Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! Fridays feel like a wink from the calendar.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• Basketball Season

• Learning the Grows

• Il Capuccino

Ready, Set, Go!

P.S. Happy Birthday to Kevin Graves! 🎂

Sponsored By Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm

Holiday Cheer Starts Here 🎄

If you’re looking for the North Fork version of the North Pole, you’ll find it in Cutchogue at Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm.

28 acres of evergreens and twinkling lights are waiting to turn your weekend into a Hallmark movie. Established in 1979, this place has been growing Christmas memories for generations.

The Gift Shop is open 7 days a week from 9–6, packed with everything merry and bright: ornaments, garlands, cozy décor, toys, and gifts that’ll even make the Grinch crack a smile. Whether you’re decking the halls or shopping for someone who already has everything, you’ll find a little magic here.

Santa is officially in residence at the farm every Saturday and Sunday. Check Instagram for times as they vary by weekend. You might even catch the Grinch lurking around if you’re lucky!

Pre-cut and fresh-cut trees available 7 days a week.

There’s a full lineup of activities all season long from bouncy houses to barrel rides. Head to their Instagram for the complete activity breakdown and start planning your holiday fun.

Facebook | Instagram

The Lowdown

A New Season 🏀

Something feels different on the Greenport/Southold girls basketball court this season.

The Porters opened Suffolk County League VII play with a 47–32 home win over rival Mattituck, and while senior standout Francesca Santacroce is still leading the charge, she’s no longer doing it alone.

Santacroce paced the team with 17 points, but this year’s story is balance. Eighth-grader Lyla Zablotny added 12, junior Emily Manwaring chipped in 8, and the stat sheet finally looked like what coach Ev Corwin has been asking for, a true team effort. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Learning That Grows 🌳

From September through December, students at the Peconic Community School from kindergarten through middle school, were united by a trimester long, schoolwide study of trees, forests, and ecosystems. It wasn’t just a science unit. It was an everything unit, weaving together art, writing, math, environmental studies, and plenty of curiosity along the way.

At PCS, learning comes to life at the end of each trimester with a “celebration of learning,” where families are invited in to see what students have created, and hear them explain it themselves. Because if you can teach it, you really know it.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Top Stories From The Week 📖

🍸 Twisted Sister Sharon Harbin and Kristy VanBrunt are the brains and heart behind Rocco’s Twisted Sisters, a delightfully quirky bar that opened in November and already feels like it’s been part of the neighborhood forever.

💰 CPF Funds Dr. Stanley Katz didn’t grow up dreaming of medicine, he wanted to be a soccer star. But life had other plans, and lucky for the North Fork, it led him straight to revolutionizing cardiac care at Peconic Bay Medical Center.

🫖 Tea and Tchotchkes to Close Tea and Tchotchkes, the gift shop beloved for its loose teas, boho clothing, housewares, and giftable finds, will be closing its doors for good later this month.

🍽️ 18 Bay’s New Chapter 18 Bay Restaurant has officially landed at the historic Dimon Estate on Manor Road in Jamesport, putting down roots after more than two decades, multiple incarnations, and a whole lot of loyal fans.

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Photo of the Week

📸 submitted by Kim Caldwell

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

Foodie Friday 🍽

For this week’s Foodie Friday, we’re sending you a little off the North Fork, yes, it requires two ferries and a trek across an island, but trust us, the destination is worth it. We’re talking about Sag Harbor’s classic Italian institution, Il Capuccino.

A Sag Harbor staple since 1973, Il Capuccino was founded by Parma native Achille “Jack” Tagliasacchi and has grown from a small neighborhood eatery into one of the East End’s longest-running family owned restaurants. Homemade pastas, classic veal dishes, and those legendary complimentary garlic rolls keep folks coming back, while the old school charm of red and white checkered tablecloths, candlelight, dark wood accents, and Chianti bottles makes the space feel cozy and timeless.

Then there’s the food. You barely have time to settle in before a basket of Il Capuccino’s famous garlic bread hits the table…and it instantly lives up to the hype.warm, soft, lightly crusted, and drenched in garlicky butter that’s impossible to resist. It’s simple, classic, and dangerously addictive.

Our go-to pasta? Tortelloni al Pistacchio. House-made tortelloni bathed in a creamy pistachio sauce that’s rich but never heavy, with just the right nutty sweetness to make every bite feel special. Comforting, unexpected, and deeply satisfying, it’s the kind of dish that makes you start planning your next visit before the plate is cleared.

For a hearty classic, the Veal Cutlet Parmigiana delivers. Tender veal, golden crust, bright marinara, and melty mozzarella, served with perfectly cooked pasta, this dish is indulgent, comforting, and pure old-school Italian.

Finish off with a classic Italian dessert tiramisu, cannoli, cheesecake, or an affogato.

Afterwards, stroll through Sag Harbor village or pop into Sag Harbor Cinema’s rooftop Green Room for a nightcap, quietly one of our favorite hidden in plain sight places for a great drink.

Winter might be the most perfect time to make the trip: fewer crowds, easier parking, and peaceful ferry rides set the stage for a cozy Sag Harbor night out. It’s a little bit of a journey, but for a meal like this, it’s more than worth it.

What’s your favorite go to at Il Cappuccino? or if you’ve never been and decide to check it out, let us know what you think! Email us at [email protected]. We want to hear from you1

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

Live Music Breakdown

Friday

Corey Creek | Jay Shepard | 4-8 PM
Suhru & Lieb | Cassandra House | 5-7 PM
Main & Mill | Jeff LeBlanc | 5-7 PM
Tucker’s Taproom | Rocky River Boys | 5-8 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Gpt) | Karaoke | 5-8 PM
Borghese Vineyard | Rites of Spring: A Night at the Opera | 5 PM
Eastern Front Brewing | Kristian Mahstedt | 6 PM
Ram’s Head | Trivia with Think Inc. | 6 PM
Touch of Venice | Rick Anzalone | 6-9 PM
Southold Social | K + R Music | 6-9 PM
The Clam Bar at Alize Brewing | Mike Duca | 7-10 PM
Andy’s | Rick Rempe | 7-10 PM
Isola | Karaoke with DJ Henry Eau | 10 PM

Saturday

Raphael Winery | Keith McQuire | 1-4 PM
Corey Creek | Toni Santora | 1-5 PM
Bedell Cellars | The Como Brothers | 1-5 PM
Pindar Vineyards | Haig Mathosian | 1-5 PM
Jason’s Vineyard | Perfect Strangers | 1-5 PM
Clovis Point Vineyard | Evan Miller | 1-5:30 PM
Terra Vite Vineyard | Erin Chase | 1:30-4:30 PM
Jamesport Farm Brewery | Robin James | 2-5 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Pec) | One Track Mind | 4-7 PM
Hotel Moraine | Jeff LeBlanc | 5-7 PM
Tucker’s Taproom | Marty Attridge | 5-8 PM
Borghese Vineyard | North Fork Holiday Fiasco with Greg McMullen & Friends | 5:30PM
CAST | The Realm | 6 PM (free entry, but registration required)
Little Fish | Jay Shepard | 6-9 PM
Eastern Front Brewing | Satchel Boogie | 7 PM

Sunday

North Cliff Vineyards | Just E | 12-5 PM
Tucker’s Taproom | Back on Bourbon Street | 1-4 PM
Raphael Wine | Jason Dorsa | 1-4 PM
Bedell Cellars | Ana Grace | 1-5 PM
Corey Creek | Frank Palmeri | 1-5 PM
Pindar Vineyards | TJ Brown | 1-5 PM
Jason’s Vineyard | Como Brothers | 1-5 PM
Clovis Point Vineyard | Kath Galgano | 1-5:30 PM
Jamesport Farm Brewery | Bethany Vollaro | 2-5 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Pec) | NOFO Band | 3-6 PM
Jamesport Vineyards | Trivia Night | 4-6 PM
Borghese Vineyard | Rites of Spring: Spanish & Italian Songs | 5 PM

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THANKS!

Thanks for reading the North Fork Buzz today. Like what you read? Send it to someone who loves Italian food.

Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships