Patchogue is alive all the time—not just for its “After 5” festival.
If you’re not from around here, you probably can’t pronounce “Patchogue”—and for good reason; Patchogue was originally inhabited and named by natives from the Unkechaug Nation. The word means “Patches of Water” and when you take a deeper look at this booming town nestled on the South Shore of the Great South Bay it is, in fact, full of lakes and rivers rendering the name really appropriate (and also kind of beautiful). There’s so much for locals and visitors to do in this lovely town that’s made up of patches of water, that I think it often gets overlooked as a great way to spend a summer day.
To Do
Alive After Five is a free summer street fair that takes place on certain Thursdays (yup, you guessed it) after five o’clock. Currently in its 15th year, this event has grown so much that the village now provides shuttles from local St. Joseph’s College and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church to manage parking and leave room for foot traffic. This event includes six stages of live music and entertainment, nearly one-hundred retail vendors, almost a dozen food trucks (plus all those wonderful local venues), children’s activities and amusements, and more! Plus, if you’re local, it’s impossible to walk down Main Street and not see a friend or neighbor. This is what summer is all about.
Don’t let its unassuming facade fool you; Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is a hidden gem.
Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center
This center is in fact a hidden cultural gem of Patchogue. Tucked away behind Main Street (on Terry Street), the center regularly shows an assortment of eminent mainstream, independent, and foreign films, as well as offerings of opera and plays live from world stages. This not-for-profit constantly offers film series and festivals with guest speakers. They even offer a three-week, short documentary film production class over the summer that is held nearby at Isabella Rossellini’s farm. Classes are suitable for adults and kids ages 14+.
There are conflicting views about how Fire Island got its name with some supposing it was a misspelling of the Dutch word “vier” which meant five when describing the number of inlets. Others have more romantic views of pirates luring boats filled with cargo to the island by setting large fires. (Who doesn’t like a good pirate story?) I always just assumed, however, that it was the way the island looked like it was on fire during the sunset because it faces south after all, which makes it sunny all day. Whatever the name, an 18-minute ferry ride will deliver you to Davis Park on Fire Island. This public beach has all the required beach amenities such as life guards, public restrooms, an oceanfront bar and restaurant and snack stands. You can also feel free to bring your own picnic. It feels like a vacation thousands of miles from the mainland.
Carman’s River Canoe and Kayak II
Carman’s River Canoe and Kayak II offers rentals, tours and lessons for canoes, kayaks and paddle boards. It is located on the Carman River and in the Wertheim Wildlife Refuge. The Carman River is home to over fourteen species of native fish, leaving you the option of spending a lazy afternoon catching dinner while enjoying the beauty of your surroundings (that’s what I consider efficiency), or taking your Instagram account up a notch by exploring the wildlife & waterscape while unleashing the photographer inside of you who’s just dying to be set loose. If the latter sounds more your style, Carman’s Guided Kayak Photography Tour is designed with you in mind.
To Eat and Drink
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Do you ever go to a place, swear you’re going to try something different, but in the end order the same thing you always do? There’s a reason for that: Sometimes, a place does something so right, you just can’t risk not getting it (I call this the “But What If This Was My Last Meal?” game, because honestly, you’d totally regret it if you didn’t just get your favorite). Anyway, for me at PeraBell, it’s the Baked Mac & 4 Cheese appetizer which is covered in cheese (obviously), has the perfect crunchy top, and is flawlessly paired with bacon and chives. I usually follow this with the Chop House Burger and Fries. It’s a glorious mess, so we usually end the evening here.
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There’s no better way to escape our everyday world than by enjoying island-inspired cuisine on the rooftop of Rhum. Opened in December 2016 by David and Rachel Hersh, owners of Rumba and Cowfish in Hampton Bays, this restaurant brings much needed Island Time to Patchogue, as well as the incredible fine cuisine they’re famous for. Whatever you order (I’m partial to the NOLA Shrimp) you can be sure it will be delicious and, of course, a relaxing time well spent with family and friends. Especially if you go ahead and order one of the many rum-inspired drinks on the menu. (Obviously.)
Famous for its Toasted Lager, Bluepoint Brewery—one of the largest craft brewers on Long Island—has been a fixture in Patchogue since 1998. In 2018, the ever-so-cozy location will be giving way to a larger Brewhouse which will include a restaurant, a tasting room, and an outdoor biergarten (yes!) at the former location of Briarcliff College (and to locals, the site of the old lace mill). While the news of this opening is highly anticipated, let’s all just take a moment to be nostalgic and pay homage to the original location before its retirement, where this little brewery was born and grew before us into the iconic Long Island beer that it is today.
“So let me get this straight, it’s a place that only serves meatballs?” I asked my friend who insisted we had to go here. “They’re not just meatballs,” he said. I remained open-but-skeptical—that is, until my dinner arrived. I chose the sampler of three meatballs each in a different sauce (that’s right, three meatballs and I am not ashamed of it—nor the bourbon vanilla milkshake I ordered afterwards for dessert). #YOLO
Hoptron Brewtique offers patrons a chance to discover new brews and expand their palate by trying out a hodgepodge of craft beers making this a great destination for beer geeks and novices alike. With a real-time tap list which usually includes at least one hard cider, you can always check what’s available. Oh, and did I mention that they also have a state-of-the-art wine station serving up all the best vino from local vineyards? It’s a great gathering place for light fare (or even to keep the night going after an early dinner).
