GEN_p012

BESTOFLI2016

Best Concert Venue The Paramount 370 New York Ave., Huntington. 631-673-7300. paramountny.com If you’ve never been to The Paramount, well, you simply haven’t experienced live music at its very best. The venue opened in 2011 and has quickly made a lasting impression on concertgoers. The Paramount has hosted countless local and national acts since then, ranging from The Pixies, Jewel, Ed Sheeran, Melissa Etheridge and Pitbull, to Long Island’s own Billy Joel! Hosting approximately 200 events each year, The Paramount ranks not only locally, but nationally! This venue is truly incredible, the talent is out of this world, and the atmosphere is something you just have to experience to understand. It’s easy to see why Long Islanders resoundingly declare The Paramount as The Best! National Nikon at Jones Beach Theater 1000 Ocean Pkwy., Wantagh. 516-221-1000. jonesbeach.com Going to a concert isn’t just about the artists who take the stage, it’s about the venue. Without an incredible setting to match the spectacular performances, you might as well just stay home. Nikon at Jones Beach Theater exceeds any concert-goer’s expectations, making every show a memorable one. Hosting gigs from countless artists, such as Darius Rucker, Josh Groban, Neil Young, and Janet Jackson, to name just a few, this amphitheater is the ideal place for Long Islanders to spend their summer nights right on the water, which is the reason it consistently ranks at the top of this competitive category year after year! Best Cover Band The 60s Invasion 47 Rowland St., Blue Point. 516-313-9280. 60sinvasion.com There was something about the 1960s— specifically, the music. From The Beatles and The Band to Etta James and Delbert McClinton, so many artists emerged and impacted the music industry. And although the ’60s are long over, that doesn’t mean we should stop celebrating these legends. The 60s Invasion has been doing exactly that since its formation in 2013, and Long Islanders consistently rank it atop this competitive category! Best Dance Sc hool for Adults Spotlight Dance Studio 3307 Merrick Rd., Wantagh. 516-783- 5625. spotlightdanceli.com From ballet and tap to hip hop and jazz, there’s something for everyone at the Spotlight Dance Studio! Even the most inexperienced dancers will find their rhythm and groove at this Wantagh studio with the help of its dedicated team! The fun and lively atmosphere also makes it easy to understand why Long Islanders rank Spotlight Dance Studio as The Best! Best DJ Company Unique Entertainment 427 Willis Ave., Williston Park. 516-248-4500. unique-ent.com Unique Entertainment’s DJs know how to get a party started! With more than two decades of experience in the industry and an eye for detail, these DJs are guaranteed to make your event a memorable one. Countless Long Islanders have grooved to the infectious tunes of these expert music-mixers, and it’s no wonder why voters rank Unique Entertainment The Best—they supremely rock! Best Film Festival Stony Brook Film Festival Staller Center For the Arts, 100 Nicolls Rd., Stony Brook. 631-632-ARTS. stonybrookfilmfestival.com If you’re a fan of movies, then you’ve undoubtedly heard of the cinematic glory that is the Stony Brook Film Festival! In its 21st year, the 10-day mega-film event takes place at the Staller Center for the Arts on the Stony Brook University campus and features dozens of top-notch films bound to captivate, fascinate, and inspire! Past films include ‘The Identical,’ ‘Canopy,’ and ‘Fall to Rise,’ with 15,000 tickets sold last year alone! It wouldn’t be surprising if 2016 surpassed those figures, however, since Long Islanders consistently rank the Stony Brook Film Festival as The Best! Best Horseback Riding Facility HorseAbility at SUNY Old Westbury PO Box 410-1, Old Westbury. 516-333- 6151. horseability.org Nonprofit HorseAbility was founded in 1993 and has been helping Long Islanders with special needs ever since. Offering a number of programs, including therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, as well as a host of other equine activities, HorseAbility is dedicated to making a difference in every rider’s life, and even hosts a program designed just for veterans! HorseAbility created The Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities, is a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, and also hosts a summer camp! Best Local Live Theater Bare Bones Theater Company 57 Main St., Northport. 631-606-0026. barebonestheater.org Sometimes the best shows are the ones that go back to the basics, focusing more on the relationship between the audience and performer rather than creating huge productions with over-the-top sets and costumes. The Bare Bones Theater Company has been doing just that since 1998. Besides putting on powerful performances, with past shows including ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ ‘Brooklyn Boy,’ and ‘Play it Again, Sam,’ the Bare Bones Theater Company offers acting classes as well. So next time you’re in Northport, be sure to check out this astonishing venue and experience for yourself why it’s The Best! Best Local TV Reporter Elisa DiStefano, News 12 News12, 1 Media Crossways, Westbury. 516-393-1200. elisadistefano.com A renowned host, entertainment and features reporter and journalist, Elisa DiStefano has become a Long Island household name. You can see her on News 12, reporting on everything from traffic updates to red carpet coverage. When Elisa isn’t anchoring for News 12, she contributes to several publications, including Luxury Living Magazine and Entertainment Weekly, and gives back to the community by hosting local charity events. With all that Elisa does for Long Island, it’s no wonder she continues to be the reigning champion of this category! Best Long Island Personality Billy Joel billyjoel.com Although he’s taken the stage at venues all around the world, Billy Joel still calls Long Island home. The Piano Man has performed at The Concert For Sandy Relief and gave showstopping performances to close out both Shea Stadium and Nassau Coliseum. He’s wowed at The Paramount in Huntington, and his monthly residencies at Madison Square Garden continue to sell out. Billy loves Long Island, and Long Islanders love him, ranking him The Best Long Island personality time and time again! Best Mascot QuackerJack - Long Island Ducks 3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-3825. liducks.com No one embodies, or expresses, more team spirit than Long Island Ducks mascot QuackerJack. You’ll often find him pumping up the crowd, running with fans around the bases, and cheering for Long Islanders’ beloved team alongside fans within a packed Bethpage Ballpark! His enthusiasm and dedication to the team, and Long Island, once again propels him to the top of this competitive category! It’s safe to say that Long Islanders not only flock (see what we did there) to Long Island Ducks games for the athletes, but to witness the one and only QuackerJack in all his glory! Best Movie Theater Cinema Arts Centre 423 Park Ave., Huntington. 631-423-7610. cinemaartscentre.org At Cinema Arts Centre, it’s not just about seeing movies, it’s about having an unforgettable cinematic experience. Besides showing films, both new releases and classics, this independent movie theater offers programs and holds events where fans can come face-to-face with notable experts, stars, and performers! Located in Huntington, Cinema Arts Centre has been a community gathering spot for moviegoers since 1973, constantly welcoming new members, and consistently ranking at the top spot of this competitive category! Long Islanders resoundingly agree: Cinema Arts Centre is simply The Best! Best Museum Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport. 631-854-5579. vanderbiltmuseum.org For more than 60 years the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium has been a must-see destination for every Long Islander. With countless exhibits and tours, visitors are easily immersed in the fascinating wonders of its marine, natural history, and ethnographic collections. Also the perfect venue for weddings, birthdays, and other special events, Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium is quite simply out of this world! Best Party Ev ent Company Unique Entertainment 427 Willis Ave., Williston Park. 516-248-4500. unique-ent.com There’s no party like a Unique Entertainment party! Williston Park’s Unique Entertainment is fully committed to customizing every event to fit the needs of each client, because they genuinely understand that what may be on one person’s party checklist may not necessarily be on another’s. Wondering how to plan a wedding? Want to throw The Best Sweet Sixteen, ever? Counting on your next corporate event to bring in more clients? Cue the experts! Long Islanders resoundingly agree: For all your party planning needs, Unique Entertainment gets the job done! Best Public Garden Bayard Cuting Arboretum 440 Montauk Hwy., Great River. 631-581-1002. bayardcuttingarboretum.com Take a leisurely stroll through its breathtaking grounds, enroll in an educational class, or grab a few snacks in the Hidden Oak Cafe—at Bayard Cutting Arboretum, all you need is a pair of walking shoes. Consistently ranking atop this competitive category, one visit and you’ll fall in love! This historic site boasts gorgeous natural wonders, countless hiking trails, tours, school programs, and so much more! Best Radio Station WBAB 102.3 555 Sunrise Hwy., West Babylon. 631-587-1023. wbab.com Long Island’s number-one rock station WBAB 102.3 FM has consistently soared to the top of this category, year after year! With Roger and JP serving The Best wake-up call with their Rock ‘N’ Roll Morning Show, to each of the station’s stellar personalities, including Donna Donna, Fingers, and Joe Rock, WBAB is every Long Islander’s go-to station! Best Recording Studio Sufolk Recording Studios 14 Oak St., Patchogue. 631-289-9818. suffolkrecordingstudios.com Suffolk Recording Studios welcomes artists and bands of all genres and sizes to lay down tracks at its state-of-the-art facility with cutting-edge equipment! Staffed with an expert team of audio professionals and in-house engineers dedicated to ensuring perfection, Suffolk Recording Studio has a saying: “The Vibe Is On!” Long Islanders resoundingly agree, declaring Suffolk Recording Studio The Best! Best Singer from Long Island Amber Ferrari amberferrari.com Amber Ferrari isn’t just a singer, but a musical showstopper! She not only covers other extraordinary artists at her shows, including the incredible Janis Joplin and Madonna, she also performs her own original music, such as songs “Plastic Passes,” “Not Just a Pretty Face” and “Whatever Whatever.” For all these reasons and so many more, it’s no wonder why she ranks at the top of this category, year after year! Best Twitter Acc ount from Long Island @Randy_Zebra thedoor.com/randy.html With thousands of followers and countless fans, LI rock legend Randy Jackson, the lead singer and guitarist for Zebra, has The Best Twitter account from Long Island for the second year in a row! Whether he’s tweeting about future performances, with many taking place right here on the island, or sharing videos of his shows and interviews, Randy is always communicating with his fans. Maybe this LI rock legend will someday even write a song about Twitter! What a guitar solo that would be! 12 BETHPAGE BEST OF L.I. 2016 WINNERS GUIDE /// BESTOF.LONGISLANDPRESS.com


BESTOFLI2016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above