This week in Huntington newsletter: Can you help solve a mural mystery downtown?
Claudia Mingin and husband Greg at the mural outside Finnegan's. That's also Greg in the mural, serving patrons at lower left. Credit: Rick Kopstein
Hello, Huntington! I came across a little mystery downtown recently, and maybe you can help solve it.
A colorful mural on an outside wall of Finnegan's Restaurant & Tap Room on Wall Street depicts patrons enjoying themselves, along with some staff at work. It’s part of the fabric of our community, painted in 1978 by Philip Jordan, a local artist who had recently graduated from art school. For his subjects, Jordan used Polaroid pictures of the regulars — lawyers, businessmen, actors and eccentrics — who patronized the restaurant at that time. He transformed the blank concrete wall with a design that depicts a day in the life at the popular, century-old establishment. It’s a point of pride to say you are in — or know someone in — the artwork.
But back to the mystery. While Finnegan's is known as the "Cheers" of Huntington, a place where everyone knows your name, there are at least eight smiling faces staring out from the mural that no one can identify with certainty.
“These are the remaining few,” said Claudia Mingin as she pointed out the faces to me at the mural on a recent blustery afternoon. She said she's been trying to solve the mystery for the past two years, working to name all 144 people depicted in the mural.
“The goal is to identify every single face,” she said.
Town historian Robert Hughes joined us at the mural, as well as Mingin’s husband, Greg, who appears in it as a bartender.
Using social media, Mingin has been able to identify almost everyone through friends and family, but these last several, pictured below, remain unknown.
Can you help? Who are these people? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.
Snapshots of the unknown, shared by Claudia Mingin. Credit: Claudia Mingin
Ralph returns!
Ralph Macchio, here hosting the Huntington Holiday Spectacular, will be back next month. Credit: Morgan Campbell
How popular is Ralph Macchio in his hometown? The Huntington native returns next month for two special screenings of "The Karate Kid" — the 1984 movie that made him a marquee name — at the Cinema Arts Centre. The first screening quickly sold out, so by popular demand, the Centre added a second one — which, according to its Instagram account, sold out in just hours. Macchio still lives on Long Island and in November was the emcee at the town's Christmas tree lighting.
Elsewhere in town
Among the sites where personal decorations are banned: The 9/11 Memorial in Heckscher Park. Credit: Dawn McCormick
- I recently wrote about the town banning holiday decorations at various sites that honor fallen military, police and historical figures. Read here why they decided to put a ban in writing. What do you think of the ban? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.
- State officials say there's more than $1 billion in unclaimed accounts in Nassau and Suffolk, and they want to help you reclaim it. New York's Office of Unclaimed Funds will hold live community events where you can find out more, and two will be held in our town. Check out John Valenti's story here.
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The Huntington Station Downtown Revitalization Initiative was the subject of an information session Tuesday attended by town and state officials. One takeaway: A $4.6 million plan to upgrade a section of New York Avenue, between Depot Road and Ninth Street, will begin soon. Town officials said the upgrades must be completed by the end of June because of the state’s schedule to repave New York Avenue. It’s been torn up because of sewer project unrelated to the DRI.
- Two town businesses were among those featured in a piece about Gen Z entrepreneurs on Long Island sharing their success stories: Find Your Balanced Life, a women-only gym in East Northport; and the women's clothing boutique House of D in Northport. Read Joe Dziemianowicz's story here.
- Two Tony Award-winners also will be coming to the Cinema Arts Centre next month: Composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman and Northport's own Patti LuPone. The Northport High School Concert Choir is also on the program. Read Dan Bubbeo's story here.
Things to do
Check out these fun and interesting things to do around town in the coming week.
Jordan Cerna with her brother Alexander at Project Prom in 2024. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Project Prom
When: Through April 16 to drop off items; with a shopping experience April 29 from 4 to 6 p.m.
What: Town officials are asking for donations of dresses and suits to create a boutique for promgoers.
Where: John J. Flanagan Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington; use the youth bureau entrance.
Information: For more information, go here.
Historic Cemetery Restoration
When: Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.
What: Revolutionary War burial sites at two locations will be cleaned by volunteers. Water and snacks to be provided.
Where: The first session is at Crab Meadow Burying Ground, Henry Ingraham Nature Preserve, 30 Locust Rd., Northport; the second session is at Carll Cemetery, McLane Drive, Dix Hills.
Information: To get the QR code to register, go to town board member Theresa Mari's Instagram page here.
Public Information Meeting on Improvements Coming to Greenlawn
When: Monday, April 13, 7 p.m.
What: The meeting will be hosted by the Town of Huntington and the Greenlawn Civic Association on pedestrian and traffic safety improvements coming to the hamlet as part of a $650,000 Suffolk County JumpStart Grant.
Where: Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn
Information: To find out more, click here.
Check out more things to do at newsday.com/lifestyle.
Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.
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