Wednesday, April 30, 2014

#WeddingWednesday - Choosing a Wedding Location

Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 
P: (631) 587-8500
Photo Source: Trendy Bride, Credit: Terrie from Janelle Brooke Photography
Gone are the days where couples choose the only wedding venue in their hometown for their big day. Now, the number of wedding venues are infinite. Plus with TV shows like Four Weddings or My Fair Wedding, creativity knows no bounds.

When looking for your wedding location, keep these 5 elements in mind:

  1. Style - Pick a spot that reflects you as a couple, whether by significance (the spot where you met) or by the look, like a loft, barn, or vineyard.
  2. Travel - Can your guests get there? Destination weddings are exciting but they also see a decrease in attendees. Wherever you decide to wed, consider how close the ceremony and reception are, or for out of town guests - provide transportation.
  3. Size - Know your numbers! Create a list of must haves and nice to haves to get a range of how big (or small) your invite list will be. From there you can get a better idea on location.
  4. Budget - The venue likely will account for a good portion of your wedding budget. Don’t waste time looking at options out of your price range.
  5. Service - Think about what you may need to add. A catering hall has restrooms, tables, china, where as a loft is an amazing blank canvas in need of your decoration. You, and your caterer, will likely need to bring everything in, which can be an added expense.
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life.  It should be filled with happiness, family, and friends!  Dynasty Limousine has been the ideal choice for brides and groom in and around the Long Island area because we combine an impressive fleet of immaculately kept luxury vehicles with professional and experienced drivers. 
 
If you have any questions about renting the right transportation for your wedding party’s needs - give us a call at 631-587-8500.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Simple Rules for Wine and Food Pairings

Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 
P: (631) 587-8500
White wine with fish, red wine with meat - are usually some general rules to follow. But there’s so much more to consider than just the color! Take into consideration the sugar, acid, salt, spice, etc. The idea is to match wine with most prominent elements of the dish, and Parade Magazine helps us with some simple pairing rules to help - excerpt below:

RULE 1: SWEET WITH HEAT - Pair spicy foods with wines that have some residual sugar (example: German Riesling). Residual sugar actually cools down spice and creates balance between the food and the wine.

RULE 2: SMOKE WITH OAK - Pair grilled or charred foods with wines that have been aged in oak (example: California Chardonnay). Because oaked wines are often more intense, they can overwhelm the flavors in a dish, so they need to be paired with foods that match that intensity.

RULE 3: MATCH FLAVORS AND TEXTURES - Pair foods with wines that have similar—or complementary—flavors and textures. An easy way to do this is to match mildly flavored wines with mildly flavored foods and big, flavorful foods with big, flavorful wines.

RULE 4: ACID AND TANNIN WITH FAT - Pair fried or fatty foods with wines that are high in acid (example: French Sauvignon Blanc) or tannin (example: California Cabernet Sauvignon). Acid and tannin cuts through richness in food and rounds out the flavors in your mouth. They also acts as a palate cleanser, which helps create balance so you’re not overwhelmed. Just avoid pairing acidic wines with creamy sauces. (Think of squeezing lemon into a cup of milk!) This pairing will clash, so you’re better off pairing cream-based dishes with a complementary wine instead.

RULE 5: SWEET WITH SALT - Pair sweet wines with salty foods. If you’ve ever had chocolate-covered pretzels or kettle corn, you know firsthand that salty and sweet can be a magical pairing. A classic example of this is pairing blue cheese with Port.

RULE 6: SWEET WITH SWEET - Pair dessert with wine that is at least as sweet as the dessert itself, if not sweeter. Sweet wines showcase the sweet flavors in food, but if the food is sweeter than the wine, the wine will just taste flabby.

RULE 7: WHAT GROWS TOGETHER GOES TOGETHER - Pair foods of a particular ethnicity or region with wines from the same place (example: Spanish food with Spanish wine). Ethnic/regional pairings are typically a match made in heaven because the agriculture and grapevines share the same terroir, so they naturally have flavors that complement each other. 
If you want to learn even more about wine pairings - take a trip to the vineyards in a Dynasty Limousine and let the experts teach you everything about the art of wine pairing. Call today and we'll help you set up a fully customizable wine tour with groups of any size!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Celebrate Earth Day on Long Island

Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 
P: (631) 587-8500
Photo Credit: Long Island Images, Annette DeGiovine Oliveira 2011
Long Island is home to hundreds of acres of state parks, trails, plant and animal life. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than exploring and appreciating what Long Island has to offer.
Check out some of these environmentally friendly events happening across the island this week, courtesy of Long Island Press:
  • Organic Appetizing Cook-off: One hundred percent of the day’s profits go directly to Residents for a more Beautiful Port Washington. Wit and Whim, 6 Carlton Ave., Port Washington. Free. April 22, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. wit-and-whim.com
  • Earth Day New York: For our city workers, check out a green vehicle runway show and exhibition, green travel exhibits, environmental exhibits and product samples, and an after-work concert (3 p.m. – 7 p.m.). Union Square Park, 201 Park Ave. S., New York. Free. April 22, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. earthdayny.org
  • Earth Day Celebration: Attractions include: live animal demonstrations, nature games, arts and crafts, guided nature walks, and musical performances. Downs Farm Preserve, South side of Route 25, between villages of Cutchogue and Mattituck. Free. April 26, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. groupfortheeastend.org
  • Earth Day Celebration: Take part in guided nature walks, animal presentations, crafts, environmental exhibitors, and kayaking and canoeing on Old Ice Pond. Quogue Wildlife Refuge, 3 Old Country Rd., Quogue. Free. April 26, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. quoguewildliferefuge.org
  • Annual Town of Islip Earth Day Celebration: Includes live musical performances, animal exhibits, and educational workshops. Gillette Ave., Sayville. Free. April 26 (rain date: April 27) 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. townofislip-ny.gov
For more events in your area, visit Long Island Press' full list of events here » How are you taking steps to live more environmentally friendly?

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

#WeddingWednesday - Limo Etiquette

Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 
P: (631) 587-8500
Every wedding - no matter the size - requires a great deal of preparation and planning. The venue, dress, guest list, flowers, etc.,  are pretty straight forward once you have a budget and plan in mind. But when it comes to the transportation, it’s not uncommon the be unsure of proper limo etiquette. Who rides in the wedding limo? How many do you need? What about out of town guests?

Truth is, there is no rule on how many limos you choose or who gets to ride in them - that decision falls on you and your fiancé. But in case you’re looking for some kind of guide, we wanted to provide some tips to help the wedding planning process:

How many limos are needed:
This varies depending on your bridal party and your vision for the wedding. Some people choose to reserve three limos; one for the bride and bridesmaids, one for the groom and groomsmen, and one for the parents. Other times a small town car is reserved for the bride and her father, a limo is reserved to pick up the groom and parents and drop them at the ceremony - then go out to pick up the bridesmaids, leaving the groomsmen to their own devices.

Who rides in the wedding limo:
Again, depending on the size of your wedding party and the size of the limousine. Some brides wish to arrive with their bridesmaids, others with their parents, and even some would prefer a moment of solitude before the big event.

What about the out of town guests:
Consider providing out of towers with transportation to the ceremony and back to the hotel, this way you avoid worrying about guests navigating an unfamiliar city or having to choose a designated driver. Depending on your guest list, you may opt to reserve a chauffeured car service or for a larger group - a minibus to take everyone at once.

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life.  It should be filled with happiness, family, and friends!  Dynasty Limousine has been the ideal choice for brides and groom in and around the Long Island area because we combine an impressive fleet of immaculately kept luxury vehicles with professional and experienced drivers. 

If you have any questions about renting the right transportation for your wedding party’s needs - give us a call at 631-587-8500. Our massive fleet of limousines, party buses, and shuttles will make it easy for everyone from the Bride and Groom, to the wedding party and guests, travel in style and comfort!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Things to Do in NYC with Out of Town Guests

Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 
P: (631) 587-8500
Photograph by Joe McNally, National Geographic (2010)
Do you have out of town guests visiting you this week for Passover or Easter? Perhaps just some friends and family stopping in for their Spring Break? Either way, before they start asking you for things to do, here are some suggestions on where you can bring your guests this week so they get a true New York experience:
  1. Broadway Shows - With tons to choose from, both on and off Broadway, there’s bound to be something all of your guests will enjoy.
  2. Baseball Games - Take your guests to a ballgame at Citi Field or Yankee Stadium! We have clear skies forecasted until Saturday so take advantage and cheer on your favorite home team.
  3. New York Aquarium - Located on Coney Island, this is the only major aquarium in NYC. It’s a great price for the experience and is right on the boardwalk which offers more attractions for all day fun!
  4. Empire State Building - A must see for tourists - once you’re inside the building and shooting up to it’s observation deck you get a birds eye view of the entire city.
And for anyone celebrating Passover, stop by some of these NYC restaurants and shops this week for a specialty dinner or festive sweets!
  • Magnolia Bakery - Matzo Crunch, made up of delicious layers of Matzo cracker, handmade butter crunch candy, chocolate, white chocolate and toffee pieces
  • Toloache Thompson - Offers a Jewish-Mexican hybrid menu downtown, with items such as  kosher tequila, a matzo ball soup made with zucchini, carrots, epazote and jalapeño scented chicken consommé and Costilla de Res made with braised short ribs, matzo ball potato croquette, Chile ancho salsa and pickled vegetables, just to name a few.
Let Dynasty Limo make your guest’s NYC experience special and stress free. Reserve one of our cars today! Contact us for more information and to view our availability.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Plan a Limo Day Trip to NYC

Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 
P: (631) 587-8500

LIRR ticket, metro card, taxi cab - all good ideas if you’re planning to visit the city for one specific reason - not if you’re looking to enjoy an action-packed day in a short period of time. No one wants to spend their entire NYC trip waiting for the subway that never comes.

So avoid the headache and consider booking a car service to Manhattan with Dynasty Limo instead! Let us chauffeur you and your entourage to all the places on your itinerary, including but not limited to:

Brunch! Start your day off right, now that you have a driver feel free to enjoy some Mimosas or Bloody Mary’s with your mid morning meal. We will pick you up and bring you to your restaurant of choosing at the time you’d like. Simply let us know when you’re finishing up your meals and we’ll meet back where you were dropped off.

Typical Tourist Spots - Driving through Times Square in your Dynasty Limo is significantly more relaxing than walking through all the crowds and trying to hail a cab. Hop out, take some photos, or stop at some of the many museums New York City has to offer. Weather permitting, plan a picnic in Central Park - just pack your lunch or dinner, blanket, and whatever else you enjoy!

Dinner and a Show - Not sure where to go for the evening? Luckily, Eater just released their updated Eater 38 - naming 38 essential restaurants in New York. Happy eating! Afterwards take in a Broadway show! There’s countless options, for even the pickiest of viewers. 
No matter what your plans are for your New York City adventure, Dynasty Limo can get you there! Contact us today for more information and to view our availability. 
 

Friday, April 4, 2014

Guide to Prom 2014

Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 

P: (631) 587-8500

Prom season is upon us, it’s crucial to plan ahead to ensure that your evening goes flawlessly. We know you have a long mental check list, from the tux rental and dress selection, to the after party, to the stunning Dynasty Limousine you will be riding around in. So to make sure you don’t miss anything, we’ve compiled a quick prom guide to help for a stress free night:

  • Tuxedo Rental – Be sure to discuss colors with your date, to make sure you can match. Even consider bringing a swatch of your date’s fabric with you when selecting your tux. Then figure out if you want a formal length tie or bow tie.  Shoes is the last thing you need to pick out, most men go with standard black but feel free to spice things up with a bolder, brighter color- have fun with this!
  • Dress Shopping – Picking out the perfect prom dress can be stressful, no one wants to show up in the same dress as someone else. Make sure you go a few towns over when going dress shopping to find an original dress that no one else will wear. Now time to pick out accessories! Carry a purse that can hold your phone, money, and make-up and a few other necessary items. Your shoes and jewelry can be decided based on what color and style dress you have chosen.  
  • Limo Rental – This step should be done early! Proms typically fall on the same weekend and teens compete for limos with neighboring high schools. Figure out how many people will be going with you and then call us at Dynasty limo to figure out which ride best fits your party! Once you decide on your transportation, select your best DJ friend to put together a playlist for the night! 

  • Scheduling for hair/makeup – After you get the sparkling dress or tuxedo it’s now time to book your hair, makeup and nail appointments. Everything books up fast for prom season so get on it! For the gentlemen, get a haircut a week before and for the ladies make sure you book an early time for your appointments so you don’t feel rushed. 

  • After Party – Now that the main event is over, it’s time for the after parties to start. Whatever you choose to do after the prom is truly up to you but don’t forget you have the limousine for the after party hours. Be safe and make good choices!

  • Emergency Bag – There’s no such thing as being over-prepared, especially when anything can happen. Keep some everyday items in your prom emergency kit to make sure you look and feel great no matter where the night takes you: band-aids for blisters, hair spray for fly aways, sewing kit for ripped hems, breath mints for fresh breath, and aspirin for head aches!


Hopefully this guide takes some stress out of your big night so you can worry about having fun instead!

Dynasty Limousine provides the most impressive and well equipped limousines on the market, and we will provide you with a luxurious experience that is sure to make your night as stress free and relaxing as possible. Make your prom night one to remember, call us at 631-587-8500!

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook or tweet at us @DynastyLimoNY!
 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Most Eco Friendly Cities To Visit


Long Island's Premiere Limousine Service 

P: (631) 587-8500


April has been designated as Environmental Awareness Month, likely due to National Environmental Education week (April 13th - 19th), National Park week (April 19th - 27th), and Earth Day (April 22nd). So in honor of being green, this week’s travel Thursday looks into cities who continue to preserve the environment while enjoying sustainable life:

Vancouver
Known as the world’s largest user of hydroelectric power for harnessing 90% of its power from natural sources. It’s also known for it’s enormous ‘living’ green roof in the Vancouver Convention Centre. This six-acre ecosystem is the largest of its kind in Canada and 10th largest in the world, featuring 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses, varieties of insects, and sanctuary birds! Image source: Vancity Buzz

Portland

One of the most sustainable and Eco-friendly cities in the United States. This Oregon city has dedicated itself to becoming the most sustainable and green by planning and supporting various green programs like urban bicycling, use of renewable energy, and advertising local food production and utilization. Residents’ recycling and bike commuting rates are among the highest in the nation! Image Source: The Richest

Reykjavik

With only about 115,000 people residing here, this Icelandic city is the smallest green city on the list. Reykjavik harnesses energy and produces electricity entirely from hydropower and geothermal resources.  By the year 2050, Iceland plans to free itself from dependance on fossil fuels and become a hydrogen economy! Image Source: The Richest

For other green cities around the world, click here »

Have you been to any of the above cities? Share with us on our Facebook page!