Presidents Day offers the opportunity to revel in Long Island's own head of state, Theodore Roosevelt. Born in Manhattan, Roosevelt had his Oyster Bay estate, Sagamore Hill, built in 1885 while he was living as a cattle rancher and adventurer in the Dakota Territory. Returning to New York in 1886, he subsequently became commissioner of the New York City Police Department, assistant secretary of the Navy, hero of the Spanish-American War, governor of New York, vice president and then, at age 42, the youngest president of the United States.
During his presidency (1901 to 1909), Sagamore Hill functioned as his "summer White House," and it was here that T.R. died in 1919. Now a National Historic Site, the estate is a great place to learn about Roosevelt's careers as politician, hunter, naturalist and author.
During the winter, Sagamore Hill is open Wednesday through Sunday. The house can be viewed by guided tour on these days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sagamore Hill, 12 Sagamore Hill Rd., Oyster Bay, 516-922-4788; nps.gov/sahi.
Before your visit, grab a bite in downtown Oyster Bay, where images of Roosevelt's bespectacled visage are ubiquitous. Clustered around the center of town are:
Bonanza, 25 Shore Ave., 516-922- 7796. In the warm weather, Bonanza is a must-visit establishment for homemade Italian ices. But it also serves hot dogs, chili and chili-covered hot dogs.
Cafe al Dente, 2 Spring St., 516-922- 2442. This modest red-sauce Italian restaurant also serves pan pizzas, burgers, heros and sandwiches.
Canterbury Ales Oyster Bar & Grill, 46 Audrey Ave., 516-922-3614. This handsome Oyster Bay fish house and pub is a popular local gathering spot with a comfortable atmosphere and a wide-ranging American-eclectic menu.
Fiddleheads, 62 South St., Oyster Bay, 516-922-2999. An ambitious fish house that blends the traditional (a perfectly classic clam chowder) with New American and Mediterranean flourishes.
Gooseberry Grove, 12 E. Main St., 516-628-0385. This sweet shop makes its own ice cream and candy and also serves Hale and Hearty soups.
Il Piatto, 107 South St., 516-922-9293. Italian with a carnivorous slant, the "il piatto" signature dish (for $36 a person) consists of chicken scarpariello, porterhouse steak, pork chop, lamb chops, sausages - and potatoes.
Taby's, 28 Audrey Ave., 516-624-7781. This friendly restaurant specializes in burgers, but the large menu covers pretty much all the diner bases.
Wild Honey, 1 E. Main St., 516-922- 4690. Housed in the building where Roosevelt had his summer executive office, Wild Honey blends American, Asian and Italian influences.
Heading north out of town,
Oyster Bay Fish & Clam Bar (103 Pine Hollow Rd., 516-922-5522) serves traditional seafood and burgers, and, according to its recorded message, promises to reopen for the season in March.
