The Go-Go's NYCB Theatre at Westbury Concert Review

The Go-Go's Concert Review

June 7th, 2011 NYCB Theatre at Westbury

By: Westbury Review

The all-female American rock band The Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle (vocals), Jane Wiedlin (guitar, vocals), Margot Olaverra (bass), and Elissa Bello (drums) considered to be the most successful all-female band of all time, performance at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury was a triumph.  Their debut
album, Beauty and the Beat, is considered one of the cornerstone albums of new wave, breaking barriers and paving the way for a host of other American acts.

Walking into the theatre, I felt as if I had been instantly transported back in time to the 80's.  Even before the Go-Go's hit the stage, you could sense the excitement of the crowd, outfitted in period clothing, and the atmosphere was electrified.  Then, when the Go-Go's took the stage, you
could feel the energy pulsing through the audience.  They still look great and the sound was astonishing!

The Go Go's always bring a high spirited, high energy, Go Go’s spunk and fun loving show. They are very adept at interacting with the audience and they play with each other throughout the performance, cracking jokes, and revealing their lovely personalities, but at the heart, the group is comprised of outstanding musicians. Like early Beatles music, their music at its core is as simple as it is engaging.  The Go-Go's music, surging with emotion, is about love lost and found, and their powerful musical songwriting prowess was displayed throughout the 20 songs they played.  Their love affair with the crowd was obvious. 

With plenty of rhythmic urge in their melodic compositions, the Go-Go's had the audience up and dancing from the moment they began.  Launching into Mad About You, then Lust To Love, the crowd squealing with delight as the girls finished the set with Our Lips Are Sealed. It's been 20 years since I last saw the Go-Go's in concert and they seemed to have only improved with age! 

By the time they played We Got The Beat there was a magical feeling in the air.  The kind of feeling you get when you realize a very special and everlasting memory was being created, and you realize how lucky you are to be at Westbury at this moment, on this date, with these very special people. Because on the night of June 7^th 2011, the Go Go’s made sure we GOT THE BEAT!

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NYCB Theatre at Westbury Dining Out Guide

NYCB Theatre at Westbury Dining Out Guide
Best Restaurants - Where to Eat Before The Show

Carlino's Italian Restaurant

**** Four Stars

204 Jericho Tpke
Mineola, NY 11590
(516) 747-6616
Price Range: $$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Private Lot
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: Full Bar
Noise Level: Quiet
Good for Kids: Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes

I passed by Carlino's Pizzeria & Restaurant at 204 Jericho Tpke in Mineola NY, while looking for a place to get some good italian food before a show at NYCB Theatre at Westbury (also known as Westbury Music Fair). I was pleasantly surprised to find Carlino's just down the road on Jericho Turnpike a few minutes from the theatre.

I think Billy Joel wrote "Italian Restaurant" after a visit to Carlinos! It's a cute, little "mom and pop" restaurant where you'll feel the owners' love. Looks pretty small from the outside but when you go in there is a lot going on - full bar in the rear, one semi-private room for dinner or a party and one open room up front near the pizza counter. All the rooms looked very nice - you'd feel very comfortable bringing a date there.

The veal parmigiana was excellent. A good veal dish is hard to find, and can be expensive. I've often been disappointed by restaurants that charge too much and use too much breading, and not enough veal. But if you crave authentic Italian style veal parmigiana like I do, you will find it at Carlino's and I thought the pricing was reasonable.

My wife had the veal piccata milanese. The veal was sliced thinly and prepared with just the right mixture of sauce and fresh delicious veal.

We got a table in their dining room in the back. It's very romantic, clean and comfortable, and the staff is warm and friendly. We also loved that the restaurant has a huge lot with plenty of parking and easy access and we didn't have to wait for a table before the show.

I would highly recommend Carlino's. It's real close to the Theatre and better than anything you'll find in Westbury.

Taka Sushi Japanese Restaurant

**** Four Stars

821 Carman Ave
Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 876-0033
Price Range: $$$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Private Lot
Attire: Casual
Good for Kids:Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery:No
Take-out:Yes
Waiter Service:Yes

Taka is a gem tucked away in a ordinary strip mall located in Westbury. Westbury isn't exactly the most desirable town for culinary culture, or any culture for that matter, but Taka shines brightly amongst a wish wash of mundane Delis, Laundromats, and a multitude of franchise establishments.

The sushi is comparable to, if not better than, most NYC restaurants and is probably one of the best I've had outside of Japan. The decor is perfect, simple and authentic; specials and sake menus written exclusively in Japanese and no Hello Kitty change trays are a good start. Any night of the week you will find a group of Japanese businessmen (there's Japanese businessmen living in Westbury?) downing some sake and the indulging in the freshest catch of the day. The unagi sushi is perfect and the fatty tuna is fresh and succulent. My preference though, especially on a frosty Autumn evening, is a nice warm bowl of their vegetable Udon. It's pretty hard to mess Udon up but theirs just taste like home to me. They also offer some really good authentic Japanese beers, not just Kirin and Sapporo, I had a really nutty flavored porter that was so good with the Udon.

I can't afford to go back to Japan yet but when I'm feeling nostalgic I take a trip to Taka where I momentarily forget that I'm sitting in a miserable strip mall in Westbury, NY.

Little Mexico Restaurant

*** Three Stars

280 Post Ave
Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 333-2038
Price Range: $$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
Noise Level: Moderate
Good for Kids:Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery:No
Take-out:Yes
Waiter Service:Yes

A small no frills place decorated with Mexican flair including some old Mexican movie posters. We decided on a burrito plate, 2 tacos and a tamale.

Tacos: Carnitas and Al Pastor, both were on a lovely handmade tortilla and were tender and juicy. The hot sauce brought to the table were a nice addition to the tacos.

Tamale: This was not on the regular menu, but written up on the chalk board, I guess as a special. We opted for the green tamale with chicken. A great corny tender tamale filled with flavorful moist chicken.

Burrito Plate: The Special Burrito was loaded with chicken and chorizo and topped with melted cheese and a hearty dollop of sour cream, served with refried beans, rice and some lettuce and chopped tomatoes. This burrito was AMAZING! Every burrito I have had up to now, has been bland with the prominent flavor being a bad flour tortilla. This was definitely not the case, it was SO delicious. Now I know what I burrito is meant to be. The beans and rice were also very tasty and went well with the burrito.

This is a pretty authentic place with some fantastic food.

Azerbaijan Grill

*** Three Stars

1610 Old Country Rd
Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 228-0001
Price Range: $$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
Noise Level: Moderate
Good for Kids: Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: No
Take-out: Yes
Waiter Service:Yes

I've enjoyed a visit to Azerbaijan Grill. It's a tasty alternative to the bevy diners and chain restaurants in the area.

Specializing in kebabs, they also offer a few whole fish entrees and a long selection of appetizers. Most appetizers are only $4.95, or you can get a sampler of appetizers for $13.95, which is well worth it if you are with a group. I have tried the nice, smooth hummus, the fresh-made spinach pie and the interesting Sigara Borek (phyllo rolls stuffed with feta cheese and herbs).

As for the entrees, I recommend the boneless chicken kebab.

The dining room is very comfortable and quiet and the service is very attentive. The prices are quite reasonable, especially during Monday through Thursday evenings, when most kebab platters are only $12.95.

Houston's Restaurant

*** Three Stars

Roosevelt Field Mall
630 Old Country Rd
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 873-1454
Price Range: $$$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: Full Bar
Noise Level: Moderate to Noisy
Good for Kids: Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: No
Take-out: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes

Normally I wouldn't consider reviewing a chain restaurant but the service at Houston's is great, which is something you don't usually find or expect in a chain restaurant. I also recommend making reservations if you plan on going for dinner before the show at Westbury Theatre because it is almost always packed during peak hours.

The food at Houston's is consistently good. I had the fall off the bone ribs which is a Houston's specialty. I've also tried their spinach dip, tortilla soup, loaded baked potato, mashed potatoes, and shoe string fries which are great.

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