screenings, glucose, vision, blood pressure, diabetes control, mental and occupational health, workshops, skin care, wellness promotion and fun for the entire family.

This collaborative effort involving many agencies related to health and human services providers was to promote access to health care, encourage preventive health screenings and provide residents with information helping them live a healthier lifestyle.

I spoke to one of the sponsors at the event, Crystal Smith, from Health Plus Amerigroup. HealthPlus Amerigroup offers free or low-cost health insurance to New Yorkers in the five boroughs and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Putnam Counties. They are committed to improving the health and well-being of New York’s culturally diverse communities.

Healthandwellness3Crystal Smith from Health Plus Amerigroup (left) with Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the Health And Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the Freeport Recreation Center

Tell my audience why you decided to become a sponsor for this particular event.

Crystal: We sponsor this event every year for several years now. This is one of our community based organizations that we do business with. They have a lot of events here and some other areas also. We are always a sponsor at these events. It gives us the opportunity to reach out to the communities and the families and the neighborhoods to offer health insurance to people who might not have or might not know areas that we can offer health insurance to.

 Tell my audience a little more about the Health & Wellness Fair. What is it really all about?

Crystal: It’s about letting the communities know that health is important and to come out and see all the vendors that are here and go to the tables and see what kind of benefits are available to them. We have people taking blood pressure, we have people doing diabetes screening and we have service organizations offering health insurance. A lot of people don’t know if they might qualify and some of these benefits are free to communities as well, so that is why we are here to let people know that we are available for service.

Tell my audience about your company.

Crystal: We are HealthPlus Amerigroup. We have been around for thirty-five years. We are located in Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk County and throughout the five boroughs including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

If we want to find out more information about your company, where can we go?

Crystal: http://healthplus.amerigroup.com

I also had the opportunity to speak to the new General Consulate of New York, Maria Isabel Nieto, of the Colombian Consulate.

Healthandwellness1 General Consulate of New York, Maria Isabel Nieto, of the Colombian Consulate (left) with Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the Health And Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the Freeport Recreation Center

Tell my audience, it is so important for us all to become more aware of our health, as a big supporter what should we all do?

Maria: In order to have good health, eat well, drink plenty of water. Unfortunately there is a problem of obesity, we should pay attention to proper nutrition. Unfortunately a lot of immigrants are not really clear so they are afraid of approaching the health institutions. Coming to fairs like this and taking advantage of the programs of health is something completely different from immigration so they shouldn’t be afraid. Come to these kind of fairs, go to your nearest hospital to get advice on how you can have a healthier life.

Prevent all those health ailments that plague us all.

Maria: Absolutely!

Tell my audience where we can go to find out more about the Colombian Consulate?

Maria: the Colombian Consulate is located in Manhattan, 10 East 46th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue. We have a website http://www.columbianconsulate.com

The event was promoted by J&A Global Corp. J&A Global Corp, which brings more than 15 years of combined experience in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relationships, all together within the area of Event Designing. Their organization was originally created in Colombia, South America, where they were able to build expertise in the commercial, industrial, and government sectors.

Healthandwellness2 Carolina Vélez and Alexandra Aristizabal with Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the Health And Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the Freeport Recreation Center

The event was sponsored by Health Plus Amerigroup, Health First, Fidelis Care, WellCare, NuHealth, United Healthcare, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Freeport Medical Supply Inc. and AgeWell.

For more information please visit http://www.jandaglobalcorp.com

Junior League of Long Island Hosts Annual Winter Fundraiser in Founder’s Room at The Paramount

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Guys and Dolls attended The Junior League of Long Island’s Annual Winter Fundraiser at the exclusive Founder’s Room in the Paramount in Huntington, New York on March 7, 2015 from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. This event was open to the public and encouraged supporters and new members to enjoy the experience.

Guests were dressed in the best roaring 20’s, flapper and gangster costumes. The event featured live music, an open bar, a silent auction, wine and spirits, a cigar bar, opportunity drawings with fabulous prizes, a photo booth and tasting menus from the exclusive Founder’s Room just perfect for a speakeasy night.

pic1 Georgia Tsaforis, Donna Fiore, Cognac Wellerlane and Sierra Mittleman at the Junior League of Long Island’s Annual Winter Fundraiser at the exclusive Founder’s Room in the Paramount in Huntington, New York on March 7, 2015 from 7p.m. to 10 p.m.

I had the pleasure of interviewing President Donna Fiore who explained what the event was all about and enlightened me on the Junior League’s goals for the following year.

Tell my audience what is the Junior League? What is it all about?

Donna: The Junior League of Long Island is an organization of women, all women from various walks of life and we work together to benefit women and children on Long Island but the difference with us is that we actually educate and train our members to be volunteers. It sets us aside from everybody else.

How long has this organization been around?

Donna: We are part of a greater organization called AJAI which was founded in 1901 in New York City but our actual organization started in 1951.

Tell my audience this is a very important fundraiser. Do you have goals that you would like to plan out for the rest of the year for the organization?

Donna: We have one annual fundraiser which is this each year. We use the funds from this event to then be able to do all the things we do for Long Island. Next year we are building another playground for a community on Long Island. We do that every other year. Every year we help women get back on their feet and into the workforce.

These are women that are found homeless or lost a spouse?

Donna: Some of them are teenage girls that were pregnant so they are trying to get back in the work force now. There are women that are from battered women shelters, people who have had hardships in their lives and they are trying to get back on their feet. We also do an event every year called “Kids in the Kitchen.”

“Kids in the Kitchen,” I love it!

Donna: Yea, we teach children on Long Island how to make the right choices, even doing simple things. We teach them how to do Zumba or how to plant their own herb garden, little things they can do to take control of their life and their health.

This event is pretty exciting it’s all about the 1920’s!

Donna: Yes we are really excited. Our committee was fabulous and amazing this year. They went all out. They secured the Founders Room and they decided since this was a speakeasy a 1920’s theme would be perfect.

Tell my audience why you decided to become involved in the Junior League? Why are you so devoted to this organization?

Donna: Well, I joined in 2007 because I wanted to in that point of my life. I started my career and felt I was able to give back to the community. I formed so many friendships that are really supportive of women. It’s a nice sense of community and then when you are there and helping a girl get some clothes to get back in the work force there is no better feeling than that.

Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is the website?

Donna: Our website is http://www.jlli.org

The Junior League of Long Island strives to be the organization of choice for voluntarism and community partnerships to help improve the health and well-being of women and children on Long Island.

pic2 The event at the exclusive Founder’s Room in the Paramount in Huntington, New York featured live music, an open bar, a silent auction, wine and spirits, a cigar bar, opportunity drawings with fabulous prizes, a photo booth and tasting menus from the exclusive Founder’s Room just perfect for a speakeasy night.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: 80 Designers Take Stage to Showcase Latest Fashion Trends, Innovations

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NEW YORK, NY – This season, more than 80 designers took center stage as the global fashion community turns their attention to NY for the latest in fashion trends and innovations. As the destination for established brands and emerging talent, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NY is the world’s leading international fashion event with designers from over 15 countries.

Below are some top designers that I had the privilege of viewing their collections.

Helen Yarmak Fall/Winter 2015

Helen Yarmak Fall/Winter 2015 presentation, “The Metamorphosis Collection,” featured statuesque glamorous models wearing Helen Yarmak’s luxury furs. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the twenty-third floor penthouse suite showcased a beautiful view of The New York Skyline while guests, buyers and members of the press mingled together as models ensembled in fabulous fur capes and matching hats strolled around displaying the Fall/Winter 2015 Collection. Each of Helen’s furs could be nicely transitioned. Elongated furs became vests, long sleeved looks became sleeveless and many of the garments were reversible, presenting a whole new identify for this season’s collection.

During my interview with the legendary Designer, Helen Yarmak, I asked what the inspiration was. Helen revealed “Life always.” I also inquired why furs are so special. Helen remarked, “Because you know it can be like treasure. Fur coats protect you and it has to be made to be something special for you.”

“The Metamorphosis Collection” is elegant, luxurious and timeless.

For more information please visit http://helenyarmak.com/en/

Michael Kors Fall/Winter 2015

Kors’ Fall/Winter Collection embraced today’s modern woman and the reality of day to day living. Alluring tailored well constructed garments ruled the runway. Kors featured pretty bias dresses and sweater dressing combined with tweeds, trousers, crisp shirts and especially the outerwear, including a trench-cape hybrid worthy of an ultrachic Sherlock. Fabrics included cashmeres wools, silk foulards, gold metallic and a graphite caviar-beaded gown combined with breathtaking furs. My favorite piece was a damask intarsia mink and a fox coat worn over a sweater and lace skirt.

Kors reveals about the inspiration for his collection,“whether it was Wallace Simpson back in the Thirties, Babe Paley at her height, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. All of these women understood this idea, they knew how to play with the yin and the yang.”

For more information please visit http://www.michaelkors.com

Academy of Art University

During this show I had the chance to interview one of the designers, Kevin C. Smith who created seven looks around the color blue.

Smith, originally from California, was born in Walnut Creek and was raised in Sacramento. He has created menswear with the concept of light and volume. His garments are layered pieces that are combined with flowing overcoats.

When asked what the inspiration was Smith revealed, “My inspiration came from Christo’s Running Fence, vintage light bulbs and candle smoke.”

Seven pieces were shown in his collection alone. Academy of Art presented twenty seven pieces all together.

You can follow Kevin at Facebook/KCSmith

Charlotte Ronson Fall/Winter 2015

This season’s inspiration was entitled “The serenity of nature coupled with an abstract urban setting”. Ronson’s designs reflected the late 60’s to the 1970’s sportswear construction complete with flowing fabrics.

The show featured feminine silhouettes with large floral prints allowing delicate clothes to stand out. Ronson’s designs also showcased cowl necks and chunky knits. Hues included dull variations of grey, olive green, red and blue.

For more information please visit http://www.charlotteronson.com

Lupe Gajardo Fall/Winter 2015

The Chilean designer showcased her collection in the Pavilion at Lincoln Center. Her collection was inspired by as Lupe reveals, “Birds and the homeless. The streets. Dressing out of necessity. Layers upon layers. The beauty of authenticity. The freedom that is granted by chaos. The wandering. The unpretentious.” Recycled denim made a presence on the runway in a jacket, pants and a skirt covered in patches of different shades of denim for a more unique New York look. The majority of the garments in the collection were made from organic cotton for a more comfortable and natural look. The birds of the streets were even represented through the use of natural feathers on many of the garments, including the final look: an organic cotton chiffon dress with a feather poncho.

For more information please visit http://lupegajardo.com

Zang Toi Fall/Winter 2015

Zang Toi Fall/Winter Collection entitled “Mystique Beauty of Venice,” showcased collection of chic separates including pantsuits and shift dresses to stunning elegant gowns. The show closed with models strutting the runway in dramatic gown engulfed under capes, furs, black veils and Mardi Gras masks.

In my interview backstage with Zang Toi he revealed, “I decided to go to Venice in the Winter time to get inspiration. I have been to Venice so many times but I went there in the Winter. In the Winter it is stunningly beautiful, mysterious and sexy.”

For more information please visit Zangtoi.com

Oudifu Fall/Winter 2015

Oudifu returned to the Salon for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. His imaginative line is once again inspired by a serious environmental plea: the extinction of animals. “My inspiration for this season is the concept of protecting nature.” Zuliang Li

This time around he is using Woolly Mammoth as his muse, a prehistoric elephant like icon now extinct. As homage to Woolly M the clothes are decorated with his likeness.

For more information please visit www.OUDIFU.com

Venexiana Fall/Winter 2015

Designer Kati Stern new collection is a collaboration of lace overlays and intricate jeweled designs. Kati reinforces the importance of nude and pale hues with soft silky draped fabrics

The show started with a soft palette of nudes and progressed to elegant fabrics ranging from silver, gold, dark teal and rich blacks.

In our interview backstage Kati revealed her inspiration was the cubist exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

For more information please visit http://venexianaltd.com

Malan Breton Fall/Winter 2015

Malan Breton took us on a journey to the stars with his tailored menswear and ultra luxurious women’s red carpet gowns. He has never been afraid to use color for menswear and this season’s palate of ginger orange, fuchsia and steel grey green suits and overcoats were a standout.

There were also some androgynous tailored women’s pants suits that were reminiscent of Carnaby Street. The finale was another stunner; a bright orange wedding dress fit for a queen.

For more information please visit www.malanbreton.com

Lie Sangbong Fall/Winter 2015

Lie Sangbong Fall/Winter 2015 collection was entitled “Oriental Ink,” is a study in modern elegance. Mr. Lie found his inspiration in the juxtaposition of the clean lines of the drawings and the shape and vibrancy of the flower’s petals. The collection’s emphasis was on suiting and outwear showcasing the brand’s signature sophisticated constructions and multi-dimensional fabrications. A color palate of camel, navy, burgundy and grey is combined with graphic red, black and white.

His collection will be available at retailers across the globe and his recently opened boutique located at 30 Gansevoort Street in Manhattan.

For more information please visit http://liesangbong.com

Erin Fetherston Fall/Winter 2015

This season Erin presents “The Wildwood.” Erin grew up on Wildwood Avenue, a tree lined street in San Francisco, California where she drew inspiration. Erin has always had a penchant for fairytales, funny she looks like a character from the Brother Grimm Fairytales. Erin is tall blond with soft delicate features.

This season the designer sprinkles her magic on sultry gowns, elegant frocks and tailed separates in an array of luxury fabrics: silk, shimmering jacquard and ethereal organza.

For more information please visit http://www.erinfetherston.com

Dorin Negrau Fall/Winter 2015

The Romanian designer has shown in Paris, Moscow, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Milan and South Arabia.

During our interview backstage he revealed that he took his inspiration from his home in Transylvania, Romania. His floor length black gowns featured billowing skirts that bewitched the audience.

“The theme I use when designing, is that each creation should change the mood of the person wearing it. I believe that there is a clothing language,” reveals Dorin Negrau.

For more information please visit www.dorinnegrau.com

Jess Ingui Looks to “Kickstart” First Project as Solo-Artist Via Crowdfunding, Bedroom Recorded EP

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Jess Ingui is a singer-song writer from Long Island New York. Last year she was a pre-cut contestant on The Voice, NBC and is now focusing on recording her first album.

Ms. Ingui grew up in Patchogue and later, out in Middle Island. She completed high school in Shirley/Mastic-Beach and worked out in Hampton Bays. I had a chance to interview this rising star and below is our interview:

Tell us what inspired you to become the singer and songwriter you are today.

Jess: Well, I have been singing since before I can remember; but as I got older it turned from a dream and hobby, into something that I really wanted to try and pursue as a career. I feel like music has something really wonderful about it that connects people unintentionally. Even without lyrics, people can put on a song and feel moved. That same energy that moved me created this desire to want to create something that others can relate to as well through my own past experiences and feelings.

jess Jess Ingui, a singer-song writer from Long Island New York recorded produced, played, and sang her EP from her bedroom. She is raising funds on Kickstarter to complete her first solo album. Image via JessIngui.com; Photo credit: Eric Luc Photography.

Tell us about your previous projects that were recorded in your bedroom.

Jess: My last EP that I recorded was all produced, played, and sang in my bedroom. I collaborated with Josh Boorum, another local singer-songwriter, and we wrote a large collection of songs that we felt were a great reflection of us as individuals and as a duo. Because the drums and other important instruments were not recorded live, the quality isn’t of a stature that I feel is going to pull in a very large scale audience- however, the quality of the actual songs, lyrically and melodically, I think is proving to be able to do just that. I feel that a good song is a good song, whether listened to on a radio, a walk-e-talk-e, humming along to it- when you hear and feel a song that really connects with you, it doesn’t matter the quality of the overall recording. We are hoping that the songs released on that bedroom-recorded EP will drive enough support that, during the process of funding our first album, we will find success and be able to get into a real studio with all live musicians.

All of the songs on the EP are available for free download from www.soundcloud.com/jessingui

What goes into creating an album?

Jess: I used to feel that creating an album, from a singers perspective, meant learning the songs, getting into a booth, and trying to sing them with as much passion as you could muster. It took me years to realize that the concept of an album, as an artist, is so much more than that. It is creating a body of work that from start to finish, cohesively captures every sense. From the sound, the meaning, the visuals, the emotion… it’s everything. I have spent the last five years really absorbing the industry and the life lessons to be able to write material that I felt confident enough to stand behind. I think what it boils down to is, I have also spent the last five years really learning myself and growing into my skin and becoming comfortable with who I am as a person. When you become comfortable with who you are, and then allow yourself to create, the outcome is art. Creating a genuine and excellent album is everything- it’s the finished product of all the different aspects of art being pulled together.

In the music industry, who are your idols?

Jess: There are a lot of different people who have affected my perspectives musically and behind the scenes in the industry. Most importantly, other artists that have really moved me include Ella Fitzerald, Erykah Badu, John Mayer, Lauryn Hill, Josh Boorum, and my father. But I have also learned a lot from some really strong-minded, intelligent and hard-working music professionals such as Leyla Turkkan (Founder and CEO of The Catalyst Group) and le’Roy Benros (now president of Universal Music Group/Noizy Cricket!!).

Tell us about your experience as a pre-cut contestant on the NBC network show “The Voice”:

Jess: It’s funny, growing up as a singer-songwriter, when you tell someone what you do- that you are a singer- the most common response is, “Why don’t you audition for one of those shows!?” The perception today is that, in order to get recognized or to grow a following, you need some type of televised machine behind you in order to be successful.

I got very far, behind the scenes, on “The Voice” and it was a really educational and fun experience. However, these shows are equally as focused on talent as they are on type-casting. I may be a performer and a well-versed vocalist, but I would never consider myself a reality star. I feel that that is what those shows are really looking for: next generation reality stars. I’m just an average girl coming from some humble-beginnings who is very passionate about pursuing music as her dream! If anyone is considering auditioning for those shows, I say go for it! Follow your heart- there are many successful artists who got there break through the shows! I just don’t find that it is for me.

Tell us about how and why you are creating your first album and the online fundraiser you have established to create funds?

Jess: KickStarter is an online fundraiser where artists (musicians, actors, inventors) launch a well organized project in hopes that their friends, family and following will support them by donating. After spending a few weeks planning, financially, what it would take to create something that was professional and true to my artistry, we set a budget and put the project live. In the music industry, getting signed to a label allows you to have a source of funding. The label gives you money toward creating your art and getting it out to the world for you. KickStarter takes the concept of label from a corporation to in the hands of your friends and supporters.

If all the money is raised on the KickStarter, all of the proceeds will then be designated toward recording the full-length album. If the money is not raised, however, everyone keeps their money and my project sees none of it. It is an all or nothing campaign!

The songs and material written for this album are everything to me. They are a reflection of my every day feelings and experiences. I think all the songs are relatable and enjoyable. My music is soul/jazz/r&b inspired with a little bit of a pop flare. It’s kind and honest and has taken me years to perfect and feel confident in even speaking highly of.

If this KickStarter gets funded, not only would I be able to complete the album, but everyone would have contributed toward making my dream become a reality! I really believe in my team and with a little kick start I would love to repay everyone through song!

Tell my audience some of the industry professionals you are working with.

Jess: I don’t want to give too much information away, especially while the campaign is still below 50% funded- but I will say, that if you contribute, you can sign up to receive updates on the project. When I hit 50% funded, I am going to share some of the musicians and other industry related professionals that agreed to assist me in the project and the release of it as well!

I understand that your project is on Kickstarter. Can you tell us what the different pledges are?

Jess: So donating toward my KickStarter doesn’t leave you empty handed! Depending on different amounts you donate you get things in return. A copy of the completed album, invites to different events, tickets to shows- things like that!

If we want to learn more about how we can donate towards this project for your first album is there a website we can go to?

Jess: If you would like to donate you can follow these instructions:

  1. Go to www.KickStarter.com; Using the “discover” search bar, type in “Jess Ingui” (even typing in ‘Jess’, my results are the first to pop up!) [Or you can follow this link and the same rules apply!] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1573566439/jess-ingui-and-expressing
  2. Click “Back This Project!”
  3. Click a pledge amount that you would like to contribute!
  4. Stay tuned and watch while I create the art!

Tell us what your website is.

Jess: If you would like to learn more about me or connect with me on different social media platforms, you can go to my website at http://www.jessingui.com

For those who have never heard of it before, Kickstarter is a “crowdfunding platform” based through online support. The company’s mission is to help bring creative projects to life. According to Forbes, crowdfunding has “quickly moved from trendy buzzword to a mainstream fundraising model” with more than five million contributors pledging close to $1 billion, funding more than 55,000 projects.

Jess has an upcoming live show on February 19, 2015 at 89 North Music Venue in Patchogue. Supporting sets will include fellow soul, jazz and pop artists, Leah Laurenti and Cora Small. Doors will open at 7:00 PM with a $10.00 Cover. 18+ Presented by Planet of Sound Promotions.

Fix This performed by Jess Ingui off of her debut EP; YouTube.

North Shore Historical Museum Members and Supporters Celebrate 2nd Anniversary

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LONG ISLAND, NY – North Shore Historical Museum members and supporters joined in for a celebratory cocktail party for the Museum’s 2nd Anniversary in the historic 1907 Justices Court building on Jan 31, 2015.

The event honored Brian Mercadante’s long tenure at the helm as President of the Museum. The event featured food and beverages and a videographic history of the two years since the Museum opened in January of 2013 with highlights of the many exhibits, guest lecturers, authors, theatrical events, historical presentations, and film and musical events hosted by NSHM. Guests also enjoyed meeting ‘faux-mous’ dignitaries, such as J.P. Morgan, Jr. and Teddy Roosevelt,.

At the event I had a moment to chat with Chair Victoria Crosby.

Victoria Crosby and Barry Rivadu North Shore Historical Museum Board Members Victoria Crosby and Barry Rivadue on Jan 31, 2015.

Museum Author Monica Randal and Board Member Victoria Crosby North Shore Historical Museum Author Monica Randal and Board Member Victoria Crosby on Jan 31, 2015.

I am here with the Chair of the event and she is going to introduce herself to the camera.

Victoria: I am Victoria Crosby. I am a board member and former vice-president of the North Shore Historical Museum.

Tell my audience about the event this evening.

Victoria: This event is to celebrate the second anniversary since the museum has been opened and also to honor Brian Mercadante who has been the president for our organization for seventeen years. Seventeen years ago he got the idea to turn this building into a museum. It was a court house and it was built in 1907 and there is a jail cell downstairs. You can see there is a court room here. It hadn’t been used for many years. It was empty and decaying and deteriorating quit badly. So once we had the charter to make it into a museum we had to raise the money to restore it to the way it looked in 1907 and that’s we we did.

Over one hundred years old is this building?

Victoria: Over one hundred years old is this building; we restored it to look the way it did then because it had changed over the years and now it has opened as a museum for two years.

It’s beautiful and so fitting to make this government building into a museum. Tell my audience again the year it was established.

Victoria: 1997, but the museum didn’t open until two years ago.

And now this is your 2nd anniversary?

Victoria: This is the second anniversary of the year we opened as a museum. We got a charter first and then we had to raise some money in order to fix the inside and outside of the building.

Lovely. Now why did you get involved in all of this?

Victoria: Well, I have been living in the community for thirty years and very involved in many aspects of Glen Cove and the surrounding area. I am very interested in history particularly the old mansions.

Oh, they are just gorgeous!

Victoria: So when I heard about this, I was very interested in getting involved and I have been involved for at least fifteen years.

The Great Gatsby, that house was in Long Island. Where was that house located?

Victoria: Well, it was fiction.

Of course

Victoria: But it was suppose to be Great Neck.

Oh, it was Great Neck. I see. I wasn’t sure. I thought it might have been Glen Cove.

Victoria: Well it could have been. We still have a lot of wonderful mansions here. It could have been F. Scott Fitzgerald’s mansion, J.P. Morgan’s mansion, The Woolworth mansion, the Pratt mansion. He might of got his inspiration by seeing the wonderful mansions in the area.

You are in character right now?

Victoria: Yes, I am suppose to be Mrs. Vanderbilt.

 I love it. I would like you to tell my audience where we can go to get more information about the North Shore Historical Museum.

Victoria: You got to go to www.northshorehistoricalmuseum.org that’s our website and you can find out all about us. We have this exhibit on now which is at an end. We will be getting a new exhibit in a few weeks and our exhibits are changing. We have lecture series, we have some wonderful events here. We did “A Few Good Men,” because it is a play set in a court room. I don’t know if you know that the movie “North By Northwest,” was filmed here.

Was it really?

Victoria: Partially here. The court room scenes were right here in the court room and the jail cell downstairs was also part of that movie. Cary Grant was here. We showed the movie last year on the 55th anniversary of its filming.

Wonderful. Tell my audience one more time the website.

Victoria: www.northshorehistoricalmuseum.org

I also spoke to Mayor Reginald A. Spinello of Glen Cove who presented the award to President Brian Mercadante for his dedication and hard work.

Spinello Mayor Reginald A. Spinello of Glen Cove and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the North Shore Historical Museum on Jan 31, 2015.

This is a very exciting thing for this museum to be a part of the community. Tell my audience how thrilled you are that the museum is celebrating its second anniversary.

Mayor Spinello: This is a wonderful event. Brian Mercadante who had the vision, has restored, I should say a 1907 court house. It’s been embraced by not only the city of Glen Cove but the surrounding communities. They have wonderful events here. They have lecturers, they have exhibits, it is well received. It really is a nice little addition to our great city.

Tell my audience a little more about Glen Cove. Why is it a very significant part of Long Island?

Mayor Spinello: Glen Cove is beautiful. Glen Cove is part of the Gold Coast. We have many mansions in the greenbelt area. It is a waterfront community. We are in the beginnings of a revitalization. We have this year a waterfront project starting, a one billion dollar project that would be 1,000 residential units, restaurants, a marina, commercial retail and we are also redoing our downtown. We have a mixed use development company coming in that will change Glen Cove from a bedroom community to a vibrant happening downtown. Glen Cove has a lot of tradition, lots of history. Most people that you see in Glen Cove have been born and raised and stay here. You go in the morning to have breakfast in the local coffee shop. It’s like a throw back to the olden days and everyone knows everyone and there is a friendly good morning and good cup of coffee. So it’s a great place.

Lastly I had the privilege to talk to the President Brian Mercadante.

1 North Shore Historical Museum President Brian Mercadante on Jan 31, 2015.

3 North Shore Historical Museum Board Member Barry Rivadue on Jan 31, 2015.

Tell my audience about the struggle that you have had getting this established into a museum.

Brian: The first thing we had to do was apply to the New York State Department of Education because museums are charted by the New York State Department of Education. We applied for that in 1997 and we became a chartered museum in 1998. At that time we knew we wanted to be a museum. We started to raise money, we started to raise funds. We did small shows in City Hall and at the library and we raised funds to get this court house back and we raised over one million dollars for the museum in that period of time. That’s seventeen years. We restored this building. This building at the time was in terrible shape. It had been used for satellite court house in the town of Oyster Bay. It was built in 1907 when Teddy Roosevelt was President of the United States.

Oh my goodness. Over 100 years ago.

Brian: It was a very cool time to be here because the Pratt family was here and Teddy Roosevelt lived in Oyster Bay. There were a lot of wealthy people here. J.P. Morgan lived here. Woolworth lived here. People came out here by steam boat. They came out here at that time for vacations. It was like the Hamptons.

I know. Isn’t that something how history has changed. Now everyone goes to the Hamptons instead of the Gold Coast.

Brian: Well they have cars now or planes and helicopters but back then they did a lot of travel by steam ship because they all didn’t have cars and there were not enough roads. This was started by Oyster Bay. They built the building as a satellite court house as I said and then Glen Cove became the city and broke away from the town of Oyster Bay in 1917. The town of Oyster Bay gave this building to the city of Glen Cove for its first government.

I see you have a lot of exhibits. How many exhibits do you have here as we speak?

Brian: We have some permanent exhibits which are always on disiplay and then we rotate other exhibits. The big rotation is World War I. We are ending that exhibit right now.

Brian Mercadante will be stepping down and the new president, Georgie Connet, will be taking reign on February 1, 2015. The North Shore Historical Museum has been chartered by the New York State Department of Education to collect and exhibit artifacts and archives of Long Island’s North Shore. For more information please visit www.northshorehistoricalmuseum.org

Historical Museum Board Members North Shore Historical Museum Board Members on Jan 31, 2015.

Our Fabulous Variety Show Presents: Fire and Ice with D.E.O.X. of the Raffa Show in Southampton

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SOUTHAMPTON, NY – This past weekend “Our Fabulous Variety Show” presented Fire and Ice with D.E.O.X. of the Raffa Show at 230 Elm Venue located at 230 Elm Street in Southampton, NY.

The organization was founded by two lovely ladies, Kasia Klimiuk, (Artistic Director, choreographer, producer, and CFO) and Anita Boyer, (Director, Choreographer, Producer, & COO).

OFVS consists of an ever evolving troupe of dedicated thespians who are on a mission to hone the craft of live performance while raising funds and awareness for both local and national non-profit organizations.

Before the performance I had the privilege of interviewing Co-Founder Kasia Klimiuk.

Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane interviews Kasia Klimiuk and Anita Boyer Founders of Our Fabulous Variety Show and the star of the Show DEOX Of The Raffa Show at 230 Elm in Southampton, NY

Hello darlings I am Cognac Wellerlane and we are here in Southampton on a very snowy nigh but that doesn’t stop this entertainment troupe from performing right here at 230 Elm Street and this organization is called OFVS. Introduce yourself to the camera darling.

Kasia: My name is Kasia Klimiuk and I am the producer for “Our Fabulous Variety Show.”

And that’s what OFVS stands for.

Kasia: Correct.

Tell my audience what we are going to see tonight.

Kasia: Tonight you are going to see a very entertaining show which actually features one of our amazing performers Danny Ximo of the Raffa Show. Tonight he will be performing as D.E.O.X.,

Nice!

Kasia: That character actually debuted in our production “Spectacular Christmas Carol,”

Yes you recently had a Christmas production. I was unable to attend that but I figured I want to check you guys out and see what It’s all about because the Hamptons is buzzing about your entertainment troupe how wonderful it is.

Kasia: Thank you, yeah he actually debuted as “Christmas Present” and he was one of the ghosts in the show. It sought of is a fusion of masculine and feminine and he had a show called The Raffa Show that he had done here several times before. He has done it all over the world. It’s a show where he impersonates iconic female entertainers like Liza Minnelli, Raffaella, Lady Gaga, Rhianna, Tina Turner, everyone.

He must be amazing.

Kasia: He is amazing!

Wow!

Kasia: You are in for a treat tonight. Tonight he will be doing a lot of Raffa Show favorites. A lot of them were sung by Alan Cumming.

Oh, I interviewed Alan Cumming.

Kasia: Did you?

Yes. He is fabulous. He really is. He is just one of the most talented actors there is out there and I adore him. I interviewed him several times, once at the Hamptons International Film Festival when they were giving him an award. Wendy Williams presented the award and I was there for that.

So this is very exciting, He performs and he has his own interpretation of all these celebrities.

Kasia: Yes he does it to the T. It’s like you are watching Liza.

Now how did you get involved?: Why did you get involved into this?

Kasia: I am a performer, actress, singer dancer. Actually my partner Anita Boyer and I started the organization back in 2010. The two of us were running a half marathon and we had to raise the money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America because that’s what the half marathon was going to benefit. We decided to put on a show. We met doing “Cabaret” at the Southampton Cultural Center and we got a bunch of talented friends together. It was a one time thing and it evolved into an amazing theatrical troupe that has grown exponentially. We have been rated Dan’s Papers Best Theater Group on the South Fork for two years in a row, 2013 and 2014, it just keeps growing and getting better.

I see that! After this particular show what are you working on next?

Kasia: We actually are planning our 2015 season. We are going to be bringing back “The Spectacular Christmas Carol” in December at Guild Hall for two weekends this year, one weekend last year.

I would love to come that.

Kasia: We are also working on another project, “Our Fabulous Adventure in Wonderland” which will be based on “Alice on Wonderland.”

Very nice. Who is involved in the team of people putting this all together.

Kasia: It is just Anita and I.

Just you two! Oh my God. Now I understand this another reason why I wanted to come tonight. You mentioned something previously that you were working for a charity to raise money and I noticed that on the website you work with other organizations to raise funds. That’s really what I am all about. I believe in giving back to charities. Where do we participate? Where do we contribute? How can we get more involved?

Kasia: This is part of our mission. Every show we choose a beneficiary and we donate a portion of the proceeds to a local organization. The last show we donated to HUGS which was a youth organization that teaches students about anit-drugs, anti-suicide and we actually donated 2,500 dollars to them at our last show.

That’s wonderful.

Kasia: Each Time we try to pick an organization. We also started a performing arts scholarship for our June show last year. One of our dancers was a recipient for that. She was a local high school senior, she got that scholarship.

How nice! How lovely! Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is the website?

Kasia: www.OurFabulousVarietyShow.org

Co-Founder Anita Boyer has a strong passion for choreography, dance, singing, and putting on spectacular events for worthy causes, Anita co-produced the original Fabulous Variety Show which helped raise over $8,000 for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Anita graduated from Ohio University with a major in Video Production and brings to the group her almost 20 years of dance experience and her event planning savvy. Anita is the coordinator for the East End Arts Teeny Awards program, she teaches dance for the Riverhead Faculty Community Theatre (RFCT) and DanceHampton in East Hampton, and she choreographs and directs shows all over the East End! Most recently she directed and choreographed Godspell for RFCT which was a fabulous success! She loves working with such a talented group of people to put on these shows!

Co-Founder_Anita_Boyer Our Fabulous Variety Show Co-Founder Anita Boyer poses for a photo-op with Entertainment Journalist and Host Cognac Wellerlane.

Here is what she had to say:

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with Anita Boyer the other half of this wonderful organization. Tell my audience again what the name is.

Anita: “Our Fabulous Variety Show”

Now that’s an interesting name. “Our Fabulous Variety Show,” what made you call it that?

Anita: Our original show was to raise money for our half marathon that we were running in Las Vegas for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America and we kind of based the whole poster off of “Welcome to The Fabulous Las Vegas Show” sign so that’s where the fabulous comes in.

I see.

Anita: Throughout the process of putting on all these shows we have really been trying to embrace the whole “Our” concept. We love to get input from every single member of the cast. Everyone has an idea; we always hear it and try to utilize it. We do try to really focus on the “Our” The “O” the Our of “Our Fabulous Variety Show.”

Later I chatted with the star Danny Ximo, D.E.O.X. of The Raffa Show.

Our_Fabulous_Variety_Show Our Fabulous Variety Show Danny Ximo as D.E.O.X. of The Raffa Show poses for a photo-op Entertainment Journalist and Host Cognac Wellerlane.

Welcome back, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with the star of the show who is going to be performing tonight. Introduce yourself to the camera darling.

D.E.O.X.: Tonight I am going to be DEOX which is the initials of my name and my stage name. Daniel Eduardo Orlando Ximo and actually my artistic name is Danny Ximo. It’s two complicated. I am so many personalities!

I love it! I love the whole idea! I love the concept and I can’t wait to see the show. I want you to tell my audience about your act and what it is all about. The whole thing, everything!

D.E.O.X.: Well actually you know this is the first time that the show is gong to have a twist. Before it use to be more like a female impersonation and now it is going to be something in between. Between a male and a female. That is why I have a beard, I have lip gloss, I have eyelashes.

Did you do your makeup? Did you do it yourself?

D.E.O.X.: Yes!

Beautiful!

D.E.O.X.: Thank you. Tonight is going to be different once again. You know we did the Christmas show and that is when I introduced DEOX to the fans of “Our Fabulous Variety Show,” I got a very good response from the audience. I am excited now about introducing my new baby to the audience.

How many characters are you going to be performing?

D.E.O.X.: It’s weird. It’s a transition. The show is going to be a transition with music, with different costumes, dance, it’s going to be a variety show.

Will you be impersonating celebrities?

D.E.O.X.: Yes, when I did female impersonators I did more specific.., like Liza Minnelli, this and that. Tonight something like that is going to happen in a different perspective.

Do you have a specific character, a specific personality that you just adore to impersonate?

D.E.O.X.: I think I sang “New York, New York” by Liza Minnelli more times than she did herself. They love my Liza Minelli and I love her!

I can’t wait to see this.

D.E.O.X.:  I also invite the audience to go to YouTube and they can find my previous shows on the Raffa Show DEOX and they can look for the videos on youtube.

D.E.O.X. : Big Spender, Friday Dec. 5th 2014, Guild Hall East Hampton New York.

Terrific! Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information about you. Do you have a website?

D.E.O.X.: I don’t have a website but I have a facebook page which is Facebook/Raffa Show Feat Deox. That is the page of my show and then I have my own page which is Facebook/Danny Ximo

Interview: “Dice Man” to Perform at NYCB Theatre in Westbury Long Island, Friday January 30, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – America’s most controversial and outrageous comic, Andrew Dice Clay, or to many of his adoring fans the ‘Dice Man’ will be performing at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury on Friday January 30, 2015 at 8:00 PM.

Last year the Dice Man published “The Filty Truth,” a story of his rise to fame. His story is written by David Ritz. In this unapologetic and uncensored autobiography, Andrew Dice Clay, is roaring to set the record straight. Below is an interview with the irreverent comic:

AndrewDiceClay1 Andrew Dice Clay, will be performing at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury on Friday January 30, 2015. Photo Courtesy, ‘Dice’.

Born in Brooklyn, NY what encouraged you to become a comic?

Dice: I never intended to be a comedian. I wanted to be a drummer first – I wanted to be like Buddy Rich. Then I started doing the impressions and next thing you know I am a comedian.

The man that we see on the stage telling jokes, is that the same man at home with his wife and kids?

Dice: I’ve always said that if I did half the things I talk about on stage at home, I’d be looking at 25 years to life. The Dice Man is character – the only thing we have in common is that we are both from Brooklyn.

Your whole act is politically incorrect. Does it ever worry you the consequence of something you might say could cause a law suit?

Dice: F*#K THAT! I am a comic, what are they are going to sue me for? Being F#@king Hilarious and a Little Fithy?

Explain to my audience about this performance that will be at NYCB Theatre in Westbury on Friday, January 30th.What will we see?

Dice: The audience can expect one of the funniest comedy shows that they have ever seen. It’s filthy, vulgar, graphic but first and foremost Funny! And if you’re over 18, you won’t find it offensive at all, because I talk about the same things everybody else does but won’t admit.

I understand you recently had your autobiography THE FILTHY TRUTH published. What inspired you to tell the story of your life?

Dice: I had offers to tell my story years ago, but it never felt right. I had not lived enough life to tell my story if you know what I mean. I think after the Woody Allen resurgence the timing felt just right.

How long did it take for the story the get published start to finish?

Dice: That’s hard to say cause I wrote a lot of the book years ago when offers started to come in. But the finished book I have to say about 2-and-a-half years.

Where can go to find out more information about your tour dates and anything we need to know about the Dice man?

Dice: You can go to www.andrewdiceclayofficial.com or Twitter @TheRealDiceClay.

Tickets to the show on Friday January 30, 2015 at 8:00 PM can be ordered at http://venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com

Horror Enthusiasts Attend the 8th Annual Macabre Faire Film Festival at Upsky Hotel in Hauppauge

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LONG ISLAND, NY – This past weekend horror enthusiast attended the 8th Annual Macabre Faire Film Festival at the Upsky Hotel in Hauppauge, NY. From Friday January 16th through Sunday January 18th, horror fans from across Long Island alongside celebrity guests such as Cleve Hall – “Monster Man,” Jonathan Tiersten – “Sleep Away Camp,” Eileen Dietz – “The Exorcist,” Robert Mukes – “House of 1000 Corpses,” Elizabeth Shepherd, Rutanya Alda, Lesleh Donaldson, Sharon Lentz, Jim Krut, Tiffany Shepis, Stacey Nelkin and several local independent filmmakers enjoyed a scary good time as the NY Horror Show and Macabre Faire Film Festival returned to Long Island.

I had a chance to chat with Founder Elsie Ginsberg who is dedicated to growing the Macabre Faire Film Festival and Twitch Twitch Productions. Both Elsie and Adam Ginsberg, her husband’s mission, is to accommodate those who love the scare…The thrill…The unknown…And the entertainment provided by experiencing something outrageously different than the norm. They provide unique theatrical productions, films, events, radio, videos, original music and live character appearances for all types of events.

Macabre Fair Film Festival Actor Cleve Hall from the SyFy Channels Monstor Man poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

Here is what Elsie had to say:

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and it’s January 2015 and I am here with Elsie, the lady that coordinated this whole event and the founder of the Macabre Faire Film Festival and she is going to introduce herself to the camera.

Elsie: I thought you did such a lovely job but If I have to do it again I am Elsie Ginsberg but many know me as Elsie Macabre in the filmmaker world and social media but this is me.

Tell my audience about the Macabre Fair Film Festival for those who are unaware of what this evening is really suppose to be about.

Elsie: Well for starters this is our eighth Macabre Faire Film Festival and that all has happened in a matter of two and half years I believe. A lot of people wonder how we managed to do all of that. Well actually we do several different showcases a year. So here we are at the eighth one but January is always the biggest. Why, because we have two sets of awards. Tonight is the night that we actually award the best of the best of all the screenings that we did for 2014. Those are called the Macabre I Awards. Then on Sunday after we have screened what we currently have is 126 independent movie titles that will be screening in four different rooms. On Sunday we will be awarding best in category that night.

Macabre Fair Film Festival Actor Jonathan Tiersten from Sleep Away Camp poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

So there is 26 films

Elsie: 126 films; Oh, we don’t play around. We set out our goal to shine a spotlight on independent filmmaking. If we are not willing to really make it a carnival of films then we are not doing what we promised we were going to do. So come hell or high water, we do our best to bring in as much as we can, great films from around the world not just nationally but internationally. We have got filmmakers who have flown in today from the UK, from India, from Canada, from Los Angeles, so we really are excited and with every single one we are doing we are just growing more and more and more. This is really important to us. the red carpet event, because this is our way of elevating the expectations from a genre film festival.

When you’re dealing with horror film festivals, sy-fy film festivals, a lot of times we just kind of like you know put on our jeans and T shirts and get ready for the film festival.

Macabre Fair Film Festival Actor Robert Mukes from House of 1000 Corpses poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

Not here, your event is very elegant. I must say people are dressed and approaching with gowns and furs like me and diamonds like you. It’s really a very festive glamorous evening. I really feel like I am in Hollywood.

Elsie: Well thank you Cognac. From you I will take that. It means a lot to me. You know again I stay very firm. Myself and my husband, Adam Ginsberg, we really feel passionate about what we are trying to accomplish here. We already have said we want to try and get this to the point of being the Oscars for the genres community especially horror. This is how we do things. So it’s not only looking fabulous and walking the red carpet and having a fabulous evening but also the respect that we are presenting to the actual films that are screening. It’s very important that the sound be right, the screens are right and what we schedule to happen when it is suppose to happen and that’s it. Unless there is the unexpected Murphy Law situation the show will go on no matter what we will make sure that everything in the program happens.

Macabre Fair Film Festival Actress Eileen Dietz from the Exorcist poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

Now I understand that you are going to have a roster of celebrities attending. Tell my audience who those fabulous people are going to be.

Elsie: Oh, we have a nice roster. We have Robert Mukes from “House of 1000 Corpses.” I cannot wait to see him and he is going to tower over us. He is almost seven feet tall.

That’s pretty scary. That’s scare right there!

Else: He is so handsome and he is so sweet. He is a great package. On top of that we are going to have Cleve Hall “Monster Man” SyFy Channel. He is coming in. Eileen Dietz, you spoke with her.

I remember last year.

Elsie: She is back again. She is our film festival ambassador. So it’s important that she is here. We are going to have Elizabeth Shepherd.

Macabre Fair Film Festival Actress Elizabeth Shepherd from Omen II poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

Yes, I want to interview her, Elizabeth Shepherd (Omen II)

Elsie: I have to tell you I am very excited about having her here because I love “The Omen,” I love “Omen II,” and I love “Omen III, The Final Conflict” and to know that we were able to get someone of that caliber to walk our red carpet I mean along with everybody else, I have this little special place to meet her.

Is Victoria Price going to be here?

Elsie: Victoria Price unfortunately…

Couldn’t make it?

Elsie: Well you know she has got a real job and when that knocks on her door she has to take care of business. So it kind of happened. Trust me I spent a lot of time speaking with her and we were suppose to meet up and talk about her father (Vincent Price), talk about the book that she has coming out. I just want to spend some time with her but she has promised that she is going to see about spending the weekend with us next year so it will happen.

Macabre Fair Film Festival Lesleh Donaldson from Curtains and The Funeral Home poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

Ok, we look forward to that. This is going to be a fabulous evening! After the red carpet people will be walking in to the banquet hall. Tell my audience what we will be seeing inside the banquet hall.

Elsie: We have a little dinner set up for them and then during the dinner we have a special screening of a short film called “The Secret” directed by Andrew Leckonby. He was one of our best short film winners a couple of years back. Unfortunately we lost Andrew in October and we were very saddened by it and even thinking about it now I, it’s a little hard to think about it. We wanted to do something special for him so we knew how much it meant to him to have his work seen so we decided that we were going to screen his short film here so that everyone can see it one more time. After that we are going to liven things up with a undead comedy show with Salvatore Rizzo. The Dead Father will be hosting a low rent version of the “Johnny Carson Show.”

How hysterical!

Elsie: I mean it’s a horror convention at the end of the day so I thought that would be a lot of fun. Then we have the lovely Nicole doing the dark side of opera. We have a tribal dance group that is going to be doing a show as well and then we have Robert Frankenberg who is going to be doing “Symphony of Oblivion” where he is going to bring us into a horror movie sound scrape live on stage.

This is incredible!

Macabre Fair Film Festival Sharon Lentz who played Sara Collins in Dark Shadows poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

Elsie: We try, we try. It means a lot to us. We respect the films. We respect the experience and we only hope that this is an infectious behavior what ever else you want to call it. We really want the filmmakers to feel the same way. A lot of filmmakers say “We love what we do,” love it even more. Love it even more and when you present it present it with the utmost pride and respect because I know that we are doing that for you so we hope you do it too! We are just ready to have a great time.

And so am I! Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information about The Macabre Faire Film Festival; what is the website?

Elsie: Please go to Facebook/Macabre Faire Film Festival. I am always reachable. Send a private message, send me an email. Whatever it is I am here.

Macabre Fair Film Festival Shay Cully, Actor Robert Mukes and Founder Elsie Ginsberg poses for a photo-op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Macabre Faire Film Festival on January 16, 2015.

Macabre Faire Film Festival’s mission is to provide a respectful, competitive, celebratory and affordable film fest event that is judged by a panel for independent filmmakers to enter their Strange-ifical, Weird-ifical, Horror-ifical, Sci-fi-tastical, Fantastical and Macabre-licious films to be viewed by the fans with the opportunity to win awards, increase film visibility via press and possibly obtain distribution via the Festival’s Distribution Alliances on both the East and West Coast of the USA. All this while maintaining manageable entry fees.

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Founder Elsie Ginsberg at the 8th Annual Macabre Faire Film Festival at the Upsky Hotel in Hauppauge, NY on January 16, 2015.

Long Islanders Attend “Game On Trivia” Show at Parlay Restaurant in Rockville Center Every Wednesday

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LONG ISLAND, NY – What do most budget-conscious people do on a weekday night? They might attend the latest flick, go out for cocktails or eat at a modest restaurant in their community or they may spend a cozy night at home and entertain themselves. Now there’s a new choice that is guaranteed to be fun, entertaining, and can involve one person, a couple, or a group of friends and do it all for less than the price of a movie ticket.

Game On Trivia Night is now weekly before a live audience in Rockville Center. Until now the interactive Game On had been on Facebook only. Host Mike Hope would ask a weekly trivia question and Facebook fans would text in their responses for prizes. With over a thousand people responding a week, Hope decided to take Game On before a live audience.

MIKE_HOPE Game On Trivia Host Mr. Michael Hope with Cognac Wellerlane at Parlay Restaurant in Rockville Center Long Island.

I had a chance to attend one of these events at Parlay Restaurant in Rockville Center and interview Game On Trivia Host Mr. Michael Hope who created Game on Trivia.

I am here with the fabulous host from Game Show Trivia, Mr. Michael Hope, welcome.

Michael: Thank you. We have a great night, It’s Game Show on Trivia.

Tell my audience what Game Show on Trivia is all about.

Mike: Game Show on Trivia is a fun night out. People come, we ask questions, they answer the questions and the team with the most points wins. It’s a fun social night out. It’s like being in a game show but it’s live.

Interesting, fascinating. Now tell my audience how people participate in this game, This Game on Trivia.

Mike: It’s free to play. You come in, you can set it up ahead of time online or just come to the bar and sign up. Bring your team, bring your friends, bring family and come down and play. It’s free to play. That’s the best thing about it.

How do you participate in the game? Do they participate in a group? Are there members?

Mike: The best way to play is actually in a team. You can play in a team of two up to six people. If you come with a larger group, you can break it up into smaller groups.

So participants do play in a team. Let me ask you are you the only host or are there other hosts?

Mike: Game on Trivia was started in one location about three years ago and thank goodness we have been working very hard. We put on a fantastic show that people really like so we are up to eighteen or nineteen locations right now.

And you are the only person that hosts it!!?

Mike: We have about seven other hosts.

Seven other hosts, Wow!

Mike: Nineteen locations that happen weekly.

Why did you want to do this? How did you get into this?

Mike: I love game shows. I have been a trivia fanatic for a long time and I was always playing along on TV and my family said “Mike you should be  on a game show,” So I actually tried out on “Who wants to be a Millionaire” and I realized that I wasn’t great in sports so what I did was I started sports trivia. What I did was I started going on other trivia locations and I always noticed how not fun it was. I thought it could be done better. So I took my entertainment experience and put together my love of trivia and put together The Game On Trivia Show.

Tell me about your past entertainment experiences. How did your entertainment experience come into play?

Mike: I have been and MC and a DJ for over ten years, corporate events, weddings, sweet 16, so I took that love of making everybody have a good time with my love of trivia and put it together and it became a game show.

You parlayed it into this. Fabulous!

Mike: Exactly.

If my audience wants to find out more information on Game Show on Trivia where can they go. What is the website?

Mike: There is a website. You can go to facebook/Game on Trivia or you can go to our website www.gameongameshow.com

This promises to be a fun and exciting evening and something totally different from anything else you’d find at a bar scene. What’s more is that each Game On Trivia Night is a unique ‘Game show experience’ that will be remembered and can be shared with friends and family alike.

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Game Show Host Michael Hope from Game On Trivia at Parlay Restaurant in Rockville Center Long Island.

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