By Peter Lyons Hall
In just a few days from now, on Friday night, November 17, between 7-11PM, the American Legion at 40 Mountain Lakes Lane, Greenwood Lake, NY 10925, will be converted into a fundraising casino for the night, with the hope of generating funds to help with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of this famous lakeside village, a favorite destination for celebrities, sports figures, mob figures, and glitterati for decades.
Tickets are $60 ($70 at door) which includes $50 in playing chips, heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages. Professional dealers and tables will be on hand including Blackjack, Three-Card Poker, Craps, Roulette, and a 50-50 Texas hold ‘em tournament with a $40 buy-in. But it’s not like Greenwood Lake has never been exposed to gambling opportunities.
“In the 1950s,” as journalist Jane Anderson recently wrote in Chronogram, “a slew of bars and nightclubs [attracted visitors] to Greenwood Lake. In New Jersey, the drinking age was 21 at the time. In New York, drinkers could be 18. Hence, the 50 or so establishments within a five-mile radius in Greenwood Lake were packed on Friday and Saturday nights. The couple of topless girl bands at the lake could have contributed to its popularity, as well. Unproven legend has it that the Mafia couldn’t resist the gold mine that was Greenwood Lake, and held ownership in many of those bars. Nonetheless, the lake remains a bastion of entertainment, from the free summertime live music at Waterfront Park to countless bars and restaurants.”
The event scheduled on the 17th, however, is likely to be a bit tamer than Greenwood Lake’s earlier history For one thing, the American Legion will have a cash bar and there will be a DJ. Chips cashed in for your chance to win will include luxury prizes like a Pontoon Boat Rental, Luxury Vacation Rental, Luxury Skin Care, Fine Art, a Blackstone® Griddle, Culinary Experiences, and more. And another thing, organizers have set up a place for dropping off the kids for a couple of hours: Little Lakers Kids Night, 729 Jersey Ave., Greenwood Lake, will offer pizza, games, crafts, and a movie, between 6:45 and 11:15PM.
To purchase a ticket for an evening of fun and games, while the kids are being well-cared-for, click on https://gwlcentennial.org. Meanwhile discover the incredible history that has accompanied this lakeside village, only 50 miles from New York City, throughout the ages!
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