Georgio's Coffee

THIS LOCATION HAS MOVED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

1965 NEW HIGHWAY
FARMINGDALE, NY. 11735

Did you know that we have our very own coffee roaster on Long Island? Until we came across Georgio's Coffee, neither did we. Located at 146 West Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station, this fine find is very easy to miss if you don't know it's there (and, if you like coffee, it would really be a shame to miss it).

Owned by Georgio and Lydia (a husband and wife team), this unassuming shop carries a wide variety of fair trade, organic and farm direct coffees that come from Columbia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Hawaii, Yemen, Peru and many other places around the world, including the Galapagos Islands. (Yes, that's right - the Coffee is grown on the Galapagos Islands.) Some tea, which is blended by Lydia, is also sold at Georgio's.

Lydia and Georgio are very knowledgeable about coffee and seem to have very good relationships with the farmers growing the beans sold at their shop. Pictures of the farms hang on the walls of the store and Georgio and Lydia can tell you about how the coffee is grown, picked and roasted. There are even samples of the coffee at various stages around the shop.

Georgio's has a few small tables so you can definitely hang around and drink a cup of coffee there but, by the time you're done drinking, you'll want to take home a bag. The place smells delicious and the coffee tastes wonderful. The only thing bad about Georgio's is that you'll be addicted on your first visit!

STORE LOCATION:

146 West Jericho Turnpike

Huntington Station, NY 11746

Georgio's Coffee

631-920-2077

A Night at the Casino

When it comes to the survival of the area's marine life, we don't like rolling the dice unless it's happening at Casino Night! Friends of the ocean, we know you've been fishing for ways to help support The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation in its mission to rescue and rehabilitate stranded seals, sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises and whales ever since we told you about them in April (and for those of you who just like to gamble, here's your chance to feed the habit). 

Next Friday, August 1st, at 7pm, The Riverhead Foundation is hosting its annual Casino Night fundraiser at Atlantis Marine World Aquarium. Head out to Riverhead on Friday night and spend the weekend exploring the East End (Jedediah Hawkins Inn in Jamesport is a great place to rest after a night of gambling if you can get a room - HINT)!

The $150 Casino Night ticket includes dinner and cocktails as well as $100 in playing chips. Play your cards right and all proceeds go to support the mission of The Riverhead Foundation. There will also be a raffle and silent auction for the guests!

To purchase tickets, go to Riverheadfoundation.org or call 631-369-9840.

Good luck!

LOCATION:

431 East Main Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

Riverheadfoundation.org

631-369-9840

Beautiful Wreck

If you like to eat in diners with character, Tim's Shipwreck Diner is definitely worth a visit (probably more for the atmosphere than the food, but that doesn't stop us from going back again and again). Known as the Northport Diner in the 1920s (after being relocated to Long Island from Massachusetts), the place (now over 100 years old) was renamed Otto's Shipwreck Diner sometime in the 1970s. Several years ago, it became known as Tim's Shipwreck Diner (when Otto retired and passed on the business to his son).  

Running the joint out of an old fashioned dining car, Tim maintains a tight ship. Though there is a huge menu of options for your dining pleasure, we like the pancakes, egg sandwiches or blintzes for breakfast and the egg salad sandwich, fish-n-chips or turkey sandwiches for lunch. The best treat at Tim's is the homemade cornbread and jam (it's surprisingly yummy),which is brought to your table with breakfast (when available). 

If you'll be going to Tim's on a weekend, get there early.  The breakfast crowds are already lining up out the door by 10:00 am. Once seated, be sure to order with caution. Tim doesn't like picky eaters and most likely won't customize your order. Like we said, Tim runs a tight ship and you don't want to find yourself overboard!

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

46 Main Street

Northport, NY 11768

631-754-1797

Wining and Dining

THIS LOCATION HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

We've written about Northport before, but today we want to tell you about a new wine shop and tasting room there called Northport Tasting Room and Wine Cellar (NTR). Aside from having a very interesting and good selection of wines from Austria, Africa, Greece, Israel and elsewhere around the world, the staff is attentive and knowledgeable and the overall concept of this shop/tasting room is quite original.

Focused on selling and serving wines from unusual locations, the folks at NTR have literally made the store the heart of the space. Surrounded by glass windows, the shop becomes the center of the building. As guests sit at the bar or at tables to taste wine or enjoy it by the glass, they can look into the shop to view the bottles for sale. 

Since you might not have sampled many wines from the regions featured at NTR, attending a weekday tasting could be fun and educational. Otherwise, come on a Friday or Saturday and order a couple of glasses to have with a meal - we're sure you'll find a wine to take home. 

Eating and drinking at NTR is a luxury we debated keeping all to ourselves (we're telling you, these guys are very smart). At NTR, not only can you enjoy delicious wines, but you can also order dinner from almost any restaurant in Northport Village, including Maroni! That's right - go to NTR on a Friday or Saturday night, order a great bottle of wine and enjoy your favorite entree from Maroni, or another restaurant in Northport, and have it delivered directly to your table. 

Now, that's what we call wining and dining! We just hope that it takes a few years before the locals figure it all out.

WINE CELLAR LOCATION:

70 Main Street

Northport, NY 11768

631-261-0642

northportwines.com

  

Old Secret in Kings Park

What may be an old secret to some (and you can tell by looking at many of the folks here that they've kept it for a long time), is very new to us! This place is real gem, and it's also a little tricky to find so pay attention.

Located in Kings Park, there is an area along the Nissequogue River that will make you feel like you've been transported to a small resort beach. The water is clean and the terrain is diverse. Rocky with patches of grass in some spots and sandy with clear blue water in others, the river is the perfect place for explorers, swimmers, fishermen, sun lovers, boaters or kayakers (although you'll have to launch your kayak from the nearby ramp at Nissequogue River State Park if you're not from the Town of Smithtown). There is a town parking lot immediately upon entering the beach. There is also state parking a little further up the hill (you'll see it on your left when you enter the beach parking area). If you are not a resident, you can park your car there.

To get to this spot, take 25A east. Pass the entrance to Sunken Meadow on your right and keep going. Turn left at Old Dock Road until it ends.

When you arrive at the end of Old Dock Road, you'll see Short Beach across the River and the charming Old Dock Inn to your right. Here you can enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks while sitting inside, in front of one of the picture windows that highlight the beautiful view. 

The luncheon specials at Old Dock Inn are reasonably priced (ranging from $10.95 for a very large seafood stuffed Portabella Mushroom appetizer to $16.95 for a Cold Lobster Plate). The selections on the menu mainly contain seafood, but there are also burgers if you're not big on fish. The food is okay, but spending the day by the river is definitely the main reason to come here, and when you do, we're sure you'll discover why this is one of the best kept secrets on Long Island.

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

798 Old Dock Road

Kings Park, NY 11754

631-269-4118

olddockinn.net

Pure Pizza

If you're a pizza purist then go to Little Vincent's in Huntington. The place is small and crowded, and the lights are annoyingly bright (you might need sunglasses), but you won't care once you eat the pizza. Thin and crisp, with the perfect amount of sauce, the cheese pizza at Little Vincent's is the best on Long Island. Anyone who says otherwise is LYING! Almost every time you go to Little Vincent's, you'll hear someone say out loud how much they love the place.

Ate already? That's okay because Little Vincent's is open until 2:00 am every day except Friday, when it closes at 4:00am! Stop here on your way home from work, after a long day in NYC or after a night out in Huntington. Whether you're eating the pie sober or sauced, this pizza wins the cheese pie prize.

PIZZERIA LOCATION

329 New york Avenue

Huntington, NY 11743

631-423-9620

Long Island Daycation

With high gas prices and limited time, daycations seem to be all the rage these days. If you're planning one, we've got a suggestion. Start your day in Centerport with lunch at the Mill Pond House, which is located just off of Route 25A. Call in advance to make a reservation to sit outside, overlooking the pond. All of the outdoor seating (and even the indoor window seating) is lovely, but there is a spot that we think is the best in the house. A small deck area, with about two tables, is located on the second floor. If you can get a seat there, you'll feel like you have the restaurant, and the view, all to yourself. Since the larger table seats at least four, and the smaller seats two, you'll most likely need to have the appropriate number of people in your party to reserve one, or both, spots. If not, you'll still have a great time eating on the patio downstairs or having a drink at the tiki bar.

For lunch we recommend ordering off the Lunch Menu (although you can also order from the Sushi or Raw Bar menu). When you order from the Lunch Menu, you'll get a complete meal for $18.95. The Crabcake Sandwich is good (we prefer it without the bread, which is a bit larger than the cake) and the Apple Crumb dessert with ice cream is a nice way to end the meal. 

Don't worry about being rushed. The staff gives you plenty of time to sit, eat a leisurely meal and enjoy the view. While the food isn't bad, it's the view you'll enjoy most. 

Speaking of views, the area is filled with interesting little beaches and sites. When you've relaxed enough at the Mill Pond, we suggest you explore by taking a ride to one of the local beaches in Asharoken. Take Asharoken Avenue until it turns into Eaton's Neck Road, then follow the signs near the end of the road for the beach. This is one of our favorite beaches because it is somewhat secluded and there is ample parking. For non-residents, the parking fee is $15.00. 

When you're ready to leave the beach, exit to your right, make another quick right into the cul-de-sac. Look for the interesting sculptures on the beach. 

When you've completed your tour (because unfortunately all good vacations must come to an end), follow the cul-de-sac out to Eaton's Neck Road and back to Asharoken Avenue. You will eventually find your way back to 25A where you can head east or west to get back home. 

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

437 East Main Street

Centerport, NY 11721

631-261-7663

millpondrestaurant.com

Enjoy Your Independence!