DECEMBER 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 85
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS
FROM PASTURE TO PRADA
wooded valley crowned with 16
acres of maple, oak, and tulip trees,
past the ruins of a stone farmhouse,
following a stream leading to Leeds
Pond. There is a 40-minute self-guided
trail around the pond — home to
numerous varieties of ducks and
birds — as well as several unmarked
trails to explore.
The preserve is also home to the Science
Museum of Long Island (1526
N. Plandome Rd., Plandome Manor,
516-627-9400, smli.org), housed in a
former Victorian mansion. The museum
is run by a nonprofit dedicated
to teaching children about science
through various programs, including
enrichment workshops held on weekdays
and during school vacations, as
well as summer camps. Activities at
the museum are scheduled, preregistered
science workshops only; it
does not currently offer any exhibits.
Check the website for upcoming
events.
TRACES OF THE PAST
Although you have to make a concerted
effort to look for them, Manhasset
and its surrounding villages still
contain some vestiges of the area’s
historic colonial beginnings. For
example, the 18th century Flower
Hill neighborhood (the intersection
of Port Washington Blvd., Bonnie
Heights Road and Country Club
Drive) still features three original
farmhouses: The Willets House, on
the west side of Port Washington
Blvd., now headquarters of the Cow
Neck Peninsula Historical Society
(336 Port Washington Blvd., 516-365-
9074, cowneck.org); the Williams
House, also on the west side of Port
Washington Blvd.; and the Hewlett
Homestead, on the east side.
And in the hamlet’s old commercial
center, right next door to Manhasset’s
public library stands its historic Quaker
Meeting House (1421 Northern
Blvd., 631-421-0259, fgcquaker.org/connect/
quaker-finder/manhasset-quaker
meeting), dating to 1702, which was
even occupied by British and Hessian
troops during the American Revolution.
In 1812 the original building was
demolished and rebuilt, using the
original benches and timbers. The oak
tree on the property is said to be one of
the oldest and largest on LI.
TRULY MELLIFLUOUS
Manhasset’s passion for the arts is
nurtured by the Music Institute of
Long Island (90 Plandome Rd., 516-
627-7052, milimusic.com), a classical
music school that teaches the Suzuki,
traditional and Associated Boards of
the Royal Schools of Music methods
to students of all ages, instrumental
skills and levels. Budding virtuosos
flock there to learn from esteemed
instructors from some of the most
prestigious conservatories and
graduate music schools in the U.S.
and Europe, who teach instrumental
programs in violin, viola,
cello, double bass, guitar, piano, jazz
piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone,
trumpet, trombone, voice, and tuba.
Graduates of the institute have gone
on to colleges and conservatories
such as Juilliard, Eastman School of
Music, Manhattan School of Music,
Mannes School, Columbia, Cornell,
Yale, Harvard, Amherst, University
of Pennsylvania, and University of
Michigan.
MIRACULOUS MALL
Of course, Manhasset is perhaps
most popularly known for its
220,000-square-foot, open-air
Americana Manhasset mall (2060
Northern Blvd., 516-627-2277, americanamanhaset.
com), stretching
along what’s known as the “Miracle
Mile.” Yes, that’s the very same Miracle
Mile referenced by Billy Joel in
the 1980 hit, “It’s Still Rock and Roll
to Me.” The mall’s dizzying array of
more than 60 restaurants and highend
retail stores includes brands
like Prada, Hermès, Dior, Cartier,
Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Fendi,
Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara,
Celine, Tiffany & Co., surrounded
by gardens designed by Oheme, van
Sweden & Associates. There was a
time when even the likes of J.Lo
shopped there. How much more of
an endorsement could you possibly
need?
WHERE TO STAY
Hilton Garden Inn Roslyn
3 Harbor Park Dr., Port Washington,
516-626-3600, hilton.com
WHERE TO DINE
BLVD25
1496 Northern Blvd., 516-918-9083,
blvd25ny.com
Café Continental
1538 Northern Blvd., 516-627-4269,
cafecontinentalmanhasset.com
Cipollini Trattoria & Bar
2110 Northern Blvd., 516-627-7172,
pollrestaurants.com/restaurants/
cipollini
Gino's
451 Plandome Rd., 516-627-5280,
ginosofmanhasset.com
La Coquille
1669 Northern Blvd., 516-365-8422,
lacoquilleny.com
Louie’s Manhasset Restaurant
339 Plandome Rd., 516-627-0022,
louiesmanhassetrestaurant.com
Schout Bay Tavern
118 Plandome Rd., 516-627-2190,
schoutbaytavern.com
Stresa
1524 Northern Blvd., 516-365-6956,
stresa-restaurant.com
Toku Modern Asian
2014 Northern Blvd., 516-627-7121,
pollrestaurants.com/restaurants/
toku
Umberto's
429 Plandome Rd., 516-472-7801,
umbertosfamily.com
Villa Milano
168 Plandome Rd., 516-365-3440,
villamilanomanhasset.com
Manhasset is also home to abundant parkland. (Photo by Jim Henderson)
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/cowneck.org
/milimusic.com
/hilton.com
/blvd25ny.com
/cafecontinentalmanhasset.com
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/ginosofmanhasset.com
/lacoquilleny.com
/louiesmanhassetrestaurant.com
/schoutbaytavern.com
/stresa-restaurant.com
/umbertosfamily.com
/villamilanomanhasset.com
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/smli.org
/cowneck.org
/milimusic.com
/hilton.com
/blvd25ny.com
/cafecontinentalmanhasset.com
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/ginosofmanhasset.com
/lacoquilleny.com
/louiesmanhassetrestaurant.com
/schoutbaytavern.com
/stresa-restaurant.com
/umbertosfamily.com
/villamilanomanhasset.com
