October 15, 2014: Fun & Celebrating in Fall

Cake Decorating & Fall Festivals

Welcome!  Boy, this week is moving along since Monday was a holiday - it's already Wednesday!

Here at Travelin' Cousins, it's Where to Go Wednesday and today I'm going to share some suggestions for Fall festivals happening on Long Island over the next few weeks.

But, first, I want to tell you what fun I had last night at a Cake Decorating class at A La Carte Cooking School with Gianna.

Cake Decorating Class at A La Carte Cooking School, Lynbrook, NY

Although it was a school night, I knew how badly she wanted to participate because of her love of cake decorating.  This was an adult class, but Polly, the owner made an exception for Gianna since she has taken many of the kids' classes.

I will admit, this kid has surpassed me in her knowledge and ability of baking.  So much of what she knows of cake decorating is self taught through watching YouTube videos and tutorials and just doing it. 

I was absolutely the student last night as I looked to my ten year old for direction.  We worked with fondant, which she had done so many times and she designed a "Horse themed" cake.  Together, with the help of our class instructor, Allison Shapiro of The Sweet Peace Cake Shop in Lynbrook, we molded horses and roses for our cake!

Gianna's Horse Themed Cake

Our Classmates and Cake Decorating instructor, Allison Shapiro, third from right

Gianna did a great job rolling out the fondant to cover the cake and painstakingly made horseshoes to adorn the side of the cake.

She also used the piping bag like an old pro to frost the cupcakes with the most delicious buttercream frosting (made by Sweet Peace)! I'm so glad I decided to let her stay out late on a school night to take this class!!

---

Frosted by Gianna

So, back to Where to Go Wednesday . For all our followers on Long Island, October is a great month to enjoy the many Fall Festivals that feature delicious seasonal food, pumpkins and activities for the whole family! Here are some of the upcoming ones: (Let us know if you make any of these!)

FALL FAMILY FISHING FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 18: 10AM - 4PM 
Hempstead Lake State Park, Lakeside Dr., West Hempstead - FREE
nysparks.com/parks/31
Event includes a casting contest, fly-fishing instruction, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, free bait and fish-cleaning services. Displays by Trout Unlimited, DEC Environmental Education, State Parks as well as other fishing and environmental organizations. Prior to the festival, the New York State parks department will stock South and McDonald Ponds with hundreds of brook and rainbow trout.  

OYSTER FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 18 & 19: 11AM -6PM
Theodore Roosevelt Park
West End Avenue, Oyster Bay
theoysterfestival.org 
Free, Fee for rides  
Billed as the largest annual outdoor festival and the largest waterfront fest on the East Coast with about 200,000 attendees on average, the 31st oyster fest is back. The lineup includes tall ships, pirate shows and carnival rides. Aside from oysters prepared every way imaginable, it also features the famous oyster schucking contest. 

SEAFORD FALL FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 18 & 19: 10AM - 5PM
Seaford Train Station
Sunrise Highway, Seaford
Free
This annual smorgasbord of arts and crafts offers visitors a diverse collection of everything from vinyl records to antique toys, lamps and so much more! 

HUNTINGTON APPLE FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 19: 12NOON - 4PM 
Dr. Daniel w. Kissam House Museum 
434 Park Avenue, Huntington
huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org 
Free
Scarecrow making, hayrides, music, old-timey games as well as arts and crafts—plus lots and lots of apples.  

FALL FESTIVAL AND SWAP MEET
OCTOBER 19: 11AM - 3PM
Thomas School of Horsemanship Summer Day Camp & Riding School
250 Round Swamp Road, Melville
Free
Fall games, rides, music, pumpkins, pony rides, face painting, crafts, vendors and more.  

HALLOWEEN BOAT BURNING
OCTOBER 24: 5PM - 9PM
Long Island Maritime Museum, 88 West Ave., 
West Sayville. 
limaritime.org 
Free
In this local annual tradition, a boat that has been deemed too-unsafe-to-sail is set ablaze in sacrifice while thousands watch from the shore. Festivities include raffles, snacks, hot apple cider and live music.  

PUMPKIN FEST
OCTOBER 25: 12PM - 3PM
Islandia Village Hall, 100 Old Nichols Rd., 
Islandia. 
newvillageofislandia.com 
Free
This ninth annual event features pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins.   

FAMILY FALL & HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 25: 1PM - 4PM
Marjorie Post Community Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa
oysterbaytown.com 
Free
Activities for children and adults alike, hayride, crafts, bouncies, photo opportunities, games, hot, piping apple cider and popcorn, ‘U-Pick’ pumpkin patch for children. Children are encouraged to come in costumes.

GREAT JACK-O'-LANTERN SPECTACULAR
OCTOBER 25: 4PM
Belmont Lake State Park, Southern State Pwk exit 38, North Babylon
nysparks.com/parks/88 
$8 parking, free with Empire Pass
Jack-o’-Lantern, there will be a kid-friendly spooky house, balloon twisting, arts and crafts, trick or treating, “funny fotos,” games and more.  Participation limited to the first 50 carved pumpkins. Jack-o’-Lanterns will set sail at 6 p.m. Participating pumpkins must be between the size of a soccer ball and a basketball and must be dropped off between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on the day of the event. 

ROCKVILLE CENTRE FALL FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 25 & 26: 10AM - 5PM
Rockville Centre train station
Long Beach Road
rvcny.us Free
Arts and crafts and more.

PUMPKIN FEST
OCTOBER 26: 12PM - 3PM
Bailey Arboretum
194 Bayville Rd., Lattingtown
baileyarboretum.org 
$10 per family
Pumpkin decorating, traditional games, food, entertainment and nature walks.  

OCTOBER 26: 12PM - 6PM
HARVEST FEST
Main Street, Port Jefferson
portjeffchamber.com
Free
Pumpkin painting, arts and crafts and live music, a chowder crawl, costumed dog parade (2 p.m.) and a haunted building walking tour.  

SHINNECOCK SHAMROCK
NOVEMBER 1: 2PM - 7PM
14 North Howelis Point Rd
Bellport
shinnecocksewanakasociety.org
$40. Kids 12 and under free
Music and cultural festival with Irish and Native American bands, raffles, dancing, beer, wines, chowders and more.  

LONG ISLAND ANTIQUE BOOK, PAPER & ART FAIR
NOVEMBER 1: 11AM - 6PM
NOVEMBER 2: 11AM - 4PM 
Hofstra University
Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead
pekaleshows.com 
Free
Books, arts and crafts and more.  

MASSAPEQUA FALL FESTIVAL
NOVEMBER 8 & 9: 10AM - 5PM
Massapequa Train Station
Sunrise Highway, Massapequa
Arts and crafts. Vendors.

I'm off to get my day started - a luncheon, Brownie Meeting, and then homework and dinner - Whew!!

See ya back here tomorrow for Throwback Thursday!
-E

Looking for Fun Fall Festivities?

Can you believe that it's already Wednesday?!
Wow, this week is flying by!

Yesterday was my dear Cosette's birthday, and that sure kept me busy! 
She had a fantastic day, eating, relaxing, horseback riding, playing with her cousins, eating, opening presents, eating some more, doing a scavenger hunt, and did I mention eating yet?
So you can guess that part of my busyness was in fact in the kitchen whipping up all sorts of goodies for my little foodie! -- Not to worry I ate too! 

Cosette and Sundance

Cosette and Mika

Cosette and Chaplin

Cosette was stoked with some of her gifts, and completely shocked at the one that my sister Brigitte gave her...

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

She gave Cosette a horse!! 
My sister gave my daughter a horse!
Holy Smokies!!
So now Cosette again has a horse of her own (her first horse was horse napped - but that's another story). 'Dream' is now Cosette's horse. She's a 10 year old Paint, and Cosette just adores and loves her!

This morning I had to return the rental, we put 3,020 miles on the car and had a great time on our road trip. I'm still unpacking and doing laundry!

It's definitely a much more mellow day for me, where I hardly have any running around to do. I have some choir work to take care of (holiday performance bookings, etc), I have some bills to pay (fun!), I will be doing some basic future trip planning and adding to a couple of our pages here on Travelin' Cousins, such as -

ICELAND TRIP PLANNING
LIST OF LISTS


Have you checked out the Condé Nast Traveler's Gallery of Reykjavik yet? I'm SOLD!!!


And lastly, but certainly not leastly (don't judge), I need to boost up the last of training for my upcoming Gladiator Mud Run! 

Yup, you read that correctly, I (the girl who hates the mud) signed up to do a Mud Run!
 
What am I nuts?! Maybe a little bit...sometimes! lol

On October 25th at the Rose Bowl, I will be going through an assortment of fun and crazy obstacles along side the 'Mudd Buddies', which include a few people from our choir, Dominic, and Dave C!

Being that it is Where to Go Wednesday, Elisa and I have listed several fun options of things to do for our local followers. 
Today's theme is Fun Fall Festivities!

How about the:

Cambria Scarecrow Festival
October 2-31, 2014
Location: Throughout the East & West Villages and Moonstone Beach
Event includes: A month-long display of over 200 of the most artistic, creative, and lively scarecrows on the West Coast. And, on the second weekend of October, Cambria celebrates the scarecrows with a Harvest Festival...two days of food, fun and entertainment.

"That definitely sounds pretty cool!"

Or what about:

Oktoberfest
Sept. 5-Oct. 26
Alpine Village, 833 W. Torrance Blvd., Torrance
Alpine Village holds the title of the oldest and largest Oktoberfest in Southern California, with several weekends worth of parties to celebrate German beer and bratwurst.

"Not exactly my cup of tea, but I've heard that this event is lots of fun!!"

And if you are a Pumpkin Lover then this is for you:

Calabasas Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 18-19
Juan Bautista de Anza Park, Calabasas
Everything pumpkin plus a whole lot more including contests, nature shows, a costume parade and more.

"Sounds like a family friendly fun event!"


Silverado Days Festival
October 17, 18, 19,  2014 
Peak Park, 7225 El Dorado Dr., Buena Park, CA   
Buena Park's "Silverado Days" is one of California's oldest and finest events for sheer, good, old-fashioned fun, where the proceeds benefit the community.
The event includes all sorts of fun stuff from games, crafts, carnival rides and food to many contests, including Hog Calling, Pie Eating, Arm Wrestling, Pinewood Car Making and Racing, Baby Judging (i.e., Chubbiest Cheeks, Parent-Child Lookalike), Horseshows, Chili Cook-off and even a Mutt Show (i.e., Best Tail Wag, Owner Lookalike) as well as a Men's Legs competition (i.e., Hairiest, Knobbiest Knees and Sexiest).
Then there was the music—steel drum, bluegrass, rock, even "Elvis"—to go along with dance and a "Classics on the Green" Car Show, featuring 336 beautiful vehicles.

"You might even find me at this one!"


And if you are interested in getting away for the weekend, check out Travel + Leisure's - 
America's Best Hotels for Fall Colors!! 


Although I've been to many of the listed locations for the mentioned hotels, I have only stayed at one.
CAN YOU GUESS WHICH ONE?

Get your guesses in!
The answer will be posted on our FaceBook page tomorrow.

See you back here tomorrow for some Throwback Thursday fun!

Have a great day!
-T