Down and Out in Port Washington

If you're a 20-something living in Port Washington, your choice of nightlife options are probably less than stellar. 

“The only good thing about Port Washington was moving away from Port Washington,” said Margot Atkinson, 25, who left town some time ago for greener pastures in Colorado.

However, while some residents may find this attitude a bit extreme, it’s par for the course among Port’s young people. 

Take an average Friday or Saturday night, and check out Port Washington’s hot-spots. Whether you have a drink at Sullivan’s Quay, grab some sushi at , or watch the boats go by at , you’ll find that the crowd skews towards people in their 30s – or even older. While it’s true that Port Washington’s nightlife hardly caters to senior citizens, it seems equally unfriendly to college students and young professionals.

According to Long Island Association Chief Economist Pearl Kamer, young people like Atkinson are leaving Long Island in part because “we don’t have some of the cool downtowns that people like to live in,” she said.

To be frank, the best choice for the young man or woman in Port Washington with a few extra dollars and a free night is to go elsewhere. Going into the city is less affordable than it used to be, but the town’s central train station does make it extremely easy – and safe. Bar-hopping in the city becomes a much more tolerable prospect when driving home is unnecessary. Parties with designated drivers often head further east – Miller’s in Levittown, for example, is a large bar and restaurant that caters to a diverse age range.

However, while Port Washington is not necessarily the most vibrant town on Long Island when it comes to 20-somethings, it is by no means a dead end. For bar-goers, on Port Washington provides a welcoming atmosphere, reasonably-priced drinks, and good food. On the other hand, Helen Seder has a different recommendation: “Go to .” Lennon’s on Main Street tends to draw an older male crowd, but people often forget that it has a pool table in the back. The games are reasonably-priced, and the ambiance is perfect – boisterous without being overbearing. Innuendo is also becoming a popular destination for the 20's crowd.

Matt Wright, 24, a Manhassetonian who spends a good deal of time hanging out in Port, has another recommendation: “” This pastry/coffee shop across from the train station on Main Street is one that Port Washington residents tend to forget past their high school years. While hardly a glamorous place to spend time, Dunkin’ Donuts provides cheap, tasty food and drinks and a fair amount of table space where, especially late at night, you can sit and chat for as long as you like (provided that you’ve bought something). Better yet, the shop is open 24 hours. Whether you begin or end your night here, you’ll find an affordable, easygoing environment – just be prepared to share some table space with high school students and police officers, both of whom are virtually guaranteed to be there past 10 PM.

Port becomes much more welcoming in the summer. Both Helen and Matt recommend spending time at the town docks, which costs absolutely nothing, provides a satisfying view of the harbor, and has ample bench space. Add a cup or two of ices from the nearby on Shore Road, and you’ve got a few hours of solid outdoor entertainment (provided you don’t mind the occasional rat).

While none of these spots will really help young people meet new friends, they are perfectly good locations to spend time with existing friends. More often than not, you’ll run into a few old ones as well – being from a small town has its advantages sometimes.