BLANK SLATE MEDIA March 1, 2019
From Elvis to the Box Tops BY G R AC E M CQ UA D E
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ick Levy, one of the current members of the ‘60s band, the Box Tops, admits that he doesn’t recall much from his early childhood, but one memory is crystal clear — the day he received his first Elvis Presley album in 1956. “It sounds trite. It sounds contrived, but that was like the Holy Grail,” Levy said during a recent interview. “The light went off.” This spark led Levy on a musical journey that took him from running around his house as a boy wearing Elvis-inspired cardboard sideburns glued to his face, to receiving a birthday kiss from Elvis’ wife, Priscilla Presley, at the Box Tops’ induction ceremony into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame this past November. While people may not know Levy by name because he often performs back-up and behind-the-scenes, his passion for playing music has kept him closely tied to the industry for the past 50 years, juggling roles as a touring musician, bandleader, producer, writer, promoter and manager. “Everything I did and learned about the music business, aside from playing my instrument, was done so I could continue to play,” Levy said. “I could have had a job at Capitol Records on the business side… done the corporate ladder thing. Then I realized I wouldn’t be doing what I love to do.” So Levy asked himself early on, “How can I do this and keep reinventing myself so I can continue to play music and make a living doing it?” The answer lies in “High in the Mid-‘60s: How to Have a Fabulous Life in Music Without Being Famous,” Levy’s account of his rollercoaster ride in the music business alongside artists who made their marks during what Levy calls the “renaissance” age in music and are revered to this day. “There’s still an audience, a pretty good audience, for this 60s-era music,” Levy said. “It’s transcended the Boomer generation for sure.” At Box Tops’ concerts across the country, Levy says he often sees grandparents, parents and grandkids at the shows together singing, “Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane,” the opening lyrics of the band’s greatest hit, “The Letter.” “They all know it because these songs have come up in commercials, in movies, in TV,” Levy said. “The ‘60s’ thing has become, in my estimation, the mold, and once the mold is made it’s easy to replicate, but it’s not the same.” While there have been many ‘60s tribute acts over the years, Long Islanders can experience the real thing when the Memphis-born Box Tops, including two of its founding members, Bill Cunningham and Gary Talley, share the stage with the Grass Roots and headliners Tommy James & the Shondells at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Friday, March 15 at 8 p.m. Prior to joining the Box Tops three years ago, Levy spent 14 years managing the group while performing with many other recording stars including Jay & the Techniques, Herman’s Hermits, Frankie Avalon, the Shirelles, the Belmonts, the Drifters, the Platters, Martha Reeves and more. “The artists I’ve played with are such a wide range like Tommy Roe, who did songs like ‘Sheila’ and ‘Dizzy,’ and was called the king of bubble gum, these feel-good songs,” Levy said. “And then you play with a guy like Bo Diddley, who was one of the pioneers of it all… I still feel like I’m the kid in the candy store.”
It was during his time performing with Peter “Herman” Noone of the British band Herman’s Hermits in the late ‘90s and early part of the 2000s when Levy first asked himself a more introspective question in light of his good fortune, “How did I get here?” What began as a journal transformed into his memoir that tells a story of an everyman making it in the real world rather than the often-heard tale of a rock icon’s rise in the music world. “Rick Levy record star was not in the stars for me,” he said. So finding where his expertise as a businessman and performer could best be used in an ever-changing world has been his longtime pursuit, providing him with hardwon wisdom and magical moments that he recounts in his book from the very beginning. Levy played several instruments as a child, but guitar was his favorite. He played his first Martin guitar at the age of 13 and took lessons from a jazz guitar player in his hometown of Allentown, Pa., “a real bohemian… dressed in black… chain-smoking Camel cigarettes,” Levy said, “but he played guitar and it was like I was transformed. He taught me stuff that I still use to this day.” Despite these early lessons, Levy says his real training came from his time with his first garage band, the Limits, in high school and then with the group Wax while at the University of Pennsylvania. “Some of the guys were better, technically-trained musicians than I was so I learned a lot from them about theory and chord structure,” he said, recalling a memorable trip during these years. In the summer of 1967, right after graduating from high school, the Limits drove to the Catskills in upstate New York to play at a summer camp. “We’re driving in a station wagon… and, of course, back then all you had was AM radio… and this song
comes on for the first time, the opening of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale,’ and we literally had to stop the car and just listen to that thing cause we had never heard anything like it. That just altered the universe, my musical universe, much like Elvis did when I was a kid,” Levy said. So perhaps it was kismet when Levy and his Wax bandmates got to meet the British rock band who first recorded “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” Procol Harum, while at the Electric Factory, the same Philadelphia concert club where rising rockers like the Who and Jimi Hendrix performed. “We kind of had carte blanche to go see shows because, although we were a local band, we were a favorite of the owner,” Levy said. “I mentioned that story to them — about how important the song was to us. Funnily enough, the Box Tops recorded a version of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ on their very first album.” A similar idol moment occurred in the early ‘70s when Levy and his new bride attended a Rolling Stones’ concert at Madison Square Garden on Mick Jagger’s 29th birthday. Through connections, Levy went to the after-party at Manhattan’s St. Regis Hotel and shared an elevator ride with Keith Richards. “My sister swears by it,” Levy said, given that his memory was a bit foggy after a night of partying with the likes of Jagger, Muddy Waters and Bob Dylan. Music had to take a backseat when Levy and his first wife had a son. He went back to school to earn a degree in teaching to provide a steady income for his family, but he brought his love for music into the classroom by forming a music education program for children called RockRoots. “It won the best single kids’ program by PBS Pennsylvania stations,” Levy said. “It’s not the same as a Grammy or a million-selling record, but that’s who I am.” In the decades that followed, Levy’s marriages ended and his bands never scored a recording contract with a major label, but he continued to play gigs, fine-tune his skills and remain close with many of his industry contacts. “I’ve burned very few bridges in 50-plus years,” he said. When he had the opportunity to work with his first ‘60s recording group, Jay & the Techniques, Levy discovered a new musical path. “I saw the popularity of this thing,” he said, so he set out to find practical ways to play with other recording artists, often involving managing the talent. “I was never an original member of any of these big groups, but being part and parcel of presenting them again… trying to do the sound right and honestly… to me is an honor and it’s a responsibility,” Levy said. “When I finally put the guitar on and go onstage, I’m just in relaxmode.” Local music lovers will get to experience all the fun and nostalgia when the Box Tops open the show on the 15th, bringing with them more than just great hits like “Cry Like a Baby,” “Soul Deep” and “Neon Rainbow.” “They’re gonna get what made the Box Tops such a cool band for Memphis and why Memphis was so cool, especially in the ‘60s… in that great theatre in the round,” he said. When the music and euphoria die down, Levy returns to his beachfront home in St. Augustine, Fla., where he enjoys quiet pastimes like yoga and pottery, before he plans the band’s next excursion. In March, they will board a Flower Power cruise with the Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane and other big bands of the era. Continued on Page 59
30 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
The top seven events
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The Monkees featuring Mike Nesmith & Micky Dolenz Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m.
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Hey, hey, the Monkees are back on Long Island. Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz will play all of their campy classics, including “I’m a Believer,� “Daydream Believer� and “Last Train to Clarksville.�
Where: The Paramount 370 New York Ave., Huntington Info & Tickets: 631-673-7300 paramountny.com
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The Musical Box Premieres: A Genesis Extravaganza
Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. The Musical Box will present a tribute to the English rock group who made it big in the 1980s with hits such as “The Land of Confusion,â€? “Turn it on Again,â€? “Tonight, Tonight, Tonightâ€? and “Follow You, Follow Me.â€? Where: NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury Info & Tickets: 516-247-5211 • thetheatreatwestbury.com
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‘West Side Story’ in Concert Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 10 at 3 p.m.
“Something’s Comingâ€? to the Madison Theatre and it’s this award-winning musical inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,â€? as a young man and woman who are each related to two opposing New York City gangs fall in love while singing the classic songs “Maria,â€? “Somewhere,â€? and “Tonight.â€? Where: Madison Theatre at Molloy College 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre Info & Tickets: 516-323-4444 • madisontheatreny.org
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
for the coming week
4
Echoes — 60th Anniversary Exhibit and Artists’ Reception Sunday, March 10, 2 to 5:30 p.m. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Long Island Craft Guild will present a special exhibition, “Echoes,� in which artists used a variety of materials to create art that echoes of personal experiences and inspirations. The afternoon will feature a gallery talk at 2 p.m., followed by an artists’ reception at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills Info: 631 462-5400 • artleagueli.net
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Mostly Beethoven featuring the Shanghai Quartet
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Sunday, March 10 at 4 p.m. The incomparable Shanghai Quartet, known worldwide for its passionate musicality, plush sound and impressive technique, is celebrating its 35th anniversary season. Listen to music you want to hear — performed from the heart. Where: Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville Info & Tickets: 516-299-3100 • tillescenter.org
6
The Paramount Comedy Series Presents: Kevin James
Sunday, March 10 at 8 p.m. The Long Island comic, who stars in the TV sitcoms “The King of Queensâ€? and “Kevin Can Waitâ€? and the ďŹ lms “Zookeeperâ€? and “Hitch,â€? will perform his latest stand-up show. Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington Info & Tickets: 631-673-7300 • paramountny.com
7
‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder’
Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15 at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 16 at 3 p.m., and Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m. (ongoing performances through April 28) Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical, “Gentleman’s Guideâ€? tells the uproarious story of an heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by eliminating the eight pesky relatives who stand in his way. Where: John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main Street, Northport Info & Tickets: 631-261-2900 • engemantheater.com
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32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
THE TOP EVENTS FOR KIDS FOR THE COMING WEEK
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ew York International Children’s Film Festival
Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
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Young movie fans and their parents will enjoy three premieres over these two day: the animated Shorts for Tots for children ages 3 to 6; Girls POV ďŹ lms, including the wry comedy “A Field Guide to Being a 12-Year-Old Girl,â€? for kids ages 10 and up; and three Boys Beyond Boundaries screenings, also for kids 10 and older. Where: Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria Info & Tickets: 718-777-6888 or movingimage.us
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erformance: ‘Hatched’
Saturday, March 9, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Gold Coast International Film Festival
CINEMA SERIES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13TH, 7:30 PM
THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT SOUNDVIEW CINEMAS 7 SOUNDVIEW MARKET PL, PORT WASHINGTON
In dogged rebellion of the corporate world and in hopes of striking it rich, two scheming cousins Vincent and Anton Zalesky (Jesse Eisenberg and Alexander SkarsgĂĽrd) set out to build a thousand-mile-long, four-inch-wide tunnel that will give them a one-millisecond edge on transactions at the New York Stock Exchange. The cousins are an odd couple united by their desire to forge their own path in life, with Vincent a frantic dreamer and schemer and Anton a socially awkward data genius conjuring the magic seconds edge they need in their plan. While operating as rogues their plan attracts the attention of their ruthless former employer Eva Torres (Salma Hayek), a Wall Street lion willing to devour anyone unlucky enough to get in her way. As time runs out, their plan and its promises grow wilder as the stakes climb higher. A tragicomedy about ďŹ nancial hustlers by Academy Award–nominated director Kim Nguyen, The Hummingbird Project is a thrilling contemporary portrait of a David vs. Goliath mission.
Visit goldcoastďŹ lmfestival.org or call 516-829-2570 for tickets. Tickets $15/$10 for members when purchased in advance, $20 at the door.
The two performances of this immersive drama created by Treehouse Shakers for children ages 2 and over takes place on a farm where baby humans meet and interact with baby animals, including chicks, calves, kittens, lambs and more. Where: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City Info & Tickets: 516-224-5800 or licm.org
G
irl Scout Day
Saturday, March 9, 2 to 3 p.m. Celebrate the birthday of Girl Scouts in America. In honor of Girl Scout Day, all Girl Scouts wearing their scouting uniform will receive a free hatchery and aquarium tour with paid admission. Where: Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor Info: 516-692-6768 or cshfishhatchery.org
H
ofstra University’s 21st Annual Irish Festival
Sunday, March 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Irish Festival continues to celebrate the Irish gifts of music, food and culture to America. There will be a number of music and dance performances and children’s activities throughout the day, as well as a variety of vendors and food. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and free for children under 12. Where: Hofstra University, David S. Mack Physical Education Center, 900 Fulton Ave., Hempstead Info & Tickets: 516-463-6582 or hofstra.edu
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ach to Rock: America’s Music School
Sunday, March 10, 4 p.m. Bach To Rock showcases young musicians of all ages whose unique method is based on the idea that students learn best when they join together to play the music they love. Where: My Father’s Place at the Roslyn Hotel, 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn Info & Tickets: 516-413-3535 or myfathersplace.com
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
15th Annual Town of North Hempstead Polar Plunge Saturday, March 2, 2019 North Hempstead Beach Park—Pt. Washington
Check-in 10- 11:30am PLUNGE at NOON
Last year over 400 plungers braved the chilly water while hundreds of spectators watched on. Help raise money for the athletes of Special Olympics New York by asking your friends, family, co-workers, etc. to support you in taking the PLUNGE! Every Plunger that raises $150 receives an official Plunge sweatshirt….. raise more money and receive more great prizes! Whether you plunge or support a Plunger, come join us on March 2nd!
How do I get started? Log onto www.polarplungeNY.org/northhempstead where you can start a team, join a team or join as an individual. Set up your Personal Plunge Page and you are on your way to “Freezin’ for a Reason!”
Did you know? Special Olympics New York has 66,835 athletes & unified partners training and competing year-round in 22 Olympics-style sports. Our athletes and their families or caregivers are NEVER CHARGED to participate!
Sign up today!! www.polarplungeNY.org/northhempstead @NHPolarPlunge
@polarplungeli @p @ p Contact: Rebecca Hoffmann at 631.458.1579 or rhoffmann@nyso.org
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34 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
‘My Long Island’ art exhibit Irish author to visit The Art Guild’s new juried competition and exhibit, My Long Island: Places, Spaces, Faces,” will be on view from Saturday, March 2 through Sunday, March 24. An opening reception and award ceremony with the artists will be held on March 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. Both the gallery and the reception are free and open to the public. “This is historically one of the most popular juried competitions at The Art Guild, and was a challenging exhibition to curate,” said executive director, Lisa Grossman. “We were excited to see new perspectives from both well-known and up-and-coming photographers on Long Island. We invite the public to come see the beauty of the Island through the lens of a diverse group of photographers.” The exhibit features 64 photographs by 62 photographers, including 16 high school students, chosen from more than 200 images. The photographers are from all across Long Island and bring a wide view of the area, from hidden landscape gems to sensitive
portraits. The juror of awards for this exhibit is Katrin Eismann, an internationally respected artist who specializes in interpretive travel, still life and portrait photography. She is also an educator and the author of four acclaimed books on digital photography. Eismann is the founder and chair of the Masters in Digital Photography department at the School of Visual Arts. The Art Guild’s classes for children and adults run six days a week. A 10-week oil
painting class with Joan Stevens begins on Tuesday, March 12, and a 10-week life drawing class (non-instructional) with Stevens commences on Friday, March 15. An eight-week class, Introduction to Digital Art with Photoshop for Middle Schoolers with Heather Heckel, has been added to the schedule on Wednesday afternoons beginning on Feb. 27. Children’s week-long summer workshops for ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 12 are now registering. Adult workshops for 2019 include: Seascapes and Winter Scenes in Pastel with Lana Ballot, March 23 and 24, The Floral Still Life in Oil with Jacqueline Kamin, June 13 to 16; Painting the Figure from Photographs in Watercolor with Ted Nuttall, June 19 to 22; and Painting in Colored Pencil with Cynthia Knox, July 26 to 29. The Art Guild’s home, Elderfields Preserve, is at 200 Port Washington Blvd. in Manhasset. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, call 516-304-5797 or go to www. TheArtGuild.org.
Rockville Centre In the tradition of Frank McCourt’s “Angela’s Ashes” and Alice Taylor’s “To School Through the Fields,” Tom Phelan’s “We Were Rich and We Didn’t Know It: A Memoir of My Irish Boyhood” is a heartfelt and masterfully written memoir of growing up in Ireland in the 1940s. Phelan, who was born and raised in County Laois in the Irish midlands, spent his formative years working with his wise and demanding father as he sought to wrest a livelihood from a farm that was often wet, muddy and back-breaking. It was a time before rural electrification, the telephone and indoor plumbing; a time when the main modes of travel were bicycle and animal cart; a time when small farmers struggled to survive and turkey eggs were hatched in the kitchen cupboard; and a time when the Church exerted enormous control over Ireland. “We Were Rich and We Didn’t Know It” recounts Phelan’s upbringing in an isolated, rural community from the day he was de-
livered by the local midwife. With tears and laughter, it speaks to the strength of the human spirit in the face of life’s adversities. Phelan had just turned 50 when his first novel, “In the Season of the Daisies,” was accepted for publication. That novel was later chosen by Barnes and Noble for its Discover Great New Writers series. Since then, Phelan has written five other novels: “Iscariot,” “Derrycloney,” “The Canal Bridge,” “Nailer” and “Lies the Mushroom Pickers Told.” He now lives in New York. Phelan will be launching his new book at Turn of the Corkscrew Books and Wine, with an appearance scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Maureen Murphy, Irish studies historian and features editor of The Irish Literary Supplement since 1982, will interview Phelan at the special event that is not to miss. Turn of the Corkscrew Books and Wine is located at 110 N. Park Ave. in Rockville Centre.
ROA
REACH OUT AMERICA’S SPRING LINEUP 12:30pm, March 13. Michael A. Gould-Wartofsky, the awardwinning author, will discuss social movements, state-society relations, the politics of immigration and the policing of protest. 10:00am – 2:00pm, March 31. We present Our Planet Ourselves, a science forum ($25 including lunch and entertainment); details on www.reachout-america.com. 12:30pm, April 10. Howard Schneider, Founder of the Stony Brook School of Journalism and onetime Newsday Editor, will talk about telling the difference between real and fake news. 12:30pm, May 8. Laura Curran, Nassau’s first female County Executive will update us on the state of the county and how recent national and state elections impact our community. 12:30pm, June 12. Gun violence widow Trenelle Gabay will discuss what we can do to protect ourselves against the scourge of unregulated firearms. For paid up ROA members only. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset. Admission is free (except for March 31) and refreshments will be served. For questions go to contact page, www.reachout-america.com.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
UNFORGETTABLE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES ALL YEAR LONG
GOLD COAST ARTS CENTER 113 MIDDLE NECK ROAD, GREAT NECK, NY 11021
TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH | 11:30am
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13TH | 7:30pm
SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH | 10:00am
In dogged rebellion of the corporate world and in hopes of striking it rich, two cousins set out to scheme the New York Stock Exchange. The Hummingbird Project is a tragicomedy about financial hustlers by Academy Award–nominated director Kim Nguyen. A thrilling contemporary portrait of a David vs. Goliath mission. Starring: Salma Hayek, Jesse Eisenberg, and Alexander Skarsgård.
Youth Film Day is a free program designed for emerging filmmakers in grades 7-12. Produced by Hofstra University and GCIFF, student filmmakers are invited to participate in a day full of film activities, panels, workshops, and special giveaways. Participants will have the opportunity to submit their own short films for awards and feedback.
SUNDAY, MARCH 23RD | 8:00pm
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3RD | 5:00pm
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3RD | 7:30pm
Finalists chosen from over 1,000 submissions take the stage in the second round of competition! Help us find Long Island’s next big act and enjoy an evening of the best new local talent! Performances are at the Gold Coast Arts Center theater.
The Gold Coat Arts Center Gallery will showcase the work of art students from the School For The Arts in the 2018-2019 year. Come marvel at the student’s work and acknowledge all the time and effort they put into their creations.
In 1952, Rose Miller returns to her rural hometown to care for her ailing mother. When Rose decides to embark on a filmmaking project in her local community, she is enchanted by a local man who is deaf, and must decide if she has the courage to follow her heart.
MAKING MEMORIES WITH MOVIES
‘Making Memories’ is a series of special programs designed for people living with memory loss and their caregivers at The Gold Coast Arts Center. During the Making Memories at the Movies events, individuals of all ages will enjoy clips of classic films followed by guided conversation and reminiscence.
THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT
YOUR BIG BREAK: KNOCKOUT 2018-2019 STUDENT ART ROUND 2 EXHIBITION OPENING
YOUTH FILM DAY ‘19
WILD PRAIRIE ROSE (REELABAILITIES)
APRIL VACATION ARTS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! - APRIL 22-26, 2019 - REGISTER NOW!
WHEN SHCOOL IS CLOSED - THE ARTS CENTER IS OPEN!
Choose your own dates and schedule your Pre-K through 8th grade children for a fun, exciting and active day while school is closed! Experience sessions in Art, Music, Chess, and Acting, taught by experienced teachers.
GOLDCOASTARTS.ORG | 516-829-2570 | VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF CLASSES & EVENTS!
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56 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Celebrated Harrison concert returns to L.I. In 1971, George Harrison of the Beatles held the first large-scale, rock-androll benefit at Madison Square Garden for the people of Bangladesh using sitars and other Indian instruments. He was joined by Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Leon Russel, Badfinger, Billy Preston and other musical friends. Wonderous Stories: The Concert for Bangladesh Re-visited marks an all-star tribute to Harrison and that memorable music night. The performance will take place at the Space at Westbury on Saturday, March 2 at 8 p.m. For three years in a row, 2007 to 2009, Wonderous Stories played Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh in its entirety at BB King’s Blues Club in Manhattan to sold-out audiences. They played in 2011 and 2013 at the Highline Ballroom and in 2017 at the Space at Westbury. In those years, special guests included members and former members of Badfinger, Paul McCartney’s Wings, the Alan Parsons Project, Vanilla Fudge, the Hooters, Zebra, Tower of Power, Ted Nugent, Dire Straits and the Soul Survivors, as well as people who were behind-thescenes at the original 1971 show and special guest promoter Sid Bernstein, who produced the Beatles’ concert at Shea Stadium.
For the second year, Wonderous Stories will play on Long Island on the Space at Westbury’s large stage to accommodate all of the musicians who will present the multi-instrumental show, in addition to Harrison songs that were sorely missed at the original show. A portion of the money from the concert will be donated to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001. Some of the musicians who are scheduled to perform, along with the five members of Wonderous Stories, include guitarist Denny Laine (Wings), drummer Steve Holley (Wings, Julian Lennon, Ian Hunter), guitarist Godfrey Townsend (John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, Alan Parsons Project, The Turtles), saxophonist Arno Hecht (J. Geils, Dion, Buster Poindexter, Uptown Horns), keyboardist Tommy Mandel (Bryan Adams, Ian Hunter, Dire Straits), bassist John Montagna (Alan Parsons Project, Happy Together tour, Hippie Fest tour) and trumpeter Phil Granger (Jay and the Americans). To purchase tickets to this timeless, throwback show, go to www.thespaceatwestbury.com. The Space at Westbury is located at 250 Post Ave. in Westbury.
Music of Astaire and Rogers at Emanuel The seventh season of Stephen C. Widom Cultural Arts at Emanuel continues on Tuesday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m., when Patti Dunham and Gary Haberman perform the music of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in a show called Night & Day. Dunham and Haberman look back at the movies of the most famous dance
team of all time. Astaire and Rogers appeared in their first movie, “Flying Down to Rio,” for RKO Studios and they stole the show. They starred in nine more films together in the 1930s and their screen chemistry has never been matched. The Hollywood dance legends introduced songs written by some of the most famous American songbook composers — Berlin, Gershwin, Kern and Porter. Dunham and Haberman will perform songs from Astaire and Rogers’ classic movies, including “Night and Day,” “I Won’t Dance,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Just the Way You Look Tonight” and “Shall We Dance.” Admission to the performance is free, but donations are welcome. For more information, call 516-482-5701 to receive the 2018-19 SCW Cultural Arts booklet and learn about discounts for the SCW Sunday subscription series. Temple Emanuel is located at 150 Hicks Lane in Great Neck. Prior to their Great Neck show, Dunham and Haberman will perform Dimples, the music of Shirley Temple, at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Ave. in Long Beach, which is also free and open to the public.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
59
The Chocolate Expo Rick Levy: from Elvis takes flight on L.I. to the Box Tops The Chocolate Expo, America’s largest and most unique chocolate festival, will be returning to Long Island’s Cradle of Aviation Museum on Sunday, March 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the Chocolate Expo, attendees will get to taste, purchase, celebrate and otherwise indulge in delicious gourmet chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, gelato, cheeses, wines, spirits, hard ciders, craft sodas and much more from local and regional vendors, while touring one of the largest air and space museums in the world. In the museum’s atrium lobby, guests will be greeted by Aurora Gourmet’s chocolate fountains overflowing with milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate to cover a choice of fresh fruits, marshmallows, pretzels and crisp rice treats. Participating chocolatiers in this year’s event include Chocolate Moonshine, Chocolates U, Emalyn Sweets, Raw Chocolate Love, Twizzle’s Tasty Treats, Teacher’s Recipe Fudge, the Cocoa Exchange and the Pretzel Princess, among others. Unusual chocolate items at the Chocolate Expo include Bacon Bites’ chocolatecovered bacon, chocolate-flavored pumpkin seeds from Super Seedz, raw cookie dough treats from Whipped Up, chocolate vodka from Olde York Farm, chocolate wine from Pazdar Winery, chocolate soda from Drink More Good and chocolatescented personal care products from Scru-
bIt NH. Wine tastings and sales will be offered by Adirondack Winery, Fire Island Winery and Warwick Valley Winery. Ciders by Doc’s Hard Ciders and spirits from Lake George Distillery and Black Dirt Distillery will round-out the lineup of alcoholic beverages at this year’s Chocolate Expo. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, food artist Nancy Baker, who has been featured on the Food Network, will recreate a scene from a famous photo of the moon landing using a delicious combination of chocolates, cookies and colored sugars. More than 25 authentically-costumed Star Wars characters from the 501st Empire City Garrison will descend on the Chocolate Expo and be available for selfies and other picture-taking opportunities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free face painting and balloon twisting activities for children will take place in the museum’s Junior Jet Club. Admission to all air and space exhibits is included with admission to the Chocolate Expo. Additionally, free admission to shows in the JetBlue Airways Planetarium, regularly $9 per adult and $8 per child, will be included as well. “Space Junk” will be shown at 12, 3 and 5 p.m. The Cradle of Aviation Museum is on Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Garden City. For more information, contact the museum at 516-572-4111 or go to www. cradleofaviation.org.
Continued from Page 29 Over the years, Levy says there have been times when he has envied friends who had steady jobs and stable home lives. “Security is a funny thing,” he said. “We all want it, but I think of what happened when all these people who worked for corporations thought it was all secure and then their pensions are gone.” So while Levy’s “rock climb” didn’t
put him at the very top, music ultimately brought him — and many others of the ‘60s generation and beyond — feelings of peace, happiness and freedom. “It’s only rock and roll,” Levy said, but people sure do like it. For tickets to the show, go to www.thetheatreatwestbury.com. To purchase “High in the Mid-‘60s,” go to www.amazon.com or www.ricklevy.com.
HELPING PEOPLE FIND THEIR PERFECT HOME ELIZABETH ZUVEKAS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
O: 516.627.2800 | M: 917.710.2133 elizabeth.zuvekas@elliman.com © 2019 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
elliman.com/longisland 110 WALT WHITMAN ROAD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746. 631.549.7401
60 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 1, 2019
Documentary on college Folk duo Howe, Freebo entrance exam debate return to Huntington
Each year, more than three million high school students take the SAT or ACT, the college entrance exams required by most four-year colleges in the United States. For decades, however, there have been questions about exactly what these tests measure, what role they play in the admissions process and how predictive they are of academic success. The anxiety-provoking exams, and the multibillion dollar test-prep industry that has grown up around them, have also become lightning rods in the ongoing national debate over equity in educational opportunities. In the new documentary feature, “The Test and the Art of Thinking,” filmmaker Michael Arlen Davis examines this controversy through interviews with
students, parents, counselors, test-prep professionals and academics, to provide a fascinating look at this uniquely American rite of passage and how it reflects deeper issues in our educational system and society as a whole. The 55-minute film, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A, will take place at Landmark on Main Street on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m., as part of their Conversations from Main series. Admission is free. This special screening event is copresented with the Parent Resource Center and Port Washington Advocates for Public Education. Landmark on Main Street is located at 232 Main St. in Port Washington.
Acclaimed singer-songwriters Alice Howe and Freebo will be the featured performers during the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s monthly First Saturday Concerts’ series on March 2. The 8:30 p.m. concert at the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, off Route 25A, in Centerport, will be preceded by an open mic at 7:30 p.m. Freebo, a veteran singer-songwriter and musical sideman who was Bonnie Raitt’s bass player for 10 years, was impressed upon first hearing Howe perform during the 2016 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference. After reconnecting with the talented newcomer at the 2017 Folk Alliance International Conference, Freebo invited Howe to record a few songs with him in California — and a musical partnership was forged. Each a compelling performer in their own right, they have been touring together and backing each other on their respective songs in concert, while Freebo produced Howe’s debut full-length album, Visions. With her soulful, impeccably tuned voice and well-crafted poetic lyrics, Boston-based Howe has a pure, distilled sound that reflects a musical sensibility rooted in 1960s folk and 1970s southern
California songwriters. Howe’s 2017 EP, You’ve Been Away So Long, features her original song “Homeland Blues,” which debuted at No. 1 on the international folk DJ top songs chart in April 2017. She participated in that year’s Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase and has earned coveted official juried showcases during the conferences of two regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International. After more than 40 years of recording and touring with many of the great artists of our time, including Bonnie Raitt, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, and more, Freebo has come into his own as a singer-songwriter. A multi-award winner and finalist in numerous songwriting contests, Freebo was recognized as the Best Folk Artist-2007 in the Los Angeles Music Awards. He has appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” “The Muppet Show,” “The Midnight Special,” and in concert with the legendary Spinal Tap. Tickets to the performance are priced at $25 ($20 for FMSH members) and may be purchased in advance online at www. fmsh.org or at the door (cash and checks only). For more information on the featured artists and the concert, visit the website or call 631-425-2925.
L.I. Baroque Ensemble to celebrate J.S. Bach The Long Island Baroque Ensemble will present its 49th annual concerts in celebration of the birthday of J.S. Bach on Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 30 Brooksite Drive in Smithtown, and at 3 p.m. in Christ Church, 61 East Main St. in Oyster Bay. The program will also
be a commemoration of the group’s founder, Sonia Gezairlian Grib, who passed away in March 2018. Among the performers for the special occasion will be Arthur Haas, a distinguished harpsichordist who was Grib’s professor when she studied for her masters degree at SUNY Stony Brook.
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