Arts and Entertainment

Nothing makes the last few dreary weeks of winter more tolerable than knowing that the change of seasons is just around the corner! We know spring has arrived when Long Island's Spring Home Improvement and Remodeling Expo makes its annual return to the area.So mark those calendars now, for March 25-28, for four days of gardening, interior design, and home improvement ideas and tips. Celebrating its 25th year, the show offers one-stop shopping for the latest products, services and concepts of interest to local homeowners. Making the show more exciting than ever, according to the organizers, is the inclusion of a series of themed gardens and landscape design events. Jen Reynolds, of HGTV's popular "House and Home," will provide landscape design and gardening how-to sessions. Also appearing at the show will be fellow HGTV star, interior designer Karl Lohnes , of "This Small Space.""Attendees will have the change to get a jump-start on spring by walking through our spectacular gardens, gathering new ideas about gardening and home improvement and seeing the latest products," said show manager Karen Marconi. "We look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary with a number of contests and special anniversary promotions."Some 350 exhibitors will be on hand. Attendees can shop, compare prices and products and save on products and services related to home improvement, gardening, decorating, and renovating. A wide range of informational and 'how-to' sessions will be presented by local and nationally recognized experts. Designer Karl Lohnes will host several seminars, including one-on-one "Survival Decorating Tips."HGTV's "House and Home" designer Jen Reynolds and LI Design Work's Steve Mills combine efforts to create a heart-warming 'Tranquility Garden' that incorporates aromatic plants, soothing colors, multiple textures, and creative details. This is one of a number of gardens on display, created to provide ideas and assist homeowners in enhancing the enjoyment of their own gardens. Following the show, the Tranquility Garden will be donated to Ronald McDonald House. Other themed garden exhibits include Asian, American and European-style gardens A number of contests and giveaways will be featured, in celebration of the show's silver anniversary. Among them, "It's Our 25th Anniversary Is It Yours?" will enable ten couples to renew their vows and have brunch in the Home Show gardens. Additional prizes will be offered by drawing for three of the lucky couples. To enter, couples married between Jan. 1 and June 30, 1979 must answer the following question in 50 words or less: "What makes your marriage successful?" Answers can be submitted by email to info@corbettpr.com or by mail to Home Show Anniversary, c/o Corbett Associates, Inc., 111 S. Tyson Ave., Floral Park, NY 1100. The entry deadline is Mar. 19. Attendees can also take a stroll down memory lane. Inspired by cutting edge trends and future inspirations, the Memory Lane Makover contest will give one winner a $5,000 room makeover. Along with the contest, the Memory Lane exhibit lets show-goers to go back to the past, see the present, and catch a glimpse of a future trends in home design. A room inspired by former New York Jets star Marty Lyons, as well as models of "homes of the future" by students from New York Institute of Technology's School of Architecture and Design are featured. Spring is definitely in full bloom at the Home Show!

Long Island Home Improvement and Remodeling Expo