Karen Calabria opened North Fork Fiber Arts (195 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-7181) in 2023 after career stints as a journalist and baker. Besides offering a wide selection of colorful and touchable fibers, knit and crochet accoutrements, patterns and craft kits, the shop offers a range of classes and workshops for all skill levels.
“Makers can come here and find inspiration and camaraderie,” Calabria says. “It serves as
a creative hub in the fiber arts community.
“There’s an interest now among younger folks who see it as a more sustainable way to live,” she continues. “It’s a very mindful, focused, stress-relieving activity. There’s something to be said about the endorphins you get from being creative and being able to look at something that you made and say, ‘I fashioned this with my own hands.’”
Calabria, who lives in South Jamesport with her dog, Felix, and two cats, Fritz and Fred, enjoys spending time with nearby family. Here are a few of her favorite things.
Favorite local attraction Hallockville Museum Farm (6038 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, 631-298-5292). They are a great organization that has a lot of events — they do a lot of history and educational programming for both adults and children. I’ve taken classes there; they’re really steeped in traditional arts and crafts, which is great. It really is a fantastic place that preserves our local history and is making new history.
Favorite vineyard Jamesport Vineyards (1216 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-722-5256). Their wine is great, they have a great backyard area where you can sit, they have a pizza oven, and in the summertime they occasionally have trivia with Maggie the Barber from across the street at Haircutters of Love Lane. She is a fantastic trivia emcee.
Favorite thing to do on a day off Go on walks with the dog. They just opened the Aldrich Lane Dog Park (350 Aldrich Lane, Laurel, 631-298-9103), and we are big fans. It’s convenient, it’s clean, the people we’ve met there have been really nice.
Favorite old-school North Fork business Orlowski True Value (320 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-8420). Rich and the guys will always help out with whatever you need. There tends to be a little bit of an intersection between craft and do-it-yourself projects. We’re always running in there trying to figure out how to make things work with what we are creating here. Also, the Riverhead Vacuum and Sewing Center (31 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-1550). I remember going there when I was young with my grandmother to buy vacuum cleaner bags. They still service vacuum cleaners, but they’ve leaned really heavily into the sewing aspect. They have classes there, they have private lessons, they do a lot of quilting there…. The people there are very helpful, and they can fix both your sewing machines and your vacuum cleaner, which is great.
Favorite coffee spot The Village Cheese Shop (105 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-8556). They have an espresso machine and they know how to use it. They do iced coffee in the summertime with coffee ice cubes, which is always great.
Favorite local treat I love when Magic Fountain (9825 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-298-4908) makes sweet-corn ice cream with local corn! I belong to a CSA at Golden Acres (652 Peconic Bay Blvd., Jamesport, 631-722-5100). They’re such a fun farm; they do a lot of events. You can go strawberry picking and they did a silent disco last year where you bring headphones and have a dance party out in the farm fields. All their produce is fantastic.
Favorite breakfast The excellent scones at Ali Katz Kitchen (55 County Road 48, Mattituck, 631-298-7694). They also have a lot of prepared foods… I love that she’s using what’s seasonal on the menu. She has blueberry, cranberry, sometimes cranberry-orange scones… they’re all quite delicious.
