Managing Menopause
TAKE A JOURNEY TOWARDS LOOKING & FEELING YOUR BEST WITH
CELEBRITY PLASTIC SURGEON DR. STEPHEN T. GREENBERG
An icon in cosmetic enhancement and correction, he meets the needs of patients from today’s top stars to the soccer mom next door. He has performed thousands of procedures ranging from breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lifts to tummy tucks, liposuction, facelifts, eyelid lifts, neck lifts, full body lifts, modern mommy makeovers and injectable treatments. Dr. Greenberg is a proponent of combining cutting-edge technology with surgical procedures to provide the most effective outcomes.
“I want my patients to feel good about themselves, and I always strive to provide the most natural looking results coupled with minimal recovery time. Many of my patients tell me after their procedure that they have a newly found confidence which has prompted them to go for that new job or promotion, get back into the dating scene and start to wear the clothing they always dreamed of. Oftentimes, they tell me that no one can pinpoint that they have had a procedure, they only notice how refreshed, youthful and vibrant they look.”
The Winter months are the perfect time to renew your face and body and achieve the look you desire. This is especially true for women who have lost weight or have had children and would like to turn back the hands of time and re-gain their figure. The Greenberg Modern Mommy Make-Over provides a high-tech solution for women interested in taking action to improve their look. More and more women are having children later in life and their bodies do not bounce back the way they did when they were younger, or after their first pregnancy. Although diet and exercise are essential, areas such as the lower abdomen where the skin has been stretched and the muscles weakened may never return to “normal”.
A tummy tuck tightens the abdominal muscles and the skin of both the lower and upper abdomen. The effects on breasts are no less dramatic. This can be improved with breast implants, a breast lift and sometimes a combination of both. Breast reductions are of tremendous benefit to many patients to relieve pain and discomfort. Depending on the severity, insurance may cover a breast reduction procedure and possibly a tummy tuck.
Liposuction removes excess fat quickly, efficiently, and with little pain. Although liposuction is commonly used for the reduction of fat in the abdomen, it is also very effective on areas such as the hips, thighs and knees. Many times, I combine liposuction with a fat transfer to the buttocks as well as to the face and even the hands to contour and restore volume.
Many women struggle with urinary incontinence and other vaginal concerns. Non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation with our Empower RF device is a quick and easy FDA approved treatment to reduce urinary incontinence, strengthen the vaginal canal and increase lubrication. Labiaplasty can also be performed to remove excess skin on the labia that may cause irritation and discomfort.
Nowadays people are also living much longer and want to look as great as they feel. A facelift involves removing sagging skin and tightening muscle and tissue on the face and neck to counter the signs of aging. A brow lift (forehead lift) minimizes the creases that develop across the forehead, or those that occur high on the bridge of the nose and improves frown lines or a low brow. An eyelid lift will remove under eye bags and drooping upper eyelids and when combined with a facelift can reverse the hands of time by ten years.
Injectable fillers are a quick and effective method to non-surgically improve facial volume and soften facial creases many times with immediate results. Wrinkle reducers such as Botox® are a very popular way to reduce or eliminate frown lines, forehead creases and crow’s feet as well as to lift the eyelids and brows and smooth the skin. A variety of dermal fillers are available to address multiple concerns such as volume, contour and skin laxity and work by rejuvenating facial features to provide a more youthful overall look. When used in combination, this is called a “liquid facelift” and I use these products in harmony to provide subtle yet noticeable results. Skin rejuvenation treatments such as Microneedling, Fractora and IPL Photorejuvenation improve skin tone, texture, pore size, remove sun spots and capillaries as well as minimize fine lines. Microdermabrasion, Hydrafacials and chemical peels are effective in exfoliating, nourishing, and refreshing the skin especially during the colder months.
I offer only the most advanced non-surgical med spa treatments such as Morpheus8 and Ultherapy to increase collagen production and provide a lift to the midface, jawline, eyes and brow as well as to reduce laxity of the décolleté and other areas of the body. CoolPeel® is a revolutionary new approach to CO2 skin rejuvenation targeting fine lines, wrinkles, pigment and scarring with zero downtime! Emsculpt® is a noninvasive treatment that firms and tones the abdomen, buttocks, arms and legs. Many times, I recommend combining Emsculpt® with Coolsculpting® which freezes away stubborn areas of fat resistant to diet and exercise such as on the abdomen, love handles, bra line, arms, buttocks, thighs and even underneath the chin.
This is the perfect time to get back into your ideal shape. Remember, it is the right combination of these procedures that will produce the best and most natural results.
Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg is a renowned double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery. He is the founder and medical director of Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, the leading centers for plastic surgery and dermatology in Manhattan, Woodbury, Southampton, Smithtown and Scarsdale in New York as well as Princeton, New Jersey and Boca Raton, Florida.
To schedule your complimentary surgical, injection or med spa consultation or to request your dermatology appointment call 516.364.4200 or visit www.GreenbergCosmeticSurgery.com
“Susie Greene believes that she has the greatest taste in the world. She believes that and that’s why she could dress that way, because she’s completely confident and just thinks that she has the the pizzazz and the style that nobody else has.”
Susie Essman describing her Curb Your Entusiasm character, Susie Greene.
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Favorite Childhood Memory spending time with my grandmother. Next ISSue: april/May r eser V e YO ur aD by Monday, March 10th
Favorite Curb Your Enthisiam
and why. I’ll go with The Doll that was the driveway scene where I’m screaming, “get me the fxxxing head!” It was also the first time Larry used that spaghetti western music as my theme. It’s where it’s established that Jeff and Larry live in fear of susie. If anybody is
studying how to write a half hour of comedy, take that episode apart. the structure of it is brilliant.
Favorite thing about being a parent.
Watching them figure out who they are on their own and letting them fly.
Favorite book One Hundred Years of Solitude by
gabriel garcía Márquez
Favorite Song “Fly Me to the Moon”
Favorite Broadway Show Gypsy. It’s my favorite score.
Take Control of Your Loved One’s Health with a Virtual Medical Consultant
by Dr. Nathanael Desire, DO CMD
Caring for an aging loved one can be both rewarding and challenging. As a family caregiver, you juggle many responsibilities, and managing healthcare needs often becomes the most daunting task. That’s where a virtual medical service like GPC Consultants can provide the support you need.
Our expert team offers personalized virtual consultations, giving you direct access to healthcare professionals who specialize in geriatric care. Whether it’s managing chronic conditions, reviewing medications, or addressing mental health concerns, our professionals are here to guide you every step of the way.
of a button. With virtual consultations, you get timely advice that fits into your busy schedule, helping you provide better care without the added stress.
You don’t have to do this alone–our team is here to support both you and your loved one in this journey.
Our service is designed with family caregivers in mind, empowering you with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions. You don’t have to do this alone–our team is here to support both you and your loved one in this journey. Start today and see how GPC Consultants can make caregiving easier, more efficient, and more compassionate. Your loved one deserves the best care, and so do you. Let us help you provide it–without the added stress.
Imagine the convenience of having a healthcare expert available at the touch
For more information visit gpcconsultants.com or email drdesire@gpcconsultants.com
februAry/MArch
Judy Collins at Westbury Music Fair
With an achingly pure voice that is both bold and as delicate as silk, singer-songwriter-filmmaker Judy Collins is known for being a superb interpreter of expansive, diverse material by other musicians. Her unparalleled performances include “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell and “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim. She has been writing, performing, and recording for nearly seven decades, touring worldwide and garnering multiple awards, several top-ten hits, and gold-and platinum-selling albums. She will bring her considerable talents to the stage on Friday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. at the Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. Learn more about her career at judycollins.com and find tickets at westburymusicfair.org or by calling 516-334-0800.
Mood-Boosting Tips
At some point in their lives, many people experience
Unforgettable f y i
by Annie Wilkinson
stress, which can bring on negative feelings, anxiety, fear, and other worries that keep them up at night. A new research study at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is looking at how to manage stress with positive skills. The online course developed by research psychologist Judith Moskowitz has identified a set of practices that focus on positive emotions. As she told NPR News, “People can absolutely be taught to have positive emotions, even when things seem pretty bleak.” One way is to focus on the positive — like spending time with a good friend — not on the negative. Take the practice further by taking time to savor it by remembering it or writing about it. Another coping technique: is gratitude for the “people, events, and experiences that bring you joy.” Then there’s positive reappraisal: finding a silver lining. As an example, Moskowitz explains that when something bad happens in her life, she tells herself, “It could have been much worse.” Other mood-boosting tips include showing self-compassion and recognizing your personal strengths. To learn about more tips to boost positive energy, visit WSHU Public Radio at wshu.org.
Rest Easy
The middle of winter is that time when many of us seek the comfort to be found indoors, reading a good book, cuddled under a blanket, in an easy chair, or in a cozy bed, escaping from the world outside with one objective: getting some much-needed rest. In Danish, the term for the concept is “hygge;” in Dutch, it’s “gezellig;” in Norwegian, it’s “koselig.” In Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, author Tricia Hersey explores different techniques for resting—including reading in bed—as reported by NPR.org. The first rest technique on her list is, not surprisingly, unplugging from the internet. For instance, you can put your smartphone in another room: Your phone doesn’t have to be your constant companion. Another suggestion from Hersey: Put a rest day on your calendar — that means no work-related activities (including checking your email). However you choose to rest is up to you; as Hersey puts it, the concept of rest is “not frivolous and it’s not a luxury. It’s something that allows us to tap into our creativity and imagination and heal our bodies.” s
To submit info for FYI consideration, please send it to fyipick.liw@gmail.com.
Joan
1924 to Jewish immigrants from Poland and Romania. Later in life, she would describe her childhood as one in which there was little or no love at all.
But in high school, she found the theatre fascinating and worked as a Broadway usher. She enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, but could not afford it — the academy did not offer scholarships to women—so she had to drop out.
She acted in small Broadway and off-Broadway parts and became a model. Nancy Gross “Slim” Hawks, married to film director Howard Hawks, noticed her 1943 Harper’s Bazaar cover, and challenged her husband to work with the budding actress in To Have and Have Not. She was so nervous that she had to lower her chin and look up at her co-star Humphrey Bogart, to stop the shaking.
She became Lauren Bacall; to Bogie, she was “Baby.” They starred in four films together, became lovers, and married in 1945. He died in 1957. When asked about their 12-year marriage, Bacall said, “It was much too short. We had a lovely life together.”
She became a Hamptons regular, shopping at Iacono Farm and lending her support to fundraisers for Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre and the Hamptons Film Festival. Bacall starred in films and Broadway plays, winning Golden Globes, Tonys, and an Oscar. She sold her Hamptons home in 1995 but continued to support local arts organizations.
She was 89 when she died in 2014.
“be who you were meant to be in this world, not who you were told to be.” Amy ferris
Unforgettable Long Island women who made a difference
Betty
Perske was born in the Bronx in
photo by Shervain Lainez
FEBRUARY/MARCH
Off-Broadway Comedy Pick
My First Ex-Husband
Q uick P icks
In this no-holds-barred comedy, playwright Joy Behar (cohost of TV’s The View), Susie Essman (read our interview with her on page 18), Tovah Feldshuh, and Adrienne C. Moore reveal their own riveting true stories: These comic icons are women married to the mob, to their jobs, to money, and ultimately, to the wrong man. This cast will appear thru Feb .23 with a new cast each month through the run. At the MMAC Theater, 248 W. 60th St., in Manhattan. See show times, purchase tickets and learn more at myfirstexhusband.com or by calling 212-787-1178.
Book Pick
Life’s Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom
Chef, host and judge Prue Leith of the popular TV show
The Great British Bake Off offers globally inspired recipes and “handy hacks” in her cookbook.
Reggae Pick
Rock Away Valentine’s
Three of reggae’s most iconic superstars—Shaggy, Sean Paul, and Beres Hammond—share the stage for the first time in what promises to be the biggest Valentine’s Day concert in the tri-state area. Takes place on Friday, Feb. 14 at 8:00 p.m. at UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Purchase tickets at UBSArena.com.
Doll Pick
Barbie: A Cultural Icon
Doll aficionados take note: More than 250 vintage dolls plus interactive displays, advertisements and ephemera will be on exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle in Manhattan, from Feb. 1-March
by Annie Wilkinson
16. Get the details about the mini-fashion star’s 65year history and order tickets at madmuseum.org or by calling 212-299-7777.
Stamp of Approval
Betty White
An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades — including roles on The Golden Girls and The Mary Tyler Moore Show — and was a compassionate advocate for animals. The U.S. Postal Service will release her new postage stamp in 2025.
5K Run/Walk Fundraiser Curing Lung Cancer
This 5K Run/Walk To Cure Lung Cancer starts at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 15 (rain or shine) at Eisenhower Park Field 2, 1899 Park Blvd., Westbury. See details at runnerinred.com.
Musical Theatre Pick Jersey Boys
Four guys work their way up from the New Jersey streets to the heights of stardom in the multi-award-winning musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Plays at the Argyle Theatre through April 6 at 34 W. Main St., Babylon. Check out evening and afternoon show times and order tickets at argyletheatre.com or by calling 844631-LIVE (5483).
Bridal Pick
Designer Gowns
See the newest Demetrios wedding day creations from March 14-23 at Lotus Bridal Long Island, 141 E. Jericho Tpke., Mineola. For more information, visit demetrios. com or call 516-248-2888.
Ice Skating Pick
Picturesque Port Vista
Take in the harbor views as you glide across the ice outdoors at The Rinx at Harborfront Park, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson. Open through March. See details at therinx.com.
VIRTUAL PICKS
Online Lectures Pick Culture Via Zoom
Hutton House at LIU Post offers a wide array of Zoom lectures through May 2025, from N ew York in the Civil War to Symphonies of Beethoven to Elvis in Hollywood
See the array/register at liu.edu.
Poetry Pick
Readings With a Twist
This monthly series features poets reading their work and speaking about their process. Poets in Port is both live and online at Zoom at 7:30 p.m. on the last Friday of every month at the First Presbyterian Church, 330 Main St., Northport. Visit Poets in Port at Northport Arts Coalition on Facebook.com for the Zoom link.
Submissions for Quick Picks should be sent to fyipick.liw@gmail.com for consideration.
“Confidence is 10% hard work and 90% delusion.” Tina Fey
Joy Behar
Susie Essman
Tovah Feldshuh Adrienne C. Moore
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Woman’s Health Update Health
Weightlifting Can Be Helpful for Menopoausal Women
During perimenopause and after menopause, building skeletal strength is crucial, as bone density can decrease, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
May Al-Araji, MBChB, a women’s health expert at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, emphasizes the importance of weight-resistance exercises to support bone health, recommending activities like weightlifting or using resistance bands. These exercises help increase bone density by putting stress on bones, but they don’t require extreme weightlifting. Even bodyweight exercises like lunges are effective.
In addition to exercise, a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is key for bone health. Al-Araji suggests foods such as fortified milk, fatty fish like salmon, and leafy greens like kale and broccoli. Women may also need vitamin D supplements, especially if their diet lacks this nutrient. Avoiding smoking and maintaining a healthy weight is also important; rapid weight loss can negatively affect bones, so it’s best to aim for gradual weight reduction. If a woman experiences burning bone pain, aches, fragility fractures from a simple fall, or has a history of osteoporosis or autoimmune diseases, she should consult her healthcare provider. Bone thinning (osteopenia) can also be detected through an X-ray. However, Dr. Al-Araji advises that women shouldn’t shy away from exercise for fear of injury. Simple activities like brisk walking can also improve bone health and should be part of a regular routine—ideally 30 minutes, five times a week.
For some women, hormone replacement therapy or medications may be necessary to manage osteoporosis. It’s important to work with a healthcare team to ensure bone health is supported during and after menopause.
Breast Density’s Impact on Cancer Detection
Women over 40 are receiving notifications about their breast density alongside standard mammogram reports, following a new rule from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This information is crucial because dense breast tissue can make it harder to detect cancer on mammograms and is also a risk factor for developing breast cancer.
Women over 40 are receiving notifications about their breast density alongside standard mammogram reports, following a new rule from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What is Breast Density?
Breast density refers to the proportion of milk glands and connective tissue compared to fatty tissue in the breasts. Nearly half of women over 40 have dense breasts, which can hinder mammogram accuracy. For women with dense tissue, additional imaging tests like ultrasounds or MRIs may help detect cancer that a standard mammogram could miss.
Challenges and Confusion
While the FDA’s new rule aims to standardize notifications, it has raised concerns among health advocates. There is no universal standard for follow-up care after a dense breast notification, meaning women may receive different advice depending on their doctor. Some may be encouraged to undergo additional tests, while others may be advised to continue with routine mammograms. Experts are divided on whether additional imaging is
by Andrea Robbins
beneficial. Some groups recommend considering supplemental screening, while others, like the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, believe there’s insufficient evidence to support it. Critics argue that extra tests, such as ultrasounds or MRIs, can lead to false positives, unnecessary biopsies, and overdiagnosis, where cancers that would not have caused harm are treated unnecessarily.
Cost and Access
The high cost of advanced imaging can make it inaccessible for many women, especially in rural or marginalized communities. As such, it’s important for women to discuss their options with their healthcare providers to make informed decisions based on their individual risk factors.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding additional screening, the FDA hopes the notifications will prompt more informed conversations between women and their doctors about breast density and cancer risk.
Yoga and Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence, a common condition as women age, may be managed with regular yoga routines, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study suggests that yoga could be an accessible treatment for many women struggling with this issue.
In the study, 240 women with urinary incontinence participated in a 12week program. One group practiced hatha yoga, focusing on pelvic floorstrengthening poses, while the control group did physical conditioning exercises. Women in the yoga group saw a 65% reduction in incontinence episodes, a benefit comparable to taking medications for the condition. Interestingly, the control group also experienced similar improvements, showing that any structured workout program can help reduce incontinence.
Urinary incontinence often results from a combination of factors, including pelvic floor weakness, physical deconditioning, and mental health issues like stress. Dr. Alison Huang, the study’s lead author, believes that pelvic floor yoga, which targets all these areas, may be particularly effective if done correctly.
Yoga is a low-impact exercise that strengthens the pelvic floor, improves flexibility, and enhances body awareness—all key for bladder control. “It’s a safe, accessible way to support pelvic health,” says pelvic floor therapist Ashley Rawlins.
While yoga can be beneficial, other low-impact exercises may also help. Pelvic floorspecific exercises like Kegels and maintaining a healthy weight are beneficial as well. If incontinence persists, medications or surgery may be necessary, so it’s essential to consult with a doctor for personalized treatment options. l
Good Advice
The Art of Permanent Cosmetics
by Olga Lucia
As an optometrist I care very much about the health of the eyes, but I also love being able to showcase their natural beauty.
The shape of our eyes and eyebrows are essential for our facial expressions and for our total natural look. This is one of the many reasons I got involved in the cosmetic industry.
I specialize in micropigmentation, or permanent cosmetics, for eyebrows, eyeliners, and lips. I have been doing this since 1993, and in that time I developed a true artistic ability. The inquiries for eyebrows increased so much in my practice that it compelled me to research and understand the importance of how the eyebrow is shaped. I design and use all the different techniques available for natural looking eyebrows including Microblading and 3-D eyebrows.
hance eyebrows, eyeliner, and lips. Paramedical tattoos are now being used to provide services to cancer survivors with hair loss and to those who have undergone a mastectomy. For those with alopecia who fully or partially lost eyebrows and/or eyelashes, I am here to provide them with confidence and beauty through permanent cosmetics.
shape of our eyes and eyebrows are essential for our facial expressions.
I’ve also learned that permanent cosmetics, or cosmetic tattoos, are not only used to en-
For breast cancer survivors the breast reconstruction process can include areola tattooing to create the illusion of a natural nipple areola complex with appropriate skin tone, shape, size, position, and color.
Olga Lucia is a Licensed Esthetician, Makeup Artist and Optometrist Doctor. Her credentials include: Fellow American Academy of Micropigmentation (FAAM), Certified Micropigmentation Instruction (CMI) and Certified Permanent Cosmetics Professional (CPCP). Call 516-627-0722 for more information or visit us at permanentcosmeticsbyolga.com. 1129 Northern Blvd., Suite 301, Manhasset.
by Carol Silva
connie chung
Her parents were just 12 and 14 years old when they became engaged in China. She was their tenth child, but the only one born in the United States. Despite a painfully shy childhood, she blossomed into a groundbreaking journalist, achieving such remarkable success that she admits, “I forgot to get married or to have children.” That is, until she met and married the godfather of tabloid television, Maury Povich. Connie doesn’t shy away from acknowledging her ‘sassy, badass mouth,’ though she emphasizes that this wasn’t the primary factor that strained her on-air relationship with Dan Rather.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with journalism pioneer Connie Chung about her best selling memoir, Connie, A Memoir
“My parents had an arranged marriage. They were engaged at 12 and 14 but didn’t see each other until they married at 17 and 19. They were both horrified. I don’t think either of them wanted to be with the other. But they would not allow themselves to even contemplate not being together. That’s the way it was.”
Connie Chung describes her marriage to talk show host Maury Povich very differently. “We know each other so well we finish each other’s sentences. We’re opposites in personality, but we complete each other in a gargantuan way. We have unconditional love, support, trust and share responsibilities.”
In her book Connie, A Memoir, Connie recounts how her parents grew up in pre-communist China. Her grandfather, a jeweler catering to foreign buyers, recognized the importance of English and sent her father, Chung Ling Jaipao, to an academy to learn the language. The Chinese headmaster told him, “If you get a chance to travel abroad, you should. It will widen your horizons.”
English became her father’s passport to freedom.
First, though, Connie told me her dad became a spy, a “spook,” a clever one. “He finagled his way into spying for the Chiang Kai-shek government. His cover job was military police, but the Chinese intelligence community was a conglomeration of the military police, the CIA, the FBI and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Connie further explained, “He never told my mother where he was going for professional reasons, so she never trusted him, and he didn’t tell her for personal reasons. He was a philanderer.”
Once on “business” in a big city hotel, Connie’s father saw a Chinese family, dressed in western clothes, speaking English. He told Connie, “That became my goal. I wanted to go to the United States.” Connie believes her father was also inspired by the political changes he saw emerging in China.
The Chung family’s exodus began in 1937 with the onset of the Sino-Japanese War. This arduous journey spanned eight years, during which Connie’s father ingeniously utilized his undercover roles within the Chinese military to guide the family through perilous routes. They traveled by rickshaw, boat, on foot, and by air, enduring unimaginable hardships. In a single year, they were forced to relocate thirteen times and spent months in hiding, including a pe-
riod in India. By 1944, Mr. Chung had secured a job with China’s Foreign Affairs passport division. Then he maneuvered his way into a Captain’s position in the Chinese Air Force. He supervised Chinese cadets going to the US to be trained by American Air Force pilots. Months later, Connie’s mother and siblings followed, landing in Montgomery, Alabama. They soon transferred to Texas and by August 1945 the Chung family had settled in Washington, D.C.
One year later, on August 20, 1946, Constance Yu-hwa Chung was born in Georgetown Hospital.
Connie recalls being a very timid child. Her grade school teachers wrote, “Speaks too softly,” on her report cards. However, a significant transformation began in 7th grade. Her father took a two-year Federal Power Commission job in Houston. This time, only Connie, one of her sisters and their mother accompanied him. “I seceded from the land of bossy sisters, breaking out of my wallflower stage. School talent shows and student government got me out of my shell. I had to speak well and extemporaneously. It was a lesson in leadership too.”
At the end of their two-year assignment, the Chung family returned to Washington, D.C., where Connie readjusted in 9th grade. “I had emerged a little, but I was still quiet. A skinny little thing, and being Chinese, I was different, so it was easy for me to melt into the wallpaper.”
But by 10th grade, Connie was elected President of her homeroom, and the next year, Vice President of the Junior class. She also developed a keen interest in American politics. Her father was a news junkie. They grew up immersed in the daily reports of the Washington Post and the Evening Star, with CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, revered as “The Most Trusted Man in America,” serving as their primary source of news.
At the University of Maryland, Connie candidly admits to prioritizing ‘B and B’ – Beer and Boys – and active involvement in student government.. Connie won seats in the freshman and sophomore university legislatures and was voted Freshman Queen – while her grades tanked.
The summer after sophomore year, Connie took a Texas friend on a tour of Washington D.C. On Capitol Hill, they talked to Queens Congressman Seymour Halpern. He gave them his business card. The following summer Connie called and became his intern, writing press releases.
In her memoir, Connie remembers, “I watched reporters chasing members of Congress and grilling them with challenging questions. I could feel the pulsebeat of news events affecting the actions of politicians and Americans’ lives.” She told me, “You could feel the electricity. You could taste it. I was intoxicated with the news. I decided then – I’m going to be a journalist!”
During her senior year at Maryland, Connie heeded the advice of her journalism professor: “Beat the crunch. In June there’ll be a flood of graduates applying for their first jobs. Before you graduate get a part-time job for a semester. When you get your diploma, you’ll already have a foot in the door.”
She writes in her memoir, “First Stop: I barged into the Channel 5 newsroom. I
Connie says she was a very timid Child. her grade sChool teaChers wrote, “speaks too softly,” on her report Cards.
asked to speak with the news director. I boldly touted my energy and willingness to learn. ‘I will do anything! I don’t have any experience, but I’m a fast learner!’ ”
WTTG’s news director, Mike Buchanan, didn’t have any openings so Connie moved on to Washington’s CBS affiliate WTOP. Their news director, Jim Snyde, listened to Connie’s college audition tape and told her, “You’ll never make it in this business.” He gave her a grunt job anyway.
The morning after Connie’s first overnight shift at WTOP, the phone rang. It was Mike Buchanan from WTTG, the very news director who had initially turned her away, saying, “Everybody in the newsroom got a collection going after you left. They want me to hire you, so you’re hired! Come in two or three nights a week after classes.” Connie accepted the position, becoming a ‘copyboy’ in the WTTG newsroom, where she first laid eyes on the man she would one day marry.
Dan Rather didn’t want to sit next to anyone, or “a plant.”
Meanwhile, Connie was “just a copyboy,” who wanted to be a writer; but the news director needed a secretary–a female secretary, to be precise. This was 1969, a year after President Nixon issued his landmark Executive Order on Equal Employment Opportunity, a decree that promised equality for women and minorities, albeit largely on paper. “As much as I didn’t want that job (secretary), that’s what they offered women, so I took it. I kept trying to do other things. When a writer’s job came up, I was nudging the news director, but he said, ‘I still need a secretary.’ So, I went across the street to the bank teller I always went to. She was sharp, cute, and happened to be African American. I asked, ‘Do you want to be a star at the TV station across the street?’ And she said, yes!’”
Connie quickly transitioned from writer to reporter. On assignment in 1971, she burst into Washington’s exclusive La Provencal restaurant. She confronted the owner about allegations of unsanitary conditions. CBS bureau chief Bill Small happened to be there having lunch. He gave Connie his business card. She called him 20 minutes later. Connie says she was a woman and Chinese –a double minority – and she was going national! “He was determined to hire women and support their careers, so we’d succeed.” Bill Small hired Connie and CBS’s Leslie Stahl. “We’re still friends.”
Connie acknowledges that she was an affirmative action hire. “I was aware of it. It was a sign of the times. But as soon as I got into the job, the benefit ended. It took another decade before CBS hired a new wave of female on-air reporters.” On one occasion, a CBS producer advised Connie to “let her hair down” and
take her bun out. She recalls this as the only instance of management commenting on her appearance, but she emphasizes that it was “common for viewers to scrutinize a woman’s appearance on air while men were allowed to be bald, fat and ugly.” Connie laments that still happens.
The 1970s presented numerous challenges, as poignantly illustrated by an infamous 1974 photograph capturing the journalists covering the Nixon House Judicial Watergate hearings. The room was a sea of men, with a solitary, diminutive figure – Connie Chung – standing out amongst them. “The funny thing is that I only see now that I was among a sea of men. I didn’t think about it at the time. I was just putting one foot in front of the other, trying to do my job, keep my head above water, get somebody to talk to me, get a story. I was trying to survive. There was none of this, ‘Oh, poor little me,’ or ‘I’m all by myself.’ I always said, ‘I’m just another reporter.’ To survive, Connie also decided to, “act like a man. I wanted to belong to the boys club. I knew there was no way that they would see me as a member, so I decided, ‘I’m going to belong whether you like it or not.’ I would literally act like they did. I would walk into a room as if I owned it. I would be positive. I wouldn’t let anyone tell me, ‘You can’t do this.’
“I had a sassy, badass mouth too. I was a trash talker because they were trash talkers. I thought, if they can drop F-bombs, I’ll be happy to drop an F-bomb. I would throw them off balance. It was disconcerting. They didn’t expect it, coming out of my little Asian mouth.”
Connie Chung built a remarkable career, traveling the globe and interviewing world leaders, celebrities and ordinary people. Her journey took her from CBS to NBC, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC, ultimately returning her to CBS. In 1993, she achieved a historic milestone: becoming the first Asian American and the second woman to co-anchor a major network evening news broadcast,, the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.
But it didn’t work out. Dan didn’t engage her on air. Chung attributes this, in part, to the pervasive influence of white male dominance in the industry at the time, plus Dan Rather didn’t want to sit next to anyone, “or a plant.”
I shared with Connie that I had recently mentored a young female executive during contract negotiations. My advice didn’t click with her until I said, “Think like a man.” Connie reacted, “We shouldn’t have to tell each other, ‘think like a
“We’re opposites in personality, but we complete each other in a gargantuan way.”
man,’ and the fact that you still had to say it in 2024 is just criminal.”
Reflecting on the 2024 presidential election, which many consider the most contentious and divisive in history, Connie Chung, a seasoned political journalist with decades of experience, offered her perspective. “I think all presidential elections are brutal. But this was especially hard for many women. Many thought this was the year it was finally going to happen (electing a woman.) It’s pretty shocking that 80 countries have had women leaders, but the United States has never had one.”
I asked what she thought of the campaign television coverage. Connie gulped. “Sorry, I’m just drinking while I’m talking. I was drinking milk before. Now I’m drinking prune juice to maintain my regularity. Oops. I think that was too much information.”
If nothing else, Connie Chung is real. But about that campaign news coverage? “News coverage has changed dramatically, particularly television news. There’s so much opinion. There is great investigative journalism, but I have a
very difficult time finding the truth on television or anywhere because everything is digital today. The paradigm has changed dramatically. I don’t know whether the pendulum will ever swing back to the old-fashioned news that I was lucky enough to be a part of.”
Connie acknowledges that she misses the opportunity to be at the forefront of history “Sure. I miss digging and searching for the truth because that was the whole mission. I feel lucky that I was in the business when I was. It was a great time for news.”
Connie also confesses that her fulfilling yet demanding career came at a price. “For years I forgot to get married, and I forgot to have children.” Then why did she finally get married? “Because I wanted to marry Maury.” Good enough.
Recalling her first encounter with Maury Povich, Connie describes him as “tall, dark, and handsome, and probably the fastest writer I had ever seen; efficient, and remarkable at ad-libbing breaking news. He’d pull up a bank of knowledge from the back of his head and just start talking.” Connie also describes Maury as “unpredictable and mischievous – like Peck’s Bad Boy.”
Then there’s Matthew, whose adoption came through just as her CBS contract ended. “He’s really a good kid. I think we must have done a good job because he ended up being a down-to-earth, nice person. He’s smart and happy and has a girlfriend who he popped the question to. They’re engaged, but whether they ever get married is, you know, we don’t go there.” Ah, Motherhood.
The conversation then turned to Maury, the man behind the tabloid Maury Povich Show. Its 31-year run included a “Who’s your Daddy” segment where they used DNA paternity tests to determine who a baby’s father was. Some called the show, “Outrageous. A train wreck.” Others said, “I’m compelled to watch.” Or, “Heartwarming and entertaining.”
So, what’s Connie’s review of the Maury Povich Show?
“I love the Maury I see on television because he’s so empathetic and he’ll listen to anyone’s problems. I wish I were married to that Maury because, by the time he comes home, he doesn’t want to hear problems.”
Maury is retired and is home 24/7. So how’s life now for the ChungPoviches? “He loves playing golf. As long as his golf game is going well, everything is okay.”
Connie has learned a lot from her husband. “He was my mentor, my go-to person all through my career. When I’d come home with a sad face, he’d invariably talk me off the ledge with his mantra, ‘Take your work seriously. Don’t take yourself seriously. Don’t take your critics seriously. Just take your work seriously.’”
Finally, we got to the list of Connie’s favorite things, starting with. “Who’s your favorite TV news anchor?” Connie paused … “This is hard. I think Leslie Stahl, my dear friend. She’s really good.”
I asked, “What about Maury Povich?”
“Oh, my God. I forgot about Maury. Whoops.”
Now that’s a no-pressure marriage.
And her favorite way to relax?
“Organize. I’m OCD. When I organize I call it OCD heaven.
A chore-gasm.” s
Carol Silva is the Emmy Award-winning veteran News 12 Long Island news anchor, TedX and motivational speaker and creator of The Silva Lining Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Audible.com and wherever you hear your podcasts.
Wedding photo of Connie and Maury (Povich).
Paula Hawkins’ The Blue Hour Book Corner
The Blue Hour, released in October 2024, is the newest psychological thriller by bestselling author, Paula Hawkins. Known for her #1 worldwide bestseller The Girl on the Train (2015), which was adapted into a box office hit film (2016). Hawkins is also the author of bestsellers, Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning. The Blue Hour opens with the disturbing discovery of possible human bones used in a sculpture by the late artist Vanessa Chapman, whose unfaithful husband, Julian, mysteriously disappeared over twenty years ago. Set on a Eris, a Scottish island isolated from the mainland for twelve hours each day, at the mercy of the tide, the dark side of humanity is slowly revealed as James Becker, a gallery curator and art historian, sets out to investigate this discovery. The three main characters’ navigate dangerous terrain and reveal bizarre histories as this plot thickens, weaving a tale of betrayal, ambition, secrets and power.
by Rachell Koegel
How would you describe your writing process/habits/routine?
I’m quite disciplined and very boring. I write at home, at my desk, in silence. My best work is done in the morning. By mid-afternoon, I usually run out of steam, so I’ll read or catch up on life admin. I’m pretty unpretentious about the whole thing: writing is my job – I’m fortunate enough to enjoy it, but it’s still a job: you sit down in the morning and you get on with it. There’s no waiting around for the muse to appear.
“One
of the key ideas in the novel is how power – soft or hard - shifts over time. ”
Which writers influenced or inspired you?
So many! I loved Agatha Christie when I was a child, and though my books are very different from hers, she was my introduction to crime fiction and the joy of a clever plot. I read The Handmaid’s Tale when I was eighteen – that was a revelation: that a book could be literary and thoughtful, but at the same time utterly gripping and completely terrifying. Patricia Highsmith and Shirley Jackson were influential too, as are Kate Atkinson and Pat Barker. Did you have a plan in mind of how the plot would unfold?
I don’t plot in great detail. I have a point that I am aiming for – I know the solution to the main mystery – but beyond that, I leave plenty of scope for ideas and characters to develop while I’m writing. For me, that’s more fun and I feel I have my best ideas when I’m in the thick of the plot and when I’m starting to make connections between different characters and
ideas that I couldn’t have conceived of right at the beginning.
What sparked “The Blue Hour?”
When I was in France, on the Cote de Granit Rose in Brittany, I saw a tiny tidal island with a single house on it and immediately thought it would be a wonderful location for a novel. Beautiful, remote – a place you could be trapped. It lived in my imagination for a long time before I decided exactly how I would use it –and who would live on it.
Is there a particular place you had in mind, aside from France, when describing this island? Is the name intentional to mirror Eris the Greek Goddess of Discord?
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in various places along the west coast of Scotland, and on islands like Harris, Lewis and Skye. I returned there often while I was writing the book, I walked on the beach and in the woods, took hundreds of photographs and made copious notes so that I could conjure up that landscape while I was writing. I picked the name Eris mostly because I liked the sound of it, and it sounded like the name of a Scottish island; that it is also the name of the goddess of strife was serendipity.
The plot is centered around a sculpture. Have you always been interested in art or inspired by specific artists or their work?
I wasn’t terribly interested in fine art as a teenager, though I liked photography. It developed in adulthood. I read quite a bit about art and artists writing this novel – Art and Life, Eleanor Clayton’s biography of Barbara Hepworth, Self Portrait, Celia Paul’s memoir and Katy Hessel’s wonderful The Story of Art Without Men were stand-outs. In terms of inspirations for Vanessa Chapman’s work, the Scottish painter Joan Eardley was the main one, but I was also thinking about Georgia O’Keeffe and Lee Krasner and of course, Artemesia Gentileschi whose painting of Judith and Holofernes is mentioned in the novel.
Would you consider this novel a commentary on the broader issue of power and relationships?
Absolutely. One of the key ideas in the novel is how power – soft or hard - shifts over time. Capital, class status, beauty, knowledge, physical strength – all of these things might give one person power over another at a certain point, but few of those things are held permanently. They fall away, sometimes suddenly, dramatically changing the dynamic of a relationship.
Of all the books you’ve had published, which has been your most challenging or most enjoyable to have created?
I loved writing The Blue Hour. I so enjoyed immersing myself in the world of art, and I loved the setting. I adored spiriting myself away to the island of Eris. Of all my books it seemed the simplest to write, and (I feel now, at any rate), the closest to my heart. l
Photo: Beowulf Sheehan
photo: Kate Neil
Curb Your Enthisasm aired its final episode April 7th after a 12 season run over 24 years. Susie Essman, a fan favorite for her portrayal of the loud and outspoken Susie Greene, captivated viewers with her signature foul-mouthed outbursts and outrageous fashion choices.
In a 2008 interview with LONG ISLAND WOMAN, Essman explained the appeal of her character: “She’s completely reactive and has no censor. There’s something liberating about that, which is why wives love that character. I give them that release, and I feel liberated by that as well.”
During our recent interview, Essman reflected on her years on Curb saying that she was privileged to have been on the series for so many years, as it was a pure joy, the role role of a lifetime.
But life doesn’t stop after “Curb.” Currently, Susie is appearing in an OffBroadway show, My First-Ex Husband, written by and co-starring her close friend, Joy Behar at The MMAC Theatre. The play explores “the messy truths of love, marriage, and divorce, revealing the chaotic, funny, and often eye-opening realities of relationships.” The show features a rotating cast each month, with Susie sharing the stage with Joy Behar, Tovah Feldshuh, and Adrienne C. Moore through February 23rd. (myfirstexhusband.com)
How did it feel after your wrapped up the final episode of Curb?
It was an amazing run and so much fun. But it just felt like it was time. And then, of course, Richard (Lewis) died, and that felt like a little button on the finish of it. I can’t imagine doing it without him.
Did it feel like family all going their separate ways?
Yeah. But we’re still so close. I spoke to JB (Smoove) yesterday. I spoke to Jeff (Garlin) yesterday. I speak to Larry (David) all the time. We’re still so close. And we’ve had so much time in between seasons that we’re used to not seeing each other for a year and a half, two years.
four seasons, took it to another level. And the last season she just went for broke. She just was like, ‘What the hell? I’m just going for it!’ And she did! Susie Greene was a show favorite. What was it about her that you think people responded to most?
I think it was her comfort with her anger. Especially for women. People always think it’s the cursing, but I don’t think that’s what it is. I think it’s the comfort with her anger. The way I was brought up, the way that most of my contemporaries were brought up, was to be a nice little girl. Don’t be angry–it’s not pretty. All that kind of stuff. And Susie doesn’t give a damn about any of that. She completely embraces her anger, is completely comfortable with it and doesn’t apologize for it in any way, shape, or form. I think that people respond to that because we all have difficulty with anger.
SUSIE ESSMAN
Yes. And what Larry (David) did so well was to express the things that we may think but can’t always say or do. Larry would say and do things that people wanted to say and do but knew better not to because of social mores or conventions. And those conventions are there for a reason. But he was like the mouthpiece for people to say what they were thinking. He feels that way about himself. He’s not like that in real life, but he feels as though he aspires to be that character. The one that runs into someone on the street who says, ‘You want to get together for lunch?’ And he says, ‘No, we’re never going to get together for lunch. Let’s not play this charade where we exchange numbers and then I have to make excuses.’ He would love to be that character, but in real life, he’s really not. He’s very sensitive and tactful.
Doing it on the show must have been so freeing and cathartic.
Yes. He loves to play that character. But he’s the least confrontational person I know. So he gets to act out that fantasy on screen.
“People always think that Iʼm Susie Greene. Iʼm not. I donʼt want to play myself. Iʼm with myself 24/7.”
I’d look forward to each episode of the final season to see what you were going to wear. The best part, however, was how you carried yourself—as if your outfit were perfectly ordinary and appropriate.
Susie Greene believes that she has the greatest taste in the world. She believes that and that’s why she could dress that way, because she’s completely confident and just thinks that she has the the pizzazz and the style that nobody else has. That’s what’s so fun about it.
I don’t dress like that in real life. It’s the opposite. Now I can’t even wear an animal print with a pair of jeans because it’s too Susie Greene. How involved were you in selecting the clothing?
Very. I created the look, and then each subsequent wardrobe designer we had took it to another level. But the idea of the look was my idea, and then I got to approve or disapprove everything. We did major fittings where we put all the outfits together. Leslie Schilling, who’s been our wardrobe designer for the past
When you first met him in the mid-1980s, what was your initial impression of him?
We all knew he was brilliant. We would watch him go up on stage at Catch a Rising Star, and his material was on a whole other level. He had conceptual things and premises that nobody else would think of. But he was the guy that was going to go up on stage and be like, ‘Hey, how are you doing tonight?’ and ingratiate himself to an audience. So if an audience got him, he did great. If they didn’t get him, he was not able to turn it around and win them over. That was not his thing. You’re getting ready for Joy Behar’s Off-Broadway show, “My First Ex-Husband.” How would you describe the show?
These are interviews that Joy did with all different women and she’s fictionalized the interviews somewhat. They’re not verbatim. You’ve got to protect the guilty.
There are a series of eight monologues with four actresses. We each read two, and some are very poignant, some are very funny. There will be a rotating cast, and it’s interesting to see how different people interpret these things. We’re going to do it until February 23rd, and then a new group of four actresses is going to come in.
by Arie Nadboy
People go into their marriage having expectations that this is going to be forever and you’re going to live happily ever after. As we know, it doesn’t always work out that way. So there’s a poignancy to all of these because it is about shattered hopes and dreams, but they’re told in a way that puts a humorous spin on it. I think that there’ll be something that everybody could relate to one way or another. In marriage, there’s going to be conflict. It’s a matter of how the conflict is handled.
Some of us survive the conflict.Those couples that say they never fight, I don’t trust them. How do you live with somebody and never fight, especially once you have kids and bring other personalities into the mix?
You and Joy Behar have been longtime friends, and clearly, you’re very in sync.
We’ve been besties for 41 years. We met in 1983 and we have never had a fight. We’ve never not been friends. When we first started doing stand-up, we would speak to each other every single day for hours a day. We were incredibly supportive because we started at the same time. In those days there weren’t that many women in the clubs, but it was understood that we were stronger together than separately.
Since you never were divorced, did that make taking on these roles a little more interesting for you?
I don’t know if that’s the reason it’s interesting. It’s always interesting to get it to somebody else’s head and skin as an actress. All these characters are very different from me. It’s always interesting to figure out who this person is and why their behavior is what it is. It has nothing to do with the fact that they’ve been divorced and I haven’t, because I’ve been through plenty of breakups,
“I donʼt dress like that in real life. Itʼs the opposite. Now I canʼt even wear an animal print with a pair of jeans, because itʼs too Susie Greene.”
believe me. I just never married any of them. It’s always interesting when you’re acting and you take on a character and get into somebody else’s skin. That’s the interesting part of acting.
Going back to Curb, people always think that I’m Susie Greene. I’m not. I don’t want to play myself. I’m with myself 24/7. I want to play a character. Who knew that I was gonna make a living and become known for, and beloved for, telling everybody to go f**k themselves. It’s incredible.
So now that you’re going to be back on stage, is there a possibility you might consider doing stand-up again?
No. I don’t want to get back on stage in that format. It’s just so hard. I’m not going to say never, because maybe a year from now I’ll just have some creative impulse to do it. It stopped being that creatively interesting to me. And it was for a long time.
When you say it was hard, what was hard about it?
You’d standing up there all by yourself and you have to make strangers laugh every 30 seconds. It’s hard and you’re very vulnerable. When they are not laughing, they’re rejecting you. On the other side of the coin, they’re embracing me and loving me. So you get both sides of it.
But it’s very, very stressful. I suffer from stage fright now. Not in a thing like My First Ex-Husband. I won’t have stage fright for that because I’m acting as a character and I’m working with other people. Stand-up is so vulnerable. You’re just there by yourself. It’s my material. It’s me.
You have to have a reason to do it besides money. I can make money, but that’s never been my motivation. I just lost interest in doing it. I did it for 35 years. I think I kind of conquered it...maybe. ▲
Larry David and Susie Essman in Curb Your Entusiasm
february
1
Pushcart Players: Stone Soup…and Other Stories: 2pm. Landmark on Main
The South Shore Symphony: 7:30pm.
Madison Theatre
Love Amy (Amy Winehouse tribute): 8pm. My Father’s Place
Almost Queen: 8pm. The Paramount Sutton Foster: 8pm. Staller Center
2
Toby Tobias/Jen Grace: 3pm. LIMEHOF
The Stollers: 8pm. My Father’s Place
Umphrey’s McGee: 7pm. The Paramount Blackberry Smoke: 7pm. Patchogue Theatre
Spanish Journey: 3pm. Tilles Center 4
The Cher Show: 7pm. Tilles Center 6 Commotion (CCR tribute): 8pm. The Suffolk 7
Creedence Revived: 8pm. Boulton Center
Sonja Morgan: 8pm. The Paramount Double Vision (Foreigner tribute): 8pm. The Suffolk
8
Strawberry Fields (Beatles tribute): 8pm. Boulton Center
Patty Larkin/Cliff Eberhardt/John Gorka/ Lucy Kaplansky: 8pm. Landmark on Main
Dan Bern /Jeffrey Gaines: 8pm. My Father’s Place
Ent E rtainm E nt february/march
JAN 23RD - APRIL 6TH 2025
at both the Tony Awards® and Olivier Awards®, Jersey Boys takes you behind the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons to discover the secret of a 40-year friendship as the foursome work their way from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of stardom.
When: January 23 - April 6th
Where: The Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon Tickets: 631-230-3500 or argyletheatre.com
Use Code: WOMAN for $5 Off*
*Discount Valid off individual, premium mainstage tickets only.
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Sheng Wang: 7pm. The Paramount
The Acting Company presents The Comedy of Errors: 8pm. Staller Center Warped Tour Band: 8pm. The Suffolk
Camryn Quinlan: 3pm. LIMEHOF
A Dream Is A Wish Princess Concert & Kid-Friendly Tea Party: 2pm. The
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Joanne Shaw Taylor, discovered at 16 by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, has carved out an impressive niche for herself in the world of blues-rock. After witnessing her remarkable playing, Stewart invited her to join his supergroup, D.U.P., setting the wheels in motion for a flourishing career. Now in her 30s, Joanne has emerged as one of the most coveted guitarists in the rock domain. Her prodigious talent earned her accolades from industry giants including Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox.
When: Saturday, April 5 at 8PM
Where: Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington Tickets: 516-767-6444 or landmarkonmainstreet.org/ event/joanne-shaw-taylor
Jerome
The Argyle Theatre
34 W. Main St., Babylon. 844.631.LIVE (5483) argyletheatre.com
Boulton Center
37 West Main St., Bay Shore 631.969.1101 boultoncenter.org
CMPAC (CM Performing Arts Center) 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale. 631.218.2810 cmpac.com
John W. Engeman Theater 250 Main St., Northport. 516.323.4444 engemantheater.com
The Gateway 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport. 631.286.1133 thegateway.org
The Jazz Loft 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook. 631.751.1895 thejazzloft.org
Landmark on Main Street 232 Main St., Port Washington. 516.767.6444 landmarkonmainstreet.org
Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) 97 Main St., Stony Brook. 631-689-5888 limusichalloffame.org
Madison Theatre 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. 516.323.4444 madisontheatreny.org
My Father’s Place at The Roslyn Cellar 1221 Old Northern Blvd, Roslyn. 516.580.0887 mfpproductions.com
tribute): 7pm. The Suffolk Lucía: 7:30pm. Tilles Center
70’s Soul Jam: 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
14
Brooklyn Bridge: 8pm. Boulton Center
Reflections: Divas of Motown: 8pm. My Father’s Place
Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra: 8pm. Staller Center
Feelin Good (Michael Bublé tribute): 8pm. The Suffolk
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (Sinatra, Diamond & Streisand tribute): 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
15
The Cosmic Orchestra: 8pm. Boulton Center
Hopelessly Olivia (ONJ tribute): 2pm. CMPAC
Friends of the Brothers (Allman Bros. tribute): 8pm. Landmark on Main
FM (Steely Dan tribute): 8pm. My Father’s Place
Wallows: 7:30pm. The Paramount
The Million Dollar Experience: A Celebration of Sun Records: 8pm. Patchogue Theatre
Joshua Bell and Larisa Martínez: 8pm. Staller Center
Dirty Deeds (AC/DC tribute): 8pm. The Suffolk
The Amber Ferrari Band: 8pm. Theatre Three
16
Totally Taylor NY (Taylor Swift tribute): 2pm. Boulton Center
Robert Bruey: 3pm. LIMEHOF
Paramount 370 New York Ave., Huntington. 631.673.7300 paramountny.com
The Patchogue Theatre 71 E. Main St., Patchogue. 631.207.1313 patchoguetheatre.org
Staller Center 100 Nicolls Rd., Stony Brook. 631.632.2787 stallercenter.com
The Suffolk 118 E. Main St., Riverhead. 631.727.4343 suffolktheater.com
Westbury Music Fair 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. 516.334.0800 westburymusicfair.com
Tilles Center 720
A Bronx Tale: Chazz Palminteri: 7:30pm. The Paramount
Sons Of Cream (Cream tribute): 7pm. Patchogue Theatre
Mike Zito/Jimmy Carpenter: 7pm. The Suffolk 18
Divas of Soul: 8pm. Engeman Theater
19
George Thorogood & The Destroyers: 8pm. The Paramount
20
Taylor Dayne: 8pm. The Paramount Luke Combs UK (Luke Combs tribute): 8pm. Patchogue Theatre
Broadway Perspectives: A Concert
Celebrating Diversity: 7pm. Tilles Center 21
DDXS (Duran Duran/INXS tribute): 8pm. Boulton Center
The Man In Black (Johnny Cash tribute): 8pm. The Paramount Jazz at Lincoln Center‘s New Orleans Songbook: 8pm. Staller Center
Friday Night Face Off: 10:30pm. Theatre
Three
Jeff Dunham: 7pm. UBS Arena
22
Yacht Lobsters! (Duran Duran/INXS tribute): 8pm. Boulton Center
Manhattan Comedy Night: 8pm. Boulton Center
GA-20: 8pm. My Father’s Place Carbonaro: 7pm. The Paramount
February Funny Fest: 8pm. Theatre Three Czech National Symphony Orchestra: 3pm. Tilles Center
23
Annie Mark: 3pm. LIMEHOF Matt Mathews: 8pm. The Paramount New York Arabic Orchestra: 3pm. Tilles Center
25
Bachelors of Broadway: 8pm. Boulton Center
ian: 8pm. The Paramount
Ent E rtainm E nt february/march
Sutton Foster
Two-time Tony Award Winner Sutton Foster returns to the Staller Center in a luminous concert for the 2025 Staller Center Gala!
When: Saturday, February 1 at 8pm
Feelin Good
The Ultimate Michael Bublé Experience
Get ready to feel the rhythm and embrace the magic of Michael Bublé like never before! Feelin’ Good: The Ultimate Michael Bublé Experience will sweep you off your feet with a night filled with the timeless classics and unforgettable originals that have made Bublé a global sensation. Featuring Anthony Bernasconi backed by a 17-piece orchestra, Feelin’ Good embodies the essence of Bublé – from the velvet tones to the charismatic stage presence.
Where: Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook Tickets: stallercenter.com • 631-632-ARTS (2787) advertisement
Days of Future Passed: 8pm. Westbury Music
Big Laughs In Bay Shore: 8pm. Boulton Center
Jim Messina: 8pm. Landmark on Main
Matt Fraser: 8pm. Patchogue Theatre
Judy Collins: 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
Martha Graham Dance Company: 8pm. Tilles Center march
Steve Forbert Trio: 8pm. My Father’s Place
Back to the Garden 1969: The Woodstock Experience: 8pm. Patchogue Theatre
Broadway Family Favorites: 3pm. Landmark on Main
When: Friday, February 14 at 8PM Where: The Suffolk, 118 E. Main St., Riverhead Tickets: Visit TheSuffolk.org or call 631-727-4343.
Andy Cooney: 3pm. Westbury Music Fair
A Year with Frog and Toad: 2pm. Tilles Center
Dear Erich, A Jazz Opera: 7pm. Tilles Center 3
A Year with Frog and Toad: 10:30. Tilles Center 5
David Nihill: 8pm. The Paramount 6
Smokey Robinson: 8pm. The Paramount
Adrian Vandenberg: 8pm. Patchogue Theatre
7
Jimmy Vivino: 8pm. Boulton Center
Low Cut Connie: 8pm. Landmark on Main
Echoes of the Eagles (Eagles tribute): 8pm.
My Father’s Place
Nimesh Patel: 7pm. The Paramount
8
The Ultimate Donna Summer Tribute: 8pm. Boulton Center
Sonny Landreth Band/the Iguanas: 8pm. Landmark on Main
Duke Robillard/BFS Trio: 8pm. My Father’s Place
Best Of The Eagles: 8pm. The Paramount Red Hot Chilli Pipers: 8pm. The Patchogue Theatre
Chris Destefeno: 8pm. Staller Center
Dionne Warwick: 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
9
An Evening with Emerson, Lake & Palmer: 7pm. The Suffolk
13
Lisa Arce 8pm. My Father’s Place
Colin Jost: 8pm. The Paramount
Spyro Gyra/Lee Ritenour: 8pm. The Patchogue Theatre
Chris Jansen: 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
Parlor of Mystery: 8pm. Theatre Three
14
Big Laughs In Bay Shore: 8pm. Boulton Center
Hourglass (James Taylor tribute): 8pm. My Father’s Place
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: 8pm. The Patchogue Theatre
Syncopated Ladies: 8pm. Staller Center
15
Ana Popovic: 8pm. Boulton Center
Josh Rouse: 8pm. My Father’s Place
Anthony Rodia: 7 & 9:30pm. The Paramount
Burton Cummings: 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
The Infamous Stringdusters: 8pm. WHBPAC
16
Kim Dracula & Hanabie: 6:30pm. The Paramount
18
Dirty Dancing In Concert: 8pm. The Patchogue Theatre
20
The Joni Project: 7:30pm. Tilles Center
Dropkick Murphys: 7pm. The Paramount The Moody Blues’ John Lodge performs
Kevin James: 7:30pm. The Paramount
Vanilla Fudge: 7pm. The Suffolk
Ancient Aliens Live: 8pm. Patchogue Theatre
21
Beginnings (Chicago tribute): 8pm. Boulton Center
Ent E rtainm E nt february/march STALLER SPRING SEASON
Sesame Street Live, Say Hello!: 6pm. The Patchogue Theatre
Rhythm India: Bollywood & Beyond: 8pm. Staller Center 22
Cimarron 615: 8pm. Boulton Center
Magical Mystery Doors: (Beatles, Zeppelin, Doors tribute) 8pm. Landmark on Main
Popa Chubby: 8pm. My Father’s Place
Melissa Errico Quartet: A Sondheim Birthday Tribute: 8pm. Staller Center
23
HYPROV starring Colin Mochrie & Asad Mecci: 7pm. The Patchogue Theatre 24
José González: 8pm. The Paramount 26
Coal Chamber: 6:30pm. The Paramount
Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder tribute): 8pm. My Father’s Place
Michael Blaustein: 7pm. The Paramount Complexions Contemporary Ballet: 8pm. Tilles Center
28
Hank Azaria & the EZ Street Band (Springsteen tribute): 8pm. The Patchogue Theatre
Experience Hendrix: 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
Friday Night Face Off: 10:30pm. Theatre Three 29
The South Shore Symphony: 7:30pm. Madison Theatre
Lawrence: 8pm. The Paramount Gaelic Storm: 8pm. The Patchogue Theatre
Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra: 8pm. Staller Center
Gary Owen: 8pm. Westbury Music Fair
Katt Williams: 8pm. UBS Arena
Rhythm of the Dance: 6pm. The Patchogue Theatre
Peter & The Wolf: 3pm. Staller Center
OngOing
Jersey Boys: thru April 6. Argyle Theatre
Rent: Feb. 15-March 1. CMPAC
Escape to Margaritaville: March 29-April 12. CMPAC
Heartbreak Hotel: thru March 2. Engeman Theater
Waitress: The Musical: March 13-April 27. Engeman Theater
The Addams Family: thru Feb. 16. The Gateway
Frozen: March 7-April 13. The Gateway
The Pirates of Penzance: Feb. 21-23. Madison Theatre
The Wild Party: March 7-9. Madison Theatre
Kiss Me, Kate: In Concert: March 15-16. Madison Theatre
SYNCOPATED LADIES MARCH 14
Crossing Delancey: thru Feb. 9. Theatre Three
Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical: March 1-30. Theatre Three
Children’s Theatre
Disney’s Descendants: The Musical: Feb. 1-April 6. Argyle Theatre
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: Feb. 20-March 9. CMPAC
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: March 22-April 27. Engeman Theater
Hansel & Gretel: thru Feb. 8. Theatre Three
Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz: Feb. 19-March 29. Theatre Three
RHYTHM INDIA BOLLYWOOD AND BEYOND MARCH 21
STONY BROOK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MARCH 29
MELISSA ERRICO QUARTET A SONDHEIM BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE MARCH 22
Syncopated Ladies, March 14
Rhythm India: Bollywood & Beyond, March 21
Melissa Errico, March 22
Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, March 29 On The Screen In HD: Live performances streaming from the Met Opera Schedule visit stallercenter.com/HD
Full schedule: stallercenter.com (631) 632-ARTS [2787]
