"Would those of you in the cheap seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you could just rattle your jewelry?" - John Lennon

It's me again! I have lots of new information to bring to you, and I want to give a great big Cheap Date cheer to my friend Steve who has sent me some (a lot) great info to share with you all!

I saw fireworks! Was it good for you, too?
Ok, I know that was a bit of a naughty double entendre, but my friend Sean said there wasn't nearly enough "adult" content on this blog. So that line is for you, Sean, but that's as bad as it gets...this is strictly a PG show! And now, let me get back to business...

Just because you are on a budget doesn't mean you can't have an incredibly romantic date! Think about it...a beautiful night staring at the stars, laying on a blanket on the grass, maybe having a little wine, sharing some comfortable silence, and then it happens...fireworks! I'm not talking about that electrical spark that tends to fly when having a wonderful night with that someone special (though that's great too!), but those big, loud, beautiful, sparkly visions that get the heart racing all on their own. Here's a list (courtesy of Explore LI):
AUGUST
2
Davis Park Beach Blast
Fire Island
Davis Park
Grucci
Long Island Ducks
After game
Central Islip
Citibank Park
Grucci
3
Knights of Columbus Summer Carnival
9:45 p.m.
Center Moriches
313 Frowein Rd.
Bay Fireworks
7
Port Washington Sons of Italy
9:30 p.m.
Port Washington
Bay Fireworks
9
Metro NY Balloon & Music Festival
Shirley
Calabro Airport
Grucci
14
Holbrook Chamber of Commerce
10 p.m.
Holbrook
Seneca Middle School, 850 Main St.
Bay Fireworks
Long Island Ducks
After game
Central Islip
Citibank Park
Grucci
16
14th annual carnival, craft & festival
10 p.m.
Holbrook
Seneca Middle School, 850 Main St.
Bay Fireworks
Bethpage Chamber of Commerce
10 p.m.
Bethpage
Bethpage LIRR Sta., Stuart Ave. and Jackson Ave.
Bay Fireworks
23
Cellini Lodge Carnival
10 p.m.
North Hempstead
Tulley Park, 1801 Evergreen Ave.
Bay Fireworks
Town of Babylon 14th Annual Beach Blast
9 p.m.
Babylon
Overlook Beach, Ocean Parkway (at Cedar Beach)
Bay Fireworks
23
Riverhead Raceway
8:30 p.m.
Riverhead
Riverhead Raceway, County Road 58
Bay Fireworks
Mother Cabrini Carnival
10:10 p.m.
Brentwood
Suffolk County CC-Grant Campus, Wicks Road
Bay Fireworks
Hellenic Festival
9:30 p.m.
Port Jefferson
Church of the Assumption, 430 Sheep Pasture Rd.
Bay Fireworks
30
East Hampton
9:15 p.m.
East Hampton
Main Beach
Bay Fireworks
31
Mother Cabrini Carnival
10:10 p.m.
Brentwood
Suffolk County CC-Grant Campus, Wicks Road
Bay Fireworks
SEPTEMBER
8
Long Island Ducks
After game
Central Islip
Citibank Park
Grucci
13
Long Island Ducks
After game
Central Islip
Citibank Park
Grucci
OCTOBER
4
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Central Islip
Citibank Park
Grucci
11
Stars over Montauk
Montauk
Umbrella Beach
Grucci

A Little Night Music...
We're not talking about Mozart here...but some great shows for the whole family. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and as always, call ahead to check for handicap access and cancellations due to weather.

August 2-Janine DiNatale and Friends at Gardiner County Park. Country to jazz to blues from the 1960's and 70's.

August 3-Long Island Brass Guild at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. A six piece brass ensemble formed in 1975 that performs all over Long Island. Cost: $6 to park

The Town of Huntington is holding a “Summer Barn Bash” at the Lewis Oliver Farm on Burt Avenue, Northport, on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 3 to 8 PM, featuring hay rides, a country western band, a pie-eating contest and the opportunity to visit the newly opened Country Store. Cost: FREE, but there will be a fee for food and hay rides.

The Monthly Music Night from the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce will be hosted by Vision Board member Bert Donley on Thursday, August 7th from 7:30-11pm at 124 South Street in Oyster Bay. There’s no cover and no minimum, but tips will be donated to the INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network).

On Tuesday, July 29th at 8pm come and hear an oldies show featuring the band, “Risky Business,” one of the top nostalgia bands in the region on Main Street in Rocky Point. Cost: FREE

Acoustic Long Island at Deepwells Mansion in St. James will be featuring Andy Mac on July 30. I like this guy. Make a point of checking him out. Cost: FREE

Christine Lavin will be playing at the Huntington Arts Council's Summer Arts Music Festival on August 2. Don't miss this show!

Sam "Bluzman" Taylor plays every Tuesday night at Bobbique in Patchogue, and at Port Jazz in Port Jeff on every first Thursday of the month. If you like blues, check him out!

This one is a MUST SEE! Tornado Alley will be playing at the Common Ground in Sayville on Thursday, July 31. Ken "The Rocket" Korb is known to appear with them from time to time...bring a lawn chair and I'll see you there!

Mambo Loco is a well known Havana-style music group that plays all over Long Island. Catch them this Thursday at Gallo Tropical (a Cheap Date fave).

Summer Camp lives!
The Summer Camp Series is alive and well at Cinema Arts! Next weekend, a double feature of Pulp Fiction and Taxi Driver...what could be better?! $9 per person to get in.

Chocolate IS a food group! (So is pizza!)
At least in my eyes, it is...and to gratify my incessant chocolate craving, I make a point of hitting Godiva in Stony Brook. Through the 31st, they are running promotional giveaways, and every few weeks they have a "Dipping Theatre" where you can dip strawberries in Godiva chocolate. How sexy is THAT?!

I scream, you scream, we all scream...
...for ice cream! On a hot summer day, what could be better than a yummy, drippy ice cream cone? Check out Sprinkles on Montauk Highway in Blue Point, In the Mood in Woodbury, or Carla Marla in Bellport.

I'll have more in a few days! in the meantime, if you know of something that should be on this blog, let me know. And as I had mentioned pizza before...I want to hear from you! Tell me where you think the best pizza on LI is and why! Email me at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com
Chat soon!