Weekend Planner: Cutchogue 5K, Sparkling Opera, 12 Days of Christmas

One more week to go and the holidays are upon us. Luckily, local shops in Greenport are offering specials through Christmas Eve on unique gift items, so you can support your local merchants while filling up the bottom of the tree this weekend. Also, wineries are getting into the holiday spirit, and the Cutchogue Fire Department is trying their first annual “Stuff the Sleigh 5K” Sunday morning — bring a toy and enjoy a brisk late fall run.

• Support Greenport during “The 12 Days of Christmas” — The 12 Days of Christmas shopping and dining event is a village-wide holiday experience that unites Greenport merchants while supporting ongoing campaigns to shop local. The event kicked off on Dec. 13 and runs through Christmas Eve, following the themes of each day described in the famous Christmas carol. Participating merchants will interpret each of the 12 days of Christmas according to the song, offering promotions and specials to coincide with each day. Event is sponsored by the Greenport Business Improvement District (BID) and was designed and organized by Rena Wilhelm (owner of The White Weathered Barn).

• North Fork Audubon Society hosts its annual potluck and holiday party on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Red House Nature Center at the Inlet County Park in Greenport. Roast turkey breast and baked ham will be served, so please bring a side dish that will serve 20 or so hungry folks. The society will also provide the dessert and non-alcoholic beverages but welcomes you to bring BYOB. If you want to attend but are too busy to cook, $10 donations are accepted. RSVP to info@northforkaudubon.org or call 631-477-6456 Please include your contact information and the dish you are planning to bring in your message. 

• Meet Santa Claus at the Mattituck 7-Eleven on Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and bring an unwrapped toy for the Mattituck Fire Department’s annual toy drive. Children 12 and under receive a complimentary small slurpee or small hot chocolate. Check out Patch’s Q&A with 7-Eleven owners Tony and Greg Cocheo on their one-year anniversary in business in Mattituck.

• Need a comedy break from the holiday stress? Harbes Farm in Mattituck hosts a comedy showcase on Dec. 15 starting at 2 p.m. featuring stand-up routines from three comedians. The show takes place at the farm’s wine tasting room on Hallock Lane.

• The work of Southold resident and noted printmaker John Wissemann will be on display starting Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. during an opening reception at Rothman’s Gallery on Route 25 in Southold. Wissemann has shown his work in group and solo exhibitions around the country for over 30 years and recently retired from teaching art.

• Grab your running shoes and head to Cutchogue Sunday morning for the Cutchogue Fire Department’s first-annual Stuff the Sleigh 5K Race / Walk and Toy Run. The race starts at 10 a.m. with a Zumba warm up at 9:40 a.m. hosted by JABS of Mattituck (read up on the growing local Zumba trend here). Participants are requested to bring new unwrapped toys, which will be given to Community Action Southold Town. Free 1/10th mile kids fun run starts at 9:15 a.m. Fun run entrants requested to bring two cans of food that will be donated to a local food bank. Refreshments will be provided after the race.

Enjoy the following events at local wineries this weekend:

• Holiday Opera Concert at Sparkling Pointe Winery — Raise a glass and toast to the holidays while enjoying an afternoon filled with light opera, holiday favorites and more at Sparkling Pointe in Southold on Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. The concert features the voices of Kathryn Zukowski and Dana Kowalsick, with accompaniment from Jason Cockerill and Jennifer Czartosieski-Kennedy.

• Lieb Cellars Cabernet Franc Release Party — Enjoy a complimentary taste of Lieb’s newly released 2008 Cabernet Franc on Dec. 16 starting at 2 p.m. and the recently opened Oregon Road tasting room. The event features live music, food pairing, and 25 percent off case purchases.    

• Religion on the Vine at Sherwood House Vineyards — The Jamesport tasting room offers a monthly conversational gathering opened to all seekers who desire to explore the perennial spiritual questions of life and issues of faith and religion. The conversation happeneds on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m.

What are you up to this weekend? Let us know in the comments.

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