All Entries in the "First Person" Category
Gotta Get One of Joel Baruch’s Bagels (and Bobkas)
-FIRST PERSON- By Amanda Mayo At four o’clock every morning, before the crack of dawn, before the birds are chirping and before most people are waking up for work, Joel Baruch heads down to his bagel shop in Woodmere to begin baking the fresh bagels and pastries of the day. The smells of [...]
Local High-Profile Defense Attorney Ben Brafman: “If you do Great Work, People will Start to Take Notice”
By Amanda Mayo Standard Staff Reporter From the most recent high-profile case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn (the former head of the International Monetary Fund) to representing rappers like Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs, to NFL star Plaxico Burress, various mobsters and even pop icon Michael Jackson, criminal defense attorney Benjamin Brafman is a celebrity in [...]
An Inwood Institution: Den Cocktail Lounge
Text and Photos By Susan Varghese Walking into the Den Cocktail Lounge in Inwood is like taking a step back into the Mad Men era, a time when cigarette smoke wafted in the air, everybody knew everybody, and grabbing a early drink was as common as going to the grocery store. The Den is [...]
Former Cedarhurst Resident a YouTube Sensation
By Susan Varghese Standard Associate Editor The “Sh-t People Say” videos on YouTube were a viral sensation, poking fun at stereotypes while flooding social media outlets. For Thomas Dale, an actor, comedian, and former Cedarhurst resident, it was a perfect opportunity to put his talents into the limelight. “I wanted to draw attention to [...]
Caribbean Flavor Comes to Cedarhurst
By Susan Varghese Standard Associate Editor Caribbean flavor has come to Cedarhurst. Ox tails, jerk chicken, snapper and stews, are all available at the new Caribbean eatery, Chef Mom Grill and Bakery, which opened at the end of January. Owner, Nicola Smith, was born and raised in Jamaica and moved to the U.S. when [...]
Lobell, Former DRS Student, is “Some Kind of Comedian”
By Susan Varghese Funny man Danny Lobell can make a joke about almost anything, but he takes his pizza very seriously. On any given afternoon, Danny Lobell might be found munching on a cheesy slice of kosher pizza at David’s Famous Pizza in Cedarhurst. “I think it holds its own over all pizza — creed [...]
91 Years of Achievement: HAFTR Honors Rabbi Klaperman
By Susan Varghese Standard Associate Editor Every Saturday afternoon in the 1920’s, Gilbert Klaperman and his mother would walk from their home near Central Park to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, ready to explore, ready to learn something new. “What’s this?” his mother would ask, pointing to a work of art. She arrived from [...]
Hewlett World War II Vet Receives Medals, Recalls Battles
By Scott P. Moore Standard Staff Reporter The thought of enemy aircraft swooping over your warship with only feet to spare in the midst of an epic World War II battle could be considered a terrifying nightmare for some. But for Hewlett resident Sergeant Stanley Rosenfeld, the thought was a reality as he and thousands [...]
Beauty Buys in Cedarhurst: Kiss and Makeup
By Susan Varghese Standard Associate Editor Decadent body butter and bold eye shadows from some of the biggest names in the beauty industry can be found right in the heart of Cedarhurst, at Kiss and Makeup cosmetics boutique. Kiss and Makeup also offers brow shaping, makeup application and lessons, laser hair removal, facials and [...]
Making Baking a Breeze at Breezy’s
By Susan Varghese Cookie cutters and butter-cream icing; pink walls adorned with stripes and decals and Top 40 music playing in the background can all be synonymous with a “happy place,” and that’s exactly what the owner of Breezy’s in Cedarhurst, Brielle “Breezy” Schwartz strives for. “I like working at a place where people [...]
Woodmere’s “Tune Tutors” Creating Performers [w/ VIDEO]
Text by Susan Varghese Video by Scott P. Moore With a few quick strums on their guitars, Toby Tobias and Emmett Daniels transform a seemingly ordinary Woodmere home into a musical playground. Tobias sings his original song “Don’t Criticize Me,” momentarily closing his eyes, adrift in melody. Daniels strokes some power chords, barely looking up, [...]
The Lieto Family: Draping Cedarhurst for over 60 Years
Text and Photos By Susan Varghese Some things endure, like the 1949 green Chevy that Louis Lieto can be seen motoring through The Five Towns in, heading to his next appointment. Lieto is the owner of Lieto Upholstering and Decorating in Cedarhurst and his Chevy has been visiting area homes for more than half [...]
