The thundering skies and relentless rain didn’t stop our Kings of Long Island from getting their due respect and thunderous applause from the joyous audience of 500 people at the luxurious Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck on the night of April 6.
Then, the other big event in my life this weekend was the opening of the LIC Flea run by my children Josh and Elizabeth with Maggie Rosenberg, and partners from the Plaxall “family.” I visited on Sunday, a cloudless day. What a difference a day makes.
The “Kings” event on Long Island, our second, amazed me with the talented and successful honorees, each one representing diverse worlds and each one connecting with the other. That’s why I compare my life to a giant spiderweb – connecting people to people. And that’s what our networking events do.
The honorees were pinned with a Star Network pin to make them official members of the exclusive club connecting them through our Star Network newsletter and exclusive events throughout the year.
I laughed to our honorees in the VIP room that even the skies were roaring their accomplishments. I have to salute the Leonard’s valet service manager, Jonathan, who protected our guests and moved the cars with aplomb as if there were not endless sheets of rain falling on them! What a night on many levels.
At every “Kings” event, we honor a “Woman of the Year,” and I was delighted to present the “Vicki” statuette award to WABC Long Island reporter Kristin Thorne. She covers her beat with passion and endless energy. Everyone loved meeting her!
It was a memorable night recognizing 40 extraordinary men including tech industry giants, all made possible by our events team led by Amy Amato with her colleagues Toni Cimino, Tanya Phillips, Lori Pedone and Lisa Martinez. As at each event, I was privileged to be able to raise money for two important causes – Eihab Human Services for people with disabilities and Beacon House, which helps veterans. With my super staffers Sheila Levy and Maxine Posner’s help selling raffles, we raised $3,000 for the causes. To top off the night, honoree Jeffrey Levy of Eihab won the Jet Blue-donated airline tickets and a trip to Cancun. He re-donated the vacation, and we ran an instant auction for that great prize, starting it at $100. The generous audience members began a lively bidding frenzy for Eihab that raised $1,200 within minutes, with the winner being another honoree, Danny Pisani, vice president of Contour Mortgage Corporation, for an exciting ending to a glorious night.
Then, on sunny Sunday, I found some old “friends” who have been with the market all five years and met some new vendors at one of my favorite places on Earth, the LIC Flea and Food market, celebrating its fifth year.
It was great to see the fabulous Lady V. Vivian Hill, who calls herself a creative entrepreneur-owner. She always has something unique for me to buy. This Sunday, she had a visit from her sister-in-law Victoria and her mother-in-law, Patricia Hill (only 96), who showed off an outfit she once wore that was now for sale by Lady V.
A new vendor are sisters Carly and Nicole who make gorgeous, tasty and custom-stamped cookies. Jonah ate a “Mets” stamped cookie and gobbled it up in an instant!
We walked over to the tables set up at the rear of the market where there is a wine and beer garden contiguous to the Anable Basin. We had a snack while looking at the spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and saw a lineup of canoes and kayaks that are offered for paddling on the East River in the summer months. I went kayaking in the basin with Jonah last year. What fun!
That’s what I love about the market. It’s a family affair! Try it. You too will love it. It’s open every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fifth Street and 45th Avenue on Long Island City’s waterfront.
