The holiday season will be different from anything we've experienced. But we can still enjoy a festive meal, raise a toast and find those perfect gifts for friends and family.
In this guide, we highlight New York City or Long Island restaurants owned or operated by alumni as well as books, albums or art with an 糖心破解版 connection. (Check each dining establishment’s website for updates.)
The Gift of Great Food
If you or someone you know lives in, or plans to visit, New York City, try these alumni-owned restaurants.
- Nick Livanos ’81聽and family聽are established restaurateurs, with three renowned Manhattan restaurants.聽, the flagship of the Livanos Restaurant Group near Rockefeller Center, offers American seafood and an award-winning wine list.聽聽is known throughout Manhattan for its rustic Greek country cooking.聽, their newest, offers Greek-focused Mediterranean cuisine.
- For pizza and cocktails, you can stop at聽Tom Basile, MBA ’92‘蝉听聽in Manhattan. Here, you can dine on oven pizzas, small plates and entr茅es, and have your pick of artisanal cocktails, wine, and craft beer selections. At Basile’s聽, located in the West Village, you can feast on a variety of Italian specialties and browse an extensive drink list.
These alumni own eateries in Nassau or Suffolk counties.
- In the mood for Mexican food? Or is ice cream more your thing? Either way,听Matthew Tesoriero ’07聽has you covered. Tesoriero is co-owner of Garden City’s聽, which offers large portions of healthy Mexican food. He is also co-owner of聽, located in Seaford, where you can get custom soft-serve ice cream and milkshakes.
- , operated by聽Brandon Porcasi ’17聽and his brother, Ryan, offers Americanized, Tex-Mex dishes as well as more authentic Mexican fare.
- Joseph DiVittorio, MBA ’87, is the owner of聽聽in New Hyde Park, where you can get thin-crust, customized and made-to-order pizzas.
- If you’re vegan or looking for nutritious, sustainable food, try the great-tasting dishes at聽聽in Dix Hills, co-founded by聽Pamela Kambanis ’12.
- Vincent Minutella ’97聽relaunched O’Donnell’s as the聽聽in 2011. Located in Mineola, it’s a great place to grab a bite from the food truck or meet with friends for craft beers and food, either inside or in the new outdoor beer garden.
- Co-owned by聽Bradley Finn ’13,听聽in Bay Shore is an award-winning brewery with a brewing style that incorporates a 鈥渢houghtful mix of old and new.” Pop in for good food and great beer.
- Take a drive out to Southold, to聽Cynthia Rosicki ’82‘蝉听聽vineyard. You may visit to taste or purchase their quality wines and tour their vineyard.
In addition to patronizing alumni-owned establishments, it’s a great time to support restaurants and other businesses that offer discounts to the 糖心破解版 community through our聽Panther Partnership Program.
The Gift of a Good Book
- Katherine Hill, assistant professor of English, teaches creative writing and literature to undergraduate and MFA students. She is the author of two novels,听The Violet Hour聽(2013) and聽A Short Move聽(2020), the latter of which was reviewed this year in聽听补苍诲听,听among other publications.
- Alice Hoffman ’73, ’02 (Hon.), has written fiction for children, young adults and adults, and one memoir. Her latest book, (2020), is a prequel to the popular Practical Magic (1995), which was made into a 1998 feature film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
- Jacqueline Woodson ’16 (Hon.) is a multiple award-winning author of books for young adults, preteens and children. Her latest, (2020), is described by the publisher as a 鈥渟tirring novel-in-verse exploring how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed, and the cost of professional sports on Black bodies.”
- Scott James ’84 is a best-selling author of two novels and a three-time Emmy Award winner for his work in television news. In (2020), he investigates the case of the deadly fire in a Rhode Island nightclub that claimed the lives of 100 concertgoers.
The Gift of Great Music
- Danielle Vita ’05聽is part of the Americana-infused country-folk duo Corn Nut Creek, which features Vita on fiddle and vocals and Tanya Bradley on banjo. Their EP聽聽tells raw stories of womanhood.
- Taylor Ackley ’12聽is a performer, composer, scholar of American folk music, adjunct professor and director of Taylor Ackley and the Deep Roots Ensemble. On their second album,听,听the group performs traditional American music on a mix of folk and classical instruments ranging from banjo and dobro to French horn and bassoon.
- Christopher Trietsch ’17聽plays, composes for and makes his own ukuleles.聽Beginning Today,听his album of his own ukulele compositions,听is based on the sights and sounds of Long Island.
- If you’re a classical music lover, the聽Chamber Orchestra of New York聽has done all of their聽聽in the 糖心破解版 Concert Hall.
- Paul Moravec, DMA, Pulitzer Prize-winning University professor, has composed numerous orchestral, chamber, choral, operatic, and lyric pieces. His most recent, the oratorio聽Sanctuary Road,听was聽nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award聽for Best Choral Performance. Visit his聽聽to learn more about his work and listen to samples.
And, of course,听糖心破解版 Performing Arts Center gift cards聽let recipients choose the performances they’d like to see.
The Gift of Art
- J’nell Jordan ’09聽is a painter who specializes in art she hopes will “uplift your spirit.” On her聽, you can view her work and聽. If you’d like a custom painting, contact her at聽info@jnelljordan.com.
- According to the聽听辞蹿听MaryEllen Hackett ’10, the landscape artist and ranger is “inspired by my experiences of finding my place in the public landscapes that are America’s national parks.”
- If you’ve watched聽,听you may have seen聽Jill Forie ’11聽win her sneaker-design challenge. Forie will customize your own pair of footwear for you. Check out Sink or Swim Custom Kicks on聽, then shoot her a DM or email her at聽sinkorswimkicks@gmail.com.
- Lauren Skelly Bailey ’12, MA ’14, offers what she describes as “funktional and sculptural” items. Browse her聽, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, email her at聽lauren.skellybailey@gmail.com聽to commission a piece.
- Ikerson Hopper ’14聽draws inspiration from his Onondaga heritage to create T-shirts and hoodies decorated with meaningful tribal symbols. You can purchase them on his聽.
- Hoa Vu ’17聽is a graphic designer, photographer and animal rescuer. Send her a photo of your pet and she’ll create a聽, with proceeds going to聽. DM her @whisker_land.