Get ready for a spooktacular fall with The Shoppes at East Wind’s 7th Annual Scarecrow Contest! Unleash your creativity and craft a one-of-a-kind scarecrow to join the festive display this October. This free contest is open to everyone – individuals, families, groups, and even professionals! Local businesses can also get involved through sponsorship opportunities. Compete for the coveted first, second, and third-place prizes for the most impressive scarecrow creation. The deadline to register your scarecrow is Friday, September 20th.
Photo courtesy of The Shoppes at East Wind
From Saturday, September 28th through October 26th, shoppers at The Shoppes at East Wind will have the chance to vote for their favorite scarecrow. Ballots will be available at the shops and must be returned by October 26th to be counted. Winners will be announced on the same day.
All participating scarecrows will be on display throughout October, culminating in a grand showcase at The Shoppes at East Wind’s Safe Trick or Treat Halloween event on October 31st.
Registration is required to participate. Pick up a registration form at any shop at The Shoppes at East Wind, download one online, or enter directly on their website. Completed forms can be dropped off at The Shoppes at East Wind (5720 Route 25A, Wading River, NY 11792 addressed to ATTN: THE SHOPPES.
Don’t miss out on this exciting fall tradition!
For more information on the Scarecrow Contest or The Shoppes at East Wind, please call 631.846.2370 or email [email protected].
The Wading River Shoreham Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will host an inaugural Fall Festival on Sunday, September 29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25, Wading River. This highly anticipated event, sponsored by East Wind, promises a day full of family-friendly fun and local celebration, rain or shine.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of The Shoppes at East Wind, this exciting festival will feature a variety of activities for all ages. Attendees can groove to the lively tunes of SouthBound, a popular local country band, and join in energetic line dancing sessions. For those with an appetite, a selection of mouth-watering food trucks will be on hand, offering a variety of delicious options to satisfy any craving.
Shoppers can explore a diverse array of vendors showcasing distinctive products, from handcrafted goods to artisanal treats. Kids will have a blast bouncing around in the bounce house, ride the carousel ($) and engaging in a range of interactive crafts and activities designed to spark creativity and fun.
“This Fall Festival is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the season,” said Phil King, a representative of the Wading River Shoreham Chamber of Commerce. “We’re excited to offer a day packed with entertainment, delicious food, and opportunities to support local businesses. It’s going to be a memorable event for families and friends alike.”
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, September 29th, 2024
Time: 11 AM – 5 PM (Rain or Shine)
Location: The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River, NY
Admission: Free
Whether you’re looking to relax, have fun, or support local vendors, the Fall Festival has something for everyone. Mark your calendars and join them for a day of community spirit and celebration!
About the Wading River Shoreham Chamber of Commerce:
The Wading River Shoreham Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to fostering a vibrant business community and enhancing the cultural well-being of our communities. Through events, advocacy, and community engagement, the Chamber works to support local businesses and enrich the local experience.
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Cruise Night Car Show at The Shoppes at East Wind 2024. COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
By Bill Landon
As the saying goes, “The show must go on,” and despite high temperatures,in the shared parking lot of East Wind and The Shoppes in Wading River, the show did go on, as it does every Wednesday evening from 5 to 9 p.m. through October with a Cruise Night Car Show.
Packing the lot was a full complement of vintage classic cars and souped up muscle cars, along with the most modern exotic automobiles.
The area’s business owners welcome the enthusiastic, Wednesday night cruisers, because they bring their appetites and peruse the community’s various speciality shops.
Above, last year's winner.
Photo by Charlotte Cote/East Wind Long Island
This fall during the month of October, put your creativity to the test and get in the spooky spirit at The Shoppes at East Wind 7th Annual Scarecrow Contest! Registration is open all — individuals, groups, families, or professionals. Local business sponsorship is also available. Your creation can win first, second or third place. Registration is free and due by Sept. 20.
The public can vote for their favorite scarecrow from Oct. 1 to 26. Ballots can be found at The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River. Winners will be notified on Oct. 26. See your winning scarecrow at their Safe Trick or Treat Halloween event on Oct. 31.
For more information on the Scarecrow Contest, call 631-846-2372 or email [email protected].
Participants at Benner's Farm egg hunt in 2022. File photo by Rita J. Egan
By Heidi Sutton
Looking for Easter Egg Hunts on the North Shore? Here is a list of events for the next two weeks so grab your baskets and camera and hippity hop over to these fun springtime celebrations!
Cold Spring Harbor
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host egg hunts on April 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 in 20 minute sessions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for children up to the age of 6 years old. Tickets are $12 per participating child, $5 “helper siblings” ages 7 to 12, $6 seniors, and $7 adults. To register, visit www.cshfishhatchery.org. 516-692-6768
Commack
Burr Winkle Park, Harvest Lane, Commack hosts a free egg hunt with over 4,000 eggs on April 8 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with games, prizes, special golden eggs and a free photo of your child with the Easter Bunny. Register at www.commackegghunt.com. 631-486-3811
East Northport
Seasonal ‘Scapes LI, 638 Larkfield Road, East Northport is hosting an egg hunt, craft and petting zoo for children ages 2 to 12 on April 2 from noon to 3 p.m. with a visit from the Easter Bunny. Each child will receive a basket as well. $10 per child. 631-888-3655
East Setauket
Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket invites the community to their annual Easter Egg Hunt Weekend on April 8 and 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be craft vendors, baby bunnies and chicks to hold, baby goats and sheep to see and pet, many other barnyard animals to visit with and feed, an egg hunt in the fields every half hour from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (book your time slot online), pictures with the Spring Bunny and more! This is a ticketed event only. Tickets are $12 per person and are sold only online. No tickets will be sold at the door. Visit www.bennersfarm.com. 631-689-8172
Elwood
Elwood Park, 305 Cuba Hill Road, Elwood will host an Easter Egg Hunt, on April 1. Sponsored by the Town of Huntington and Suffolk County Second Precinct police, the hunt will start at 9 a.m. for children ages 3-4; 10 a.m. for those who are 5-6, and 11 a.m. forchildren ages 7-8. The event is free but registration is required by visiting www.tohparks.net under special events.
Farmingdale
— Head to the Village Green, 361 Main St., Farmingdale for an Easter egg hunt on April 1 for ages 11 and under at 11 a.m. All are welcome to meet the Easter Bunny at the gazebo and have pictures taken. Free. Sponsored by the Farmingdale Village Cultural Arts Committee.
— Adventureland, 2245 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale hosts an Egg Scramble on April 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Rain date April 2) Kids receive a treat bag with Easter eggs and a coupon book for vendor tables scattered around the property. Tickets in advance online: $31.99 adults, $41.99 for ages 2-24; at the gate: $36.66 and $46.66 for ages 2-24; parking is free and admission ticket includes access to all the rides. 631-694-6868.
Farmingville
Join the Farmingville Historical Society for an Easter Egg Trail Hunt on April 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Embark on an Easter EggHunt through the Farmingville Hills County Park Trails, 501 Horseblock Road, Farmingville. At the last stop in the 1850 historic schoolhouse, kids can recycle their plastic eggs in exchange for a special gift and take a picture with the Easter Bunny. $15 per child. Preregister at www.fhsli.org.
Flanders
Friends of the Big Duck present an Easter egg hunt for “duck” eggs and a visit with Mother Goose at The Big Duck Ranch, 1012 Flanders Road, Flanders on April 1 at noon. (Rain date is April 2) For ages 2 to 9. Free. 631-284-3737 or 631-852-3377.
Greenlawn
Decker’s Nursery, 841 Pulaski Road, Greenlawn invites the community to come meet Peter Rabbit as he hosts an egg hunt on April 1 where you can win prizes. The hunt is separated by age group. Group hunts start 9 to 9:45 a.m. (for ages 3-5); 9:10 to 9:45 a.m. (for ages 6-8) and 10:15 to 11 a.m. (for ages 9-11). Free, register in advance at eventbrite.com. 631-261-1148.
Melville
Take part in an Easter Egg Hunt at White Post Farms, 250 Old Country Road, Melville 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 1 to 9. Visit with the Easter Bunny (take your own pictures) too. Admission is $28.95. whitepostfarms.com, 631-351-9373.
Miller Place
The Miller Place–Mount Sinai Historical Society will host two egg hunts with games and bunny photos on April 2 with the first hunt from 1p.m. to 2 p.m. for ages 0 to 4 and the second from 2:30 to 3:30 for children ages 5 to 8. $5 per child. Advance registration is required through Eventbrite (2023EggHunt.eventbrite.com). www.mpmshistoricalsociety.org.
Northport
The Village of Northport will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 9 at Northport Village Park at 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Northport/Centerport Lions Club. 516-380-6444
Port Jefferson
Join the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce for an Easter Parade and Egg Hunt in the Village of Port Jefferson on April 9 at noon. Enjoy an old-fashioned “Easter Bonnet” walking parade from Theatre Three to the Port Jefferson Village Center (all are welcome to wear their Easter best and march) followed by an Easter Egg Hunt on Harborfront Park’s Great Lawn at 12:15 p.m. for children ages 2 to 8. 631-473-1414
Rocky Point
Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School, 525 Route 25A, Rocky Point will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 6 and under on April 1 at 11:30 a.m. with free Easter candy for all participants. Sponsored by the Rocky Point Lions Club. 631-744-1600
St. James – CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
St. James Chamber of Commerce presents a free Spring Egg Hunt at Deepwells Farm Parking Field, Route 25A and Moriches Road, St. James on April 1 at 1 p.m. for children 1 to 10 years of age with prizes and fun galore plus pictures with the Easter Bunny. Event will be canceledif rain or inclement weather. 631-584-8510
Setauket
Caroline Church of Brookhaven, 1 Dyke Road, Setauket will host a free community Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny on April 8 at 10 a.m. with face painting, crafts and more. 631-941-4245
Smithtown
Join the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown for Egg Hunts on April 8 at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Enjoy refreshments, hanging out with the farm animals, and a special guest appearance from the Easter Bunny in between hunts. Event runs through 1 p.m. Admission to the farm is $5 per person via Eventbrite. 631-265-6768.
Wading River
No egg hunt here but The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River will host an Easter Celebration on April 1, 2 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with craft vendors, bounce house, a visit with the Easter Bunny and more. $10 per child in advance, $15 on day of; adults free. Additional fees apply for a carousel ride and face painting. www..eastwindlongisland.com, 631-929-3500
The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River will host a Safe Trick or Treat event on Sunday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children in costume can find treats OUTSIDE participating shops. Enjoy a Fall Festival and Craft Fair while there. Held rain or shine. Email [email protected] for more information.
Ruggero’s Family Style Restaurant, located at the Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River has announced that Brian Crawford has joined the team as the new executive chef introducing a fresh culinary perspective for a new refined menu.
We’re tempting to fashion classical Italian food in a modern bistro setting” says Crawford, “by using fresh local ingredients, seasonal ingredients, corn, tomatoes when they are in season and then other ingredients when the season changes.”
Growing up in the Berkshires, Chef Crawford developed an appreciation for cooking from his parents, who were both chefs “My parents were an inspiration into cooking overall, sometimes I call it a carnival lifestyle, restaurant world is the last of the carnies. So, they drove us all hard, and which helped me along my journey.” A 30-year journey of traveling the globe took him to in Chicago, San Francisco, DC, Shanghai and New York, honing his culinary skills. Most recently at as Culinary Director at BEA Restaurant, Executive Chef at Dean and Deluca’s, and serving as director and partner at the famed The Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel in New York. “I mentored under a chef in Chicago … Chef John Vlandis , he specialized in the California style of cooking Alice Waters – fresh organic and then as well I spend several years working with Todd English – learned fine Italian food and how to apply that to the American palate…I want to take all those experiences and put them on a plate for the guest.”
Crawford’s vision for Ruggero’s is to offer a “slow food” approach to the cuisine. Founded by Carlo Petrini in Italy in 1986, “Slow food” is an alternative to “fast food”, a concept based on dishes made from fresh locally sourced ingredients. Chef Crawford plans to offer more seasonal items sourced from Long Island, while also keeping with the traditional Italian fare that people expect when they visit. “We’re dealing with a lot more, fresh organic items, heirloom tomatoes, fresh organic broccolini so we want people to experience the freshness. We’re not just a sauce house, we’re a classic Italian sauce house, but we also have a variety of experiences for the more contemporary guest. So, if people had flavors in Manhattan or California, where they are looking for something more modern, and not just pasta and sauce, then we want them to have that experience.”
“At Ruggero’s we are very good about trying to keep what we do local, especially this time of year when everything is so fresh. Why buy a tomato shipped green two weeks ago from California and gassed up in a truck cross country when local Beefsteaks and Heirlooms are in peak season. Our fish is bought on Long Island from Mastic Seafood, our Meats and Chicken are mostly butchered locally at the Rocky Point Cow Palace, with some special duck breasts coming from the Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, NY. We also work with a special program with Baldor Produce that connects chefs and restaurants with local in season produce. From that we get Kale, Spring, Mix and Baby Spinach from Sutur Farms in Calverton and Micro Greens From Koppert Cress in Cutchogue, NY among others. When I go out shopping myself for the restaurant I love the honey, corn, berries and peaches from May Farms in Wading River, but my favorite stop is Hudun Farms on Middle Country Road in Calverton. The squash and cucumbers make a perfect salad, and tomatoes are at peak now. Beefsteak tomatoes have a savory taste when salted, it’s like having a steak. And for about $45 you can pick up a bushel of plum tomatoes for making sauce. 50 pounds will come out to about 12 quarts of sauce” he said.
Crawford’s desire is for people to not only taste his food, but to appreciate the presentation, and how it feels on their palette. “I want you to have a total joyful experience in your food. And so, when you come, you’ve had great food and wonderful time and I just want people to come happy and leave happy.”
Ruggero’s menu includes favorite classic Italian dishes made with handmade fresh pasta and more modern dishes made from fresh, local ingredients like tuna avocado crudo.Gluten free and other dietary option are available upon request.
Restaurant hours are Sunday,Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. For more information, call 631-886-1625 or visit www.ruggerosrestaurant.com.
Students at Little Miss Sew It All at The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River model handmade clothes created with the help of shop owner Melissa Stasi-Thomas. Photo by Jill Webb
By Jill Webb
Fourteen years ago Melissa Stasi-Thomas was a Girl Scout troop leader who would teach her scouts how to sew. Now, she’s putting on weekly fashion shows as the owner of Little Miss Sew It All.
Students at Little Miss Sew It All at The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River model handmade clothes. Photo by Jill Webb
Little Miss Sew It All is a sewing studio located in The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River. The studio focuses on teaching sewing to children and young adults, with no experience necessary, and offers assistance to those within a range of skill levels.
Erin DeBianco who was searching for a creative outlet for her daughter Skylar, 5 at the time, stumbled across Little Miss Sew It All and had no idea how it would effect her daughter’s life.
“It really opens their minds for creativity purposes, but it also really is teaching a skill that they can carry with them,” DeBianco said of what the studio has done for Skylar, now 9. “She developed a love for sewing, and even had a mini sewing studio installed in her bedroom.”
Skylar takes the lessons she’s learned at Little Miss Sew It All into the classroom, too.
“She had an old skirt that didn’t fit her anymore, and she had a recycling project to do for school, and she made the skirt into a pocketbook,” DeBianco said. “She added the straps, and sewed the bottom shut so it would hold something. Her mind is working like that now because she goes to Little Miss Sew It All. They teach them how to repurpose things and change what doesn’t fit you into something else.”
Students at Little Miss Sew It All at The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River model handmade clothes created with the help of shop owner Melissa Stasi-Thomas. Photo by Jill Webb
Stasi-Thomas has come a long way with sewing. After another troop leader asked if she could teach her girls, she went troop to troop teaching the scouts how to sew pajama bottoms. Then, one girl raised her hand and asked her “what else can I make?”
That question inspired her to start a sewing class on her dining room table. At first, it was just six fifth-graders.
“I stayed on my dining room table for eight years,” Stasi-Thomas said. She opened up the shop, originally located in East Moriches, eight years ago. In October 2016, she closed her East Moriches studio to dedicate her time to her new location in Wading River.
The youth classes, called SEW U, operate in four-week sessions for an hour and a half. Beginner’s classes are broken into instruction basics on machine and hand sewing procedures, along with project construction. Experienced students will introduce design and skill drill instruction into their class. There is also an adult program, All Sewn Up, which offers basic instruction on sewing to adults.
Stasi-Thomas also added open sewing hours to her studio, called Stop-N-Sew, allowing participants to stop in and do projects ranging from $15 to $20. They are available everyday over the summer from 12 to 6 p.m. excluding Fridays.
Fridays are when she and the girls have a little fun. Project Funway, for children ages 6 to 16, offers a chance for participants to not only design and sew their own outfits, but model them in their own fashion shows.
Students at Little Miss Sew It All at The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River model handmade clothes created with the help of shop owner Melissa Stasi-Thomas. Photo by Jill Webb
“We were sewing for so many years and the kids were making such fantastic things and the only people who ever really saw it was [when] they went home and brought it to their parents,” Stasi-Thomas said.
This is her eighth year of Project Funway, and the theme is Bohemian RapSewDy.
The camp starts with an introduction to the theme and explanation of what to create.
“This year, I told them that they are going down the runway barefoot with flower headbands,” she said. “They get that image in their head.”
The students are given choices of which ensemble they will construct: a romper, dress or halter-top with harem pants. Experienced students have more leeway to alter the ensemble choices. On the second day, Stasi-Thomas runs through machine safety and operation. The next three days are dedicated to garment construction, and leads to a photo shoot and fashion show.
“It’s much like you see on Project Runway, sometimes there’s just fabric flying,” Stasi-Thomas said comparing her classes to the popular Bravo and Lifetime reality show competition.
Everything at Little Miss Sew It All revolves around the student’s vision.
“They make suggestions on whether things should be longer or shorter or tighter. … Pick the blue instead of the pink,” she said. “It’s great to just sit and watch what they’re doing.”
Students at Little Miss Sew It All at The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River model handmade clothes created with the help of shop owner Melissa Stasi-Thomas. Photo by Jill Webb
At the July 28 fashion show, best friends Katherine McCann, 12, of Moriches and Gwen Posanti, 12, of Shirley, walked down the runway in their newly-created ensembles. Gwen, who is in her sixth year at the studio, said she loves the program.
“It’s a great way to express yourself, because you get to make your own outfit and then you get to show it to a crowd,” she said. “It just feels so nice to have everybody cheering for you.”
Lorraine Mathes, of Holbrook, has been sending her daughter to Little Miss Sew It All for two years.
“Miss Melissa makes the whole program,” she said. “She’s amazing with the kids.”
One of the best parts of the studio, according to Stasi-Thomas, is watching the growth of her students over the years, providing them with a skill that can last a lifetime.
“It’s the working with your hands — I just feel is important for everybody,” she said. “Even if you’re going to go into the computer field, you have to kind of grasp your ability to create something.”
RIBBON CUTTING Senator Ken Lavalle (R-Port Jefferson) joined East Wind owner Ken Barra (center with scissor) for an official ribbon cutting ceremony in Wading River to celebrate East Wind’s latest expansion, The Shoppes, on Oct. 28. The Shoppes will feature 28 specialty retail and boutique shops including The Crushed Olive, The Painted Canvas, North Fork Bridal, Little Miss Sew It All and Solntse Hot Yoga, an ice cream parlor, an indoor carousel and a pizza restaurant.
“This is a totally different concept — this is a very ma-and-pa situation,” said Barra. “I’ve seen people now that I haven’t seen in three years, five years, 10 years strolling along, having a cup of coffee. Neighbors are meeting neighbors.” Barra was presented with proclamations from the office of Town of Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter (R), County Executive Steve Bellone (D), Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) and Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) at the event. For more information, call 631-929-3500.