OCTOBER 2017 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 59
Baymen, oyster harvesting, devastating
storms and artifacts salvaged
from the wreck of the steamer Rye
Cliff, as well as a sampling of the
museum’s collection of miniature
ships. Call or check the website for
the latest open hours; admission
with or without voluntary donation.
Fans of more terrestrial transportation
aren’t left out when visiting
Greenport, either. For all things
pertaining to riding the rails,
there’s the Railroad Museum of
Long Island (440 4th St, at the
LIRR Tracks, 631-477-0439, www.
rmli.org), famous for its intricate
model train layouts, restored
vintage train cars and rides on its
World’s Fair miniature train. Your
admission ($10 for adults 13+, $5
for children 5-12, kids under 5 free)
is good for guided tours of both the
Greenport museum and its Riverhead
sister site, as well as a miniature
train ride.
Sometimes, transportation just
means going in a circle. In that
spirit, old meets modern to the delight
of children and parents alike
at Greenport’s 100-year-old antique
carousel in the Jess Owen Carousel
House (Front Street, Mitchell Park,
631-477-2200, http://villageofgreenport.
org/carousel-greenport
village.php), named for Jesse
Owen, the first operator of the ride.
Housed within a striking contemporary
glass, steel and wood house,
the 1920s Herschell Spillman
portable carousel – a gift from former
owners Northrup-Grumman
– features 36 horses (all jumpers)
plus two sleighs, including 18
hand-carved Herschell steeds, four
turn-of-the-century carved Dare
horses and 12 cast-aluminum horses
dating to the 1930s. The carousel
is open daily in-season (end of
school through Labor Day) and on
weekends the rest of the year, and
costs just $2 for each magical spin
back in time. Unless of course you
catch a brass ring, which wins you
one free ride.
Eye Candy
For a trip back into photographic
history, be sure to check out
Long Island’s surviving Camera
Obscura (Front Street, Mitchell
Park, 631-477-0248, http://
villageofgreenport.org/camera
obscura-mitchell-park-greenport
village.php), housed in its
own dedicated building in Mitchell
Park. The view outside is reflected
by a mirror through a lens, which
projects the image onto a viewing
table inside. The mirror can be rotated,
to see in all directions. Today
there are approximately 50 public
camera obscuras in the world, five
of which are in the United States.
(Available by appointment only,
and weather permitting. Admission
is just $1.)
Your eyes will be equally dazzled
when gazing upon the stunning
creations of contemporary realist
painter Isabelle Haran-Leonardi,
whose work is showcased at the
Nova Constellatio Gallery (419
Main Street, 516-443-0242, www.
novaconstellatiogallery.com).
Haran-Leonardi specializes in
large scale landscapes of Eastern
Long Island’s vineyards and waters,
winning multiple awards for her
works in recent years. The gallery
also serves as her working studio,
so when you visit you may get the
opportunity to witness a true artisan
in action.
Drink Me
Wineries are a massive draw for the
Greenport area (and Long Island’s
East End, in general). The 62-acre,
award-winning Kontokosta Winery
(825 North Road, 631-477-6977,
http://kontokostawinery.com) is
one of Greenport’s top spots for
vino enthusiasts, and is the North
Fork’s only waterfront winery and
tasting room. Stop in to sample
the latest favorites, and/or take
a winery tour, which are offered
every Saturday and Sunday from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tour lasts
roughly 45 minutes and includes a
tasting of four wines, a cellar tour
and a barrel sample. Tours cost $35
per person; reservations are highly
recommended. You can also enjoy
their wines while sitting at one of
the many picnic tables available
along the winery’s quarter-mile of
oceanfront.
Or, if you prefer your libations
to originate from hops instead of
grapes, hunker down at Greenport
Harbor Brewing Co. (234
Carpenter Street, 631-477-1100,
DESTINATIONS
The East End Seaport Museum is a must-see on any visit to Greenport.
Long Island’s only surviving Camera Obscura.
The Jess Owen Carousel House is home to a 1920s Herschell Spillman
carousel.
