My Neighborhood: North Shore Star—Northport, Long Island

The minute Barbara McNally saw Northport’s downtown, she was sold. “I love the quaint, homey vibe and small-town community feeling,” says the interior designer. “You don’t find that in too many places.” Although she’s a Long Island native, McNally knew nothing of the charming village on the North Shore of Suffolk County until she met her husband, who was born and raised there. Nearly as smitten with the town as she was with him, she agreed to relocate to Northport 26 years ago. The couple bought one of the village’s most historic homes, a former church built in 1908. Today McNally works as a window designer at Homestead Window Treatments and provides home design services through her own firm, Design Views. —by Bernadette Starzee LOCAL DELIGHTS Northport Village Park Northport’s downtown extends along Main Street to the harbor, where Northport Village Park has gazebos and benches overlooking the water and docks. McNally enjoys walking to the harbor along streets lined with art galleries, gift shops, clothing boutiques, restaurants, cafés, and a performing arts theater, as well as the village hall and post office. One of McNally’s favorite shops is The Firefly Artists (162 Main St., 631.651.5545), which features the works of local artisans. She’s also fond of stopping by Nest on Main (135 Main St., 631.651.9173), a home furnishings store. “It’s right up my alley,” she says. “I love to browse around, and it offers classes in which local artisans come in and teach their craft,” such as knitting, pottery making, and cake decorating. Northport is rich in cultural offerings, too. McNally frequently attends shows at the John W. Engeman Theater (250 Main St., 631.261.2900), a Broadway-style professional theater. And she enjoys the many arts festivals that take place in Northport Village Park throughout the year. John W. Engerman Theater “I love the quaint, homey vibe and small-town community feeling.” — Barbara McNally, interior designer FAMILY FRIENDLY Lewis Oliver Farm Sanctuary As a mother of two, McNally finds Northport “a great place to raise a family, with a lot of things to do.” When her sons were little, they were regular visitors to the Lewis Oliver Farm Sanctuary (Burt Ave., 631.261.6320), a former working farm purchased in 2007 by Suffolk County and the Town of Huntington (of which Northport is a part) and that houses rescued farm animals. In summer, there’s swimming at Crab Meadow and Hobart Beaches, open to Town of Huntington residents. In winter, McNally’s family enjoys hiking in the Makamah Nature Preserve, which offers 140 acres of hilly terrain. WINE AND DINE Cocktails at Rockin’ Fish McNally’s favorite local restaurant is Rockin’ Fish (155 Main St., 631.651.5200), a seafood eatery with outdoor dining. “It has fresh ingredients, pretty presentation, and great desserts,” she says. For coffee and pastries, “Caffè Portofino (249 Main St., 631.262.7656) is a quiet, cozy spot.” McNally also recommends Del Vino Vineyards (29 Norwood Rd., 844.335.8466), a 10-acre vineyard in a secluded location with beautiful scenery that makes “you feel like you’ve been transported,” she says. Find your next home on Long Island today.