56 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Bayside resident launches long-awaited neighborhood brewery
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Aft er brewing for years, a Bayside
local’s new business gives residents a
chance to toast their hometown with its
very own beer.
Anthony LoSardo fi rst hatched the idea
to found the Bayside Brewery in 2012.
Shortly thereaft er, he left his union job to
learn how to become a businessman and
brewmaster.
“All I know is Bayside,” the 28-year-old
said. “Honestly, I always wanted to own
my own business.”
Th e Bayside native trademarked the
name, invested in commercial-grade
equipment and got to brewing. Since
then, he hasn’t looked back.
“Considering all the craft beer that’s
been booming since the early 2000s … I
just fell in love with the idea,” he said.
It took about two years before LoSardo
was able to brew a product he was proud
enough of to give his stamp of approval.
From there, he began to plan for the business’s
‘Gypsy’ at Secret Theatre
“Everything’s coming up roses” at the
Secret Th eatre. An outstanding cast,
great songs and strong choreography tell
the story of a domineering mother and
her two frustrated daughters. “Gypsy”
has been called a modern musical fable.
It is an intentionally overstretched version
of famed Burlesque dancer Gypsy
Rose Lee’s biography unfolding in the
1920s, ‘30s and beyond.
Th e sugar-coated fi rst act is fi lled with
deliberately forced smiles and exaggerated
patriotism. It sets the stage for a very
bawdy, clever and emotional second half.
Director Rick Hamilton and executive
producer Richard Mazda have opted for
minimal sets and scenery (by Melissa
Anderson). Instead, there’s a multicultural
approach to casting
and lots of costumes
(by Antonio Consuegra).
Th ere is plenty of humor,
with emphasis on the
characters’ actions and
reactions. Lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim punctuate
almost every scene,
generating words and
emotions that are still part
of the modern American
psyche.
Th e story’s overbearing
stage mother, Rose,
is played by Marcie Henderson. Her
well-craft ed character is unpredictable,
volatile and oft en vulnerable. Versatile
Mary Lauren as Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee
launches her character into stardom.
We witness her strong, sharp metamorphosis
from wallfl ower to world-renowned
entertainer. Her sister sings
“let me entertain you, let me make you
smile…” as Baby June (Olivia Culver)
with Baby Louise (Julia Mechner)
and later as Dainty June (Taylor Elise
Rector). Long-suff ering Herbie (Greg
Horton) is possibly the worst victim of
momma Rose’s manipulations. He leads
the troupe through Vaudeville’s pitfalls
but never truly wins Rose’s respect.
Excellent choreography (Kami
Seymour) and tireless musical direction
(Michael Liepper) provide a high
level of professionalism all evening. Th e
many singers and dancers are energetic
Photos courtesy of Anthony LoSardo
and creative. Kudos to Gregory Omar
Osborne, Jorge Echeverria, Tommy
Mosqueira, Alexis Ebers, Devon
Meddock, Vivian Defalco, Maddie
Ward and Brandon D’Elia.
“Ya Gotta Getta Gimmick!” is the
mantra for the brash, brassy, scantily
clad dancers in Act II.
How about a bow for Blayne Gregg-
Miller, Alyssa Orapallo, Samantha
Pistoresi and Kaitlyn Swygard.
Additional onstage and behind-thescenes
support is provided by Rory
Lance, C.L. Weatherstone, Justin Hsu,
Zach Weeks, Sydnee Gerstel, Alexis
Achilles, Cynthia Wilson, Veronica
Towers-Dioso, Galen Murphy-Hoff man
and Tara Mary Schmitt.
For information on this and future
productions, call 718-392-0722 or surf
to www.secrettheatre.com. As always,
save me a seat on the aisle.
launch.
LoSardo approached Long Island
University staff to help him build a business
plan and learn how to market the product.
He also launched a successful Kickstarter
campaign, where he raised thousands of
dollars to bring the plan to fruition.
Th is year, LoSardo and his team offi cially
took their brew, Bayside Ale, to market.
Th ey held an offi cial launch for Bayside
Brewery at local watering hole Bourbon
Street on Superbowl Sunday.
Th e launch was a great success, LoSardo
said. Th e business owner was able to
engage with the community and introduce
them to the new product. In the
spirit of the holiday, he even used a
T-shirt cannon to shoot giveaways onto
the eatery’s rooft op bar.
“We’re in the beer business, so we
like fun,” LoSardo said. “All the Bayside
natives that were there had a chance to try
the ale and they responded great to it.”
Locals can fi nd Bayside Ale on tap now
at locations including Bourbon Street,
Outback Steakhouse at the Bay Terrace
Shopping Center, LongHorn Steakhouse
in Elmhurst and Patsy’s Pizzeria in
Whitestone.
Currently, the brew is only available for
take-home purchase in kegs from certain
area beer distributors. LoSardo plans to
look into bottling in the coming months.
Keep up with Bayside Brewery’s latest
updates on their active website, Facebook
and Instagram.
“People tend to drink local, but also
tend to buy what they come to like,”
LoSardo said. “We try to really make people
really feel like they’re part of the brewery
process.”
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN