The Long Island Blog

Just a quick post with some pictures from the annual Halloween boat burning at the Long Island Maritime Museum.

Live music all night long.

The burning boat is spectacular and keeps everyone warm.

This was a 40' sport fisherman.

Huge clouds of smoke filled the air.

Good food from the truck, and trinkets for sale under the gazebo.

A handsome rowing skiff is the raffle prize.

Kathleen Prokesch, director of special events, announces the lucky raffle winner.

Sunday was a great day on Long Island. Beautiful weather assured success for many of the festivals scheduled and many Long Islanders, including myself, managed to get out of the house to enjoy what was probably the last warm day of the year. And at 85 degrees, it was record breaking warm.

My choice for the day was the Snapper Inn, one of my favorite restaurants. It’s on the water, it’s very close to where I live, and it’s real good.

After enjoying that one last, hot, summery day, I feel like I am finally ready to embrace Fall.

I really did, at the Long Island Maritime Museum’s annual seafood festival.

Blue Island Shellfish Farms was a sponsor and they served up Naked Cowboy Oysters all day long for only 1$ each.

The festival was great fun and I actually got to meet the Naked Cowboy (or one of his clones). Click the link above or image below for the full story and pictures.

I stopped by Flo’s yesterday for an early dinner and was pleasantly surprised to see that they’ve added a small bar.

The original intent was eat & run, but we ended up staying for about 4 hours. That’s the power of good food and good service…

Continue reading the full review of Flo’s Famous Luncheonette.

Loving-long-Island.com contributor Emily Monaco has been visiting some of Long Island’s south fork wineries. Here’s what she had to say about Channing Daughters Winery, Duck Walk Vineyards, and Wolffer Estate Vineyard.

When you’re done in the vineyards check out Emily’s excellent food/philosophy of life blog Tomato Kumato.

Fellow writer and beer lover Michael Yohe has been visiting the Long Island breweries with stops at the BrickHouse Brewery, the Bluepoint Brewery, the Brooklyn Brewery and Black Forest Brew Haus.

8 beer sampler at Southampton Publick House.

All of these breweries produce excellent beer and some serve food as well. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite. From west to east here’s the lineup:

Brooklyn Brewery – Read Mike’s review of the Brooklyn Brewery here, and get some behind the scenes info with his interview with Brooklyn Brewery’s marketing manager Ben Hudson.

Black Forest Brew Haus – Excellent beer and German/American cusine. Read Mike’s review of the Black Forest Brew Haus here.

John Harvards Brewhouse – Ha! I beat Mike to the punch on this one. Here’s my review of John Harvard’s Brewhouse.

Blue Point Brewery – I love this place. Click here for Mike’s Blue Point Brewery review.

The BrickHouse Brewery – One of my favorites for great beer, food, and music. Read my review here, and Mike’s review of the BrickHouse Brewery here.

We’re not done yet. The are 2 more Long Island breweries we have to visit: Southampton Publick House and the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company. Stay tuned…

For a look at all the breweries on Long Island check out Long Island Beer, Breweries and Brewpubs.

I’ve heard many people say that The Hideaway is the best restaurant in Ocean Beach. I was always a little skeptical because of it’s association with Houser’s Bar, a no frills local hangout.

Now that I’ve been to The Hideaway myself, I have to agree that this is one of the best, if not the best restaurant I’ve ever been to on Fire Island.

Read my full review of The Hideaway.

Hidden away behind a fish market and completely invisible from the street, Matthew’s Seafood House Restaurant draws little attention. The entrance, located at the end of a narrow alleyway, is more intimidating than inviting, and so I’ve passed right by this restaurant many times without taking much notice.

It turns out I’ve been missing quite a bit.

Read my full review of Matthew’s.

This is Matthew's fish market. The restaurant is down the alley to the left.

The good and bad about what should be one of Fire Island’s better restaurants.

Read my full review of Bocce Beach here.

The Island Mermaid is one of Fire Island’s best restaurants. With the largest wine list and menu on Fire Island there’s something for everyone at prices typical for island dining. The service is good and the spacious deck offers beautiful sunset views of the Great South Bay.

Read more about Island Mermaid.

Island Mermaid as seen at night from the top deck of the ferry.