August 2019

I needed to relax – and found myself in my favorite place, Stony Brook Village! The weather has begun to change and soon I know we will be surrounded by falling leaves, the sight of pumpkins and the smell of apple cider!

My last visit to the village was certainly an interesting one! I happened to overhear the most fascinating conversation about the upcoming event – Courageous Women of the American Revolution…here’s the scoop:

On Saturday September 28^th, guides dressed in colonial period attire invite you aboard trolleys at the Educational and Cultural Center to step back in time and ask yourself – What about the women? For the first time ever, the Hawkins-Mount House, the Brewster House, the Thompson House, and the Stony Brook Grist Mill will be open to the public at the same time! At each location, there will be a performance of a woman who stood proudly in the face of the red coat invasion during the American Revolution.

In Stony Brook’s Mount-Hawkins House, you will meet Ruth Mills – wife of merchant and Culper Spy Ring member Jonas Hawkins. Knowing about her husband’s treasonous choice to go against the British crown, Ruth chooses to stay strong for her family and keep her husband’s secret all the while managing the family general store and keeping up the appearance of obedience to the crown. 

At the Stony Brook Grist Mill, indentured servant on the run Katie scavenges for food. Her story includes the horrors of the British overrunning colonist’ houses – stealing belongings, food and the livelihood of the people who lived there. Katie is tired of being told what to do, where to go and who to be…and she’s ready to fight back against the red coats who have taken everything from her.

Phoebe Thompson, wife of the patriot and doctor Samuel Thompson has been struck ill during war time. She values her husband’s medical experience but can’t help but disagree with his diagnosis and treatment and instead follows her own intuition and attempts to solve her sickness all the while coming to terms with her own mortality.

The Brewster House – the oldest house in the town of Brookhaven, will have proprietor Rebecca Mills Brewster, wife of Joseph Brewster, cousin of Culper Spy Ring member Caleb Brewster. With her fear of the British and what they are capable of doing to her and her family, Rebecca does what she does best – serves them their libations, listens to their conversation and steal their weaponry.

It’s so incredible that these brave women were once members of the community and played a part in making Long Island what it is today. In fact, rumor has it that the Mirabelle at Three Village Inn (c.1751), the Country House (c. 1710), Crazy Beans, Sweet Mama’s, Pentimento, Fratelli’s, Robinson’s Tea Room are even planning on serving special menus in celebration of the event!

Some people were even talking about a special package that the Three Village Inn has: if you arrive on Friday night, you get three days and two nights at the Inn (which was known as the Old Homestead during the Revolutionary War), breakfast every morning, welcome drinks, tickets to both the Courageous Women of the Revolutionary War Trolley Tour and the Journey Through Time exhibit at the Educational and Cultural Center, plus a Stony Brook Village Courtesy Card!

Ciao for now! 

–  Suzie Q

Shining sun, blue skies and summer vibes! I am so happy that summer is in full effect! There are so many fun, interesting things to do in my favorite place, Stony Brook Village…But there is one in particular which I have found particularly exciting – the Walking Through Time…Walking Tours!

I did some digging around the Village to find out any tidbits I could about this elaborate, moving performance…Here is what I found out:

This adventure through Stony Brook history includes tour guides that are dressed in period costumes and speak in the 1^st person. As each group is led to different location, they will get to meet three extremely interesting and important women that played a role in the history of the village that we all love so dearly – Mrs. Emmet, Mrs. Smith and Miss Louise.

The tours will be taking place on Saturday July 20^th (rain date Sunday July 21^st), Wednesday July 31^st (rain date Thursday August 1^st), Saturday August 10^th (rain date Sunday August 11^th), Wednesday August 21^st (rain date Thursday August 22^nd) and Saturday September 14^th (rain date Sunday September 15^th). There will be two sessions on each of those dates – the first tour begins at 1:00pm and the last tour begins at 3:00pm. Regular tickets are $15, Premium tickets are $20 and include the Journey Through Time Summer Exhibit at the Educational and Cultural Center. Reservations can be made by calling 631-751-2244. I found the poster here!

The tour starts at the historic Grist Mill with Mrs. Alida Emmet. Mrs. Emmet brings life to the Grist Mill and its adjacent Mill Pond’s incredible history (which may or may not have been the location of the very first vineyard on Long Island!). She leads the group down the street to the All Soul’s Church explaining the creative architecture and history of the building. In her last role, Mrs. Emmet leads the group to the Hercules Pavilion to meet Mrs. Jonas Smith.

Mrs. Smith elaborates on the nautical history – including the romantic myth – of the Hercules Pavilion and its relationship with the “perfect” American made vessel, the U.S.S. Ohio! As she walks the tour over to the Three Village Inn, she explains the unimaginable wealth of her husband, Jonas Smith. With Mrs. Smith, the revolutionary history of the Inn, also known as “the Old Homestead” is explored.

This is where Mrs. Smith leaves the tour group to Miss Louise – Mrs. Melville’s go-to woman. Miss Louise explains the dedication of the Melville family to the Stony Brook area, as well as the creation and development of our home away from home, Stony Brook Village! The tour will end outside of the Stony Brook Post Office – but I heard that with the purchase of a premium ticket you get to go to one last destination – the summer exhibit at the Educational and Cultural Center – Journey Through Time. This exhibit is a collection of how our lives have changed since 1939, the perfect way to finish our walking tour!

Blue skies and bright sunny days! Summer is almost here – which means that Father’s Day is just around the bend! I decided to visit my favorite place – Stony Brook Village to enjoy the incredible weather.

I can’t believe that it’s time to fire up the grill! My father has always loved cooking al fresco and Madison’s Niche has some of the most unique BBQ platters and sauce sets. I also saw a beer cap display box that would be perfect because he loves to save the bottle caps of his favorite brews from Brew Cheese! Speaking of brews – the shop also had unique beer bottle candles!

There’s something so special about fresh and warm days – they always inspire me to buy fresh flowers. While in the Village Florist, I spotted a variety of ceramic truck vases. Speaking of trucks, the Village Coffee Market is selling k-cups in a small truck!

Some men are all about the outdoors – While I was at the Mirabelle restaurant for lunch, I noticed that The Three  Village Inn has a package designed with them in mind – “Dad’s Nature Getaway Package”! Included is a one-night stay in the inn, a ride for two on the Discovery Cruise a wine and cheese plate, complimentary drinks and breakfast!

Speaking of the Discovery Wetlands Cruise, the cruises are scheduled to be running until the end of October. They even have a number of photography cruises throughout the season! If you need binoculars, make sure to stop by Camera Concepts and Telescope Solutions. They also astronomy workshops that are starting in July for those who love the nighttime stars!

I thought about taking my Dad out for a lunch-date at The Country House for their “Scotch Special” featuring a variety of malts and surprising him with tickets for the Educational and Cultural Center’s summer exhibit Journey Through Time, starting July 14^th through September 29^th. This event features the nation, Long Island and Stony Brook over the last eight decades. It surely shows the changes! Or perhaps he would prefer reservations for the Walking Through Time Walking Tours, taking place on select dates from July through September. The tours will give the history of the area from the 18^th Century through the 21^st Century. The purchase of a premium ticket would even include entry into the Journey Through Time exhibit!

If you are worried that your gift may go unused, Gift Certificates are always available at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s office located at 111 Main Street and can be used at any location in the village. 

Ciao for now!

– Suzie Q

The Buzz around Town with Suzie Q                                                               July 20, 2018

I hope you are all enjoying how wonderful summer has been so far…especially in my favorite Village! The flower boxes in bloom… the American flags…events galore, the farm stand and so much more.

Speaking of the farm stand, I just reserved my spot for “How to Create an Organic Garden” with Heart Beet Farms at the Cultural Center this Wednesday, July 25 at 1 pm. It’s part of the 55 + Club series of great events.  Gardening season will soon be over so don’t miss the tips and tricks!  Plus I understand the organization’s Youth Corps harvested their own beet greens and kale, and are preparing Orecchiette Pasta with Greens, Mozzarella and Crispy Chickpeas, as well and a Beet Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette for all to enjoy at this event.  Sounds so delicious!  Heart Beet Farms will also be in the Village selling lots of veges and more each Saturday now through October 13 in front of Crazy Beans. 

I came down to the “Motorcycles through Time” exhibit at the cultural center over the weekend!  The exhibit was always a wow but there are so many new pieces and new bikes to see it really is amazing.  They have over 35 bikes there, from a 1902 Rambler to a 2018 Can-Am Spyder, as well as the same type of motorcycle Elvis owned – a “ 1975 Rupp Centaur.” Another not-to-be-missed event …and it is open 7 days a week 10 am to 5 pm until summer’s end! While I was there I see that registration is now open for the Walk for Beauty on October 21 benefitting breast cancer research.  It’s a 4K/6K Walk and a 10K Run.  I just registered and you can do it too right here: https://wmho.org/wfb/

It’s really been great weather for a Discovery Wetlands Cruise also so I took advantage and surprised mom and dad for their anniversary.  The sights and sounds you see through the harbor into the wetlands are truly breathtaking.  They loved it and booked a few more on their own including the next photography cruise on August 25.  My dad is such a camera enthusiast and Camera Concepts here in the village gives a class prior to the cruise and then will critique your photos afterward on an enormous high definition TV screen inside the gazebo.  How great is that!  My uncle recently took the cruise and loved it.  He has a way with words so I’ll share his comment – “It’s a great mix of education and entertainment, while learning useful and creative photo techniques and having fun doing it!”

I love the very special alfresco dining choices here like the hidden garden at Pentimento, the new deck at Sweet Mama’s, patio dining at Three Village Inn and of course the outdoor courtyard by the serene waterfall in Inner Court with a great lunch from Robinson’s Tea Room or Crazy Beans!

I’m off now to get some shopping done but want to share one last bit of “buzz” – There will be a Harbor Jazz Festival — on the Village Green – on August 18^th starting at 11 am.  Check the Jazz Loft website…. and put that on your calendars! 

Ciao for now…Suzie

Suzie Q

July 2018

I’m sorry I haven’t been telling you the latest buzz around the village! I’ve been so busy with graduations, birthday parties and barbecues but now 4^th of July is upon us and I came down to my favorite village to pick up some things for summer.

I stopped at Madison’s Niche to grab myself a nice beach bag and cover up before going over to Cottontails to buy my niece some toys for our next trip to the beach. While I was thinking of it I gave the Crushed Olive a visit for some of their delicious barbecue sauce and oils for grilling. Brew Cheese had everything I needed to complete the meal with a beautiful cheese platter and unique craft beers. While walking across the Inner Court I noticed that Heartbeet Farms has an organic farm stand set up every Saturday morning and they’re even having a talk on July 25^th for the 55+ Club on organic gardening at the Cultural Center.

Whenever I’m in town I always check in at the ECC to see what’s happening. This weekend on July 7^th the Motorcycles through Time exhibit starts with over 30 bikes on display from 1902 to the present day. I can’t wait to learn fun facts about pre-WWII Motorcycles!

How excited I was to discover that the next night the Sunday Summer Concert Series on the Green begins. This year is extra exciting because they have three performances in one night. This Sunday it’s Ava Della Pietra, 13 years old (direct from Broadway!), Sara Caliguiri who’s 15 years old and a finalist from Long Island’s Got Talent contest and the famous NY’s Most Dangerous Big Band.

I understand from the WMHO folks they had their big gala last week and that two tickets for Getting the Band Back Together are available if you’d like to purchase them. The donation if fully tax deductible because WMHO is a 501(c)(3) and the minimum donation is only $140.00. Give them a call for more information!

Have a Happy 4^th of July!

Ciao until next time.

Suzie Q