A Very Long Island

Long Island is indeed quite long; if you go all the way to the tip, you will reach Montauk and its lighthouse. It's a great place to visit off-season, as in the summer you'll get run over by tourists. The Hamptons, famous for its sprawling estates and expensive auctions, should also bring you joy with theater, boutique shopping, quaint bed-and-breakfasts, and farms. Then you have the largest mall on the East Coast at Roosevelt Field . Tangier Outlet Mall is near Riverhead, and Route 27 is enchanting as it takes you to the resort areas. Jones Beach is reputed as much for its sands as for its open-air theater with concerts. If you have a chance, stop a day or two in Port Jefferson , a jewel of a seaside village.

Quick Tips:

There is no way to see all of Long Island, even if you live here. Decide if you want history, mansion or castle haunts, beaches, clubbing, gourmet dining, or shopping. There are enough guides for the "best of" to help you decide. You will find that "islanders" and city dwellers have an innate distaste for each other. For New Yorkers, Long Island is the quintessential surburbia, with lawns, dogs, white fences, and coffee klatches.

Best Way To Get Around:

Long Island is not blessed with as many choices for transportation as New York City. Buses become rarer as you head farther east, and the subways don't make it there at all. However, the Long Island Railroad is king out here and quite comfortable, if very pricey. A car will be best for getting around, and definitely forget about taxis.

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P.F. Chang's has various locations throughout the US. Although it claims that its cuisine is traditional Chinese, I thought it was more like pan-Asian, or some sort of fusion Chinese. It is always crowded, but even with the 30-minute wait we were given, since they are usually in major malls, one can always browse for the waiting time.

The decor is interesting: large stone lion statues are prominently displayed on both sides (symbol of guardians during the Tang Dynasty) of the dining room, which is cleverly divided by the bar area. They also had a replica of one of the soldiers whose army they uncovered in a buried city. Further authenticity is revealed by hand painted murals, and several fine examples of calligraphic art also adorn the walls. The atmosphere is lively, and the service is attentive, although they are unforgivably slow to get your bill. Chuck waited over thirty minutes to pay for the meal. That is inexcusable.

We took Julie, our French exchange student, with us, and she was flabbergasted at the choices offered to her on the menu. In fact, she read it several times and eventually I ended up ordering for her.

We started with the Harvest Spring Rolls, which were lightly fried and melted in your mouth, with a filling of shredded veggies. Next came the Malaysian Chicken, which was out of this world: a mixture of coconut milk, peanuts, and raisins in a curry sauce with extra-shredded coconut and plum sauce raisins on the side. Needless to say, I sprinkled the whole thing on the chicken. We also partook in shrimp double-pan-fried noodles, which were a bit reminiscent of pad Thai, but crispy instead of soft. That, too, was excellent. You can enjoy wine, which is anything but traditional Chinese. The dessert menu is very interesting and very American. Cheesecake, cappuccino? There is also a selection of blended teas. The bar area was humming with activity, mostly with couples or couples in the making.

Be sure to save room for the wonderful American desserts. Treat yourself to savory sweets such as New York Style Cheesecake, the Great Wall of Chocolate, six layers of sinfully rich chocolate cake, and the Temple of Heaven, a flourless chocolate espresso dome adorned with fresh seasonal berries. Round out your experience with a cappuccino, espresso, or after-dinner liquor.

You don't need to be in New York to experience the Cheesecake Factory; they are in several other states/cities, usually nestled in a large mall. When they first opened, I imagined them offering mega portions of decadent New York cheesecake. Well, it’s not far from the truth, but there's a lot more to them than meets the eye.

Aside from listing 34 varieties of cheesecake in their dessert section, they have a most interesting and eclectic menu. I'd call it fusion. There’s certainly nothing American about some of the food they serve. Before I go into the type of foods, let me whet your appetite with unusual cheesecake concoctions: Southern Pecan Cheesecake; White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle; Tiramisu Cheesecake; Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cheesecake; White Chocolate Chunk Macadamia Nut Cheesecake; Oreo Cheesecake... had enough?? If you're not into cheesecake, you can have ice cream or carrot cake or chocolate mousse cake. You also have a good choice of espresso-based drinks, teas, and frozen "smoothies."

We walked in there for lunch and were spooked by the size of the individual portions. We decided to share the pad Thai, and it was exquisitely prepared. There were limes on the side, so if you want to enhance the lemongrass flavoring of this dish, squeeze some lime on top. No need to go to Bangkok! The people next to us were enjoying angel hair marinara, Straw and Hay linguine, and Tuscan Chicken Salad. They took more food back than they were able to ingest. I think this is the case with most everyone who comes here.

Aside from the Italian specialties, you'll find a half-dozen hamburger styles, steaks, Thai food, Vietnamese food, omelettes, some Cajun specialties, chicken dressed with orange, marsala, madeira, teriyaki, peanut sauce, etc. Oh, I don't want to forget the pizza menu, and the long appetizer list. So, cheesecake, yes, but not all-inclusive.

Decor is fusion as well; some tropical plants, some Art Deco (lighting); some Romanesque (stained walls).

The wait staff is particularly pleasant, although not always prompt. By the way, they ship their desserts, so if you want to order one of their marvels, you can call them at 800-330-CAKE. Bon appetit!

Shopping at Peter Andrews is like comfort food on a cold night. The store came to our attention one day as we were driving down Hillside Avenue, and there were balloons calling for attention. Normally we would not have seen it, but we made a point of stopping in on the way back, and when we walked in, I knew we had a hit on our hands.

I was looking for some inexpensive gifts for my friends for Passover, and immediately to the left, as you enter, were so many ideas just for that occasion. They were tasteful gifts and fun at the same time, and quite reasonably priced. I had only scratched the surface; the store is quite deep, and in the very back is an "exclusive" gallery with blown glass pieces, artwork, and sculptures to make your head spin, and so will the prices, but it's worth a look just so you can drool at the creativity of the work.

Conversely, on the right hand side in the middle of the wall expanse is an opening that leads to more treasures, which are reduced in price! Chuck went berserk and bought 8 tulip-shaped vases because the price was unnerving! Of course, there are 5 still left for gift giving... what is unusual is the assortment and selection of merchandise. I was able to get a glass vase from Hungary for a song. Naturally you will find your Lenox, your Lladro figurines, and your Mont Blanc pens. But this stuff is not for me. I found some incredible translucent glass pieces, i.e. square plates, round plates, flower holders, and wine glasses, all hand-painted. According to the owner, he tries to display products which are locally made, and I applaud him for that. They have some very unusual CD holders and salad serving sets that might just keep you on that diet. Candles, potpourri, and holders are the back section. They also display mirrors that have exotic, sculptured borders or are oversized. Occasional garden furniture will pop up during the right season. I like the fact that the inventory here keeps turning so that I have surprises every time I visit Peter Andrews.

Don't wait for the balloons. Have a look-see for yourself.

It is virtually impossible to live in New York and not have a part of Jones Beach Park as one’s own. I've been coming to this beautiful complex since I was 17; I’m somewhat hesitant to admit that I’ve never eaten at the restaurant on the boardwalk, but on many Sundays, as autumn was turning over its leaf to winter, I kept warm with a cup of Manhattan clam chowder here.

This mid-summer late afternoon, we decided to take a drive out as traffic had subsided, and we cruised at a comfortable 55 mph on the Long Island Expressway and changed over to the Northern State and then onto the Wantaugh Parkway. The toll booths were unmanned at this hour, where normally you’d have to pay $8 for parking. We actually had the pick of the litter to ourselves and decided to go all the way to the end, past the tower and close to the arena. Many famous and pretty faces have graced the stage at the Jones Beach Theater every summer season. Julio Iglesias , Kenny Rogers , The Beach Boys , Diana Ross , Crosby Still & Nash , and others came to entertain 14,000 middle-aged folks like ourselves

It was low tide when we arrived, and after we parked we headed toward Zach’s Bay. The water had receded quite a bit and the ornery sound of passing gulls broke the silence. We were watching the sun making its way to the horizon line and took some photographs. It was remarkably still all around, and our steps lead us to the boardwalk, which was more animated with people. The restaurant appeared to be closed, but across the way was a cafeteria with the usual refreshments, with a couple of wooden benches and tables outside. Children were copiously licking their ice cream and couples and families enjoyed the ebbing daylight as they walked past us. We sat down with our back to the tower; this is one of the landmarks of the park, which measures 231 feet of mostly stone and brick and holds over 300,000 gallons of water. Its architecture takes its cue from the Venetian St. Mark’s Cathedral.

The boardwalk is over 2 miles long, and it is not unusual to see joggers sweating it out along its expanse; the beach itself offers more than 6 miles of sand and surf which is quite clean. It’s about a 45-minute ride from eastern Queens without traffic, but if you’re thinking of visiting in the summer, plan to go early, as they do close parking lots as soon as they are filled, and you might find yourself sitting in traffic and having to turn around. There are barbecue facilities should you wish to avail yourself of these; otherwise there are fast-food providers to keep you satiated. Families usually come with their chairs, umbrellas, and blankets on Sundays and mark their territories with their well-stocked bags or cold thermos containers.

If you've ever visited Great Neck, you'll agree that the words "plaza" and "village" are hardly appropriate. Great Neck Plaza is one of the few upper-middle class shopping areas that doesn't have its nose up in the air. Its main artery is Middle Neck Road, both sides of which are celebrated by mostly independent store owners, except for maybe Starbucks and Omaha Steaks. The sidewalks are all red brick, and plants are everywhere, and wherever possible, flower baskets are hanging from street lanterns or bow gracefully to the sidewalks from concrete planters.

I chose to show my foreign students Great Neck Plaza today, as they had scheduled, and postponed, their annual autofest and street festival. Despite the disappointment of the cancellation, we all decided to explore on foot anyway. Parking here is a challenge; when you tire of going around the block eight times, you can always settle for the municipal parking lot where it costs you $0.25/hour, a bargain considering where you are.

All roads lead to Middle Neck Road, which is the busiest and most populated in the village. We strolled up one side of the street, and when we approached the Great Neck Railroad Station, I suggested we walk over and look around. This is home to the Long Island Railroad, one of the ways Great Neckers link to Manhattan and the rest of Long Island. The station has an early 1900s look, right down to the waiting room, where you can also purchase tickets. A newspaper vendor has a stall right by the stairs leading down to the Manhattan bound trains, and I'm sure he has stories to tell. There is still a romance to riding the railroad in my heart, even if you are not traveling a great distance. By express, you can reach Penn Station in about 20 minutes.

There are innumerable restaurants in the area: quite a few kosher, shish kabob, Italian, Japanese, and a recent Thai, which we tried a couple of months ago and was a must on the hit list.

Making a right on Bond Street, there are some benches, which look very inviting, that have been permanently fastened to the sidewalks. Farther up the street was a Hagen-Dazs, a children's shop (there are many, and a shop with handmade pottery and kitchenware. So what makes this such a ritzy place? Well, for one, I dare you to find a price tag on anything you see in any window in Great Neck Plaza. There are none, and as the old adage goes, if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Also, the village of Great Neck was home to some of the most famous millionaires: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Groucho Marx, and W. C. Fields all lived here at one time. This is one of the few New York places that are litter- and graffiti-free. Many of the region's top doctors live or practice here: most of my physicians are in this area, and I don't mind the ride, as it's always enchanting. My favorite international food store has been here as far as I can remember, and I can go in at any time for soft white Syrian cheese, Turkish halvah, Greek olives (both green and black), bulk spices, hennah, dried fruits, teas, and a great variety of nuts. It's called the Five Continents, and if you're in the area, pop in. When the bread is freshly delivered, there is no better pita on the face of the earth. Stay tuned.