Creating Outdoor Havens for All

People have a lot of great ideas when it comes to designing their backyards, but they don’t always know where to start or how to plan out the space. Getting the advice and expertise of a designer is really a great tool that will transform the needs, wants and wishes for a space into a feasible reality.

Calder Design Group is an interior design firm that excels in creating outdoor spaces that look and feel as comfortable as any indoor space. Well versed in the industry, they will work with any budget to create an outdoor escape for any size property. We’re thrilled to have them grace this issue’s cover and to share some insight from principal and CEO Melanie Calder Russo...

“We design for the lifestyle of our clients; we aim to create the most worthwhile and useful outdoor space that flows seamlessly from indoors to out. I always start a project by gathering important information about a client’s lifestyle and factor it into the design of their space. It’s important to create a space that you know you will love and enjoy for years to come.

We plan projects for all size properties and budgets. We have worked on a 5,000 sq. ft. oceanfront pool deck and patio, designed for small terraces in NYC, and planned spaces for quaint, modest yards, much like my own. They are all fun and exciting to design. Depending on the size and scope of a project, it may just call for a consultation fee,” explained Melanie.

Today’s outdoor spaces have evolved to include such a wide variety of design elements and amenities… it can be overwhelming to try to create an outdoor living area as a DIY project.

Blending fun with functional is where it gets tricky. There are so many exterior factors to consider, and so many options available. This alone is good reason to consult a designer.

“Creating a true indoor/outdoor vibe is really exciting. All aspects are so important. Lighting is key; having an under or non-lit area in your yard will make it unusable at night. Some projects do require working with an electrician or plumber. At CDG, we work with all trades to help facilitate planning a space. There is such a wide variety of furniture options, and we love how the indoor/ outdoor fabric market has expanded. No longer are outdoor fabrics simple solid color canvases, they are now available in a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures.

We also love to juxtapose the use of water and fire. Not only is it beautiful, but incorporating the use of fire extends the outdoor season. Built in BBQs, kitchens and bars are great for outdoor entertaining. Being able to have all the food items and beverages outside is so convenient and much less disruptive. We also work with architects (if the project calls for it) and landscape designers, who really help to pull the entire project together.

There are so many exterior materials to work with right now – porcelain, synthetic wood look planking, natural stones, AstroTurf – to name a few. Mixing these different elements harmoniously is not always an easy feat, but they really help to create a special and unique retreat the whole family will enjoy.”

“For my own backyard, I wanted to create an oasis that included some of my favorite elements from a villa we rented one holiday in St. Barths,” Melanie told us. “The villa had a covered cabana overshading a full kitchen which created a cool escape from the beating sun. I knew this was something I wanted to recreate in my own backyard. Our cabana houses a large dining table and is outfitted with a built-in BBQ, mini-fridge, ice maker, sink, beer/ wine tap and tons of storage. We have multiple areas that satisfy both the desire for sun and the need for shade, which was really important. We included a bocce court in one corner of the property, and also converted our existing storage shed into a finished pool house. Originally intended to be a “he shed” for my husband, once the space was completed the kids quickly claimed it as their own. We added an arcade machine, smart TV and gaming console – which made the transformation from “he shed” to family recreational space official.

We utilize our outdoor space as much as possible. As soon as the weather turns the slightest bit warm, we make our way outside. When the temperatures start to dip, we make use of our fire pits, heaters and pizza oven. I think we all agree the backyard is the favorite part of our house. It feels like we’re on vacation every time we step outside.”

EDITOR IN CHIEF/PUBLISHER

Joanne Lifavi

ART DIRECTOR

Jennie Alberto

CO-EDITOR

Michaela Connors

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Stephanie Vazquez

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Julianne Mosher

COCKTAIL RECIPES

Dan Bartley, Mary Carroll's Spiros Lounge

Coastal Kitchen & Daiquiri Bar

PHOTO CREDITS

Steve Mitchell Photography, NY Air Show

Ric Marder Imagery, Twice as Nice Interiors Arhaus.com, Hampton Outdoor Bar Cart

Mary Middlemiss, Summertime Party Bar Cart

Stacie Flinner, Serena & Lily Bar Cart

Anne Selke, Dash & Albert, Outdoor Rugs

Frank McKenna, Bikes with Flags (p12)

Sarah Janes, Background Photo (p4)

Advertising Inquiries

917.559.7821 connect@thelistmagazine.com

View all issues of The List Magazine Issuu.com/thelistmagazineli @TheListMagazineLI

Published five times a year, The LIST Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for the Great South Bay coastal communities. Most of our distribution is mailed from Babylon to Great River, south of Montauk Highway, and to all of Brightwaters. In addition, our magazines are available for pick- up in shops throughout our local villages and, in the summer months, on Fire Island at select markets and restaurants.

18

What's Happening

11

MUST KNOW

2-3 Calder Design Group

Creating Outdoor Havens for all Sizes & Styles

6 Poolscapes

8 Bar Carts

10 Outdoor Area Rugs

11 Mamma Santina Restaurant Spotlight

14-15 Mondays at Racine / Racine Top Floor

25 Body Mind Soul

26 Recipes

27-28 Craft Cocktails

30 Peonies in Full Bloom

MUST HAVE

16 Beauty Picks

Sunscreens Worth the Splurge

Lip Balms: Protect Your Pout

MUST GO

12 Fire Island Events

18 What's Happening

20

20 Live Music

22 Dining Guide

REAL ESTATE 28-31

Spring is finally in full bloom here along the Great South Bay. With the warmer weather upon us, our eyes and minds have been wandering to our backyards, eager with the anticipation of outdoor living. We have been dreaming of longer, warmer days and nights since we first started working on this issue highlighting outdoor spaces.

We are thrilled to feature Calder Design Group’s CEO Melanie Calder Russo’s very own backyard on this issue’s cover. Inside, Melanie shares how she created her own outdoor oasis and gives us a peek into the design of one of CDG’s fabulous outdoor projects.

And what better way to relax out back than with something tropical to sip on? We reached out to our local bartenders for favorite summertime cocktail recipes to serve and enjoy while you are lounging or entertaining in your backyard. To kickoff summer we have a full calendar of events and live music happening along the Great South Bay. It is truly what makes our South Shore’s summers spectacular!

While flipping through this issue, be sure to check out the QR codes for some businesses you see in the LIST, such as Rick & Tammy and Diane Betz of Ramsay Realtors, Megan Gardner of Signature Premier Properties, and Racine Salon & Spa. When the QR code in their ad or article is scanned by a smartphone device it connects you to additional online information about their products and services, sometimes offering special discounts! We are loving QR codes, you’ll be seeing more of them in future issues of the LIST.

May and June are popular months for celebrating wonderful new milestones - congratulations to all of you who have special occasions to commemorate and gather for. And of course, in honoring the role of parenting, Happy Belated Mother’s Day to all the moms and wishing our dads a Happy Father’s Day in June. Wishing everyone a safe and happy start to summer.

See you around town!

Not only is it a popular space for poolside lounging and entertaining, it also functions as a transitional area that connects to the yard and house. It plays a key role in the aesthetics and character of the entire property.

When choosing a stone for your pool area, consider slip resistance, durability, maintenance and budget to ensure a practical, safe, and costeffective solution. Equally important are a color, size and style of stone that coordinate with your landscape and home.

A wide range of materials can be used, including natural stones or man-made alternatives that are as durable as they are beautiful.

Consulting with a professional landscaper or pool builder will help ensure that you choose the best stone for your pool and patio area while keeping you on budget.

Since you were going to take your drinks outside anyway, why not set up an outdoor bar and keep everything you need for your favorite summer cocktails right on hand? An outdoor bar cart doesn’t have to take up a lot of space or cost an arm and a leg. Interior designer Mary Middlemiss of Twice as Nice Interiors shares her tips for stocking a backyard bar cart…

“The bar doesn’t need to be fancy; a simple table or cart will do. Extra bottles can be stored on the bottom rack. To keep the drinks flowing, stack cold beverages in a tub of ice, display glasses on a tray, add fun straws and sliced fruits for garnish, and get the party started!”

Area rugs define the space and add the perfect finishing touch. Sometimes the best room with a view doesn’t have walls.

BY JULIANNE MOSHER

Just in time for Santina Petralia’s centennial birthday, the highly anticipated renovation of Mamma Santina Pizza & Restaurant was finally finished. The team behind the remodel is excited for the community to enjoy the restaurant’s new design and updated menu.

Completed nearly six months ago, the renovations included an outdoor patio and a full-sized bar. Also new is the boozy brunch menu offering more selections and variety. Inside, the updated rustic design and new open kitchen create a warm and inviting ambiance, as do the tall French doors which brighten the dining area with an abundance of natural light.

Owned and operated by brothers Giuseppe and Giovan, along with their sons Sergio and Baldo, the new and improved Mamma Santina pays homage to the matriarch of the family, Mrs. Santina Petralia herself, who celebrated her 100th birthday this past September.

“The restaurant was named after our nonna, and at 100 years old, she is happier than ever knowing that hundreds of people are enjoying her old-world recipes every week,” said Sergio. “She’s honored that this business has succeeded and grown to what it is,” Sergio said. “We still use many of her recipes, and she’s proud we’re carrying on with her family traditions.”

It’s been that way for nearly four decades. In 1984, Giuseppe and Giovan opened Buseto Pizza on Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore. Named after Buseto Palizzolo, Sicily, where the two brothers were born, the local pizzeria brings freshness and quality in a quick, take-out-friendly setting. When the opportunity for a second location in Brightwaters was presented to them several years later, the family decided the time was right, and Mamma Santina Pizza was established.

Initially occupying just one storefront of the shopping center located on 201 Orinoco Drive, Mamma Santina Pizza has slowly expanded over the last few years, now encompassing three storefronts, transforming the one-time pizza joint into an entirely new dining experience.

“It’s been great,” Baldo said. “We’ve been a staple in this community, and everyone seems to love the upgrades. Our customers are like family, we want them to feel that way when they come here.”

Baldo and Sergio’s fathers and grandparents were born and raised in Sicily.

While growing up there and raising her family, Santina became an accomplished seamstress whose true passion was cooking. Living on a large farm, she would use fresh homegrown ingredients to create her recipes for pasta, sauces and desserts.

Their grandfather moved to America to get a job, eventually bringing the rest of his family along. Giuseppe, Giovan, and their sister helped pay the bills while the family settled in Queens. They worked at other restaurants until 1984, when they headed east and opened their own pizzeria in Bay Shore.

“Our grandmother is such a strong person who raised a strong family,” Sergio said. “This all stems from her. Everyone looks at each other as a family here, and that’s how we treat our customers,” Baldo said. “We know many of our customers by their first names.”

Remembering Santina’s rule of using “really good ingredients and keeping it simple,” the family maintains that mantra in every one of their dishes. Mamma Santina Pizza offers a little bit of everything and truly has something for everyone.

“Our Linguine Pescatore is a bowl of fresh wild-caught shrimp, clams, organic mussels and calamari with plum tomato marinara over a bed of pasta, and the Drunk Santina - named after nonna - tortellini with chicken parmigiana in a creamy vodka sauce are definitely the two fan favorites. We offer a variety of brick-oven pizzas that are also very popular,” Sergio told us.

On-premises and off-site catering services are also available.

The fully-stocked bar is ready to serve everything from specialty wines to mules, and the new brunch menu features a variety of signature dishes from hearty salads to ricotta French toast.

“The before and after of this place is amazing,” Sergio said. “And we can’t wait for more people to experience it.”