Real Estate Blog

Were you able to enrich your lives with “culture” this weekend?  Did you visit one of the many art galleries and/or venues on Staten Island that I highlighted last week?  I attended the Annual Egyptian Festival at the recently purchased Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Diocesan Center at 500 Todt Hill Rd. this weekend hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael and St. Mena. Art, music and color were awash at every step inside this beautiful spiritual center. The children wore costumes to help the visitor experience the pharaonic village tour, the mystery of the pyramids and the resurrection of the Pharaohs.  The aroma of Egyptian and Mediterranean food and the myriad of desserts was irresistible. You must try the all-fresh-fruit smoothie table on the lower level.  Rides, games, arts and crafts were also available for the kiddies as well as handmade crafts for sale. The festival continues next Saturday, 11/5 and Sunday 11/6 from noon to 8.  Don’t miss the fun, food and spiritual experience! Below are some photos taken at this event.

From a Horse's Mouth was Saturday at Snug Harbor Cultural Center. This celebratory dance/theater production featured 25 distinguished performers from our community.  Each performer intimately told his/her story about how dance became a part of their lives while others danced in shadows on stage. Some stories made you cry, some made you laugh, some made you smile. Below is a glimpse of this enjoyable production.

The Borough President’s “Halloween Hoopla” took place on Monday at Bloomingdale Park.  The hay maze was a hit with the kiddies as well as Trick or Treat stations, costume parade, photo spots, pony rides, inflatable attractions and more.  After an afternoon of wholesome, active fun in the park, the kiddies were ready to go home and relax.

Most importantly as Halloween is over, candy may be sweet, but giving back is even sweeter.  Encourage your kiddies to give some of their candy away for a good cause.  The following dentists are “buying back” candy by way of cash, coupons and other creative currencies.  The collected candy will be distributed to military support groups like Operation Gratitude. 

Kids Dental – 4864 Arthur Kill Rd. - 718-356-5437

Phyllis G. Merlino, 68 Todt Hill Rd. – 718-761-2090

Dr. Michael D’Anna, 115 Seguie Ave. 718-948-4384

You, too, can participate in the Semi-Annual Meeting at Goodhue Center on Wednesday, 11/2 at 6:30 at the Children's Aid Society (Goodhue Center), 304 Prospect Ave. The Protectors of Pine Oak Woods is working with the Children’s Aid Society to see through the final phase of a three-phased purchase of the Goodhue Woods in New Brighton. The Children’s Aid Society will present their plans to develop a multi-use community center near the corner of Brighton Ave. along Lafayette Ave. With the transfer of these properties, a new, North Shore Greenbelt connecting the Jones Woods, the Goodhue Woods, Allison Pond Park and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, will be complete.  For more info, call Cliff Hagen at 718-313-8591.

The Second Annual Heart Fundraiser in memory of Robert Cognetta presents a 1920’s Themed Murder Mystery Dinner on Thursday, 11/3 from 6-10 at the Vanderbilt at South Beach, 300 Fr. Capodanno Blvd. featuring an interactive live murder mystery show, hor d’oeuvres, 4-course sit down dinner, dessert, raffles, Red Carpet photos and more.  All proceeds will go toward the construction of a brand new "Hybrid Operating Room" at the Heart Tower. For info on tickets and reservations or make a donation, call Ronette at 347-996-9883 or http://www.robertcognettasiuhheartfund.myevent.com/

The 26th Annual Cranberry Festival is on Friday, 11/4 & Saturday 11/5 from 4-9 at the Bethel United Methodist Church, 7033 Amboy Rd. Recipes inspired by this tasty little berry will include apple cranberry pie, cranberry breads, coffee cakes, muffins, cobbler, cranberry sauce and farm fresh cranberries. On Friday, a turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, fresh rolls and homemade cranberry sauce will be served at 4:30, 6:30 and 7:30 at $12/person. For reservations, call 718-356-8485. On Saturday, breakfast from 8-11 will feature cranberry pancakes and cranberry syrup. Lunch will be at 12:30 p.m. with turkey salad, hot turkey sandwiches and turkey soup on the menu. An outdoor flea market will take place on Saturday from 8-3. For info, call 718-984-1277 or visit http://www.bethelumcsi.com

Get ready for a 10-Mile Fall Greenbelt Walk on Saturday, 11/5 at 9:15 a.m. at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. The Protectors of Pine Oak Woods invites everyone to participate in this walk welcoming Fall. Wear comfortable boots and long pants. Meet at the Greenbelt Nature Center.  Bring lunch and adequate beverage. For more info, call Dominick Durso at 917-478-7607 or Don Recklies at 718-768-9036.

A workshop on Portrait Photography will be held on Saturday from 10-12 at Alice Austen House Museum, 2 Hylan Blvd. Enrich your basic understanding of photography, focusing on composition, lighting, gesture and selecting backgrounds while enhancing your portraits-skills. Instructor is professional photographer, Imara Moore. For reservations, call 718-816-4506 x10 or visit info@aliceausten.org.  Admission is $10/$8 members.

On Saturday from 10-4, Christ United Methodist Church, 1890 Forest Ave. will have its Fall Fair.  New items, attic treasures, baked goods, crafts and raffles for gift baskets will be available as well as a variety of meals for lunch. Call 718-442-3755 for info or visit http://Christ United Methodist Church.

Attend the Holiday Bazaar at the New Dorp Moravian Church, 2205 Richmond Rd. on Saturday from 10-4. Shop for handcrafted holiday items and enjoy lunch.  Call 718-351-0090 for info or visit http://newdorpmoravian.org.  

SMART Recovery for Family and Friends is on Saturday from 10:30-12 at Seaview Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home, 460 Brielle Ave. This is a FREE evidence-based support group for people impacted by the addictive behavior of someone close. Solution-oriented meetings discuss straightforward techniques to better interact with your loved one, guide them into treatment, support sustained recovery and find fulfillment in your own life. Contact SMARTstatenisland@gmail.com for info, call 646-472-9706 or visit http://www.smartrecovery.org

Are you ready to say goodbye to your pumpkins and enjoy refreshments, raffles and more?  Bring pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns and gourds to Pumpkin Smash 2016 on Saturday from 11-3 (rain or shine) at P.S. 9, 1055 Targee St. so NYC Compost Project can turn them into compost for City parks and green spaces.  For info, visit nyccompostproject@dsny.nyc.gov

A Dinner and Musical Event/Benefit for Alzheimers of Staten Island and Safe Horizon for Battered Women will be held on Saturday from 4-7 at the Church of the Ascension, 1 Kingsley Ave. This intimate afternoon with musician Karlus Trapp entertaining will have you singing, clapping, tapping those feet and have you feeling good from your head to your toes with a buffet dinner, basket raffles and more.  For ticket info, call 718-698-3490. 

FALL BACK:  Daylight saving time ends Sunday morning at 2 a.m.  So if you want to attend the following events and show up on time, set your clocks BACK one hour on Saturday night before bedtime.

A Fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 37--Pancake Breakfast and Raffle Bash/Chinese Auction takes place on Sunday, 11/6, 8-1 at St. Theresa's R.C. Church, 1634 Victory Blvd. including many great raffles with DJ and Bopping Heads Entertainment. Admission is $7 or $5 with flyer (check it out on website--http://www.bsatroop37.us).

Enjoy a wonderful judgement-free and sensory-friendly dual private showing (10 a.m. showtime) of TROLLS (2D) with this Families Helping Families Movie Event on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the United Artists Hylan Plaza, 107 Mill Rd.  FHF reserves the entire UA movie theater to ensure the safety and well-being of our families with no crowds, lines or other patrons. The theater provides the option to keep the volume of the movie lower and lights in the theater brighter. Choose the theater based on your child's behavioral needs and sensitivity to noise and disruption. Theater A offers more freedom and is ideal for children with greater behavioral needs, verbal ticks or vocal self-stimulatory behaviors. Theater B is ideal for families with children who require a quieter environment or are easily distracted by sounds or movements around them. Please visit http://fhfnyc.org/eme-events/2016-11-06/ www.fhfnyc.org for more info or call 718-226-2171.  Admission is $9 per ticket advance payments (by credit card/pay pal); $10 per ticket at the door (cash only). 

Enjoy the Fall Choral Concert: Hands Across the Atlantic on Sunday, 11/6 at 4 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 St. Paul's Ave. The traditional concert explores American, Spanish, Italian, and African American music and celebrates the influences and enrichment of our cultures on one another, with Wagner College Choir, Chamber Singers, Stretto vocal ensemble, Roger Wesby, conductor, and Treble Concert Choir and Hildegard Ensemble, Beth Johanning, conductor.  For info on tickets, call 718-390-3205 or visit http://wagner.edu/music.  Admission is $15 (students free with ID).

Note to my gentle readers: If you enjoy reading my blog--“Weekend Events on Staten Island” and are not a friend of mine on Facebook but would like to be, you know what to do—friend request!  If you would prefer to be on my mailing list, please contact me at joan.coogan@gmail.com or call me at 646-258-9696. I will send it to you each week.  Nevertheless, if you will do me the honor of sharing the blog with your friends, either on Facebook (click “Share” underneath the blog post) or e-mail, I would greatly appreciate it. 

I welcome comments and photos at events you might have attended.  If you want to share events specifically for children or adults or seniors, by all means, email or call me.

Tags

• Halloween Hoopla (4)
• Operation Gratitude (2)
• 10-mile Fall Greenbelt Walk (1)
• Pumpkin Smash 2016 (1)
• Fall Choral Concert: hands across the Atlantic (1)
• semi-annual meeting at Goodhue Center (1)
• Christ United Methodist Church (1)
• Trolls (2D) (1)
• Annual Egyptian Festival (1)
• Portrait Photography (1)
• Dinner and Musical Event/Benefit for Alzheimers of Staten and Safe Horizon for Battered Women (1)
• Second Annual Heart Fundraiser in memory of Robert Cognetta (1)
• 26th Annual Cranberry Festival (1)
• SMART Recover for Family and Friends (1)
• Families Helping Families Movie Event (1)
• candy buy back (1)
• Fall Fair (1)
• Fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 37 (1)