Car show, cruise season begins on Long Island
A 1931 Chevrolet 5 window coupe on display at the Cruisin' Thursdays Car Show at Milleridge Inn in Jericho. Credit: Jeff Bachner
This season, gear heads are getting ready to take their vehicles out of storage and hit the road for car shows happening all over Nassau and Suffolk. Here are seven destinations where you can display your automobile or check out Long Islanders' classic rides.
CRUISIN’ THURSDAYS
During the spring, summer and fall, cars fill the parking lot at The Milleridge Inn in Jericho on Thursday afternoons. Visitors can stroll through the aisles of classic cars and enjoy pub fare at The Milleridge Carraige House. There are even happy hour specials at the bar inside the main house.
Kenneth Usry, 70, of Westbury, recently brought his 2009 Pontiac G-8 GT with a striking black body and red graphics along each side.
“This is a high performance sedan with a 6.0 motor and 361 horsepower with rear wheel drive," he notes. "Plus, it’s nice and sporty.”
A few rows over was John Mendez, 59, of Carle Place, enjoying a cigar beside his 1985 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible with mini boxing gloves donning the Puerto Rican flag dangling from his rearview mirror.
“You are kind of like in your own world when you drive this car because it’s very comfortable inside and gives a smooth ride,” he says. “It gets a lot of attention on the road. You end up waving to people like you are the mayor of the town.”
ADMISSION Free
INFO 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursdays through Nov. 17, 585 North Broadway in Jericho; 516-931-2201, milleridgeinn.com
BELLMORE FRIDAY NIGHT CAR SHOW
A Friday night tradition in Bellmore is the car show held in the Long Island Rail Road train station parking lot, presented by the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce. Every week 450 cars get showcased while music plays and people snack on food from nearby restaurants like Jersey Mike’s Subs, Piccolo, Buffalo Wild Wings and more.
“The crowd ranges from people in their 20s to 60s. We’ve got young kids with their new cars to older guys with their classic cars,” says Joe LoPresti, car show chairperson. “It’s important that the younger generation gets enthused with the automotive community.”
This year Artie Gingras, 70, of Farmingdale is excited to show off his 1962 black Corvette, which he spent three years building.
“This is a community minded show that keeps the hot rod hobby alive,” says Gingras. “I leave work early to get there at 3:30 p.m., just to get a prime spot. I never miss a show!”
ADMISSION $5 to enter with a car, free to walk in
INFO 6 to 10 p.m., Fridays through Oct. 7 weather permitting, on the corner of Sunrise Highway and Bellmore Avenue at the LIRR parking lot in Bellmore, 516-679-1875, bellmorechamber.com
OYSTER BAY’S “CRUISE NIGHT”
Tuesday night is “Cruise Night” in Oyster Bay when cars line up on Audrey Avenue for an evening of automotive madness presented by the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce.
“The show draws imported cars to vehicles from the ‘30s through the ‘80s,” says Austin Azzaretto, Chamber member who helps organize the event. “We've even had specialty cars like a Batmobile replica and the Vanderbilt family’s personal limo.”
Visitors can enjoy live music as well as food from local merchants like Teddy’s Public House & Grill, Taby’s Burger House and Oyster Bay Brewing Company. On lower Audrey Avenue, the Chamber offers a Family Friendly Zone where different kids activities take place each week such as face painting, balloon animals or magic tricks.
ADMISSION $5 to enter with a car, free to walk in
INFO 5:45 p.m. to dark, Tuesdays from May 31 through Sept. 6, Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay, 516-259-1842, visitoysterbay.com
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
