The Essence of Fire Island

This past weekend the Friends of Fire Island National Seashore (FFINS) held their first ever "The Essence of Fire Island" art exhibition. There were 34 artists that entered and from that 18 pieces of artwork were selected as winners to be published in a FFINS 18 month calendar.

The judges were Susan Bela - Publisher of Great South Bay Magazine, Dave Hensen - President of Friends of Fire Island National Seashore and Chris Soller - Superintendent of Fire Island National Seashore.

The calendar is a fundraiser for Friends of Fire Island National Seashore. You can purchase the $15 calendar starting June 5th at the Sailor's Haven Gift Shop, Watch Hill Gift Shop and Wilderness Visitor Center at Smith Point Beach. FFINS is also accepting pre-orders of the calendar now. Forms are at the Watch Hill Ferry Terminal in Patchogue.

All the artwork will be on display and available for purchase until May 31st at the new Watch Hill Ferry Terminal, 160 West Avenue in Patchogue. Until Memorial Day weekend, the ferry terminal is open on the weekends from 1pm - 4pm. Go see the artwork and buy a calendar, including a photograph taken by this Blogger - "A Fall Day at Talisman Beach".

The Bubble Is In The Battle On The Bay

Power boaters with families, this weekend in Patchogue is The Battle On The Bay Miss Geico Triple Crown. It is a huge boat race on The Bay just off Patchogue and it's free. The events start on Friday, August 21st on land in Patchogue. There is music, food, vendors and you can view the race boats. On Saturday there are the time trials in the water and more fun on land. Sunday is race day. There are three separate races, starting at noon.

There is a viewing area in the Sandspits of Shorefront Park in Patchogue. If you have a boat, there is a viewing area just off Shorefront Park in Patchogue in The Bay. It is sort of tailgating with your boat in the water! Check out more detailed info at The Battle of The Bay website http://greatsouthbayracing.com/index.html

Even if you do not make it to the races - living in The Bayport Bubble - you will hear the boats!
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The Oar And The Lobster Quesadilla

Went to The Oat on Patchouge River last weekend for the Bayport Causal Reunion. After hanging with some old friends we went inside and had some appetizers and I just have to blog about one of them - the lobster quessadilla. It is an appetizers on their dinner menu and it is beyond good. It is real lobster meat and real guacamole on the side. Just delicious! It is hard to find a place that uses actually lobster meat! It is on the pricey side - $16, but it enough for two people. Even if you just go there - have a few drinks and order the lobster quessadilla. Yummy!

I just checked out their web site - TheOar.Com and I signed up for their mailing list. Maybe I'll get a coupon for the lobster quessadilla! =)

Bayport Blue Point Casual Class Reunion 1982-1988

A multi-class casual reunion for The Bayport Bubble of Bayport - Blue Point High School! It will be my 21st class reunion - since I did the 20th last year. The below info is straight from Facebook. Hope to see you there! =)

BAYPORT- BLUE POINT CLASS casual REUNION | 1982 to 1988

Actually.. If you WENT to BBPHS is all that matters!! '82, '83, '84 - It doesn't matter, come one, come all!! To HELL with waiting another 10 Years!!! Let's Kick-it Now!!

Host:	I need a few others to help me with this, any Volunteers? Mark?
Type:	Party - Reunion
Network:	Global

Start Time:	Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 5:00pm
End Time:	Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 12:00am
Location:	The OAR HOUSE in Patchogue SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!

Phone:	6316267433
Email:	timothy.teska@gmail.com

Description

I spent the weekend looking for the best place for everyone to meet up at and without a doubt the Oar House is the best choice for room, food, drink and atmosphere!! I'm working on getting us some kind of discount there for every on attending - I'll get some bracelets or something... THIS IS GOING TO BE SO AWESOME!!! THE PLACE IS SO NICE EVERYONE!!

Leslie Lanchantin-Lent wrote
at 6:10pm on July 2nd, 2009

Hey hey hey all you Bayport Blue Point peeps, you ready for some fun. We're all set for the Oar House on Saturday, July 11th starting at 5pm. I called the place and one of the staff recommended we get there at 5pm sharp when the outdoor bar opens and just sorta take over the outdoor area...sounds good to me. Some folks were interested in going over to Davis later in the evening so I will make sure we have plenty of ferry schedules to go around. I can't wait to see you all, any questions just contact Tim or myself.

Kids Eat Free

It's true - kids eat for free at J & R's Steak House Sunday - Thursday. You have to have a paying adult to get a free meal and there are only certain items that are free, but it's food kids love. My kids enjoyed their free meal as much as Mom and Dad did paying for it. J & R's Steak House runs all sorts of specials. There are happy hour, early bird and senior specials.

They have five locations on Long Island and we went to their newest one on Main Street in Patchogue. If you cannot find parking in the front - there is plenty of parking in the back, but there is no back entrance so you have to walk through a walkway to the front. When we went on a Thursday night at 6pm and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. Service is great, food is great and price is great.

Go to J & R's web site http://jandrsteakhouse.com - there's lots of great stuff here. You can sign up on their site for email specials - which I did. And J & R's has online coupons. I printed one for a free appetizer and they gladly accepted it.
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Swimming With St. Joe

Since Bayport is on the water, we have a boat and go the beach a lot. That is the reason I believe in swimming lessons for the kids. Last year we took swimming lessons at The YMCA in Holtsville. YMCA lessons were good, but to take lessons there you have to pay for a membership and that gets expensive.

I found out that St. Joesph's College in Patchogue gives swimming lessons and we signed up. The cost at St. Joesph's College is $95 for seven 45 minute lessons. They have six levels of swimming lessons for children ages 5-13. My son is in the beginner class - there are six kids and two instructors. Parents can watch through partially closed blinds. They also spend some time in the classroom going over water safety. So far - so good. I like this program and will be signing up again.

For more info on St. Joseph's swimming lessons call 631-687-1244 or http://www.sjcny.edu/page.php/prmID/954

Rumor Has It........

I was just in Marshalls in Patchogue - The Bayport Bubble does not have everything and I must venture out sometimes. But I found out in The Gateway Mall the old Linens and Things is going to be a Home Goods Store! Very exciting because the closest Home Goods store is in Stony Brook - way out of The Bayport Bubble. It should be opened by November - just in time for Christmas. I'll keep you posted!
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