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Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce

By Julianne Mosher

The second annual Vogue in the Village Fashion Show is heading to Theatre Three in Port Jefferson this month so locals can strut their stuff in the latest styles from the village’s boutiques all for a good cause.

Scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m., (on Leap Day), this year’s theme is appropriately titled “Leap Into Fashion.”

Hosted by the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and Theatre Three, the event follows a successful show last year. Barbara Ransome, director of operations at the chamber, said that last year’s ticket sales went back to supporting the chamber and their events. And while this is partly true this year, Ransome added that donations from the 2024 show will also go to the Town of Brookhaven’s Dress for Success program.

According to the Town of Brookhaven website, “Dress for Success Brookhaven is part of an international nonprofit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the developmental tools to help them thrive in work and life.”

Since 1999, Dress for Success has helped over 6,000 women work towards self-sufficiency in the Town of Brookhaven.

Ransome said this a great way to get the word out about local stores like Fame & Rebel, Kate & Hale, The Smokin’ Gentleman, Ivory & Main, Sue La La Couture, Timber & Ties and Dr. G Sustainability Lifestyle. 

In addition, before the show and during intermission, a vendor’s marketplace with tables set up for different organizations, businesses and services will be held throughout the theater’s lower level. 

Douglas Quattrock, third vice president of the chamber and artistic associate and director of development at Theatre Three, said this year they have about 50 models coming out to get done up and sashay across the stage. “It has built up a lot since last year,” he said. “What I love is the community coming together.”

Along with local shops donating their services, local beauty salons like Fedora Lounge Boutique Hair Salon, The Hair Bar and Karasmatic Day Spa are planning to help out with hair and makeup before the show. 

The models are getting the full glam experience — men, women and even dogs.

Ransome noted that, like last year, dogs for adoption with Yorkie 911 Rescue will prance on stage wearing accessories from Fetch Doggy Boutique and Bakery on East Main Street. The 2023/2024 Ms. New York Senior America, Mae Caime, is also going to be a highlighted model.

“It’s one-stop-shopping the see the best of the village in one night,” Quattrock said. 

The 2nd Annual Vogue in the Village Fashion Show will be held at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson on Thursday, Feb. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The vendor marketplace opens at 5 p.m. 

The first 100 ticket holders to arrive will receive a fabulous gift: a swag bag, filled with goods from the local merchants. Tickets are $20 cash and check, $25 for credit card and online. Donations for Dress for Success will be accepted at the event or online when purchasing tickets.

For more information, call 631-473-1414 or visit portjeffchamber.com/events-calendar/vogue-in-the-village-2024/

Update: Because of the rain on Sunday, January 28, the second part of the Port Jefferson Ice Festival will be held on Sunday, February 4 from noon to 5 p.m.

By Julianne Mosher

Back by popular demand, the fifth Annual Ice Festival is heading back to the Village of Port Jefferson on January 27 and 28 from noon to 5 p.m.

Hosted by the Port Jefferson Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the festival is a fan favorite that bring hundreds in to admire and pose alongside handcrafted ice sculptures created by Guinness Book World Record holder ice carver Rich Daly.

But that’s not all. According to Barbara Ransome, director of operations at the Port Jefferson Chamber, there will also be a new horse-drawn wagon available for rides (fee) and the now-sold-out Mac and Cheese Crawl.

Visitors can enjoy live music, performances by local Shine Dance Company, ice skating demos at the Rinx as well as character photo opportunities and interactive games (cornhole, bowling and tic tac toe) — made out of ice, of course.

Daly, who has been the star of the festival throughout its entire run, said that this year will be “bigger and better than ever.”

“We have about 200 blocks of ice ready for both days,” he said. “And while the ice is awesome, there are a lot of activities for families to do in Port Jeff, so it’s a great event.”

Daly said that on Saturday alone, there will be about 30 sculptures around town outside different Port Jeff shops. Sunday there will be another set ready to photograph with. 

And these are not small statues. The famed interactive graffiti ice wall set up in the Frigate parking lot stands large enough for a whole family to pose with, but what’s most fun to watch are the live ice carvings done by Daly in the flesh.

On both days, there will be three live ice carvings starting at 12 p.m. at Mill Creek Road, 2 p.m. at the Meadow Parking Lot and 4 p.m. at Pocket Park. Each carving lasts at minimum an hour. 

As founder of Ice Memories Inc. based out of Mastic, Daly is one of only eight certified master carvers in the U.S. Since starting Ice Memories in 2000, Daly has won over 200 ice carving competition titles and received the Guinness World Record for carving 60 ice sculptures in under three hours. 

Compared to previous festivals which included Olaf from Frozen, a turtle and a lighthouse, “There will be new characters this year like Spider-Man and Barbie,” Daly said. However, this won’t be your typical doll-sized blonde fashionista.

“She’s going to be a big girl,” Daly laughed. “She’ll be about 6-feet-tall and start off at 2,400 lbs of ice.”

A rain date is set for Feb. 3 and 4. The event and parking are free for both days. For a full schedule and map of events, visit www.portjeffchamber.com. For further information, please call 631-473-1414.

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, want to know why?

Santa Claus made his way for another year to Port Jefferson last weekend, ringing in holiday cheer and the start of the Christmas season.

Who else joined the parade with the man in red, whose sled was attached to a horse-drawn carriage? Other visitors included business owners and elected officials who took the time to show some spirit with costumes, floats and dancing.

Local Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts dressed in their favorite holiday hats Sunday, Nov. 26, along with Shine Dance Studio and Backstage Studio of Dance who had their students twirl up and down Main Street. Special guests showed up including Disney princesses, Donald Duck and Goofy. The parade was finished with a march of characters from the upcoming Dickens Festival scheduled for next weekend.

“I’m grateful to the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce for giving first responders, business owners, elected officials, Scout troops, community groups and performing artists an opportunity to sync up and help usher in the joy of the holiday season for the young and young-at-heart,” said Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay, who is currently running for New York’s 4th Assembly District. “May the weather be just as cooperative and the spirits just as jolly for the Dickens Festival this coming weekend,” she added.

— Photos by Julianne Mosher

Pirates, puppies and pumpkins in Port Jeff … oh my!

By Julianne Mosher

Another rainy weekend might have canceled some of the Port Jefferson Oktober Harvest Fest’s first day of events, but it didn’t stop people from flocking to the village on a finally sunny Sunday.

Sponsored by the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and the Business Improvement District, in cooperation with the Village of Port Jefferson, the 2023 Oktober Fest’s original program had events starting at 7 a.m. — some indoors, some outside. While the show still went on during the rainstorm on Saturday, Oct. 21, for some, one big event had to be rescheduled to the following day — the annual costumed dog parade.

Located outside of Fetch Doggy Boutique on East Main Street, dogs from across Long Island suit up the week before Halloween every year and head with their owners to show off their adorable canine costumes. This year, on Sunday, Oct. 22, people still came out with their furry friends despite the original date’s cancellation, marching downtown resembling an array of characters including the toys from “Toy Story,” a cowboy, a race car driver and a peacock.

But that wasn’t the only fun thing happening. A chowder crawl featuring local restaurants had participants warmed up on Saturday, and country line dancing was set up once the clouds cleared later in the day.

On Sunday, with warmer and sunnier weather, families were able to enjoy a pumpkin harvest maze and patch outside the Village Center, admire scarecrows — fake and real — out and about throughout town or participate in a variety of events, including a pirate scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating contest and a pie-eating contest. The possibilities were endless.

Walking throughout town were big-headed costumed characters as local businesses used the weekend of fun for other opportunities. Tabu Boutique opened its doors not to just sell its usual earrings, clothing and accessories but invited East Coast Canine of Manorville to help get French bulldog puppies adopted.

The line was out the door for people of all ages to play with, pet and sit with the puppies — who were just a few weeks old — in hopes of giving them a new home.

Emma Darling, a fourth grader at Edna Louise Spear Elementary in Port Jeff, was one of the eager kids waiting patiently on line to get a glimpse of the pups.

“This is my favorite part of the day,” she said. “The baby puppies are just so cute.”

Take part in the annual Costumed Dog Parade on East Main Street on Oct. 21. File photo by Bob Savage

By Heidi Sutton

Looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend? Then head down to the Village of Port Jefferson as it transforms into the annual Oktober Harvest Fest on Oct. 21 and 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year the event will be sponsored by the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and the Port Jefferson Business Improvement District in cooperation with the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson. The two-day festival will feature a pumpkin decorating contest, a cherry pie eating contest, a pumpkin harvest maze and patch (fee), a self-guided art walk, cornhole games, a scarecrow meet and greet, strolling musicians, a pirate scavenger hunt (fee), horse and wagon rides (fee), ten-foot Tall Walkers, a scarecrow walk, a harvest photo op and much more.

Barbara Ransome, Director of Operations at the Port Jefferson Chamber, is looking forward to seeing the fun unfold. 

“There will be events throughout the whole village so its very walkable, very accessible and very family friendly. You can park your car and choose from a large selection of activities,” she said.

Highlights this year include the annual Halloween costumed dog parade sponsored by Fetch Doggy Boutique along East Main Street on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., and a village-wide Chowder Crawl on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. According to Ransome, in the case of torrential rain, the parade and Chowder Crawl will be pushed to Sunday.

This year many of the businesses in the village will host activities in front of or in their shops. Fall Fun kids crafts will be offered at Kilwins, a B&B Paranormal Investigations Tour sign up sheet will be at the Port Jeff Brewing Company (fee), and Oktober Fest Tastings will be offered at Port Jeff Liquor, Whiskey Barrel, Spycoast and Pindar for adults, just to name a few. For a full schedule of events, visit www.portjeffchamber.com.

Up next in the Village is the Santa Parade on Nov. 26, the Festival of Trees at the Port Jefferson Village Center from Dec. 1 to Jan. 2 and the 27th annual Charles Dickens Festival on Dec. 2 and 3. For more information, call 631-473-1414.

Ribbon cutting for Hair, Lash and Brow Bar. Photo from PJCC

Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Hair, Lash & Brow Bar in the Village of Port Jefferson on Aug. 6. 

The well-attended celebration included members of the chamber, Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, staff, family and friends who came out to wish new owner Julianna Cordi the best of luck in her new venture and included a catered party, special themed cake, favors, and a champagne toast.

Located at 138 East Main Street, the full-service salon offers everything from blow-outs, hair cuts and color to hair extensions, lash extensions and spa facials. 

Hours of operation are Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make an appointment or for more information, call 631-509-5944.

Pictured at the ribbon cutting, from left, chamber members Suzanne Velazquez, Brett Davenport and Mary Joy Pipe, owner Julianna Cordi in center holding scissors, flanked by her parents Anna Maria and Eugene Cordi, TOB Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich and staff members.

Bounce The Salon by Bridal Rush. Photo from PJCC

Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow, members of the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, staff members and friends joined owners Jessica and Peter Ciofrone in celebrating the 10th anniversary and expansion of ‘Bounce The Salon by Bridal Rush’ on July 20. Located at 148 Mariners Way in the heart of the Village, the salon offers hair and makeup for all formal occasions with a specialty in bridal events with on-location, destination and in studio appointments. For more information, call 631-331-7221 or visit www.bridalrush.com.

Pictured in front row, from left, TOB Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, PJCC Secretary Nancy Bradley, PJCC Director Mary Joy Pipe, owner Curinne Polizzi, PJV Trustee Rebecca Kassay, and Polizzi's daughter Gianna Infantolino; second row, from left, staff members Leigha Knepper, Sydney Infantolino, Samantha Seda-Barahona and Sam Infantolino; third row, from left, staff members Gianna Vecchione and Gia Catalano. Photo from PJCC

The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce (PJCC) hosted a ribbon cutting for Ivory & Main on June 29. 

Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Port Jefferson Village Trustee Rebecca Kassay, members of the chamber, family and staff joined owner Curinne Polizzi in the celebration and to wish her well in her new venture.

Located at 98 Main Street in Port Jefferson in the former Christina’s Fashion Handbags, the shop is New York’s first exclusively plus size bridal gown boutique and sell dresses for everyday wear and eveningwear. They cater to sizes 14-32 and also have a wide variety of accessories to choose from to complete your special look. 

A second shop is located in Sayville at 53 Main Street, Unit #4.

Store hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m For more information, call 631-760-7082 or visit ivorymain.com.

The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce (PJCC) hosted a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of Revival by Toast on May 17.

Owner Terry Scarlatos and chef Scott Andriani cut the celebratory ribbon surrounded by family members, staff and members of the chamber.

Located in the former Toast Coffeehouse at 242 East Main Street in the Village of Port Jefferson, the new upscale restaurant offers farm-forward cuisine and a boutique bar specializing in rotating small plate and tasting menu experiences, curated beverages and hidden gem wines. 

Restaurant hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. with brunch served on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information, call 631-480-8700 or visit www.revivalbytoast.com.

Paddle Pub ribbon cutting. Photo from PJCC

The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Port Jefferson’s newest experience on the water, Paddle Pub, on May 5. 

Docked at the west end of Port Jefferson Harbor, each 35-foot Paddle Pub can fit up to 26 guests, includes 12 pedaling stations and features a dance floor for hosting bachelor/bachelorette parties, team builders, company outings, date nights, retirement parties, etc. while enjoying a two-hour tour with a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain. Two Paddle Pub party boats can be booked simultaneously for a boat party of up to 52 guests.

The event was attended by Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Port Jefferson Village Trustees Rebecca Kassay and Lauren Sheprow; members of the chamber Mary Joy Pipe and Stuart Vincent; and friends and family who wished co-owners Zak Seghrouchni and Amanda Warren the best of luck in their new venture.

For more information, call 631-778-1433 or visit www.paddlepub.com/longisland/port-jefferson/