'DANCING IN THE STREET' FREE EVENTS IN OYSTER BAY, Every Friday Evening in August

MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND DANCE STUDIOS ANNOUNCE 'DANCING IN THE STREET' FREE EVENTS IN OYSTER BAY


July 12, 2011, Oyster Bay, NY – Picture people literally dancing in the street this summer. Downtown Oyster Bay will be your place to be for music, outdoors, in a beautiful historic setting every Friday in August from 7pm to 9pm.

Live music, dancing lessons, and demonstrations will be provided by the bandstand on Audrey Avenue between Town Hall and the U.S. Post Office.

Ewa Rumprecht, one of the organizers of the event and co-owner of the Think Long Island First store in Oyster Bay said “This is an event that will help to put Oyster Bay on the map. We have so many cultural and artistic activities happening here already, that dancing is the next step in the evolution.”

The DJ’s and groups leading dance instruction follow:

• August 5th, DJ Louis del Prete with a Latin and Ballroom Mix, plus dance instruction, and featuring a demo by Lisa Sparkles Studio


• August 12th, music by Scofflaws, a Huntington ska band, “so hip it’s ridiculous”


• August 19th, DJ Louis del Prete with a Latin and Ballroom Mix plus dance instruction


• August 26th, DJ Louis del Prete, dance instructions and demo by Bliss Studio

This Dancing in the Street event is generously sponsored by local businesses and organizations: New York Islanders, State Bank of Long Island, Think Long Island First, Bliss Studio, English Country Flowers, State Farm Insurance – John Specce Agency, Lisa Sparkles Dance, and the Oyster Bay Main Street Association.


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ABOUT OYSTER BAY MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

Oyster Bay Main Street Association (OBMSA) is dedicated to enhancing and promoting an attractive and thriving downtown, while maintaining its historic integrity. We are a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit using the national Main Street Approach® to downtown revitalization.

An Eventful Weekend in Oyster Bay, June 4 and 5

Food, art, sailing and music. No, it’s not the OysterFest. The hamlet’s waterfront and growing arts community are featured in dual events on the weekend of June 4th and 5th. Beginning with the first annual Oyster Bay Day Arts Festival, jointly organized by the Oyster Bay Main Street Association and the Chamber of Commerce, a juried art contest will begin Saturday with exhibits throughout the Hamlet. The event dovetails with the Waterfront Center’s Bay Day celebration on Sunday. The celebration features live music, food, an “anything that floats” race, free sails on Sonars and the newly restored Christeen, America’s oldest surviving oyster sloop.

The art festival exhibits work from three categories of entrants from noon to 4 pm on Saturday. An open air exhibit of work from adult entrants will take place on the street on lower Audrey Avenue “near the gazebo”, artwork from children from 8-11 years will be hosted by Not Just Art at 183 South Street, and ages 12-17 will be hosted by Think Long Island First at 36 Audrey Avenue.

The hosts will conduct a competition of first, second and third prizes for children and young adults. The adult competition consists of best landscape, portrait, nude and still life in addition to a sculpture and photography division. In addition to the juried contests, visitors will be encouraged to vote for their favorite in a “people’s choice” award.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony that is open to the public on Sunday at 5 pm immediately following the Waterfront’s Bay Day festivities. The awards ceremony will take place along with a viewing of art work at The Artists Club Gallery at 27 Berry Hill Road.

"These celebrations focus on the quaint charm of the historic downtown and natural beauty of the waterfront which make Oyster Bay special" said Tracy Dellomo, a Main Street board member and one of the organizers of the event.

Anyone interested in Bay Day Festivities can contact the Waterfront Center.

Free Introduction to Wood Carving Workshop, 3/12, 10am

Introduction to Wood Carving
Saturday, March 12th, 10 am

Three local wood carvers, Don Dailey from Huntington Station, Mike Denaro from Oyster Bay, and Bob Schiff from Great Neck, will conduct an Introduction to Wood Carving session at Think Long Island First this Saturday starting at 10 am. Think Long Island First is located at 36 Audrey Avenue in the Buckingham Variety Store.

Take this opportunity to learn about the carving materials, tools, and varnishes. Bring your completed or ongoing projects to discuss with Don, Mike, and Bob.

This free event is open to the public. No registration is required.

Sand pipers
by Don Dailey

Ice fishing decoys
by Mike Denaro

Sheep
by Bob Schiff

Artist Appreciation Day, Sat, Feb 19, 11am-5pm

We would like to invite you to spend an Artist Appreciation Day in Oyster Bay. We hope this will be a great opportunity for you to meet various talented Long Island artists, craftsmen, authors, and chefs, to discuss techniques, exchange ideas, and get inspired. We are thrilled just thinking about it!

On Saturday, February 19th, pack your car with friends & family and join us at the store anytime between 11 am and 5 pm. Meet the artists, pick up the map of town and coupons, tour the town, eat at a local restaurant, come back to the store, meet new visitors.

The guided tour of Oyster Bay starts at 2:30 pm and takes about 1 hour. It will be conducted by Isaac Kremer of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. If you would like to participate please fill out the form on www.thinklongislandfirst.com. The tour starts at the store.

Self-guided audio tours are available, as well. Pick up the audio players at the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum at 102 Audrey Avenue, 11 am – 4 pm.

All the historical sites you may want to visit are listed on the Main Street Association's website and in the booklet we have ready for you. Some of them are:

• Raynham Hall Museum – historical house dating back to 1770s
  20 West Main Street, 1 pm – 5 pm


• Oyster Bay Railroad Museum – preservation of LI's railroad history
  102 Audrey Avenue, 11 am – 4 pm


• Sagamore Hill – home of Theodore Roosevelt
  3.5 miles out of town, 10 am – 4 pm


• Planting Fields Arboretum – grounds, greenhouses, Coe Hall
  1.5 miles out of town, 9 am – 5 pm

Visit the galleries in town, full list is published on Main Street Association's site. The Teaching Studios of Art at 115 Audrey Ave will have an art class in session and encourages people to drop by and visit throughout the day.


The raffle drawing will take place at 5 pm at the store. The lucky winner will enjoy a $50 gift certificate for a meal at Canterbury's Oyster Bar & Grill.

Various Oyster Bay restaurants offer discounts to our guests on the day:

• Canterbury's Oyster Bar & Grill – 15% off lunch, 20% off dinner
  Oysters and American menu, lots of TR memorabilia
  46 Audrey Ave, 516.922.3614


• Cafe al Dente – 15% off dinner (dinner service starts at 3 pm)
  Italian, family style
  2 Spring Street, 516.922.2442


• Jack Halyards – 20% off lunch or dinner
  American Bar and Grill, American cuisine, lots of seafood
  62 South Street, 516.922.2999


• The Homestead - 10% off lunch or dinner
  American, TR and Billy Joel have frequented its bar and lounge
  107 South Street, 516.922.9293

For your sweet tooth, the Chocolate Lady across the street at 49 Audrey Avenue offers a free chocolate with a purchase of hot chocolate.

Buckingham Variety Store, where Think Long Island First store is located, is offering a 20% discount.


RSVP on Facebook today! (and help get the word out to others)

Think Long Island First is dedicated to promoting goods made on Long Island by local artists and craftsmen. By selling things made locally, Think Long Island First lowers the environmental footprint by removing the long distance delivery of products. The company also lifts the barrier of anonymity and non-accountability by introducing to the general public not only the local products but also their makers.

Artist Appreciation Day, Sat, Feb 19, 11am-5pm

Please note: This event that had originally been scheduled for Feb. 5 has been rescheduled for Feb. 19 on account of weather.

70 Local Artists, Craftsmen, Authors, and Chefs
Meet at Think Long Island First
Saturday, February 19th, 11 am - 5 pm

Come and meet the talented Long Island artists, craftsmen, authors, and chefs whose work we carry at Think Long Island First. Please join us at the store on Saturday, February 19th, anytime between 11 am and 5 pm.


Photo by Karolina Zamecka

Start at the store, meet the artists, pick up a map and coupons, tour the town, eat at a local restaurant, come back to the store, meet new visitors.

The guided tour of Oyster Bay starts at 2:30 pm and takes about 1 hour. It will be conducted by Isaac Kremer of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. If you would like to participate please fill out the form on www.thinklongislandfirst.com. The tour starts at the store.

Self-guided audio tours are available, as well. Pick up the audio players at the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum at 102 Audrey Avenue, 11 am – 4 pm.
All the historical sites you may want to visit are listed on the Main Street Association's website and in the booklet we have ready for you. Some of them are:

Raynham Hall Museum – historical house dating back to 1770s
20 West Main Street, 1 pm – 5 pm

Oyster Bay Railroad Museum – preservation of LI's railroad history
102 Audrey Avenue, 11 am – 4 pm

Sagamore Hill – home of Theodore Roosevelt
3.5 miles out of town, 10 am – 4 pm

Planting Fields Arboretum – grounds, greenhouses, Coe Hall
1.5 miles out of town, 9 am – 5 pm

The raffle drawing will take place at 5 pm at the store. The lucky winner will enjoy a $50 gift certificate for a meal at Canterbury's Oyster Bar & Grill.
Various Oyster Bay restaurants offer discounts to our guests on the day:

Canterbury's Oyster Bar & Grill – 15% off lunch, 20% off dinner
Oysters and American menu, lots of TR memorabilia
46 Audrey Ave, 516.922.3614

Cafe al Dente – 15% off dinner (dinner service starts at 3 pm)
Italian, family style
2 Spring Street, 516.922.2442

Jack Halyards – 20% off lunch or dinner
American Bar and Grill, American cuisine, lots of seafood
62 South Street, 516.922.2999

The Homestead - 10% off lunch or dinner
American, TR and Billy Joel have frequented its bar and lounge
107 South Street, 516.922.9293

For your sweet tooth, the Chocolate Lady across the street at 49 Audrey Avenue offers a free chocolate with a purchase of hot chocolate.

Buckingham Variety Store, where Think Long Island First store is located, is offering a 20% discount.



We are dancing a 'Weather Be Good' dance here to wade off another snow storm over the island. So far it looks like we are going to have a sunny day.

If we carry your work in the store, please kindly confirm whether you are coming and, if so, what time you are arriving so that we can inform the folks eager to meet you.

RSVP on Facebook today! (and help get the word out to others)

Think Long Island First is dedicated to promoting goods made on Long Island by local artists and craftsmen. By selling things made locally, Think Long Island First lowers the environmental footprint by removing the long distance delivery of products. The company also lifts the barrier of anonymity and non-accountability by introducing to the general public not only the local products but also their makers.

Potter Donna Ferrara at Think Long Island First, 11/4, 5-7pm

Meet the Maker: Potter Donna Ferrara at Think Long Island First
Thursday, November 4th, 5 pm - 7 pm

Meet the Long Island potter Donna Ferrara who will present her work at the Think Long Island First store in Oyster Bay on Thursday, November 4th, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Donna will be happy to answer questions about her pottery and the creative process behind it.

Donna first studied pottery with the Japanese potter Makoto Yabe and later trained at the Radcliffe Pottery Center at Harvard.
She now runs a successful studio where she creates her own work and teaches students at all levels.

Her artistic explorations into shapes and glazes result in highly functional and beautiful stoneware.

Thanksgiving is around the corner, take this opportunity to stock up on serving dishes, plates, tea sets and more, all made by the artist in her Sea Cliff studio. They make great gifts, too!

Think Long Island First is dedicated to promoting goods made on Long Island by local artists and craftsmen. By selling things made locally, Think Long Island First lowers the environmental footprint by removing the long distance delivery of products. The company also lifts the barrier of anonymity and non-accountability by introducing to the general public not only the local products but also their makers.

Think Long Island First 36 Audrey Avenue Oyster Bay, NY 11771 516.584.3155
http://www.thinklongislandfirst.com/

Think Long Island Store Opens in Oyster Bay, Oct 7

September 26, 2010, Oyster Bay, NY – Two local Long Islanders will be launching Think Long Island First, a company dedicated to promoting goods made on Long Island, October 7 at the Grand Opening of its first storefront. Born from a deeply-felt desire to support local artisans, Think Long Island First will carry various products such as wood-turned objects, pottery, photography, stationary, metal sculpture, cosmetics, jewelry, knits, honey, jam and jellies – all crafted within the area. The store will be located inside Buckingham Variety Store at 36 Audrey Avenue in historic Oyster Bay.

The launch also follows part of a larger national trend to support local economies for reasons of local sustainability, transparency and greater social responsibility. The long-term goal of the company is to become a catalyst in the development of cottage industries on Long Island.

“We are thrilled to open our doors to the public next week. Think Long Island First will give residents and visitors to the area a great opportunity to enjoy and support the talented artists and craftsmen here on Long Island who just happen to be their neighbors,” said Ewa Rumprecht, who along with her partner Jolanta Zamecka, will both be at the event and available for interviews.

Artist wood turner Harry Wicks from Cutchogue, NY, will be at the Grand Opening of the store to represent the many artists whose wares will be sold there. He executes decorative and utilitarian wood objects - bowls, plates, vases, etc., mostly from Long Island wood.

The company founders started Think Long Island First with clear goals in mind:

• Address green, environmental concerns
  Transportation of goods takes an enormous toll on the environment. Think Long Island First removes the long distance delivery of goods from the product life cycle. Ewa and Jolanta believe that Long Islanders should not only enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables grown on the fertile soil of the East End, but should also be able to dress in clothes made by their neighbors or decorate their homes with wares made within a short driving distance.
  
• Enable guilt-free shopping
  Considering that slave and child labor still exist in many parts of the world, there is a need for a greater transparency in the production of goods. This can only be assured by maintaining close contacts with the manufacturers in one's own backyard. Think Long Island First removes the barrier of anonymity and non-accountability and presents makers to the consumers together with their products by publishing information about the makers on its website, by holding “Meet the Maker” events at the store and by organizing tours of workshops.
  
• Promote sustainable Long Island
  Goods made locally and sold locally contribute to the economy of Long Island. Artists and craftsmen who are able to support themselves within their community can continue to develop their skills and create a wider range of products. Purchasing local goods
  promotes the sustainability of arts and crafts on Long Island.

Ewa Rumprecht, a musicologist by education, has years of experience as a programmer and an IT and localization manager in technology industry. Her latest, very rewarding involvement was with Smile Train, the charity helping children in poor countries obtain free cleft lip and palate surgery. She lives in Oyster Bay with three cats.

Jolanta Zamecka is a trained psychologist. Her career has followed many paths – psychology, stock brokerage, museum consulting, preservation advocacy and retail. She currently serves on the boards of Chamber Players International and the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. She also manages her husband Edward's busy medical practice, Z Medical Care. Jolanta is a long-time Oyster Bay resident.

For more information, please visit http://www.thinklongislandfirst.com/ .

ABOUT THINK LONG ISLAND FIRST
Think Long Island First is dedicated to promoting goods made on Long Island by local artists and craftsmen. By selling things made locally, Think Long Island First lowers the environmental footprint by removing the long distance delivery of products. The company also lifts the barrier of anonymity and non-accountability by introducing to the general public not only the local products but also their makers.

Media Contact:
Ewa Rumprecht, President
Think Long Island First
516.584.3155
ewa@thinklongislandfirst.com