54 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JUNE 2018
DESTINATIONS
BABYLON VILLAGE:
GET DOWN, DOWNTOWN
By BRENDAN MANLEY
For seemingly countless years,
many Long Island communities
have worked to create a “downtown”
feel within their village centers,
where shopping, dining, nightlife
and other enticing pursuits are all
within walking distance of one or
more main streets.
The Village of Babylon — part of
the larger Town of Babylon — has
offered this kind of experience for
decades, making the quaint, upscale
waterfront destination one of the
South Shore hangouts of choice for
locals and visitors alike.
Nathaniel Conklin moved his
family to the area known as
South Huntington around 1803.
Discovering that their new home was
next to a tavern, Nathaniel’s mother
proclaimed the area to be another
“Babylon,” so Nathaniel named it
“New Babylon.” LI’s Babylon town was
officially formed in 1872, carved from
a piece of the Town of Huntington.
Babylon runs along the Great South
Bay and beyond, also including parts
of Jones Beach, Captree Island and
Fire Island.
Today, Babylon village is one of the
Island’s top locations for dining
and nightlife, with a dizzying array
of popular and innovative eateries
lining Deer Park Avenue and Main
Street, as well as well-frequented
bars and pubs for thirsty patrons.
The perennial popularity of the
serene lakefront Argyle Park and
the village’s ample dock space also
makes Babylon quintessential turf
for families and water lovers alike.
What follows is a sampling of the
ways in which Babylonians — and
anyone else with a hankering —
enjoy this Long Island gem.
On the waterfront
There’s no other place in Babylon
that’s as iconic as Argyle Park
(Montauk Hwy., 631-669-1500,
townofbabylon.com), with its
signature dual waterfalls and whiterailed
viewing areas welcoming
all who cruise along the Montauk
Highway/Main Street corridor
through the village. The everpopular
walking/biking/jogging
trail runs in a loop around the
park’s large main lake, passing side
ponds and the playground along
the way. Argyle’s also a classic local
fishing spot, for freshwater species
in the lake and ponds, and brackishwater
dwellers in the pool below the
waterfalls, which empty into the
channel at the marina across the
street. Over the years the brackish
pool has been home to some truly
massive carp; just try and catch one!
There’s a reason they’ve grown so
huge.
Or, for an even saltier Babylon
experience, head south on Fire
Island Avenue until you reach
the Babylon Docks, where you
can enjoy a splendid view of the
Great South Bay and Robert Moses
Causeway. It’s another timehonored
fishing spot for pier-based
anglers (especially during snapper
season), and a favorite haunt among
crabbers. Dock space is also offered
for rental, when available.
While there, you may also choose to
grab some fresh seafood at one of the
waterfront establishments near the
pier, including the venerable Pier 44
(444 Fire Island Ave., 631-661-5999,
pier44restaurant.com) and Babylon
Fish & Clam (458 Fire Island Ave.,
631-587-3633, babylonfishandclam.
com). Afterwards, pop in for a drink
(or several) at the Sea Breeze Café
(470 Fire Island Ave., 631-669-9790,
seabreeze-cafe.hub.biz), a can’tmiss
local watering hole since 1985,
Argyle Lake: The a serene setting near Babylon’s hopping downtown.