Things To Do To Cure The Winter Blues

By Katherine Andrianas

Fine Wine & Food Festival
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale
Sat. January 19th
Session #1: 11:30AM-2:30PM  (VIP entry at 11:00AM)
Session #2: 4:00-7:00PM  (VIP entry at 3:30PM)
The 2nd annual Fine Wine & Food Festival hosted by nycblive allows guests to indulge in some of the best wines from the North Fork of Long Island and New York regions. To pair nicely with your wine, there will be food trucks and restaurants from New York City and Long Island offering an array of gourmet must haves. Whether you come to sample the endless wines, taste the local cuisine, or shop the many merchants, it’s a day you can’t miss! At just $49-$65 per person, general admission will include a souvenir tasting glass, tote bag and unlimited samples of wine, beer, spirits or cider. If you’re looking for something extra special, you can purchase VIP tickets for meet and greet opportunities with noteworthy, World Series Champions, Doc Gooden and Mookie Wilson. Between the entertainment, games and music, the Fine Wine & Food Festival has it all! For more information on the event, visit finewineandfoodfest.com

Paradise Garden Festival
Planting Fields Foundation
1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
January 27th
(11:00AM-4:00PM) • FREE ADMISSION
Looking for a touch of paradise this winter? Then head tothe planting fields arboretum for their fourth annual Paradise Garden Festival. Throughout the day they’ll have live music including Robert on the steel drums, and activities around all 409-acres of the park. In the warm, bright and beautiful greenhouse, guests will be surrounded by tropical plants, colorful orchids, palm trees, begonias, ferns and more!  The daylong celebrations are endless especially for families with younger children since crafts and entertainment will take place at 1:00PM and 3:00PM.  The Paradise Garden Festival gives you a chance to escape the Long Island winter so don’t pass it up! For additional details on the day, visit plantingfields.org/event/
paradise-garden-festival.

Gourmet Food Market
Old Bethpage Village Restoration          
1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage
Sat. Jan 26th- Gourmet Food
Sat. Feb 9th- Sweets & Treats
Sat. Mar 9th- Cheese & More!
(11:00AM-3:00PM)
Sponsored by All American Wontons based out of Massapequa, this farmers market style affair will feature tons of food and handmade items. The event will include local packaged food vendors and a lot of sampling so make sure to come hungry! They’ll have things like pickles, wontons, home decor, jewelry, essential oils, gluten free products, spices, chocolates and much more! From baked goods to health foods, the Gourmet Food Market has options for everyone, even the pickiest of kids.  They’ll also present door prizes, 50/50 raffles and chances to win some really great things! 
Besides the gourmet food vendors, they’ll be tons of hard-to-find handmade goods and unique crafts to browse through. At the Gourmet Food Market, all ages are welcome and entry into the event is free. So, whether you come with friends or family,  you’re bound to have a good four hours of fun!