The Long Island Blog

As I was on my belly taking this picture, I heard a voice asking me if I was looking for rats. “No, I’m just taking a picture of this torn glove.” In response to the giant question mark on the guy’s face, I explained that with the crates and crab trap in the background it might turn out to be a nice shot. You know, one of those artistic ones you see for sale in the little shops in Greenport or The Nautical Mile.

As it turns out the guy asking the questions was John Buczak, one of the few Long Island baymen still earning a living at this ancient, vanishing craft, and it was his dog that bit the thumb off of the glove.

We shot the breeze for a while, covering all the important topics like high fuel prices, decreasing fish populations, increasing regulations, and all the seafood imported from who knows where. We wondered what the future holds for Long Island’s baymen and fisheries, and if it would someday be impossible to eat locally caught fish.

Hmmm…

Read more about John and other noted baymen in this New York Times article.

Greg, a former Long Islander now living in Virginia, shares this story about his wonderful wedding on the north fork of Long Island. Makes me wish I was there…

Read A Long Island Wedding to Remember.

Have a story you’d like to share? Here’s how.

Here’s a great review of Cielo sent in by Lonni Michelson-Prince of Islandia.

Do you have a favorite restaurant? Here’s your chance to rave about it.

We had some pretty rough weather last weekend and while visiting the beach I saw some striking bands of red and black sand tossed up by the waves.

Whitecaps and waves on the Great South Bay

This is a common sight and you’ve probably noticed these colors in long strips running lengthwise down the beach. The colored sand is composed of garnet and magnetite in roughly a 52/45% proportion with the remaining 3% composed of other minerals. The soft white sand that makes up the majority of Long Island’s beaches is quartz.

A lot of garnet and magnetite on a beach at the East Islip marina

As a kid I always wondered why and how the red and black sand grains gathered together. It wasn’t until my junior high school science teacher, Mr. Lewis explained it to me that the mystery was solved. The garnet and magnetite are much denser than the quartz, so wind and wave action affect those grains differently. That tends to sort them out from everything else.

If you want to look like a geek next time you go to the beach, bring a magnet and magnifying glass (like I do). Drag the magnet through the sand and then look at it with the magnifying glass. You’ll see that it picks up black grains of the aptly named magnetite, which is composed mostly of iron.

This excellent Long Island Ghost story was sent in by one of my readers. He tells of an encounter with a dead baker in Southold on Long Island’s north fork.

Read Seeing a Spirit of Southold. Then tell us your scary story.

Karilyn and I went to the Snapper Inn last night to celebrate her birthday. The food and service were excellent (as always), and there’s nothing like dining by the warm glow of a real wood fire.

This is truly one of our favorite Long Island restaurants. (For more pictures and information please see my full review of The Snapper Inn.)

Toasting with Guinness and cabernet–a reflection of our personalities indeed…

I took this picture of us by balancing the camera on a wine glass at a nearby table and using the self-timer. Yes, I sometimes get strange looks when I do this, but I hate to ask the waiters to snap a picture when they’re busy.

Tell us about your favorite restaurant and see where other Long Islanders are dining.

Bill,

I really enjoy the Long Island blog, photos of random places and your everyday experiences. This is a great web-site about Long Island.

I’m from Alexandria, VA and lifelong resident of the DC area but my wife is from Center Moriches and her family goes back generations up there. We used to go back up to visit her folks all the time but they moved to the DC area a few years ago, so we rarely get back up there now.

I miss Long Island, it’s a very special corner of the world. I have great memories from our times up there and always look forward to going back. My wife and her parents miss it too, so they’ll enjoy your web-site.

In fact, I think my father-in-law has already discovered it, as he has emailed me things over the past year that I now realize he got off your web-site! Keep up the good work.

Best regards,
Greg

If you’d like to share your comments, compliments, complaints about my site, well then, have your say. -Bill

There are only 4 places on Long Island where you can belly up to the bar for a homemade beer and a burger. John’s Harvard’s is one of them. (For information on the others, see my guide to Long Island beer, breweries and brewpubs.)

A buddy of mine and I spent some time there on a recent Friday night and were somewhat disappointed with the beer. Not so much that I wouldn’t go back, and in all fairness I should, but my first impressions were mediocre.

Here is my full review of John Harvard’s Brewhouse.