Babylon Village
We did so many walks in Babylon Village and I figured that it rates its own page, so please read on.
I can remember going to Babylon as a grade school student with my late aunt and uncle to go fishing from a fishing dock on the Great South Bay. We went down Fire Island Avenue to the end and rented a boat. Years later when Ellen and I moved to Islip, we usually had to change trains at Babylon since that is the eastern end of electric service. Over the years, we went on several occasions to restaurants for my mom's birthday at either Pier 44 or the Babylon Fish and Clam House, both located near the end of Fire Island Avenue. On our own Ellen, Eileen and I have frequently gone to dinner at different restaurants in the main part of the village, either on Deer Park Avenue or Main Street: Don Ricardo's, Cooper Street, Armadillo (now Burger House), Howard & Sylvia's, the Babylon Carriage House, and Monsoon. There are even more I would like to try, since it's a foodie's paradise. And after Eileen graduated from high school in 2011, she and Ellen started to work on a volunteer basis at a thrift store located on Deer Park Avenue. It is run by Good Samaritan Hospital in nearby West Islip. In the summer of 2017 I figured why not go for a walk in the Village, since it does have that urban feeling, and the houses don't all look alike. Here is a list of the walks there, in somewhat chronological order:
August 20th, 2017: It was a Sunday and after lunch Eileen and I drove to Babylon Village to walk around town. I parked on Carll Avenue across from St. Joseph’s Church and we proceeded south to Main Street. At the Babylon Fire Department’s main house (next to the Village Hall) we took photos of me next to a GMC 2½ ton truck owned by the Department (probably for brush fires) and then we headed to Argyle Lake for a walk and more photos, including one of a statue of Robert Moses.
December 16th, 2017: Eileen and I had been doing a lot of walking together by now. We both still needed the exercise, and we would get a chance to do some father/daughter bonding. On Saturday December 16th, after our visit to the Islip Library, we drove to Babylon Village to go for a nice walk. I parked around the corner from the fire house/village hall and we walked along Main Street to Deer Park Avenue and then up Deer Park Avenue to where Monsoon restaurant is. I wanted to walk through a parking lot back, but I saw a trio of teens and with Eileen, with me, I was not taking any chances. Instead we retraced our steps and stopped at Country Cupboard, a boutique at #5 West Main Street. We ended up buying a small stuffed snowman which Eileen promptly put onto our Christmas tree when we got home.
January 14th, 2018: Eileen and I headed to the Islip McDonald’s where we took advantage of a 2 for $5 deal (fish sandwich and a Big Mac), along with iced tea and McFlurry. Then we drove to Babylon Village and parked the car across form the village hall and took a walk along Main Street from Carll Avenue to Deer Park Avenue, and then through the parking lot back to Carll Avenue, stopping to take pictures along the way.
February 18th, 2018: Today we walked from the Village Hall to the train station, going past the rear of the St. Joseph parish buildings, and then the junior/senior high school buildings. We also went past the village’s American Legion post – number 94, founded in the same year as Rusy Bohm (1919), but a few months older.
March 18th, 2018: Eileen and I parked in the municipal lot behind where Brixton Pub is and walked to Deer Park Avenue. I tried to take a photo in front of an historical sign post but the battery in my digital camera went dead, and I could not get the cell phone camera to work. But we continued down to Main Street and headed west to Carll Avenue and crossed Main Street and headed east again. And since Monday the 19th is Eileen’s birthday, I decided to pick up a birthday card at a shop called Roe Roe’s Sweet Street (located on Main Street). After I bought a birthday card, I decided to let Eileen buy a mini Beanie Baby – a bee called Zinger – for her birthday. Then we went back to the car and drove home. March 25th, 2018 was another Sunday and after lunch Eileen and I headed to Babylon again. As with other walks, I brought my camera and this time it worked since the battery was charged up. The route was from the parking lot behind the Brixton Pub and north on Deer Park Avenue to Park Avenue and then to the Ancient Order of Hibernians property and then back to the municipal lot. We took several photos along Deer Park Avenue, and at the Ancient Order of Hibernians grounds. I noticed that Babylon is a real foodie’s paradise, and our walk was easily over a mile. When we got home the 3 of us went out to dinner at Café Americano in Islip, for Eileen’s birthday.
April 1st, 2018 was Easter Sunday. We found time to take a walk after I went to Church and then shopped for lunch provisions. I had wanted to go for a walk in either Northport of Huntington Village, but she insisted on Babylon, and besides, it is a lot closer to Islip. After lunch we drove over to Babylon and parked in the municipal lot behind Del Fuego and the Brixton, and then headed down Deer Park Avenue to Main Street and then westwards to Thompson Avenue. At the corner of Main Street and Thompson is a branch of the Sterling National Bank. This is the bank’s 6th name. This branch started out as the main office of Suffolk County S&L, and eventually became the Long Island Savings Bank (one of my employers back in the 1980’s) and then Astoria Bank and finally Sterling National Bank in 2017. Then we headed east along Main Street, past Roe Roe’s Sweet Street where we stopped at last month, and finally to Don Ricardo’s, a favorite restaurant of ours. I took 7 pictures - mostly of places we have patronized or plan to, and we got in about 1.2 miles of walking. And since it was Easter Sunday, very few places were open, so we did not wind up buying anything. When we got home I started to watch some television, but Eileen wanted to go for another walk. This time we stayed in Islip and walked from the firehouse to the Treme jazz club on Main Street at Locust Avenue and back. Like in Babylon, almost everything was closed. April 8th, 2018: We were back the following Sunday, and like before, we parked in the municipal lot, but walked to James Street and up Deer Park Avenue to Lily Flanagan’s for photos, and then up to the Babylon Cemetery entrance before heading back towards Main Street. We continued walking down Deer Park Avenue and across the street from three places I would like to eat at in the future: Mary Carroll’s, the Brixton, and Del Fuego. After we got to Main Street we turned back north to get into the car and head home. After I dropped Eileen off I went to the firehouse for coffee and to watch the MLB Channel – the Yankees ended up losing in extra innings, while the Red Sox came from behind from a 7-2 deficit to win 8-7. I had fallen asleep during their 6-run inning. I finally headed home at around 6:15. April 15, 2018: We went here after lunch Eileen for another walk. This time we went from the municipal lot to Main Street and east to the end of the Village, and then down Suydam Place to Prospect Street (lots of 19th century houses on this street) to Fire Island Avenue and back to Main Street. After a stop in Roe Roe’s Sweet Street (Eileen got another Beanie Baby – a lady bug named Trixie, and some candy for us) we walked to South Carll Avenue and went inside the library. Since I did not bring a camera, we took some photos with my cell phone.
May 20, 2018: We got here after lunch and we parked in the Municipal Lot behind the Brixton pub, and walked down Deer Park Avenue to Main Street. I had some banking to do, so we stopped in the Chase Manhattan Bank branch where I deposited a check and took out some cash (thanks to ATMs). We continued west to take some photos by the Historical Society building and then to the southern shore of Argyle Lake for more pix. I had promised a Beanie Baby so we walked past her favorite shop in the Village – Roe Roe’s Sweet Street where she got another Beanie Baby (a New York Yankees bug), and some candy for us. I also got to speak with the owner (Rose Ann) who turns out is from Corona – across the Flushing Meadow Park from Queensboro Hill! Then we walked back to the car and drove to New York 231 and home. May 25, 2018: I was off today since Ellen and I had to install our new computer, But in the afternoon, and since it’s a weekday, it would not be free to use the Municipal Lot, so we parked on James Street near Totten Place, and then walked down Totten (I admired the old houses on the small pieces of property) to Main and then east to Carll Avenue. But first I had to stop at the Chase Manhattan Bank branch to transfer money into checking (got to pay the bills). When we headed back to the car we stopped at Roe Roe’s Sweet Street for some candy and a new Beanie Baby for Eileen (a dog named Marci) and then past the new Argyle Theater, which is on the site of a movie house that we used to patronize. Then we walked up Deer Park Avenue to James street and then to the car.
June 30, 2018: Today we drove to Babylon for a walk and to pick up a Beanie Baby for Eileen at Roe Roe’s Sweet Street (the shops in Islip don’t stock any that she does not already have). Once we got to Babylon we parked on James Street and Totten Place and walked to Main Street to Roe Roe’s. Eileen had a difficult time deciding which Beanie Baby to get, but she finally decided on Curly the Pig. We also got some candy and proceeded to walk to the library on South Carll Avenue. We took some photos with the cell phone and then went to Prospect Street to walk east on the street to Suydam Place and then up to Main Street (almost a reverse of April 15). And then up Totten Place to the car. We got in over a mile of walking.
Eileen and I also did some short walks in Islip and East Islip on July 7, 2018, and I promised her a new Beanie Baby if she co-operated and kept quiet when we were on the Islip walks, but especially when we were in St. Mary’s Church . Since she did, after I was finished at St. Mary's we headed to Babylon and Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. We parked on Totten Place, and walked to Main Street, and then to Willow Street and from there, south to Prospect Street, where we headed west to Fire Island Avenue. I again tried to take a photo at the intersection of Fire Island Avenue & Prospect, but my android would not seem to work (somehow the pictures showed up on my 'droid about 5 days later). We then walked back to Main Street and to Roe Roe’s so Eileen could buy her newest Beany Baby – Wally the Gator. We then walked back to the Municipal Lot and then to Totten Place and the car, and home via Route 231 and the Southern State Parkway. On Sunday July 15th, after a shower and lunch Eileen and I went over to Babylon for another walk. We parked in the municipal lot near The Brixton Pub and walked to Fire Island Avenue and then headed down Fire Island Avenue to where it makes its turn, taking up the right of way of another avenue, to where it turns south again. At that corner (Reid & Fire Island) we took photos of a monument to Marconi and his radio broadcast he made there. We then turned around and walked back up Fire Island Avenue to Main Street, taking a photo of Eileen in front of #126, a house built in 1882. The next stop was Roe Roe’s Sweet Street where Eileen got herself another Beanie Baby, a rabbit named Whiz. Then we walked up a side street called Cottage Row/Oak Place to the American Legion Post on Grove Place, where I photographed Eileen next to a street sign dedicated to the Legion: American Legion Way. Then it was back to the municipal lot and the car. We drove to Route 231 and then to the Southern State. Then six days later on July 21st, after lunch Eileen and I went for a walk in Babylon, but not around Main Street or Deer Park Avenue. Since today is Saturday, parking would not be free or restricted in the municipal lot or on Main Street. We decided to walk along the southern end of Fire Island Avenue. We parked at a marina, and then walked along the left fork to Fire Island Avenue, past Pier 44 and the Babylon Fish & Clam House, all the way to the end at the Great South Bay, a large marina, and the Venetian Restaurant and Catering Hall (scene of an Installation Dinner in the late 1990’s). I took two photos of Eileen with the Robert Moses Bridge and the choppy Bay in the background. Then we walked along Yacht Club Road, past a building housing the Babylon Beach Club – an adult assisted living facility. We saw houses raised from the original foundations, probably thanks to Super Storm Sandy. Then it was a short street called Merman Place that brought us to the right fork of Fire Island Avenue (the one that ends at the Village Pool), and we headed back to the fork to take a picture of the fork sign – Fire Island Avenue on all sides of the iconic Babylon milepost street signs. Then we went back to the car and drove to Trask Lane where Ellen and Eileen’s former coworker Donna lived until a fire during Super Storm Sandy destroyed the house. We then ended up on a street called The Crescent which took us back to Fire Island Avenue and then to Prospect Street where we parked and walked to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. I promised Eileen a new Beanie Baby and she selected an owl called Hooty. Then it was back to the car and home. We returned to Babylon Village on July 29th. We parked at the Municipal Lot behind the Brixton Pub and walked to Grove Place past the American Legion Hall and a 1909 house (took a photo) and then to the St. Joseph Parish property where we took some more pix. Then it was the Babylon High School baseball field and the football/track field for more photos, including one of a plaque to Coach Walter Williams, who was at Babylon HS from 1939 to 1960. Then we walked over to Argyle Lake and took more photos, of the lake and also one from the shore with St. Joseph’s Church and the high school sports fields behind me (I see all of these from the train every day). I had also promised Eileen a mini Beanie Baby if she cooperated with me, so we stopped at Roe Roe’s on the way back to the car, and she selected a new friend named Olivia. We also bought some gummi candy which we had in the car on the way home. But before we went to the car, we stopped at the JP Morgan Chase Bank branch to get money from the ATM. Then it was to the car and onto Route 231 to the Southern State and home.
On August 4, 2018 we headed over to the village and parked on Totten Place, since it’s a Saturday and walked through the Municipal Lot to Main Street and then to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. I promised Eileen a Beanie Baby if she cooperated while we were at the Islip Library, and she did. She decided on Seaweed, a seal. We got some gummy candy as well. Then we walked up Oak Place almost to the American Legion Post but stopped in front of #60 to take a photo (it is the HQ if the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local 56) in front of it. Then through another municipal lot past Argyle Grille & Tavern and then to the car on Totten Place. And two weeks later on August 18, we drove over to the village to have lunch and get exercise. Like before, we parked on Totten Place and walked to Deer Park Avenue, We decided on Jack Jack's Coffee House, where we split an eggplant panini and each of us had iced tea. Then we walked over to Railroad Avenue and walked west to North Carll Avenue and south to Main Street, stopping to take more pictures, including one of a 1730 vintage house at #17 Carll Avenue that was first occupied by members of the Carll family back in the 18th century. I had also promised Eileen another Beanie Baby since she cooperated with me, so we stopped in Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and she bought a critter called Trick (whose friend is Treat, which we will probably acquire later), and some gummi candy. Ellen had asked me to get cash, so it was Chase Manhattan Bank and the ATM for some money. Then we headed back to Totten Place to get the car and drive to Route 231, and then the Southern State and home. We were back on the 25th. Like on the 18th, we parked on Totten Place and walked to Deer Park Avenue. I had checked the list of restaurants on Google and decided on either a Philadelphia cheese steak restaurant or a Greek eatery. I thought that a Greek lunch would be better so we walked up to Railroad Avenue and realized that we were on the wrong street - we had to head back to Grove Place. So once there we each enjoyed a lamb gyro with iced tea. After I paid the check we walked past the American Legion Hall (a photo op for me) and then to Mansfield Road to Main Street and Roe Roe's Sweet Street. I had promised Eileen a Beanie Baby and we picked out Treat - Trick's partner. We also bought some gummi candy for the trip home. We then walked back to Totten Place to get in the car and head to Route 231 and then the Parkway.
On September 1, 2018 we drove to the village and then parked on Totten Place to avoid the Municipal Lot or Main Street. We then walked to Main Street and decided on lunch at Glen’s Dinette on Main Street – it reminds me of the old luncheonettes that we used to patronize 50 years ago. I ordered a Philadelphia cheese steak wrap while Eileen ordered a cod fillet & cheese sandwich. Since it was a cash business, we ordered water instead of iced tea. Eileen liked my cheese steak, and I thought that she was not going to eat the fish sandwich (but she did). After we paid for our meal we walked west on Main Street. By the marina they erected a new statue in tribute to the clammers (bay men) who used to work the Great South Bay. It was a nice photo op and we took some pix there. We then walked all the way to the Masonic Lodge at the corner of Main Street and Belton Road, for another photo op. Then we started to walk back to the car, but first we stopped at Roe Roe’s Sweet Street for some candy and a Beanie Baby for Eileen. We selected Pee Wee, a hamster, since I know that she did not have that one. We then walked to the car and headed to Route 231 and then the Southern State Parkway to Exit 43. Then a week later on September 8th, Eileen and I first had lunch at the Terrace Diner on Sunrise Highway in West Babylon and then afterwards, we drove down Little East Neck Rod and Route 109 to Park Avenue and we then we were in Babylon Village. As usual for a non-Sunday, we parked on Totten Place and walked over to Argyle Park and back, stopping at Roe Roe’s so Eileen could get another Beanie Baby – a turtle named Cruiser. On the following weekend, the 16th, we went to Babylon for the annual craft fair at Argyle Park. I forgot to get off for NY 231 and went to Deer Park Avenue, and when we got into the village, saw traffic backed up. So we headed back to Sunrise and to NY 231 and then went our usual way to the municipal lot to park the car. Then we walked to Argyle Park and saw that there was a backup along Main Street but since we were walking, it was not a problem. There were vendors’ tents all around Argyle Lake, and we walked around the lake checking out several of them and taking pix along the way. When we got to the east shore of the lake, near Railroad Avenue, I saw a tent that sold sports themed items and let Eileen get a Yankees purse for her pocket book. We also took some photos in that tent, as well at a Thanksgiving/Halloween gifts tent (and the owner took some photos of Eileen and me together). We continued to the street that dead ends in Argyle Park – Carlston Place – and walked to Carll Avenue to take photos by the Babylon FD headquarters. And since Eileen cooperated with Ellen and me, we stopped at Roe Roe’s Sweet Street, so she can get a Beanie Baby – a mouse named Anna. We passed on candy but before we left I took a photo of Eileen sitting by the Beanie Baby stand, and then we walked to the car to go home, along NY 231 and the Southern State. We got well over a mile of walking in. On the last day of September, we were back in Babylon to walk and try and shed some pounds. We parked in the Municipal Lot and then headed over to Willow Street on the eastern end of town and then proceeded down Willow past where it becomes Shore Road to a street called Sumpwams Place and then over to Fire Island Avenue and then finally back to the car. There was no visit to Sweet Street this time. But we did check out some shops on Fire Island and Deer Park Avenues before finally heading over to the Islip Library.
On October 20 we went back to Babylon Village and checked out the annual Fall Harvest Festival. It runs along Deer Park Avenue from Railroad Avenue to Main Street., and most of the shops along that street set up tables, as well as other organizations. We did not buy anything but did get some free candy. Naturally I brought my camera and took several photos. After a trek up and down Deer Park Avenue, we went back to the car at James and Totten and returned to Islip.
In November 2018 we did a few more walks. On the 3rd we parked the car on James Street and headed over to the Greek Garden on Grove Place to have lunch. We shared a special: lamb gyro and fries, washing it down with iced tea. The wait staff was also quite nice to Eileen. After lunch we walked down Grove Place to the American Legion post and took photos outside, and then went inside to say hi to the members there and take more pix. I spoke with the bar tender about the NFL Boycott that my post is pushing – that I have no ax to grind with the league, even if I don’t like what some of the players did. I said that as veterans, we served to protect their right to do things like kneeling during the anthem. After the visit we went to St. Joseph’s Church to take some more pix and did not go into the main part since a wedding was in progress. And since it was windy, we avoided Carll Avenue and went to Cottage Row and then headed to Main Street and Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. I promised her a Beanie Baby so with the list we checked to see which ones she does not have and decided on Finley (a fox). He is #36 in her collection. We also bought some M&M’s and shared them on the way home. We were back a week later on November 10th, and around 1 PM we drove to Totten Place and parked the car there. I had to go to the bank to deposit a check and we walked to Main Street to Chase Bank and hit the ATM. I thought that it would be a good idea to have lunch at the Babylon Del Fuego so we walked to Deer Park Avenue to check it out. There was a toddler’s first birthday party in the main part, so the public was confined to the bar part. We kept walking up Deer Park Avenue to James Street and then Eileen insisted on going back to Del Fuego. So we went inside and the hostess said that it’s be a 30-minute wait for a table. With the crowd and noise, we said that we will come back later. So we headed back to Main Street and Roe Roe’s Sweet Street where Eileen got Beanie Baby #37 – a mouse named Miko. Then we walked back to the car and decided to have lunch at Terrace Diner, where we went back in September. We were back in Babylon on November 17th. After parking on James Street we heading to the railroad station to take care of some business and then headed up to Park Avenue and then to the Hibernian Hall. We walked through the parking lot and took one photo in the rear, and one on Locust showing the front of the Hall. Then we headed to Main Street to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and Eileen picked up a dog named Flora (Beanie Baby #38) And with Thanksgiving only 5 days away, we went next door to buy a bottle of Duck Walk Windmill Red before walking back to James Street to head home. While we did not have lunch in Babylon Village, we did in nearby West Babylon at the Terrace Diner. On November 24, 2018 we were back. First, we had lunch at the South Bay Diner on Sunrise Highway across from Town Hall, and then we drove to Totten Place to park the car. I figured we can walk over to the Atlantis Diner on Montauk Highway by the beginning of NY 231. But Eileen preferred Willow Street so we went there to Prospect Street and then to Suydam Place (took 2 pix) and then back to the car on Totten Place.
On Christmas Eve we drove over to Totten Place and walked to Main Street. We saw that the country store where we bought the snow man last year, Country Cupboard, closed. We continued walking over to the canal and took pix of the bay man statue and then walked onto the library property and took photos of the sign on the medical arts building next door and then walked down to Prospect Street (took a photo of Eileen next to a mini-lighthouse on a lawn) and then finally to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street where we bought a small bag of Reese’s Pieces and a Beanie Baby – a narwhal named Nellie - #42 in Eileen's collection. Then we walked back to the car and headed home.
Our first walk in 2019 came on January 26, when despite its being a bit nippy, Eileen and I drove to Babylon Village and as we generally do on non-Sundays, parked on Totten Place. I did not want to buy any candy or Beanie Babies at Roe Roe’s Sweet Street (maybe another time, and Eileen has almost every Beanie Baby that Rose Ann has in stock) so we headed to the streets across the tracks. After we got to Deer Park Avenue, we walked up to Park Avenue past the apartment complexes to the Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall a bit past Carll Avenue. It looked as if the Order was hosting an event since the parking lot was not empty and I heard music from inside. But since it was a private event, we did not bother to go near the doors but I did take Eileen ‘s photo in front of the Hall, and then went across the street to the Rotary Club’s ball field, and the street sign in tribute to the organization – Rotary Path. We took some pix there and then walked over to St. Joseph’s Church for a short rest and then headed back to the car. But first we stopped in the Babylon American Legion Post #94 to say hi and use the bathrooms. After the visit we walked back to Deer Park Avenue and then finally to Totten Place to get the car hand head home. This walk must have been about a mile in length. In the early afternoon on March 9 I had planned to go for lunch at the Hauppauge Diner on Route 454 but decided on one that is closer – the Peter Pan Diner at Howell’s Road and Sunrise Highway, for lunch. When we were done, we headed over to Route 231 to get to Babylon Village. We parked on Totten Place and walked to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and Eileen got another Beanie Baby – a cat named Cara, #46 in her collection. The sales person also let us have a small bag of Reese’s M & M’s gratis. I was grateful but told her that she did not have to do that. We were back on April 7, 2019. After we parked the car in the municipal lot. We headed to Fire Island Avenue to take some photos of the 1870 Babylon Carriage House and then continued south, taking photos of a few other 19th century houses along Fire Island Avenue and a street that is a continuation of its due south right of way -The Crescent. Then we walked back to Main Street to Roe Roe's Sweet Street where Eileen picked out Beanie Baby #47 - Fluffy. Then we walked back to the municipal lot and headed home by way of NY 231 and Sunrise Highway. On Easter Sunday after lunch we went to Babylon Village and drove to where Fire island Avenue divides and we walked down the north branch to the Bay, past Pier 44, the Fish & Clam House, and the Sea Breeze (we have no plans to patronize this place since it’s a dive bar) all the way to where the street ends by the Piermont. Since I brought a camera, we naturally took a lot of photos. Eileen then wanted to come home so we headed back to the car and up to Main Street and Route 231 and home. On May 26, 2019 I had to stop at the Verizon Store in West Islip to take the tablet off of my account, and then go to Beth, Bath & Beyond in West Babylon to buy some household items. After the stop in West Babylon, we drove back to Babylon Village and parked in the Municipal Lot and walked along Main Street to the Masonic Hall. First, we stopped in Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and after Eileen helped herself to a chocolate covered strawberry (I also had some of it) she got herself another Beanie Baby – a dog in a police officer uniform named Chase (#50). Then we walked to the Masonic Hall to take pictures of the flag display – a field of honor where certain individuals are honored by the Fraternal Order of Police and the Babylon Masonic Historical Society. We did not know any of the individuals but we did take some photos. Then it was back to the car but first we had to stop at Chase Bank to get $200 from the ATM. Once we got back to the car, we headed to Route 231 and then the Parkway.