And the first mentions on my blog...

Restaurants
I'm going to start off with a mention of a sushi restaurant: Hazy Moon, located in Patchogue NY. Thursday nights feature a sushi buffet and drink specials, plus live music (usually some solo player doing cover songs, but hey...). Total bill for a friend and me--$26.76.

Howard's Cafe--404 S Service Rd. Patchogue, NY 11772(631) 758-6161 Good burgers, pitchers of sangria, noisy bar scene, but inexpensive and good. My typical bill for two people with burgers, sangria, and two beers is right around $25.00.

Gallo Tropical--One of my favorites. Columbian food, streetside dining, and absolutely killer 5-milk flan! Service can be slow, so do not go here if you are in a rush. Dinner for two with wine OR dessert will run you just shy of $30.00. Have both and you are looking at about $36-38.00. (My suggestion...get a pitcher of sangria and split the dessert!)

Original Music
Alive After Five is back and this year is looking like it's going to be a great one. On July 18th, one of my all time favorite bluegrass bands, Miller's Crossing, will be playing on the theatre stage. If you caught them at Fadeley's, Patchogue Theatre, or the Acoustic Long Island Concert at Deepwells, you know that they are an outstanding band worth coming out to see. Price: FREE

And speaking of Acoustic Long Island, I would be remiss not to mention them here. Great music at a historic home...what could be better? Make a point of checking it out! Price:FREE

A new music venue is gathering some buzz. Christopher Capobianco of Patchogue Theatre's "Live in the Lobby" series (for those of you familiar with the series, it WILL be back in the fall) has started a new project, the Bellport Songwriter Series. Coming up on July 27th will be Caroline Doctorow and Jay Scott. $5 gets you in the door.

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum hosts a series of concerts co-sponsored by the Town of Islip. Enjoy an afternoon on the lawn with the kids listening to some great music. $5 parking.
http://www.bayardcuttingarboretum.com/Pages/program.htm

Culture Vultures
Spend some time at a historic vacation home, take a house tour, and afterwards head back to the vineyard for some wine tasting. Think you have to go all the way out to the Hamptons to do this? How about Sayville? The MeadowCroft Estate is open on Sundays from June through September and does house tours at 1 PM and 3 PM. When you have finished the tour, head on back to Laughlin Vineyards for some wine tasting. $5 per person for the house tour.

Gallery North's Wet Paint Festival is this weekend, July 11-13th. DO NOT MISS THIS! Cost: FREE

Greenport features its own Gallery Walk the third weekend of every month. See both established and up-and-coming artists. Cost: FREE

Cinema
The best of the worst at the Cinema Arts Center--Summer Camp Cinema! $12.00 per person for a double feature. Coming soon--the 4th Annual Pay to Get Out Horror Marathon!

The Staller Center for the Arts presents its 13th Annual Stony Brook Film Festival. Independent filmaking at its best! $8.00 per person, Senior rates available.

This wraps up my first installment of Cheap Date Long Island. I realize it is very Patchogue-centric, but this is just the first post right off the top of my head. I like to travel! Let me hear from you!