BY STEPHEN VRATTOS North Shore Towers hosted an event forty years in the making Tuesday evening, September 8, with the grand opening of the new Towers Restaurant. People started lining up an hour prior to the 6:00 pm ribbon-cutting, which featured blessings from friend of NST Rabbi Klayman and priests Nikolaos Karloutsos and Theofanis Papantonis from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Hicksville. Board President Mort Gitter, who defied criticism and skepticism in leading the co-op’s pursuit for a new restaurant tenant, delivered a short congratulatory speech before helping the new proprietors cut the ribbon. North Shore Towers entire Board of Directors were also in attendance, as were New York Assemblyman David Weprin and brother Mark, who stepped down from his seat as Council Member for the area (District 23) to become a Federal and State legislative deal-breaker for the Cuomo Administration; and Democratic hopeful for Mark Weprin’s seat, Barry Grodenchik, who won the primary two days later to advance as the Democratic nominee against Republican Joe Concannon during the November elections. Though the main dining room was open by invitation only, everyone was welcomed into the adjoining Towers on the Green catering hall for free appetizers and drinks. Accompanying such traditional fare as pigs in a blanket were delicious unique takes on classic Greek eats, created by Towers Restaurant chefs Michel Almonor and Kostas Vlachos, such as keftedes (lamb meatballs), diples (airy dollops of fried dough, drizzled with honey) and rich homemade vanilla, chocolate and cherry Greek yogurt, topped with shaved white chocolate, chocolate sauce or candied cherry, respectively. Beth Donner and Lauren Lanteri from Beth Donner Design Inc. in Huntington, the designers behind the renovation, were on hand to see their vision come to life. Donner is no stranger to North Shore Towers. 10 years ago, she was hired to transform the buildings’ lobbies, long before Buffy and Spiros approached her to come up with a design concept for a diner in Syosset, which the restauranteurs were trying to purchase. The Dimas’s loved Donner’s presentation, but the deal for the eatery fell through. Still, Buffy and Spiros never forgot Donner. When the time came for the couple to find a suitable creator to transform the Towers Restaurant, she was their only choice. (continued on page 14) North Shore Towers Courier n October 2015 13 Larger seats, hardwood floors, chandeliers and crystal wall sconces; and gold filigree wallpaper are only a few of the luxurious new features of the dining area Restaurant designers Beth Donner (right) and Lauren Lanteri (left) flank Buffy Dimas (l. to r.) Former District 23 Council Member Mark Weprin; NST Board President Mort Gitter; District 23 Council Seat Democratic Nominee Barry Grodenchik Daughter Gia Dimas stands before the new bar
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