Oyster Bay, NY

The area now known as Oyster Bay was originally inhabited by Native Americans, but became part of the colony of New Netherland following European colonization in the early 1600s. The area then received its charter from the new English colony of New York in 1667, making it officially the township of Oyster Bay. It remained mostly unpopulated farmland until after World War II, when housing began being built in the area, raising the population to around 40,000 in 1950 and to almost 300,000 by 1990.

For the avid fans of art and culture, the Nassau County Art museum nearby has a wide variety of collections with over 600 pieces of art and can be visited for only $10. Oyster Bay also hosts an annual “Oyster Fest” every year, with live music, free admission and of course, oysters.

The neighborhood has a wide variety of cuisine for lovers of all types of food, with Chinese, Italian, and American all within the same area in the restaurant district on East Main Street. Within the downtown area Canterbury’s Oyster Bar and Grill has great local lobster, clams, mussels and of course their signature oysters. Also be make sure to make a reservation first during the summer, because during those months they get slammed and it can be tough to get in otherwise. For the pizza lovers, Nino’s Pizza has all kinds of Italian dishes with pizzas, calzones and sandwiches. For their specialty, try their famous Nino Roll filled with sausage, onions, peppers, and cheese inside a fresh baked bread. On the South side of the Island, Homestead Restaurant and Lounge serves all kinds of American dishes and has live music playing on the weekends. Their special Homestead Burger offers one of the more unique burgers on Long Island, topped with ham, bacon, cheese and fried egg on a toasted English muffin.

Unfortunately the neighborhood does not have much of a nightlife scene, but does have a few good bars that offer a relaxed atmosphere to go grab some beers and relax. Wild Honey on East Main has a great bar spot and also tons of food, ranging from bay-caught seafood to slow-roasted baby back ribs. For the wine lovers, make sure to visit on Wednesday for their half price wine bottles all day long. The area also has a beer lovers Paradise in The Good Life, which has a full food menu and over 75 different beers. They also offer catering for parties and have a very popular spot for events.

For getting around the neighborhood, many people choose to walk or bike due to the towns walkable streets and many bike lanes, although not all roads have them. For going outside of the neighborhood to other areas of Long Island or to New York City, The Long Island Rail Road serves the area with the Oyster Bay Branch, and the Hendrickson public bus line also operates in Oyster Bay. Unfortunately for the smart-phone application fans, neither Uber nor Lyft operate in Oyster Bay, but both do operate within the metropolitan area of New York City.

Interstate 495 runs right through the center of Oyster Bay as well, making the commute to New York city or anywhere off of Long Island a breeze. Parking is fairly open anywhere on the streets in residential areas, and most commercial areas in Oyster Bay have their own lots. Once in the city however, parking can become very difficult and meters can also be very hard to find open, but the city does have several public parking garages which most people choose to use.

Several free parks sit within the town of Oyster Bay, with two of the more popular both being named after former presidents in Theodore Roosevelt Park and Eisenhower Park. Theodore Roosevelt Park has tennis courts, a softball field, playground and also many dog-friendly areas where a dog can be walked without a leash. The park also plays host to the huge "Oyster Fest," held annually in Oyster Bay for since 1983. Eisenhower Park has more of a sports themed area, with 14 softball fields, 3 baseball fields, 4 soccer fields, 16 tennis courts and also a full size 50 meter pool.

The typical cost of living expenses in Oyster Bay typically run about 17% higher than the New York City average, similar to most areas in this part of Long Island. The average rent cost for a one bedroom apartment sits at $2,010, making it more expensive than the average rental rate in New York City. Transportation to the city costs anywhere between $30 and $40 via a cab, and about $16 via a bus. Everyday items in the area will also be slightly more expensive than living in the city, such as gas which typically sits around 2% below the New York average but 14% above the national average. For the beer drinkers, a typical pub trip for a beer costs between $6 and $9, with domestics usually a bit cheaper.

Oyster Bay does not have any shopping malls, although one was in planning for over 20 years called the "Mall at Oyster Bay," but was never actually built. The town does however have several specialty stores and a central shopping area in the area's downtown on East Main Street, along with its many restaurants. East Main Street houses many unique boutique-style clothing stores for the avid shoppers or the designer clothes fans, including Debbie Klein Boutique and Ben's Garden. Debbie Klein Boutique has many high-end brands including Michelle Jonas, Enza Costa and Autumn, with a huge selection of designer cashmere sweaters. Ben's Garden specializes more in small gifts and artwork than in clothing. Ben has a large selection of handmade items including art, frames and all kinds of his own personal glass work and platters. Oyster Bay has tons of different options for groceries including many organic grocery stores. Both Fairway Market and Wild By Nature have a huge selection of groceries, including many organic options for meat and produce. The area also has chain groceries such as Trader Joe's. Oyster Bay also has Valentine Produce, which has been serving the area with locally grown produce for years.