Welcome to my Long Island blog.
This blog is a mini journal that will keep you up to date on all the best things to do on Long Island as well as adventures you might have missed.
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And don't forget to tell us about YOUR adventures on Long Island. Share your good times with the rest of us and I'll post your story right 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.
I had dinner at Island Mermaid on Fire Island last Thursday as part of a package deal called Taste of Fire Island. For $45/person you get dinner, ferry ride and parking.
The food and service were very good, the scenery was outstanding, and it was a nice break from mundane.
Read my full review of a Taste of Fire Island.
A lemon martini at sunset at Island Mermaid in Ocean Beach.
After a long day slaving away at the computer I went out for some dinner at Kingston’s Clam Bar. It was very windy yesterday and along the way I encountered this dust blowing across a soccer field.
There was so much dust in the air my eyes were burning.
For dinner I had clams and oysters on the half shell followed by a plate of fried calamari, and all washed down with a couple of pints of Paulaner hefe-weizen, a summertime favorite beer. (Sorry no pictures of dinner.)
After dinner I noticed the planet Venus shining brilliantly in the western sky. The picture just doesn’t do the scene justice, but I hope you get the idea of how beautiful it was.
Venus is the very bright “star” in the picture above. You can see the yellow glow of Kingston’s dining room to the right.
Black Forest Brew Haus serves up some mighty good German and American cuisine in a friendly and rustic atmosphere. Top that off with a beer from their in-house micro brewery and you’ve got yourself a worthy destination for lunch or dinner.
Continue reading about Black Forest Brew Haus
How lucky am I that some of my favorite beer is made right here on Long Island, practically in my own backyard?
Toasted Lager, Winter Ale, Hoptical Illusion, and Oatmeal Stout are a few of my favorite brews, and they’re made by the Blue Point Brewery in Patchogue just minutes from my home.
I spent a day at the brewery a couple of weeks ago with my camera and fellow writer/beer enthusiast Michael Yohe.
Read Mike’s review of the Blue Point Brewery.
Kingston’s reminds me of the some of the rough-hewn local eateries in Montauk Point. There’s nothing fancy here. The utensils and plates are plastic, and the dress code is as easy as it gets.
Check it out soon because unless the weather gets better they’re closing for the season on September 22.
Read my full review of Kingston’s Clam Bar
Sea scallops are versatile, easy to prepare, and always in season.
I’ve added a new page to my website that demystifies this favorite Long Island seafood with everything you need to know about buying, preparing, and cooking them. There’s video too!
Image below: The only way to get sea scallops with the roe is to buy them live and shuck them yourself.
Learn more about Sea Scallops.
Just when you thought the town of Greenport couldn’t get any cooler someone goes and starts a brewery.
I had heard about Greenport Harbor Brewing Company but didn’t think it was open yet. I drove by last weekend to see how things were coming and, well, see for yourself:
Right next to the jail behind Sweet Indulgences
The tasting room
In the tasting room you can taste beer, and buy pint glasses, tee shirts, bumper stickers…
First impressions: The beer (3 ales the day I was there) is excellent, and co-founder Richard Vandenburgh (in the doorway above) is an enthusiastic and gracious host. I expect good things to come.
Greenport Harbor Brewing Company
234 Carpenter Street
631-477-6681
The snappers are running and some people will do anything to catch them…
Jake and Kevin of East Islip carry their fishing gear to the dock with a neat little bike rack that they built themselves. Their custom rack carries 4 poles and a couple of tackle boxes. Good job guys!
Snapper fishing is fun, easy, and the fish taste great. Right now they’re still a little on the small side, but they will be growing by the day.
Snappers are a fish that anyone can catch—even 4 year olds—and are a great way to introduce your kids to fishing. All you need is a pole and some bait.
If you want to try your hand at snapper fishing see my complete guide to snapper fishing on Long Island. Everything you need to know is there including a video that shows you how to catch, clean, and cook them.
Good luck!
A couple of weeks ago after the Boating with the Baymen tour I had some excellent soft shell crabs and steak at Fatfish in Bay Shore.
I tried to get to another restaurant on the water, but lucky for me, the wait was too long.