BEST MUSEUM
CRADLE OF AVIATION MUSEUM
Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City
516-572-4111 cradleofaviation.org
Cradle of Aviation is a remarkable place to
learn about Long Island’s aviation history while
enjoying hands-on experiences that engage all
ages and minds. Designers especially delight
being able to view and learn so much about great
vintage machines here, and anyone is easily
captivated by the superb planetarium experience
available to visitors. Others love going into the
video game arcade, among a diverse experience
your family will remember. The deep story of
the Island’s aviation past is incredibly presented
with help of knowledgeable volunteer docents.
Yes, it has planes but their stories delve so
deep you won’t leave wondering but educated.
A Hubble telescope exhibit is amazing and
memorable.
BEST PARTY AND
EVENT ENTERTAINER
KELSEY EDQUIST–ROYAL
PRINCESS PREP PARTY COMPANY
Beautiful costumes, storied performances,
and outgoing personalities among actors are a
winning combo among the top-tier characters
you can book for your child’s birthday party at
Royal Princess Prep Party Company. Every kid
will leave feeling special. The entertainment
is a joy to watch and these professionals,
especially Kelsey, make it look effortless. The
cornerstone of this company’s strategy is
making sure every detail is attended to, from
the authentic costumes and wigs to custom
shoes and accessories. These fabled characters
look like they stepped out of a storybook. The
entertainers are professionally trained singers,
dancers, and actors who were educated in
the performing arts and have vast experience
working with children. So razzle-dazzle your
child’s celebration with this extraordinarily
talented troupe. The magical memories will last
forever!
BEST PARTY EVENT
COMPANY
ROYAL PRINCESS PREP PARTY
COMPANY–KELSEY EDQUIST
Glenwood Landing
516-639-3939 RoyalPrincessPrep.com
A child’s birthday is the perfect opportunity
to create an unforgettable day, and that’s just
what you’ll get with Royal Princess Prep Party
Company! As the name suggests, Royal Princess
Prep has a variety of princesses to choose from
to attend your party, but it doesn’t stop there.
The company also has beloved comic book
characters, movie, and television characters,
Broadway-themed characters, holiday-themed
characters, and even some original characters to
choose from, so there is something for every kid
out there. The team at Royal Princess Prep pays
attention to every little detail to ensure that your
event goes smoothly and creates a truly magical
experience for everyone who attends. Plus, their
characters are perfect for any kind of event for
all ages, including birthdays, weddings, bar and
bat mitzvahs, first communions, and more!
BEST PIANO
ENTERTAINER
JOE PIKET
516-987-5001 joepiket.com
Joe Piket is a renowned singer, instrumentalist,
and music writer who is likened to Billy Joel and
Bruce Springsteen among his fan base. He plays
keyboards, vocals, and guitar and is revered
for his energetic shows and original lyrics. This
gifted musician is admired for his sensitivity
and genuine love of performing. His first CD
called Tempest was played on many college
radio stations throughout the New York Metro
region and the next titled The Waters of Lethe
(Elijah Records) has a 14-minute title track that
was compared to music of King Crimson, Yes,
and Queen. The album played on more than 300
college stations and drew the attention of New
York’s former Mayor Mike Bloomberg for Piket’s
version of Joel’s “New York State of Mind” on
the record.
BEST PODCAST
BALDWIN BRUINS
SPORTS PODCAST
841 Ethel T. Kloberg Dr., Baldwin
631-965-0985 baldwinschools.org/
sportspodcast
The Baldwin Bruins Sports Podcast is your go-to
for everything Baldwin athletics. Hosted by
students Amanda Antoine and Toyin Green for
the 2021-22 school year, they explore everything
Bruins from team news to game breakdowns
by interviewing coaches and athletes and
contributing their own hot takes. The podcast,
which can be found on most podcasting apps
and services, is edited by Akshay Sahonta,
and it is quite the successful show. It has been
recognized by Press Club of Long Island as the
best high school sports podcast for two years in
a row. In a recent episode, Amanda and Toyin
caught up with girls track coach Peter Buckley.
Tune in to see which guest they’ll bring on the
show next!
BEST POET
MARKOS PAPADATOS
516-313-1188 ravermag.com/poems-thatrave
compositions-by-markos-papadatos/
Poetry speaks to the soul in ways other mediums
can’t quite tap. A Bethpage Best of Long Island
veteran, repeat winner Markos Papadatos digs
deep into his mind to write beautiful poetry
that is profound and enjoyed online. Papadatos
touches on a number of topics and personal
experiences in his poetry, from his Greek roots
to odes to the special people in his own life. A
natural wordsmith, writing runs in Papadatos’
blood. He is the managing editor at Raver
Magazine and has over 15,000 articles under his
belt, so he knows a thing or two about putting
compelling words on the page.
BEST PUBLIC
GARDEN
PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM
1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay
516-922-8600 plantingfields.org
Stroll the grounds, working your way to your
own nook or outside cranny to enjoy solitude,
or make sure you visit the Camelia House
where everything is blooming. Planting Fields
Arboretum is a magical place that inspires
visitors to simply tell you it’s beautiful. Find
inspiration to get your home garden in shape
or mosey through the cozy greenhouses and
feel uplifted. Flowers bloom everywhere at
this site that is impossible to disappoint any
visitor. Locals and tourists rave about a perfect
way to spend a day outdoors. You might hear it
described as “absolutely stunning” or “a lovely
picnic and nature walk in warm weather.” There
is so much to learn and see in any season.
BEST RADIO
STATION
WHPC 90.3FM
One Education Dr., Garden City
516-572-7438 ncc.edu/studentlife/
whpcradiostation
Turn up the volume! If you want to listen to
some great radio, tune in to WHPC 90.3FM.
Known as The Voice of Nassau Community
College, WHPC is completely run by Nassau
Community College students. The station offers
a variety of programming, ranging from news
and information to sports and music, with
several hours themed around different styles
of music. The award winning radio station not
only produces great programming, it also gives
the students at Nassau Community College the
opportunity to sharpen their radio skills and
receive professional broadcasting training. Be
sure to tune in at 90.3FM or find the station on
the Audacy, iHeartRadio, or TuneIn apps.
BEST RECORDING
STUDIO
THE GRINDHOUSE RADIO
64 Division Ave., Suite LL3, Levittown
516-308-0582 thegrindhouseradio.com
Looking to record in a professional setting?
Make an appointment with the Grindhouse
Radio. This studio has been featured on a
number of networks, including iHeartRadio,
iTunes, Google Podcast, and Spotify, just to
name a few. Whether you’re podcasting or
looking to lay down some voice tracks for ads or
voiceovers, Grindhouse Radio has everything
you need to make sure that you have excellent,
clear audio tracks. They have top of the line
equipment and professional sound engineers
who can handle all of the logistics while you
just sit down and talk. The studio also has the
capabilities for video recording and calling in
or Skyping in additional voices for a small fee.
At Grindhouse Radio, you can make your audio
tracks completely your own at the best quality
possible. So sit back, relax, and start chatting —
your listeners will thank you later.
BEST SINGER FROM
LONG ISLAND
KELSEY ELIZABETH EDQUIST
Glenwood Landing
516-639-3939 RoyalPrincessPrep.com
Kelsey Elizabeth Edquist, owner of Royal
Princess Prep Party Company, has amazed Long
Islanders with her pitch-perfect voice playing
characters for children’s birthday parties and
starring in theatrical productions on many
of Long Island’s most popular stages. The
professional singer has a musical theater degree
from NYU Tisch’s New Studio on Broadway
and a film and television acting degree from
Stonestreet Studios. She’s sang in musical
performances of Legally Blonde, Bonnie &
Clyde, and several others at Long Island’s
Studio Theatre, Broadhollow Theatre Company,
14 BETHPAGE BEST OF LONG ISLAND 2022 WINNERS GUIDE BESTOFLONGISLAND.COM
Merrick Theatre & Cultural Arts Playhouse,
and more. Her powerful yet charming voice has
wowed audiences across Long Island, whether
during a child’s birthday party or a night at the
theater.
BEST THEATRE
ARTS CENTER
TILLES CENTER FOR THE
PERFORMING ARTS
720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
516-299-3100 tillescenter.org
For a truly unforgettable show, you need to head
out to Brookville and go to the Tilles Center
for the Performing Arts. Located on the LIU
Post campus, Tilles Center has hosted so many
performances from musicians, dancers, and
more, and boasts being the first venue to bring
the New York Philharmonic to Long Island. The
venue has a full cash bar onsite so you can sip
on some spirits during the performance, plus
some light snacks available as well. Most shows
also host pre-performances by local musicians in
the Goldsmith Atrium before the ticketed event
starts, so you can enjoy the fun before heading to
your seat.
BEST TWITTER
ACCOUNT FROM
LONG ISLAND
THERESA CAPUTO
theresacaputo.com
You know her! You’ve watched her series on
TLC! And now she’s once again making waves
on social media. Long Island’s very own medium
Theresa Caputo reigns supreme in the Best
of Long Island competition with her highly
engaging Twitter account. Whether she’s helping
people heal past trauma through her readings,
promoting her podcast “Hey Spirit” or her new
show “There in Spirit” on Discovery+, Caputo
has more than made her mark in the world. For
Caputo, her primary mission is to use her gift of
communicating with the spirit to deliver healing
messages and help people learn, grow, and
ultimately embrace life.
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/RoyalPrincessPrep.com
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/joepiket.com
/baldwinschools.org
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/tillescenter.org
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