A Creative ‘Lighthouse’ Opens At Coastal

By Dan Guarino

The Coastal Market at the corner of Rockaway Beach Drive and Beach 109th Street may not be serving up frozen treats this winter, but two entrepreneurs will be conjuring creative programs for all ages for the season with their new Lighthouse venture at that location.

To kick things off, co-creators Shane Kulman and Jess Charitos are hosting a two-day grand opening event on Saturday, January 13, and Sunday, January 14. Both fun filled days will feature a preview of the many offerings they will be presenting over the next several months.

On Saturday, Lighthouse will introduce Yoga at 11 a.m. and Dance class at 1 p.m., open to all by donation. Saturday evening will be open to adults for a belly dancing class at 7 p.m. Kulman and Charitos advise audiences to “get ready to be mesmerized by the graceful movements of Caridad, the talented belly dancer, as they transport you to a mystical world of rhythm and beauty.”

Following at 8 p.m. will be a “unique and captivating” theater performance which they say will “ignite your senses and take you on a magical journey.” Tickets for the evening are available at http://bit.ly/Lighthouserbny for $18 using special discount code “rockaway.” Space is limited.

The night will also introduce Lighthouse Artist in Residency Rebecca Antsis’ The Fairy’s Cup, “an all-ages Herbal Elixir Bar & Faerie Realm Immersive experience.”

Sunday, January 14, will feature a dance class, with admission by donation, at 1 p.m. At 3 p.m. the grand opening festivities continue with what Kulman calls a “Procession of Joy and Grandeur,” an “outdoor Lighthouse festival procession” led by “Glinda the Good Bus and the colorful Michelle Joni along with many talented Rockaway folks.”

From 5 to 8 p.m. Lighthouse will host its first Acoustic Open Mic night, which will be a regular feature every week. Comics, spoken word, poetry, acoustic musicians, and more are welcome!

So far Lighthouse’s schedule will include a free art class, “Lighthouse Legacy: A Night of Authentic Art,” every Monday at 7 p.m. Tuesdays will offer “Dance Your Body” from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. is “Selfies & Strategy for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners” and “Unconventional Improv” class from 6 to 8 p.m.

Fridays, there will be “Coffee, Content & Co-Working Time,” where people are invited to “bring your laptop, create content and work on your stuff in community,” from 11 to 3 p.m. From 3 to 4 p.m. there will be “Empower Hour” with Coastal owner Sam Friedman hosting a think tank for entrepreneurs and business owners with discussion and feedback.

Saturday will see Yoga at 11 a.m. and Dance Energy class at 1 p.m., while Sunday will have Yoga at 11 a.m., Dance Energy class starting at 1 p.m. and Acoustic Open Mic from 5 p.m.

While some programs are fee-based, others are by donation or free. Schedules and details on events, classes and programs plus other Lighthouse information is available at www.lighthouserbny.com.

Additionally, Lighthouse co-foun­der Jess Charitos will be whipping up breakfast bowls all day, and Rebecca Antsis is serving herbal elixirs for the month of January.

Charitos will also be leading dance classes geared to “those who love smaller dance classes because they offer extra support and modifications.” Along with Charitos, Kulman and Friedman, will be beginner and intermediate Hatha yoga and relaxation teacher Margaret Tumelty, dance energy instructor and dancer Sincere and others.

Says Kulman, “I have been craving a space in Rockaway for several years where there could be arts and crafts, theater, a meetup for community members from ALL over Rockaway.” The quest for such a space, she says, proved to be more difficult, and pricier, than expected.

Known for her many workshops and projects, and her Rockaway Times’ “Dear Enchantress” advice column, “Enchantress” Shane Kulman notes, “I am an entrepreneur and ‘multi-passionate’ creative. My background is as a therapist and behaviorist. I love the way that self-expression opens up and connects people to each other and more deeply to themselves.” As a mentor for “sensitive creatives,” she says, “my clients range from business owners to globally renowned artists.”

Having overheard her speaking about her creative dream venue at West End Temple, fellow temple member Sam Friedman opened up a conversation about using his space, Coastal Market, which offers up summer season frozen yogurt and other treats. “Poof! Just like that,” Kulman recalls, “This idea came to fruition. Coastal is closed in the winter months, so this would be a win-win!”

Kulman is thrilled to bring this venture about with Charitos. “Jess is a dancer, chef, photographer, boogie boarder, surfer, animal lover, and a forewoman for NYC buildings and construction” who is also famous for her breakfast bowls “that she makes for 30 people at a time.”

Kulman says, “I went to my Rockaway Creates and Rockaway Dipper community chats and asked who would like to partner with me. And Jess said, ‘Yes!!!’  She and I had connected while dipping in the winter months in Rockaway, and she is fricken’ AWESOME! We had an easy magical first meeting and pulled some oracle and tarot cards and came up with LIGHTHOUSE, and, well, Sam (Friedman) is as tall as a Lighthouse and, poof, there is the name. It’s a house of light or joy that attracts all.”

Charitos and Kulman also note their location is perfectly situated being “on the same block as the renowned Rockaway Hotel, one block from the ocean and one block from the Rockaway ferry.”

With the grand opening launch of their new venture, and the goal of bringing light, art, movement, budding creative and business opportunity, music, family and community to this Coastal corner, Kulman and Charitos have brought their vision from a dream to a Lighthouse reality.