New “Kids,” New Looks, New Scenes and Old

Thursday morning David and I had breakfast at one of the new restaurants in Northport. The North End, located in the former Eat Spot building on the corner of Mill and Third Streets, features a local and nautical theme in its decor and good, fresh variety on the menu.


Most of the people having breakfast on Thursday were eating outdoors at cafe tables in the back garden. We chose a cozy corner inside, and there are also picnic tables in the front garden area. North End is open for breakfast and serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., along with pizza a couple of friends swear, with its fresh ingredients, is the best in town. (We’ll have to try that soon.) Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and until noon on Sunday.

Since Bill and Nina Collins bought the old Grandma’s Trunk building on the northeast corner of Nagonaba and Mill, for quite a while now the home of the Pennington Collection, there have been a lot of upgrades. Most recent improvement is new landscaping along the Nagonaba Street sidewalk--shrubs, roses, peonies and more. The focus, as I overheard when passing by, is on plants that won’t get too tall and won’t need excessive amounts of water. The new garden border wasn’t finished yet on Friday morning, but already it was looking good.


Friday morning is, of course, farm market day in Northport. Mario was at the market with a new, bouncy puppy (I’m guessing golden retriever), but I took no photographs this time—too busy planning and executing my shopping! Bread and almond croissant from 9 Bean Rows, snow peas from Bare Knuckle Farm, granola from the Northport Promise, basil and cucumber from—can’t remember, but he was the only one who had fresh basil, and I was glad to see it, because I didn’t plant any myself this year (massive oversight). The Bare Knuckle folks still have the most beautiful radishes and carrots I’ve ever seen anywhere.

On the way back from the market, which came after stops at the bank and post office, I treated myself to an iced latte from Brew North--my first visit to the coffee house this year. I know, I know! How can that be when it’s right across the street? Bur the barista couldn’t place me, either, though my bookstore is just across the street in the other direction. That’s how work-focused those of us in business can get in the short, busy summer season. Here was something fun, though: old photographs on the wall included a couple of 106 Waukazoo Street, long, long before anyone ever dreamed it would someday house a bookstore and an art gallery.



Here are a few other scenes from Brew North.



And here, back at the bookstore, is that delicious, buttery, flaky almond croissant before I made it disappear. Sarah looked on longingly--and so patiently that she was rewarded with a few crumbs. We had already started our day earlier at home with outdoor exploration, gardening and laundry. As David used to say, memorably, “We can sleep in the grave!” Summer! I come awake in the morning already planning my busy day, because when you own your own business, there’s such thing as clocking out.