Holiday 2016 - Edition Two

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Holiday Happenings

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EDITION TWO

HOLIDAY 2016 SEASONS™ MAGAZINE | 3

In Season with

Jamie Lynn Ryan

The Holiday season is upon us once again as we celebrate our third year of Seasons® Magazine. We wish to thank all of our readers for their continued support, and we look forward to expanding to even more homes in 2017.

Once again, we have compiled an extensive listing of holiday happenings for you to enjoy with family and friends, both on Long Island and in the Big Apple. From tree lightings and Santa parades to holiday house tours and local stage productions, the season is full of festivities and fun for all.

New York City is a prime destination for holiday revelers, from window shopping on Fifth Avenue to lacing up a pair of skates at Bryant Park or Wollman Rink - and let’s not forget the old standby attractions of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, along with The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center.

Bringing it back home, ‘tis the season for preparing for holiday gatherings, from decking the halls to gifting loved ones, and creating the perfect meal to grace your dining room table. We hope you will allow Seasons® to help you in your quest to make lasting memories.

Still have a few last minute presents on your shopping list to buy?

Enter our Holiday Contest for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to any advertiser in this edition! Our local merchants are the backbone of every community, and your support during this holiday season helps them to thrive.

Be sure to submit your Winter on Long Island photographs for consideration in our upcoming Winter issue, and feel free to send us your feedback on this - or any of our four edtions - to: Editorial@ SeasonsMagazineOnline.com. We look forward to hearing from you and continuing to serve our readers by featuring The Best of Long Island...Seasonally!

‘Til next time, we at Seasons® Magazine wish you all a very Happy Holiday season, filled with peace, love and joy, as you celebrate this special time of year with family and friends.

CONTENTS

Holiday Happenings Pages 16 & 17

Hosting the Holidays

Cookies Made Simple

Page 12

Page 21

Make Your Tree Last

Dress Up Your Home

Page 6

Page 7

Gift Wrap with Ease

Creative Card Crafts

See You in 2017!

Thanks for reading!

Page 8

Jamie Publisher Jeff Lambert

Page 20

THINGS TO DO SEE IN NYC Pages 24 & 25

Editor Jamie Lynn Ryan For more information, or to advertise, call 631.226.2636, or visit www.SeasonsMagazineOnline.com

Editorial@SeasonsMagazineOnline.com

Creative Director Jason Santana Art@SeasonsMagazineOnline.com

Copyright © 2016 by Long Island Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The publisher will not be responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error, and such responsibility, if any, shall be limited to the first use of advertising, in the case of repeated use. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising at its sole discretion.

The advertiser shall represent that all artwork and copy provided by the advertiser is owned by the advertiser, and it has the right to utilize such in this publication.

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EDITION TWO

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How to Get the Best Black Friday Deals

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Black Friday is one of the best days of the year to land steep discounts on a variety of merchandise and services. Make the shopping trip even more successful this time around. are Trade Marks used under licence from The De Beers Group of Companies.

Look for extra discounts.

The early bird often gets the worm, but late shoppers also may benefit on Black Friday.

Determine which times of the day stores are offering their

are Trade Marks used under licence from The De Beers Group of Companies.

Have discount codes at the ready. Many retailers now use digital apps or e-mails to keep in touch with customers.

These same apps may enable smartphone users to search for discount codes and other coupons. Keep digital coupons handy so they can be presented quickly at checkout.

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Dress comfortably for shopping. Malls and department stores may be crowded and can be warm, so dress in layers so you can remove clothing if you get hot. You’ll probably do a good deal of walking on Black Friday, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Establish a shopping budget.

It’s tempting to go out shopping with credit cards blazing, but that may lead to overspending.

Determine what you can afford and set a budget for Black Friday shopping. Establishing a budget can help you avoid impulse purchases as well.

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Begin researching early. Since many retailers begin posting information online or send out advertisements about sale items far in advance of Black Friday, shoppers should pay attention to each retailer’s offerings so they can better coordinate their shopping efforts. Cross-reference prices against other stores, including both online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

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Divide and conquer. Split up the shopping responsibilities so you and your family can get your shopping done quickly. The divide and conquer approach allows you to cover more ground and ensures someone will be there to claim the best deals from various retailers.

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Smart shoppers recognize that Black Friday is a great time to find deals on holiday gifts, and following these tips can help shoppers save even more:

biggest discounts. Doorbuster sales tend to start very early, but such sales might be irrelevant if only items you do not need are being discounted. Determine if there are any additional sales that extend throughout the day.

EDITION TWO

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As Thanksgiving draws near, retailers begin dropping hints about their Black Friday promotions. Some stores have begun to open their doors on Thanksgiving evening, after many people have filled up on turkey and trimmings.

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Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Christmas Tree Christmas trees are symbols of the holiday season and the spirit of giving that the season champions.

Choosing and decorating a Christmas tree is a tradition for many families, and depending on the trees they choose, families may have some work to do to keep their trees glowing all season long.

Artificial Christmas trees require little, if any, maintenance. But live Christmas trees, which some people feel are more authentic and welcoming than their artificial counterparts, require daily maintenance. In addition to supplying the tree with water at least once per day, live Christmas tree owners can take these steps to prolong the life of their trees: Protect the tree on the way home. Your tree might be vulnerable to damage as you transport it from the farm to your living room. Unwrapped trees placed atop vehicles can be dried out by the wind. Prevent wind damage by wrapping the tree if you plan to place it atop your vehicle. If possible, lay the tree in the bed of a pickup truck and close the cover over the bed. If you don’t have access to a pickup truck but can use a minivan or SUV to transport your tree, see if the tree fits inside your vehicle. If it doesn’t, wrap it tightly in a blanket or another form of cover, making sure the cover won’t blow off in the wind when you hit the open road.

unclogs the system and ensures the tree will be able to consume water.

Avoid placing the tree near heaters or drafty windows.

Many people know that placing a live tree near a potentially hot heating vent poses a fire hazard. But doing so also can dry out the tree, decreasing the chances it will make it through the season. Placing the tree near drafty windows also can dry out the tree, so try to find a spot in your home with a consistent temperature.

Water the tree often. Christmas trees need lots of water to make it through the season. You may notice the water in the tree stand disappears quickly when you first bring the tree home. That’s because freshly cut trees will consume more water than trees that were cut several weeks ago.

As the season goes on and the tree’s vascular system begins to clog, you might not need to water the tree as much as you did when you first brought it home. But check the tree’s water stand twice per day when you first bring it home, refilling the stand with water whenever necessary.

A few tricks of the trade can help holiday celebrants maintain lush, awe-inspiring Christmas trees throughout the holiday season.

Have the tree cut before you take it off the lot.

If you typically purchase your tree from a florist or tree lot instead of a tree farm, then remember to ask the seller to recut the stem of the tree before you take it home. Tree farm trees are freshly cut, but trees sold away from the farm might have been chopped down weeks before they are ultimately sold. During the interval between being cut down and sold, trees’ vascular systems can clog and prevent the tree from getting the water it needs to survive the season.

A fresh cut of the stem EDITION TWO

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Dress Up Your Home for the Holidays The 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, time-crunched 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.

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 batteryoperated 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.

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How to Make Gift Wrapping Easier While holiday shoppers are often enthusiastic about finding great gifts for their loved ones, many are decidedly less excited about wrapping those gifts.

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Many holiday shoppers spend hours wrapping gifts each year, and as gift lists grow, so does the amount of time needed to get all of those presents wrapped, hidden, packaged and/or shipped. Shoppers can employ the following strategies to make the process go much more smoothly and to reduce gift wrap-related anxiety:

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Relearn the basics. Some people may think they know how to wrap gifts, only to realize it’s harder than it looks once the paper, scissors and Scotch tape comes out. Relearn the basics by viewing online tutorials prior to wrapping gifts so the lessons learned remain fresh in your mind. Learn how to wrap standard clothing gift boxes and recognize that such boxes can often be used to house oddlyshaped items.

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Wrap as you buy. Instead of getting bogged down with wrapping all in one evening, wrap presents as you purchase them. This ensures that you don’t leave everything for the last minute and reduces the likelihood that curious kids or inquisitive spouses discover gifts before the big day.

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Work on a hard surface. It may be tempting to lay everything out on your bed and wrap gifts while you’re binge-watching the latest Netflix series. But hard surfaces make the best places to wrap gifts. This ensures there won’t be any wrinkles in the paper and that you won’t lose supplies in the bedspread.

for supplies around the house.

Draw on plain gift boxes. Make your own “wrapped gifts” by drawing or stenciling on plain gift boxes if you’re short on time.

Identify recipients by gift wrap.

Designate one gift wrap for each person on your shopping list, this way you can easily distinguish one person’s gifts from another’s. This can keep things more organized when sorting and visiting with friends and relatives later on.

Keep gift bags on hand. Gift bags work in a pinch and make it easy to conceal gifts that are hard to wrap. Curious loved ones can easily peak inside gift bags, so be sure to wrap gifts in tissue paper before placing them in the bags.

Less is usually more. Do not use too much paper when wrapping; otherwise, you will be left with bulky, sloppy folds.

Before trimming the gift wrap from the roll, check that it overlaps the ends of the box by just a couple of inches. A sturdy paper will help you achieve crisper folds and prevent tears when wrapping. For the simplest wrapping design, try kraft paper (brown mailing paper), which can be dressed up with ribbons, cutouts or stamps.

The process of wrapping holiday gifts can go more smoothly when applying some time-tested tips and tricks.

Rely on double-sided tape.

For that professional look, invest in some double-sized tape so you will not have any unsightly tape lines.

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Cold Weather Outdoor Entertaining Outdoor entertaining has never been more popular. As more and more homeowners turn their homes into their own personal oases, extending the party outdoors has become a bigger priority.

According to the American Home Furnishings Alliance’s 2015 Outdoor Furniture Trend Report, out-of-doors areas on a property are the favored venues for celebrations with family and friends. While outdoor entertaining was once relegated to the warm weather seasons, advancements in technology have now made it more comfortable and enjoyable to entertain outdoors for much of the year. But hosts who want to extend the outdoor party after summer has come and gone should consider a few important entertaining tips.

Start the party early.

Summertime backyard barbecues and pool parties benefit from late-evening sunsets that illuminate patios and pool areas well into the evening. In addition, many hosts prefer to start such parties later in the day to avoid the sun during the early afternoon when it is at its most blazing. However, start the party earlier in the day when hosting in fall or early winter. Temperatures can drop considerably once the sun begins to set, so starting early can save hosts and their guests from cold air.

Heat things up. Summertime hosts might employ canopies to protect themselves and their guests from the heat, and it’s

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important for hosts to take similar steps when the weather is chillier. The AHFA report found that 38 percent of homeowners intended to purchase fire pits for their outdoor entertaining areas, and such fire pits can keep guests warm as the sun goes down and the night air gets chilly. Fire pits have become must-have items for outdoor entertaining areas, and hosts can surely find one that suits their needs.

Change the menu. Grilling hot dogs and hamburgers might still work when entertaining outdoors in fall and winter, but hosts may want to stray from other summertime fare like watermelon or pasta salad.

Embrace the cold weather by roasting some nuts and making s’mores over an open fire. In lieu of summertime beverages like lemonade and beer, serve hot chocolate or wine to keep guests warm.

Ensure there is adequate lighting. Mother Nature won’t offer much lighting when you host a party outdoors in late fall and early winter, so make sure your patios and sidewalks are well lit. Guests will want to see one another and what they’re eating, and well-lit walkways will reduce the risk that guests take a tumble or turn their ankles when walking to and from the house.

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Outdoor entertaining need not end because summer has come and gone. But hosts must take a different approach to hosting when throwing outdoor gatherings in late fall and early winter.

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HOLIDAY 2016 SEASONS™ MAGAZINE | 9

Be Smart When Shopping on your Phone Holiday shopping is an annual tradition for many people. But while it may be customary to exchange gifts with loved ones during the holiday season, how those gifts are purchased has changed dramatically over the last decade and a half.

Thanks to advancements in technology, many holiday shoppers get their shopping done without ever setting foot in malls or shopping centers, and data indicates more and more shoppers are using their smartphones to do their holiday shopping.

Convenience often drives shoppers’ decisions to use their mobile phones during the holiday season. But it’s important that shoppers not sacrifice security for the sake of convenience.

Those who want the best of both worlds this holiday season can take several steps to protect their personal information while shopping on their smartphones:

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Only use shopping apps with which you’re comfortable.

Downloading an app only takes a few seconds, and some shoppers are so used to downloading apps they may not realize just what they’re downloading. Before installing an app on your phone, familiarize yourself with the app and what it requests of its user. Some apps ask users for a considerable amount of personal information, even though there is no legitimate reason for them

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EDITION TWO

to have that information. If you’re uncomfortable with apps that require you to allow access to your location and other potentially sensitive information, don’t download the app.

Sign out when you stop using an app. It may be convenient to stay signed in to an app at all times, but that can leave you vulnerable to hackers and/ or thieves. Many apps store users’ credit card numbers so shoppers don’t have to enter such information each time they make a purchase. If you stay signed in to an app at all times, hackers who access your smartphone can then access your credit card information, as can thieves should your phone be stolen. Signing out when you finish using an app provides an extra measure of protection.

Turn off automatic connections.

Many smartphones enable users to automatically connect to nearby Wi-Fi networks so they can seamlessly access the Internet regardless of where they are. However, some WiFi networks are fraudulent, and you may unknowingly be transmitting sensitive data through such networks when you automatically log on.

Disable automatic connections, only logging on to secure Wi-Fi networks when out in public.

Browse but don’t buy. Shoppers who are especially concerned about smartphone security may want to use apps and their smartphone’s Internet connections to browse rather than buy.

Avoid logging into apps or websites when using your smartphone, instead browsing deals and jotting them down on the phone’s notes app. You can then make purchases once you gain access to a secure network, such as the one at your home or office.

Holiday shoppers are increasingly turning to their smartphones to do their holiday shopping. While the convenience of such devices may be unrivaled, consumers must prioritize security over expediency. www.seasonsmagazineonline.com

Safety First When Stringing Holiday Lights Holiday decorations help make a special time of year even more memorable.

Whether you’re hanging mistletoe above a doorway or decking the halls, safety must be a priority when decorating a home for the holidays.

Accidents can happen no matter what type of holiday decorating you’re doing, but stringing holiday lights around your home may be especially dangerous.

This season, keep the following safety tips in mind when stringing lights so this season of celebration starts off safe and sound: Work with at least one partner. Never go it alone when stringing holiday lights.

Make sure someone is there to hold the ladder steady as you climb up and down. Partnering up when stringing holiday lights allows decorators to use both of their hands to climb up ladders instead of using one of their hands to carry lights. Once they reach a point where it’s safe to

hang lights, they can then have a helper hand them the lights. If possible, work in groups of three so someone can hold the ladder steady at all times.

Inspect lights before hanging them. Lights are not built to last forever, and over time holiday lights can suffer damage that has the potential to be dangerous.

Wires can fray, and sockets can crack or break. Inspect lights and wires before hanging them, replacing any that pose a hazard.

When replacing bulbs, be sure to replace them with bulbs of equal wattage.

Use an extension cord of adequate length. Exterior holiday lights are often plugged into extension cords that extend to a shed or garage. Do not connect several extension cords to power holiday lights; instead, use just a single cord that’s lengthy enough to reach the outlet. Connecting extension cords is a fire hazard. In addition, make sure the amperage of the decorations matches the

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amperage rating of the extension cord, which can be found on the product label or possibly on the manufacturer’s website. Make sure the extension cord is not plugged into the power source while you are hanging the lights.

Hang the correct lights. When stringing lights, make sure you hang lights designated as exterior lights on the exterior of your home and those designated as interior lights inside your home. Hanging lights in the wrong places poses a fire hazard and creates additional safety concerns, so adhere to manufacturer instructions when stringing lights.

Make sure lights do not pose a safety hazard inside. Some people string holiday lights indoors as well. Lights might be hung on Christmas trees or along hallways. Such lights and the cords connecting them to power sources should never pose safety hazards, so make sure they are not lying on the floor. Staple lights to the wall and never place them beneath furniture or rugs.

Lights can overheat when placed beneath rugs, and lights that are not p ro p e r l y secured to a wall can pose certain d a n g e rs,

Safety should reign supreme when stringing holiday lights around the house.

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HOLIDAY 2016 SEASONS™ MAGAZINE | 11

Tips for First-Time Holiday Dinner Hosts Hosting a holiday meal for loved ones provides an exciting opportunity to bring family and friends together during a special time of year. Firsttime hosts may be a little nervous and put pressure on themselves to make the meal just right. But there are a few tricks of the trade novices can employ to calm their nerves

and enjoy their first foray into holiday hosting: Go with what you know.

Experimenting in the kitchen can be fun, but such experimentation should be avoided when hosting for the holidays. When planning the menu for your holiday dinner, choose a main course that you have prepared in the past. Familiarity can calm your nerves, and you’re less likely to forget key ingredients when preparing a meal you have made several times in the past.

If you want to experiment a little, do so with desserts that you can prepare and test for taste several days in advance. If the desserts don’t pan out, you will still have a few days to find an alternative.

Get a head start wherever possible. The day friends and family are coming to visit figures to be hectic. In addition to preparing the meal, hosts must also ready

their homes so they can create a welcoming environment for their guests. Once you have chosen the menu, look for items that can be prepared in advance of the big day. Desserts can often be made several days in advance, as can certain side dishes. Do as much prep work for the main course the night before the meal as possible.

Double check your pantry.

Even if you’re making a meal you have made a dozen times in the past, peruse your pantry to make sure you have every ingredient you’re going to need. If you’re used to making the meal for four people but will now be making the meal for 12 of them, make sure you have enough of each ingredient to make the meal in bulk. To make things easier, update your recipe to reflect the additional guests before going to the grocery store. Doing so guarantees you won’t run out of ingredients once you start preparing the meal.

Ask

guests

to

bring

nonessential items. Guests will likely offer to bring something to the holiday dinner, and there’s nothing wrong with accepting help. But don’t ask guests to bring items that are essential to the meal, as that can delay the meal if guests get stuck in traffic or show up late.

Instead, ask guests to bring a bottle of wine, a small dessert or even some snacks guests can eat while waiting for the main course.

Ask about food allergies.

While hosts don’t need to cater to every food allergy under the sun, ask each guest if there is any particular food or ingredient they absolutely must avoid.

If enough guests admit they must avoid a particular dish, you then know not to prepare it. In addition, have plenty of vegetables on hand for guests who are vegan or vegetarian.

Holiday hosting is fun, and firsttime hosts can make it even more fun by employing a few veteran tricks of the trade.

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Cinnamon Caramel Cheesecake Squares Lavish meals are a large part of holiday celebrations, with many people indulging in dinners and desserts throughout the holiday season. Cheesecake is an example of a dessert that, due to the time it takes to create and the richness of the dessert itself, is not something many people eat on a regular basis.

However, with a time-saving recipe, cheesecake can become a dessert prepared in little time for holiday festivities.

Makes 24 squares Ingredients 2 8-ounce packages seamless crescent dough 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese 1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3/4 cup sugar, divided Flour for dusting 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 cup caramel topping Directions Preheat oven to 350º F. Unroll one package of crescent dough into a shallow baking pan. Roll out the dough to edges.

Heat the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl, uncovered, on high for 30 to 40 seconds, or until softened. Whisk until

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Add the egg, vanilla and 1/2 cup of the sugar to the bowl. Whisk until smooth. Spread over the crescent dough.

Lightly sprinkle the flat side of a cutting board with flour. Unroll the second package of crescent dough and roll it into a 13- by 12-inch rectangle.

Fold the dough in half from the short end; gently lift and place in the pan. Unfold and gently stretch the dough over the cream cheese layer; press the edges to seal. Cut off corners of dough hanging over and discard.

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Bake 22 to 24 minutes, until golden brown.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Place the caramel topping in a 1-cup measuring cup.

Remove the pan from the oven.

Immediately pour the caramel topping over the cheesecake and spread to the edges of the crust.

Sprinkle with the cinnamonsugar mixture; let stand for 10 minutes.

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Holiday H

1863 Thanksgiving

Saturday, November 19th through Sunday, November 27th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Old Bethpage Village Restoration 1303 Round Swamp Road Old Bethpage Phone: 516.572.8400 Experience how Americans celebrated and prepared a Thanksgiving feast in 1863.

There will be cooking and baking demonstrations throughout the day showing historic techniques.

Tanger Outlets Holiday STYLE Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting Saturday, November 19th Tanger Outlets at The Arches 455 Commack Road, Deer Park Phone: 631.242.0239 Gather in the Piazza for a special day of festive and fun activities for the whole family.

There will be something for everyone, including a visit from

Santa Claus, ice skating, musical performances and more.

Ice Skating at Tanger Outlets Deer Park Saturday, November 19th through Sunday, March 5th Tanger Outlets at The Arches 455 Commack Road, Deer Park Phone: 631.940.9750 Hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Fridays, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturdays, from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Sundays, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Admission is $10 and Skate Rentals are $4; children under 5 skate for free.

16 | SEASONS™ MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2016

Lighting of Village Christmas Tree & Caroling

Friday, November 25th, at 7:00 p.m.

Main Street Village Park, Northport Phone: 631.754.3905 Come down to enjoy the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree and caroling in the center of town.

Santa Parade

Saturday, November 26th, at 3:00 p.m.

Port jefferson Village Phone: 631.473.1414 The Parade begins at the Long Island Train Station on Main Street at 3:00 p.m. and then proceeds down Main Street, around East Main Street, to West Broadway and finishes at the Drown-Meadow Cottage at the corner of Barnum and West Broadway. Santa will be on hand in his “workshop” for photo opportunities.

Rogers Mansion

by Candlelight

Saturday, November 26th & Sunday, November 27th, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

17 Meeting House Lane Southampton Phone: 631.283.2494 Celebrate the holidays with a candlelight reception at the Mansion. The parlors and sitting rooms will be festooned with garlands of fresh winter greens and flowers. Colorful antique holiday decorations can be seen on the many trees that decorate the reception rooms. Enjoy cider and gingerbread cookies before or after your self-guided tour.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Sunday, November 27th, at 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts 71 East Main Street, Patchogue Phone: 631.207.1313 Bring your family and celebrate Christmas with this live rendition of your favorite holiday special!

The animated television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015.

Holiday Tree Lighting

Friday, December 2nd, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park 440 Montauk Highway, Oakdale Phone: 631.581.1002 Listen to the holiday music, enjoy the lighting of the tree, visit with Santa and tour the Victorian home to view the beautiful seasonal decorations.

Clara’s Dream: The Nutcracker

Friday, December 2nd through Sunday, December 4th Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts 71 East Main Street, Patchogue Phone: 631.207.1313 Featuring the American Dance Theatre of Long Island’s production of this holiday classic. Performances: Friday, at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, at 1:00 p.m.

Tree Trimming Event

Saturday, November 26th Fire Island Lighthouse Robert Moses State Park Field #5, Fire Island Phone: 631.661.4876 Kick off the holiday season by helping decorate the lighthouse’s holiday tree. Bring a handmade ornament relating to the sea, nature or the Lighthouse to hang.

There will be free hot chocolate and cookies.

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Happenings Tree Lighting Ceremony

Saturday, December 3rd, at 5:30 p.m.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium 1660 Route 25A Cold Spring Harbor Phone: 516.692.6768 Santa Claus will light the tree, and the Hatchery will remain open until 7:00 p.m. There will be cookies, hot chocolate and tea.

Charles Dickens 21st annual Festival

Saturday, December 3rd & Sunday, December 4th Port Jefferson Village Phone: 631.473.4724 The Village of Port Jefferson will magically transform into the Dickensian era with streets filled with roaming characters such as Father Christmas, Dickens Mayor, Scrooge, the Town Crier and the beloved chimney sweeps. The festivities will feature ice skating at the Village Center, a cappella performance by choirs and harmony groups, Nutcracker performances, magic shows by The Great Wizard of the North, and many fine musical performances by area musicians. In addition, this year’s festival will feature Theater Three’s 33rd annual production of A Christmas Carol.

Holiday Celebration 2016 at Old Westbury Gardens

Saturday, December 3rd through Sunday, December 18th Old Westbury Gardens 71 Old Westbury Road Old Westbury Phone: 516.333.0048 Period rooms are beautifully For more information, call: 631.226.2636

and exquisitely decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths, mantelpiece arrangements, topiaries and plants. Bring the children to create crafts and share their holiday wishes with Santa, the enjoy hot cider and cookies on the West Porch.

Robert Moses State Park Field #5, Fire Island Phone: 631.661.4876 Relive this historic event as Santa arrives at the Lighthouse for a great photo opportunity.

Come early.

Tree Lighting and Visit from Santa

The Nutcracker Suite with the Atlantic Wind Symphony Orchestra

Friday, December 9th Coe Hall at Planting Fields Arboretum 1395 Planting Fields Road Oyster Bay Phone: 516.922.9200 Delight in all kinds of holiday excitement, including caroling by the Barber Shop Quartet, House of the Red Hart Singers, hot cocoa and refreshments.

Coe Hall will be decorated for the season and will be open for self-guided visits. Visit with Santa until 7:30 p.m. in the Hay Barn.

Homes of Harbor Hills: Lanternlight House Tour

Holiday Tales at the Hearth

Saturday, December 10th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Port Jefferson Village Phone: 631.473.1414 Tour five selected, upscale grand homes, decorated for the holidays. Tickets may be purchased at the Chamber office at 118 West Broadway between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the week and 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the weekends.

Christmas at Sagtikos Manor

Saturday, December 10th & Sunday, December 11th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sagtikos Manor 677 Montauk Hwy, Bay Shore Phone: 631.661.5169 Contact Sagtikos Manor for reservations for their Christmas House Tours.

14th annual Reenactment of the Flying Santa Saturday, December 10th Fire Island Lighthouse

Saturday, December 10th & Sunday, December 11th Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts 71 East Main Street, Patchogue Phone: 631.207.1313 This year, the extremely talented dancers of Ovations Dance Repertory Company will once again join The Atlantic Wind Symphony in the Nutcracker production. Shows are Saturday, at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 11th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sands Point Preserve 127 Middle Neck Road Sands Point Phone: 516.571.7901 Join the holiday cheer at Hempstead House with carolers, children’s crafts and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Special guest readers share favorite stories by the library’s roaring fireplace, with a backdrop of traditional music of the season.

A Christmas Carol Sunday, December 11th, at 2:00 p.m.

Tilles Center for the Performing Arts 720 Northern Boulevard Brookville Phone: 516.299.3100 Performed by North County Center for the Arts, this new adaptation of the ever popular Dickens classic fills the stage with song and dance, a dose of humor and a timeless message.

For ages 6+.

EDITION TWO

HOLIDAY 2016 SEASONS™ MAGAZINE | 17

‘Tis the Season to Ship Smart The holiday season can be hectic, and thanks to that sometimes frenetic pace, it can be easy to put things on the back burner.

While it’s okay to put off some things until the holiday season has come and gone, shipping gifts to loved ones does not fall into that category. Shipping can be expensive, especially for last-minute shoppers who want to ensure their gifts arrive in time for the holidays. But the following are a handful of ways to ship smart and save both time and money: Ship directly to the recipient.

Last-minute shoppers who are buying online can save money by shipping gifts directly to the recipient. While shipping directly to the recipient may seem less personal than sending a gift you wrapped yourself, many online retailers allow shoppers to send gift-wrapped items directly to another person. Just be sure to have the recipient’s correct address when choosing this option.

Ship early. Waiting to ship all

gifts at the same time may be more convenient, but it can prove more costly as well. If you typically finish your holiday shopping just a few days before Christmas, then waiting to ship everything will cost more money than shipping gifts as you buy them. The longer you wait to ship gifts, the more you can expect to pay if you expect those gifts to arrive on time.

Shipping gifts as you buy them, especially if you get much of your shopping done early, can save you short-term or overnight shipping fees, which can be significant.

well. Pack-and-ship companies compete for consumers’ business during the height of the holiday shipping season, so compare the costs between the various packand-ship companies, including the postal service, to see which offers the best deal.

Insure the items you ship. The holiday season is the busiest

time of year for the pack-andship industry. While the industry is often remarkably effective at delivering gifts intact and on time, items are sometimes lost or damaged. By insuring your packages, you’re ensuring you won’t be out of luck should your package be lost, damaged or stolen before it reaches its destination.

Comparison shop.

Much like you can save money by comparison shopping for holiday gifts, you can save by comparing shipping costs as

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Creative Ways to Reuse Christmas Cards Roughly 1.6 billion Christmas cards, including boxed cards, are purchased in a given year. That’s quite a lot of cards to address and mail, and many festive greetings for recipients to read and display.

fun craft project. Turn favorite Christmas cards into mementos that can be saved year after year, which also will dress up refrigerators or other magnetic surfaces. This idea works well for photo greeting cards as well.

With so much money and effort put into sharing Christmas greetings, some people may wonder how they can prolong the merriment offered by these cards. Here are some creative ways to put Christmas cards to new use once this holiday season has come and gone:

Make Christmas card ornaments. Use the cards to create uniquely shaped ornaments for the tree. Cards can be turned into block shapes and hung with ribbon. Another idea is to punch out circles or ovals from the cards and tile them on a foam egg to look like a multicolored pine cone. Explore your creative side and decorate your tree at the same time.

Make your own gift tags.

Christmas card stock is the perfect medium to turn into gift tags for presents. Cut the cards into squares or rectangles or use a stencil to create whatever shape you desire. Then use a hole punch to create a space for ribbon or another tie. Use the tag to dress up gifts with something more unique than self-stick tags.

own. Buy plain bags in a solid color and then embellish them with cutout patterns or pictures from Christmas cards.

Frame favorite cards. Make greeting cards a permanent part of holiday decor by framing the most decorative ones you receive. Use these frames year after year and put them on display with other holiday decorations.

Make a wine bottle gift tag.

Use a 11/4-inch hole punch to create an opening for the neck of a wine bottle on a piece of folded card stock. Glue a greeting card to the portion of the card stock that will lay flush with the wine bottle and you have a decorative wine tag.

Shred older cards for confetti.

Fill gift boxes or bags with homemade confetti made from recycled Christmas cards.

Create greeting card garlands.

Display cards by stringing them together and hanging them from the mantle or another prominent area. If cards are too large, punch out large circles from the cards and then attach those disks to heavy thread.

Decorate your packages.

Instead of overspending on preprinted gift bags, make your

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Christmas Cookies Made Simple Baking cookies is a holiday tradition for many families.

Come the holiday season, many homes are filled with the inviting scents of vanilla, cinnamon and melting chocolate.

Baking cookies can be a social occasion in which family members and friends gather to create recipes passed down through generations. Or baking can be a solitary venture in which cookies are prepared and packaged as holiday gifts. Either way, people who bake during the holiday season understand that making Christmas cookies can be a time-consuming, yet rewarding, process.

utilizing a premade baking mix.

These mixes already have most of the dry cookie ingredients sifted together, including flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. All you have to do is add the wet ingredients and any extra embellishments to make the mix your own. If mixes are too much work, purchase refrigerated or frozen cookie dough. Include your own addins, such as nuts, white chocolate chips, bits of dried fruit or crumbled candy canes, to give the premade dough a unique flavor.

This year, holiday bakers can embrace a number of timesaving tips and tricks to reduce the amount of time they spend in the kitchen and possibly even improve on existing recipes:

Prepare ahead. Many cookie dough recipes can be made and stored for later use. In fact, refrigerating a log of cookie dough can make it easier to cut or handle later on. Spread out the bulk of your baking over two days and you might feel less taxed.

Use a cookie mix. Who says you have to toil and make cookies from scratch? It’s the thought that counts, and any number of creative recipes can begin by

Try a no-bake recipe. Creative culinary experts continually reveal their clever tricks, and many of these include no-bake versions of favorite desserts.

mix cookie crumbs with cake frosting or a nut butter and roll into balls. Dunk the balls into melted chocolate, add a lollipop stick and make delicious cookie pops.

No bake cookies come together in a matter of minutes, but still employ a host of delicious ingredients. Recipes frequently feature similar ingredients to traditional cookies, but rely on chocolate, honey or peanut butter as the setting agent to keep them together. Bakers may also like not having to turn on their ovens.

Cookies may be holiday traditions, but there are ways to reduce the amount of work and time required of holiday baking.

Recycle leftover cookies.

If you have a fair amount of cookies remaining or several that broke apart or do not look good enough to serve, never fear. Such cookies can be used as part of another delicious dessert.

Grind cookies into crumbs that can serve as a pie crust for pudding pies or no-bake cheesecakes, or

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Preparing Your Fireplace or Stove for the Season Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves not only can be beautiful focal points within a home, but they also provide an additional source of heat and can be used to keep rooms or entire homes comfortable without the need for additional and potentially costly heating sources.

Just like more modern home heating systems, stoves and fireplaces need to be maintained, and that maintenance includes readying them before winter when they are used more heavily.

Ensuring a fireplace or stove is in good working order helps to guarantee efficiency of use and safety during the winter months.

Open-flame heating sources carry with them certain risks.

The leading factor contributing to home-heating fires is a failure to keep things clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment. The following are a handful of ways to stay safe as you get ready for another cozy season around the fire: Start with the chimney. Begin by having your chimney thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Creosote can build up inside of the chimney. Creosote is highly flammable and becomes more difficult and expensive to clean the longer it builds up inside your flue lining. In addition, animals may have created nest inside of the chimney since the last time the fireplace was used.

A professional chimney sweep should be hired in this situation.

He or she will be able to effectively clean the chimney in a manner that is the least messy and disruptive to residents.

Install or check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Operational alarms are essential

to preventing injury or death resulting from smoke or carbon monoxide inhalation.

Such detectors are inexpensive safeguards that should be installed on every floor of the house. Batteries should be replaced every six months, and the alarms themselves should be changed every five to 10 years.

Inspect the chimney from outdoors as well. Inspect the mortar around any bricks in the chimney and surrounding areas for cracks. If left unaddressed, these can cause dangerous fires.

If there are serious cracks, a professional may need to make repairs or the chimney may need to be replaced. You also can have the chimney capped with a screen to keep animals and debris from entering.

Inspect the damper. A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a chimney. It should be checked prior to the first use of a stove or fireplace so homeowners can be certain it opens and closes smoothly.

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THINGS TO DO Ice Skating at Wollman Rink

Opened October 22nd Central Park At 59th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues New York, NY Phone: 212.439.6900 www.centralpark.com The Wollman Rink is located on the east side of the Park, very close to the Central Park Zoo. It offers ice hockey, a skating school, party facilities, skate rentals and lockers. Hours are Monday and Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Winter Village at Bryant Park

October 29th through March 5th, 2017 Behind the New York Public Library, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues New York, NY Phone: 212.661.6640 www.wintervillage.org The Rink is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Holiday Shops are open daily through January 2nd, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All hours are weather permitting.

24 | SEASONS™ MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2016

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

November 11th through January 2nd, 2017 Radio City Music Hall 1260 Avenue of the Americas Sixth Avenue, between 50th & 51st Streets New York, NY Phone: 212.247.4777 www.radiocity.com The Rockettes® will shine like never before in a breathtaking new finale that transforms the theater into a glistening winter wonderland. Share in the joy of this one-of-a-kind celebration for family, friends and loved ones.

Every moment is magic!

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

November 25th through December 31st, 2016 David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center 20 Lincoln Center Plaza Between West 62nd and 65th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues New York, NY Phone: 212.496.0600 www.nycballet.com Tschaikovsky’s iconic score transports you to a world of wonder where mischievous mice are foiled by toy soldiers come to life, and a blizzard of ballerinas reveals the enchanting Land of Sweets. This is the version that originated a beloved American tradition.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

Wednesday, November 30th Rockefeller Center 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues New York, NY Phone: 212.332.6868 www.rockefellercenter.com The 2016 tree will be lit for the first time, with live performances from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tens of thousands will crowd the sidewalks for the event and hundreds of millions will watch it live across the globe. The Tree will remain lit and can be viewed until 9:00 p.m. on January 7th.

EDITION TWO

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Fifth Avenue, between 50th and 51st Streets, across from Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY Phone: 212.753.2261 www.saintpatrickscathedral.org The Cathedral is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. It is open until 7:00 p.m. on the night of the Rockefeller Center tree lighting.

www.seasonsmagazineonline.com

Photos By: Jamie Lynn Ryan

SEE IN NYC Guide to Window Shopping in NYC

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season gets underway, be sure to take a moment to slow down and take in some of New York City’s most famous holiday window displays...

Barneys New York 660 Madison Avenue New York, NY 212.826.8900 www.barneys.com

Bergdorf Goodman

754 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 212.753.7300 www.bergdorfgoodman.com

Bloomingdale’s

1000 Third Avenue 59th Street & Lexington Avenue New York, NY 212.705.2000 www.bloomingdales.com

Henri Bendel

712 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 212.247.1100 www.henribendel.com

Lord & Taylor

424 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 212.391.3344 www.lordandtaylor.com

For more information, call: 631.226.2636

Macy’s Herald Square 151 West 34th Street New York, NY 212.695.4400 www.macys.com

Saks Fifth Avenue

611 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 212.753.4000 www.saksfifthavenue.com

Tiffany & Co.

Fifth Avenue and 57th Street New York, NY 212.755.8000 www.tiffany.com

EDITION TWO ONE EDITION

HOLIDAY 2016 SEASONS™ MAGAZINE | 25

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Host a Turkey-Free Thanksgiving This Year Low in fat, high in protein and an inexpensive source of iron, zinc, potassium and B vitamins, turkey makes a healthy addition to a person’s diet. Turkey also tends to be the star of the show on Thanksgiving and other holidays.

Even though turkey can be a delicious addition to any holiday table, some people prefer to buck Thanksgiving tradition from time to time and divert focus from the golden gobbler.

Even though turkey may be synonymous with Thanksgiving, hosts and hostesses should not shy away from serving something different. In fact, turkey may not even have been on the menu for the first Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving dates back to New England in November 1621, when newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered for an autumn harvest celebration. It’s reported that pilgrims went on a “fowling” mission in preparation for the threeday feast. Although wild turkey was plentiful in the region, ducks, geese, passenger pigeons and swans were commonly consumed.

Historians at Smithsonian say documents refer to wildfowl and venison as foods appearing at the first Thanksgiving, but turkey was not mentioned.

Home chefs can take a cue from those first pilgrims and choose less traditional offerings this Thanksgiving. The following are some ideas that are reminiscent of the first Thanksgiving: If the flavor is more palatable, don’t hesitate to select another bird to grace the Thanksgiving table, such as a goose or even a chicken. Some people find turkey meat to be too dry, despite all of the different preparation methods. Chicken or goose may be more well-received and just as versatile.

Don’t overlook the possibility of serving fish and other seafood.

Colonists and the Wampanoag probably ate eel, lobster, clams and mussels. Fish can be dried, smoked and preserved.

EDITION TWO

Replace wheat-based recipes with those made from cornmeal, as maize was more likely available during colonial time than wheat.

Forests provided chestnuts, beechnuts and walnuts, so a platter of nuts paired with cheese or fruit also can make a welcome addition to the table.

Nuts also can be ground and used in baked goods or flavoring for Thanksgiving desserts.

Pumpkin and squash were plentiful in colonial times, and this is why these gourds are often included in Thanksgiving meals and decor. The flesh of

a pumpkin or squash can be turned into casseroles or used to make quiche.

A traditional Thanksgiving meal for the early settlers would not have included potatoes. White potatoes originated in South America and sweet potatoes in the Caribbean. At the time of the first Thanksgiving, these would not yet have been introduced, as white potato patches in North America were not established in the region until 1719.

Because colonists did not have wheat flour and butter to make flaky tart crusts, pumpkin pie was not on the first Thanksgiving menu. In lieu of pumpkin pie, hosts can experiment with moist loaf breads or muffins made with pumpkin.

The average Thanksgiving dinner table today looks quite different from the one the Wampanoag Indians and Pilgrims gathered around centuries ago. Families can stick closer to history and tailor their meals for a touch of something different this year. www.seasonsmagazineonline.com

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HOLIDAY 2016 SEASONS™ MAGAZINE | 27

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