The North Fork music scene could be described as atypical.
Unlike other communities where a particular venue might dominate the scene, featuring headlining artists and, in some cases, hosting major concert events, music here often takes a back seat to all the other things to do.
Yet it’s ever present. (more…)
JB Browder helps his mom and dad, Holly and Chris Browder, oversee the chickens on the Mattituck farm. (Credit: David Benthal)
Chart a course to the North Fork of Long Island and you’ll end up on one of two main roads flanked by farmland and vineyards. Each is a predominantly two-lane road dotted with farm stands come summertime. U-pick berries, hot sweet corn and barnyard animals are among the top attractions at the larger, more well-known roadside farms that everyone drives past on their way through town.
But if you turn a corner or two, you’ll find a handful of other farm stands and garden centers tucked away off the main drag. They offer bountiful homegrown goodness that is well worth the detour.
These out-of-the-way stands offer everything from fresh tomatoes and flowers to poultry and artisanal goods. Don’t let these hidden gems pass you by. (more…)
It’s about to be a new year on the North Fork.
As I wrote last year, the calendar dictates that Jan. 1 marks the start of a new year, but the northforker new year starts around May 15.
(more…)
The cover of the September issue photographed by David Benthal.
For the second straight year, the September issue of northforker was awarded Best Magazine in the New York Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.
The special “Working Waterfront” issue paid tribute to the North Fork and Shelter Island fishermen, boat captains and others who rise early each morning to make their living on The Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay. (more…)
Party guests prepare horseradish in 2015. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
There’s an annual party that occurs each spring in Riverhead that people will tell you is the best foodie event on the North Fork.
It’s not hosted by a local chef or winery and there’s no advertising budget associated with it. It’s not even really open to the public. (more…)
Natural cleans can be make quickly and cheaply with household items. (Credit: David Benthal)
Cleaning is often associated with spring. It is a refresher for the home during a season embodied by growth and new beginnings. In that spirit, do-it-yourself cleaning products are an easy, cost-effective and environmentally conscious way to accomplish the task.
The term “DIY” can sometimes translate into “difficult” or “time consuming,” but not so with homemade, toxin-free cleaners that combine inexpensive household items, said Aaron Virgin, vice president of Group for the East End.
There are several reasons to use do-it-yourself cleaners, he said. (more…)
Chris Wines tends to the animals on his family’s farm in Riverhead (Credit: David Benthal)
The North Fork is known for its independently owned vineyards, breweries and distilleries, but there’s a small-batch beverage you might be overlooking: milk.
Ty Llwyd Farm in Riverhead is the North Fork’s only producer of raw, unpasteurized milk — known for its creamier taste and added health benefits. And like other local craft beverages, it’s got a loyal, almost cult-like following. (more…)