While in years past the North Fork’s primetime season ran from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it has been picking up speed as a year-round destination. The Thanksgiving holiday saw no shortage of visitors and locals alike frequenting favorited main street and tucked away restaurants, cool hangouts, and shopping at local stores and boutiques. It is during this cozy holiday season that the community comes together to celebrate a successful year and unwind with one another. Come January, the fun resumes on a not so sleepy North Fork. Beat the bitter cold now through the New Year with a mix celebratory and casual events.
Adult Christmas Tree Shopping
Farm life is actually pretty fun on the North Fork. While we cherish the joyous family experience of picking out the family Christmas tree, sometimes a little something for the grownups too is just as appreciated. Mattituck’s Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm is offering just that by teaming up with local wineries to offer tastings and glasses in the winter wonderland they have created. Sip wines from Pellegrini Vineyards and Saltbird Cellars on weekends now until the trees are gone. You can also cozy up by the outdoor fire pits, listen to music and carols, nosh on snacks and treats, and of course, find the prefect Christmas tree.
New Year’s Eve in Greenport
Year after year you can watch the ball drop in Times Square on television, or for the brave, in person amidst the large city crowds, but that same old routine heading into the New Year doesn’t give us quite the thrill it may once have. You don’t have to travel far to experience a swanky New Year’s Eve. The Frisky Oyster in Greenport steals the show with its elegantly decorated, intimate interior spiced up with hundreds of metallic balloons that cover the restaurant’s entire ceiling. Indulge in a decadent meal with the Front Street hotspot’s signature Oysters Friskafella, Prosciutto Wrapped Egg, Crescent Farms Duck Breast, or Wagyu Tomahawk Ribeye for Two. Sip Champagne to ring in the New Year, and dance the night away here or at other festive venues just steps away.
Cure the NYE Hangover
If you took our advice, chances are you’re in need of a little R&R post New Year’s Eve celebrations. As First and South in Greenport readies to take their annual winter break come January, they’re celebrating with one last hoorah on New Year’s Day. This cool and casual spot will offer its Blow Out Brunch/Recovery Day beginning at 11 a.m. They’re inviting guests to nurse their hangover with a little hair of the dog in the form of bellinis, mimosas, or a Bloody Mary. Get your comfort food fill with dishes like chicken and waffles, bangers and mash, or French toast. Whatever you order, it’ll be the perfect remedy to a night of celebration and a North Fork start to 2018.
Martha Clara Wine 101
You’ve survived the holidays, now take some time to do something just for yourself. The off-season is an ideal time to learn about one of the area’s biggest attractions – the Long Island wine region. Learn about the terroir, seasonal harvest, and vintages in an inviting setting that isn’t overcrowded by fellow tasters at Martha Clara in Riverhead on Sunday, January 14. The vineyard will host their Wine 101 class in which recipients will be part of a conversation discussing the basics of winemaking, wine tasting, the region, and the vineyard’s own history. Though the vines are bare, this class is a beautiful complement to what draws you out.
Explore the North Fork in the winter months and close out the holiday season with a bang. Whether it is sipping and learning about wine, or donning a top hat or party tiara to ring in the New Year, these events will help fill up your social calendar, and even relax after the last party ends. Happy Holidays!
