Nearly every North Fork weekend is packed with events. From annual celebrations to grand openings, the holiday season is full of things to do. Friends and family will be flocking into town, so we suggest trying some new restaurants, visiting old favorites, taking part in community events, and much more the area has to offer. There are also new shops to explore just in time for holiday shopping and decorating. Here’s what’s new and happening on the North Fork this month…
EAsT ON MAIN
There are few restaurants on the North Fork open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. New to the scene is EAsT on Main, occupying the former Four Doors restaurant and bar in Mattituck. The revamped, rustic space is designed to speak to the North Fork’s fishing and farming lifestyle. Menus include comfort food items like down home fried chicken and waffles, sea and coop crab cakes and eggs, and meat lover’s omelet for breakfast. Fried mac and cheese with spicy ranch dipping sauce or homemade brioche sliders topped with BBQ dry rubbed pulled pork and coleslaw are sure to hit the spot. One could never go wrong with baked Long Island littleneck clams topped with toasted bacon and Parmesan cheese to start. Friendly and inviting, the restaurant will welcome locals and tourists alike year-round.
HOMESENSE OPENS IN RIVERHEAD
Homesense is the newest store to open in the HomeGoods family. Having celebrated their grand opening in mid-October, the expansive shop offers a selection of high-quality merchandise at great prices from furniture to decorative accessories. Large-scale furniture, a rug emporium, an extensive lighting department, and a general store with everything from hardware to storage needs are offered in a space designed to offer a sensory experience. Just in time for the holidays, customers can find a number of seasonal items and décor including unique artwork, decorative accessories, and gift-wrapping essentials. Homesense is located in The Shops at Riverhead.
FISH N’ SIPS
You can count us in for any event highlighting local wine. The 11th annual Fish and Sips wine tasting event at the Long Island Aquarium will take place on Friday, November 16 from 7 to 10 p.m. More than 20 local wineries, craft breweries, and more will celebrate the local harvest by offering tastes, hors d’oeuvres, and shopping while guests peruse the various exhibits and displays. Participating wineries include Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, Clovis Point, Martha Clara, Paumanok, Pellegrini, Pindar, and Raphael.
SHELLABRATION
Bundle up for a restaurant walk in the Village of Greenport for the 7th annual Shellabration taking place on Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2. Restaurants will offer $5 plates of various shellfish dishes paired with $3 pours of wine or beer from local producers. The event benefits Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program and Suffolk Project in Aquaculture Training (SPAT). This year Castello di Borghese Vineyard’s Rosé for the Bays, produced to benefit the organization, will be paired with the complimentary shellfish plate at check in. Advance wristband purchase is strongly recommended, so don’t miss out!
CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA
Salvatore Diliberto, owner and winemaker of Diliberto Winery in Jamesport, shares his love of Sunday supper and memories of Nonna each winter with his Sundays with Grandma pasta demonstration and pairing dinners. For the holidays, this same event is offered with a Christmas twist on Sunday, December 2 and Sunday, December 9. Guests will learn how to make homemade pasta, enjoy a meal with the pasta and homemade mozzarella and special desserts, each paired with one of their award-winning wines. Diliberto, also a trained opera singer, will perform classic Italian songs and Christmas favorites. This adults-only event makes for a great holiday gift.
