JUNE 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 55
DESTINATIONS
featuring live music on specified
nights and a consistent lineup of
great locally brewed beer on tap.
Arts & nightlife
One of the great things about
Babylon village is that even though
its downtown area has been
booming for years, it still continues
to evolve and grow. One of the latest
and much-welcomed additions to
the village is the renovation and
upcoming opening of the Argyle
Theatre (34 West Main St., 844-
631-5483, ArgyleTheatre.com), a
500-seat venue that will occupy
the historic building, which most
recently housed the former Bow
Tie Cinema. The theatre will host
concerts, plays, musicals and other
performing arts events when it
debuts this spring, including six
annual main stage productions.
This coming year’s lineup includes:
Guys and Dolls, which debuted
May 10 and runs through June 15,
followed by Hairspray, Peter and the
Starcatcher, The Hunchback of Notre
Dame, Spring Awakening and The
Producers.
After catching a show at the Argyle
Theatre, or after you’ve dined at
one of the downtown area’s many
restaurants, the fun doesn’t need
to end there. The village also has
an extensive selection of pubs and
clubs to choose from, many of which
are institutions among locals. In
addition to its fine food, the recently
renovated Post Office Café (130
Montauk Hwy., Babylon, 631-669-
9224, lessings.com) is one of those
nightlife staples, attracting a healthy
bar crowd for nearly 40 years within
the former USPS building, which
processed mail from the 1930s to
1970s. Sundays during football
season are an especially tempting
time to stop by, so you can enjoy
some cocktails and upscale pub
grub while watching the games on
a 135-inch drop-down projection
screen.
Babylon’s penchant for converting
historic buildings into dining and
entertainment spaces has also given
rise to the Babylon Carriage House
(21 Fire Island Ave., 631-422-5161,
babyloncarriagehouse.com), an
upscale bar and grille that occupies
the aforementioned carriage house,
built just after the Civil War. Patrons
flock here for great food and top-tier
drinks, as well as special events and
themed nights. The restaurant offers
a three-course prix fixe menu for
just $27.95, there’s a Thursday night
wine special that includes unlimited
wine by the glass with the purchase
of an entrée, and Sunday is prime
rib night.
Or, there’s Monsoon (48 Deer Park
Ave., 631-587-4400, monsoonny.
com), a trendy bi-level Pan-Asian
hot spot built inside a former bank
and known for its surf and turf. The
owners are the same folks behind
other upscale LI locales such as
Tellers American Chophouse in
Islip and Prime in Huntington, so
expect excellence.
Another classic hangout, this time
with a Celtic flair, is Lily Flanagan’s
Pub (345 Deer Park Ave., 631-539-
0816, lilyflanaganspub.com), where
you can expect quality pub fare
and a lively crowd most nights,
as well as a steady stream of live
music and special events. Tuesday
is karaoke night, Wednesday is
country night, there’s a late-night
happy hour from 8 to 11 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, and live
acoustic performers are featured
on weekends. Don’t miss steak and
lobster night on Thursdays.
We’d also be remiss not to mention
The Brixton (111 Deer Park Ave.,
631-587-2000, thebrixtonbabylon.
com) a gastropub that opened last
year and quickly garnered rave
reviews for its relaxed ambiance,
mind-blowing drink selection and
fantastic food menu. Be sure to
check out its assortment of original
cocktails, some featuring names
that are Seinfeld references, like
the “Serenity Now!”, “Gold Jerry,
GOLD,” and “Del Boca Vista.”
The shopping scene
Babylon village’s downtown area isn’t
just home to excellent restaurants
and bars, either; there’s also a wideranging
base of boutique shops and
mom-and-pop stores that consistently
attract strolling shoppers. One of the
longest running of these bastions of
commerce is Bunger Surf & Sports
Shop (50 E. Main St., 631-661-
1526, bungersurf.com), which has
been outfitting area wave rider and
skateboarders for decades under the
guidance of owner Charlie Bunger
Sr., who’s been shaping boards
since 1961. The shop also includes
the Long Island Surfing Museum
(lisurfingmuseum.com), featuring
Bunger’s personal collection of
surfboards and surfing memorabilia.
The array of unique offerings doesn’t
end there, either. For example, for
those with a mystical and spiritual
bent, there’s The Genie Within
(135 Deer Park Ave., Ste 4, 631-
335-8892, thegeniewithin8.com),
a “metaphysical shop and healing
sanctuary, where you will find all
the essential tools and gifts for the
body, mind and soul,” according to
its website. The store carries a wide
selection of incense, candles, books,
CDs, aromatherapy products,
essential oils, healing crystals, oracle
decks, statues and more. The shop
also offers services like tarot card
and mediumship readings, as well
as healing sessions using techniques
like reiki and reflexology, all of
which would be especially helpful
after a long night spent crawling
the village’s many pubs. Babylon, it
seems, really does have it all.
Where to Dine
Argyle Grill & Tavern
90 Deer Park Ave., 631-321-4900,
theargylegrill.com
Kotobuki Restaurant
86 Deer Park Ave., 631-321-8387,
kotobukirestaurants.com
Glen’s Dinette
23 E. Main St., 631-669-4700,
glensdinette.com
Barrique Kitchen and Wine Bar
69 Deer Park Ave., 631-321-1175,
barriquekitchenandwinebar.com
Post Office Café
130 Montauk Hwy., 631-669-
9224, lessings.com
Swell Taco
135 Deer Park Ave., 631-482-
1299, swelltacoli.com
Babylon village green is known for its popular outdoor musical performances during the warm season.