At my lemonade stand I used to give the first glass away free and charge five dollars for the second glass. The refill contained the antidote.-Phillip

Hey, all! First off, I wanted to thank all of you who emailed me wishing me well! That was a big surprise, and some of you had some wonderful and thought provoking things to say. Now, I didn't post what was going on to look for pity...but usually my posts have some sort of theme or thought behind them--something I had seen or heard that day, something going on in my life or someone else's--that gives me a thread to go on. My eye issue was inspiration to do a post about health related events. As we are on the note of my last post, well, the eye issue seems to be the beginnings of a detached retina due to my blood pressure. So I basically need to get the BP down, and hopefully that will keep me from having to have surgery. So this post is all about relaxing and enjoying life...we are all just too busy sometimes and miss out on some great opportunities to kick back and smell the roses!

Music and Dance!

I'm going to start out with an event that is a bit down the pike, but mark your calendars as it looks great! Thank you, Laurie, for the heads up! Painters in Brookhaven will be hosting a benefit with WPKN on September 14 featuring great acts such as Cathy Kreger, Marci Geller, The Thunderbird Sisters, and MORE...$10 admission.

TONIGHT! The last open mic night at Acoustic Long Island...get there early! Deepwells Mansion, St. James, FREE!

Thank you, Christopher, for the next two entries! For those of you who can't get enough Jay Scott...well, I'll just cut and paste here:

THIS THURSDAY August 28 at 8:00 Jay Scott & Grand Case Scenario, The Sun Gets Down and Rorie Kelly & More of the Mess - three up and coming Long Island acts on the same bill featuring their unique styles of original music. It's the first time each group is playing at Lefty's, a great Long Island venue, so support them and get your Labor Day Weekend started early! $10.00 Lefty’s Candlelight Bar & Grill - 543 W. Hoffman Ave, Lindenhurst www. leftysbar.com 631-225-5526

Monday September 1 at 12 Noon with WMJC 94.3 FMJay Scott Acoustic with Jason Tebaldi on 5-String Acoustic Fretless Bass. WMJC 94.3 Radio is hosting another in their series of “On Location” events featuring Long Island’s best original music, plus games, food, and prizes for the whole family! IT'S ALL FREE! Massapequa Nissan - 4500 Sunrise Highway, Massapequa

Sunday, August 31, Lil Cliff and the Cliffhangers will be playing at Bayard Cutting Arboretum, $6 to park. While you are there, make a point of checking out the mansion...it's beautiful!

Saturday, Garnder County Park, 6PM--Tornado Alley will be playing! Ken "The Rocket" Korb has been known to pop in from time to time...make a point of checking this show out!

Thursday, August 28, 7:30PM at the Jones Beach Bandshell, the NYPD Jazz Ensemble will be playing for FREE!

Friday through Monday is the Mozart Festival at Old Westbury Gardens! $10 per person.

Movie Alert!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is playing under the stars at Eisenhower Park Thursday night, 6PM.

Cinema Arts presents a screening of the classic oldie Greed with organ accompanyment by Ben Model. $9 per person! While on their site, don't forget to check out the Theatre of the Wild!

The call of the wild!

Did you know that the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation does tours of their facility if you give them a small donation and if they have a biologist working that day? All donations go to the preservation and feeding of marine animals in their care!

There are a couple of good hikes to check out this holiday weekend...Saturday, August 30, 9AM at Lakeland County Park, and Sunday, August 31, 4PM at Sunken Meadow Park. For more info, check out http://www.hikeli.org/ or call 631.567.9484.

These Peconic Estuary Cruises slightly exceed Cheap Date guidelines, but are definitely worth checking out at http://www.americanbeautycruises.com/!

Shooting stars?

No, there are two fireworks shows this weekend! The Mother Cabrini Festival in Brentwood on August 31, and at the Main Beach in East Hampton on Aug 30!

Foodie alert!

One of my favorite places, the Soundview in Southold, has lunch specials that put you just over the Cheap Date guidelines at about $17 per person. I'll take the liberty of cutting and pasting here: You may have heard of the Soundview Inn in Southold. Right on the water. In fact when the tide is in, it is over the water. Well anyway, they have a lunch special for $17 that you can eat off the porch over the water. I know it's $2 over but it is worth it. Includes soup or salad and desert ( one is a crepe around ice cream with rasberries on top and whip cream). Thanks, James, for reminding me of that! While you are there, go around to the back of the hotel...you'll see the big rock that Miss Chris likes to sit on and read and get her zen on as the tide comes in!

Cool sites worth mentioning...

PixerBog is a site for people to post pics taken with their camera phone...you'll find everything and anything on here...some adult content, so be warned! Thanks, Webbleeper! Very funny!

One of the guys from my whale watching trip has a photography website, and sent over some amazing photos from the trip...I'll post the pics separately, but check out his photos...very impressive! This is his old site...there is a new one under construction. I can't wait to see it!

Worth checking out...

I didn't get out much this weekend, but I did get over to the Maritime Museum early Sunday to check out the Seafood Festival...take a look at some of the photos, and my badly shot video of this great band called Stout...they do chanteys, bluegrass, etc...they were really good and you can catch them on the folk music circuit!

All for now! Please let me know if you have anything that should be posted here at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com

Chat soon!

On my income tax 1040 it says 'Check this box if you are blind.' I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away. - Lehrer

Pretend you wake up one morning with pain in one eye. You've had issues with this one eye for years and know that it is due to long term medical issues you have been having since your teen years. The day goes on and instead of feeling better, it feels worse. You call the doctor, they check you out, and then you hear the words no one likes to hear, "I don't want to panic you, but..."

Miss Chris is having one of those days. I have been severely hypertensive for half my life (go figure!). I've been on meds on and off for about twenty years (off for the past year to detox) and have had to deal with some of the other issues that hypertension leads to...enlarged heart, kidney problems, bloating from oedema, and, of course, vision problems. I woke up with that pain in my eye this morning. I've been slowly losing my sight in my left eye for years, but today was very bad. I called the doc, got right in. I was thinking I had an eyelash stuck way up in my eyelid, or maybe there was some dust or an allergy causing a reaction. The doctor looked and uttered those words no one likes to hear. It turns out that my hypertension, which I had been so good about controlling for the past two years, had spiked with a vengeance...170/110. The pain in my eye was due to pressure, causing floaters and damage to my cornea. I get the pleasure of meeting my surgeon tomorrow bright and early.

Why am I telling you all this? It's because there are so many healthy things to do that count as a Cheap Date! This edition is all about getting out and doing things that are good for you...both body and mind! (Well, maybe not all of the entries will be healthy, but a large majority will be!) So grab your hikers, leave the makeup off for the day, and do something good for yourself! You'll be happy you did!

The call of the wild...

Sweetbriar Nature Center has (for the next few weeks only) a vivarium (a butterfly and moth house) that looks really cool! $3 per person, and photographers are welcome (reservations required and additional fees apply).View and identify (with the help of "who's who" cards) over 20 species of lepidoptera!

August 25 brings the Windward Eco Sailing Program out in Montauk. FREE. While on the site, check out other upcoming events!

The Animal Farm Petting Zoo has lots to see and do for kids of all ages. $13.50 per person.

Fire Island National Seashore at Watch Hill has lots to do! With deer, pelagic birds, and other wildlife all around, there's always something to see! Please, don't feed the animals!

That's it, walk it off...

With all sorts of parks in Suffolk County, there is always someplace to take a hike for people of all fitness levels and abilities! Many have dog runs as well!

Not into walking? Rather do something on two wheels instead of two feet? Bicycle Long Island has loads of resources for the mountain/trail bike enthusiast.

Prefer a HOG to something you have to pedal? The Long Island Motorcycle Fair is coming up September 9 at Riverhead Raceway!

Pick your own...

Many farms offer the opportunity to pick your own fruits and veggies. Now, most of you know how much I love farmstands! This is even better! And soon, it will be Miss Chris' favorite time of year...pumpkin picking!!!!

Garden of Eve and Golden Earthworm Farms are two of my must stop at sort of places! Coming soon at Garden of Eve is their annual Garlic Festival! Make a point of checking out their cooperative programs as well as something to consider for next year!

Wanna get wet?

Empire Kayaks has rentals, lessons, and tours for all levels and budgets! Check them out!

Quioxtic quaffs!

Now this one exceeds Cheap Date guidelines, but it looks AWESOME and I have to give this a try! During the day, the Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat shuttles people to and fro doing nature tours. Several evenings over the summer the tour boat goes grown-up and hosts wine and cheese tours for $25 per person!

Shinn Estate Vineyards hosts tours of their vineyard, which uses sustainable means of growning their crops and produces organic wines. $8.50 per person includes wine tasting!

While on the topic of spirits and such, I wanted to thank Paul Brown who provided me with the location of a beverage center that carries organic beers such as Samuel Smiths, Eel River, Peak, Orlio, and Wolavers. 724 Montauk Highway, Bayport. (631) 472-9808. I'm trying to talk him into writing a weekly review of seasonal beers that I will post here. Please, readers, if you see Paul around, tell him he needs to do this! Thanks! (Methinks he is on the fence about doing a column for Cheap Date...but really...who knows more about beer? Paul, I'll even get you business cards so you look official!)

BRADSTOCK! 'Nuff said! I know it doesn't meet guidelines...

Mind over matter...

And now, something I don't normally do! Thank you, Jeremy, for sending this hilarious link to me about a writing contest all about crafting the worst opening line for a novel EVER! This is a MUST READ!

Don't forget that the Long Island Maritime Museum is having its Seafood Festival fundraiser this weekend, and the Battle on the Bay will be going on as well!

Does your organization have an event that you would like the world to know about? Do you have an idea for something that should be on this blog? Email me at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com! Don't forget to check back often as I am constantly adding updates!

If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur. - Larson

I saw this quote and was reminded of a song by Billy Jonas..."What Kind of Cat are You?" I have a bit of cat scratch fever right now! Yesterday, a flurry of emails were flying around between one of the librarians I work with, a work study, and myself...a kitten was found in a box, the work study could not keep it, none of the shelters would take it...what to do? Unfortunately, this puts me at FOUR cats, which is toeing the line at being the crazy cat lady of Patchogue! So, I am reaching out to you all...does anyone want a six week old kitten? She looks like she's part Maine Coon, black and grey with mackerel markings, and takes no crap from anyone! She may be little, but she was putting my (much larger) cats in their place. She has a bit of an upper respiratory infection right now that I am working on clearing up. She is a MUSH, by the way, and loves to lay in your lap or on your chest...she will also follow you EVERYWHERE! I have dubbed her Poe for now, but you can name her anything you want (but if you name her anything really lame like Fluffy, Cookie, or Princess--DON'T TELL ME!). Someone, please adopt her! I have found homes for every homeless cat that has come my way...don't let me break my lucky streak!
How could you refuse this little toughie?

Quick and dirty...
A few updates for this week! Phil Minissale will be at Bobbique this Thursday, August 21. I've mentioned him before on this blog. Listen to a true finger pickin' blues prodigy and enjoy a wide variety of beers on tap and in bottles while you do.

The Riverhead Railroad Festival is August 23rd and 24th at the Railroad Museum of Long Island on Griffing Avenue. Admission is $6 per person and features live music, train rides, operating models, and special guests The Long Island Antique Power Association.

Sayville Marina Park hosts a free viewing of Grease on Saturday, August 23. Bring a lawn chair!

On Sunday, I Fish NY presents Children's Saltwater Clinics, $8.

Also on Sunday, Sounds of the Rat Pack at 3pm, Sterling Glen (100 Landing Road), Roslyn. FREE!

Gotta run, but I'm already gathering info for the next post! If your organization has an event they would like to promote, or if you know of something I am missing, email me at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Last year I went fishing with Salvador Dali. He was using a dotted line. He caught every other fish. - Wright

I've been thinking a lot about fish lately. Did you know fish feel pain and suffer stress just like mammals and birds? How about the fact that there are more species of fish than all the species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals combined? Fish are simple critters. Just give them some water and food, maybe a fish of the opposite gender, and they are as thrilled as their little fish brains can get. Kind of sounds like me!

There's another reason I've been thinking about fish. This weekend is the Seafood Festival at the Long Island Maritime Museum! $5 to get in, live music by acts such as Jack's Waterfall and Karma Sutra, a pirate show, and more seafood than you could shake a fishing pole at! Do yourself a favor and preprint your ticket, and utilize the shuttle buses.

Not big on fish but still want to be near the bay? The Battle on the Bay takes place this weekend at Shorefront Park. Muscle boat enthusiasts and race fans, this is the event for you! Adrianna, thanks for the pics! You rock! See below!

Maybe you are done watching the Miss Geico kicking local power boat butt and decide that you could go for some good ol' fashioned BBQ...head on down to Bobbique to get your pulled pork on (I really could have gotten naughty there, but I will restrain myself!) and enjoy the blues stylings of the Kerry Kearny Band.

Have a furbaby of the canine variety? Maybe you or/he she is in need of a new love. DogUp has a dating website for canine furbabies and their owners. After all, isn't your best friend worth considering?

It's here, it's here! The Cinema Arts Centre's Pay to Get Out Horror Marathon! Miss Chris loves getting her scare on!

The world's oldest boy band, The Defibrillators, is playing at Bayard Cutting Arborteum this weekend! $6 to park!

What is better than this? Wine and dancing under the stars! Romance on the cheap! Vineyard 48, $10 per person! Reservations suggested!

Chatting about romance and wine, Palmer Vineyards has TWO great Cheap Dates this weekend! Cooking demonstrations and Writers on the Vine!

Phoenix Fine Arts Gallery is hosting its opening reception this weekend for American Dreams. While in Bellport, make a point of stopping in at Sugar Loaf Cafe!

Now, I NEVER thought I would say this, but this weekend at the Polish Festival, I ran across a polka band made up of guys around my age, and all just too adorable for words! TKO, you guys were great! So much fun! Please check below for my horribly shot video clip, and while you are at it, scroll below to see pics from the Polish Festival, and a special thank you to everyone at the Polish Hall! Everyone was so nice, and you guys under the beer tent were HILARIOUS! A special hello to my new gentlemen friends who kept me company while I photographed the band, and especially to Marty AKA Snake (you must look at this guy's pic and tell me how much he channels Hunter S. Thompson!). Gentleman, if you want more pics, email me at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com so I know where to send them!

James, my former professor and now colleaugue and friend, asked me to write the story of Lucky, our whale watching mascot. I promise, in a few days it will be here! I just want to make sure I can spend the time and do right by the little guy!

All for this edition. Make a point of stopping back to visit every few days as I am always adding new content as I get it. Chat soon!

Living in the ocean means never having to salt your food. - Ikkaku

Several of you had emailed me that you would like to see more pics from the trip. Please scroll on down to the bottom of the blog to see pics.

I've also included a bit of video (pretty much my first attempt, and I didn't realize that you just press the button once and let it go...not hold it down, so I have lots of really short videos!) that show the proximity of the whales to the ship. Not sure if this upload will work, but let's hope it does!

If you can't play the video, click here to download Flash Player!

Foodie alert!
Talking about the ocean makes me think about sushi. I am a sushi addict (some of you who have been out with me know I have my very special chopsticks for the "chopstick-impaired"...they're hinged! Who's got it better than me?!) and if you catch sushi places either earlier in the day, or try to get there when they are running specials, it doesn't have to be expensive! Takara in Islandia is a hidden gem in the Islandia Center strip mall. Sandwiched between the Starbucks and the huge Chinese buffet place, this is a place you really should make a point of visiting! Kotobuki in Hauppauge is THE place to go for sushi locally. Be prepared for a long wait as this place packs in! The Tai Show chain is also very good and worth a visit. One thing I want to remind you of is that it's very easy to spend a lot of money at a sushi place. Read the menu carefully and ASK QUESTIONS! If you have a favorite sushi place you think I should know about, let me know!

Shipyard Brewery has just delivered its Pumpkin Ale locally. It's only available for a short time, so get over to your local beverage center to try this yummy treat!

The Sayville Chocolatier has goodies for all tastes and budgets! From Gummi Fish to truffles, this shop can sell sweets by the piece, or make up custom trays for any occasion!

All for now, chat soon!

I like the night. Without the dark, we'd never see the stars. - Meyer

Two new add-ons!

My friend Laurie has been asking me to post this and I have been remiss! Elwoodstock is this weekend! If you are into some great live music and preserving the environment, this is a must attend event. Please, no alcohol or pets!

Another friend, Kevin Manning, is an astrophysicist and former NASA consultatnt who will be lecturing this Saturday at 7:30PM at Watch Hill, Fire Island about Astronomy for Everyone. I will tell you, he is amazing! He explains things so everyone can understand them, and you HAVE to see the telescope he uses...the best part is, he built it himself! Kevin, you NEED to get yourself a website so I can get more of your lectures, photos, and info on here! If anyone would like more info, email me, and I will relay your questions to him! For Fire Island Ferry info, click here!

The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore. -- Dale Carnegie

I'm back...I survived my encounter with Moby Dick and company and had one of the best times of my life! I made some new friends, did a lot of thinking, and realized how small we all are in comparison to so many other things. I also realized that many things that people think about, say they are going to do, and never get around to can be the really special things, the adventures we've always wanted, but often we are just too afraid or lazy to jump in head first and pray that the waters don't close in over our heads. I came home from this trip smelly, exhausted, sunburned, and covered in whale snot (did you realize that when whales exhale, it's a combination on CO2, water vapor, and mucus? I didn't...but it makes for a really pretty rainbow when the light hits it the right way!), but I have a new perspective on taking chances and doing the things your friends may try to talk you out of or the things that may scare you half to death -TRY IT ANYWAY! Even if you have to go it alone, even if it may be somewhat out of your budget, or you have a fear that whatever you are attempting is going to be an abysmal failure, it is better to look back on something and have gained an experience, learned something, and possibly have some incredible memories (and photos and video, in my case) than to regret the opportunity that you have let pass you by. Think about it...I could have spent my 39th birthday doing dinner and a movie with my friends. Instead, I was out on the ocean watching a humpback whale frolic off the back of the boat - putting its belly up, waving its flippers, and just putting on a whole show all within less than twenty feet from where I stood. Coming home, I grabbed my sleeping bag and watched the Persieds while laying on the top deck of the ship with my new friends and acquaintances, making wishes on all the shooting stars. (If you would like more info on the whale watching trip, would like to see some of the photos and videos, or would like to know more about CRESLI events, email me and I will get the info over to you!)

I also lost 5 pounds. I packed most of my own food (fruit, hard boiled eggs, bottled water, cheese), but what I really think did it was trying to keep balance on the boat. You don't realize what a great workout it is for your core and legs...you just know you are really tired at the end of the day...but I just looked in the mirror and WOW, is my belly flatter and my legs are showing some great muscle tone!

On that note, I'd like to say that it's ok to go out on the Cheap Dates I list here by yourself. I fly solo quite often (and often by choice). One thing I have noticed is that people generally are very nice, especially if they see that you have a common interest, whether it be music, art, food or what have you...let yourself be surprised by the chance encounters you have. I know we've all seen the t-shirts, but I'd like to remind you...LIFE IS GOOD!

A few more things to look forward to...
This weekend brings the newest installment of the Bellport Songwriter Series featuring Johnny Lee Jordan and The Corduroy Sky. $5 admission, seating for about 50 in a beautiful old building by the Great South Bay, with light refreshments available.

Tonight at Acoustic Long Island will be John Schmitt. Open mic at 8PM, show at 9PM. FREE at Deepwells Mansion, St. James.

The Electrix will be playing an acoustic set at the LI Bluegrass Festival this weekend. See my previous post for location and times.

Contemporary line dancing lessons tonite at the Jones Beach Bandshell. FREE.

Alive After Five closes out its season this Friday nite with 5 bands, 5 stages, outdoor dining, beer (it's Patchogue, home of two great microbreweries...you would expect less?), face painting, craft vendors and kids' events. Don't forget to come on down and say hi to me at the Theatre table!

The Islip Arts Council has a couple of great concerts this week. Dont miss the Joel Sikowitz Dixieland Band, 6PM at Gardner County Park on August 16, and The Wes Houston Band at Bayard Cutting Arboretum at 2PM at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. $6 to park.

Movies!
Old Field Farm is hosting an outdoor viewing of Sweet Liberty on August 14 at 7:30PM. Bring a beach chair or blanket! FREE.

Deepwells Mansion is also hosting a free movie night on August 14th, but I can't seem to find out what the movie will be. No one is answering the phone there, and all the websites say "TBA". Call ahead for info.

Sounds like a chick flick men would enjoy...Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen's latest, is getting great buzz. Naughty, witty, and starring two of the hottest hotties today - Scarlett Johannson and Penelope Cruz (something for both the blonde and brunette fans out there!) - this movie seems to have something for both genders to enjoy! Starts August 15th at the Cinema Arts Center. Admission is usually around $9.

Speaking of Cinema Arts...did anyone check out the link I sent out last post about Fido? If not, SHAME ON YOU!!! If you like zombie movies like Shawn of the Dead, a high camp factor while getting your scare on, and hilarious pop culture references, this is a MUST SEE! Written by the same people who brought you Pleasantville, it's a surrealistic look at people living in fear of zombies. Go to the previous post to see the trailer.

All for now! If you know of an upcoming event you would like me to post, let me know! Email me at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com. Chat soon!