As the summer season winding down and Islanders are starting to think about the slow transition to fall, it can become difficult to go on one last summer vacation as kids head back to school and life starting back up for many families.
With all the East End has to offer, a weekend staycation in a boutique hotel is a better option for parents and families. These hotels offer cozy amenities and usually discount prices in the fall.
Whether you want a late family vacation that’s close to home or a change of pace for you and a significant other, this guide serves as your starting point to your next weekend getaway.
Baron’s Cove Voted the best hotel in New York on Conde Nast Traveler’s 2016 Hot 100 list, Baron’s Cove is boutique luxury hotel that faces both the harbor and downtown Village of Sag Harbor. They offer a multitude of amenities such as saltwater-heated pools, tennis courts and beach transportation. The on-site dining experience showcases the cuisine of chef Matty Brodeau. Diners can enjoy stunning views of the harbor on their outdoor terrace and second floor dining level. 31 W Water St, Sag Harbor. baronscove.com
The Chequit The rustic chic hotel sends guests back in time to the days of a quieter Shelter Island community, offering country-vintage stylized rooms, complimentary breakfast with an ever-changing menu. On top of this, it has a New American restaurant, Red Maple and White Hill Café, a coffee shop that uses Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, on its grounds. Exclusive for the season, guests can stay in The Summer House, a new addition to The Chequit which surrounds guests in the summer comfort of a whitewashed wood, cozy, country-style home. 23 Grand Ave., Shelter Island Heights. thechequit.com
Jedidiah Hawkins Inn The five guest rooms and one suite on the premises and the Jedidiah Hawkins Inn creates a sense of closeness in a contemporary space. Originally built in 1863 as a home for the sailor, it was saved from demolition in 2004 and opened in September 2005. Today, the inn is a warm and welcoming place for guests to unwind, surrounded by all that the North Fork has to offer. The BBQs held at the inn on Thursdays and Lobster Bakes on Sundays shouldn’t be missed. 400 South Jamesport Ave., Riverhead. jedediahhawkinsinn.com
The Quogue Club at Hallock House What was once a disheveled town landmark, The Quogue Club opened its doors in 2012 after 50 families from the community came together to renovate the historic house. The 14 guest rooms, including two multi-bedroom cottages, provide a backdrop to the intimate, friendly setting at the hotel. The in-house restaurant, with former 1770 House chef Matt Birnstill in the kitchen, is exclusively reserved for members and hotel guests only. 47 Quogue St., Quogue. quogueclub.com
Surf Lodge Built in 1967, The Surf Lodge sits on Lake Montauk and is a staple example of modern coolness. Each room and community space is stylized in a chic beach houses style, with whitewashed walls and private sun decks in each room. On top of the architecture, the Surf Lodge holds concerts every week that feature popular up-and-coming artists. The restaurant at the lodge crafts organic, market-driven dishes created by Executive Chef Robert Sieber. 183 Edgemere St., Montauk. thesurflodge.com
View of a concert at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh (Photo: Jones Beach Facebook, @JonesBeachNewYork)
Positioned in the prime time of festival season, the Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival is coming back to the Northwell Health Jones Beach Theater on Aug. 19-20 for the third year in a row.
The pop festival will feature headliners Demi Lovato, Big Sean, DJ Khaled, Major Lazer and Zedd and also give a platform for popular new artists such as Ugly God, Lil Yachty, LAUV and Whethan.
“The Island deserved its own two-day festival, a standalone two-day festival,” said John Amato, President of Billboard and Long Island resident. “I think it’s very important and getting it here for three years is something I’m very proud of because I’m a resident.”
The festival, which is expected to draw 15,000 fans each day, is spread out over two days throughout the Jones Beach theater complex. The Hot 100 Fest showcases 40 artists that are topping the Billboard Hot 100 Chart or are on their way to do the same.
Unlike many other major music festivals in the area like Panorama and Governor’s Ball Music Festival, the festival features popular artists rather than alternative acts. Billboard uses the insight of their hot 100 chart and editorial staff within their company to specially curate the fest, Amato said.
Fans looking for the next big music act can go to the Heatseekers stage and see artists such as Surf Rock is Dead, Fletcher and French Horn Rebellion. If festivalgoers want to hear hit after hit all day long, they can lounge at the Hot 100 stage inside Jones Beach theater.
Saturday features rising EDM producer and artist 3LAU, who has worked with artists such as Rihanna and Arianna Grande, an artist who headlined the festival last year. Big Sean, coming off success of his 2017 album, I Decided, is set to close down Saturday night at the Hot 100 Stage.
On Sunday, Lil’ Yachty is set to take the Sun Stage at 7 pm, right after former member of Fifth Harmony Camila Cabelo at the Hot 100 stage and right before Marshmello, Young Thug and Major Lazer close down the festival on Sunday night.
In the first year of the festival, the capacity of the venue maxed out at 40,000 people, breaking the record of attendance at Jones Beach. Adding the new feature this year, festivalgoers reserve seats inside the theater at the Hot 100 stage.
After learning what it takes to create a major music festival on the beach on Long Island, Amato said that the focus now is on the excitement around the experience of going to the Billboard Hot 100 Festival and artists in the lineup.
“I feel that we understand what we’re doing and now it’s just excitement about the artist, the experience and getting the whole experience absolutely right for the fans,” Amato said.
Parking is available at the parking lots at the theater. Two free shuttle buses will continuously transport festivalgoers from the Wantagh and Freeport LIRR stations from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Best known for their hit single “All Your Favorite Bands,” popular American folk group Dawes are coming to Northwell Health Jones Beach Theater to open for John Mayer on Aug. 23. The band, consisting of brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, Wylie Gerber and Lee Pardini, are touring their newest album, We’re All Gonna Die, the Press spoke with the band’s drummer ahead of the show.
Long Island Press:To someone who has never listened to Dawes, how would you describe the band and the sound you guys produce?
Griffin Goldsmith: A lot of people call it Americana or folk, I always felt like the mentality on page is rock ‘n’ roll
LIP:Have you ever played on Long Island before?
GG: Yes, but never at Jones Beach, so I’m excited for that.
LIP:Do you have any memories from when you played?
GG: I remember the theater being really nice and the show being really fun, but other than that, I don’t remember anything specific.
LIP:Where do you draw inspirations for the music of Dawes? Are there any distinct sounds or bands?
GG: We’re always listening to different stuff and finding new music to try and inspire ourselves. I think it’s just kind of a conglomeration of all the different stuff that we’re all listening to because we all play our part and we definitely all bring our personalities to the music. It’s always changing. There’s some stuff that we’re really into and obviously there’s some stuff that some enjoy more than others. We’re constantly changing.
LIP:What is the band into right now and what are you into personally?
GG: I just found a couple interesting jazz records by this guy named Shadow Wilson. Old drummer who played with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. And I found a record by Billy Taylor and then there’s a Bad Jones record and some Joe Henderson and I’ve been getting really back into. Art Blakey, which was one of my favorite drummers as a kid. As a band, there’s a lot of stuff. Me and my brother love the new National single and I can’t wait for their new record. I dig the new Arcade Fire record. The new Laura Marling record that came out I believe this year is awesome.
LIP:When did you realize that music could be a full-time career for you?
GG: When I was 17, we started Dawes and hit the road right when I was about 18. I’d say a couple years after that, it was evident “Oh okay, we could make this a self-sustaining thing. If we play enough and work hard enough, we could continue to do this for a long time.” So I think around 19 or 20.
LIP:What would you be doing if Dawes didn’t really work out?
GG: Good question, I have no idea. I’d probably be playing music. I think we all put our eggs in one basket. It’s been working out.
LIP:Has music always been a constant in your life?
GG: My father is a musician and my brother and I were raised around it, playing music and songs as a kid.
LIP:What’s your first musical memory?
GG: I have memories of me being driven to school by my dad with Steely Dan on and singing along with the solos on “Kid Charlemagne,” just having my mind blown by how musical that band was.
LIP:As a kid, who was your favorite band?
GG: Probably Steely Dan. I was really into Booker T and the M.G’s. You know the records they played on like Wilson Pickett and Sam & Dave, Pink Floyd.
LIP:What advice would you give to a 17 or 18-year-old kid who wants to start a band like you guys did with Dawes?
GG: Try to practice as much as you can. I know that’s an old trope or cliché, but there’s always somebody around the corner who is way younger and way better than you are and I feel like the only way to establish yourself at all is by playing a lot and being discerning in your tastes. There may not be a genre that you like, but it’s important to have a unique perspective and try to represent what you like about music.
LIP:When did that start clicking in your head?
GG: I’ve always kind of felt like musicians come up in two ways. One is – this is very generalized perspective and it’s not entirely true – people are raised in that world with the emphasis being: how do I get more chops? How do I play faster? The other perspective ¬– which often comes from self-taught musicians ¬– is how do I play these things that I really like? I didn’t really first start having lessons playing drums, so I would take records that I liked, whether it was Zeppelin or Steely Dan or Al Green or find drummers that I like and learn their parts and I felt like because I was learning these parts that stuck out to me, my emphasis has always been being soulful. It’s something that I’ve always been drawn to. It doesn’t matter to me how well a musician can play something. Some of my favorite players are the ones that sometimes play one note for a solo and it’s the way they do it makes it so powerful. It’s so much more powerful to me than if I watch a buddy who can play all the notes in a four-bar phrase. It’s like yeah that’s amazing, I can’t do that, but it’s just not what I can get off on. I realize at a young age not having the guidance, the only things that I could really emulate was stuff that I liked and my dad was always pushing soul music and stuff like that, so that’s probably why. That kind of shaped my perspective.
LIP:Moving toward your new album, We’re All Gonna Die, what’s it been like touring with that album?
GG: Fantastic. So far it’s been really successful. We’ve had the opportunity to play with some awesome artists along the way. We’re going out with John Mayer, which we’re so excited about and then right after that, we go and do a month with Kings of Leon and those two tours will cap the cycle for us. We’re really fortunate, it’s been amazing.
Music festivals are fun, but despite the fact that they have the same odds of happening on Long Island as the proposed tunnel to Connecticut, some organizers keep trying—with predictable results.
Aside from annual national touring music festivals such as the one-day Warped Tour or fests based in amphitheaters such as the two-day Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival, both of which are at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre, attempts to throw Woodstock-style, one-off, multi-day rock-a-thons as they were intended to be experienced—in wide open fields—have their plugs preemptively pulled more often than they come to fruition on LI.
Since this year’s high-profile luxury Fyre Festival failure proved it’s not just a problem on the Island, it’s a good time to take a trip down memory lane to revisit some of the region’s biggest attempted music festivals.
Radiohead
Field Day When: June 7-8, 2003
Where: Enterprise Park, Calverton
Out of all festivals on the list, this one is probably the most infamous. With huge headliners such as Radiohead, Beck and the Beastie Boys, it was poised to be the best music festival of the summer in the US. As with all festivals on this list, events did not go as planned despite promises of “two full days of music and camping!” Days before the festival began, the Town of Riverhead refused to grant a mass-gathering permit for fear that police would not be able to handle the crowds. Scrambling for a place to hold the festival, promoters made Field Day a one-day festival at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. To make matters worse, festival-goers had to buy new passes for the rescheduled version and were not honoring Calverton tickets. The Meadowlands version was plagued by rain all day and only had 16 artists on the lineup.
Bob Dylan
Bonnaroo Festival NE When: Aug. 8-10, 2003
Where: Enterprise Park, Calverton
Riding off the success of the inaugural Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tenn., promoters planned on bringing a version of the festival to the northeast. Seeing the permit fiasco of Field Day in June, they decided to cancel the festival a week later. With more than 25,000 tickets sold at the time of cancellation, Bonnaroo NE had a heavy lineup of classic rock, featuring acts such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Dave Matthews Band.
Patti Smith
Escape to New York When: Aug. 5-7, 2011
Where: Shinnecock Reservation, Southampton
Technically speaking, Escape to New York did actually happen, but the final day was unfortunately cancelled due to flash floods. Planned by the creators of famed UK festival Secret Garden Party, the festival was a small, specialty experience on tribal grounds that emulated the vibes of Burning Man that featured Patti Smith, Of Montreal and Best Coast. The capacity of 5,000 was met, according to the festivals publicist and featured amenities like on-ground glamping. The promoters told fans that the festival would return in 2012, but it never came to fruition.
Vampire Weekend (Photo by David J. Lee)
Music to Know Festival When: Aug. 13-14, 2011
Where: Easthampton Airport, Easthampton
The 9,500-person festival, designed to be a small, boutique-style fest, was planned to feature Vampire Weekend, Bright Eyes and Ellie Goudling as headliners. Taking place on Runway 4 of the East Hampton Airport, the festival would be a synthesis of music and fashion, hosting vendor tents from store such as Topshop, J. Crew and Madewell. Unfortunately, it was cancelled due to lack of ticket sales.
Interpol
Quiksliver Pro New York When: Sept. 1-10
Where: Long Beach
The surf contest happened, but the music didn’t. Quiksilver Pro New York was one of more prominent surf competitions that year, offering a $300,000 check to the winner, the highest prize purse to ever go to a surfer at the time (Owen Wright won that year.) A music, food and fashion aspect was slated to be incorporated to the contest. Amazing bands such as Interpol, The Flaming Lips, LI natives Taking Back Sunday, Neon Indian, Portugal. The Man and Wavves. The music portion was cancelled after it posed too much of a challenge to the City of Long Beach in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, which hit days before the festival. The 2012 contest was cancelled in December 2011 by Quiksilver because of a lack of profit from the 2011 event.
Elevation Burger, hailed by many as the East Coast’s response to the popular California-based In-N-Out Burger chain, opened its first franchised location on Long Island in Plainview this week.
Elevation serves up specialty organic, grass-fed beef burgers, vegetarian and vegan burgers, non-beef items and shakes in a causal counter-service space. Customization is at the forefront of this dynamic chain, where patrons can create their own burger with different types of toppings or order a specialty burger, such as the fiery sunrise burger with hot relish, jalapenos, caramelized onions and an egg.
Beyond burgers, they also serve up quality crispy or grilled chicken sandwiches in various ways for those who do not prefer beef. Their shakes, which can be made with mix-ins such as key lime pie and Oreos, is another highlight.
Elevation’s mantra is that they strive to serve authentic, organic and sustainable food that is locally sourced. This philosophy is not only healthy, but it tastes good too. The quality shines through in menu items such as fries that are fried in olive oil rather than vegetable or peanut oil.
Their patties are also 100-percent halal as well. The factor that sets this burger joint apart from their competition is that they are proving to the rest of the fast food industry that sustainability is feasible.
Elevation first began as an idea in 2002 when founder Hans Hess wanted to create the burger he so longed for after moving out of California in 1999. After three years of research and development, Hess and his wife, April, opened their first restaurant in Arlington, Va. in ‘05. Fast forward to this year, Elevation Burger now has 32 locations open in the US from Texas to Maine and 21 locations in the Middle East.
Elevation Burger is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Friday, when they are open until 10 p.m. They are located at 437 S Oyster Bay Rd. in Plainview. For more information, visit elevationburger.com
The spray park at Tanner Park (Photo by Tim Seeberger/LongIslandPress)
In the dog days of summer, hitting the beach is a hike and driving to a water park can be too costly, but a local spray park is a refreshing change of pace.
Ranging from small parks to ones that are practically water parks, this list can help you and your kids cool off this summer.
Bay Park
The playground at Bay Park is connected to very small, but features an entertaining spray park that will keep the kids splashing their hearts out. 198 1st Ave., East Rockaway. Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Nassau County Leisure Pass required.
Blumenfeld Family Park
The small spray park is tucked in the shade of trees and offering an easy way to beat the heat in the summertime. 218 Main St., Port Washington. Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Metered Parking available nearby.
Cantiague Park
This park offers an Olympic-sized swimming pool, two water slides, three different types of pools and a spray park. 480 W John St., Hicksville. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fee: $6 for children with leisure pass, $25 without.
Clark Street Playground
Tucked away at the end of a side street in Long Beach, this small spray park is a good spot to cool off that’s not crowded because of its location. 98 Clark St., Long Beach. Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free parking available.
Eisenhower Park
The playground at Field 2 has a basic spray park attached to it that offers simple entertainment for the afternoon. 1899 Park Blvd., Westbury. Hours: Dawn to Dusk. Fee: $10 for non-county residents.
Grant Park
Attached to a playground, this spray is no-frills, but entertaining nonetheless because, well, it’s a spray park. 1625 Bwy., Hewlett. Hours: 8 a.m-7 p.m. Fee: Free.
Geiger Park
Opened in 2013, this spray park is huge. With over 15,000 square feet of space and 25 spray elements, it can keep the kids entertained all day. Grand Blvd., Wyandanch. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Fee: Town of Babylon residents only with recreation pass or daily entrance fee.
Phelps Lane Pool
One of the biggest water play areas on Long Island, Phelps Lane has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a crazy spray park and huge water slides. 151 Phelps Ln., North Babylon. Hours: 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Fee: $6 with town of Babylon recreational pass.
Shipwreck Cove
This Pirate-themed water playground is great place to cool off on a hot summer day for both parents and kids. South Clinton Ave., Bay Shore. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Fee: Free with Pool Membership, $7 per person with a Town of Islip Recreation Card, $10 per person with proof of Town Residency, $12 for a Non-Resident, $2 for a Resident with a Town Senior Recreation Card or Permanent Town Disability Car.
Tanner Park
This small, interactive spray park sits right on the bay beach with a Beach Hut steps away. 400 Baylawn Ave., Copiague. Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Fee: Free for vehicles with recreation pass, $25 on weekends for cars without pass, $15 on weekdays.
Tobay Beach
This spray park had a major facelift after Superstorm Sandy and looks better than ever with low-hanging water features for kids. Ocean Pkwy., Massapequa. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fee: $20 for residents without seasonal beach pass, $60 for non-residents on weekdays only, excluding holidays.
1. Sitting at work and looking up traffic conditions, just knowing that you’re going to face bumper-to-bumper traffic on every road home. (It’s that time of the day again.)
2. Sitting in traffic before you even get to the road you need to be on. (It’s kind of like warming up before a game, only it’s sitting in traffic to prepare you to sit in more traffic.)
5. Dreaming of how fast six lane expressways move as you sit in traffic on a three lane parkway. (If only Robert Moses knew how populated Long Island would become.)
7. Having to merge into two lanes because of road work, only to realize it’s because they’re cleaning the medians. (Why they would choose to do this during rush is beyond me.)
8. Becoming increasingly frustrated at the traffic because you know there’s only three reasons it’s happening. (Rubbernecking, construction that’s not really construction or good ol’ congestion.)
11. Going as fast as you legally can after sitting in traffic to make up for how slow you were driving in traffic. (It’s time for fast and furious: long island drift)
The William Floyd Estate in Mastic, as taken by Long Island artist/photographer Xiomaro, who was commissioned by the National Park Service to document the historic site. His photos will be on display July 4 through Aug. 17, 2014 at the Patchogue Watch Hill Terminal.
Long Island is full of parks and preserves celebrating the region’s history and natural wonders. Here are nine to check out while the weather’s nice!
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
25 Lloyd Harbor Rd., Huntington. parks.ny.gov This park was originally an estate purchased in 1921 by Marshall Field III. Today, Caumsett, which translates to “place by sharp rock,” is a massive, 1,750-acre park situated on a peninsula in Lloyd Harbor with scenic views of the North Shore coasts and miles of trails to use.
Dwarf Pines Plains Preserve
County Rd. 31, East Quogue. suffolkcountyny.gov
Birdwatches can delight at this park, as the Long Island Dwarf Pine Plain houses a rare ecosystem full of birds that usually cannot be seen on the Island. American kestrels, marsh hawks, long-eared owls are some of the different species that can be seen.
Indian Island Park
Indian Point Rd., Riverhead. suffolkcountyny.gov
If camping is what you’re looking to do on Long Island, Indian Island County Park in Riverhead is the place to do so. The 275-acre park offers trailer and tent campsites. Beyond sleeping under the stars, parkgoers can hike near the Peconic River and picnic overlooking scenic views on Flanders Bay.
Orient Beach State Park
40000 Main Rd., Orient. parks.ny.gov
At the end of the North Fork of Long Island, Orient Beach State Park showcases the beauty of the intersection of land and sea, with a long stretches of shore and a maritime forest. Named National Natural Landmark in 1980, patrons can view Orient Point, Plum Island, Long Beach Bar and Cedar Island lighthouse from this park as well.
Planting Fields Arboretum
1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay. plantingfields.org
One of the more popular parks on this list, Planting Fields is one of the only surviving Gold Coast estates that is in its original form. Originally owned by insurance giant William Robinson and Coe Standard Oil heiress Mai Rogers Coe, the 409-acre estate, complete with the original mansion, hiking trails and arboretum, stands as a testament to the wealth of the North Shore.
Stillwell Woods Preserve
S Woods Rd., Woodbury. nassaucountyny.gov
Located along the greenbelt trail, which extends from Massapequa to Oyster Bay, the tree-filled nature preserve has a massive 270 acres that gives parkgoers the freedom to run, bike, hike and ride horses.
William Floyd Estate
245 Park Dr., Mastic Beach. nps.gov
To learn of Long Island’s place in the founding of America, look no further than the William Floyd Estate. The 25-room house used to belong to Floyd, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and sits on a 613-acre plot to explore. Guided tours of the Old Mastic House are offered every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Weirtheim National Wildlife Refuge
340 Smith Rd., Shirley. fws.gov
A part of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, this 2,550-acre refuge is bisected by the Carmans River and host a variety of different habitats that yields itself to see tons of different animals like white-tailed deer, fox, turtles and songbirds. Hunting, fishing, hiking and photography are one of the many activities that parkgoers can enjoy.
Welwyn Preserve County Park
100 Crescent Beach Rd., Glen Cove. nassaucountyny.gov
Once a former estate grounds for industrialist Harold Irving Pratt, Welwyn Preserve County Park houses the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County in the former estate mansion. Beyond the museum, the grounds is also a nature preserve that has multiple hiking trails to take in the nature of the North Shore and also the Long Island Sound.
Move over, avocado toast. Açaí bowls are the new trend on Long Island and by the looks of it, the trend is here to stay.
The bowls, with an ice cream-like base consisting of the super fruit açaí and other mix-ins, are packed to the brim with uber-healthy toppings like strawberries, blueberries, honey, coconut and even hemp seeds.
The Mayo Clinic shows that although research is limited, the super-food offers health benefits like an abundance of antioxidants.
The West Coast trend has made its way east and Long Island Islanders are embracing it in full force. To fuel the craze, here’s some of the dozens places that you can find açaí bowls on Long Island:
Ah-Sah-EE Café
It’s common law that you need to know how to pronounce açaí before eating it. The phonetically spelled Ah-Sah-EE Café makes both easy by offering not only simple açaí bowls, but the also-popular açaí smoothies in their menu. 232 West Park Ave., Long Beach. ahsaheecafe.com
Bango Bowls
Bango serves the perfect combination of açaí bowls and a rotating lineup of local cold brew on tap, as well as specialty oatmeal. 1010 Park Blvd., Massapequa Park. bangobowls.com
Bay Shore Bean/Babylon Bean
Two staple coffee shops on the South Shore, two great places to pick up açaí bowls on the way to Robert Moses. 47 East Main St., Bay Shore. bayshorebean.com 17 Fire Island Ave., Babylon. thebabylonbean.com
Empowering Goods
Using organic ingredients, Empowering Goods not only serves açaí bowls, but also yogurt, green and smoothie based bowls and also has a marketplace to pick up any other health needs. 750 Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst. empoweringgoods.com
The Energy Bar of Long Island
Centered around healthy and protein-filled food, The Energy Bar of Long Island offers an array of açaí bowl flavors with an immense choice of toppings from cocoa chips to hemp seeds. 179 Jerusalem Ave., Massapequa. theenergybarli.com
Fire Island Shave Ice
Famous for their insane amount of shave ice flavors, the Babylon shop also serves solid açaí bowls that can’t be missed. 134 North Carll Ave., Babylon. facebook.com/FireIslandShaveIce
Jamba Juice
Who would’ve thought that a chain that makes smoothies could also make açaí bowls? Multiple locations. jambajuice.com
Juice ‘N Blendz
Pushing the initiative of living a healthy lifestyle through eating right, Juice ‘N Blendz now serves açaí bowls as a healthy and satisfying snack. 17 Deer Park Ave., Babylon. facebook.com/Natural-Blends
La Villa Café and Gelateria
Branching out from selling specialty coffee, gelato and Italian pastries, the café now serves açaí bowls as well. 518 Bwy., Massapequa. facebook.com/LaVillaCaffeAndGelateria
Long Island Beach Bowl Açaí Café
With laid back California vibes, the café serves up custom bowls that live up to the fact that they have “açaí” in their name. 454 Main St., Islip. libeachbowl.com
New York Beanery
Besides serving up good coffee, this establishment recently added açaí bowls to their menu that also includes eccentric open-faced sandwiches. 114 Merrick Rd., Amityville. facebook.com/newyorkbeanery
NY Açaí
Working out of a food truck parked on Riverside Blvd. in Long Beach, Açaí focuses solely on shelling out acai bowls that let customers customize anything from their toppings to what they want in their acai blend. facebook.com/LBNYACAI
Nooks and Kindles Juice Bar
With a commitment to transparency in their ingredients, Nooks and Kindles whips up organic and vegan-optional açaí bowls that can be catered to any taste. 1356 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. nooksnkindles.com
Organic Krush
The marketplace is a one-stop shop to pick up various kinds of açaí and pitaya bowls with tons of add-ons, as well as different types of healthy food, cold-pressed juices, and cleanse plans. Multiple locations. organickrush.com
Red Mango
The chain, known for their parfaits and pomegranate frozen yogurt, now serves açaí bowls as well for your convenience. Multiple locations. redmangousa.com
SoBol (Formerly Long Island Super Bowls)
With locations sprouting up across Long Island, this franchise have been slinging out quality bowls since 2012. Multiple locations. mysobol.com
Swirls and Twirls
A Long Island froyo staple, the brand is keeping up with the times by serving açaí bowls. Multiple locations. swirlsandtwirlsusa.com
Way of Life Healthy Café
Keeping in mind their mantra of “healthy food makes happy people,” Way of Life offers tons of healthy food options, including a small selection of açaí bowls with kinds like toasted almond and a protein option 565 Jericho Tpke., Syosset. wayoflifeny.com
Yogomania
With locations in Holbrook and Medford, Yogomania goes serves delicious açaí bowls in addition to serving ice cream, smoothies and waffles. Multiple locations. yogomaniamedford.com
Photo by Sophia Johnson; Incorporated Village of Freeport (IVF) Public Relations
With top-notch restaurants, fresh seafood and charter boats leaving daily on fishing trips, The Nautical Mile in Freeport is one of the hottest destinations for food and summer fun on Long Island.
Located on Woodcleft Avenue, which runs along the west side of Woodcleft Canal, the waterfront strip features dozens of restaurants, bars, shops and recreational hot spots, making it the perfect destination for families and party-goers alike.
“Walk a nautical mile in Freeport town, and you’re sure to feel up instead of down,” as the Freeport Chamber of Commerce puts it.
During the day, visitors to The Nautical Mile can find some of the best seafood on LI, check out the shops or simply enjoy the waterfront vistas. After the sun goes down, it transforms into a premiere party destination with a lively nightlife scene.
Although Superstorm Sandy hit The Nautical Mile hard in 2012, most businesses there have rebounded to make the strip better than ever. With many new places to eat and party opening up for the first time this season, the historic avenue is showing that it is “stronger than the storm.”
(WikiMedia Commons photo)
Whether you want to take the family out to dinner, shop, catch a local band play or spend the night out with friends, here is a guide to what you’ll find at The Nautical Mile. FOOD
EB Elliot’s
EB Elliot is an upscale steakhouse featuring the finest cuts of beef and fresh seafood caught just that day. With a happy hour lasting from 12-7 p.m. and live music Thursday-Saturday night, it is an ideal spot for drinks and fun. They also offer prime parking across the street for customers.
Taco Tuesdays
When Ralph’s Italian Ices moved down the block, Taco Tuesday took its place, serving up authentic Mexican food in a fun taco truck-like atmosphere. The counter service shack with picnic benches on the side shells out food such as the authentic cilantro, white onion and lime steak tacos to items like the fry bowl, a California favorite commonly known as super fries that is basically the contents of a burrito on top of a massive pile of fries.
Otto’s Sea Grill
For over 80 years, this third-generation waterfront restaurant specializes in seafood, using only the freshest ingredients to prepare classic dishes. The indoor and outdoor seating, lounge, bar, raw bar and live music creates a laid back atmosphere.
Woodcleft Crab Shack
From the street, Woodcleft Crab Shack has a signature sea-themed mural. On the inside, the family-owned restaurant has been serving up fresh, quality seafood since 1978.
Burgers on the Mile
Opening for their first season, they offer varied types of burgers, from the standard cheeseburger to the hangover, a burger topped with bacon, egg, cheese and avocado. And with every good burger place, they also offer shakes, and sides such as fries and fried pickles.
Nautilus Café
This restaurant is a timeless seafood eatery with great food and excellent service.
Limoncello Trattoria & Bar
One of the newest restaurants on the mile, Limoncello is an Italian restaurant with outdoor seating on the canal, complete with a brick patio and bar to dance to the bands that play there.
Hurricane Harry’s
“A sunny place for shady people” as their Facebook page states, Hurricane Harry’s is yet another great, no-frills, bands and booze, waterfront seafood spot that keeps it simple.
Tony Cuban Restaurant
Who would have though Cuban and Italian food could exist in the same atmosphere? Tony Cuban did, and the restaurant offers just that. Patrons can order Cubanos and Penne Ala Vodka from the same menu while enjoying live bands with the canal as a backdrop.
Jamrock Jamaica
Open for their first summer season, the canal-front restaurant offers a diverse menu, full of authentic Jamaican food.
Pip’s Ice Cream Parlour
If you want quality ice cream that comes in an overwhelming of varieties and a quick coffee boost, then Pip’s Ice Cream Parlour is a stop that cannot missed. Housed in a cute, pastel yellow house with blue and red pastel seating outside, every member in the family can find something they like.
BrewSA Beer
Opened in May 2017, Brew SA Brewing Company is Freeport’s first microbrewery. This upstart craft brewery offers beer flights in their tap room seven days a week with 25 percent of profits donated to veterans’ charities.
Tropix on the Mile
The restaurant and bar has a huge outdoor patio, themed nights every day of the week, and EDM DJs playing different nights throughout the summer. The large-capacity club is a definitely a place that pumps out dance music to make for a great night.
Bracco’s
Bracco’s, stemming off Capt. Ben Bracco’s Fish Market, is one of the best places on the mile for seafood and nightlife. With Ladies’ Night on Thursdays, Country Night on Wednesday, and Bottomless Brunch on Sunday, there’s something for somebody every day of the week.
Maui on the Mile
A newcomer to the Nautical Mile club scene, the Polynesian-themed restaurant and bar transports clubbers to the tropics with a pastel-colored outdoor patio, lush lounge chairs and palm trees swaying in the wind on the waterfront to make a tropical backdrop for a great night.
Halfway Down
Yet another new-comer, Halfway down is a bar and restaurant that is literally halfway down the Woodcleft Ave. The sanded outdoor patio makes it a great place to grab a beer, with events every night of the week such as ladies’ night, happy hour for first responders and even a networking night.
(Photo by Sophia Johnson; Incorporated Village of Freeport (IVF) Public Relations)
Hudson’s on the Mile
Hudson’s is a combination of both restaurant and outdoor bar with a patio that offers live music and great eats. It is definitely should not be missed. RECREATION
Codfather Fishing Charters
Most think of fishing as a summer activity on the Island. Codfather Fishing Charters thinks differently, showcasing excursions for offshore and inshore throughout the entire year. The 32’ custom J.C. boat can take you to spots for species like Bluefin, Mako Shark, Fluke and Seabass
Captain Lou Fleet Since 1948, Captain Lou has been a staple of charter boat excursions on Long Island. The fleet comprised of three different excursions. Captain Lou’s Fleet sends off trips like fluke fishing trips daily in the summer. Captain Lou’s Party Cruises specializes in event and parties like sweet sixteens’, birthdays and weddings. Sapphire Charter Cruises is a 134 passenger luxury excursion yacht that does private parties and dinners and has a lavish interiors and large windows for scenic views of the Great South Bay.
Party Boat Central
Party Boat Central shows off two vessels: Miss Freeport V and Freeport Princess. Miss Freeport V accommodates 80 adults for parties with heated indoor area and year-round fishing. A premiere yacht, Freeport Princess is 106-foot-long and can hold parties for up to 150 people for occasions like weddings, communions, birthdays and sweet sitxteens.
Guy Lombardo Marina
Located on the other side of Woodcleft Canal, the marina is an ideal spot for mariners who want to fish on the pier where the canal meets the bay. On the other side of the park, the Town of Hempstead-owned marina offers parking for boats by application.
Freeport Water Taxi & Tours
If you are looking for a place to watch the sunset or see the ecology of the bay up close, Freeport Water Taxi & Tours offer myriad boating activities to cater to all crowds. They can accommodate any kind of voyage from private party, fishing excursions to a Caribbean-themed cruise.
Crow’s Nest Cove
The ultimate test of time, patience and skill, mini golfing can be found at Crow’s Nest Cove. The pirate-themed course takes mini golfers through 18 holes of twisting and turning holes, with different kinds of obstacles and even a waterfall hole.
Randall Park
Located in front of the start of the Nautical Mile, the 8.2-acre park, owned by the Town of Hempstead, features various playing fields that include soccer, baseball, softball, football and lacrosse, all with nighttime lighting. In addition, there is also a full-sized and kiddie pool. The entry fee for the park and pool is free.
Sea Breeze Park
Sea Breeze offers scenic views of the boats going in and out of the Woodcleft Canal. The public park also has volleyball courts, a giant multi-use field and a playground. You can also catch a movie there on Fridays in July and August.
SHOPS
Sea Horse Gift Shop
One of the only gift shops on the mile, Sea Horse sells Nautical Mile-related memorabilia, holiday decor and other fun home goods.
Silver by the Sea
Established in 1991, this jewelry shop on the mile specializes in silver in all kinds of different forms.
Blackbeard’s Motorcycle Gear
Blackbeard’s is a locally-owned motorcycle shop that sells high-quality biker products, from helmets to patches, at affordable prices.
(Photo by Sophia Johnson; Incorporated Village of Freeport (IVF) Public Relations)
