Category Archives: fun

New York Comic Con 2015

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
October 16, 2015

I’ve never been at a more bustling or friendly event than New York Comic Con was last Saturday, October 10, 2015, at the Javits Center.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. October 10, 2015. L-R, Astronaut Robert (Beamer) Curbeam, who is currently tied for the record for most spacewalks (4) during a single spaceflight, and Captain JERRY LINENGER, a retired NASA astronaut and United States Navy flight surgeon, are two of the panelists on Secret Space Escapes - The Real Life Gravity Panel, at the 10th Annual New York Comic Con. Secret Space Escapes is a new series scheduled to begin November on the Discovery Science Channel. NYCC 2015 is expected to be the biggest one ever, with over 160,000 attending during the 4 day ReedPOP event, from October 8 through Oct 11, at Javits Center in Manhattan (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA. Oct. 10, 2015. L-R, Astronauts ROBERT (BEAMER) CURBEAM and JERRY LINENGER are two panelists on Secret Space Escapes – Real Life Gravity Panel, at New York Comic Con. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Those familiar with my photos and posts of Long Island’s Cradle of Aviation Museum over the years won’t be surprised my favorite panel at NYCC was about Science Channel’s new series Secret Space Escapes, which shares true stories of things going terribly wrong in space and how astronauts faced those challenges.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. October 10, 2015. SOYEON YI, the first South Korean in space, is a panelist on Secret Space Escapes - The Real Life Gravity Panel, at the 10th Annual New York Comic Con. Secret Space Escapes is a new series scheduled to begin November on the Discovery Science Channel. Born in 1978, Yi went into space when she was 29, traveling on Russia's Soyuz TMA-12 to the International Space Station (ISS). NYCC 2015 is expected to be the biggest one ever, with over 160,000 attending during the 4 day ReedPOP event, from October 8 through Oct 11, at Javits Center in Manhattan (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA. October 10, 2015. Astronaut SOYEON YI, the first South Korean in space, is a panelist on Secret Space Escapes – The Real Life Gravity Panel, at New York Comic Con.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Astronauts  ROBERT (BEAMER) CURBEAM,  JERRY LINENGER, and SOYEON Yi  shared their personal harrowing space experiences at the Secret Space Escapes – The Real Life Gravity Panel. It was an honor meeting them all, with their warmth and laser focus – and Soyeon was born the same year as my older daughter! My family’s looking forward to the premiere of Secret Space Escapes on the Science Channel, November 10th.

New York, NY, USA.  October 10, 2015. Cosplayers Princess Buttercup and Dread Pirate Roberts, New York Comic Con 2015. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA.  October 10, 2015. Cosplayers Princess Buttercup and Dread Pirate Roberts, New York Comic Con 2015. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Of the thousands of creative, dramatic cosplayers, above are my sentimental favorites – Princess Buttercup and The Dread Pirate Roberts AKA Westley, from William Goldman’s The Princess Bride.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. October 10, 2015. Visitors are playing STAR WARS Battle Pod, an aerial combat game set in the Star Wars universe, at the 10th Annual New York Comic Con. NYCC 2015 is expected to be the biggest one ever, with over 160,000 attending during the 4 day ReedPOP event, from October 8 through Oct 11, at Javits Center in Manhattan (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA. Oct. 10, 2015. Visitors play STAR WARS Battle Pod, an aerial combat game set in Star Wars universe, at 10th New York Comic Con.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

One of the popular interactive attractions was STAR WARS Battle Pod Flat Screen Edition, with multiplay mode that allowed two players to play as a team.

And let’s not forget Artist Alley, which had vast aisles of talented comics artists – such as SANYA ANWAR,  PETER KUPER,  LUKE ROSS,  LOUISE SIMONSON & WALT SIMONSON – where fans had a chance to meet them, have comic books autographed, and some artists even offered option of commissioning original work.

NYCC had it all – astronauts, cosplayers, artists, games….  INCONCEIVABLE!


New York Comic Con 2015:  GALLERY 

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Bellmore Friday Night Car Shows 1

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
August 8, 2015

Each spring I look forward to the return of Bellmore Friday Night Car Shows. The crowds bustling around hundreds of classic, custom, and antique cars at the Bellmore LIRR station parking lot have such friendly energy.

    • UPDATE: see 2019 Schedule for Friday Night Car Shows at end
Bellmore, New York, USA. 7th August 2015. Groups of people are at 1957 Chevrolet muscle car, with a blower (supercharger air compressor) sticking out through hole in hood, and American Dream written under the front grill, and parked under the elevated train tracks at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore Long Island Railroad Station Parking Lot. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 7, 2015. 1957 Chevrolet muscle car is American Dream at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road Station Parking Lot. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

On May 29, perhaps the hardest-to-miss custom car was a black 1992 Mazda Convertible belonging to PHIL ZIRKULI, a Baldwin UFSD Art Teacher,  who was drawing colorful designs with chalk paint on his car. Zirkuli explained he decorates his car to draw attention to the importance of art education.

Bellmore, New York, USA. May 29, 2015. PHIL ZIRKULI, a Baldwin Art Teacher, is free-hand drawing colorful designs with chalk paint on his black 1992 Mazda Convertible at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore Long Island Railroad Station Parking Lot. Zirkuli explained he decorates his car to draw attention to the importance of art education. Hundreds of classic, antique, and custom cars are generally on view at the free weekly show, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, from May to early October. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. May 29, 2015. PHIL ZIRKULI, a Baldwin Art Teacher, draws colorful designs on his black 1992 Mazda Convertible at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore Long Island Railroad Station Parking Lot.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com

One of my favorite classic cars that spring night was a black 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster racing car. When I asked why there was a thin wire attaching each Tri-Wing Knock Off to its wheel, I learned the safety wire prevents the Knock Off, aka Wingnut or Spinner, from flying into other cars if it comes off during races.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 12th June 2015. Owner Grey Cherveny, of Bay Shore, is standing at the open trunk of his modified yellow 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary model, with Lamborghini doors (AKA vertical scissors doors and Lambo doors) and chrome trim added, an award winning car displayed at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore Long Island Railroad Station Parking Lot. Hundreds of classic, antique, and custom cars were on view at the free weekly show, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. 12th June 2015. Owner Grey Cherveny at his modified yellow 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary model at Friday Night Car Show held at Bellmore LIRR Station Parking Lot. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com

On June 12th, I enjoyed speaking with GREY CHERVENY, from Bay Shore, about his yellow 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary model, with Lamborghini doors and chrome trim under the hood to reflect the motor. He proudly told me how, though he’s just recently started going to car shows with his modified Vette, it’s already appeared in Newsday, plus won an award.

Bellmore Friday Night Car Shows are great family fun. In fact, that late May night I unexpectedly ran into my older daughter’s family – including my grandson who excitedly shouted out “Train!” and pointed up from his stroller to the overhead tracks each time an LIRR train roared past.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 7th August 2015. JIMMY STELLAS, of Freeport, is standing in front of his War Bonnet Yellow 1969 Corvette Stingray, at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore Long Island Railroad Station Parking Lot. Hundreds of classic, antique, and custom cars were on view at the free weekly show, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores. In front of Stellas is a Riverside Gold 1972 Stingray Vette. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. 7th August 2015. JIMMY STELLAS, of Freeport, stands in front of his War Bonnet Yellow 1969 Corvette Stingray, at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore LIRR Station Parking Lot. At right is a Riverside Gold 1972 Stingray Vette. ( © 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Because I linger at each car that catches my eye – aiming to learn about the car and capture images that do it justice – I usually have time to catch only a small portion of the classic, antique, and custom cars each visit.

These free weekly shows are co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Town of Hempstead, and run through to the first week in October. I look forward to returning for many more laps around the parking lot.

WEEKLY MEETS:

6 PM–10 PM, early in May until first week of October (weather permitting)  bellmorechamber.com  (516) 679-1875

Bellmore LIRR parking lot on Sunrise Highway (between Bellmore Ave. & Bedford Ave.)


UPDATES – 2019 Schedule

Weekly Friday meets from MAY 3 to OCT. 4, 2019, from 6 PM -10 PM (weather permitting)

Bellmore Car Show posts:  #1  (2015)   #2 • 2017    #3 • 2018


My Auto event galleries: CARS

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Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens 2015

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 11, 2015

One of the things I most enjoy about covering Long Island over the years is getting to know our people, and I was happy to see quite a few familiar faces (and cars) at Sunday’s Antique Car Show. The 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show sponsored by Greater New York Region Antique Automobile Club of America had over a thousand antique, classic, and custom cars throughout the vast green lawns of historic Old Westbury Gardens.

Old Westbury, New York, United States. 7th June 2015. JACKSON STERN, five-months-old, holds the steering wheel of a red 1954 Chevrolet Corvette convertible as he sits in the lap of his father JOSHUA STERN, at the 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show sponsored by Greater New York Region Antique Automobile Club of America. The Corvette, which was parked, is owned by Adam Heller of NYC. Over 1,000 antique, classic, and custom cars participated at the popular Long Island vintage car show held at historic Old Westbury Gardens. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. June 7, 2015. JACKSON STERN, five-months-old, holds steering wheel of red 1954 Chevrolet Corvette convertible as he sits with his father JOSHUA STERN, at 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens. Adam Heller, of NYC, is owner of the Vette. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Some of new faces I met were: Ex-Chief NEIL HICKS and firefighter ALEX SEQUEIRA at the prize-winning Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department truck; SAM GRECO and LAURA GRECO who brought 5 vintage cars to the show; likely the youngest ‘driver’ there, JACKSON STERN, with his dad JOSHUA STERN in Adam Heller’s 1954 Corvette; and Veteran JOHN GIORDANO and his fellow Marines giving Free Hugs at the Marine Corps League North Shore Queens Detachment #240 booth.

When I visited the trophy area, at first I didn’t recognize the charming woman – decked in pearls, vintage-style dress and black straw sunhat – who was getting ready to hand out the trophies. When an equally charming man, in dapper suit and straw hat with black band, came over and said his name, I realized they were ALTHEA TRAVIS and TOM MCCARTHY, the smiling couple I had captured photos of last December in Huntington at the Sparkboom Jingle Boom Holiday Bash!

Old Westbury, New York, USA.  June 7, 2015. A 1966 Ford Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, owned by Richard Blech, is featured at the 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA.  June 7, 2015. A 1966 Ford Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, owned by Richard Blech, is featured at the 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

At the end of that warm spring day, I was happy RICHARD BLECH‘S The Vintage Ice Cream Guys 1966 Ford Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, with the 4 classic bells by the Bevin Brothers, was still stocked with frozen pops for sale.


Car Shows at Old Westbury Gardens:
PHOTO GALLERY 2015   •  PHOTO GALLERY 2014

Old Westbury Gardens:  SITE  •  JOIN

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