The 2020 Toyota Rav4 was designed with your safety in mind. It features proactive and reactive technology that will keep you and your loved ones safe wherever you go. Here are five of the best safety features installed in the 2020 Toyota Rav4. 

  1. Front and Rear Parking Assist 

Do you ever have one of those days where you’re frantically rushing around and forgot that you didn’t open the garage door before backing out or didn’t notice that car parked behind you? The front and rear parking assist with automated braking is designed to step in and help you out so that you can be more aware of your surroundings, regardless of the kind of day you’re having. It provides audio and visual warnings when it detects anything approaching from behind. The system will automatically slow the vehicle and apply the brakes if it determines that you might come into contact with an object or another vehicle.  Read the rest of this entry »

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to think about where you and your significant other will be celebrating each other this year. If you live in or near Long Island, New York, you are blessed with a wide variety of wonderful options. 

Barrique Kitchen & Wine Bar 

Located on Deer Park Avenue in Babylon, New York, this place aims to provide the perfect atmosphere for anyone looking to enjoy some delicious food and fine wine. This makes it ideal for a romantic dinner, with the welcoming and knowledgeable staff being there for you and helping you create a night to remember. The way the food is served also helps diners get closer to one another, with the small plate approach encouraging sharing. A rich menu, featuring rustic food, thin-crust pizza, cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and many more, await you and your partner.

Nothing works better with a good meal than enjoying a glass or two of good wine. With over 150 types of both domestic and imported wines, you’ll be sure to find one that you and your loved one will resonate with. And if you’re still not sure which one to choose, you can taste more of them before you decide on a favorite.  Read the rest of this entry »

As the warm spring weather arrives in West Islip, New York, and the cold days of winter become a fading memory, it’s a pleasure to be able to take part in some fun water-based activities. Here are three activities that you can enjoy. 

  1. Swimming

Looking over Great South Bay, the West Islip Marina Park offers access to a beautiful, quiet little beach with 50 yards of waterfront. If you’re considering going in the water, there is a roped-off swimming area, but you can only use it when the lifeguards are on duty. The beachfront has restrooms and outdoor showers. Entry to the park is free for residents with a recreation card; non-residents pay a daily car fee.

If you prefer a swimming pool, Casamento Park Pool is a clean and well-maintained facility in Anthony Casamento Park on Muncey Road in West Islip. This pool is often less crowded than others in the area and features a main pool and a wading pool for kids. Tables and chairs are available to rent so you can enjoy the poolside for as long as you want.  Read the rest of this entry »

Looking for a great place to relax after work? There are several bars in the West Islip area that offer the perfect atmosphere for enjoying a cold beer when you’ve finished up with your workday. These are just a couple of our favorites that we’re sure you’ll enjoy too. 

  1. The Lion’s Den

The Lion’s Den is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Whether you want to bring the whole family, hang out with co-workers, or just enjoy a cold brew after work all by yourself, you’ll find a great menu of food and drinks here. Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., you can get two for one deals on wine and domestic beers. Team Trivia takes place on Tuesday at 8 p.m. and it’s free to participate. Taco Tuesday means great deals on tacos you can enjoy with your beer. There’s no end to the fun at Lion’s Den. Read the rest of this entry »

When you want a memorable birthday party for your child, but you prefer someone else to organize it, there are some great locations close to West Islip. Here are a few of the best party places.

Bubble Babylon

With two locations on East Main Street in Babylon, Bubble Babylon can organize birthday parties for kids of all ages. You can choose from one of the many themes, such as a unicorn party, slime party, bakery party, mad scientist party, and more. These parties let the kids get creative, and they’re likely to get messy too.

Alternatively, if your child has an idea of his or her own, the event planner will work with you to make the dream a possibility. The planner can also arrange add-ons such as face painting, a professional photographer, candy bars or ice-cream bars, or your choice of party food. If you prefer your own location, Bubble will bring the party to you and create an indoor or outdoor event for your little one to remember. Read the rest of this entry »

After an absence of more than 20 years, the Toyota Supra returns with the all-new 2020 GR Supra. The heritage of this marque is carried forward by the new model, which offers a blend of style, performance, and driving pleasure. The GR Supra is offered in 3.0 and 3.0 Premium trim levels, along with the Launch Edition, which is limited to 1,500 cars. Here are four of the features that make it a classic in the making. 

  1. Exterior Design

Pure performance is expressed by the Supra’s evocative teardrop design. Every panel has been created with dynamic airflow in mind. The wide, low grille channels cooling air to the engine. Airflow at the rear is improved by the bulging fenders, while the flared rear spoiler keeps the 19-inch forged aluminum wheels firmly on the ground.

The uniquely styled dual bulge roof works to reduce drag while increasing the interior headroom. The distinctive appearance is enhanced by six-lens LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and turn signals, and LED combination taillights. Read the rest of this entry »

The Toyota RAV4 has always been a stylish and capable SUV, but the all-new RAV4 TRD Off-Road will enable you to take your adventures even farther off the beaten track. Here are some of the features that make it a great choice for your adventurous lifestyle. 

Exterior Styling

With its rugged front styling, aggressive grille design, sleek profile, and sporty rear, the TRD Off-Road creates a dominant road presence wherever you go. The front end features a unique grille with active shutters, automatic chrome-trimmed multi-LED headlamps, distinctive daytime running lights, and black-trimmed LED fog lights.

The body is styled with unique badging, flared black overfenders above matte black 18-inch six-spoke alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, black heated power side mirrors with turn signals, body-color door handles with touch-sensor unlocking, a power moonroof, black painted roof rails, rear privacy glass, LED taillights, and dual chrome exhaust tips. For convenient access to the spacious cargo area, the RAV4 has a hands-free foot-activated power liftgate. Read the rest of this entry »

If you start craving sushi, you don’t have to travel too far from West Islip, New York, to find some great restaurants. Here are some of the best eateries in the area.

Hi Sushi

At the husband and wife owned and operated Hi Sushi on Union Boulevard, you’ll receive a warm welcome and be made to feel like one of the family. It’s a cute little place with a casual, relaxed vibe. The portions are large and a good value for the money. Look out for the well-priced lunch specials. 

The authentic menu features appetizers such as gyoza with beef, chicken, or vegetables; shrimp or crab shumai; and tuna tataki. You can also choose from an extensive range of salads. The selection of sushi and sashimi rolls is huge, but the owners are happy to help you choose. You might even get some complimentary snacks as you leave. Read the rest of this entry »

North Babylon, New York, is home to a wonderful state park that offers something for everyone. If you’re looking for a great way to close out the fall, or just want to have something in your back pocket for when spring rolls around again, be sure to check out Belmont Lake State Park. Here are some of the best things to enjoy in the park.

“Belmont Lake State Park” by terryballard, used under CC BY 2.0

  1. Boat Rentals

If you truly want to experience the stunning vistas at Belmont Lake State Park, you’re going to want to be on the water. Sure there are several ways to see the sights around the 463-acre park, but renting a small boat provides a hard-to-beat experience. You can rent pedal boats with a capacity of four people or rowboats which will seat five. Rentals are available through mid-October and open back up again at the beginning of May. If you’re interested in doing some fishing from one of the rowboats, keep in mind that it’s only available Monday through Friday.

Kayaks can also be rented if your party is interested. In addition to boat rentals, you can bring your own boat and put it in the water from the boat launch. No motorized craft, paddleboards, or wakeboards are allowed.  Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for an absolute beast in the performance department, the 2020 Toyota 86 has to be on your radar. There are a few different configurations to choose from as well as some extra packages to make the new 86 a car tailored to your needs and wants. This guide will take you under the hood to check out the new 86’s top performance features as well as highlight the optional handling package.

Introducing the Performance Built 2020 Toyota 86 

The new 2020 Toyota 86 is built to impress. It features a boxer flat-four engine which produces enough power to give the 86 plenty of acceleration and power. There are three configurations to choose from. These are the 86, GT, and Hakone edition.

The rear-wheel drive system provides extra power and braking capability, giving a true sports-car feel while you’re driving down the highway. It can be hard to resist punching it while entering the highway. You should have plenty of fun driving the 86 whether you take the six-speed automatic transmission or opt for the manual transmission. The steering is tight on the 86 and it handles sharp corners in an exhilarating fashion thanks to the shorter turning radius.  Read the rest of this entry »