Unique gifts can be found at these North Fork favorites
In person shopping is back on the upswing for the 2021 Holiday season! Despite some issues with inventory availability and supply chain disruption, North Fork shops and boutiques have much to offer the discerning shopper looking for unique and one-of-a-kind gifts which are vintage or crafted. Candles, home fragrances and artisanal soaps and lotions remain perennial favorites, as do picture frames, china/glass home decor items. Swing by some of our favorite holiday gift spots:
Greenport boasts an array of shops, many of which will remain open through the holiday season. Start with Alex Vinash on Main Street in Greenport, located in the lobby of the swanky boutique hotel, American Beech. The shop, which shares space with the hotel’s lobby, features women’s and menswear by the Argentinian-born designer as well as candles, coffee table books, throws and other home decor items curated by Vinash. If you are looking for women’s accessories, peruse the handmade jewelry, handbags and shoes. There’s even a couture children’s line. (Open daily. 300 Main Street, Greenport)
While the pandemic has caused supply chain disruptions all across the nation, The Times Vintage remains chock full of fashion, art, furniture, bric-a-brac and vinyl records. The dedicated shopper can find groovy gifts for men and women, vintage toys for kids and racks of vinyl records for that retro audiophile on your holiday list. One-of-a-kind vintage textiles, bric-a-brac, glassware, china and small electrics make unusual and special gifts; vintage jewelry, sunglasses, hats and other accessories are perfect, unique stocking stuffers. (Open daily. 429 Main Street, Greenport)
For the foodie on your list, head on over to Southold General. Run by Chef John Fraser and the team behind The North Fork Table & Inn, “The General” is a cafe which offers a specially curated selection of goods mostly from the North Fork. Gift items include specialty spices and oils, pasta and sauces, as well as artisanal glassware. Coming for the holiday season are specialty gift baskets of food and sundries. Grab some breakfast, homemade pastries and coffee before taking off on your holiday shopping, or break for lunch with the General’s delicious, artisanal pizza followed up by a creamy gelato. Fresh produce and take-away salads and meals are available as well. (Open daily. 54180 Main Road, Southold)
Tucked away in New Suffolk is local fave, Summer Girl. Home to all things New Suffolk, owners Kim and Danny Petrie stock tee-shirts for the whole family, baseball caps, and totes with NoFo and New Suffolk logos. Distinctive and unusual gift items include quaint tea sets, antique knick-knacks, books and postcards and a collection of vintage walking sticks and canes for that person on your list who has everything. Hand-made soaps, all-natural lotions and fragrances, seashell mobiles, crafted holiday ornaments and women’s and children’s apparel round out the available holiday offerings. (Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon. 775 First Street, New Suffolk)
No holiday shopping trip to the North Fork is complete without a trip to Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm in Cutchogue. Find and cut down your perfect tree from over 8,000 Douglas firs planted on 28 acres; precut trees are also available. While the kids go skating on the brand-new synthetic rink or visit the animals in the petting zoo and make s’mores in the fire pit, you can find those last minute, holiday-inspired home decor, gifts and stocking stuffers for everyone on your list. Choose from thousands of Christmas and specialty ornaments, Christmas Villages and artificial trees. Gather the family for photos with Santa on the weekends beginning in November; stay for Santa’s Storytime. (Open daily. 30105 Main Road, Cutchogue. Check Santa’s schedule at www.santaschristmastreefarmli.com)
Find all things sand and surf at Beacheeky, located in the Feather Hill shopping plaza in Southold — until December, when the boutique is slated to move to newly-renovated Einstein Square just a bit further east on Main Road. This is the perfect place to find girlie gifts for sisters, daughters, moms, aunts and besties — even though local owner Catherine Earl does stock tees, hoodies, and other gift items for the guys on your list! Find cozy apparel, casual jewelry as well as candles, beach glass art and other giftware. Looking for something a bit more formal for that dress-up holiday party? Peruse the gowns and dresses on the second floor. (Open daily. 53345 Main Road, Southold)
These are just a small handful of North Fork shopping options for the holidays. There are so many from which to choose so shop local!
Happy Holidays to all!
