Staten Island, NY May 2023

The Ladies Issue

Happy May! This month is for the ladies! We wanted to take a moment to recognize all of the special ladies in our lives that make life a bit more rich, beautiful and special. Of course May is also the month of Mother’s Day and we are honoring all the momma’s out there whether it is your biological mother, a grandmother, aunt, sister, friend etc who holds a special place in your heart. We personally are lucky enough to have some amazing women in our lives and we don’t know where we would be without them and the unconditional support that they give us each and every day.

Celebrating women is not only about your family members and friends though. It’s about celebrating teachers, neighbors, business owners and other amazing women who are doing great things for our community. Women who make life a bit more inspiring. This issue is dedicated to all those women who make any sort of impact – whether it’s in your home or in our neighborhood, this one goes out to you.

With that being said, in this month’s issue you will find a gift guide for Mom to make her day extra special,  a spotlight on some local female producers and some more bits and pieces about other Staten Island women that bless our neighborhood with their amazing products and services.

I hope this month you’ll take a few minutes to send a text, make a phone call, stop by and visit or get your kids on a video call with the women in your life who deserve recognition. It only takes a minute to brighten someone’s day and remind them how much you love them.

May 2023

PUBLISHER

Brigitte McLaughlin | brigitte.mclaughlin@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Valerie Bianculli | valerie.bianculli@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Phil Tursi | phil@plugnewyork.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Mike Gloria

BRIGITTE MCLAUGHLIN, PUBLISHER VALERIE BIANCULLI, EDITOR @STATENISLANDCITYLIFESTYLE

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Mary Albers

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

Spring is in the air

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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photos

1: Gravesend Team from left to right; Cristian DeMeo, William DeMeo, Chazz Palminteri and Michele Frantzeskos 2: Spring is in full bloom at the Mackenzie & Childs store in SoHo 3: Staten Island Young Professionals Group at Seppe Pizza Bar 4: Always looking forward to the creative and delicious dishes from Wynwood Staten Island 5: SIEDC Members meeting with the borough president Vito J. Fossella 6: Spring in New York City 7: Loving the new artwork at Evolve 33 in New Dorp

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Just Be Yourself

ARTICLE BY PHIL TURSI & BRIGITTE MCLAUGHLIN

Mental Health 101 with Renee Wood and Michele Frantzeskos

SI CITY LIFESTYLE: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELVES. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY OF PRODUCTION?

RENEE WOOD: Basically I started right here in Staten Island, I was an actress and I started in theatre when I was 10 years old. As I grew up I started doing more theatre and film. When we were all quarantined during the pandemic, I started formulating a whole idea about COVID. I have a degree in social work so I wanted to infuse my social work skillset with my dramatic arts skillset and create a film to help the world. Michele and I already had an industry relationship and a personal friendship. I called her to see if she would be interested in collaborating with me to direct, write, produce and star in it together.

MICHELE FRANTZESKOS: I have been in the industry like Renee for a long time since I was a child. As years went on I started to want to make a difference in the world. I wrote a film called The Right to Live about domestic violence, sexual violence and any kind of abuse; verbal, mental, drug, alcohol, bullying etc. I wanted to get out there and spread awareness and help save lives. I wrote, directed, starred, produced, and executive produced the film. It won a lot of awards and that’s actually where Renee and I started collaborating on an anti-bully campaign that she was a part of. I went on to produce several other films, right now I am producing Graves End Season 2. I am proud to say that Renee is an actress on that set. When we came together she wanted to get out there and make a difference when it came to mental health. She wanted to show people that it’s OK to be vulnerable and get naked mentally.

RENEE WOOD: I always say it’s OK to get naked mentally! So many people feel like there is a stigma with mental health. So many individuals have anxiety and panic attacks and everyone is embarrassed to say hey I want to get some psychotherapy. They’re not embarrassed to go to the gym and work out if they want their muscles tight but how about working out your mind and getting your mind tight? That’s what this film encompasses. You’ll see individuals going

through psychotherapy and some of them are embarrassed to get naked mentally and others aren’t. You will see as the characters develop through the psychotherapy they all get better in the end. It’s OK to just be yourself and be proud of who you are.

STATEN ISLAND CITY LIFESTYLE: WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC? WHY WAS THIS A TOPIC THAT YOU FELT WAS SO IMPORTANT?

RENEE WOOD: I was quarantined living in a very secluded beach house, and I would just watch the news and every day there was startling news. Suicide rates were up, people who were married for a long time and had great relationships started to separate. I would talk to friends on the phone and it was always who was fighting with their husband, who was getting divorced, people losing their jobs, so I wanted to help the world. I wanted it to reach a broad audience and I wanted everyone to be able to relate to it. I wanted the characters to be like an onion where you would peel all the layers. When filming we purposely chose to not look glamorous, we wanted it to be raw and very relatable.

MICHELE FRANTZESKOS: We wanted to make sure that we were authentic and true to ourselves. It is something that everyone is going through. It’s relatable, it’s recognizable, you can relate to each character in the film. There is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about when you need help. You grow as an individual when you get out there and really recognize and take accountability for what you feel that you are vulnerable about and what your weaknesses are. If you can talk with somebody and really get through the process, you are just bettering yourself as an individual. As a whole in society, we could all build each other up and empower one another. It’s super important. So many people are tearing each other down. It’s about getting through each moment and knowing that there is sunshine out there. There’s a silver lining. COVID hit everybody in such different ways; emotionally, financially and so many people experienced loss.

“They’re not embarrassed to go to the gym and work out if they want their muscles tight but how about working out your mind and getting your mind tight?”

STATEN ISLAND CITY LIFESTYLE: YOU ARE BOTH WEARING SO MANY HATS IN TERMS OF PRODUCING, WRITING, ACTING… HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT BALANCING ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ROLES THAT YOU HAVE?

RENEE WOOD: I was living on the ocean and I was formulating everything in my brain. I had the story and I called Michele, she is a creative genius so we started zooming to collaborate. When my character had

COVID I actually had COVID in real life. When I was sniffling in the film it was completely authentic.

MICHELE FRANTZESKOS: A lot of research went into it. As far as all of the moving parts, I am familiar with the process since I have done several films. We just got out there and said hey we’re not stopping until this message gets out there because it is so important. We had a great team behind us.

STATEN ISLAND CITY LIFESTYLE: HOW CAN PEOPLE GET HELP?

MICHELE FRANTZESKOS: We implemented the help hotline at the end of the film. There are so many places where you can get help. If anybody needs anything we are more than happy to have them contact us. We are all about getting out there and making somebody whole again.

STATEN ISLAND CITY LIFESTYLE: WHEN WILL THE FILM BECOME AVAILABLE AND WHERE CAN VIEWERS WATCH IT?

MICHELE FRANTZESKOS: Beginning of May, Just Be Yourself will be on Amazon Prime and it will be on Vimeo as well as other platforms.

Jaritza M. Lima, LMT, MLD-C

A Look Into CrimsonRise

ARTICLE BY VALERIE BIANCULLI

CrimsonRise is a non-profit organization based in Staten Island that is going above and beyond every day to change the lives of those with autism. We were inspired by their story and wanted to take a moment this month to give them some recognition for the unbelievable work they are doing. A special thank you to Matthew Geib of Evolve 33 for referring this organization to us. In the spirit of Mother’s Day, what better way to show Mom or the special women in your life that you care by making an impact and supporting a local business that gives back to our community with their beautiful 100% silk scarves.

SI CITY LIFESTYLE: TELL ME A BIT ABOUT CRIMSONRISE

LAKSHMI RAO SANKAR: We are a non-profit organization based in Staten Island that offers a range of services including a day program that runs year long, fellowships which are groups where peers come together and take part in learning experiences and one-on-one spelling to communicate coaching for non-verbal autistic people so that they can learn to communicate. Our founders, Cris, Nick, Tejas and Will stayed silent for most of their early lives, until they learned how to communicate using a simple and accessible letterboard. This method of communication is called Spelling to Communicate. When they found

“They advocated fiercely to create a world where they and others just like them would receive the communication access and support they sought.”

—Lakshmi Rao Sankar

their voices – they knew that it meant much more than being able to ask for something at Christmas or how much they loved their families. It meant that they could choose to build their lives the way they want. They advocated fiercely to create a world where they and others just like them would receive the communication access and support they sought. A team of practitioners joined them and CrimsonRise came into being in September of 2021.

SI CITY LIFESTYLE: I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE STARTING A NEW INITIATIVE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SILK SCARVES YOU ARE SELLING. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

LAKSHMI RAO SANKAR: These scarves are handmade. They are 100% silk. They come in vibrant and soft colors. They are made by – Cristofer Puleo, Nick D’Amora, Tejas Rao Sankar and William Jusino, our founders. These vibrant and versatile scarves were created by these young men for the thera peutic values of engaging in art. First, they decided they wanted to honor mothers. Mothers matter a great deal. They make a significant difference in every child’s life. Which is why this is launching for Mother’s Day. Their long-term mission is to spread the word about who they are and raise aware ness and resources, so that other people like them can find a way to communicate.

“Their long-term mission is to spread the word about who they are and raise awareness and resources, so that other people like them can find a way to communicate.”

—Lakshmi Rao Sankar

“They symbolize pride in their Autistic lives. They symbolize that a person born into silence can emerge to have a powerful voice and be the change they want to see in the world. They symbolize that nonspeaking Autistics have the right to access communication.”

—Lakshmi Rao Sankar

SI CITY LIFESTYLE: WHAT DO THESE SCARVES SYMBOLIZE?

LAKSHMI RAO SANKAR: The scarves symbolize love and acceptance. The vibrant and unique colors, mirror the diversity of autistic experiences. They symbolize pride in their Autistic lives. They symbolize that a person born into silence can emerge to have a powerful voice and be the change they want to see in the world. They symbolize that nonspeaking Autistics have the right to access communication.

SI CITY LIFESTYLE: WHERE CAN PEOPLE BUY THESE SCARVES AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY UPDATED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION?

LAKSHMI RAO SANKAR: As of right now the best way to make a purchase would be via DM on Instagram. As far as staying updated the best way would be through our website and social media outlets. We are constantly updating our social media pages with news and events.

SI CITY LIFESTYLE: LASTLY, DO YOU HAVE ANY STYLING TIPS FOR THE SCARVES?

LAKSHMI RAO SANKAR: You can wear them as a head wrap, belt, accessory for a handbag, around your neck, around your wrist, sarong, tube top, as a hair tie etc.

Japanese Soufflé Pancakes

ARTICLE BY DANIELA GALARZA

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMULO YANES FOR THE NYT

Japanese soufflé pancakes start with the same ingredients as American varieties — namely, eggs, flour and milk — but they tower above traditional diner versions thanks to the addition of extra egg whites. A meringue mixture is beaten to stiff peaks, then folded into the batter, which cooks directly in metal pastry rings to help the pancakes attain their distinctive height. The key is to cook the batter at a very low temperature. If your stove has a small burner, or an especially low heat setting, use it here to create these custardy pancakes, worthy of breakfast, an afternoon snack or even dessert.

INGREDIENTS

Makes: 8 pancakes

• 4 egg whites and 2 egg yolks from 4 large eggs, separated and chilled

• 6 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 6 tablespoons cake flour

• ¼ cup milk, chilled

• ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• Unsalted butter, for greasing and serving

• Maple syrup, for serving

• Confectioners’ sugar, whipped cream and fresh berries, for serving

PREPARATION

1. Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer or a medium bowl; set aside. Place egg yolks in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, the vanilla and baking powder to egg yolks and whisk until blended. Add flour and milk; whisk until fully combined.

2. Add lemon juice and salt to egg whites. Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a hand mixer, whip mixture on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Continue to whip over medium while gradually sprinkling with remaining 5 tablespoons granulated sugar. Turn speed to high and whip until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture doubles in size, about 1 minute. Take care not to overbeat meringue.

3. Heat a lidded nonstick skillet over the lowest heat setting and set the lid aside.

4. Using a rubber spatula, scoop about 1/3 of meringue into egg yolk mixture and gently fold almost combined. Repeat with half the remaining meringue until almost combined, then fold in the remaining meringue just until no streaks remain.

5. Carefully grease the warm skillet and the inside of four 3-inch-wide pastry rings (they should be at least 1½ inches tall) using the butter. Check the heat of the pan by sprinkling a bit of water in it: Droplets should steam off the surface, but not dance or sputter. Place the greased pastry rings in the warm pan and ladle a scant ½ cup batter into each ring. Place lid on top of skillet and cook pancakes on very low heat until they start to rise and a few small bubbles start to form on top, 3 to 4 minutes.

6. Remove lid, carefully slide a flat spatula underneath each pancake and position another spatula on top, then gently flip pancakes in their rings. Immediately replace lid and cook until pancakes are cooked through and spring back to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer cooked pancakes to a platter, grease the skillet and pastry rings and repeat to make 4 additional pancakes.

7. Top pancakes with a pat of butter and drizzle with maple syrup; serve immediately. Serve with any combination of confectioners’ sugar, whipped cream and berries, if desired.

Experience Angel Touch Medi Spa

A

LITTLE

PAMPERING

GOES

A LONG WAY. ANGEL TOUCH MEDI SPA IS YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL THINGS BEAUTY.

Myrna, Owner of Angel Touch Medi Spa knows how hectic life can get, especially being a mom and business owner herself. This one is for the girls! Plan a day with mom, gather your girlfriends or plan a self-care day and head over to Angel Touch Medi Spa . There are endless services offered from Dermal Fillers to Botox to Chemical Peels to Laser Hair Removal and more.

MORPHEUS8

A non-surgical treatment that uses radiofrequency and microneedling to stimulate collagen production and improves skin complexion.

EMSCULPT

Get summer ready with this body contouring treatment that burns fat.

AQUA GOLD

A microneedling treatment that tightens pores, stimulates collagen production and gives you that GLOW.

BOTOX/DYSPORT

Bye bye wrinkles! Smooth out those fine lines with a little bit of Botox.

LIP FILLERS

For a perfectly plump pout with a natural look. Sometimes a little enhancement goes a long way with this procedure.

Angel Touch Medi Spa

5405 Hylan Blvd Staten Island, NY

Make an Impact for Mom

Memorable ways to celebrate the mother figure in your life

The moms and the mother figures in our lives mean everything to us. They deserve the best every day, of course. But at least one day out of the year, we get to shower them with the same love and thoughtfulness they give to us so selflessly.

This year, we hope you’ll consider some memorable ways to make lasting memories with the mom or mother figure in your life. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Mom feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your mom, wife, sister or maternal figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Take a Flower Arranging Class

Mother’s Day arrives just as spring is in full bloom. Take advantage of the season by going to a flower arranging class with mom.

Make a Memory Book or Scrapbook Together

Before Mother’s Day, go through everybody’s camera rolls and Instagram feeds and choose her favorite photos. Get them printed ahead of time so you can make a memory book. You might just love it so much you make it a yearly tradition.

Plan a Spa Day For Her and Her Friends

Mom will truly appreciate you going out of your way to set her up with a massage or facial appointment. Invite her friends along, too!

Craft the Perfect Playlist

Songs about mothers and mom’s favorite songs can come together into the perfect playlist to put on during brunch or dinner. You can either make it for her or take turns being DJ and alternate picks.

Have a Make-Your-Own Pizza Party

DIY pizza: It’s a craft (depending on how artfully you place the toppings), an activity and a meal all at once! Start with basic pizza dough, then everyone gets to add their favorite toppings. Mom gets the first pick, of course.

Hold a Lawn-Game Tournament

Croquet, cornhole, bocce, outdoor Jenga or horseshoes — what’s your family’s game of choice? Split into teams and drum up some friendly rivalry — while soaking in rays — with a backyard challenge. Make it an annual event, and pass around a trophy to the winner each year.

Visit an Amusement Park

For the mom who’s always seeking adventure, a trip to your nearest amusement park will be a welcome surprise. Not only will you be able to treat her to her fill of funnel cakes and caramel corn, but she’ll enjoy all the rides and attractions her heart desires. If you ask us, it’s a win-win.

Have a Backyard BBQ

Sure, backyard barbecues are often associated with Father’s Day, but Mom loves her burgers and dogs, too, so why should Dad get all the fun? If the weather cooperates, fire up the grill!

Make Something Totally Unique

If you do a DIY craft project, write a poem or come up with a silly dance, you know mom will love it because it is 100% you. No one can one-up a one-of-a-kind experience! You can make them for her and present them to her, or involve her in their creation.

Spruce Up The Garden

Gardeners know that Mother’s Day is the perfect time to start planting seeds. Get the whole family outside and dig in the dirt together. Every time she sees them, she’ll be reminded of the special day — it’s the gift that keeps on giving! Some flowers that are fairly easy to maintain include sunflowers, marigolds and sweet peas.

Make Pottery

Not only will you leave with a one-of-a-kind piece, but you’ll also be able to bond as you explore a new activity.

Head to the Farmers Market

There’s nothing like waking up with the sun and going to the farmer’s market on the weekend. Pick fresh produce and discover new favorites with mom, coffee in hand.

Watch Home Movies

Whether this involves digitizing old VHS tapes or getting video files off your phone and onto the TV, dig into the family archives and host a home-movie marathon. She’ll get emotional seeing how much everyone has grown.

Check Something Off Her To-Do List

Dad knows - Mom has a to-do list a mile long. Whether it’s tasks around the house or a DIY project, find out what has been nagging Mom and help her cross it off her list by doing it for her!

STATEN ISLAND CITY LIFESTYLE™

STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY

Inspiration for your best local life.

Exclusive giveaways.

Hidden gem alert!

Good news in your neighborhood.

Local content by local creators.

Inside scoop on all things local.

Locally-inspired food & drink recipes.

ARTICLE BY BRIGITTE MCLAUGHLIN

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Here’s What to Get Mom for Mother’s Day

Gift giving can be overwhelming, especially for Mother’s Day. How do you find the perfect gift for the woman in your life who has given you so much and expects nothing in return? Hopefully this gift guide will help you find something that is sure to put a smile on her face, here are some of my top picks with a wide range of price points!

1 Miss Dior Scented Candle: Millefiori Couture Edition $54.00 www.dior.com

2 Mini Dior Book Tote Phone Bag: Dior Jardin d’Hiver Embroidery with Gold-Tone Metallic Thread $2,450.00 www.dior.com

3 The Nod Pod: A weighted blanket for your eyes $34 www.amazon.com

4 Nurse Jamie Super-Cryo Duo Massaging Orbs: Improves circulation and overall appearance of skin $59 www.nursejamie.com

5. KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer: in Dried Rose $599.95 www.crateandbarrel.com

6. Pandora Sparkling Tennis Bracelet: Sterling Silver and Cubic Zirconia $115.00 www.us.pandora.net

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Curated by your Publisher, Brigitte McLaughlin.

A Taste of Italy