Maggie's on Park mixing it up

Park Boulevard in Massapequa Park has always been a great lane for both nightlife and dining (with The Good Life, Sancho's Cantina and Grill and Woody’s all within walking distance of each other), and as of last month, Maggie’s on Park (1020 Park Blvd., 516-798-1555, maggiesonpark.com) quietly joined the scene – quietly, but with great potential – as so far it has been presenting good times of many kinds.

Opening in July (the grand opening has yet to happen), Maggie’s arrived in the location of the now-defunct Veranda II -- and for those who previously came to this address for meals made up of Italian dishes, the new tenant also offers a menu with pastas, appetizers and entrees born of that cuisine – as well as some dishes leaning toward contemporary American fare. The decor is upscale and warm, with a spacious dining area and a pub segment that opens to the sidewalk – and being that it’s been equipped with a couple of TVs, a thick wooden bar mantle and some dim, hanging-bulb lighting, the section feels more like an upscale tavern than just the extension of a restaurant.

As for party people, most should be able to find something pleasing among Maggie’s wide-ranging style of events, as so far the house calendar has included weekly live jazz on Wednesdays and DJs spinning on Fridays (playing a mix of disco, freestyle, pop and hits ranging between the 1980s and today). There have also been comedy nights and karaoke, and come weekends the doors will stay open as late as 2 a.m.

Earlier evenings are also a possibility for a drink, as the full-service bar offers beer, wine and cocktails (there’s a weekday happy hour 3 p.m.-7 p.m.), and for those who’d rather dine in the tap room, all menu items are served there.

What the future holds for Maggie’s cannot be predicted, but as of now, a variety of fun happenings seem set to continue – as on Wednesday, Aug. 29, there is a chocolate-and-wine pairing event (8 p.m.-9 p.m.; $30, reservations are required as space is limited), while come Thursday, Sept. 20, the eatery and lounge is throwing a “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” with popular Irish singer Andy Cooney performing live (beginning at 7 p.m.). While “Halfway” bashes are nothing new for the average Long Island bar, it is an intriguing find at a full-fledged restaurant such as this – but then again, with DJs, comedians and jazz acts coming through regularly, it seems that Maggie’s on Park will be working to keep its patrons both entertained and on their toes at the same time.