a blank slate media/ litmor publications special section november 25, 2016
38 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFT GUIDE • News Times Newspapers, Friday, November 25, 2016
Simple ways to dress up your home for the holidays T
he holiday season is rife with traditions that focus on fun and family. One such testament to the festive spirit of the holiday season is the many homes and businesses decorated with the lights and colors that have become synonymous with the season. Decorating for the holiday season can be time-consuming. While decking the halls may not consume as much time as holiday shopping and wrapping presents, according to data from a 2013 American Time Use Survey, interior and exterior decorating for the holidays may consume anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours per session. Holiday decorating includes things as simple as setting up a menorah or as complex as stringing lights on the exterior of a home. Though elaborate displays can take hours to erect, timecrunched holiday celebrants can still create festive, welcoming displays. Hang holiday wreaths. Holiday enthusiasts without much time to decorate can invest in a couple of holiday wreaths, which can be dressed up as much or as little as celebrants prefer. If you do not have the time to string lights on the house, wrap them around wreaths hung in windows or hang the wreaths on a home’s main entrance. Celebrants who want to go a less traditional route can hang wreaths made of holly, citrus fruits, ribbons, or any other greenery instead of the more customary evergreen wreaths.
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Decorate with ornaments. Ornaments are not exclusive to Christmas trees. Fill a vase or bowl with metallic
ornaments and place it in a prominent location, such as a busy hallway or the foyer of your home. Hang ornaments on clear filament from the mantle or within the main window of the house, where they can reflect tree lights and add sparkle. Bring in more greenery. Drape evergreen boughs on staircase handrailings or on the mantle, or use greenery to frame doorways. The scent will be inviting and things instantly will look more festive. Use throws and decorative pillows. Change the look of a room with holiday-colored decor if you do not want to clutter the space with knickknacks. A red and green blanket draped over the sofa can give off a comforting holiday vibe. Focus on the front door and entryway. Celebrants who do not have the time to decorate their entire homes can create a warm, inviting space by decorating their front doors and entryways. Place greenery, bows, tinsel, lights, and winter-inspired accessories by the front door so friends and family visiting for the season catch the holiday spirit the moment they walk through the door. Place LED candles in windows. Rather than contending with twinkle lights and electric cords, homeowners can employ battery-operated faux candles to create a homey appeal in windows and hallways throughout their homes. Simplify holiday decorating with some easy tips to make houses cozy and festive.
News Times Newspapers, Friday, November 25, 2016 • HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFT GUIDE
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40 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFT GUIDE • News Times Newspapers, Friday, November 25, 2016
5 ways to make holiday guests comfortable T
he time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day marks one of the busiest periods of the year for long-distance travel. The United States Department of Transportation says that come Thanksgiving, the number of long-distance trips (50+ miles away) increases by 54 percent, and around Christmas that number rises by 23 percent over the remainder of the year. Those travelers ultimately need a place to rest their heads, and many stay with family and friends. Entertaining during the holiday season involves accounting for guests’ comfort, and that often means hosts must put their visitors’ needs over their own. Although some sacrifices need to be made, there is a way to find a happy compromise that can help the holidays go smoothly and happily. Consider these ways to help guests feel welcome whether they stay for a few hours or a few days.
1. Cater to specific dietary needs. One of the ways to treat guests kindly is by being aware of any special dietary needs they may have when it comes to preparing holiday meals or other foods during their visits. Some guests may require low-sodium diets, while others may be monitoring their blood-sugar levels and must dine accordingly. Vegetarians and vegans limit the foods they eat, while others may avoid foods based on religious preferences. Offer a variety of foods and try to cater to guests’ needs as much as possible. When in doubt, consult with the guest so he or she feels welcome and does not go hungry.
2. Make sleeping spaces as private as possible. Not everyone has a separate guest room for overnight stays, but try to make sleeping areas as private as you can when visitors spend the night. Use privacy screens or set guests up in a family room that’s away from the center of activity. Hosts may want to give up their own rooms for the comfort of guests.
or hangers in the entryway for coats and other winter attire. Not only will this keep things more organized, it can provide guests with comfort.
3. Offer storage space. One way to make guests feel comfortable is to give them their own storage space. This can include space in a closet, a couple of drawers to stow their belongings,
5. Keep snacks and other creature comforts readily accessible. Guests may feel sheepish scavenging through cabinets or drawers looking for items. Make things easy to find by leaving
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4. Include guests when preparing for entertaining. Many guests like to feel involved, and by including them in meal preparation, decorating or shopping, you can help them feel included and appreciated.
items out on counters or indicating where items can be found. For example, if you know a guest enjoys an evening cup of tea and some cookies, leave out the cookies, tea bags and kettle so that he or she can indulge when the urge comes. Guests are a large part of the holiday season. Help them feel comfortable whenever they visit your home.
For your latest community news visit us 24 hours a day 7 days a week at www.theislandnow.com
News Times Newspapers, Friday, November 25, 2016 • HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFT GUIDE
ATTILIO’S…“More than a neighborhood pizzeria”
REJOICE WITH HANDEL’S MESSIAH !
2.00 OFF
$
A Community Holiday Sing Sunday, December 11 1:30 p.m.
48 Shelter Rock Rd. Manhasset, NY 11030 516.627.6560 · www.uucsr.org
OF $30 OR MORE
Not to be combined with any other offer. Expires 12/31/16
We specialize in catering for all occasions
5.00 OFF
ANY DINNER
ANY LARGE PIE or ENTREE
Join UUCSR for G.F. Handel’s Messiah, a community sing conducted by Stephen Michael Smith.
Purchase tickets at the door. $8 each. Free/18 and under.
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Not to be combined with any other offer. Expires 12/31/16
10% OFF
ANY CATERING ORDER OF $100 OR MORE
Not to be combined with any other offer. Expires 12/31/16
ASK FOR OUR CATERING MENU
Enjoy the music or sing along!
96 Mineola Ave. Roslyn Heights tel: 621-1400 fax: 621-1509 www.ourattilios.com
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26th
254 East Jericho Tpke. Mineola, NY 718-628-0300 Full line of Men’s and Women's Unique Hats, Scarves, Ear Muffs, Back Packs. Etc.
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Stop In Today! Our Store is overflowing with beautiful gift ideas.
HOURS: Mon thru Sun 10am to 7pm. Closed Tuesday
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42 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFT GUIDE • News Times Newspapers, Friday, November 25, 2016
Select educational gifts for children
When shopping for holiday gifts for children, shoppers can easily be overwhelmed by the many toys, electronics, apparel and other items available for kids. Those who may not be up-to-date on the latest trends may even find shopping for kids a bit like solving a difficult puzzle. While some shoppers may want to get kids the flashiest toy, others may prefer gifts that are both fun and mentally stimulating. Developmental toys and educational games for kids make for popular gifts. Toy and game manufacturers continue to develop products that integrate logic, reasoning, language stimulation, and motor skill development. Shoppers looking for fun, educational toys and games for the kids on their shopping lists have a host of items to choose from. Building blocks: Blocks that enable children to design and construct are popular among youngsters of various ages. Blocks come in many different forms, from early education wooden blocks that fill nursery floors to the more intricate, interlocking building sets that are coveted by older children. STEM toys: Some of the latest trends in children’s toys veer away from regular video games and apps and cater to the rising interest in STEM. STEM is an acronym for science, technology and math. Early introduction to STEM-related skills can pay dividends later in life, considering students who have an emphasis on STEM knowledge are highly coveted among
employers. STEM toys may include robotbuilding kits, toys that help young learners test the boundaries of physics, apps that help kids learn computer programing, and even scientific experiment kits that illustrate cause and effect. Sensory toys: Young children can benefit from toys that stimulate the senses. Items to consider include water toys, sands (including the newer kinetic varieties), playdoughs, musical instruments, and bubbles. Even food-related toys, such as those that encourage baking or cooking, will appeal to various senses and can help kids learn valuable skills. Imaginative play toys: Imaginative play is an effective way to stimulate creative thinking and may help children become better learners. The Creativity Institute, specializing in toys for creative play, says playing is important to children and the way they practice growing up. According to an article by Dr. Scott Kaufman that appeared in Psychology Today, “Systematic research has increasingly demonstrated a series of clear benefits of children’s engagement in pretend games from the ages of about two and one half through ages six or seven.” Dress-up toys, puppets, dolls, action figures, and toys that mimic real-life activities are all examples of products that promote imaginative play. Educational toys can be included on holiday gifting lists. Not only will they encourage children to play and have fun, but they’ll serve as building blocks to a lifetime of learning as well.
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HOURS Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm
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News Times Newspapers, Friday, November 25, 2016 • HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFT GUIDE
43
Please join us… We’re Celebrating our
Did you know?
One Year Anniversary December 3, 10am-7pm
As holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, retailers who use apps and mobile responsive websites to reach more customers may benefit by making a concerted effort to reach older shoppers. According to Nielsen’s Mobile Measurement, 26 percent of the more than 100 million mobile shoppers are 55 and older, while an additional 40 percent are between the ages of 25 and 44. Those figures might surprise some retailers who are quick to associate mobile shopping with digital-native Millennials. Nielsen’s Fourth-Quarter 2014 Mobile Multicultural Insights report even noted that Hispanics are more inclined to shop via mobile than non-Hispanic, white smartphone owners. Retailers may also be interested to know that more and more shoppers are turning to apps instead of websites to do their shopping. Between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the fourth quarter of 2014, Nielsen reports that 101.4 million smartphone users accessed a shopping app. By the fourth quarter of 2015, that figure had risen to 109.9 million users.
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44 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFT GUIDE • News Times Newspapers, Friday, November 25, 2016
BE A CHAMPION! Please Join
A M E R I CA NA M A N H A S S E T for our Annual Holiday Shopping Benefit
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 to SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 SHOP 12/1 to 12/3
•
10AM to 8PM | 12/4
•
11AM to 6PM
25% of your full-priced pre-tax purchases at participating Americana Manhasset and select Wheatley Plaza* stores will be donated to the participating organizations of your choice! *Visit wheatleyplaza.com for Wheatley Plaza store hours.
You must present your CHAMPION NUMBER at the time of each purchase. To register for your complimentary CHAMPION NUMBER and for more information, including a list of the over 120 participating charities and over 70 stores, visit us at championsforcharity.org or call
CHAMPION CARD 2016
800.818.6767. Champions for Charity® was founded by Americana Manhasset in 1996. This annual holiday shopping benefit has been embraced by the community, growing to support over 120 not-for-profit organizations with the participation of over 70 Americana Manhasset and select Wheatley Plaza stores. Now in it’s 21st year, Champions for Charity® has raised over 9.5 million dollars. Taking an active role in the community has been an integral part of Castagna Realty Retail Group’s mission and particularly throughout Americana Manhasset’s 60 year history.
Northern Boulevard at Searingtown Road • Manhasset, NY