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Simple Really

The North Fork? Where is it you ask? Follow the LIE east all the way to the end. Exit to the North Fork, the sister of the south fork (better know as the Hamptons). A different vibe altogether. Less traffic, more peace. Plenty of hotels, restaurants, places to buy  props, caterers, everything you need for your crew and your shoot. Dare I say a bit less expensive too. View north fork locations. Inquiries at info@locatethis.net and 631.805.6252.

History of Wine 101

Enter vineyard, drive straight past weathered shingle historical house number one on left and barn aka tasting room on right. Keep driving. Pass pond and ice house on left. Keep driving. Pass 30 year old vines on right and left. Keep driving. See historical house number two on left. Keep driving...oops water. Yes folks, we have a vineyard on the water replete with  beautiful trees, vast lawns, gorgeous vines, a swan or two in the pond and an old pick-up in the yard. Sort of storybook I'd say. I'm thinking put a tent next to the water and have a party. View the vineyard.

Please contact me at 631.805.6252 or info@locatethis.net for information on this location. View other locations at www.locatethis.net.

Old School Market

We all have a market or deli we go to every morning for coffee. It's our AM habit that wakes us up and soothes our cranky state of mind. It's even better when the place offers a bit of atmosphere and some tasty snacks to go along with the caffeine buzz. My AM place offers an old school vibe with hardwood floors, chalk board  menus, butcher block counters and light wood wainscoting. The glass cases are filled with homemade goods along with fresh fish and meats. The market shelves are stacked with packaged goods of a mostly upscale variety. Antique furniture including marble topped dressers and pickle barrels are parlayed into useful surfaces. Seating is strategically placed by the front windows so your coffee klatch can gab about the  comings and goings of the locals. I usually pick one of the tall soda fountain stools to  enjoy my caffeine fix while reading the newspaper.

The market blends in nicely with the old school charm of the town. Grab your coffee and wander down to the waterfront park and watch the boats come in. Okay, now take a deep breath, get that caffeine circulating and soak it all in. View location S106. Please feel free to contact me about locations and production services at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Where's Ralph?

Where is Ralph Lauren?  Don't you see Ralph shooting an ad here in amongst the horses and stables. The models are leading a gorgeous horse around the beautiful tree lined property. Okay it's a little cliche but you get the picture. Wouldn't you want to throw up a tent and have your wedding here?  Look at that stable. It's huge and fancy with that red roof and copper cupolas. And what about the white fencing and gorgeous mature growth trees. The house is what you would expect to see, a large white colonial with years of history to recommend it. Oh and it is a  hilltop location with a view of the water. I'd say a spring or fall wedding for sure. Now that I am on a roll. It's a perfect backdrop for a hoedown. Bring on the tent, dance floor, fiddle players and BBQ.

View location S118 and imagine your own event. You really can't go wrong. Feel free to contact me about locations, production services and scouting at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Rejuvenation!

The year was 1827 or there abouts. The house was surrounded by farmland, smallish in size, it had low beamed ceilings, wide plank wood floors, narrow windows and a brick fireplace for heat.  Flash forward to 2010 and it is surrounded by vineyards, sizeable by any standards and painstakingly rejuvenated. It combines the old house which apparently had good bones with a contemporary addition to provide room for a luxurious kitchen, living room and master bedroom.

First and foremost, the owners wanted to pay close attention to restoring the original house to it's 19th century glory. They retained as much of the old house as possible and lovingly brought it back to life. Once you enter the front door, to your right is the dining room with a brick fireplace. Note the pine floors and wood beams that extend from points on the walls, surround the doors and cross the ceilings. Note the doors and windows, most of which are original, again beautiful warn wood that you cannot begin to recreate. To the left of the front door is a study. A narrow steep staircase leads you up to the two bedrooms, one small with a peaked ceiling and one larger with a wood beamed ceiling. Modern bathrooms on each floor are the only signs that speak to the modern world.

Walk through the doorway to the kitchen and you've entered the 21st century. The transition is not as stark as you would think. Yes, there are all the modern amenities you could want. And yes the ceilings are higher and the rooms bigger. But note the subtle color transition in the floors and walls, the beamed walls and ceilings and the wide plank floors. Wander into the living room with a stone floor to ceiling two-sided fireplace that has a sun-soaked sitting room on the other side. The ensuite bedroom upstairs is an oasis with a stone fireplace extended from the one below and a deck overlooking the vineyard.

To get a look at how old meets new, click on location N206. Please feel free to contact me about this location and others at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Mississippi Juke Joint

The minute you step into the barn you are transported back in time and across state lines. Actually the time warp feeling starts as the barn comes into view. It is dark and weathered with an old red and white Phillips 66 sign near the entrance. The interior is full of antique signs, album covers and furniture. The center of the barn is set up for music and dancing. On one side of the dance floor there is a room with a pool table, juke box and a wood burning stove. On the other side is a kitchen with an antique fridge, coke machine and sink.   Climb the staircase to the loft. Slide into a booth and have a drink. The bar and tables are painted red. The booth seating is black and the bar stools are pure vintage with silver metal legs and red and black cushioned seats.

The look of the place is dark and moody. You can imagine a cigarette smoke filled juke joint down the road a piece. It's a place to escape to after a hard work week. Blow off some steam, dance until you are hot and sweaty, grab a drink, shoot some pool and then get back on that dance floor for the next set. People are tapping their feet to the music as they watch from above. A serious pool game is taking place in the side room. Someone is going to lose big. The old time blues music is drowning out the chatter at the bar. The dance floor is full.

The owner did an amazing job putting it together. The attention to detail really captures the mood of an old juke joint. View location S114 under photo albums. Please feel free to contact me regarding this location at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252.

Have you been to Shelter Island?

Let's face it. If you are going to do a shoot it would be great if it was some place you actually want to go. Now that summer is in full swing, might I suggest Shelter Island. You will feel the stress fall from your body  the minute you step on the ferry. The ease of shooting here is palpable. There are plenty of places to shoot, plenty of places to stay and plenty of places to eat. It a veritable one stop shopping for all your shoot needs.

Need some examples of all of the above. I will take that challenge. Let's start with places to shoot. Click on "Shelter Island" under categories and you will find beaches, homes, galleries, a private island and a chapel.  Now that we've determined that you could shoot here for a week if needed, let's find you a place to stay. You must have heard of the Andre Balaz hotel Sunset Beach. It's hip happening, beachfront chic and the place to be. Dining could not be better. Catering by Planet Bliss is a must. They can supply breakfast, lunch and dinner. All of my crews from various shoots rave about Planet Bliss's food. Looking for restaurant options? Planet Bliss, Sunset Beach, Vine Street and MarkitwithG are among my favorites.

Okay, I am going to stop here and link you to my other Shelter Island shout out posted earlier this year. I regaled you with all of the nitty gritty details, the who, what, where, when and how of production on the island. Seriously folks, take the stress out of your shoot. It's guaranteed the minute you step on the island. Feel free to contact me at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252 for location and production needs.

Farm House Hospitality

What images does a farm house conjure up in your brain? Big Old Rambling House? Check! Vegetable, herb and flower gardens? Check! A barn and various other out buildings? Check! Two kitchens; one for summer and one for winter? Check! A homemade berry pie on the kitchen table? Hmmm! Would you settle for a large glass jar of nettle tea?

Upon arrival at this historic landmark, I was first given a tour of the back gardens. I love a gardener who can recite the names of every plant and their uses. I lean toward the "that's pretty, let's plant it" method. And don't ask me what anything is named.The gardens are lush and green and you can tell that by  mid-summer all sorts of things are going to pop up. Looking around the back yard, there are several out buildings. The one that really caught my eye was the white barn. I opened the barn doors and wandered upstairs. There is a sitting room with chairs, an old three sided crib/couch and lanterns strung up. The upstairs barn doors open out and there are screen doors that were designed to tuck into the doorway. I envision a barn party in my future.

I entered the main house through one of the kitchens. That is where I was offered nettle tea which apparently is good for what ails you. The home owner grows it in her garden (of course). Off the kitchen is a den which leads to a living room which leads to a dining room. That's the rambling part I mentioned. Anyway, not only does the homeowner have gardening acumen but she is a very talented painter. Her talent as a painter comes in many forms, as an artist as well as an interior painter. She is a master at doing paint treatments on your walls. Her dining room is a perfect example. The gray muted walls are a beautiful backdrop for the window settee, gray and white sofa and dark wood floors. And if you saw her gorgeous paintings, you would want to get a package deal, walls and artwork.

Oh and there's more. The second kitchen is all dark wood including the walls and cabinets, the opposite of the bright white kitchen I first entered. I was then lead up the back stairway to the bedrooms. Old farm houses always have two stairways. Again I got that rambling feeling as one bedroom lead to the next. I came down the front stairway and ended my visit exiting out the front door.

I was sent away with a brew of nettle tea and a bag of fresh nettles to brew some more. Now that's hospitality. View location N203 under photo albums. Feel free to contact me about this location at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252.

Island Get Away

Imagine owning your own one acre island. You build a get away cabin and a couple of guest cottages and you're good to go. You spend summers entertaining all your boating friends. What's not to love. There's some real history behind this tiny island dating back to the turn of the 20th century. The original owners are of the 20-Mule Team Borax fame. It was sold in the 1930's and the new owners added bedrooms, a kitchen and tower onto the cabin.

The last owner generously gifted the island to the local community. Just the one cabin remains and I am dying to spend the night there. There is a beautiful wrap-around porch. The minute you step into the original cabin you stare at a huge stone fireplace. So this is what I am thinking. Let's start with a sunny fall day in late September. Load up your canoes, kayaks, or motorboat and glide on over to the island. Spend the day basking and hanging on the porch. If you're not too exhausted from lounging around break out the fishing poles. Or perhaps there is a spot to go clamming. It's heading toward sunset so you stoke up the grill. Don't forget the huge gorgeous stone fireplace. Must build fire.

I regretfully missed the clambake they had last summer. There was music, tents and tons of seafood. So whether it's a clambake, a party or a photo shoot, the island is there for you. You can see the island (Location S111) under photo albums. Please free to contact me regarding this or any other location at info@locatethis.net.

She's Got Options

It feels like a cabin. There is wood everywhere; wood floors, walls and ceilings. It has two of everything; 2 floors, 2 kitchens, 2 living/dining spaces and two decks. There's a lot of space for entertaining both inside and out. It's ideal for a shoot; use one floor for staging and one for shooting. And all of that outdoor space beckons a summer party. The owner also has a gallery which doubles as an event space or a wedding chapel (location S103). Oh wait! Get married at the chapel/gallery/event space and have your party at the duplex cabin with 2 decks, a fire pit, jacuzzi and grill. Kind of ideal wouldn't you say. View location S103a under photo albums. Feel free to contact me regarding either location for a photo shoot, film or event.