Tip# 3: Find balance

Tola is sanskrit for ‘balance’ and Tola Body is a new group & personal training space on Love Lane that just opened and the place rocks.  And you do have to find it.  And you have to register online before attending a class.  It’s located above the Orlowski Hardware Store on the corner of Love Lane.  I bet you passed by a hundred times and never looked up!!  

Co-owner Keri Butler takes a ‘no holds barred’ approach to group training and will push every individual to reach their peak exertion.  This is not a gym to just show up and hang out.  You need to bring it – physically and mentally.  Keri pushes you to challenge yourself with every visit.  Or else she'll do it for you.  (KB - Let me turn up that resistance on the spin bike to a real ‘8’.) I even heard her say to a class “If you feel faint, stop and drink some water.  If you feel like you might throw up, stop and don’t drink water.”  Not your typical North Fork gym experience!

If you are stuck in a fitness rut, Tola Body is your cure. Trust me, you will not know what hit you after your first class but you will definitely want more.  Even the space, still under renovation, resonates with strength and endurance thanks to original details like exposed brick walls, and antique steel beams in the loft ceiling.  Lots of natural light and even reclaimed barn doors bring a sense of the outdoors in.  A feeling of community and eco-friendly policies - like a ban on plastic water bottles - completes the experience.  You will want to spend time here even if your body screams ‘enough’.  And after training at Tola Body, you are guaranteed to leave with more focus and purpose, sore muscles and, yes, balance.

Tola Body
320 B Love Lane, Mattituck
(631) 315-5071

For group training schedule:  www.facebook.com/Tolabody

Tall ships are coming… tall ships are coming…

They are here!!  Arriving in the fog the tall ships are coming into Greenport harbor for the weekend.  While many people may avoid Greenport like the plague, if you are coming to visit for the holiday weekend – or happen to live within walking distance of the village – there is so much happening for the Tall Ships Challenge 2012.  The Challenge started in Savannah, and from Greenport will stop in Newport and Nova Scotia.  

The full event schedule and a map here: http://www.greenportvillage.com/

Of note, you can purchase tickets online or at the docks to board the ships from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets costs $15 and allow you to tour all seven of the ships.   My recommendations:  The Picton Castle , at 180 feet it’s the biggest of all the ships,  will be docked on the longest pier closest to the marina office, along with Unicorn and Bounty.  I also recommend seeing the Pride of Baltimore (being from Maryland and all) which is docked near the North Ferry.  The Roseway is offering sail excursions at 9:00, 12:00 and 2:30 both days.

Starting tomorrow there will be live music all day on the main stage in front of Prestons Wharf.  Local favorite, Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks will be playing at 7pm on Saturday and we are planning to be there.  Claudio’s live music starts at 10pm, if you really want to make a night out of it – it’s not like it happens every year!  

Other weekend tips: 

The Greenport Farmers' Market will stay open until 3:00 pm on Saturday.  And there will be fresh strawberries for sale from newcomer Hodun Farms in Calverton. 

Also on Saturday is the first ever Art Show and Reception at Stirling Yoga from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm.

An Art Auction and Wine Tasting will take place on Sunday from 11:30 - 2:30 at Terrance Joyce Art Gallery. 

And one of my favorite spots, Bruce's Cheese Emporium will offer Beer and Bivalves on Saturday and Sunday.  

Come and enjoy the ships, the crowds, and the start of summer!

Tip# 6: Have a Rosé Day

If your summer plans do not include a trip to the South of France with ‘la belle élite’ than make a trip to South Harbor Road and go to Croteaux Vineyards.   They specialize in Rosé (on purpose) in the style of the South of France.  And a visit to their tasting barn and garden will make you feel like you’ve escaped to Provence or even Côte d’Azur for the afternoon.  Vintage, wrought-iron tables and chairs scattered through-out the garden overlook the vineyard and encourage small, intimate gatherings.  Along with wine, there are cheese plates available.  Friends and couples alike linger over their tastings and feel no pressure to move along and more importantly, encounter no jostling for space. Croteaux doesn’t even allow groups larger than 8.

While such a setting emanates a “laissez-faire” charm it should be noted that every detail is so carefully handpicked and obviously well-thought.  You may be served wine from bottles carried in a vintage milk bottle carrier on one occasion or your tasting is delivered in glasses set in a terra cotta saucer on another. The cool tasting room staff is knowledgeable, with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ about them. (I just couldn’t resist – and it is true!)  And the rosé is always fantastic.   You will want to stock up for the summer. Now would be a good time, too. 

Tomorrow night, Croteaux Vineyards is hosting a Garden Party for their case club members complete with hors d’oeuvres, new releases and sunset over the vines.  And there are more parties to come this season so take my advice & don’t miss out!

Croteaux Vineyards

1450 South Harbor Road
Open Thursday – Monday in May from noon – 5pm
and every day after Memorial Day until Labor Day
www.croteaux.com

Tip# 62: Don't Miss Opening Day!

The season has begun and it is time to start sharing what is new or just improved out east…

I am getting so excited about opening day at the Greenport Farmers’ Market on Saturday.  We have a new location at 624 Main Street, home the United Methodist Church, and I can’t wait to see my fellow farmer friends from last year: Stephanie of Invincible Summer Farm, Walter of Garden Fusion and Karen, the talented cheese-maker at Goodale Farm.   The market is going to be even better – and even more artisanal - with the addition of several new farms and vendors:

For opening day, The Old Field Vineyard will be a participating winery for the first time.  Make sure you take home a bottle of Cacklin Rose (sporting a silhouette of their Leghorn chicken) which is a perfect wine to sip after coming in from the beach. Or bring the Rooster Tail Red to your Saturday barbeque.  I am partial to all things chickens!  Both of these wines are light and uncomplicated – a perfect match for North Fork weekends.

Greg of Long Island Coffee Roasters will be selling his small-batch coffee – both beans and beverages – all freshly roasted in Southold.   After all, what is a Saturday morning without great coffee?    www.licoffeeroasters.com

Be sure to look for Paulo, of Metro Macs, and his brightly-colored, incredibly decadent french macarons (yes, that is the proper french spelling, too).   My favorite flavor is the salted caramel.  Yum. Take some home for your weekend guests.  Or better yet, get your guests to bring some home to you.  (Hint, hint houseguests)  www.metromacsny.com

Most of our Browder’s Birds customers already know Tom Hart, who helped me every Saturday at the market last season.  He has started his own farm this year called Deep Roots and will be selling vegetables, eggs and chickens.  This year you will even meet his wife – Brie!  Some of you are surprised it wasn’t me, I know.

Gula Gula Empanadas will be a new vendor this year.  And while I have not had the pleasure to try one yet, I will definitely be eating one…  or two… or three.  

And one of the coolest editions to the market is the Edible Schoolyards program.  Many of our East End schools now have school gardens with help from Slow Food East End.  The kids from these schools will sell their produce on a rotating basis each week.  Talk about educating the future generation!  Buy local and make a difference by encouraging our kids to grow healthy food for our community.

More market updates to come this season...

Greenport Farmers Market

At the Greenport United Methodist Church
624 Main Street - Market Lot on 1st Street

9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Opening Day this Saturday, May 19th

www.greenportfarmersmarket.com