Farmingville, NY

Settlers first established themselves in the territory known as Farmingville in the late 18th century, with the original name of Bald Hills and Mooney Pond. Ironically and amusingly, the name Farmingville stands at odds with the landscape; the soil and hills are not good for agriculture. Construction of the Bald Hills Schoolhouse concluded in 1850, which has a designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Geographically, Bald Hill stands as one of the highest points on Long Island and resides on the Ronkonkoma Moraine, where the glacier that created Long Island halted its advance. As with most of the Brookhaven area, rapid technological and population growth led to the eventual development of a mainly suburban location but with the natural beauty of the area persisting to this day.

The Pennysaver Amphitheater sits atop Bald Hill, with its outdoor concert venue a big draw. In the nearby area, Island 16 Cinema, a large theater with stadium seating and concession stands, offers fairly priced movie tickets. The screens are large and the sound systems crisp and clear, making Island 16 Cinema one of the nicer theaters on Long Island. Get there on Tuesdays for a discounted ticket to any of the available movies. Afterward, wind down with some refreshing ice cream at the nostalgic Ben & Jerry's inside the theater.

Annually for 13 consecutive years, the Brookhaven Fair at Bald Hill arrives at Farmingville for family friendly entertainment. Lasting for a duration of four weekends, the annual fair hosts a full-fledged carnival experience. Flying acrobats, magic shows, exotic animals and plenty of rides highlight the yearly event.

Suffolk County has an established reputation of excellent restaurants, and Farmingville proves no exception to that trend. Variety drives this superb standing, and residents are never left wanting for options, whether ordering in for delivery, stopping somewhere for a quick bite to eat in the afternoon, or going out and making a night of it.

Caffe Amici offers diverse Italian fare, featuring a range of pizza, fish, pasta and sandwiches. Specialty pizzas include penne vodka grilled chicken, chicken marsala, baked ziti and stuffed eggplant. For a fine meal at home, the restaurant provides take-out ordering; for events, Caffe Amici provides in-restaurant and on-site catering, with prices set per person. The restaurant closes for parties of 50 or more, providing a private event space with an open bar at an additional per-person cost.

Tofu, a Chinese and Japanese restaurant on Waverly Avenue in Farmingville, combines Chinese and Japanese dishes on one menu. In business for over 25 years, the restaurant remains a cornerstone in Farmingville. Perfect for healthy eating in the area, the restaurant features tofu and a sushi bar stacked with fresh seafood, and gives customers dine-in, take-out and delivery options.

The Farmingville nightlife features the bars and pubs of the surrounding area. While a short car ride into Patchogue extends your options, the Tiki Hookah Lounge stands as a notable hot spot located in west Farmingville off Portion Road. The destination provides more than just the titular hookah lounge, with a bar and dance floor also open to the crowd. Every night of the week introduces a unique special, with beer pong and karaoke night as a few of the popular themes.

Transportation around the Farmingville area is particularly efficient due to its centralized location. Farmingville sits directly off Exit 63 of the Long Island Expressway, a major highway for commuters. Similarly, one can just as easily get back onto the highway from Farmingville roadways. Farmingville's main roads, Horseblock Road and North Ocean Avenue, connect to surrounding areas Ronkonkoma and Selden respectively. Farmingville's roads frequently contain bike lanes and walking paths, but these are seldom used due to the high volume of car traffic.

For additional transportation, the always reliable Uber provides a reasonable option. Farmingville maintains close proximity to other major transportation services, such as Long Island MacArthur Airport and Medford Station. Suffolk County Transit runs a bus line through the area as well.

A number of serene parks lie in wait in the Farmingville area. Located on the noted Bald Hill, the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park rests high above the rest of Long Island, a fitting manner in which to honor the heroic veterans of this contentious war. The memorial overlooks a vast landscape, with brief but poignant words etched upon the monument. Visitors can freely access the park to contemplate and observe the unique scene.

Farmingville Hills County Park features hiking paths and trails to walk through and take pleasure in the surrounding nature. Greentree park suits children perfectly, with picnic tables, a baseball field and playground available for free use.

Beer Fields, Long Island's premier beer festival, takes place at the Pennysaver Amphitheater at Bald Hill. Sample over 150 styles of beer from more than 50 different breweries in a festive environment featuring live music from established rock, funk and reggae artists. Great parking, friendly event staff and a large grass field combine to make this grand event all the more special.

Entrenched in increasingly popular central Long Island, Farmingville's cost of living rises above state and national averages. This extends into costs for goods, groceries and housing as well. Compared to the greater Town of Brookhaven, Farmingville is slightly less expensive across these categories. Several comfortable, modern apartment complexes await prospective residents in Farmingville. The typical one-bedroom apartment estimates at a price range of $1,000 to $1,500. These complexes often feature appealing benefits and amenities such as free access to gym centers and pools. Farmingville apartment complexes facilitate a relaxing, pleasant lifestyle in and out of the home, with a modern design and attractive aesthetic.

Captivating retail stores highlight the shopping selection in Farmingville. Though popular store chains reign supreme, local businesses nevertheless crop up and thrive along the active main roads. Shoppers find that North Ocean Avenue and Horseblock Road lead to the primary shopping destinations, with a wide variety of flexible stores to fit all needs and budgets.

If shopping at a boutique suits you, Just For You Boutique on North Ocean Avenue is where to go. This charming locale specializes in women's jewelry and accessories from desired brands such as Vera Bradley and Crislu. Look for holiday specials listed in the store or on its website.

Cupcake Girlz, one of the more interesting specialty stores and local businesses in Farmingville, operates as a cupcake, bakery and dessert shop. The cute interior aesthetic underscores the main goal of crafting the perfect batch of cupcakes for any special occasion. There are new flavors created every day, and some of the cupcakes even have fillings like cookie dough on the inside. Cupcake Girlz also hosts cupcake birthday parties for children, where the kids can add icing, candy and sprinkles to concoct their own cupcake masterpieces.

For grocery shopping, Farmingville has a Stop & Shop, along with a ShopRite on nearby Middle Country Road. Off of Furrow's Road in west Selden and just into Holtsville, J. Kings Local Farmers’ Market sells cheeses, meats and locally grown produce in its outdoor location.