North Fork Buzz
Posts
🐝 Stories of Human Perseverance and Optimism

🐝 Stories of Human Perseverance and Optimism

When the Earth Speaks, Leading Long Island Wine, A Mexican Feast

Thomas Loncar
June 12, 2026

Together With Tim O’Keefe

Good Morning, North Fork! Friday arrives every week and somehow never loses its popularity.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

When the Earth Speaks
Leading Long Island Wine
A Mexican Feast

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

When the Earth Speaks 🌎

A world premiere is coming to the North Fork Arts Center on Saturday, and it’s tackling climate change in a way that skips the policy debates and science lectures.

When the Earth Speaks pairs original music from Yale School of Music composers Forrest Eimold and Jaebong Rho with powerful environmental photography from the internationally recognized BarTur Photo Award archive.

Organizers say the goal isn’t doom and gloom. The project balances stark reminders of environmental challenges with stories of human perseverance and optimism.

Following the performance, attendees can hear directly from the composers and creative team during a panel discussion and view an exhibition of the featured photographs.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Leading Long Island Wine 🍷

Most people in Long Island wine know Kristen Curcie as the general manager of Ev & Em Vineyards and president of the Long Island Wine Council. What they probably don’t know is she once planned on becoming a vocal jazz teacher.

After working in public relations and producing events for New York Fashion Week, she spent seven years at Guild Hall in East Hampton, rising through the ranks while managing galas, sponsorships, and just about everything else that came her way.

A weekend job at Wölffer Estate changed everything.

What started as a side gig quickly became a passion, as Curcie immersed herself in the world of wine and discovered how much there was to learn beyond the pinot grigios and grocery store reds she knew after college.

As president of the Long Island Wine Council, Curcie is also helping shape the future of the region’s wine industry, championing local varietals like cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc while working to connect with a younger generation of more intentional consumers.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Stow Wengenroth + The Flacks 🎨

Greenport’s Floyd Memorial Library is currently hosting a rare exhibition that brings one of the village’s most celebrated artists back into the spotlight.

More than 50 works by acclaimed lithographer Stow Wengenroth and his creative family are on display in Stow Wengenroth + The Flacks, a collection on loan from North Fork resident Joanna Lane.

The show highlights Wengenroth’s detailed black and white lithographs, Paris sketches, North Fork harbor scenes, and Maine landscapes, alongside works by his wife, marionette maker Edith Flack Ackley, and her sister, children’s author and illustrator Marjorie Flack.

The exhibition may also be a once in a generation opportunity. Collector Joanna Lane is considering selling the collection, meaning this could be the last time the works are seen together in one place.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

The Scenic Route ⛳️

For most fans heading to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, the trip will involve traffic, train schedules, and plenty of patience.

A handful of North Fork golf fans, however, may be arriving by boat.

Captain Chip Cheek of Peconic Bay Sunset Cruises is offering a U.S. Open water taxi service from Cutchogue to Southampton, ferrying passengers across Peconic Bay, through the Shinnecock Canal, and within walking distance of the tournament gates.

The trip takes about 90 minutes, but the journey is part of the appeal. Along the way, passengers cruise past Robins Island, waterfront estates, iconic golf clubs, and some of the East End's most scenic waterways.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Photo of the Week

📸 submitted by Joyce Culver

Tag @NorthForkBuzz or email us at [email protected] to get your photos in The Buzz!

Foodie Friday 🍽

A Mexican Feast 🌮

There's a certain confidence required to sign up for a cooking class.

Not because of the cooking itself, but because you're voluntarily agreeing to prepare food in front of strangers who may or may not know what they're doing.

Fortunately, that's not really the vibe at Flavor Fork in Greenport.

We've been hearing rave reviews about the cooking classes owner Sarah Mastracco has been putting together, so we decided it was finally time to see one for ourselves. The theme was a Mexican Feast, and after reading the menu, our decision was made almost immediately.

What followed was an evening of homemade tortillas, sizzling skirt steak, smoky chicken tinga, and enough helpful cooking tips to make us feel slightly more qualified in our own kitchen.

A big part of what makes the classes work so well is Sarah herself. She does a great job explaining techniques as she goes, demonstrating each step, answering questions, and making sure everyone feels comfortable jumping in. Whether you're someone who cooks every night or someone who's mostly there for the tacos, she has a way of getting everyone involved without it ever feeling intimidating.

The atmosphere was relaxed, welcoming, and social. Less like a classroom, and more more like a dinner party where you are gathering around good food with good people.

Elote (Grilled Corn Salad) 🌽

Sometimes the simplest dishes end up being the ones you can't stop thinking about. That was definitely the case with the Elote. After one bite, we were already talking about making it at home. It's easy, incredibly versatile, and feels like the perfect side dish for just about every summer meal.

Chicken Tinga Tacos 🌮

This chicken packed some serious flavor. The tinga was rich and smoky with just the right amount of spice, the kind of flavor that tastes like it took all day to make but somehow comes together much faster than you'd expect. Served on crispy corn tortillas, every bite had a little crunch, a little heat, and a whole lot of flavor.

Carne Asada Tacos with Homemade Tortillas 🌮

Making homemade tortillas has been on our food bucket list for a while, and as it turns out, they're a lot more approachable than we expected and infinitely more delicious than anything you'll find in a package. Skirt steak might just be one of the best taco meats out there and the marinade gave it incredible flavor. The tomatillo salsa tied everything together, adding a bright, subtle citrus note that elevated every bite without overpowering the steak.

If you're looking for a fun weeknight outing that's a little different from the usual dinner reservation, Flavor Fork's cooking classes are absolutely worth checking out. Sarah has created something that is a combination of a cooking class and dinner party.

We had a great time, learned a lot, and we'll definitely be back for another theme soon. We can't recommend Sarah, these classes, and Flavor Fork enough.

Have you taken a class or want to take a class at Flavor Fork?
Email us at [email protected] and tell us all about it.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just fun things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something is sponsored

🍽 Foodie Friday Wants Your Recommendations

Had an incredible meal on the North Fork recently? Don't gatekeep it.

Maybe it was a standout lobster roll, an unforgettable dessert, a hidden gem, or a dish you're still thinking about days later. Whatever it was, we want to hear about it. Send us a quick blurb about your experience, what you ordered, and why it's worth trying. Your recommendation could be featured in an upcoming Foodie Friday edition of North Fork Buzz.

Share the good stuff and help fellow food lovers in the Buzz fam discover their next great meal!

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up

Interested in sponsoring The Buzz? Let’s Talk

Want your business’s event in the newsletter? Send us the Info!

Did we miss something? Let us know at [email protected]

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the North Fork Buzz today. Like what you read? Send it to someone who like a good Italian sandwich.

Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships