Kasandra Watkins Schaeffer and her husband, Jeff Schaeffer, come from coffee business and food service backgrounds, but in 2023 they started a warm, welcoming place they could call their own. Mugs on Main (33 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-381-0494) is the kind of happy hub every neighborhood should have. Local art cycles through the shop’s walls and Jeff’s mother’s paintings fill the back portion of the space. The Schaeffers have curated a certain Central Perk meets craft espresso cocktail feel at the Main Street spot, with leather couches and a long list of signature lattes. 

The Vibe 

Combining classic and eclectic coffee shop vibes, Mugs is at once a caffeine-fueled study center, first-date locale and delicious drop-in to fuel an otherwise trying day. It’s impossible to wear a frown here thanks to the bright decor, colorfully written blackboard menus and string lights that add a cozy feel all four seasons. There’s varying drop-in community fun on the roster each week, too, like open mic night, trivia and bingo, plus Friday ladies’ night special deals and a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.  

The Food

Morning bites, with lots of eggs, bacon, handheld selections and sides, are served from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come midmorning, more lunch-centric options become available, including sandwiches and flatbreads. Sweets are in store as well, plus a long lineup of coffees, teas, espresso drinks and refreshers, many sporting fun seasonal titles with the option for add-ons like the shop’s homemade syrups for an extra-flavorful punch. Many of the pastries, desserts and snacks are sourced from local vendors, but much of what’s served is created in the kitchen just left of the coffee bar. 

Croissant Sandwich

A pastry-rific twist on a Long Island staple, the buttery croissant wonderfully complements the crispy bacon and smooth fried egg. American cheese adds a salty, savory touch to the otherwise simple sandwich. 

French Toast

The base of this classic dish is made with a crispy croissant, so expect a lighter, flakier texture to this always-fun carby meal. Strawberries, syrup and powdered sugar add a just-right hit of childhood nostalgia. 

Avocado Toast

A health queen or king’s dream, lightly mashed avocado, greens and chunky salsa pack a subtly peppery taste. Served over a thick slice of sourdough and toasted just enough to add support to the toppings, this tasty option is still soft enough to make a satisfying bite. 

Broken BEC

Presentation is everything with this deconstructed dish, which sees cheesy scrambled eggs topped with crispy bacon packed inside a big mug and served with toast. The fun scoop-up twist on the beloved breakfast sandwich makes it even more appetizing. 

Rancheros Wrap

Mugs on Main’s bestselling breakfast is all wrapped up: scrambled eggs, cheese, beans, greens, avocado, salsa and sour cream come together in this slightly smoky and hardy handheld. Creamy avocado and sour cream partner with salty cheese to contrast fabulously against the bitter greens and acidic sweet salsa. 

---

More from northforker.com

Shop Local: The Outpost brings a little bit of Western wanderlust to Jamesport 

Coffee Corners: Where to sip outside of the North Fork’s regular bean scene

The post The Dish: Mugs on Main serves lavish lattes and twists on favorite dishes  appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Takkii Ramen combines traditional Japanese design with modern touches. The 49-seat dining room has ambient rattan light fixtures and colorful paper parasols and lanterns overhead. Wooden tables and gray upholstered chairs anchor the room, while Shoji-style booths along the wall provide seating for groups. A semi-open kitchen allows diners to watch as staff prepare their dishes. Small details, like fishing lures (a nod to Duan’s love of fishing), add a personal touch to the space.

The food at Takkii Ramen is as much about presentation as it is about flavor. Diners scroll through lovely images of rice bowls and noodles on iPads to place orders. The menu offers seafood, pork, beef, chicken and vegetarian dishes, all categorized around noodles: before noodles (appetizers), noodles (ramen and udon dishes), besides noodles (rice bowls) and after noodles (desserts like mochi ice cream and mango crepe cake). Drinks include hot and cold sake and a variety of bubble teas and fresh fruit teas. 

Some of our Takkii Ramen favorites:

Vegetable Rice Bowl Designed for those seeking a noodle-and meat-free option, this dish features a base of fluffy white rice topped with cubes of tofu, corn, bean sprouts, carrots, cucumbers, and scallions. Pickled ginger adds a peppery-sweet note, while a drizzle of poke sauce and spicy mayo gives the bowl a sweet and tangy kick.

Chashu Pork Bao Buns This two-piece appetizer arrives in a bamboo steamer, each bun delicately wrapped in a bamboo leaf, and branded with Takkii Ramen’s logo. Inside, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly is complemented by a spicy-sweet gochujang sauce and a housemade napa cabbage slaw. 

Edamame A twist on the common Japanese side dish, these edamame are lightly charred and tossed in black garlic oil, infused with sake, and finished with a sprinkle of hickory-smoked sea salt.  

Takkii Beef Ramen Choose between a rich pork or chicken broth, both simmered in-house in large batches. Thinly shaved beef is marinated in a blend of mirin, soy sauce, sake, and sugar, then cooked with onions until tender. The beef is placed atop a bowl filled with fresh noodles, crisp bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, scallions, and a perfectly soft ramen egg (ajitsuke tamago). It’s served with chopsticks and a ladle — remember, slurping is part of the experience! It enhances the flavor, aerates the broth, and helps keep the noodles warm as you enjoy. 

Karaage Chicken Perfect for snacking or sharing, these crispy, bite-sized chicken nuggets are a popular bar snack in Japan’s Izakayas. At Takkii Ramen, tender chicken thighs are lightly battered and deep-fried for a crispy exterior and juicy interior. They’re served with a sweet and spicy homemade chili sauce, topped with scallions and placed on a bed of shredded cabbage. 

Takkii Ramen
124 W Main St, Riverhead, NY 
631-284-9181

Web: takkiiramenriverhead.com
Instagram: @takkiiramenriverhead

Hours
Mon – Thurs: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Fri + Sat: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sun: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Click for more northforker.com

The post Riverhead Eats: Soup for the soul at Takkii Ramen appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

“The first location will be the parking lot behind West Main, behind Digger’s,” said Police Chief Ed Frost. “The whole north side will eventually be done in stages. Once the new parking structure goes up, we’ll probably move forward to that area as well.” Chief Frost went on to say that video plays a crucial role in helping the department prevent and investigate crimes. “Anything that helps us is invaluable,” he said.

The video feeds are streamed into the police headquarters communication system, giving dispatchers more real-time information. A+ Technology and Security Solutions Inc. of Bay Shore monitors the cameras 24/7. The cost of the camera project, approximately $160,000, is being funded through the Community Development Block Grant program. 

During Times Review’s “Future of Riverhead” breakfast forum in November, Chief Frost said downtown Riverhead is safe and that violent crimes account for only a small fraction of police calls. 

“The cameras are very helpful to the police in identifying cases where people are drinking in public or fighting,” Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard said. “Just recently, the Riverhead Brew House was broken into and the person was seen on video carrying the cash register down the block so they were able to ID him and arrest him.”

Mr. Hubbard and Chief Frost declined to disclose the specific locations of all the cameras, but noted that they are not hidden. “But when a crime occurs, we go back to the cameras,” Mr. Hubbard said. 

The supervisor acknowledged that the business community and many residents have a perception that crime is a problem in the downtown area, but said that “the majority of incidents that occur downtown happen between known entities, such as people fighting over a former girlfriend. We believe the cameras make residents and businesses feel safe.”

Garrett Moore, a member of the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association, agrees with the supervisor, but also described the cameras as “a band-aid” and instead has been calling for a police substation on the riverfront.

“Our town is a destination. People leave their boats there and then other people have gotten onto their boats,” Mr. Moore said. “We have attendants at our beaches; why can’t we have them here? The cameras are a deterrent, but it’s not the same as having someone there. Let’s be proactive rather than reactive.”

Former town supervisor Laura Jens-Smith, who was in office when the first police cameras were installed, feels the entire project has been needlessly dragged out. “The cameras were in the process of being set up. I left office and no one followed through,” she said. “Eight years later, circumstances downtown have changed.” 

She added that there’s still lots of petty crime occurring, and with more residential units in the downtown areas, the number of planned cameras should increase proportionately. 

Like Mr. Moore, Ms. Jens-Smith feels a police substation is what’s needed along the riverfront. “This is a focal point of the community, everyone’s been calling for this and it’s is a priority to make people feel safe,” she said. “[Mr. Hubbard has] been in office for almost nine years now and he hasn’t followed through. The money is there; they just have to get it done.”

Responding to Ms. Jens-Smith, Chief Frost said, “The police substation is in our plans, but we’re not there yet. The plan for the cameras was in place prior to me taking this position.” 

Mr. Hubbard appeared surprised by Ms. Jens-Smith’s remarks. “Obviously this is a political statement. The cameras are all up and running on the south side of Main Street. And the plan is to put the police substation at the new parking lot, not the riverfront,” he said. “But camera locations may change after the Town Square is built.” He added that the town also has access to footage from additional cameras that are mounted on the new apartment buildings.

Down the road, in yet another effort focused on increasing downtown safety, officials plan to illuminate two alleyways that lead pedestrians from the parking lots to Main Street. Construction could begin this summer on a 100-foot brick passageway from the riverfront parking lot next to Merary’s Nail and Spa that will be lit by a 45-foot-long aluminum LED re-creation of a North Atlantic right whale, according to neon artist Clayton Orehek, who also created many of the illuminated sculptures in Grangebel Park. “People will be able to walk under it and through it, as it’ll be suspended overhead,” he said.

On the north side of Main Street, the walkway leading patrons of The Suffolk to the parking lot behind the theater will be lit with five vignettes, each six feet square. ”Some of them might reflect our vineyards and the arts on the North Fork,” Mr. Orehek said, adding that this phase of project won’t begin until all renovations at The Suffolk are completed. The town estimates this phase of the lighting project will cost around $33,500 and be funded through several grants.

The post More downtown Riverhead surveillance cameras planned  appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

See the fun and festive photos by Bill Landon.

The post Photos: 2024 Riverhead tree lighting appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

1 | 10

(Credit: file photo)

Photos by Jeremy Garretson

The post A ghoulish good time at Riverhead Halloween Fest appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The annual event celebrates the region’s agricultural heritage with homemaking and farm and garden competitions, a street fair full of vendors, live music in several spots throughout the fair, tractors, hit and miss engine displays and carnival rides.

Cassidy Corwin won the decorated pumpkin contest overall at this year’s country fair, and Lauren Anasky, Carol Delvecchio and D. Zeidler won first, second and third in the adult category. See more of the fun below.

Photos by Daniel Franc

The post Families and fun fill downtown during Riverhead Country Fair appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Rates will be $1 for an hour or $5 for the whole day, Supervisor Tim Hubbard said. Handicapped parking will be free. 

Kevin Wood, a consultant with Parking and Mobility Consultants, has been studying the town’s parking issues for about four years. The pilot program will affect the parking lot behind Digger’s, which has 270 regular spaces and seven handicapped spaces. That lot was chosen to increase foot traffic, since patrons can park once and walk all of downtown from there. 

In addition to the planned downtown parking structure, another is being created near the railroad station as part of a private development. 

“We have been working with Kevin because we know that with what is happening downtown, there is going be great need for managed, paid parking,” said community development administrator Dawn Thomas. 

Several nearby municipalities already have managed parking, including East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Port Jefferson, and Patchogue. Greenport is currently in the middle of a 45-day trial of its own paid parking system.

Mr. Wood said he plans to do surveys of people on Main Street to gauge opinions of downtown parking. 

“We want that pedestrian activity, and this is part of how we get it,” Ms. Thomas said. “We want people to park once and walk through downtown.”

The post Riverhead to test drive paid parking appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

1 | 8

Photos by Jeremy Garretson

The results

YOUTH REGATTA
1st – Salty Sea Dogs 1:47
2nd – Shark Bait 3:43

GRAND NATIONAL REGATTA
1st Sea Dragons 2:38
2nd EE Bucaneers 2:57
3rd Ducky 2.0 3:08

YACHT CLUB REGATTA
1st Holy Ship Batman 1:36
2nd Carton Whaler 1:44
3rd Muppet Mobile 1:48

OUTLAW RACE
1st Holy Ship Batman 1:40
2nd Exit Realty 1:59
3rd Misfits 2:36

Special Awards
Best Spirit – Ten Commandments
Best Constructed – Holy Ship BatmanBest Captain – E.E.D.A. Leeper
Pickersgill Pick – Skibidi Toilet
Most Creative – Sea Dragon
Titanic Sinking – Split Decision
People’s Choice – Skibidi Toilet

The post Photos: Riverhead Cardboard Boat Race 2024 appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Relive the fun and the fireworks with Jeremy Garretson photos below.

The post Photos: 2024 Alive on 25, part one appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

This follows a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant for similar projects from New York State that Riverhead was awarded in 2022.

This time it was a RAISE grant, which stands for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, a federal program that municipalities nationwide can apply for.

RAISE funds will facilitate the reclamation of the downtown riverfront for three transportation projects, officials said. 

The majority of the grant funding has been earmarked for the construction of a new parking garage to shift parking away from the riverfront, town officials said. 

In addition, $4.8 million will be allocated for flood protection and $4.6 million will go towards improving area streetscapes.

“I am beyond excited that downtown Riverhead was awarded federal RAISE funding in a highly competitive selection process,” Mr. Hubbard said in a press release. “I am grateful that the application prepared by the community development team was so well received by the federal Department of Transportation after being strongly supported by our entire Congressional delegation.

“On behalf of the entire Riverhead Town Board, and more importantly every Riverhead resident, I want to thank Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Nick LaLota for their diligent advocacy and support of Riverhead’s application,” Mr. Hubbard continued.. “It is bipartisan efforts such as this that prove that government on all levels can come together for the betterment of residents.”

The town has applied for the RAISE  grant every year since 2020, said Dawn Thomas, Riverhead’s director of economic development, planning and building. “The complex application was entirely undertaken by town staff,” who have “been relentless in improving the application each of the last five years,” she added.

Ms. Thomas said the RAISE grant is the largest single funding award in town history.

The RAISE program provides funding for investments in surface transportation infrastructure that will have a significant local or regional impact, officials said.

The funding will allow Riverhead to reclaim the Peconic riverfront for public enjoyment, install necessary flood mitigation measures, spur mixed-use development and make downtown safer and more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, officials said. 

“I have been glad to work with Riverhead leaders to secure funding for these improvements because I know they will supercharge Riverhead’s renaissance,” Sen.Schumer said.

The post Riverhead secures $24 million federal grant for downtown appeared first on Riverhead News Review.