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BRING YOUR HAY-GAME! SCARECROWS RETURN TO STONY BROOK VILLAGE IN OCTOBER
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STONY BROOK, NY – August 21, 2023; This October, scarecrows will once again line the walkways throughout Stony Brook Village in the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 33rd Annual Scarecrow Competition! Register as an individual, group or professional and create a scarecrow masterpiece. First place winners will receive a cash prize. Registration and entry fee of $30 due by Wednesday, September 20th.
Vote for your favorite scarecrows between September 30th and October 25th. Ballots can be found in all shops and eateries in Stony Brook Village. They must be returned to shops no later than October 25th to be counted. Winners will be notified on Tuesday, October 27th by 5pm. All winners will be announced during the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Halloween Festival on October 31st.
The sponsors of the 31st Annual Scarecrow Competition are as follows: Green Towers Group, Long Island Speech, Goldfish Swim School and Dr. Robert Quilty, Ph.D.
Registration for this event is required. You can pick up a registration form at any of the shops in Stony Brook Village, or you can download it digitally from the events section of the Stony Brook Village Center website. To enter this competition, please return the completed registration form to the Ward Melville Heritage Organization – P.O. Box 572, Stony Brook, NY 11790, with the entry fee of $30.
For more information on the Scarecrow Competition, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) or the Halloween Festival, please call the WMHO at 631-751-2244.
ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR MEN & MAN’S BEST FRIEND COMING TO STONY BROOK VILLAGE
As of October 19th, 2023 – D.K. Brothers has officially opened to the public! Visit them Monday – Saturday from 10am – 7pm or Sundays 10am – 6pm.
STONY BROOK, NY- August 1, 2023: Stony Brook Village and Madison’s Niche are excited to announce an addition to the lifestyle center – D.K. Brothers by Madison’s Niche. Expected to open this Fall, the boutique will offer a curated collection of men’s apparel, lifestyle gifts, and luxury pet accessories.
Customers can expect to shop denim, t-shirts, dress shirts, casual wear, small leather goods, travel accessories, home accents, fragrances, books, and many more gift categories. D.K. Brothers will also feature an elevated pet collection to shop for special outfits, accessories, toys, bowls, beds, treats, and more.
Karen McAvoy founded Madison’s Niche in 2012 with her daughter, Madison, as the brand’s inspiration and namesake. Like Madison’s Niche, D.K. Brothers is a concept inspired by and named for Karen’s sons, Daniel and Kenneth. Today, over a decade later, Madison’s Niche remains a celebrated retail staple that has since expanded to eight brick-and-mortar locations (Stony Brook Village, Huntington, Garden City, Sayville, Plainview, Rye Brook, and Woodbury) along with an e-commerce platform.
To stay updated, visit madisonsniche.com, stonybrookvillage.com, and on social media @madisonsnicheboutique and @stonybrookvillage.
NO MORE BAD HAIR DAYS: VILLAGE HAIR STUDIO JOINS STONY BROOK VILLAGE
STONY BROOK, NY- August 1, 2023: Stony Brook Village is proud to announce the newest addition to its open-air center, Village Hair Studio. Currently offering washes, blow-outs, cuts, styling and coloring (highlights and balayages), massages, facials and make-up services. In addition they offer hair setting, bridal services, wax services (hair removal), hair smoothing treatments and perms. They also sell accessories like hats from Madrid, Abanicos (Spanish fans) and fascinator hats! The Village Hair Studio will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am-6pm, Thursdays, 10am-8pm and Saturdays, 10am to 5pm.
Proprietor Cynthia Alfonso Hernandez was just a little girl in Cuba, she dreamed of owning her own hair studio. At age 16, she and her grandfather made that dream a reality when they constructed her very own backyard salon. She offered services such as cuts, coloring, nails and more. As an adult she moved to Russia, and then Spain. Finally in 2017, she found her new home in the United States, where just five short years later, in 2023, her dream of owning a hair studio came to fruition. To make your appointment, call (631) 675- 0987
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MUSIC TO OUR EARS! WMHO’S SUMMER CONCERTS RETURN
STONY BROOK, NY: June 8, 2023 – The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) is excited to announce the long awaited return of the Summer Concert Series on the Village Green. These free concerts will take place in front the Stony Brook Post Office at 7pm on Sundays from July 9 to August 20.
Performances include: Just Sixties, the longest running sixties tribute band in the United States, on July 9; Country Rhythms, a country music line dance instruction group, on July 16; Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks, the premier barroom troubadour and house band, on July 23; The Rustlers, a high energy group performing southern rock songs on July 30; The Bob and Tony Band, Covering your favorite hits of the 50s, 60s, 70s & beyond on August 6.; The Equity Brass Band, a six piece ensemble performing in the tradition of the New Orleans Brass Bands on August 13; and the Long Island Sound Symphony, an orchestra comprising of about 50 pieces, will perform a combination of light classical songs, movie themes and Broadway tunes on August 20. In the case of rain, the concerts will be cancelled.
The 2023 Summer Concerts Series on the Village Green is made possible by our sponsors: the Tantillo Auto Group, Camco Services of NY, Inc., Realty Three LLC., and Michael Ardolino – Realty Connect USA.
FREE FAMILY FUN FOR THE SUMMER – THE WMHO’S POP-UP SATURDAYS RETURN THIS JULY!
STONY BROOK, NY: June 8, 2023 – The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) is excited to announce the return of Pop-Up Saturdays in Stony Brook Village! This seven-part series family-friendly event will take place Saturdays July 8 – August 19 from 1:30pm – 3:30pm and is filled with animals, music, art and even magic! Rain dates to be releases closer to each date. Pop-Up Saturdays are free to the public and will take place in Stony Brook Village’s Inner Court (by Crazy Beans and/or the Waterfall Garden). 
2023 Pop-Up Saturdays Lineup: On July 8, Uncle Tony’s Reptile Shack: an interactive, fun and educational presentation where the public will meet snakes, lizards, tortoises, and more! On July 15, live R&B, Roots, Blues and Contemporary Acoustic music from Brenda & Burke, as well as Caricatures by Marty! On July 22, Magic of Amore and Last Chance Animal Rescue. July 29 attraction to be announced. On August 5, Radical Reptile Entertainment: a fun and educational interaction with reptiles. On August 12, the Silly Magician and Caricatures by Marty. On August 19, Brenda & Burke will close the series.
The 2023 Pop-Up Saturday sponsors are Armor Pest Control, New York Life Insurance Company and Dr. Rocco Morelli, DDS
STONY BROOK VILLAGE RIBBON CUTTINGS: NEW OWNERS, GRAND REOPENING & NEW EATERY!
STONY BROOK, NY: June 13, 2023 – The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) is proud to announce the ribbon cutting of three (3) Stony Brook Village Center establishments: Robinson’s Tea Room, Camera Concepts & Telescope Solutions, and Schnitzels today.
Robinson’s Tea Room is under new ownership by Donna & Michael Aliperti. The eatery continues to serve English high teas, light bites and more. Robinson’s Tea Room is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am – 4pm. Reservations can be made by calling (631) 751-1232. They are located in Inner Court at 97E Main Street in Stony Brook Village.
Camera Concepts & Telescope Solutions suffered a fire in February. After four months, the shop and showroom are reopen. One of the only shops in the state of New York that specializes in astronomy, photography and more, Camera Concepts and Telescope Solutions also offers a variety of cameras, telescopes, binoculars and children’s educational toys and activities. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10am – 5pm, and Sundays 12pm – 5pm. The shop is located in Market Square at 85 Main Street in Stony Brook Village.
Schnitzels is the newest eatery in Stony Brook Village, occupying the former Grist Mill Eatery. A collaborative concept between Crazy Beans & Brew Cheese, the restaurant will offer an all-day menu that will feature German bratwurst and pretzels, different variations of schnitzel with other fun dishes. They will be serving eggs for breakfast, lunch sandwiches, dinner appetizers with share plates, and entrees, all available for take-out. They will have a beer and wine list that will include German style beers and local craft beer on tap. Schnitzels will be open seven days a week. Their soft opening will begin Tuesday, June 27 and their hours until grand opening will be Monday through Thursday, 9am – 9pm, Friday and Saturday, 9am – 10pm and Sundays, 9am – 9pm. If things come together, they will open sooner if possible. The eatery is located in Market Square at 77 Main Street in Stony Brook Village.
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The Buzz is Back!
Well…Hello there!
Welcome back to the Buzz Around Town with me, Suzie Q: Where you get all of the need-to-know scoops on everything in Stony Brook Village!
I hope you haven’t fallen too far into that post-Holiday slump…but even if you have, I know exactly what you need to recharge: a day in our favorite place, Stony Brook Village! Let me tell you about my visit this past weekend:
My bestfriends and I decided to start our day off with coffees. We met at Crazy Beans for a quick caffeine fix. I ordered a gingersnap latte off of their winter specials; the sweetness of the gingerbread and cookie flavor worked perfectly with the cinnamon syrup and coffee – it warmed me up on this chilly day!
While we sipped, we discussed our plan for the day: some shopping (I did not tell my husband about this part), a visit to the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, lunch and a stroll through the village.
I knew exactly where our first stop would be: Madison’s Niche!
On our way to the shop, we passed by the newest restaurant in the village, Luca. They weren’t open yet as it was morning, but we still looked at the menu and peeked through the windows. We were enamored by the sleek gold embellishments, modern marble bar and rustic wood logs that separated the rooms. We decided immediately that this was where we needed to go for lunch. I made a 1pm reservation on their website with my phone.
As we entered Madison’s Niche, I was awed by the varieties of home décor: with themes of coastal oasis, modern home, southern living and cozy spaces…plus, everything in between. I found the perfect gift for my sister’s birthday party next week: a bar tool set and a marble charcuterie board. I made a mental note that I’d have to stop by Lake Side Emotions Wine Boutique before leaving to complete her gift.
Before I could leave the store, my nose caught a whiff of the most delicious smell. It was a diffuser with scents bergamot, marine and jasmine…which I purchased as a gift…for myself!
We stopped inside Loft before leaving the Market Square section of the village. There, I found the most beautifully colored velvet pants. They match my new blouse from Mint that I picked up last week, and my jacket and scarf from Chico’s!
After our short shopping spree, we headed over to the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. As soon as we walked through the front doors we were met with floor to ceiling of all things music and entertainment.
The main exhibit on the first floor currently showcases Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene between the 1960s and 1980s.
Walking through the exhibit is very much like doing a club crawl, and features clubs such as My Father’s Place, Hammerheads, and Mad Hatter among others, where bands such as Twisted Sister, Zebra, Joan Jett and so many more played.
The permanent “Hall of Fame” upstairs features artifacts from musicians, awards, apparel and other items from some of the over 120 inductees, a mix of musicians and entertainers. My parents would absolutely love this new addition to the village! Before leaving, I stopped by their front desk to purchase a gift certificate for their anniversary.
By the time we were finished taking in the museum, it was almost time for our lunch reservation. We had a few additional minutes to spare so we leisurely strolled passed the shops in the Inner Court section of Stony Brook Village, right by the waterfall. Blue Spa caught my eye. I decided to stop in and see what specials they were running for the month.
Did you know that Blue uses Eminence Organic Skin Care? I love that the company uses “sustainable farming and green practices to create natural, organic and biodynamic products”. The Fire and Ice Facial caught my eye – it’s perfect for sensitive skin that needs soothing. The winter wind has really been doing a number on my face, so this is just what I needed! I booked an appointment for later in the week and left with a smile on my face – I can’t wait to feel beautiful, inside and out!
I could barely contain my excitement when we got to Luca. From the moment you enter through their doors, you can tell that this is meant to be a dining experience. The waitress let us know the specials of the week, and all about their menus. All of their produce is grown on Long Island, as well as locally sourced oysters. All of their cocktails are crafted by their skilled bartenders – They even have modern and traditional takes on classic drinks!
We ordered our drinks, for myself an espresso martini (yes, I am a caffeine fiend). Myself and another friend selected the two plates for our two-course lunch (which is served Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm – 2:30pm, by the way), while the other opted to do only one dish. I chose the capunti and the tagliatelle.
The capunti is made of bite sized pasta that is bathed in a delicious pesto with broccoli rabe, pine nut and pecorino (pictured). It hit all of the flavor notes, savory and refreshing at the same time.
After my first bite, I made it a point to save room for dessert. The tagliatelle is made of a long, wide pasta that is wrapped in the best Bolognese I have ever had. The beef, pork, pancetta and parmesan make this dish incredibly satisfying.
We had our leftovers wrapped and ordered coffees for the table and dessert to share: the tiramisu, hazelnut chocolate cake and maritozzi. Each bite was everything you want from a dessert, flavorful and perfectly sweet.
Our coffees even came with a delicious bite of pistachio biscotti that they make in house as well. We enjoyed ourselves so much and had such a wonderful time we all decided to come back for dinner next week on Tuesday at 5pm with our husbands (dinner is served Tuesday through Thursday 5pm – 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday, 5pm-10pm and Sunday, 4pm-9pm).
As we strolled through the village we noticed that there was an Audio Experience of Stony Brook Village created by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) that was free to enjoy. We scanned the QR code and were brought to a screen that featured different stops around the village. We decided to learn more about Post Office.
It seems that a new stop was added and features the history of the Hercules Pavilion too! There are a lot of things I learned in this section of the Audio Experience that I never knew about our favorite place!
We decided to stop into Village Florist and Events to get a bouquet made. The winter blues have already begun to take effect in my household. A colorful arrangement always cheers us up! I had forgotten all of the cute items the Village Florist has – mugs, candles, décor, garden items and more. I need to remember that for my next visit. Before leaving, I stopped into Lake Side Emotions Wine Boutique to add a bottle of wine to my sister’s gift. I love that this shop was created for people who care about the wine that they drink!
I can’t help but reflect on my day: it was filled with so many magical new experiences. Stony Brook Village always delivers a full heart and an even fuller stomach!
XOXO, Suzie Q
BLACK FRI-YAY IN STONY BROOK VILLAGE
Black Friday returns to Stony Brook Village Center on Friday, November 25. Shop Black Friday deals all day long throughout the village, with carolers, live music, and a petting zoo from 2pm to 4pm, as well as the opening of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Rocking Horse Farms will be set up in front of the Rustic Loft with a variety of animals for children to pet. Burke and Brenda will be performing original and cover songs in the genres of R&B, Roots, Blues and Contemporary Acoustic at the Stony Brook Post Office. The Celestial Holiday Carolers will be performing holiday music throughout Market Square (shops between Luca Modern Italian Restaurant and Harbor Cleaners). Black Friday deals will be available all throughout the open-air center. A full list of Black Friday deals and sales will be available online at stonybrookvillage.com mid-November.
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame will be open to the public. The upstairs exhibit space will feature a permanent “Hall of Fame” with plaques and exhibits recognizing the over 100 and growing inductees. The main exhibit space will be the first rotating exhibit “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene: 1960’s – 1980’s”.
Black Friday in Stony Brook Village is sponsored by News 12 Long Island.
LOOK BOOK LUNCHEONS RETURN FOR FALL SERIES!
Foodies and shopaholics unite for a three-part series of luncheon fashion shows in Stony Brook Village. Each part of the series will take place from 12:30pm to 2pm at a different restaurant (the Country House Restaurant, Luca Modern Italian Restaurant and Mirabelle Restaurant at Three Village Inn) and each will feature different fall styles from Mint, Chico’s and Loft. $35 per person at each restaurant for a prix fix lunch.
As guests enjoy their lunch, models will stroll through the restaurants, sharing information about the fall fashion they are wearing. The three-part series will take place at separate dining locations – On November 3, at the Country House Restaurant, on November 10 at Luca Modern Italian Restaurant, and November 17 at Mirabelle Restaurant and Tavern at the Three Village Inn.
To make your reservation, contact the restaurant directly. The Country House Restaurant’s phone number is (631) 751-3332 and is located at 1175 North Country Road in Stony Brook. Luca Modern Italian Restaurant’s phone number is (631) 675-0435 and is located at 93 Main Street in Stony Brook Village. Mirabelle Restaurant can be contacted at (631) 751-0555 and is located in the historic Three Village Inn, at 150 Main Street in Stony Brook Village.