(Long Island, N.Y.) They say every dog has his day, but our furry friend got three! Our August Lake Placid getaway was unlike any vacation we’ve taken in the past. We went there to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary-and we didn’t go alone. With the kids, the grandparents, and the dog in tow, it was the most memorable multi-generational road trip ever taken. Ok, maybe it’s the first multi-generational road trip we’ve ever taken.but it won’t be the last and here’s why.

We headed to The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort. Haven been to Lake Placid a few times (I truly love it there!) I always walked by the resort and was curious about it. The property right in the heart of the Olympic village– located on Main Street and Mirror Lake.

The accommodations: We stayed in the (absolutely perfect in every way) Lakeside Specialty Room. It was over sized, immaculate and upscale. The bathroom was a tad smallish for what I prefer, but the shower (an area I tend to over-scrutinize) was newly tiled and renovated. The room evoked a warm Adirondack charm; stone fireplace, very spacious, attractive decor and bedding. What I really loved about being on the ground floor: Open your patio door, gaze out to the lake and enjoy nature’s show. The lakeside view and prime location of room #115 is spectacular.

The hotel offers a large number of suites and specialty rooms depending on your needs. For example, The Skylight Suite, ideal for a small family retreat has a room for the kids, The Algonquin Suite is double-chambered with a private balcony overlooking the lake and a whirlpool tub for two. There are also kitchenette options and a condo that sleeps up to eight with an upstairs open-loft bedroom, a full-efficiency kitchen and a private entrance. Additionally, there are allergen free guest rooms (the first floor in the North wing) where the rooms have bamboo wood floors, Hepa-silent air filters, chlorine filters on the shower-heads and many other features to ensure allergy suffers an enjoyable time.

Environment friendly: The Golden arrow is known as Lake Plaid’s “green hotel.” They have implemented several creative, environmentally-friendly initiatives and are the only resort in the U.S. to have received a five leaf status in the Audubon Society’s rigorous eco-rating program. The resort also has a restaurant (that offers many locally grown foods), a private beach on the lake, indoor pool and health club, among other amenities.

The resort gives guests the opportunity to actively participate in their sustainability programs during stays. In each guest room is a recycling bag. Guests are asked to place all of their recyclable materials into these bags so they can separate them and make sure they are properly disposed of. There’s also VIP Parking for Green Vehicles–Premier Hybrid Parking is a permanent parking spot only for guests who travel here in a hybrid vehicle. The spot is prime parking right near the front door.

Pet friendly: My parents (and dog) stayed on the third floor (designated for pets) in a deluxe king room. I was worried that the pet-friendly rooms would not be very human friendly, but the room didn’t at all smell like, well…dog. It was fresh, clean and updated-and boy was my dog digging the accommodations. And I love this: For each pet that visits Golden Arrow, 10% is donated annually to the local Humane Society. This amounts to thousands of dollars each year which directly benefits the hundreds of animals that pass through the doors of the local shelter each year.

Kid Friendly: Honestly, the lake was the star of the show and the kids were drawn to it. If you want to explore the shoreline, Golden Arrow provides complimentary rowboats, canoes, kayaks and paddle boats. At the crack of dawn, my son headed for the lake for an early morning dip. All we had to do was roll out of bed and get comfy in an outdoor patio chair steps away from the private white sand beach. And what an amazing way to spend the morning. While the dog basked in the early sunlight and the kids frolicked in the lake we ordered room service and dined on a farm fresh breakfast outdoors steps in front of our room. It was heaven on earth. At night, we headed to the indoor pool for some last-second swimming before bed. There’s also a sauna, a steam bath, and two whirlpool tubs.

Too bad summer’s coming to an end already. If you can squeeze in a last summer hurrah, this is the place. For the fall, you might want to check out their Family Farm Tour Weekend (September 7-9 2012) an all-inclusive weekend, tour farms local to Lake Placid and the Adirondacks, and learn more about the benefits of the Farm to Fork Movement.

Adult-friendly: Having everything you need in one place makes it so easy to kick back and enjoy your family vacation. As soon s you walk off the property, you are right in the heart of town and everything is in walking distance-like activities, shopping, entertainment and food. The resort’s restaurant, “Generations”, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ate there a few times and enjoyed the farm-to-table fare. Under the direction of Executive Chef David Hunt, the menus feature many foods that are grown and raised locally-and after chatting with him for a few moments, I could tell he pours his heart and soul into his dishes. His goal to keep it as local and fresh as possible, showcasing the many wonderful farms and products that are grown, raised and cultivated in New York’s Adirondack region.

Overall, I have to say, it was probably one of the most relaxing vacations I have ever taken, mostly because there was just nothing I had to worry about. Everyone was with me and everything I needed was right there at the resort. And a quick glace outside our window-it was a lakeside Shangri-La. If you can swing some alone time and want to reconnect as a couple, you can book a Gondola Cruise on Mirror Lake -very romantic!

If you plan to get a jump-start on next summer’s fun, this is a wonderful (and affordable) place to regroup and reconnect as a family. And if you’re starting to plan your holiday getaways, I assure you, the destination is magical come wintertime.

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort
2559 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 523-3353
www.golden-arrow.com

(Long Island, N.Y.) Now’s the perfect time to seal the bond and squeeze in some quality family time. Here are some creative suggestions to help you clock-in and strengthen your connection. (Psst: Every second you spend engaged with the kids–counts!)

Catch the Wacky Jax — the newest revival of the classic Chinese jacks, is a great way to bond over a retro toy that we played in the (non-digital) dark ages. Teach the kids the classic way to play, or make up their own rules as they go.

Tell a twisted fairytale. Make up your own creative endings to well-known tales. Throw the Big Bad Wolf’s mom in the mix-sure, why not?

Start an impromptu jam session. Rock out together with Music Together’s Super Play-Along Set. Shake your “Chick-itas” and cue the applause.

Inquire within with the help of Loaded Questions-the classic game of who said what. There are no right or wrong answers. Ask something cool or funny like, “If you were a professional wrestler, what would your ring name be?” Tsumommi?

Slip in some outdoor fun with Jumbo Bananagrams–144 waterproof, three-inch square tiles packaged in a funky giant yellow banana-shaped tote bag. Race against each other to build giant crossword grids and use all their letter tiles. No pencil, paper or board needed!

Plan a random act of kindness. Pow-wow around the table and brainstorm some ways you can surprise a friend or neighbor with a sweet and unexpected gesture. (It’s very exciting!)

Start slacking! Strike the perfect balance with The Funline by Gibbon Slacklines. You may have seen slacklining in Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show being done by a professional. No worries not all slacklining is that extreme and my kids and I love it! Slacklines are safe, typically set up over pads or grass just a foot or two off the ground. You will need to find two trees about 10-15 feet apart to set it up. Once you find the perfect spot, it’s easy to get going!

Play Telestrations–the game that takes the sketch and guess fun found in today’s popular online games and brings it into the family room. Think telephone game – sketched out, and well, you get the picture. Everyone plays at the same time as multiple words get passed around, and players simultaneously draw what they see, then guess what they saw.

Make it The Greatest Day Ever, a new matching game where you can cruise around with the kids in a race around the board that was developed to bring the greatest day ever to life for any kid.if they play their cards right!

Camp out and build a Base Camp Shelter, by Backyard Safari Outfitters. It’s a cool camping kit with everything to set up shelter and rough it in the great outdoors also known as your backyard.

Break out Duo Pop, a new way to connect with family and friends for fun-filled, fast-action, heads-up gaming on an iPad. Multiple players compete to be first to pop their Duo Pop Poppers, then correctly answer questions to win. Apps available for Duo Pop include Saturday Night Live – The Game app, Highlights Hidden Pictures, Guesstimation and more.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Are you looking to read a good book this summer? Or heck, why not. write one? I’ve got you covered. I caught up with an incredibly inspiring Massapequa Park mom and writer Dina Santorelli who is celebrating the release of her first novel Baby Grand. Here, I chat with Dina about the publishing process. If you ever had the desire to start writing that novel you’ve been thinking about for years than this just might inspire you.

Can you tell me a little bit what your novel is about?

Sure! Baby Grand is a thriller, which is my favorite genre. I like suspenseful and fast-paced stories, especially about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Here’s the official book blurb for Baby Grand:

In Albany, New York, the governor’s infant daughter disappears without a trace from her crib at the Executive Mansion. Hours later, newly divorced and down-and-out writer Jamie Carter is abducted from the streets of Manhattan. Jamie is whisked upstate, where she is forced by her captor, Don Bailino, an ex-war hero/successful businessman, to care for the kidnapped child in a plot to delay the execution of mobster Gino Cataldi – the sixth man to be put to death in six years by hardliner Governor Phillip Grand. What prevails is a modern-day thriller about family ties, loyalty, murder, betrayal, and love that’s told in deftly interweaving narratives that follow the police investigation of the missing Baby Grand, the bad guys who took her, and the woman who found the strength to protect her.

Summer is the perfect time to start reading a good book-and writing one! How long ago did you get the idea for your novel and when did you start writing it?

I actually got the idea for Baby Grand in the mid-1990s, which is when I was devouring thrillers by John Grisham, Michael Crichton and James Patterson, among others, while riding the New York City subways and buses to and from my office in Manhattan (I worked as a fulltime editor). I don’t know exactly when the idea for Baby Grand came to me, but it was around that time. I’d get lots of ideas for books – I guess New York City will do that to you – and I’d jot them down to work on at a later time. Fast forward about 15 years. Now I’m a suburban mom with three kids, and a successful freelance writing career, and all I can think about are those partial novels and story ideas that lay dying on my hard drive (there’s actually a line in Baby Grand about that – my heroine, Jamie Carter, is a freelance writer as well). I decided it was now or never, but how can I focus on fiction with three kids and a career? I did the only thing I could think of. I went to graduate school. There, I knew I would be forced to write “for homework.” I had grades to keep up, professors to keep happy. I knew going back to school would force me to put the novel “first” – where it needed to be. Four years later, I graduated from Hofstra University with a Master’s in English and Creative Writing and the first third of the manuscript for Baby Grand completed. Eight months later, an agent would read that first third and sign me. I truly believe if I hadn’t gone back to school, the novel would still be one of those things I “needed to get to one of these days.”

Writing a book, being a mom-oh my goodness! How on earth did you find the time?

Okay, so now it’s 2009, and I’m out of school. For the next six months, I try to work on Baby Grand, but I’m having trouble again. Without a professor hanging over me, I had fallen back into my life – you know, kids, work. I had been hired to work on a nonfiction title, Good Girls Don’t Get Fat, authored by Dr. Robyn Silverman, which was taking up a lot of my time. And when that was done I was designing my daughter’s elementary school yearbook. There was always something else I needed to do. I worried that my partial manuscript for Baby Grand would never be finished and would gather dust like the others.

Landing an agent was the best thing that could happen to me. Now I had incentive to put the novel first again, because somebody was waiting for it. And because I know I’m deadline oriented, I gave her a date for when I’d hand the completed manuscript to her. I just made it up. End of June. Boom. Now I HAD to get it done, right?

Panic set in. Writer’s block. Procrastination. I decided to start a blog that I called Making ‘Baby Grand,’ which I thought might help me get through the difficult times and help me network with other writers in the same boat (it did).

Finally, it was June, and I had asked for a six-week extension, because I was struggling so much with getting it done. Finally, I just put my foot down. I decided that I was going to write 1,000 words a day, every day. No excuses. Just sit down and bang it out. And that’s what I did. I worked in the morning or at night and spent time with the kids during the day. I put off my vacations until the end of summer. Six weeks later, Baby Grand was born.

Did your family support you when you said you were going to pen a novel? What was your family’s reaction?

My husband is forever supportive. Always has been. I’m very lucky that way. Although he is probably one of the most practical and level-headed people I know, I could tell him that I was going to become an astronaut this year, and he would not only believe me, but would support me. And my kids? Truth be told, they didn’t really care much about Baby Grand in the beginning. They just knew that their mom was “working on a book,” whatever that meant, but I don’t think they totally grasped the concept that their mother would be an author. They knew I wrote for magazines and for newspapers such as Newsday, but it didn’t sink in that I would write “a real book.” They just knew I was busy. Busier than usual. In fact, I remember finishing Baby Grand and telling them that I would be starting another novel, and their reaction was “OH, NO!” You know kids… They just want their Mom to concentrate on them and nothing else. But now that the book is out, I think they are very, very proud of me. They see that people are reading it.

My youngest son, who’s ten and doesn’t really care about anything other than riding his bike and eating French toast for breakfast, came up to me after school the other day and said one of the teachers yelled to him in the hallway, “Hey, Jack, I’m reading your mom’s book!” He said to me, “It was cool.” Now, we’ll all be at Ralph’s for ices, and I’ll pull out my smartphone and say to the kids, “Should we see where Baby Grand is on Amazon’s best seller list? Do you think we kicked 50 Shades of Grey out of the top spot yet?” And we all laugh. I love sharing in this excitement with them and also with my own parents, who never really “got” what I did for a living. Having a book out, though, everyone seems to understand.

Tell me how exciting it is to finally have it out there (I need motivation!)

It is very exciting, but also a tremendous relief. I think I’ve been stressing about this book – just getting it done and getting it out there – for so long that I forgot how it feels to totally relax. Originally, my agent and I had planned to traditionally publish Baby Grand, but I made the decision in January to self-publish. The explosion of eBooks and the self-publishing industry was just too difficult to ignore. And when I made that decision, I felt some of that stress lessen. And then when Baby Grand finally came out at the end of May as an eBook, and I downloaded it, and the formatting seemed fine, and people were downloading it with ease and liking it, the anxiety disappeared altogether. Now, I’m truly enjoying the excitement while trying to promote the book as best as I can.

How can we find it/buy it?

Baby Grand is available for Amazon Kindle and Kindle apps. In the fall, it will be available for other eReaders and as a paperback.

So what’s next for you? Do you think you’ll write another novel?

But, of course! I’ve got all those story ideas to get to! I’m currently working on my second novel, a stand-alone thriller titled, In the Red, which stems from another idea I came up with sometime in the mid-1990s. I hope to have it done by the end of August, which means it’s back to 1,000 words a day, end-of-summer vacationing and my kids waiting patiently for their mother every day to close her laptop to go swimming. Happy summer!

Dina Santorelli -is a freelance writer/editor who has written for many print and online publications, such as Newsday, First for Women and CNNMoney.com. She served as the “with” writer for the nonfiction title, Good Girls Don’t Get Fat (Harlequin, 2010), and is the current Executive Editor of Salute and Family magazines for which she has interviewed many celebrities, including James Gandolfini, Tim McGraw, Angela Bassett, Mario Lopez, Gary Sinise and Kevin Bacon. You can follow Dina on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and on her blog. Baby Grand, her first novel, is available on Amazon.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Parenting is full of hits and misses. While sometimes, I’m patting myself on the back for a job well done, other times I’m scratching my head, uncertain if I made the right decision. (I know, I know, welcome to the club.) To help take some of the guesswork out of motherhood, I caught up with Denise Schipani, author of Mean Moms Rule: Why Doing the Hard Stuff Now Creates Good Kids Later (APRIL 2012; Sourcebooks; $14.99).

In her (very relevant and useful) parenting book, she reasons that being a Mean Mom is the surest path to creating good kids, and ultimately, of course, good adults, good citizens of the world. Here, she gives one wishy-washy mom (me!) some tough love.

I have to admit, I’m a flip-flopper. One day, I’m as mean as The Grinch, and the next I’m all puppies and unicorns and easy-going about everything. Should I pick a side?

Schipani: You want the short answer, right? That would be yes, and your “side” should actually fall between Grinch and unicorns. The key is being consistent, because kids are geniuses at sniffing out cracks in your armor, and using your wishy-washiness to their advantage. I realize this sets it up as a parent-versus-kid battle, but in a way it is, isn’t it? You’re battling to grow them up into functioning humans; they’re battling for unfettered access to the remote control and the snack cupboard. You don’t want to be a softie parent solely to keep them from turning into TV zombies, but because if you’re too much of a pushover, they ultimately won’t respect you. Be a flip flopper too long, and when you do have to bring the hammer down, they won’t believe you, or care. And replace “you” with “their boss” and you’ll begin to see what I mean when I yammer on about taking the long view of parenting.

The caveat, and there’s always a caveat: you can still be sweet, and kind, and fun-loving without being a softie in a “please walk all over me!” t-shirt. Here’s what I mean: A wishy-washy parent pulls out her wallet whenever the ice cream truck comes along. A firm but loving parent is the one who says no to that when warranted, but who pulls the car over to the cute-looking ice cream shop for an impromptu, infrequent (but awesomely appreciated) treat. See the difference?

Being a “mean mom” is by no means the easy way. Can you give moms one of your strongest tips on how to stand your ground and not give in so easily?

Schipani: Think about the end game. It’s so, so tiring to say the same things, day in and day out, and so tempting to just pack it in and let them use their sleeves as napkins; do their book reports for them; and call their college professors to beg for a better grade (see how I progressed there? Neat, right?). If you keep your eye on the prize, it gets easier to stay strong.

Also, don’t cave out of fear, because the fear is always out of proportion to the situation at hand. Let’s say your kid is begging for the whatever-it-is that he just has to have or he will die. You fear a big to-do, worse than the tantrums you feared when he was a toddler. But if you say no (with good reason, usually) firmly and consistently, you’ll find that more often than not, what you feared (the worst day ever!) is over before you know it. That thing he had to have? Forgotten. (And if it’s not, then work out some way he can earn it!)

I’m sure former ‘softies’ are thanking you for writing this book and offering some skills on how to hang tough. What are some of the comments you have been getting from readers?

Schipani: I’m hearing very gratifying things such as, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” and “Where have you been all my life?” and “Thank you for putting into words what I’ve always instinctively felt is the right thing to do.” I feel like I’m finding my tribe, because being a mean mom is out of the mainstream. But I’m starting to think that instead of being a total anomaly, I am instead part of a silent majority. My favorite responses are those – and there are surprisingly many of them – who say that the cover and the title made their kids nervous. I mentioned kids are smart, right?

Do your kids think you’re mean?

Schipani: Why, yes, they do, and thank you very much for asking! If they’re not shooting “you’re sooooo mean” daggers at you, you’re not doing it right. My children know, down to their bones, that I am there for them. I will never let the bottom fall out of their lives if I can help it at all. But I have to be this way for them, so that they end up, hopefully, with the strength and the skills and the smarts to build their own fantastic lives. Plus, a psychic once promised me granddaughters, so I have to grow up decent men, so they can attract some awesome mates to the fold. Long view!

For more, go to www.meanmomsrule.com. 

(Long Island, N.Y.) With one crack of the bat, suddenly it’s baseball season. Baseball is a great team sport to get the kids involved in, there are some precautions parents and coaches can take to keep kids safe and prevent future injuries.

Tony Wanich MD, Attending Surgeon, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center believes that with the proper precautions and appropriate preseason training and conditioning, the vast majority of baseball injuries, which are increasingly common among young athletes due to high demands and expectations, can be prevented.

The most common injuries, says Dr. Wanich, involve the shoulder and elbow and are typically due to overuse. The best approach is prevention through appropriate conditioning, training and following safe guidelines for play. Here are six safety tips from Dr. Wanich on how to play ball without injuries.

1. Warm up: Establish a consistent warm up routine prior to any athletic activity, include a stretching program where stretches are held for 30 seconds.
2. Run it out: is a key component in pre-activity warm-up and preseason conditioning, and is an important way for pitchers to develop endurance and stamina and for position players to develop speed and agility.
3. Build strength: Strength training is essential for baseball players, special attention needs to be paid to the rotator cuff, biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles.
4. Don’t overdo it: The adage that practice makes perfect is not always the case in baseball – it is important to avoid pitching on consecutive days.
5. Mastery first: Youth pitchers should focus on developing accuracy and control through good pitching mechanics, focus on mastering the fastball before moving on to other types of pitches.
6. Communication is key: Communication between players, parents and coaches is an easy way to identify problems before they become more significant injuries. Persistent pain, which does not improve with rest, should be evaluated by a Sports Medicine specialist.

Play by the rules. Little League Baseball has established a set of age-appropriate pitch count guidelines which both coaches and parents should follow to avoid overuse injuries. They have also established a set of guidelines regarding the amount of rest needed between games depending on the number of pitches thrown. Dr. Wanich believes it is important that parents take these guidelines into consideration and advises that most injuries can be treated non-operatively if addressed early enough.

(Long Island, N.Y.) It’s the season of celebrations and chances are, your calendar runneth over with upcoming weddings, parties, proms, showers, and religious event invites. With that in mind, I decided to shine a light on one local business that really gets it right. If you need to pretty up for upcoming parties and big events, consider heading to Hollywood Salon & Day Spa in Miller Place. You’ll be in very good hands…

While many small businesses come and go, Hollywood has been in business for 19 years and they have a stellar reputation on Long Island as a trusted beauty source–and the go-to spot for pampering and relaxation. The salon and day spa has a talented (and friendly!) team that specializes in all aspects of hair, nail and skin care including laser hair removal and a large market for bridal services.

I recently chatted with Hollywood Salon & Day Spa owner Maryann Saccocio to learn the secrets of their success and longevity here on Long Island.

I have seen a lot of small businesses come and go and Hollywood Salon & Day Spa seems to be going strong. What do you attribute your longevity to?

Saccocio: I think our longevity can be attributed to the Basics; Customer Service, Professionalism and our education levels of the staff. We also stay motivated and on top of technology so we can communicate easily with our customers and the rest of the public.

What has been the most challenging aspect of staying afloat during a rocky economy?

Saccocio: The most challenging aspect of staying afloat during a rocky economy is giving the clients the same fair pricing. All of our manufacturers have been raising the prices for our professional and retail products throughout the last two years. It’s a trickle effect, but we try to remain fair, as the clients feel the increases in all their daily purchases like gas, food, etc.

While many companies reward their new customers, I love how you are rewarding your loyal customers. Can you tell me about your loyalty program?

Saccocio: Our Loyalty Program is to reward our continuous clients for showing their loyalty to us. Most salons practice giving coupons or discounts to new clients, but fail to remember that it is their regular clients that support their business and they in turn will refer new clients.

Our loyalty program works like this; You sign up for free and get a fun-looking Hollywood Card and a discount coupon for signing up. Every time you purchase a service or product you receive points. It’s point for dollar ($75.00 is 75 points) when you reach 300 points you receive a $10.00 coupon. You also receive coupons for your anniversary, birthday or any specials or events that we do. You can use the coupons towards product purchase or services and it is good for 30 days.

Do you use social media for promoting business?

Saccocio: Yes we do. We use Facebook (facebook.com/hollywoodsalons) Twitter (Hollywood Salon @hollywoodsalons) and we also have our own app you can download free from the app store.(At present only available to iPhone, iPad, iTouch will be available for droids in April.)

We use each of these to send out specials and discounts, mention events and show off our work. We love to interact with the public and get their response.

Do you have any great Mother’s Day or Spring-type packages?

Saccocio: Yes–here are two of them: 1 Hour Massage (reg. $75.00 Mother’s Day Price $60.00) ; Spa Pedicure/Spa Manicure 1/2 hour Reflexology (reg $105.00 Mother’s Day Price $85.00)

(Long Island, N.Y.) If you’re looking for some fun family activities right here on Long Island, here’s one to mark on your calendar: The Annual Spring Open House and Waterfront Festival will take place on Friday evening March 30th, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., and all day Saturday March 31st 2012 and Sunday April 1st, 2012, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The free and family-friendly event includes boating and water sports trials and tips; nature talks; food, wine and beer tastings with live acoustic guitar music; and local artist exhibits. It’s a great way to spend the day outdoors for some easy and breezy bonding time.

Port of Egypt Marine – Nestled between Southold, the first English settlement in New York, and the historic seaport of Greenport, the eight-acre property with expansive bay view, including bird sanctuary, has a full dock with 150 slips, high/dry stack storage for 80 boats, 25-ton travel lift, new and used boat sales with award-winning boat service, marine supply store, bait and tackle store, retail fish market, swimming pool with bath house, kayak and bicycle rentals, Hertz car rental, 17-suite Heron Suites accommodations and fine dining restaurant. In 2011, Port of Egypt Marine celebrated its 50th anniversary as the nation’s oldest Grady-White fishing and cruising boat dealership and its 65th year in business.

Foodies take note: If you like to chow down and sample the spirits, this is the spot! North Fork food, wine and beer tastings are from Cornell Oysters of Hog Neck Bay, A Lure Chowder House and Oyster-ia, Southold Fish Market, Greenport Brewery, Long Ireland Brewery, Macari Vineyards and Osprey’s Dominion Wine. Also at the on-property Heron Suites is a tasting of local olive oils and jams from A Taste of the North Fork and Vines and Branches.

Ready to set sail? The Port of Egypt Marine secured these family boating safety tips from US Coast Guard Auxiliary (they will be giving free vessel safety checks and boating safety tips on 3/31 and 4/1)

• Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back
• Wear a life jacket and make sure it fits properly
• Make sure the load on the boat is balanced
• Always keep hands and feet inside the boat
• Keep seated in the boat when it’s in motion
• Don’t ride on the bow
• Be a good lookout for others and what’s happening on the water
• Always swim with a buddy
• Stay with the boat if it capsizes, don’t try to swim ashore

WHAT: Annual Spring Open House & Waterfront Festival
WHEN: Friday, March 30, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, March 31 – April 1, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: 62300 Main Road, Southold, NY 11971, 41.04.34 N and 72.24.16 W

(Long Island, N.Y.) If you’re looking for one last winter hurrah without a long drive–whisk the kids away for a few days and head to Windham, NY. The Catskill region is a fast but fun escape that won’t break the bank (It’s about 2.5 hours from the George Washington Bridge–exit 21 off of the NYS thruway.)

And if you also feel bad for the kids who never really had the chance to play in the snow or enjoy some winter fun this year, than you might want to jump on this quickly. According to the folks at Greene County in the Catskills, they recently got well over half a foot in the mountains.

Skiing at Windham Mountain is a blast for the entire family. This was only our second time on the slopes yet after a couple of hours of lessons, the kids were zipping down the (easy) trails like pros. I was very impressed with Windham Mountain’s rental shop–the employees were very helpful and friendly–and most important: patient with a family of newbie skiers. They offer equipment in a full range of sizes, with ski boots from size 6 (junior) to 16 (adult), and snowboard boots from size 12 (junior) to 15 (adult) and the process of getting set up is simple and easy. All multi-day rentals receive free overnight ski valet – just drop them off in the rental shop when you are done for the day and pick them up at the same location the next morning (space is limited; first come, first served).

In addition to skiing and riding, Windham Mountain has an Adventure Park with ice skating, snow tubing and zip line. There is a Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe center located at the Windham Country Club. The Patio features an amazing bungee trampoline that flings you 25 feet in the air as you jump and flip–so fun!

Fun activities: Be sure to hit the Windham Mountain Adventure Park for some exhilarating snow tubing and zip lining. There’s an uber-cozy lodge where you can kick back and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. The Adventure Park is all about family fun, day and night. There’s also an outdoor 120′ by 60′ skating rink and snowmobiling for the kids.

Snow Tubing – Rocket down a 650-foot snow-covered slope, lying flat on your back in a canvas-covered tube. Located at the Windham Mountain Adventure Park, the tubing hill is many lanes of downhill fun. Best of all, no skill is required. Just as long as you’re tall enough to get in and out of the tube, you can ride. Ride solo or tie up to six tubes together for a group run. Equipped with snowmaking and grooming, for the best tubing possible.

Another fun, not-to-miss activity was the Windham Mountain Adventure Park Zip line. (The weight minimum is 100 pounds.) and the Snowmobile Park which features a fleet of 120cc Arctic Cat snowmobiles just for kids. (Parking & ticketing is available at the Adventure Park Lodge)

If you’re looking for a fun place to eat with the kids, be sure to drop in to The Chicken Run where the serve great chicken, ribs, burgers and best of all–there’s an ice-cream bar, roast-them-yourself s’mores, and an large outdoor teepee the kids can sit in.

Where to stay: Christman’s Windham House – Located just 1.5 miles from Windham Mountain, is the oldest continually-operating inn in the Catskills. The property has been owned by the Christman family for nearly 58 years. The historic Inn is also a 27-hole golf resort and restaurant set on 300 acres. The rooms are warm with rural charm –the kids loved the colonial-style setting–with some modern special touches. Rooms vary in size. All have private bath, CATV, AC, phone, and Wi-Fi. Beds are either queen or king, one room has a double and queen and a continental breakfast is included with the room. As a family of four, we felt so welcomed and relaxed here.

If you miss out on the winter fun this year, put it on your list for next season’s family getaway for sure. Or head there for a quick spring/summer escape: Windham Mountain’s Adventure Park offers chairlift skyrides, dual racing zip lines, a wide and ever-changing list of events, local golf and hiking and some good old fashioned family bonding.

Wait, winter’s not over yet! Here’s your ticket to a gold-medal getaway.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Winter seemed to have skipped right over us here on Long Island, but it has been snowing up a storm at one of my favorite places on earth: Lake Placid. We spent some time there during the summer and we vowed to return during the winter when the area truly becomes magical. Perfect timing.

Lake Placid is known worldwide as the “Winter Sports Capital of the World.” The destination hosted two Olympic Winter Games and even now it continues to play host to numerous international competitions. National Geographic Magazine has named Lake Placid, N.Y. as one of the “Best 10 Winter Trips 2012.” The two-time Olympic village was one of only three United States destinations to make the worldwide list.

Warming Up To Winter Sports: Honestly, we were not a winter-getaway type of family.until we took this action-packed trip. Even if you have never skied before in your life (like me and the kids!) it’s never too late to learn. After some wonderful skiing lessons, we had a blast-even learned enough skills to go up the ski-lift and down the mountain a bunch of times all full of smiles. If you’re looking to get that one last winter thrill, this is an ideal spot. The ski season will typically last until Easter weekend, perhaps a little longer depending on the weather. Lake Placid is truly one of my favorite places in the world to visit. Worth the (very scenic and peaceful) drive. What to do, where to go? Read on…

Go Skiing! Whiteface Mountain (www.whiteface.com)  is where it’s at. It’s touted as “The Greatest Vertical East of the Rockies” and while the mountain attracts athletes from all over the world, it’s a place that local families flock to as well. It has plenty of terrain for skiers and riders of all ages and levels. If you’re newbies or need a refresher, don’t forget to sign the kids up for group lessons at Kids Kampus and book an individual lesson for yourself. Also be sure to try some Cross Country Skiing at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

Other family fun activities: Be sure to check out the Olympic speed skating oval. Bring your own skates or rent them. In the center of the Speed Skating Oval, one of the few outdoor rinks of its kind left in the country, get cozy and warm up around the fire pit. On both rinks, you’ll be skating with history. Here’s the story: It was in Lake Placid during the 1932 Winter Olympics that Norwegian figure skater, Sonja Henie, won gold and pirouetted into hearts around the world. That same year, the USA Men’s Speed skating Team made a gold medal sweep, with local hero Jack Shea striking gold twice and teammate Irving Jaffee winning the remaining two medals. Nearly 50 years later on that very oval, USA Men’s Speed skater Eric Heiden set Olympic history by winning an unprecedented five gold medals.

Another great place to hit— Snow tubing at Olympic Jumping Complex. We totally lucked out. The first time we tried to go for an hour session was right before dinnertime and it was too crowded. So we waited until near dark and it was like he had the hill to ourselves! The perfect activity to get the blood pumping. Bonus: every tubing ticket purchased, funds will go to support USA Ski Jumping.

Where to Eat: Before you hit the slopes, grab some breakfast at The Breakfast Club (the eggs benedicts are incredible!) Stop in for lunch at Pan Dolce Restaurant and enjoy a stellar dinner, The Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Company (be sure to order the “Grilled Crisp Romaine” appetizer!) Or drop in, kick back and chow down with some great food at The Cowboy (2226 Saranac Ave., Lake Placid)

Must Not Miss: If you’re brave enough, the Bobsled Experience is one for your bucket list! Chills, thrills, and the coolest way to see what it feels like to be a comet. You get a professional driver and a brakeman and the thrill-ride begins on the half-mile point on the track –the same one used by Olympic racers! All four of us got to go together-my little one was in the back because we were seated tallest to shortest. I wasn’t sure if she’d be laughing or crying at the end but under her helmet, she was all smiles and begged to go again. It’s pricey but absolutely exhilarating!

Also, about 35 miles away is the Tupper Lake Wild Center, and it is a must-see. They’re open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the winter season. You can take part in the special Wild Winter Weekend action-they offer free snowshoe use for everyone who visits, if you are interested in a hike on top of the snow. There are so many educational and fun things to see there. For example, the indoor Hall of the Adirondacks houses the Living River Trail and its live exhibits, including the otters at Otter Falls. The otters are awesome and there’s a wealth of information about the nature of the wild Adirondacks.

Where to Stay: For all-out, top-notch luxury accommodations, Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is the place to book-it’s the only four diamond resort on the lake, and totally worth the splurge. There’s a world-class spa, three restaurants, an indoor pool-even a private ice rink! If you’re on a budget or want a throwback to classic Lake Placid charm, Wildwood on the Lake is a wonderful suggestion. It’s owned and operated by the (very hospitable!) Weber family for 39 years and they truly make you feel like a welcomed guest. Enjoy an indoor heated pool, whirlpools, and sauna. Their winter-package prices are extremely affordable. Ask for a room with a fireplace-so warm and cozy!

(Long Island, N.Y.) Confession: I always wanted to do stand-up comedy. And if I wasn’t too darn chicken, I think I’d be pretty darn good at it. What’s it like to get up there in front of a crowd? Find your groove in the comedy circuit? Make a room full of strangers LOL? I asked two local comics to chime in.

Evan Weiss

What made you decide you wanted to be a comedian?

It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was younger. I grew up in front of the TV watching everything from Sesame Street, reruns of I love Lucy , and Three’s Company. I really enjoyed watching every comedy special HBO ever ran. The biggest and best comics always seemed to be from Rodney Dangerfield’s Young Comedian HBO Specials. This is where you would see the comics who really pushed the envelope and who you would never see on Carson. That’s where Andrew Dice Clay got his biggest introduction to me and really blew everyone away and helped lead to his first hour HBO special and becoming one of the biggest comedy stars of the 80’s, one of the few people to sell out the Garden.

Were you always funny as a kid?

Na, as a kid I think I was more shy and awkward. I wasn’t much into doing my homework which lead to what I saw as a sentence to a long term Special Ed Career. I really had no respect for the teacher the way they talked down to me like I was stupid so I would talk down to them and just be a complete wise-ass in class I guess as a self defense. It was really hard to stay awake in class because I would stay awake to watch Johnny Carson and then David Letterman every night.

So what did your friends and family say when you told them you were doing that first show? Supportive? Skeptical?

Ironically it’s so hard to make money or to do well my parents just always wanted me to get a “real” job and move to Florida. My friends are always supportive. My first time on stage for stand-up was 1995 at Stand-up NY.

So what’s it like getting up there in front of the crowd for the first time?

I’ve never been shy or scared about getting on stage but neurotic to such an extreme that I wanted every joke to work. I never wanted to bomb or I never wanted any joke to bomb. I started writing anything I could for like 2 years before I ever stepped on stage. But the first time on stage was fun just to make them laugh and get up.

How did you get started in your career in comedy?

My first time on stage like I said before 1995 then for like 1996-2002 I went pretty consistently on stage every week wherever I could. I ran my first open mic at Ed’s Bay Pub in Patchogue in 1997. Stage time is always a challenge and quality stage time. I started hosting at an open mic in 2000 at the Gateway Comedy Club that was located at the Medford Inn. Which lead to some paid hosting gigs for the owner of the shows. That’s when my parents decided to move to Florida and leave me all alone at the ripe young age of 28. My friend got me involved in this business that rhymes with spam-way. From 2002-2007 I really didn’t do too much comedy except for maybe a month in between.

In 2007 I decided I wanted to perform again and do it for me for the fun and love of it. Create perform enjoy. Since then I hosted Long Island’s Funniest person contest at McGuire’s Comedy Club in 2008 and 2009. I became the co-host of two different Podcast. One was called Nobodylistensus.com and another called hatespeechradio.com modeled after an uncensored shock-jock format with my comedian friends and now married couple David Harris and Heather Height. I performed all over Long Island, NJ, PA, CT, upstate NY and NYC. I now produce my own shows at 3 different clubs on Long Island – The Brokerage ,Governors, and McGuire’s. One of the biggest highlights is performing and opening for The Legend Revered Bob Levy.

What’s your day job?

Right now I’m working at Wal-Mart for the third time.

Do you mine that for funny material?

I honestly try not to look for funny. I try to look for the honesty and the pain and that’s where the funny usually comes. Yes of course who loves their job? Even people who do love their jobs have to put up with a lot of #$@! that you don’t love. On my Hiatus from comedy I stepped into an open mic at a bar and saw a “comic” doing my jokes word for word.

Can you tell me about your next upcoming show?

Sunday, February 26th at 8pm at the Legendary Brokerage Comedy Club in Bellmore, NY we have a show. It’s going to have some of the unique and funniest talent from Long Island. Hosting the show is Heather Height from Opie and Anthony and featuring is me, Evan Weiss, Kathy Arnold, Mort Barry, James O’Donnell, Jimmy Farrel, Patrick Taylor, Christan Zee and headlining is Danny Lofaro. Dan is a winner of Long Island’s Funniest Person Contest 2006 and has performed all over the country including the Comedy Works in PA. Come on out for a great show www.brokeragecomedy.com. For reservations call 516-781-5233.

Andrew Bayroff

What made you decide you wanted to be a comedian?

Not an easy one to pinpoint. It may have been my early school antics, getting kicked out of class for making the class laugh. Making faces, physical humor, a small quip here and there. It was by no means wanting for the lime light, or become a star. My early exposure to comedy: George Carlin, Sid Ceaser, Mel Brooks, Bill Cosby, Jerry Lewis, and of course, Monty Python, I guess rubbed off on me in some way. The one that stands out is George Carlin, of all the comics, I can certainly say his act, his approach, his way with words struck a chord in me.

Were you always funny as a kid?

Funny? Well, I got kicked out of class on a number of occasions, not sure how funny the teacher thought I was being. However, I never did anything malicious, I made small jokes, physical humor that made the other students laugh. It disrupted the class, so, out I went.

What was your friends and family’s reaction when you told them you were venturing into comedy?

When I told my friends that I started doing stand-up most said, “That makes sense” or “I can see that.” Now, even though my parents were a huge fan of comedy, and exposed me to the greats early on, having one of their sons seemingly commit to it long-term was a big difference. While I was out in LA they asked how everything was going, with a hint of worried skepticism. They never disparaged me though. I think, as any parent would, mine just didn’t want to see me go off on a path that there was no return from if things did not pan out. Now that I am back in NY, and 10 years later, their fears have diminished to a great degree. Having them see me perform in Los Angeles was definitely a highlight.

What was it like getting up there in front of the crowd for the first time?

Painful. I pretty much bombed my first year doing stand up. After that, I started to find my voice, my direction. I’m still working on both.

How would you describe your comedy?

Thought-provoking, hard-hitting, and extremely topical. Actually, it’s none of those things. I draw my material from dates, dating, other personal experiences, and family stories/activities. An example of this: for the past 20 years or so, I’ve been helping my parents’ setup and store their patio furniture.

What started as a loose premise quickly became my closing joke. I fashioned it as my suburban World’s Strongest Man competition, with my parents giving the commentary. My father commenting on how strong I was, while my mother mentioning she doesn’t have grandkids yet. (Hi Mom!) I actually had a couple of people come up to me after a show to tell me they just visited their parents to do the exact same thing. Talk about things that happen in your family, chances are others have shared the same experiences.

Can you tell me a little about your experience in comedy?

My history is a bit disjointed. I actually started stand up in Houston, TX. Spent a year on stage in Houston, then moved to Los Angeles. Within 2 weeks of moving to LA I auditioned for and was accepted into the Groundings improv school. The Groundlings is the improv school in LA, and one of the top in the country, so to say the least, I was extremely excited. I completed three out of four levels there, not bad. All-the-while, I was also doing stand up. I was fortunate enough to do shows at The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, and Ice House. Among countless coffee houses, and any open mic night that offered a comic a place to try out new material. After nearly 5 years in LA, I moved back to NY to be closer to family and friends. Now, after an eight year hiatus, I’ve decided to go back to stand-up. At my first show back at Gotham Comedy Club it was as if I never took a break. It felt very natural to be on stage. The audience laughed at my entire set, it was a good night.

Even though I never made it to TV, some of the people I did shows with in LA did make it to Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, and various TV shows and movies. Not name dropping, but very cool to be that close to people that made it.

What’s your day job? Do you mine that for funny material?

I’m an interactive designer by day. Or in other words, a web designer. Actually, a bulk of my material is about my dating experiences since being back in NY. That, and peppered with family/friends makes for a good connection to the audience.

Tell me about your next upcoming show

My next show is at the Metropolitan Room in NYC: Friday, February 10th at 9:30pm.