A Day Chock Full of Fun Around Port Jeff and Port Jeff Station

One of the things I love about living in Port Jefferson Station is that there is always something interesting going on in the area. Even though I came down with a cold at work on Friday and was determined to take it easy, I still would up enjoying some of the area's noteworthy attractions with friends.

I spent much of the day with my friend Hemant from Middle Island, starting with breakfast at in Port Jefferson Station. Once we had caught up on one another's recent adventures, we considered ways that we might be able to enjoy the day. Luckily I've been checking out posters at local libraries and reading Patch so we had plenty of options.

We first headed down to the to pick up copies of the next Third Tuesday Night Reading Group assignment: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Hemant and I look forward to reading the book and sharing impressions with others from the Port Jefferson area who are active in the group.

Having taken care of that errand, the day was still young so we decided to head over to the Greek Festival, which is held every year in the backyard of the on Sheep Pasture Road. Arriving in mid-day in typically Greek hot and humid weather, we explored the largely depopulated carnival. With my eye to the viewfinder of my digital camera, I was taken aback by a shout and looked up to see my good friend Dr. Demetrius Moutsiakis walking towards us. Dr. D, as he likes to be known, had been enjoying Greek cuisine at the festival with his parents.  Demetri looked great and we discussed his recovery from a recent bicycle accident.

After stopping a few of the artist booths on the way out, we went back to my apartment in Port Jefferson Station and caught up with my wife and her sister, who was visiting us from Trenton for the weekend. We sat in the backyard enjoying the shade and cooler weather, swapping stories and noshing on cheese, crackers and imported beer.

Hemant was having so much fun that he decided to to join us for the evening Comedy Festival at in Port Jeff.  We parked at the Town of Brookhaven lot and braved the crowded sidewalks on our way to the show. By no means were we disappointed - the five stand-up comedians, all with Long Island roots, shared twisted tales and seemingly mundane episodes from life on the Island.

We laughed ourselves silly to stories of that rang all too true: of drinking at work to lighten up the task of reading your bosses' emails; of soccer moms speeding with nine kids in the back on I-495; of curses real and imaginary associated with Lake Ronkonkoma; and of Port Jefferson's abysmal traffic. It was a perfect way to cap off the day.