Colorado Teddy Bear Factory (27 hits)is located on Sound Ave., in Riverhead in the Baiting Hollow Commons. It is the first and original make your own bear store on Long Island.

We visited the Colorado Teddy Bear Factory (27 hits)with our local school. What a great time the children had. The owners of the shop make it pure fun for the kids from explaining the origination of the name Teddy Bear, to making the teddy bear, designing it and even a magic show. One of the children yelled out "This is the best place ever". All the children were involved and had a great time.

I highly reccommend visiting the Colorado Teddy Bear Factory (27 hits).

If you asked for mead from your local grocery store or restaurant, don’t be surprised if you’re met with a blank stare or feel disappointed if you’re served one with a taste that might not be like anything you’ve had before. Mead is an alcoholic drink that very few people are familiar with, although it doesn’t lack for fans and enthusiasts.

Mead is neither beer nor wine and probably the only brewery on Long Island where you can go to enjoy it is in Long Island Meadery, a small company that has been brewing mead since they first learned of this drink at a medieval recreationist event. They were so impressed with the drink that they decided to brew it themselves.

A Brief History of Long Island Meadery
Long Island Meadery is operated by Paul Holm and started out as a home-kitchen brewery. As the production and demand increased, the owners decided to extend its line beyond the kitchen and produce commercial mead, under the name Long Island Meadery which is under the management of Medieval Brews. The company was incorporated in June 2000 and opened for retail in November 2004.

If you’re not familiar with mead, here is some information about this very old alcoholic beverage:

Mead is the term used for any alcoholic drink that is made from fermented honey, hence its other name, honeywine. It can either be traditional or flavored with herbs, fruits, vegetables and spices. The great thing about mead is that it can be customized to the imagination and taste of the brewer.

Mead was one of the earliest alcoholic beverages ever produced, with its history going back to more than 8,000 years, although it’s largely undocumented. The most popular alcohol then was grape wine which was especially common in the southern climates but up north, where grapes were not available, brewers used honey instead.

Most people’s first impression of mead is that it is too sweet and indeed, it can be since it is made from the fermented honey. But brewer’s can opt to produce mead that is not too sweet at all and in fact, it can be paired with different flavors to produce one unique taste.

Tasting
Long Island Meadery offers free tasting at special events. To know where the next tasting event is, visit their website at Long Island Meadery (22 hits).

‘Ask for Mead’
To drum up more interest in this interesting drink that’s a class all its own, Long Island Meadery’s website features an ‘Ask for Mead’ campaign on its home page, where visitors are encouraged to ask for mead beverages in stores, bars and restaurants to increase demand and availability of this drink.

Mead Products
Long Island Meadery offers mead in different flavors: Peach Mead, Strawberry Mead, Peach/Apricot, Strawberry/Raspberry Mead, Black Raspberry Mead, Red Raspberry Mead, Pineapple Mead, Root Beer Mead with buckwheat honey and Traditional Mead made of 100% clover honey.

Two of their award-winning mead flavors are Apple Cyser (Gold Medal from the International Mead Festival) and Blueberry (Medal Winner from New York Food and Wine Classic). All mead flavors carry a hint of orange blossom and have an alcohol volume from 11 to 13%. 750mL bottles are priced from $12.50 to $14.

Is that sediment in my mead?
Don’t panic if you find particulates in your bottle of mead. This is caused either by continued fermentation or re-fermentation. Continued fermentation is when mead is bottled before fermentation has stopped. Re-fermentation can occur when fermentation stops and starts again after the bottling process.

If you find sediment in your mead, keep the mead cold in the refrigerator. The drop in temperature will halt the fermentation process. Mead also has more residual sugar which may appear as sediment at the bottom of the bottle. When it’s time to serve the mead, try to hold the sediments down while pouring off the top.

How to order
Long Island Meadery currently accepts orders only from New York residents. They are located at 1347 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 11 in Holbrook. For orders or more information, they can be phoned at 631-285-7469 or faxed at 631-472-7310. Case orders have a 10% discount and all orders are charged tax and shipping fees.

Online ordering is not yet available, but out-of-state orders may be arranged with their retailer, Lake Liquor.com (9 hits). Currently, their products are available in Pennsylvania. For more information and a look-see at their flavors and pricing, go to Long Island Meadery (22 hits).

If you love getting out into nature and appreciating the beauty of our wondrous land, a trip to Montauk Point State Park should definitely be on your to do list. If world-class surf fishing off Montauk Lighthouse is your thing, you can work on catching lunch while others enjoy hiking, nature walks and photographing the seals or winter birds as they bask in the warm sun.

Montauk Point State Park is about a hundred and thirty miles from Manhattan and is near Hither Hills State Park and Montauk Downs State Park. The whole area is beautiful and untouched, offering a simplistic contrast between soil and sea. There is nothing that recharges your batteries quite like those fresh ocean breezes! It is a perfect family holiday destination, with activities like hiking, hunting, cross-country skiing and bush walking. Not to mention ocean fishing, bird watching, beachcombing and guided seal watch walks.

The park, like most others in the area, is open all year from sunrise to sunset. You are able to hunt for small or big game in their permitted seasons. If you are planning to take your dog, that’s okay, but be aware there are restrictions as to what areas they can go to. Watching the sun go down from high up on the cliff reminds you of how small you are and how big and beautiful the world is. It is experiences like these that help you put everything back into perspective and really relax with the rhythms of nature.

Montauk Point Lighthouse is part of Long Island’s heritage and has been protected through time from possible corrosion. Surfcasting or ocean fishing from the moors is an exciting and rich experience. Permits are not required and fishing there will feel like you’ve have stumbled onto a secret gold mine nobody knows about. It is considered one of Montauk’s top fishing places and there are experienced and devoted anglers who return repeatedly for that Montauk Point exhilaration.

About the Lighthouse

The lighthouse was built in 1792 (George Washington himself approved building the structure). The lighthouse was completed in 1796, making it over 210 years old. It was the first lighthouse built in New York and is, therefore, the oldest standing structure of its kind. Its warning lights flash at five-second intervals and it's 110'6" high. Originally it was painted white, until the 1900’s, when the brown band was added. The lens on the light was also changed around the same time. There are a hundred and thirty two steps to climb to the top and, when you do, you can gaze over more than seven hundred acres of natural beauty. Standing firm as the waves pummel below is an amazing feeling you have to experience for yourself, as you look over the Atlantic Ocean with views to Block Island.

A museum has been arranged in what was once the light-keepers quarters. There you can see historical photographs and artifacts. There are guided tours where you will be taken through the entrance of the parlor to see drawings and photos from 1791-1939. In the bedroom, there are models of the lighthouse, what it was and what is predicted for its future because of the effects of erosion. The south basement, which used to be a dining area, now screens a movie for tourists called "The Montauk Lighthouse, Sentinel of Long Island". There is a spectacular lighthouse model in the central hallway and what used to be the radio room is currently the light-keepers quarters today. In the oil room, you will see the original light’s lens and you will be lead up the spiral staircase to see the new lens and lantern room and take in the view. The first assistant keeper’s bedroom is now a gift shop for museum memorabilia and the place where the tour ends.

Montauk Point State Park has so much to offer those who visit. It is becoming a popular tourist destination as more people become aware of the beauty and history it has to offer. There are activities for the whole family, as well as plenty of beautiful havens to relax and enjoy time together to unwind from city life. An experience as special as Montauk Point State Park is one you keep with you for a life-time and one you will want to return to time and again.

The Garvies Point Museum and Preserve is currently the center for any research on the geology of Long Island as well as a valuable resource in studying Long Island’s Native archaeology. Their goal is to interpret and preserve the natural, historic and prehistoric heritage of the Island.

The collections that are maintained in the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve are artifacts that are geological and archaeological in nature. These collections are actually used in educational museum programs and exhibits. These are also available for special research projects. Dozens of programs that are related to the local archaeology, geology and outdoor themes of Long Island and the environment are continuously offered to academic groups within school hours.

How did the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve come about?

The fact of the matter is that the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve was part of the estate of Thomas Garvie. Thomas Garvie was actually a physician and is one of two doctors in the northern part of Glen Cove during the early part of the 19th century. Garvie a businessman had also been a clergyman .

During the year 1797 Garvie, studied at Presbyterian Ministry. However, for reasons still unknown, he left the Ministry and became a candidate for the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons. He was issued a diploma in 1800.

In the family bible of the Garvies, it is found the first record of James and Thomas Garvie when they arrived in the US, specifically in New York. The same family bible also recorded that Thomas Garvie was married to Hellen. The same book also record the birth dates of their kids, James in the year 1812, John in the year 1813, Thomas in the year 1815, Jean in the year 1817, William in the year 1819, Helen in the year 1822, George in the year 1828.

What really does the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve offer?

The focus point of the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve is its exhibit offerings which emphasize the Native prehistoric American culture, archaeology, Long Island geology and the state of New York. The geological exhibit of Long Island features the history of the glaciers and how its current land features originally formed. There are dioramas that detail the climate changes as well as sea level as far back as twenty thousand years ago.

The exhibits that feature archaeology cover how man migrated from the continent of Asia towards the New World. There are also Indian life dioramas showing how they lived in Long Island. Also on display are Indian artifacts.

Basically, the whole Garvies Point Museum and Preserve encompasses 62 acres of moraine glaciers covered by thickets, forests, meadows. Various wildlife is also in the preserve, these includes more than 100 bird species. The Garvies Point Museum and Preserve is also the perfect place for bird watchers and nature photographers.

All in all, the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve is an excellent source of educational programs. It helps keep the heritage of the country and of Long Island in a way that is unique as well as entertaining.

Planting Fields Arboretum is an historic park state found in Long Islands historic public arboretum site at Oyster Bay.

Formerly known as the Gold estate Coast, the Planting Fields Arboretum is actually comprised of more than four hundred acres of rolling lawns, greenhouses, gardens, paths as well as excellent collections of plants.

Historic original buildings still remain, this includes the sixty five Tudor room Revival mansion Hall which remain open for any tours throughout spring to fall.

The Planting Fields Arboretum grounds was landscaped by the Brothers Olmsted from Massachusetts. These grounds are beautiful all throughout the year.

Programs that are educational are also offered to both children and adults in various areas and special topics and interests.

The Planting Fields Arboretum is a location that is ideal for photography especially for weddings that it hosts more than two hundred different events every year.

The Planting Fields Arboretum is a great retreat for enthusiasts of design and history, horticulturists as well as visitors that are looking for a quiet place or to those who are on the lookout for state of the art and hi tech solutions for art gardening.

The Arboretum began during the years 1904 to 1912. It all started thru the efforts of Helen Byrne. She was the wife of, James Byrne a lawyer from the New York city. Jameswas able to purchase six properties which were all collectively referred as the Upper Fields Planting Farm. The Byrnes then hired an architect who was an expert in landscape, James Greenleaf. Between the years 1904 to 1910, he created perennial borders, hedges andfruit tees. Some of the more memorable features from this period were the Arbor Rose, the Pool Circular, the Green Court Garden. 

Then, in the year 1913, William Coe bought the house and the whole three hundred fifty three acre estate. Since then, they began the landscaping and planting of the estate under the tutelage of the landscaping firm of Boston, specifically AR Sargent and Guy Lowell. In the year 1915, Sargent and Lowell saw the transport of Fairhaven Copper Beach tree which came from Fairhaven Massachusetts. The two huge trees with ball roots thirty feet in diameter were slowly ferried across and through Long Island in the middle of winter. Roads were widened and wires were removed albeit temporarily in order to make way for the trees. Though only a single tree was able to survive from the original two that were ferried it is still standing today.

The Coes preference to rare tree species as well as collection of plants made the whole estate a marvel of botanical prowess.

The gardens at Planting Fields Arboretum

The Italian Blue Garden Pool had the following plants in it which bloomed spring perennials: irises, delphiniums, peonies, poppies. It is now being brought back and restored to its original form.

The Synoptic displays more than five hundred types of shrub and trees all arranged in an order that is alphabetical by its botanical name. Meanwhile, the collection called Magnolia has more than eighty types of evergreen and deciduous Magnolia

I was just reading a post over at LennDevours (2 hits) about the Seafood Barge restraurant in North Fork. It seems some of their customers were unhappy with the fact that they were adding a surcharge to various menu items during the Long Island Restaurant Week (6 hits)

The Restaurant week deal is that participating restaurants were to have agreed to offer three course meals for a fixed price of $21.95/plate. The post says that Seafood Barge added the surcharge to four out of the every six price fix menu items.

If it’s true, Shame on Seafood Barge!

Read The Full Post Here! (4 hits)

The Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium is a must-see if you find yourself in Long Island, New York. Learning has never been this fun once you educate yourself the Vanderbilt way!

History of the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
Located right inside the Gold Coast estate of the Vanderbilt clan, the museum was acquired in 1947 but opened its doors to the public three years later. The museum contained the collections of William K. Vanderbilt II ranging from marine to ethnography to natural history. Today, the museum is a proud member of the American Association of Museums and is also included on the National Register of Historic Places. The planetarium was built in 1971.

The Spanish Revival Mansion
There are 24 beautiful rooms in total that visitors can explore inside the Spanish Revival Mansion. These rooms have been built in three primary phases between the years 1910 and 1936. The original architectural head of the Spanish Revival Mansion was the Warren & Wetmore firm, the renowned maker of New York’s Grand Central Station.

The Vanderbilt Museum
Enlighten yourself with knowledge of the past by walking through the hallowed hallways of the Vanderbilt Museum. There, artifacts and other historically significant objects that William Vanderbilt II had painstakingly collected in his lifetime have been carefully preserved. Paintings, mansion furnishings, weaponry, ship models, foreign objects, specimens from the marine science and natural history and important books and photographs are just some of the items used in the exhibits of the Vanderbilt Museum.

One of the main attractions of the Vanderbilt Museum is a 3,000 year old mummy and its poly-chromed case which was bought in 1931 at Cairo, Egypt. It continues to be the focal point of many educational programs today.

Adhering to the desires of William Vanderbilt II to share his knowledge with the public, the Vanderbilt Museum offers its visitors guided tours so that they can better understand all the items on display in the museum.

The Vanderbilt Planetarium
With a 60-foot tall dome, the Sky Theater is definitely a sight to behold. It can successfully project images of the solar system as well as other astronomical phenomenon. The Vanderbilt planetarium is also used to display special laser shows.

For Halloween 2006, the in-house staff of the planetarium has created “Haunted Skies”, a frighteningly enjoyable 30-minute program that details the origins of the end-of-October holiday.

Eclipse is a show that helps viewers better understand this celestial phenomenon and its relations to Christopher Columbus, Mayan Civilization and Ancient Egypt.

Hubble Vision 2 on the other hand is a visual exploration of the universe through Hubble Space Telescope, one of the world’s most powerful telescopes.

In the Planetarium’s lobby, visitors can further expand their knowledge of the space and universe with the exhibits displayed there. There is also a TV monitor provided to inform visitors about current NASA space activities. A calendar of events is also posted on the bulletin boards of the Planetarium for visitors to know what they can expect in the succeeding months.

The best way to end your visit at the Vanderbilt Planetarium is to take a souvenir with you from the Planetarium’s gift shop.

What You Should Know Before Visiting Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
The museum opens from noon to 5pm, Tuesdays through Sundays, however, the ticket booth closes one hour before closing. Admission fees depend on the time of your visit. Daytime guests are all required to pay the general admission fee. You will have to pay extra for Planetarium shows and mansion tours. The admission fees for evening shows are slightly higher. Contact them directly for group tour information.

Visit there website (21 hits)for more information

Technorati Tags: suffolk county, long island, long island museum, centerport, suffolk

You Hungry? Well, you're in luck - It's Long Island Restaurant Week! That means you can enjoy three course meals at some of the Islands best restaurants for only $21.95 a plate… Nice!

Here's hot it works. From November 5th to November 12th (Sunday to Sunday), All particpating restrauants offer a three course meal for the ultra low price of $21.95. The specials run all night except Saturday, when they end at 7pm. Enjoy!

Here's a few of the restrauants that will be partipating:

Gurney's Inn - Montauk
Il Capuccino - Sag Harbor
Danford's on the Sound - Port Jeff
The Cooperage Inn - Baiting Hollow
The Schooner - Freeport

Plus a whole lot more…

Find out more at the official -Long Island Restaurant Week (32 hits) website.

Technorati Tags: port jefferson, danford's, gurney's, long island

Sagamore Hill once housed the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. Fondly known as the President’s Summer White House, Sagamore Hill only became a national historic site upon his death in 1919.

Some things to know...

Tickets for Sagamore Hill National Historic Site can be purchased at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center and the Bookstore is open from 9am till 4:45pm. The Roosevelt Home is available for viewing from 10:00am till 4:00pm.

The Summer White House is not an air-conditioned facility so make sure to dress appropriately during summers. The third floor of Sagamore Hill may also be closed for preservation purposes when it’s just too hot.

Main Attraction: The Roosevelt Home

What you can see now is almost exactly how it was during President Roosevelt’s time upon his return from his African Safari in 1910 and one year after the end of his term. Tour guides provide a detailed history of each and every one of the 23 rooms available for viewing. As you move from room to room, you will slowly gain cherished insights to what life must have been like for President Roosevelt and his family in those days.

The Roosevelt Museum at Old Orchard

To learn more about the Roosevelt family, make sure to drop by at the Roosevelt Museum, which is another main attraction at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. Visitors again have the option of taking a guided or unassisted tour inside the place. Movies are available for viewing.

Nature Trail

The home of the Roosevelt family had also been designed to allow members to enjoy the beauty of nature. The Sagamore Hill Nature Trail is one such example in which Roosevelt family members were able to bask in nature’s glory. The trail is the exact path that President Roosevelt and his family used whenever they headed for Cold Spring Harbor to enjoy outdoor activities.

Make sure that you take your time enjoying the sights as you walk this path. Try to catch a glimpse of the wonderful waterfowls that are known to inhabit this area.

Animal and Bird Watching

Visitors can also enjoy viewing the diverse species of animals inhabiting Sagamore Hill. Although most of the animals you’ll see are city dwelling and therefore familiar sights, you may also catch a glimpse of box turtles, spotted salamanders and the rare Cornet Darner if you’re lucky. At present, it has also been estimated that more than a hundred species of birds have been spotted at Sagamore Hill.

Award Giving at an Award Winning Site

The Sagamore Hill National Historic Site is also the venue used for ceremonies of the Theodore Roosevelt Police Awards. The recipients have been chosen because of their outstanding service to the country in spite of their physical handicap or disabilities.

Visiting Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Independence Day

If your Long Island tour coincides with the Fourth of July Celebration, expect crowds, but it’s worth it. The lineup of events for its annual 4th of July celebration usually involves speeches from notable figures. In 2006, nuclear aircraft carrier Captain J.R. Haley was among the invited guests.

About Theodore Roosevelt

Widely known as a family man, President Theodore Roosevelt was a proud and dedicated father of six children. One of the few individuals in the world to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and the Medal of Honor, President Roosevelt displayed passion for numerous undertakings, ornithology, history, hunting, and horsemanship to name a few. Theodore Roosevelt was also one of the first conservationists of the Country as well as a recognized patron of the arts.

No Long Island tour will be complete without a visit at this beautiful and historic place. Directions to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site can easily be obtained online.

Technorati Tags: teddy roosevelt, long island historic sites, long island history

Here's a nice post about Spending he summer in Sag Harbour. The Blogger does a great job of describing what makes Long Island so Great. Here's a sample:
We hit the full spectrum. From investigating the pricey boutiques of towns like Southampton and East Hampton, to sneaking on to the private beaches of Bridgehampton. Firing up the grill and savouring the catch of the day accompanied by Long Island corn and fresh vegetables, to getting special treatment at the wineries and restaurants where another friend knows all. Plus not missing out on all the local goodies — local delis like Loaves and Fishes (5 hits), roadside produce stands, and institutions like The Lobster Roll in Amagansett (better known simply as "Lunch", which has a book (One hit) written about it) and the Clam Bar (4 hits) on Montauk Highway.

Enjoy the full post here (6 hits):

Technorati Tags: sag harbour, sag harbor, southhampton, bridgehampton, east hampton