The Barn at Old Bethpage • Photo courtesy of Lessings
If there’s anything we’ve learned over the past 18 months, it’s this: No amount of bread baking can ever replace the joy of gathering to celebrate with the friends and family members we love—which is why we’re celebrating the return of celebrations like we’ve never celebrated before.
Celebrating with us, of course, are the venues who make it all possible. Here are 7 local venues that we can’t wait to return to, with our vaccination cards, roaring appetites and dancing shoes in tow.
Danfords Hotel, Marina & Spa
25 East Broadway, Port Jefferson
From weddings to corporate events, Danfords Hotel, Marina & Spa does it all—and it does it all with beautiful water views in the heart of Port Jefferson. We have seen their elegant private event spaces transformed for practically every use: for intimate dinner parties, christenings, communions and more. Additionally, their ballroom can accommodate up to 165 guests, making the venue a perfect size for the Goldilocks-esque revelers among us, looking for a space that’s not too big, not too small, but just right. Their menu offerings are similarly adaptable, with a welcome, international bent. Just don’t be surprised if you wind up stalking their servers for more Chicken & Cashew Spring Rolls or Potato, Bacon & Cheese Croquettes. Luckily, there will be plenty to go around—and with their line-up of excellent entree choices, you’ll definitely want to save room for what’s coming next.
The Barn at Old Bethpage
1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage
Located on the grounds of Old Bethpage Restoration Village, this jaw-droppingly beautiful barn is the perfect space for the rustic-chic event of your dreams. Now operated by Lessing’s, one of Long Island’s best and most venerable catering operations, The Barn offers over 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, making it the perfect venue for large-scale events like weddings, fundraisers and more. Offering both buffet and sit-down dinner options, The Barn’s culinary possibilities are as limitless as the space itself, with its impossibly high ceilings complete with exposed wooden beams, which can be transformed as easily into an elegant, romantic dreamscape as it could a rustic, relaxed country farmhouse. So whether you’re looking to celebrate a hoedown or holy matrimony, The Barn could be the perfect place.
East Wind
5720 Route 25A, Wading River
Located in Wading River, the bucolic gateway to the North Fork and all it has to offer, East Wind has it all—from a myriad of different event spaces to an adjoining hotel, shops and spa. Whatever the size of your party, East Wind has a space to accommodate you and your guests, with their three event spaces: The Estate, The Inn and The Cottage. Each space can be customized to suit your needs and reflect your style—and you won’t find a more beautiful, versatile and expansive outdoor space for photographs for miles. The food at East Wind will also inspire guests to snap some photos, as the venue offers everything from oversized sushi spreads to Latin American appetizer stations and so much more.
The Carltun
1899 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow
Go to The Carltun once and you’ll party like Gatsby. Return to The Carltun to dine at their Palm Court Restaurant and you just might find a new favorite restaurant. Located at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, The Carltun transports guests to an elegant, bygone era immediately upon entry, and then, throughout the duration of any given party, continues to elevate both the atmosphere and culinary artistry all night. The Carltun also offers a gift for cigar lovers with their ‘Cuba Room,” which is just what it sounds like: a lounge straight out of most men’s dreams, complete with big screen TVs, a bar, billiards and, of course, an impressive selection of cigars. Able to accommodate a range of events, regardless of scale or style, The Carlton hosts everything from weddings to bar and bat mitzvahs, corporate events to bridal showers, and more.
Harbor Club at Prime
95 New York Avenue, Huntington
Let’s face it: When it comes to an event, dancing is fun, but everybody’s really just there for the food—and nobody does food better than the Bohlsen Restaurant Group, the group behind acclaimed local restaurants such as Tellers and Prime. Located right next door to the latter is Harbor Club at Prime, the Bohlsen Restaurant Group’s premier venue for all your celebratory needs. Located just steps from Huntington Harbor, with stunning, panoramic views that will take your and your guests’ breath away, Harbor Club at Prime is a perfect marriage of traditional fine dining, with menu offerings from each of the BRG restaurants, and technology-driven, modern accommodations. Hosting every type of event from weddings to intimate gatherings, Harbor Club at Prime is a multi-level space with stunning outdoor areas, as well. And soon, fans of Harbor Club at Prime will be able to experience BRG-level hospitality at a new event space coming in 2022: Tellers Next Door, located—you guessed it—directly next door to Tellers in Islip.
The Crescent Beach Club
333 Bayville Avenue, Bayville
This Bayville venue just might make you and your guests pinch yourself. Located just steps from the water on Long Island’s North Shore, and complete with white sands and palm trees, The Crescent Beach Club feels like a secret passageway straight to the tropics. From the venue’s breathtaking views to its gourmet culinary offerings, it is not hard to understand how the Crescent Beach Club has been in business for over 20 years. Want to experience the space before committing to a contract? Head to the Crescent Beach Club’s adjoining restaurant, Ocean, to scope out—and soak up—the views, food and cocktails for yourself. We promise the only disappointment you’ll feel is after you leave, when you remember you’re actually not on a tropical vacation after all. So just pretend you’re one of the many Crescent Beach Club couples who return to the venue again and again, just to hold onto the hot, beachy honeymoon.
