By Christian DiGirolamo
The Long Island Summer Festival performances take place under a large tent and are complemented by an adjoining lawn. Tickets for tent seating range from $35 to $115, depending on the performance. The lawn, which is priced at $25 or $30, (also depending on performance), is the ultimate picnic area where kids under 12 are admitted for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Yes, free. Not a word we hear too often these days. Fund-raising booths, merchandise, food stands, and a bevy of cheery faces grace the grounds of this stunning estate. With 10 years under my belt as a regular attendee of performances, I've found that the Friends of the Arts never sent me home disappointed. The atmosphere is one that brings out the best in everyone involved. From the chef flipping burgers at the booth, to the artist on the stage, there is an air of friendliness all around this beautiful facility.A varied roster of artists is on schedule for the 2005 season. July kicks off with Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley on July 16, Michael McDonald on July 17, Little Feat on July 23, and Nanci Griffith on July 30. The sizzling month of August brings John Hiatt in on Aug. 4, Susan Tedeschi on Aug. 10, Latin night with Poncho Sanchez on Aug. 20 and it all comes to a conclusion at Alice's Restaurant with Arlo Guthrie on Aug. 27.During the August stretch, the Friends of the Arts also brings the Long Island Jazz Festival in on Aug. 13 and 14. The two-day weekend jazz celebration includes Roberta Flack, Gino Stinson 4, Bela Fleck, Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty and the brilliant Ravi Coltrane. The jazz festival has received acclaim as one of the best jazz festivals in the nation. The weekend is a celebration of the American art form, and you could not pick a better place than the magnificent gardens and majestic trees of the Arboretum for it to be held.All concerts go on rain or shine. If you are taking in the lawn, bring a blanket or chair and as much food as you'd like. Add a four-star experience to your summer calendar. Come and see the Friends of the Arts Long Island Summer Festival.For ticket information, directions and performance dates go to www.fotapresents.org. or www.ticketmaster.com.
