What's Happening

If you are planning a summer vacation to New York City, make sure you save a couple days for Long Island and the Hamptons. This fabled region of luxury and elite residences is also a destination for those a little closer to the median income. Let me explain how you can have an amazing two-day vacation in the Hamptons, without spending like a pop star.
There’s lots of buzz in right now in Montauk, the most Eastern point on Long Island.

The cool and well designed restaurant Ruschmeyer, in Montauk

A beautiful drive around the Great Peconic Bay from our Bed and Breakfast near Greenport, shabby motels and down-home restaurants are being remodeled into “boho-chic” establishments.
In East Hampton, a gaggle of luxurious boutiques and restaurants have opened. Older hotels and beloved barrooms have been renovated. This is a great place to window shop, grab delicious bites and learn more about what’s happening in the Hamptons.

What’s Going on in the Hamptons While I’m Visiting?

Want to get a jump on what’s going on in the Hamptons during your visit? Grab the free glossy magazines — Social Life, Hampton Life, Hamptons, Hampton Sheet, Dan’s Papers — for the scoop on charity events, screenings and other happenings. You can find them at the doorways of many boutiques in East Hampton.

Speaking of a Scoop…East Hampton Bites

If you have a sweet tooth or need a cold treat during a hot afternoon, the new spot is Scoop du Jour, (35 Newtown Lane, East Hampton) an ice cream parlor where waffle cones are stacked high and flavors like Monster Mint Oreo and Toasted Coconut tempt even the supermodels. You can also get Dreesen’s doughnuts here, a Hamptons institution since the 1950s.
For dinner – two East Hampton restaurants are on the radar: Serafinas (104 North Main St.), a pizza oven and Italian seafood restaurant. Dinner for two runs around $100. If American cuisine and a more moderate price is your preference, check out Bostwick’s Chowder House (277 Pantigo Rd.).
Come back next week for more insider tips on a great trip to the East End of Long Island!

In our last post, we discussed some of the lovely beaches on the North Fork of Long Island. The sunny days are rapidly returning to us – which means the beach is the place to be!
When you visit New York, come up Long Island and visit us for some R&R at the Arbor View House Inn! We are conveniently located next to many nice beaches. Each has something different to offer, depending on the experience you want. Now, without further adieu, here is the rest of the list…

North Fork Beaches

New Suffolk Beach – One of the more popular beaches on the Peconic Bay, New Suffolk is also monitored by lifeguards (one of the few with this service).

Like many North Fork beaches, it’s popular with boaters and fishermen.
Breakwater Beach and Park – A large beach in Mattituck, Breakwater is perhaps known best for its beach volleyball and protected waterfowl nests (piping plovers).
Southold Town Beach – This beach is also popular in the winter because the parking lot is very close to the water and you can just sit and watch the waves. If you do choose to visit longer, this is a quiet beach with distant bluffs and it won’t disappoint.
Goldsmith Inlet Park – The main reason to visit this beach: A classic Long Island sunset. Rock jetties and the scenic wetlands around Goldsmith Pond also make a great backdrop for birdwatchers and photographers. But if you want to watch the sunset on Long Island, come here.

Lodging in Long Beach

When you visit New York’s Long Island, we invite you to come down to the North Fork and stay with us at Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast. Not only do we provide luxury accommodations and a delicious breakfast each morning, we also have on-site spa services!

Manhattan may be an island, but it certainly doesn’t have much in the way of beaches. Sure, there’s always Coney Island, but maybe you want something a bit more serene?
If you are visiting New York, we strongly recommend you take a couple days to get out of the city and explore a different face of New York state.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by taking a trip to Long Island. Less than a two hour drive from downtown Manahttan and also accessible via the Long Island Rail Road, we invite you to come and enjoy some fresh air and wide open waterfront during your NYC vacation.

North Fork Beaches

Inlet Pond County Park – One of the beaches closest to our Greenport area B&B is Inlet Pond County Park. Inlet Pond County Park is an undeveloped nature preserve with almost 33 acres suitable for nature walks and surf fishing, a large freshwater pond and beachfront on Long Island Sound with views of the Connecticut shoreline.
Gull Pond Beach – Facilities include a playground and rest room. The beach is supervised by lifeguards and attendants. Parking and boat launching by Southold Town permit only.
Orient Point County Park/ Orient Beach State Park -This is the very tip of Long Island. Nature trails in woods and along the Long Island Sound and the Peconic Bay give you the best of both shores. At the same time, the view of the Orient Point Lighthouse from the tip is as close as you can get without taking a boat. Meanwhile, Orient Beach State Park is a preserved slice of sandy beach and cedar forest on Gardiner’s Bay. It’s a great area for kayaking. There is also a playground and concession stand.
Truman’s Beach – Also very close to our North Fork Inn, this stretch of shore is flanked by huge tidal wetlands.
Come back to the blog next week to see the rest of our list!

If you are planning a trip to New York City, make sure you take a day or two to get out of the urban metropolis and visit the beautiful North End of Long Island. You can drive here in less than two hours (if you time it to avoid rush hour). You can also take the Long Island Rail Road. Greenport is the last stop and where you want to get off!
We would recommend you stay for at least one night, if not two, so you can enjoy multiple aspects of the North Fork. So the first thing to take care of is reserving yourself a room in our romantic North Fork bed and breakfast.

North Fork Wine Tours

Wow - That's a lot of wineries for one little island! — Wow – That’s a lot of wineries for one little island!

Next for your North Fork weekend should be winery tours. If you have a car with you on the island, it is easy to transport yourself from one winery to the next in our small grape-growing region. However, if you took the train or would rather leave the driving to someone else, there are lots of tour companies that will provide not only transportation but fascinating information and insight on the Long Island wine scene. One such group is Vintage Tours, but there are others. When you make your reservations, let us know what kind of experience you are looking for and we can help you make the arrangements. Even if you would prefer a chartered car to set your own route and pace, that can be arranged.

North Fork Beaches

There are miles of glorious beaches in North Fork. Surrounded by the Peconic Bay and the Long Island Sound, you should leave yourself time for a beach picnic, bike ride or fishing trip. To enjoy many of the beaches, your car must display a valid parking permit. When in doubt, check with us and heed to the posted signs.
Check back for our next blog post all about North Beaches and our favorites!

There are only two more weekends of Jazz on the Vine, Long Island’s annual Winterfest celebration!
If you are visiting New York city, this event is a great way to explore Long Island wine and culture. Wineries all over the island are holding live (and free!) jazz shows for you to enjoy while tasting fine wine.
The Arbor View House bed and breakfast is a prefect place for you to call home base during Winterfest or any time you want to delve into the North Fork of Long Island. Located in East Marion, we are in the heart of Long Island wine country and located near lovely beaches, fine dining and renowned art and performance spaces.

Jazz on the Vine Schedule Highlights

Here are some of the upcoming performances we think look especially appealing:
Montana Skies at Jamesport Vineyards ~ Sunday March 17, 2:30 p.m.

Visit the North Fork of Long Island for great wine and delicious music!

In concert, these award winning musicians delve into music from Pink Floyd and Rush to Vivaldi, and House of the Rising Sun, as well as their own originals that have been featured everywhere from NPR to the Travel Channel.
Michael Weiss at Clovis Point ~ Sunday March 17, 2:30 p.m. Weiss has led groups at the prestigious Village Vanguard, earning acclaim from the New York Times, which praised his “strong sense of leadership and organization” with a “confident and sparkling presence on piano.”
Amanda Ruzza at Duck Walk ~ Sunday March 17 at 2:30 p.m. Amanda draws on her multicultural background as a primary influence on her passion for composing music – music that seamlessly assimilates elements of funk, jazz and South American rhythms.
Mambo Loco at Raphael ~ Sunday March 17 4 p.m. Formed in 2005, Mambo Loco has become synonymous with the classic music of Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican origin. The group brings the best of “Old School” Latin and Latin Jazz music to the Long Island, NY area.
See the whole lineup on the Winterfest website.

There is still time to catch up with all the fun of Long Island Winterfest! The first three weekends in March are a celebration of the beginning of spring on the island and the quality live music continues at wineries all over the Long Island wine country.
So plan to take a day or two have a Long Island escape at the Arbor View House during Jazz on the Vine!
Along with jazz at all the North Fork wineries, there are other cultural events taking place during the festival. Here are some non-jazz performances and two food specials that may interest you:
The Cowboy Junkies at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. Sunday, March 3 at 8 p.m. $35-$55
In celebration of their fourth and final album in The Nomad Series, called The Wildreness (Volume 4), this band of siblings returns with their signature blend of folk, blues, country and rock.

Jazz on the vine events — The David Bromberg Quartet

David Bromberg Quartet at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. Saturday March 2 at 8 p.m. $30-$60
He’s paid his dues as “guitar man of the stars.” Now this musical luminary shines as he brings his smooth guitar prowess and perfect bluesman’s voice to Long Island! A master practitioner of folk, blues, bluegrass, and more, this Grammy Award-nominee can play any style.
Guest Chef Christopher Augusta at aMano Restaurant. Sunday March 10.
Chef Christopher, from The Harvest Inn returns as a guest chef at aMano. He is creating a special menu for the day. Enjoy some jazz, and then head to aMano for lunch or dinner. Call (631) 298-4800 for reservations. aMano is in Peconic, only 11 minutes away in from our North Fork Inn.
Free Wine at Noah’s in Greenport during Jazz on the Vine! Noah’s is located in the adorable village of Greenport at 136 Front Street. Bring in your ticket stub from Winterfest and they will provide you will a free glass of local wine. Noah’s is conveniently located about five minutes away from our Bed and Breakfast in East Marion.

Are you still scrambling for a special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Why not get out of the crowded city and change your scenery?
Come to Long Island and partake in Winterfest, where you can enjoy quality jazz at various wineries along the East end of Long Island, we are celebrating Valentine’s Day all month.
We still have availability at our Long Island Inn – a romantic and historic property in the quaint town of East Marion. Our luxury B&B will put you far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but right in the middle of Long Island Wine Country and the Jazz on the Vine Winterfest!

Here is some of the entertainment lined up for Valentine’s Day weekend, February 16 & 17.

Jazz on the Vine returns as the theme for the 2013 Long Island Winterfest for the sixth consecutive year. From February 9 to March 17, ( extended to March 24 due to snow storm) visit the East End of Long Island to enjoy 6 great weekends of exceptional jazz performances in winery tasting rooms. Admission prices includes a glass of wine (in most cases) and a chance to win a gift basket of Long Island wines.
Make plans to come to Long Island Wine Country this winter! Outstanding jazz music and an array of special events and offers are sure to relieve the mid-winter doldrums.
Here are some of the upcoming events on our end of the Island:
Saturday, February 9th
Clovis Point (2:30 p.m.)~ The Dread Scott Trio plays Brubeck.

“The hard-swinging group never gets too deep, which might actually be a good thing: Their music has the buoyant groove of gospel and the charming shuffle of the Big Easy on parade.” -New York Magazine
Pellegrini Vineyards (3 p.m.)~ David Allen Trio. Guitarist and composer Dave Allen is a distinctive voice on his instrument and is widely respected in the jazz community as both a player and a composer. He has released two critically acclaimed recordings, “Untold Stories” and “Real and Imagined” on the Fresh Sound label, which feature original music and a well-crafted group sound.
Raphael (4:30 p.m.)~ Mark Portugal Quartet. Mark’s tasteful and artistic approach to the drums is evident while his ability to listen and react to his bandmates has propelled him to reach great musical heights. This past summer, Mark performed with the Bakithi Kumalo band at the ‘Joy of Jazz’ festival (Johannesburg, South Africa), opening for Monty Alexander and Kurt Elling.
Waters Crest Winery (4:30 p.m.)~ Mark Elf Trio. In 1995, Elf recorded “Boppin’ at The Blue Note” with Wynton Marsalis, Benny Golson, Al Grey & Red Holloway. From 1996 to 2004 on Jen Bay Records all nine of his recordings went to #1 on National Jazz Radio Charts.
Can you believe that is just one day of music during the Long Island Winterfest? Check back for more information on the performances and make sure to book your room at the Arbor View House bed and breakfast soon!

Spend an evening absorbing some art and culture at the galleries on the North Fork of Long Island. Here are some upcoming shows and events that may appeal to the artist in you.
‘Diversity’ Show at the East End Arts Gallery: Artist Frank Wimberley acts as guest Juror at the all media show. The show will be on display from January 18 – March 8. The reception takes place on Friday, February 1 5-7 p.m. The gallery is located at 133 East Main St. in Riverhead.
Barbara Pascal at the Riverhead Town Hall Gallery: Enjoy the whimsical artwork of painter Barbara Pascal on display at 200 Howell Ave. in Riverhead, until March 10.
Art Haiti: Located in nearby Greenport, Art Haiti gives you a chance to explore and take home the diverse and colorful works made by Haitian artists, most of them still living on the island of Haiti. Located at 402 Main St. in Greenport.

While the beaches of Long Island are certainly busier during the summer months, much activity still takes place along our coastline during the winter. Here are some fascinating activities taking place along the water’s edge this January:

The Storm Beach on Fire Island

On Saturday January 12th, at 1 p.m. learn about how recent Hurricane Sandy affected Fire Island. Sandy significantly transformed the landscape of Fire Island. Join this short outdoor program to compare the new landscape to what you may remember. Learn how the island has changed & how the park is responding to the challenges of a dynamic landscape. Dress for the weather & walking on sand. Rain/Snow Date: Sunday, January 13th.

Seal Walks at Montauk Point State Park

Newer Posts

Older Posts

A Vacation in New York is Incomplete Without a Trip to the Hamptons

What’s Going on in the Hamptons While I’m Visiting?

Speaking of a Scoop…East Hampton Bites

North Fork Long Island Beaches, Part II

North Fork Beaches

Lodging in Long Beach

North Fork Long Island Beaches

North Fork Beaches

Day Trips from NYC: North Fork Wineries

North Fork Wine Tours

North Fork Beaches

Escape from NYC: Last Chance to Enjoy Jazz on the Vine and Winterfest

Jazz on the Vine Schedule Highlights

Wine Tasting and Jazz Continues on Long Island

Valentine's Day Weekend Events: The Long Island Winterfest

Long Island Winterfest 2013: Six Weekends of Jazzfest

Long Island Art Shows & Galleries

North Fork Long Island Winter Beach Adventures

The Storm Beach on Fire Island

Seal Walks at Montauk Point State Park

FAQ for Paint and Pour Retreat in Wine Country

Valentine's Day Long Island, North Fork

Noah’s Restaurant, Greenport, Long Island