Jazz on the Vine and Events All Around

By David Lion Rattiner

So it's the middle of winter and you ask yourself, what is there to do? I know you may think that it's quiet everywhere, but it isn't. I know you think that it's all slow and boring, but it's quite the opposite. In fact, it's party time.

From February 14 through March 22, the Long Island Winterfest will rock your socks off with six weekends filled with more than 60 jazz concerts and, of course, fantastic local wine. Appropriately, the Long Island Winterfest is calling this event "Jazz On The Vine."

Everybody loves live jazz, and at nearly every winery in the area, including Bedell Cellars on the North Fork and Duck Walk on the South Fork, a jazz concert is scheduled. By the way, the cost of the tickets to go to these concerts? Free! Who doesn't love that word? Visiting www.liwinterfest.com can give you all the information that you need about these exciting six weeks on the East End.

Jazz, paired with our areas award winning wines, is certainly something to get excited about, but also, the Long Island Winterfest is offering cultural attractions and programs, hotel and B&B getaway packages, restaurant specials and limousine tour offers. This offers visitors an excellent opportunity to plan an incredible weekend. Gurney's Inn in Montauk is offering a Girlfriends Spa Package (631-668-2345) that includes ocean view rooms, breakfast, dinner, spa treatments and gifts at remarkable discounts. Check out the getaway package Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor for Saturday nights between February 14 and March 22. For just $135 a couple can enjoy two tickets to Bay Street Theatre for a night of piano bar/cabaret and a room at the lovely Sag Harbor Inn (call 631-725-0818). These are just two of the dozens of incredible deals happening during these six weekends. While touring Winterfest web site, it's impossible to not get excited about "Jazz On The Vine" and to use the incredible deals offered as an opportunity to organize a Valentine's Day your special someone will not forget. On the North Fork, at the lovely Acorn Hollow Bed and Breakfast in Southold, enjoy a two-night stay in a room with a whirlpool tub and fireplace, lunch for two at the Greenport Tea Company, dinner for two at your choice of top North Fork restaurants and a full guided tour of four North Fork wineries, with transportation included, for just $439 a person (631-765-1234). Now there's a Valentine's Day worth remembering.

Restaurants are involved, too. At The Southampton Inn/OSO (631-283-6500) on February 28 at 8 p.m., the fantastic band JTrio is scheduled to perform, and at the Patio Restaurant in Westhampton (631-288-0100), enjoy a $30 prixe fixe until 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and all night long during the week. During the whole six weeks, the Southampton Publick House (631-283-2800) is offering 15 percent off lunch or dinner with a print out of the offer.

It's an excellent time to be in the Hamptons, thanks to the Long Island Winterfest, and nearly every local business from the North Fork to the South Fork is doing its part and getting involved to entertain the public during the "slow" season. You've got to tip your hat to the Long Island Wine Council, the East End Arts Council, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Workforce Housing, the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, American Express and WLIU for their joint efforts in putting this wonderful event together. It's one impressive feat and will make the winter cold much friendlier.

This is one of the best seasons to be in the Hamptons. Check out liwinterfest.com for all of the amazing deals and offers. You won't regret it.

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