In this modern world of ours, many of us prioritize work over friends and family. The very people we should be fostering and cultivating relationships often fall by the wayside. If one of your resolutions this year is to spend more time with your friends or your family then rest assured knowing there are myriad ways in which to do this. Nearly all activities work just as well as group activities as they do if you were alone. Swapping out work time for playtime with the people you cherish will benefit everyone involved and serve up experience you’ll never forget.
- Outdoor Winter Activities
- Cross Country Skiing
- Bay Park, 87 First Avenue, East Rockaway - (516) 571-7245
- Christopher Morley Park, Searingtown Road, Roslyn-North Hills – (516) 571-8113
- Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove – (516) 571-8010
- North Woodmere Park, 750 Hungry Harbor Road, North Woodmere – (516) 571-7801
- Muttontown Preserve, Route 25A on Muttontown Lane, East Norwich – (516) 571-8500
- Caleb Smith State Park, 581 West Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown – (631) 265-1054
- Connetquot River State Park, PO Box 505, Oakdale – (631) 581-1005
- Hither Hills State Park, 50 South Fairview Avenue, Montauk – (631) 668-2554
- Wildwood State Park, North Wading River Road, Wading River – (631) 929-4314
- LI Cross Country Ski Club
- Ice Skating
- Superior Ice Rink, 270 Indian Head Road, Kings Park – (631) 269-3900
- The Rinks at Harbor Front, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson – (631) 403-4357
- Christopher Morley Park Ice Rink, Searingtown Road, Roslyn-North Hills – (516) 571-8113
- Outdoor Summer Activities
- Camping
- Hither Hills State Park, 50 South Fairview Avenue, Montauk – (631) 668-2554
- Wildwood State Park, North Wading River Road, Wading River – (631) 929-4314
- Indian Island County Park, Cross River Drive/Route 105, Riverhead – (631) 852-3232
- Smith Point County Park, William Floyd Parkway, Shirley – (631) 852-1313
- Hiking
- Long Island Greenbelt Trail, PO Box 5636, Hauppauge – (631) 360-0753
- Edgewood Oak Brush Plains Preserve, Commack Road, Deer Park – (631) 444-0200
- Uplands Farm Sanctuary, 250 Lawrence Hill Road, Cold Spring Harbor – (631) 367-3225
- Movie Night: Plan a movie night at the local cinema. A wide range of movies is available from kid’s movies to the latest action blockbuster to foreign art house films. Have you heard silent films are back?
- Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Avenue, Huntington – (631) 423-FILM (3456)
- Sayville Cinema, 103 Railroad Avenue, Sayville - (631) 589-0040
- PJ Cinemas, 1068 Route 112, Port Jefferson – (631) 928-3597
- South Bay Cinemas, 495 Montauk Highway, West Babylon – (631) 587-7676
- Seaford Cinemas, 3951 Merrick Road, Seaford – (516) 409-8700
- Merrick Cinemas, 15 Fisher Avenue, Merrick – (516) 623-2330
- Glen Cover Theatres, 5 School Street, Glen Cove – (516) 671-6866
- Movie World Cinemas, 242-02 61st Avenue, Douglaston - (718) 423-9200
- Sunday Brunch: Bond and reconnect with pals, sisters, brothers, parents, cousins, your kids, the whole entire gang over a relaxed Sunday brunch.
- Wall’s Wharf Restaurant, 18 Greenwich Avenue, Bayville – (516) 628-9696
- B.K. Sweeney’s, 636 Franklin Avenue, Garden City – (516) 746-3075
- The Library Cafe, 274 Main Street, Farmingdale – (516) 752-7678
- Sweet Mama’s, 9 Alsace Lane, Northport – (631) 261-6262
- Maureen’s Kitchen, 1 Larson Avenue, Smithtown – (631) 360-9227
- Toast Coffeehouse, 242 East Main Street, Port Jefferson – (631) 331-6860
- Blackbirds Grille, 553 Old Montauk Highway, Sayville – (631) 563-4144
- Ladies Night Out: Get down on the dance floor with your best lady pals while enjoying discounted (if not free!) cocktails and nourishment.
- Nutty Irishman on Wednesday, 60 E. Main Street, Bay Shore – (631) 969-9700
- Restaurant Blue on Saturday, 7 Montauk Highway, Blue Point – (631) 363-6666
- The Lark on Thursday, 93 Larkfield Road, East Northport – (631) 262-9700
- The Library Cafe on Monday, 274 Main Street, Farmingdale – (516) 752-7678
- The Beach Bar on Saturday, 58 Foster Avenue, Hampton Bays – (631) 723-3100
- Take Cooking Classes:
- Home Cooking Consultant, (516) 826-3169
The owner of Home Cooking Consultant, Chef Lia Soscia, is a Certified Personal Chef who offers in home private cooking classes. Beginner chefs will learn all about knife skills and kitchen safety, introductory recipes and advanced classes will focused on particular cuisines or cooking skills. When you learn to cook at home you learn on your own equipment and kitchen tools, you get complete hands on training, and more one-on-one time with Chef Lia while remaining in a familiar and relaxed atmosphere.
- Elegant Eating, 739 Smithtown Bypass (Route 347), Smithtown – (631) 360-2211
Group cooking classes are offered in Elegant Eating’s Smithtown facility. Their various classes are open to individuals, groups of 10 or more and partial groups.
- At Home Cooking Classes with Chef Vanda (516) 459-6850
Learn to cook in the comfort of your own home with an accomplished chef. You’ll learn cooking techniques, knife skills, menu development, produce selection, spice flavors and presentation serving.
- Take Yoga/Zumba Classes: Get fit, toned, and shed some pounds while kicking ass by taking Yoga and Zumba classes. Go with a non-judgmental friend so as not to feel completely ridiculous when you can’t get your foot over the back of your head in the first few classes.
- Mindful Turtle Yoga and Wellness, 1111 Route 25A, Stony Brook – (631) 721-1881
- Inner Spirit Yoga Center, 24 Vernon Valley Road, East Northport – (631) 262-9642
- Harbor Lights Yoga, 125 West Shore Road, Huntington – (631) 223-2533
- Absolute Yoga, 1 Guilles Lane, Woodbury – (516) 682-YOGA (9642)
- Hot Yoga Massapequa, 5078 Sunrise Highway, Massapequa Park – (516) 798-7980
- Zumba with Jenn @ Infinity Sports, 360 Smith Street, Farmingdale – (631) 383-8222
- Kings Park Dance Center, 85 Main Street, Kings Park – (631) 269-0751
- Elite Fitness, 203 Birch Hill Road, Locust Valley – (516) 674-9389
- Dance Magic Ballroom, 655 Middle Country Road, Saint James – (631) 584-7100
Or visit ZUMBAONLONGISLAND.COM for a class nearest you.
- Karaoke: Is there any better way to spend your time with friends than with a few drinks and some downright awful singing? We don’t think so.
- The Nutty Irishman on Wednesday, 323 Main Street, Farmingdale – (516) 293-9700
- The Lizard Lounge on Thursday, 4589 Sunrise Highway, Bohemia – (631) 244-7300
- The Velvet Lounge on Thursday, 10 Woods Corner Road, East Setauket – (631) 751-7575
- The Stephen Talkhouse on Friday, 161 Main Street, Amagansett – (631) 267-3117
- K.J. Farrell’s on Thursday, 242 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore – (516) 804-9925
- Visit a Comedy Club: Laugh the night away while enjoying drinks with buddies. Governors Comedy has three different comedy venues: McGuire’s Comedy Club, 1627 Smithtown Boulevard, Bohemia – (631) 467-5413; The Brokerage Comedy Club, 2797 Merrick Road, Bellmore – (516) 781-LAFF (5233); and Governor’s Comedy Club, 90 Division Avenue, Levittown – (516) 731-3358. You can also visit LICOMEDY.com to find comedians sharing their acts at other venues.
- Take in a Show:
- Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson – (631) 928-9100
- Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 East Main Street, Smithtown – (631) 724-3700
- Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts, 71 East Main Street, Patchogue – (631) 207-1313
- John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, 250 Main Street, Northport – (631) 261-2900
- Staller Center for the Arts, SUNY Stony Brook, Room 2030A, Stony Brook – (631) 632-7235
- Arena Players Repertory Theater, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport – (516) 293-0674
- Bay Street Theater, 1 Bay Street, Sag Harbor – (631) 725-9500
- Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale – (516) 299-3100
- The Broadhollow Theater at Elmont, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont – (516) 775-4420
- Cultural Arts Playhouse, 625 Old Country Road, Planview – (516) 694-3330