Petite North Fork Knows
Village Green Story Walk (Photo: Petite North Fork)
I like to think of Petite North Fork as being your village—sharing the best family-friendly things to do and know on the North Fork and connecting you with others who are wholeheartedly invested in doing the same. This is the heart of Petite North Fork. In “Petite North Fork Knows”, a new monthly series, I’ll be sharing five things that I think families and caregivers living on or visiting the North Fork should know about, with the singular goal in mind of making your life with kids easier and more connected. No gatekeeping here!
Ammirati’s of Love Lane is your answer for easy weeknight dinner
Let’s be honest, while we’re excited to be back to school, the adjustment into our new weekday grind can also be overwhelming. If you’ve found yourself frazzled at the question of “What’s for dinner?” you’ll be thrilled to hear that Ammirati’s of Love Lane is again offering their weeknight dinner specials Monday through Thursday through the fall and winter seasons. “Nowadays, everyone is so busy with work and kids; we are trying to provide an affordable, easy option for dinner,” shared Greg Ammirati, owner of Ammirati’s of Love Lane. Each week, the Mattituck deli will feature a different menu, including a main entree and multiple sides. Week two, for example, which launches on Monday, September 14, will feature penne alla vodka, chicken parmesan, Caesar salad, and garlic bread. These meals are made to feed four to six people and cost $69.99 per meal. Call 631-298-7812 by 2 p.m. to place your order for same-day pickup (by 6 p.m.), with the option for food to be hot or cold to heat up for later. Check Ammirati’s Instagram page for updated menus.
VEME Studios has your kids’ Maritime Festival costumes covered
No need to worry about cobbling together a costume for this year’s Maritime Parade—VEME Studios has us covered with free kids’ workshops where they’ll create their own jellyfish umbrellas and mermaid (or merman!) crowns. On September 15 and 16 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., kids will use their imaginations and work to design their own creations to then wear in the parade. These free drop-off sessions are for kids ages six and up; however, registration is required. You may choose from one or both sessions. On Tuesday, September 15, kids will create umbrella jellyfish, and on Wednesday, September 16, an under-the-sea crown. Learn more and register here.
Peconic Community School’s After School Programs are open to all
After-school clubs and offerings are a great way for our kids to explore their interests while forging friendships with their peers. For public schools, these after-school clubs are only offered for children within the district, but at Peconic Community School, located in Cutchogue, their after-school offerings are open to all students from any district. “After the regular school day ends, Peconic Community School opens its doors to students from all over the North Fork,” Aaron Bokros, After School and Enrichment Programs Manager for Peconic Community School, shared with us. “Any student who wishes to attend one of our afterschool workshop offerings is welcome to register and attend. We conveniently start at 3:15 p.m., allowing for families to make their way to PCS to partake in our wide variety of afterschool programming.” Some of this fall’s programs include Spanish Immersion, PCS Shark Tank, Sensory Science Adventures, and Holistic Yoga Journeys. Programs are thoughtfully designed for students ages 4 through grade 8 and vary depending on the specific offering. Learn more about Peconic Community School’s diverse after-school programs and register here.
The Scavenger Hunt on the Cutchogue’s Village Green Story Walk teaches your kids about local history in an engaging way
If you know us, then you know that our petite crew is all in when it comes to scavenger hunting. From nature scavenger hunts led by Group for the East End to treasure map hunts by Greenie Supply & Tackle, we’ve done them all. So, I was excited to see the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library’s scavenger hunt for the Village Green’s Story Walk. With a half hour to kill between school and sports, our crew recently headed to the library to pick up the free guide, then walked across the street to the Village Green for the Story Walk. Both kids, ages five and nine, immediately became fully invested in the scavenger hunt, but not just because they would get a prize at the end. They actually thoroughly enjoyed learning about Cutchogue’s history and the historic events that happened within each building. We all left more knowledgeable and didn’t have it force it one bit. Swing by the library this month to pick up the hunt and a map at the Children’s Desk. While prizes may run out, the scavenger hunt will be available through the season. This scavenger hunt is open to all, not just Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library cardholders. Call the library for more info at 631-734-6360.
Disset Chocolate’s S’mores Kits takes your bonfire to the next level
It’s nonnegotiable that using high-quality, locally made ingredients always makes the biggest difference. The next time you and your crew plan a bonfire, visit Disset Chocolate in Cutchogue to pick up their s’mores kits, which includes their signature dark lover or milk lover chocolate bars, graham crackers, individually wrapped jumbo vanilla marshmallows, and two extra-long roasting sticks. The kits cost $20 each and are available in-store or at the Greenport Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.