Take sun, sand, surf, mix up a few margaritas and pina coladas, add the festive music of a steel drum and voila, you’ve got a Caribbean party going on without the hassle of traveling on a plane.
(Photos by Cynthia Paulis)
Tobay Beach, the jewel of the south shore, is the place to go this summer. Terry Muldoon, a Bethpage resident known as the Steel Margarita, has been a speech pathologist for the past 17 years. When she gets home from work she sheds her business suit and heels, trading them in for flip flops and puka shells before she breaks out her steel drum and starts to play music.
Muldoon’s first hobby was as a belly dancer, then she tried drums. She found an instructor in Amityville, bought a steel drum and three years later she’s playing events all over Long Island. She was selected by Linda Mangano to play the Just Desserts Event honoring women of the year at Bethpage this past spring in front of 500 people. She has played at weddings, parties, restaurants and debuted as the first musician at Tobay recently and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
Keith Langan, general manager of Tobay Beach restaurants Singleton’s Salsa Shack and Singleton’s Seafood Shack said he decided to add the steel drums of Muldoon to add some island flavor to his eateries’ atmosphere.
“My intention was that it gives you a real festive and happy feeling when you get out of your car and hopefully you go into the restaurants. It puts you in that Caribbean or island frame of mind before you even have dinner,” he said. “I think her playing is fantastic. People are happy, they are dancing, and they are having fun. I think this is working.”
Passing by, sporting a Hawaiian outfit was Mayor Jeff Pravato of Massapequa Park.
“The music is such a nice touch,” he said. “As I was walking up to the Salsa Shack I was saying to myself how great this is. There is no place I would rather be than the wonderful beaches that our town offers our residents. The music is a wonderful idea and I hope they continue it for the summer.”
Dan and Shelly Dougherty of Massapequa said the music is an inspired touch to the outdoor area.
“I think having a steel drum down here makes it very special and it makes the whole day very special,” said Shelly, who got up and danced with her daughter Danielle.
Members of the Metro Parrot Head Club, followers of Jimmy Buffet, were on hand to cheer on Muldoon. Thomas Pfeiffer, the Long Island coordinator of the group, along with his wife Loretta, both from Massapequa, joined the dancing. ase. “I have been watching Terry play for two years and she is fantastic and Tobay is the perfect setting,” he said.
As children passed by, Muldoon showed them how the steel drum works and let them play a few notes before rewarding them with a flower lei.
Muldoon said she loves playing for the laid back crowd that frequents Tobay Beach.
“I love the energy of the crowd because beach people are very cool,” said Muldoon, who played for four hours. “I saw a lot of support for live music which makes me very happy.”
Muldoon started her morning performing in New Jersey, then came to Tobay to play and was next on to a friend’s graduation party where she was also playing. The tireless and effervescent Muldoon brought a great deal of joy to people who she met at Tobay and will be returning during the summer.
To book an event with Steel Margarita go to www.steelmargarita.com or call 516-643-6311.
