There’s nothing like compiling our annual July Best Of issue to punctuate how much I love living on the East End. But figuring out between all of us over here at Northforker and the rest of the Times Review team all the things we clamor for is no easy task — it’s more like a wrestling match, both among my compatriots and, honestly, in my own head because picking favorites inevitably means leaving another on the sidelines.
Still, some things are fun to mull over (and revisit in person!). A favorite ice cream flavor at Magic Fountain, a hot or cold lobster roll at Billy’s, the amazing cocktails at Léon 1909, the perfect seaside perch (am I feeling Porto Bello? Or Salt?), an ab-shredding class at Activated Wellness or maybe over at Greenport Pilates & Yoga. And I’m never surprised by the enormous amount of FOMO I carry around because there are too many great places to check out.
Putting together our Best Of is a bear of a task — and hats off to our design director Wendy Scofield for taking a mountain of images and words and making it all look unique and beautiful each and every year — but I really like the way it forces me out of my creature-of-habit comfort zone (like finally getting over to Fiocha for that damn delicious pizza — holy wow, the Funghi is out of this world!) and opens conversations between us at Times Review.
And once you’re done perusing our Best Of picks for 2025, don’t miss out on some other fun things we have in store this month on the East End, like gorgeous North Fork gardens to visit (p. 32 in the print issue), a fun foray over to Hampton Bays to check out Cowfish (p. 30), a shopping excursion at the oh-so-stylish Mint in Mattituck (p. 26), a recipe that takes full delicious advantage of local fluke (p. 121), a chat with historian Amy Folk (p. 128), one of our new favorite wines for summer (p. 28) and a day trip over to Blue Point for some easy-breezy fun in the sun (p. 110). And, of course, don’t forget to check out our things to do this month (p. 24) so you’re in the know on calendar musts.
May the fireflies of July light up your nights, friends — Happy Summer!
Amy Zavatto
Editor-in-Chief
