Special Events 2010
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium will observe the centennial of its beginnings with a grand party on Saturday, September 25th. The Eagle's Nest Centennial Celebration will begin with cocktails in the elegant courtyard of the Vanderbilt Spanish-Revival mansion from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The celebration will continue with dinner, open bar, dancing and music by the Andy Farber Sextet.
The Vanderbilt's 2010 honoree will be The Honorable Jon Cooper, majority leader of the Suffolk County Legislature. Long a champion of the Vanderbilt, Cooper has been instrumental in helping the museum to secure capital-program support during the recent economic crisis.
Vanderbilt's Legacy of Exploration and Education
A century ago, the global explorer, adventurer and railroad heir William K. Vanderbilt II found a beautiful rolling hillside on Little Neck above Northport Harbor. He bought 20 acres of that hill on May 27, 1910, and hired a famous architect to design and build a bachelor's bungalow, a long wharf and the foundation for a boathouse. Vanderbilt's summer home, expanded over the years to 24 rooms, became one of the grand, historic Long Island Gold Coast estates, which he called "Eagles' Nest."
Tickets, at $100 per person, may be purchased by calling the Vanderbilt at 631-854-5579, or below. All guests must RSVP by September 17. Proceeds will benefit the Vanderbilt's education programs.
Sponsorship tickets also are available: Circumnavigator at $10,000; Explorer at $5,000; Adventurer at $2,500; Geographer at $1,000; Voyager at $500, Tourist at $100 and Stowaway at $50. (The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization. All donations in excess of $60 per ticket may be tax-deductible to the extent of the law.)
EVENT RESCHEDULED
This event, originally set for Thursday, August 19, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, August 25
How William K. Vanderbilt II Used His Vast Inherited Fortune to Try to Understand His World and Himself
Vanderbilt Biographer Steven Gittelman Finds Personal Parallels While Researching His Subject's Life
Publishing party, book signing and discussion
CENTERPORT, NY (August 9, 2010) - William Kissam Vanderbilt II, great-grandson of the railroad and shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt and one of the wealthiest men of his time, has fascinated Steven Gittelman for decades. President of a market-research firm in New York City and a trustee of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum since 1990, Gittelman has just published a biography of Willie K., as he was known.
Click here for more information about the publishing party, book signing and discussion
Tango in the Courtyard: Nelson and Madalyn Avila Return to the Vanderbilt for an Enchanted Latin Evening
Internationally Renowned Dancer Will Perform to Live Music—and Teach You to Tango—in the Vanderbilt Mansion's Romantic Spanish-Revival Courtyard
Saturday, September 11
CENTERPORT, NY (August 16, 2010) - Nelson Avila, a legendary Argentine tango star, will return to the Spanish-Revival Vanderbilt mansion on Saturday, September 11, for another evening of Latin music, dancing and romance. Avila, who starred in the world-renowned Broadway show, Tango Argentino, will perform with his wife Madalyn, and will teach the tango to guests. The Avilas performed on July 31 to a near-capacity Vanderbilt audience that gave them rave reviews.
The gateway to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum's elegant cobblestone courtyard will open at 6:00 p.m. The Avilas will teach fundamental tango lessons at 6:30 and perform later in the evening. Dancing will be from 7:00 to 10:30 to live music by the Maurizio Najt Tango Trio. Guests are invited to bring a picnic dinner or to purchase a box dinner when they reserve tickets.
The event is titled "Tango in the Courtyard: A Milonga." In Argentina, "milonga" has two meanings. A milonga is place or event at which tangos, milongas and waltzes are danced. Milonga is also a dance style that precedes the tango; it is performed with more speed and energy, and is always included at any tango.
The duo will dance on the courtyard stage. Tickets are $25 person, $20 if purchased before September 5; tables for four or more will be reserved. To purchase tickets call 631-854-5579, or purchase on-line at link below. In the event of rain or very cool weather, the event will be moved to the Vanderbilt's large white celebration tent on the mansion lawn, with spectacular views of Northport Harbor.
Nelson Avila, legendary Argentine Tango Star, Folkloric Master and magnificent dancer and performer, starred on Broadway in Tango Argentino and Forever Tango. He dances with his wife and partner Madalyn, a passionate performer, dance instructor and social dancer.
The evening is part of the celebration of the Vanderbilt's centennial on the Gold Coast of Long Island and its 60 years as a Suffolk County museum. William K. Vanderbilt II purchased the land for his landmark Eagle's Nest estate on May 27, 1910.
The Arena Players Children's Theatre Presents:
Midsummer Night's Dream
July 2 - August 29
The Arena Players, under artistic director Frederic DeFeis, will present William Shakespeare's 1594 comedy celebrating the humorous aspects of love. The story centers around the interactions among four young Athenian lovers, a group of amateur actors, the Duke of Athens (Theseus), the Queen of the Amazons (Hippolyta), and fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The troupe will perform outdoors in the beautiful Vanderbilt cobblestone courtyard overlooking Long Island Sound and Northport Harbor. Schedule: Fridays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:00 p.m., from July 2 through August 29. Tickets: $15 adults and seniors (62 and older); $10 students and children 12 and under. For information, including inclement weather info, please call 516.293.0674
The Arena Players Children's Theatre Presents:
Alice in Wonderland
July 3 - August 29
The Arena Players will perform Lewis Carroll's children's classic, "Alice in Wonderland," on Saturdays and Sundays from July 3 through August 29 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for all ages. To reserve tickets for either production, call 631-854-5579.
Vanderbilt Museum to Host Summer Shows of Classic Cars:
Buicks, MGs, Jaguars and Corvettes
August 22, MG Show. Rain date: August 29
The MG Car Club-Long Island Centre has scheduled its 30th annual Concours Sanitaire, which also will display some American cars including a Chrysler Imperial and British makes that include Jaguar, Lotus Elan, Bentley and Austin-Healy.
Cars in a "sanitaire" show, spokesman Steve Becker said, are judged "by how they look, the condition of the paint and their overall cleanliness." Four judges each will look at one aspect: exterior, interior, trunk and engine. Competition classes are by model year.
All participants must register before the event and pay the $30 entry fee. To register, contact Steve Becker at 516-485-8830 or by e-mail: mygti@optonline.net. Or visit www.mgcars.org.uk/mgcclic.
September 19, Jaguar Show. Rain date: September 26
The Jaguar Drivers of Long Island (JDLI) has planned its fourth Concours d'Elegance. The club is inviting other British car clubs to participate in the event, including MG, Austin-Healy, Lotus, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. George Stephani, who chairs the event, said the club, established in 1973, expects to show 60 Jaguars dating to the 1950s, including the XK 120, 140 and 150, as well as E-Type, XJS, XJ8, XF, XJ and XK. Jaguar Huntington, which supports the club, will show 2011 Jaguar models.
Pre-registration is required, except for display-only cars. Entry categories and fees: Championship $60; Driven $30, All-British $25, Display Only (not judged) $15. To register, contact George Stephani at 631-981-5708 or by e-mail: geolee@optonline.net. For more information, visit the club's website: jdcli.com.
October 3, Corvette Show. Rain date: October 10
Lou Coccaro of the Corvette club Long Island Vettes, one of four on the island, said his organization is holding its seventh show at the museum. "The Vanderbilt is a beautiful venue and a great place to show cars," he said. The club, established in 2002, expects to show more than 200 cars.
Early registration fees: Members $15; non-members $20; day of show $25. To register, contact Coccaro at 516-248-1277 or be e-mail: autqipsale@aol.com. Or visit the website: www.longislandvettes.org.
Long Island Depression Glass Society:
"A Day at the Vanderbilt Museum"
Sunday, August 8
From the late 1920s through the early 1940s, Federal Glass and other companies created molded, low-quality glassware in beautiful colors that is now called Depression glass. Today, collectors prize glassware in pink, cobalt blue and green.
Sixteen Depression glass dealers from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will have booths in the Vanderbilt's wedding tent on Sunday, August 8, from 10:00 to 4:30. Visitors pay general museum admission. Included will be a raffle for a Depression glass dinner service for four in the pink "Cherry Blossom" pattern, made 1930-1939 by the Jeanette Glass Co.
Let Your Journey Begin
Experience the New World of Indoor Cycling
Image Cycling is in the business of helping people and organizations reach their goals and dreams. Come ride with us at the Vanderbilt Planetarium and what you will experience is a twist on the popular "spin" classes that you find at local fitness centers across the country. By combining compelling music, visually stunning images, planetarium effects and creative coaching, we've put together an unforgettable experience under the dome.
Upcoming Rides
Ride the Elements
July 29, 2010
Planetarium Dome
6:30 & 8 PM
Visit ImageCycling.com to register for all rides.
What to bring?
Water bottle, towel, and plenty of enthusiasm!
Clipless pedals
For your convenience we will provide dual-sided pedals on all bikes. SPD-compatible on one side and pedal cages on the other side. We will not have any Look-compatible pedals, and we cannot allow participants to attach their own pedals. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and appreciate your understanding.
For more information, please call 631-854-5550 or E-mail: events@vanderbiltmuseum.org
