Great Neck grabbed the spotlight in early January when it enacted a sidewalk smoking ban, said to be one of few nationwide. Smoking outside along the main business district on Middle Neck Road and other areas could result in a $1,000 fine.
“I love it; I don’t want to see the kids smoking,” says Mike Cohen, 38, a resident and manager of 2012 Café (105 Middle Neck Rd.), a major hangout for teens on Friday and Saturday nights.
Long-time resident Rabbi Eli Nataneli, 55, says the village’s Persian-Jewish community is one of the largest nationwide and contributes to local culture. The area has fine Middle Eastern-style restaurants such as Colbeh (75 N. Station Plaza).
“It’s the shopping district that attracts people here,” says Heidi Wolf, 32, a third-generation owner of clothing store Camp & Campus (42 Middle Neck Rd.), of the many retail stores and mom-and-pop boutiques in the area.
Soak in the arts
See artist Fareen Butt’s “Mirage Moutainscapes” — works on canvas with pigment, gemstones and precious metals — until March 20th at the Great Neck Arts Center (113 Middle Neck Rd.). The center will also launch its first international film festival, in partnership with Clearview Cinemas, June 1-4 (www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org).
