April 22, 2018 - Sea Otter Classic Gran Fondo in Monterey and Re-cap of Elisa's Day in Stony Brook

Tanya's Daily Scoop​
Covering the West Coast & the World
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: MONTEREY, CA

A day riding in the Sea Otter Gran Fondo in Monterey

So far it's just a photo recap. I wanted to get all of the pictures uploaded before heading out. 

At some point later today I'll be adding captions and telling you all about how the day riding in the Monterey Sea Otter Gran Fondo went!

Elisa's Daily Scoop
Covering Long Island & NYC Boroughs
​CURRENTLY  IN GARDEN CITY, NY

Re-cap of Stony Brook

Happy Sunny, Sunday!

I hope you have had a lovely weekend so far.  Yesterday was a fun-filled day, which I cannot wait to tell you all about!  ​

We packed a great deal into the day yesterday, which was a gorgeous, brisk, sunny April day!!

And with all we did in the precious hours we spent in Stony Brook, my little trio didn't fully max out all that was on my list to see and do in this Long Island hamlet.

After dropping off our fur baby, Punkin at Jo-Mar Groomers & Boarding, where she was greeted with the usual excitement from the loving staff, we headed towards the Northern State Parkway to begin our 45 minute drive.  (Easy Peasy compared to Tanya's 6 hour drive Friday night to Monterey for the Sea Otter Classic). ​

Driving Selfie (c) travelincousins.com

Before jumping on the highway, we made a breakfast pitstop at Dunkin' for some beverages and goodies. 

The drive was smooth sailing and I couldn't have asked for more perfect timing. Arriving in Stony Brook at 9:45am, we pulled into the parking lot of the Long Island Museum of Art, History & Carriages a few minutes prior to their 10AM opening.

The first visitors to the museum (c) travelincousins.com

This arrival could not have worked out more advantageous.  As the first (and only!) car in the museum parking lot, I had the run of the outside grounds to take a boatload of photos!

We could not help but be captivated by, upon pulling up to the museum, the trees "wrapped" in colorful and eye-catching crochet work. From the car, upon first glance, Kelsey, riding shotgun, excitedly drew my attention to what looked like "painted trees."  But, upon parking next to a few of the wrapped trees, it was clear that this was far more ambitious than painting on the trees.

One of the Crocheted trees, part of the "Hooked" exhibit featuring 5 trees on the Museum Campus (c) travelincousins.com

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Our first view of the crocheted trees approaching the Museum. Look how high the crocheting goes! (c) travelincousins.com

Another crocheted tree (c)travelincousins.com

Gianna up close and personal with the crocheted tree (c) travelincousins.com

First of all, the idea to do such a thing is quite ingenious in my my opinion, and secondly, I was in awe at how high the crochet work extended up, covering the trees, like perfectly fitted clothing!
Absolutely gorgeous. 

The crocheted trees throughout the museum campus, was the result of a community-based public art project called "Hooked."

Artist Carol Hummel was the creative mind behind this project.  Incredibly, she has created successful public art installations similar to this one in Switzerland, Norway, India, and at multiple venues in the United States, including her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. 

Ms. Hummel is quoted as saying, in reference to this project, “this is artwork for the people, by the people.  It involves bringing together people of all types in a celebration.” 

The 200 Volunteers in this project, made and sorted over 4,000 crocheted pieces of various sizes and colors, which were carefully assembled and wrapped on 5 trees!!!

Visitor's Center Art Gallery featuring this year's Entries for the Annual Juried Art Exhibition (c) travelincousins.com

The first and only visitors to the Museum Visitor's Center, we had the whole place to ourselves, which was incredible. We were given a full overview of the Museum Campus, with a helpful map detailing the grounds and buildings that covers the two sides of Route 25A.

The walls of the Visitor Center's main hall were still lined with the artwork exhibited for the Annual Juried Art Exhibition and how apropos that the theme for 2018 was Wanderlust!! I thought that was very cool.

Ironically, the night before our visit, the museum held a reception and awards ceremony, so we were able to see the placed artwork winners!  First place was awarded to a photograph!  The girls and I were captivated by  this black and white photo, which exuded so much emotion and beauty.  Check it out for yourself below. 

Submissions are accepted by anyone from Long Island, and I was told that they receive a huge number of entrants, from which they narrow down and eventually judge.  

Wanderlust was this year's theme for the 2018 Annual Juried Art Exhibition (c) travelincousins.com

Visitor's Center Art Gallery featuring this year's Entries for the Annual Juried Art Exhibition (c) travelincousins.com

This year's winner - photograph "All Aboard" by Elizabeth Milward (c) travelincousins.com

Kelsey admiring "All Aboard" photo (c) travelincousins.com

Beyond the main hall exhibit is the home to the Bayman’s Art: Waterfowl Decoy Gallery.  I thought this was way cool and embodied Long Island.  Having grown up with a summer home in Montauk, which was decorated with decoys, I thoroughly enjoyed this exhibit which replicates authentic Long Island wetlands as a “natural habitat” for the display of shorebirds and duck decoys.

An early 20th century bayman’s shack is recreated and on display,  complete with tools, furnishings and decoys in various stages of completion and illustrate the process and methods used by carvers.

Bayman’s Art: Waterfowl Decoy Gallery. (c) travelincousins.com

I have to say, my girls were more engaged than I ever expected!  Kelsey loved the artwork exhibit and told me which art pieces she would purchase if she "had the money" (lol).

Next, we were off to cross Route 25A and head to the rest of the museum grounds, including the Carriage Museum.

View of the Carriage Museum from the Visitor's Center (c) travelincousins.com

The grounds of the Museum Campus (c) travelincousins.com

Kids racing down the hill (c) travelincousins.com

Kid racing UP the hill (c) travelincousins.com

The Art Museum - Current Exhibits include Jane Peterson: At Home & Abroad AND Perfect Harmony:The Musical Life and Art of William Sidney Mount (c) travelincousins.com

This is the exhibit I was really anticipating and it was much more than I imagined!!! If you are a history buff or love beautiful craftsmanship, you MUST make a visit to see the Carriage Museum!!

In the first place, the museum includes eight renovated galleries that tell the story of transportation before the automobile. It is laid out to perfection.  I was walking so slow, as I got caught up in visualizing, with each street carriage and sleigh, what it must have been like when these gorgeous modes of transportation filled the roads of the cities and towns throughout New York and the world.

The collection is the largest in the world and includes those from all over the globe!
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. 

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Gianna imitating the merchant statue (c) travelincousins.com

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Gorgeous craftsmanship (c) travelincousins.com

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The weather could not have been more agreeable for walking around outdoors yesterday and my girls had fun running and racing up and down the hills of the museum grounds.  

We ducked into The Art Museum to view The Jane Peterson Art Exhibit.  A talented and adventurous woman, Peterson (1876-1965) recorded her travels abroad, which were quite extensive and resonated completely with me as a travel lover!!

Exhibit inside The Art Museum (c) travelincousins.com

Jane Peterson's floral paintings (c) travelincousins.com

Original photos and personal affects of the artist (c) travelincousins.com

Her world travels began first as a student to London, Spain, and Paris (where she was a guest at Gertrude Stein’s salon), then Venice and Yugoslavia, before heading to the more exotic Egypt and Turkey.

Calling the cities of New York, Palm Beach, FL, and Gloucester, MA home, each was an important part of her oeuvre as were pictures of women, usually in quiet reverie or at the dressing table.

However, floral still lifes and gardens make up a significant part of her output, and she is quoted as saying, in one of the articles on display, "I paint flowers because they are my friends and I love them. They have personalities just as animals, birds, and people, and are very sensitive to kindness, attention and to their surroundings."

I also slipped into the Perfect Harmony:The Musical Life and Art of William Sidney Mount
which was very intriguing.

​The kids were exhibited out, so I tried my best to take in this lovely showcase quickly. Anyone who knows me, is well aware of how I like to read EACH & EVERY bit of information in a museum!!

Perfect Harmony:The Musical Life and Art of William Sidney Mount Exhibit (c) travelincousins.com

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Next stop - about a mile up the road, we entered the Stony Brook Village Center along Main Street and parked near  The Stony Brook Grist Mill. 

Again, we arrived early - it opens at 12 noon on Saturdays - and I had time to get out and take some pictures of T. Bayles Minuse Mill Pond and Park and walk a bit of the trail of Avalon Park and Preserve. 

T. Bayles Minuse Mill Pond (c) travelincousins.com

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We will come back for a full day of exploring and hiking the park, as there is much to see!

The Stony Brook Grist Mill and our private tour is really a story in itself, which I will bring to you in the coming weeks, but let me tell you just how educational and enjoyable a time we had.  Unfortunately, my Kelsey was not 100% with a bad sinus headache, so she took a quick look inside the mill, but opted out of the 20 or so, minute tour to sit in the car.

Gianna and I were the recipients of a private showing of the Grist Mill and the grounds by our amazing tour guide, Richard!  A wealth of historical knowledge and fun facts, Richard is originally from The Bronx, where he lived as a young boy before moving to Long Island. Thank goodness it was just me and Gianna on this tour, since Richard and I chatted away about The Bronx! 

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Anyhoo, The Stony Brook Grist Mill is Long Island’s most completely equipped working mill and is listed on the National and New York State Register of Historic Places.  It was truly fascinating to learn about "Dutch construction" which is how the Mill was made, and the way in which crops such as corn, wheat, barley and rye are ground down into flour.

Richard took us through the whole process and demonstrated for us, to see first-hand, the milling of corn.

For us 21st Century folks, it was humbling to be reminded how, 300 years ago, when this area of Long Island was settled, "there were no Starbucks to get a croissant," as Richard so aptly put it.  People grew crops and brought them to the mill to be made into flour so they could make their breads.

The Stony Brook Grist Mill (c) travelincousins.com

Marker on entrance indicating The Grist Mill is on the Register of National Historic Sites (c) travelincousins.com

With our Grist Mill Tour Guide, Richard (c) travelincousins.com

inside the mill (c) travelincousins.com

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Water powering the mill (c) travelincousins.com

I felt truly blessed to be able to take a walk back in time and see the inner workings of this mill.  I believe Gianna gained some all-important perspective as well about how life was not as convenient as it is today, back in the time of the settlers and through colonial times and beyond.

Next Stop, Stony Brook Village Center,  a short one block walk from the Grist Mill.  A little shopping and and walking around before Afternoon Tea!

We spent some time in Madison's Niche, which now boasts four stores around Long Island, including my hometown, Garden City!!  I had to go in and take a look!!

I'll be doing a full story on this Long Island Boutique and its founder, Karen McAvoy, which is expanding by leaps and bounds!!!!

Madison's Niche, Stony Brook (c) travelincousins.com

Inside Madison's Niche Stony Brook Store (one of 4 Lifestyle Boutique stores on Long Island) (c) travelincousins.com

FOOD AT LAST!!
Whenever we do a day trip or any trip, for that matter, the major incentive for my kids (to get through the historical and touring bit) is FOOD!!

So, yesterday's big treat was afternoon tea at Robinson's Tea Room!  As I had mentioned in prior blogs, I will be doing a full feature about Afternoon Tea on Long Island, so I will save the major details for my upcoming article.  

In a word - YUMMY!  The place is adorable and intimate and the service was wonderful! 

We decided to head back home after filling our bellies (and boy did we stuff ourselves!).

What an incredible Long Island Day!!!

Robinson's Tea Room (c) travelincousins.com

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My yummy passionfruit and mango tea (c) travelincousins.com

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Have a glorious day and don't forget to catch up on Tanya's biking fun in Monterey!!!

-E
xoxo