Events

AN AFTERNOON WITH BEETHOVEN Award-winning pianist Zhu Wang heads to the Huntington Jewish Center for a Ridotto concert featuring works by Ludwig Van Beethoven on Nov. 6. Photo by Kevin Condon/2021
Thursday Nov. 3

Mediterranean food demo

The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson will present a Mediterranean food demonstration with Naela Zeidan from 6:30 to 8 p.m. On the menu will be Baba Ganoush and rice pudding. Cost is $5 Port Jeff residents, $10 non-residents. To register, visit www.portjeff.com.

Friday Nov. 4

First Friday at the Heckscher

Celebrate First Friday at the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Explore the exhibitions during extended viewing hours and enjoy a special performance by the Serenade Duo titled Reflections of Latin America beginning at 7 p.m.  Call 380-3230.

A HISTORICAL EVENT
The Winter Lantern Festival kicks off at the Smithtown Historical Society on Nov. 4. Photo from SHS

Winter Lantern Festival

The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown kicks off the holiday season with Suffolk County’s FIRST immersive Winter Lantern Festival tonight, Nov. 5 and 6 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 8, 2023. The walk-through holiday light show will feature lanterns and displays in the shape of flowers, mushrooms, farm animals, dinosaurs and many more, all handmade by artisans with decades of dedication to their craft. Be ready for photo ops with friends and family, as this will be an unforgettable experience! Tickets are $22 per person, $12 ages 3 to 12. To order, visit https://www.showclix.com/tickets/suffolk-winter-lantern-festival. For more information, call 265-6768.

Comedy Night at the VFW

VFW Post 5796, 40 Church St., Kings Park presents a Comedy Night at 8 p.m. Featuring comedians Les Degen, Keith Anthony, Just Plain Keith and Carie Karavas with light snacks, raffles and 50/50. BYOB. Ticket are    $35 per person. To order, call 553-5365.

Pink Floyd Tribute

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents a tribute to the music of Pink Floyd with The Wall laser light show featuring a live performance with hits from Dark Side of the Moon by tribute band Floyd and Us at 7 p.m. and a Dark Side of the Moon laser show featuring a live performance with hits from The Wall by Floyd and Us at 9 p.m. Advance tickets online for each show are $30 adults, $25 ages 15 and under at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. Tickets at the door are $35 adults, $30 ages 15 and under. Call 854-5579 for more info.

The Brooklyn Bridge in concert

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents The Brooklyn Bridge in concert at 8 p.m. presenting rock N roll such hits as “Sixteen Candles,” “Trouble In Paradise,” “Step By Step, “The Worst That Could Happen,” “Welcome Me Love,” “Blessed Is The Rain,” “Your Husband, My Wife” and others. Tickets are $59. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Saturday Nov. 5

Winter Lantern Festival

See Nov. 4 listing.

Antiques & More

Rescheduled from Oct 23. Enjoy a day of treasure-hunting at Antiques & More at the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shop for kitchenware, pottery, tools, glassware, jewelry, toys, ephemera, china, artwork. Free admission. Call 367-3418 or visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Scandinavian & Nordic Bazaar

Loyal Lodge #252 Sons of Norway will host a Scandinavian & Nordic Bazaar at St. James Lutheran Church Parish Hall, 230 Second Ave., St. James 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland will be represented with Scandinavian decorative and household items, baked goods, food, and authentic Scandinavian raffle items. Lunch will also be available. Questions? Call 862-8017. 

Christmas Craft Fair

Time to shop! St. Anthony’s High School, 275 Wolf Hill Rd, South Huntington will host its annual Christmas Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted by the Mother’s Guild, the holiday event features over 175 unique vendors with free admission. For more info, email [email protected].

Whale Boat Chats

The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor kicks off its  new monthly “Whale Boat Chats” surrounding the star of the museum’s permanent collection, the 19th century whaleboat Daisy, at noon and again at 1 p.m. These educator-led gallery talks around the whaleboat will share the story of whaling on Long Island and in Cold Spring Harbor specifically. Visitors will learn that people have been hunting whales here on Long Island for thousands of years. Free with admission to the museum of $6 adults, $5 children and seniors. Call 367-3418.

Old Burying Ground tour

Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Ground walking tour at 3 p.m. Established soon after the Town’s 1653 founding, Huntington’s earliest public burying ground features stunning folk art and beautiful epitaphs honoring Huntington’s residents and rich history. Tour begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington. Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children. For reservations, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Basket Auction

Join St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church, 4 Woodville Road, Shoreham for an evening of fun with a fantastic Gift Basket Auction and light refreshments starting at 6 p.m. For more information call 744-7730.

Saturdays at Six Concert

All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Saturdays at Six concert series with Stony Brook University alumnus Kathryn Vetter (clarinet) and student Nora Spielman (guitar) at 6 p.m. featuring both standard and contemporary works for the duo, including Libby Larsen’s “Blue Third Pieces,” and Ferdinand Rebay’s Sonata for Clarinet and Guitar in d minor. It will also include the duo’s arrangements of chôros by the great Brazilian composer Chiquinha Gonzaga. Kathryn and Nora will each be featured playing a solo work for their respective instruments. Free. Call 655-7798 for more information.

A Night of Comedy

Mount Sinai Fire Department, Engine Company 2, 746 Mt. Sinai Coram Road, Mt. Sinai hosts its 24th annual Comedy Night straight from the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City at 6:30 p.m. Catered by Tuscany Gourmet, the evening will include a prime rib dinner with stuffed shrimp scampi, coffee and dessert, wine, beer and soda with raffles, 50/50 and door prizes. For mature audiences only. Tickets are $50 per person. To order, call-816-3339.

Tribute to ABBA

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson welcomes ABBA tribute band The Dancing Dream in concert at 8 p.m. Formerly known as the ABBA GIRLZ, this New York City based group features beautiful harmonies, elaborate costumes and exciting choreography guaranteed to captivate all audiences, making every show a night to remember. Tickets are $59. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Sunday Nov. 6

Winter Lantern Festival

See Nov. 4 listing.

Custom & Collectible Car Show

Long Island Cars will host a Super Swap Sunday Car Show and Swap Meet at Bald Hill Cultural Center, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature hundreds of custom and collectible show cars, a swap meet, refreshments and more. Admission is $10, free for ages 11 and under. www.longislandcars.com.

Vanderbilt lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents a lecture titled The Sinister Beauty Of Carnivorous Plants at 10 a.m. In this family-friendly presentation, Matt Kaelin will share his expertise and his captivating photography of the carnivorous plants that people might not typically think of as being native to Long Island. Tickets are $10, free for children under age 10, at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

Homegrown String Band in concert

The Port Jefferson Free Library, 100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson presents The Homegrown String Band in concert at 2 p.m. This family band’s repertoire includes a healthy portion of early country music classics by the likes of The Carter Family and Delmore Brothers, along with a tasty sprinkling of original material inspired by the rural American string band and folk traditions of the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. Open to all. Register at portjefflibrary.org, or call 473-0022.

Ridotto concert

Ridotto, concerts “with a touch of theatre,”  continues its 31st season with a piano concert featuring Zhu Wang at the Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Ave., Huntington at 4 p.m. A winner of Young Concert Artist International Auditions, Zhu is returning to Ridotto with a wonderful program of Beethoven: Piano Sonata in A major, Op.2 No.2, Chou Wen-Chung: The Willows are New, Schubert: Two Impromptus, Op.142, and Chopin: Piano Sonata in B minor, Op.58. Tickets are $35, $30 seniors, $25 members and $12 students. For reservations, call 385-0373, or email [email protected]. For more info, visit www.ridotto.org.

Monday Nov. 7

Movie Trivia Night

Movie Trivia Night is back in-person in the Sky Room Café at Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington at 8 p.m. Hosted by Dan Franch, the event will include 50 questions based all around film, actors and actresses, awards, and everything else associated with the world of film. Challenge like-minded film fans in a battle of wits for cash and other prizes. You can form teams, so bring some friends and work together. Feel free to come alone and play solo as well! Prizes are awarded to winning teams at the conclusion of the game. $10 per person. Call 423-7610.

Tuesday Nov. 8

No events listed for this day.

Wednesday Nov. 9

Garden Club presentation

Join the Shoreham-Wading River Garden Club for special program at the Wading River Congregational Church at 2057 North Country Road, Wading River at 6:45 p.m. Guest speaker John Nicholson will share the fascinating story of how he and his wife, Sharna, moved from Rochester to Mattituck a few years ago and revived an abandoned vineyard at the house they bought. If you enjoy gardening, you should not miss this presentation. Admission is free and all are welcome. Call 987-3733.

Open Mic Night at the CAC

The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Avenue, Huntington, joins with the Folk Music Society of Huntington in presenting the NorthShore Original Open Mic (NOOM) three Wednesday nights each month in the Cinema’s Sky Room, including tonight at 7 p.m. with sign-up beginning at 6:30 p.m. Free. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Thursday Nov. 10

Vanderbilt lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents a lecture on print culture, newsboys, and the labor practices of the press with historian Vincent DiGirolamo at 7 p.m. Titled Crying the News: Child Labor and Print Culture, DiGirolamo’s lecture will draw heavily from his acclaimed 2019 book Crying the News: A History of America’s Newsboys. Tickets are $10 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Film

‘Heart and Soul’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues with a preview screening of Heart and Soul at John F. Kennedy Middle School, 200 Jayne Blvd., Port Jeff. Station on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. The first-ever Rock & Roll Show at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater electrified the teenagers who waited for hours to see their new idols – Chuck Berry; the Chantels; Frankie Lymon; and a roster of some of the greatest talent of the time. Fourteen-year-old Kenny Vance sat in the balcony mesmerized by a unique style of music that still resonates for him -and many of us- half a century later. The film seeks to solve the question that may never be answered, because, like all art, it is about feelings: What was that particular magic that grabs a heart and never lets it go? The screening will be followed by a Q&A and a vocal harmony performance by Kenny Vance and the Planotones. Tickets are $12 at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com or at the door. 

Theater

‘Showing’

The Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket presents a workshop production of a brand new play produced by Hidden Well Theatre titled Showing on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. What’s a gender reveal party without a heaping helping of disaster? Set in the hours leading up to a pregnant woman’s gender reveal party, Showing is an immersive, site-specific play about the ways we strive to make meaning in spaces where there is only chaos and cake. Tickets are $16 in advance at hidden-well-theatre.weebly.com/showing.html or $20 (cash only) at the door. For more information, email [email protected] 

‘Sister Act’

Stage 74 @SYJCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack presents Sister Act on Nov. 12 and 19 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. Based on the hit 1992 film, the show follows disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, who witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be a found: a convent! Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, Sister Act is reason to rejoice! Tickets are $32, $25 seniors and students. To order, call 462-9800 or visit www.starplayhouse.com.

‘Noises Off’

The Theatres at Suffolk County Community College presents Noises Off by Michael Frayn at the Shea Theater, Islip Arts Building, 533 College Road, Selden on Nov. 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 and 27 at 2 p.m. Called the funniest farce ever written, Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. *Mature Content* General admission: $14, Veterans and students 16 years of age or younger: $10, Suffolk students with current ID: One FREE ticket. To order, visit https://sunysuffolk.edu/spotlight or call 451-4163.

‘A Christmas Carol’

“I will honor Christmas in my heart…” Join Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson for its 38th annual production of A Christmas Carol in all of its thrills, music, joy, and spirit. from Nov. 12 to Dec. 30. Follow the miser Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey that teaches him the true meaning of Christmas — past, present and future. $20 tickets in November; December tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘A Christmas Story’

The John W. Engeman Theater presents A Christmas Story, The Musical from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31. Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker only wants one thing for Christmas – an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun. Based on the beloved movie, A Christmas Story, The Musical is the perfect holiday gift for the entire family! Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Vendors Wanted

Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main St., Northport seeks vendors for its annual St. Nicholas Bazaar on Dec. 3.  Call 631-261-7670.

Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook seeks craft vendors for its Holiday Night Market on Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Call 631-588-5024.

Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road,  Setauket seeks vendors for its first annual Three Village Winter Market, an outdoor holiday shopping experience,  on Dec. 10 and 11 from 11 to 4 p.m. $100 for one day or $150 for both. Call 631-751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org.

Just in time for the holidays, Fathom Events and Paramount Pictures are bringing one of the most outrageous and beloved comedies of all time back to select cinemas to celebrate its 35th anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 6 and Monday, Nov. 7.

Photo courtesy of Fathom Events

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” tells the story of two very opposite men who band together in a trek to make it home for the holidays –and just about everything that could go wrong, does.

Steve Martin and John Candy star in this hysterical (and often heart-warming) tale of travel gone awry. Neal Page (Martin) is an uptight ad exec trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving with his family. When rerouted to Wichita, Neal reluctantly partners with Del Griffith (Candy), an obnoxious yet loveable salesman. Together, they embark on a cross-country adventure that includes multiple modes of transportation, unbelievable mishaps, intimate motel accommodations, and unforgettable rental car shenanigans.

It’s a must-see holiday adventure from writer, director, and producer John Hughes (“Home Alone”, “Sixteen Candles”, “The Breakfast Club”). This special Fathom Event also includes a first look at a never-before-seen extended scene from the filmmaker’s archives.

Locally, the film will be screened at Island 16 Cinema De Lux, 185 Morris Ave., Holtsville on Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. and Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.; AMC Stony Brook 17, 2196 Nesconset Highway, Stony Brook on Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.; and Regal Farmingdale 10, 20 Michael Ave., Farmingdale on Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at Fathom Events or at participating theater box offices.

 

Look Book Luncheons

Foodies and shopaholics unite for a three-part series of luncheon fashion shows in Stony Brook Village. Each part of the series will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at a different restaurant and each will feature different fall styles from Mint, Chico’s, Loft and Madison’s Niche.

As guests enjoy their lunch, models will stroll through the restaurants, sharing information about the fall fashion they are wearing. The three-part series will take place on Nov. 3 at the Country House Restaurant; on Nov. 10 at Luca Modern Italian Restaurant; and Nov. 17 at Mirabelle Restaurant and Tavern at the Three Village Inn. Tickets are $35 per person at each restaurant for a prix fix lunch. 

To make your reservation, contact the restaurant directly. The Country House Restaurant’s phone number is 631-751-3332 and is located at 1175 North Country Road in Stony Brook. Luca Modern Italian Restaurant’s phone number is 631-675-0435 and is located at 93 Main Street in Stony Brook Village. Mirabelle Restaurant can be contacted at 631-751-0555 and is located in the historic Three Village Inn, at 150 Main Street in Stony Brook Village. 

John Turner

The Three Village Community Trust’s 18th annual Fall Gala will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Old Field Club. 

The Fall Gala is the Trust’s most important source of funding to “Protect the Places You Love” and encourages everyone in the community to attend. As an all-volunteer and a not for profit organization, the Trust depends on the Gala to support its many projects throughout 2023. 

“Study of Sky over the Three Village Inn” by Christian White

This year’s special honoree for the evening will be noted author and lecturer John Turner, widely recognized as one of the most respected and influential voices for the protection of our natural environment. Turner is co-founder of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, the Conservation Chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, and an active member of numerous environmental advocacy organizations. 

Every Trust site benefits by this event: Patriots Rock Historic Site, The Immigrant Factory Worker Houses, The Hawkins Homestead, the Smith/deZafra House, the Tyler House, the Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway, the Steven D. Matthews Preserve and the Bruce House. Additionally, this event helps fund the Dr. Robert deZafra Acquisition Fund — helping the Trust to purchase additional historical properties in the future. By attending you will be helping to preserve and protect some of our area’s most treasured sites. 

There will be live music by Carl Safina and Moment’s Notice, a light buffet, an art raffle for a Christian White painting titled “Study of Sky over the Three Village Inn,” spectacular raffle baskets, and much more. 

Tickets to the event, which are $75 per person, can be purchased on the Trust’s website, www.threevillagecommunitytrust.org. For more information, call 631-942-4558, or email [email protected].

Photo courtesy of the Bronx Zoo

The opening of Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo marks the unofficial start to the New York City holiday season. The family-favorite tradition opens to the public on Friday, November 18 and will run on select dates through Jan. 8.

 Holiday Lights is a fully outdoor experience. The six lantern trails have been reimagined and more than 70 new lanterns/30 new species have been added for 2022. In all, there are more than 360 wildlife-themed lanterns representing 90 species spread across an expansive area of the zoo. There are six lantern trails that depict scenes from geographic regions and ecosystems: North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, oceans, and the Forest of Color which features larger-than-life representations of some of the lesser known but impressively colorful animals and plants vital to the Earth’s ecosystems.

“Holiday Lights returned to the Bronx Zoo in 2019 and each year we have grown the event significantly” said Jim Breheny, Bronx Zoo Director. “Each year we add more animal lanterns and new experiences. Holiday Lights is now bigger than ever and gives everyone an exciting new way to learn about wildlife while experiencing the spirit of the season.”

The event includes massive light shows, synchronized to seasonal music, on historic Astor Court. Additional trees and features have been added making this the zoo’s biggest light show experience ever. Glowing animal-themed stilt walkers, train rides, Wildlife Theater shows, ice carving demonstrations, and seasonal treats including s’mores and hot chocolate make for a complete Holiday outing for the whole family.

In addition to the dozens of new animal lanterns, expanded light shows, and activities, the zoo has added several special nights to the line-up. December 2-4 will be a Pajama Party Weekend; December 26-30 will feature professional holiday carolers; New Year’s Eve will include a family-friendly new year countdown; and Schiff Hall will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind Illuminated Playground January 6-8.

December 29 will be a special sensory-inclusive night designed for guests who thrive in a sensory-supportive environment. During this special evening, guests can expect the same great Holiday Lights experience with some modifications to make it more sensory friendly.

Holiday Lights will operate on select dates from November 18 to January 8. Tickets for Holiday Lights must be purchased in advance and are date specific. Tickets are now available online. Visit the Know before You Go page for all details.WCS members receive a 40-percent discount. Members at the Conservation Supporter level will receive free admission to Holiday Lights.

Photo from WMHO

Black Friday returns to Stony Brook Village Center on Friday, November 25. Shop Black Friday deals all day long throughout the village, with carolers, live music, and a petting zoo from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., as well as the opening of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Enjoy carolers throughout the day.

Rocking Horse Farms will be set up in front of the Rustic Loft with a variety of animals for children to pet.  Burke and Brenda will be performing original and cover songs in the genres of R&B, Roots, Blues and Contemporary Acoustic at the Stony Brook Post Office. The Celestial Holiday Carolers will be performing holiday music throughout Market Square (shops between Luca Modern Italian Restaurant and Harbor Cleaners). Black Friday deals will be available all throughout the open-air center. A full list of Black Friday deals and sales will be available online at stonybrookvillage.com mid-November.

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame will be open to the public. The upstairs exhibit space will feature a permanent “Hall of Fame” with plaques and exhibits recognizing the over 100 and growing inductees. The main exhibit space will be the first rotating exhibit “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene: 1960’s – 1980’s”.

Black Friday in Stony Brook Village is sponsored by News 12. For more information on Black Friday in Stony Brook Village, visit stonybrookvillage.com or call (631) 751-2244.

This 19th century whaleboat is the star of the The Whaling Museum's permanent collection.
An insight into Long Island’s nautical past

By Tara Mae

It’s a whale of a tale! Beginning in November, The Whaling Museum and Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor will host new monthly Whale Boat Chats chronicling the history of whaling on Long Island.

Generally 20 to 30 minutes long, the interactive discussions are metaphorically and physically centered around a historic 19th century whale boat. Led by Admissions Associate Gerard Crosson, the talks are guided by question and answer segments and incorporate whaling artifacts for the public to see and touch such as a 19th century iron harpoon, scrimshaw, and blubber encased in a jar. 

“We are excited to offer this new opportunity to engage with the museum’s exhibits! Visitors will learn the significance of this whaleboat and how it is tied to our local maritime history. We invite the community to come, stand around the boat and imagine what it was like to be out at sea chasing a creature larger than the boat you’re chasing it in,” said Assistant Director of The Whaling Museum Gina Van Bell.

The program was formed around the whaleboat, the foundational item of the museum’s permanent collection. It belonged to the 19th century New Bedford whaling ship Daisy, which during its long career sailed from many ports and harbors, including that of Setauket in 1872. 

Like many whaling ships, Daisy’s use was multi-faceted: after many Yankee whaling trips and at least one international journey, it was repurposed as a cargo ship during World War I and sank circa 1914. 

American use of whaling ships during warfare dates back to at least the Revolutionary War, when they surreptitiously sailed between Patriot controlled Connecticut and British-occupied Long Island, delivering messages, etc. 

“They were used in guerrilla warfare. Fierce hand to hand combat happened in whaling ships. They were very useful, very seaworthy,” said Nomi Dayan. Executive Director of The Whaling Museum.

For decades, the Daisy whaleboat proved to be profitably versatile. During her most famous excursion, Long Island ornithologist Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy used the whaleboat on an exploratory voyage to Antarctica in 1912, commissioned by the American Museum of Natural History to study birds and bring back specimens. 

A dedicated diarist, Murphy, who was fascinated by all he witnessed on the voyage and intrigued by Yankee whaling, kept a detailed record of the journey. He later published Logbook for Grace: Whaling brig Daisy, 1912-1913 about the sojourn. Murphy’s photos from the trip are part of the Whaling Museum’s collection. 

“He was one of the best scientists to come out of Long Island…Murphy ended up documenting whales and whaling in a way that no one had before,” Dayan said. 

So enamored was he with the experience, that Murphy purchased the whaleboat for the Brooklyn Museum in the 1910s. After the museum rejected his gift, he offered it to the American Museum of Natural History, which also declined to accept it. The whaleboat then hibernated under a tarp on a friend’s front lawn until Murphy and his friends generated enough support and funds to build it a home of its own: The Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor. 

“The community came together to build the museum around the whaleboat. It is a key part of maritime heritage,” Dayan added. 

Established in 1936, the museum opened its doors in 1942. The museum currently has 6000 object and archival items in its holdings including whaling tools, products, and even art. 

“We have one of the best scrimshaw collections in the northeast. People can see beautiful examples of what men carved at sea during the hours, weeks, months, years, of boredom,” Dayan said. 

As one of the three original whaling ports on Long Island, Cold Spring Harbor maintains a buoyant connection to its maritime heritage. Whaling was one of the area’s most important sources of commerce, facilitating economic and social growth while making Cold Spring Harbor somewhat of an industrial hub.

Whaling was fairly steady, if inherently risky, work. Voyages were long and frequently fraught. Whalers could lose their boats or even their lives when whales fought back. 

“It was a dangerous job,” said Van Bell. 

Yet the sea provided potential opportunities to those who might not find it on land, motley crews of experienced sailors, farm boys, and escaped enslaved men. 

“Whaling ships were like a kind of United Nations,” Dayan said. 

Rather than being paid a wage, crew members were generally paid with a cut of the profits. Whale products included everything from food to oil for lamps, and overhunting eventually led some whales to near extinction. 

Whaling as a much sought source of communal sustenance, however, predates European settlers. Indigenous groups like the Shinnecock had a strong tradition of whaling on Long Island, anchored to their connections to the sea. This heritage is explored in another exhibit at the museum, Shinnecock Artists and Long Island’s First Whalers, which debuted January 2021. 

Both exhibits are part of the museum’s ongoing efforts to expose the public, both adults and children, to the diverse background of Long Island whaling. A different feature, the hands-on exhibit If I Was a Whaler, permits kids to pretend to be whalers from the 1800s. 

“We want to get the community excited and engaged in the story of whaling, following through with our mission of sharing the diversity of our whaling heritage and how it enhances and impacts our lives,” Van Bell said. 

Whale Boat Chats will be offered on Nov. 5,  Dec. 3 and 29 and Jan. 27 with more dates to be announced in 2023. The programs will be held at noon and 1 p.m. and are free with paid admission to the museum of $6 for adults and $5 for kids and seniors. Members are free. 

Located at 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, the Whaling Museum is open to visitors from Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 631-367-3418 or visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. 

The Homegrown String Band

The Port Jefferson Free Library, 100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson presents The Homegrown String Band in concert Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.

The Homegrown String Band™ celebrates the American tradition of families making music together. This family band’s repertoire includes a healthy portion of early country music classics by the likes of The Carter Family and Delmore Brothers, along with a tasty sprinkling of original material inspired by the rural American string band and folk traditions of the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. Comprised of husband and wife plus daughter, this dynamic trio adds their own musical DNA to an American tradition, taking you on a musical journey from ancient ballads of the British Isles to blues and bluegrass of the twentieth century.

The family has been performing together for twenty-five years, playing such venues as The National Theatre in Washington DC to the Festival of American Music in Branson Missouri.

Open to all. Pre-registration is necessary to keep the music flowing. Sign up at portjefflibrary.org, or call 631-473-0022 to reserve a seat.

Winter Lantern Festival

The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown will light up the holiday season with Suffolk County’s FIRST immersive Winter Lantern Festival from Nov. 4 to Jan. 8, 2023. The walk-through holiday light show will feature lanterns and displays in the shape of flowers, mushrooms, farm animals, dinosaurs and many more, all handmade by artisans with decades of dedication to their craft.

The event will be held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Be ready for photo ops with friends and family, as this will be an unforgettable experience! Tickets are $22 per person, $12 ages 3 to 12. For tickets, visit https://www.showclix.com/tickets/suffolk-winter-lantern-festival. For more information, call 631-265-6768.

The main cast of 'Yellowstone'

Dutton fans rejoice! Showcase Cinemas is bringing “Yellowstone” to the big screen on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. Be one of the first to see the Season 5 premiere, two weeks before TV’s #1 show returns to Paramount Network on Nov. 13 followed by a preview of the new show “Tulsa King” at select Showcase Cinemas locations, coming Nov. 13 to Paramount+, with tickets on sale now.

A scene from ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5

Locally, the “Yellowstone” premiere will be screened at  Island 16 Cinema de Lux, 185 Morris Avenue in Holtsville. Tickets for this special event are on sale now for only $15 and may be purchased online or through the Showcase Cinemas mobile app.

Tickets to the “Yellowstone” premiere include a free “Yellowstone” collectible item (while supplies last). Fans can also enjoy a “Dutton Ranch” featured cocktail during the event, made with Jameson and Ginger at participating Showcase Cinemas locations.

“We know fans of the hit show ‘Yellowstone’ have been eagerly awaiting its return to television, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to offer our guests at Showcase Cinemas the opportunity to see the season premiere on the big screen two weeks before it returns to Paramount Network on November 13,” said Mark Malinowski, VP of Global Marketing for Showcase Cinemas. “And to be able to screen the series premiere of ‘Tulsa King’ – marking Sylvester Stallone’s first foray into television – is incredibly exciting and something special our patrons will love.”

YELLOWSTONE RETURNS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK

  • Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, Yellowstone chronicles the Dutton family, led by John Dutton (Kevin Costner), who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect – the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and vicious business rivalries.
  • From Academy Award® nominee Taylor Sheridan, season five features a critically-acclaimed ensemble cast including Oscar®-winner Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham and Gil Birmingham with Mo Brings Plenty, Wendy Moniz, Jen Landon and Kathryn Kelly upped to series regulars. The upcoming season will also feature the return of Josh Lucas as young John Dutton alongside Jacki Weaver, Kylie Rogers, Kyle Red Silverstein and Rob Kirkland with Kai Caster, Lainey Wilson, Lilli Kay and Dawn Olivieri joining the star-studded cast.
  • Yellowstone is co-created by Oscar®-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Wind River, Hell or High Water and Sicario) and John Linson. Executive producers include John Linson, Art Linson, Taylor Sheridan, Kevin Costner, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari and Stephen Kay.

TULSA KING PREMIERES SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH ON PARAMOUNT+

  • From Creator and Academy Award® nominee Taylor Sheridan alongside Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner Terence Winter, who also serves as showrunner and writer, Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone), just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a “crew” from a group of unlikely characters, to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet.
  • The series also stars Andrea Savage (“I’m Sorry”), Martin Starr (“Silicon Valley”), Jay Will (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), Max Casella (“The Tender Bar”), Domenick Lombardozzi (“The Irishman”), Vincent Piazza (“Boardwalk Empire”), A.C. Peterson (“Superman & Lois”) with Garrett Hedlund (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”) and Dana Delany (“Body of Proof”).
  • Tulsa King is executive produced by Sheridan, Winter, Stallone, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Allen Coulter and Braden Aftergood.

Tickets are on sale now for just $15 via the Showcase Cinemas website and mobile app.