The Buzz is Back! - Stony Brook Village Center

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