The holiday season in the historic maritime village of Greenport, just 5 minutes drive from Shorecrest Bed and Breakfast in Southold began Saturday, November 27th with the arrival of Santa and the lighting of the holiday tree in Mitchell Park. Every weekend through to the New Year events are scheduled in the village for children and adults, including the opportunity for shopping, great dining (such as Noah’s and The Frisky Oyster) plus concerts, house tours, films, and much more for your entertainment.

The season culminates with a bang – literally – on New Year’s Eve with a party and celebration at the carousel in Mitchell Park, the traditional raising of the anchor, and spectacular fireworks over Greenport Harbor. For a complete list of events you can visit the Greenport Holiday Festival website and for photographs and more pictures, the Suffolk Times on line newspaper has a comprehensive spread on Greenport and the festival activities this week. Parade photo by Katharine Schroeder/Suffolk Times Review

Fireworks over the Harbor in Greenport

Visitors to Greenport and the North Fork discover a treasure trove of delights for all appetites; gifts for everyone on your list; decorations and gift wraps; antique stores and museum shops. All the villages along the length of Rout 25, one of the two east to west roads from Riverhead to Orient Point offer their own unique holiday festivities.

Each year the Southold Historical Society hosts a candlelight tour of the Historic District in December to coincide with the North Fork Bed and Breakfast Associations Holiday House Tour; also in Southold is the Custer Institute Observatory, which is open every Saturday evening for star gazing or catching the latest meteor shower. Southold is famous for its dark skies and lack of light pollution and star gazing is a favorite of Shorecrest Bed and Breakfast or rental house guests from our beach on the Long Island Sound.

Speaking of things to do on the North Fork during the holidays and winter, we cannot forget to mention the wineries and vineyards. Shorecrest Bed and Breakfast is making its own wine this year with Lisa and Anthony Sannino of Bella Vita Vineyard on Peconic Lane in Cutchogue, the only custom wine making facility on the North Fork of Long Island. We are just printing up our first label and hope to have some bottles ready to serve and gift in time for Christmas this year. Shorecrest and the other members of the North Fork Bed and Breakfast Association (NFBBA) also offer to our guests an exclusive winery discount card, with special offers on purchases and complimentary tastings at over 20 wineries.

So come along and enjoy the festivities during the holiday season; we are open for visitors Christmas day and the week between Christmas and New Year, and every weekend throughout the winter. We look forward to welcoming you to Shorecrest soon.

Wishing you a very happy holiday season and healthy and Successful New Year

Marilyn

Innkeeper and Manager, Shorecrest Bed and Breakfast and Property Management

Chefs and vintners are banding together to get the word out about the area’s delicacies before the tourist season hits full swing.

The Long Island Wine & Food Festival will celebrate a world class wine region! A premier travel destination on the East End of Long Island, the North Fork delivers remarkable cuisine, boutique wineries, craft beer, and quaint accommodations. Festival guests have the opportunity to learn about local flavors, tastes, sights and smells of Long Island’s wine country.

Meet local and celebrity chefs. Enjoy local wines and fare. Experience the rural character of Long Island’s North Fork.

The three-day festival kicks off with an exclusive cocktail reception on June 25th. On Saturday, June 26th, be sure to keep your glass full while experiencing the wines, food, and activities that our 41 wineries will offer. The festival culminates Sunday, June 27th with a Grand Tasting in the historic village of Greenport, a working seaport since the 18th century.

It is sure to be a weekend to remember!

The New York Times had a great article here

See the full schedule here to find out whats going on at the wineries.

Noah’s – Noah Schwartz is the former chef at the Seafood Barge in Southold and has expensive experience from his tenure at top California restaurants.  Noah focuses on offering small plates with prices ranging from $6 to $15.  His menu is varied with great reviews on the scallop ceviche and pomegranate ribs.  Since this restaurant just opened in January, I am sure that this is just the first of many raves.  They also offer wine in 2-3 oz. pours which can be paired accordingly with the different small plates. 

The Frisky Oyster – Open Wednesday through Sunday, they offer a menu which changes weekly and pulls together an internally inspired mix including a homey carrot and red lentil soup with Asian spices or a grilled striped bass with spinach with a delicious potato cake.

Greenport Brewery Company – Fact, they make really good beer!  They offer free tasting of three different types of suds – pale ale, an IPA, and a porter.  They consider beer a complement to local wines, not a conflict. 

Vine Street Café – currently the Vine Street Café is under expansion and scheduled to reopen in March.  Zagat said in November “although a limited menu, everything was superbly prepared”.  We anticipate this trend to continue when they reopen in March. 

Bon Appetite from the Shorecrest Bed & Breakfast!

We still have rooms at the Shorecrest Bed & Breakfast for this weekend and next, the perfect place to stay between meals while on your Gourmet adventure. I’m thinking up something special for the breakfasts as well!

Greenport
Porto Bello Restaurant 631-477-1515
Scrimshaw Restaurant 631-477-8882

Jamesport
Jamesport Manor Inn 631-722-0500
Jedediah Hawkins Inn 631-722-2900

Mattituck
a Mano 631-298-4800
A Touch of Venice 631-298-5851

New Suffolk
Legends Restaurant 631-734-5123

Riverhead
Jerry and The Mermaid 631-727-8489
Stonewalls At The Woods 631-506-0777
Tweed’s Restaurant and Buffalo Bar 631-208-3151

Sag Harbor
Blue Sky Mediterranean Lounge 631-725-1810
Oasis Waterfront Restaurant 631-725-7110
Tutto il Giorno 631-725-7009

Shelter Island
Vine Street Cafe 631-7493-210

South Jamesport
Bayview Inn & Restaurant 631-722-2659

Southold
North Fork Table & Inn  631-765-0177
Seafood Barge 631-765-3010

Wading River
Amarelle 631-886-2242
Blackwells Restaurant 631-929-1800
Desmond’s Restaurant & Lounge at The Inn and Spa at East Wind 631-846-2335
LaPlage Restaurant 631-744-9200