Stepping Out

Be my Valentine

Share the love with family and friends and even step out on the 'red carpet' this weekend

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Warm the heart as we make our way through the depths of winter. The approach of Valentine’s Day, on Tuesday, offers up the opportunity to deepen our connection to our sweeties, family and friends. Consider checking out some of the Valentine’s Day-related events around the area to share the love.

‘Be Mine’ Ball
Long Island Children’s Museum can always be counted up to come up with holiday-themed events to promote family bonding. This weekend the museum hosts a celebration of love and friendship in the spirit of Valentine’s Day at an after-hours party. The “Be Mine Ball,” on Saturday, Feb.11, 6-9 p.m., includes plenty of activities for the entire family to enjoy (while still reserving Feb. 14 for grownups to enjoy an evening of romance for those planning a date night).
 “Kids always want to celebrate Valentine’s Day,” says the museum’s Director of Communications & Marketing Maureen Mangan, “and Mom and Dad want to go out together. Everyone can come together here and have the same experience in a party atmosphere.”

It’s a night when everyone is invited to party away in their best red attire, highlighted by three-hours of music that families can dance to, together. A DJ will get guests on the dance floor doing the Electric Slide, Macarena and of course, the Cupid Shuffle. 
“We want to see everyone out there on the dance floor,” says Mangan. “Everyone can join in on and learn these line dances. There’s no reason for Mom or Dad to feel intimidated. And to get everyone into the party mood we want all our guests to wear red. Our staff will be in red also.”
 When it’s time for a break from the dance floor, kids can cool off as they create some themed crafts and party accessories, including “Crazy in Love” top hats, “Be Mine” bead necklaces and “Puppy Love” puppets. Add an extra dash of color to your party attire with a stop at the museum’s “Follow Your Heart” face painting station.  And of course, a Valentine’s celebration must include some sweets, so decorate and enjoy a sweet treat before heading back to the dance floor. The museum’s staff will show their love to their guests by sending all children home with a bag filled with mementos of the night.
 “We like to take advantage of every opportunity to teach children (and remind grownups) of the importance of expressing appreciation and love for family and friends,” says Aimee Terzulli, LICM director of education and visitor experience.
Tickets are $11 per person and can be purchased online (www.licm.org) or at the Museum’s Box Office. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5802.

Swing With Your Sweetie
A romantic afternoon is in store when the popular Swingtime Big Band returns to the Madison Theatre with a passionate nostalgic ode to Valentine’s Day. “Let’s Fall in Love: A Swingtime Big Band Valentine,” will stir the heart on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 3 p.m., on the Molloy College
campus.
“We like to have Swingtime here at this time of year,” says Angelo Fraboni, the Madison Theatre’s artistic director. “We want to give our audience an option to do something fun, not just go out to dinner. This is a terrific program of classic love songs from the Big Band era, the type of songs made popular by Ella Fitzgerald.”
Led by Artistic Director Steve Shaiman, Swingtime’s 20-piece jazz ensemble is acclaimed for bringing to life the sounds of the Big Band years. Swingtime embodies both the panache and spirit of the swing era, performing original arrangements of big band classics, bringing the style and the spirit of this music back to life for 21st century audiences to experience.
For Sunday’s concert, Shaiman and his ensemble have pulled from romantic pages of their songbook, featuring stirring melodies from the libraries of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Les Brown and Duke Ellington. 
The band’s two vocalists — Bobbie Ruth and Jerry Costanzo — will pay special tribute to legendary singers Ella Fitzgerald and Dean Martin, both of whom would have celebrated their 100th birthdays this year. Ruth is known for recreating the “gal vocal” stylings of such legendary singers as Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Eydie Gormé, Billie Holiday and Judy Garland, along with current stars like Jane Monheit. Costanzo, brings to life the sound of such iconic crooners as Nat “King” Cole, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin and, of course, Frank Sinatra, with a look to the modern crooners, among them Michael Buble.
“They are a great band,” says Fraboni, “with a nice Big Band sound. This is music that we need to keep alive, we don’t hear a lot of it these days.”
The Madison Theatre also shines the spotlight on movie-making this weekend with some red carpet spectacle, before it turns the stage over to Swingtime.
Fraboni and his staff welcome everyone to a “Taste of the Oscars,” on Friday, Feb. 10, 7-10 p.m. This prelude to the movie industry’s big night later this month enables guests to indulge in some Hollywood-style glitz and glamour, while celebrating the year in film.
The party features entertainment — including a musical tribute inspired by the much talked about and Oscar nominated “La La Land” and an appearance by “America’s Got Talent” finalist Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti (the evening’s honoree) — along with a Hollywood-themed fashion show presented by Lord & Taylor, a movie trivia contest.
Also savor enticing nibbles and drinks, courtesy of local restaurants that are showcasing their cuisine and cocktails, with samples of their best Hollywood-inspired eats. Participating restaurants include Bonefish Grill, Bareburger, Parlay Gastropub, Mesita, Seasons 52, and Maggiano’s, along with wine and beverage purveyors. Sweet treats will be provided by the Flour Shoppe Café and the Garden City Hotel.
Ladies can even primp in red carpet-style, with cosmetic touch-ups offered by Red Door Spa, check out Lord & Taylor’s pop-up shop and show off some tinseltown pizzazz courtesy of Kravit Jewelers in Oceanside.
“It’s always a fun night out for the community,” says Beth Kurot, the Madison Theatre’s assistant artistic director, of the event, now an annual tradition for the theater. “We couldn’t have done this without the assistance of our co-creators, Ingrid Dodd, of Ingrid Dodd PR, and Joan MacNaughton, Leggz Ltd. Dance’s artistic director. “It’s also a great feeling to know that our community is fully supporting us with their generous donations and participation.
Proceeds benefit the Rising Star Scholarship Fund, established by Fraboni, to enable underprivileged students to attend the college’s Musical Theater Summer Intensive program.
Tickets for “Taste of the Oscars” are $50; $30-$35 for “Let’s Fall in Love: A Swingtime Big Band Valentine.” Madison Theatre, Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or www.madisontheatreny.org.