Living in Stony Brook
The University is located in one of the East Coast’s most desirable spots—the North Shore of Long Island, about 60 miles east of New York City (midway between Montauk and Manhattan). The tranquil waters of Long Island Sound are just minutes away to the north, and the white sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean beckon southward.

North of the University, within easy bicycling distance, lies the historic village of Stony Brook. Its quaint shopping area was created by Ward Melville, heir to the Thom McAn shoe fortune. (Ward and his wife, Dorothy, donated the land where the campus now stands.) One of the best ways to experience Stony Brook village is to pick up an ice cream cone from the Brook House luncheonette, sit on the village green, and enjoy an unobstructed view of the sunset or the fishermen trying their luck at the dock. Across the street is the landmark Three Village Inn, dating back to pre-Revolutionary days. The Stony Brook Grist Mill, built in 1751, is a working mill open to the public for tours. Local cafes and bookstores make the Stony Brook Village area a great place to spend the day.

Cultural Diversity
Culture abounds on Long Island. Although Manhattan is only a train ride away, theatre lovers need travel no further than the Staller Center for the Arts. Located on the Stony Brook campus, the Staller Center presents hundreds of plays, concerts, and special events each year. It houses the 1,100-seat Main Stage Theatre and a 4,700-square-foot art gallery. Staller’s summer film festival is recognized as a “mini-Sundance.” For those who enjoy cultural events, the Charles B. Wang Center, Celebrating Asian and American Cultures, is a comprehensive conference facility and showcase for the arts, featuring exhibit spaces, interior and exterior pools, gardens, and a chapel. In Stony Brook village, the Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages is a must-see for art and history lovers. The complex houses one of the world’s largest collections of horse-drawn carriages and the paintings of William Sidney Mount, a Stony Brook native who became the nation’s first famous “genre” painter.

Just a 30-minute drive west, the village of Huntington offers the Cinema Arts Center, where one can view the latest “indie” films. In recent years Long Island has developed a reputation for its blues music scene, but a growing number of coffeehouses present other types of music as well; folk, bluegrass, and jazz are just a few of the styles you’ll find.

For sports and fitness enthusiasts, the University has a 5,000-seat indoor Sports Complex complete with running track and a pool. The outdoor 8,500-seat stadium holds major sporting events and concerts. The Paul Simons Memorial Bicycle Path—six miles of well-lit, paved trails that encompass the campus—is used year-round by cyclists, skaters, and runners. The Student Activities Center houses the Eugene Weidman Wellness Center, which offers fitness classes in everything from aerobics to yoga, and state-of-the-art exercise equipment. If professional sports are your thing, Long Island has its own ice hockey team, the New York Islanders, and minor-league baseball team, The Long Island Ducks. The excitement of Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, and Shea Stadium (home of the New York Mets) is only 60 miles away.

Long Island is heaven for “foodies.” Just about every cuisine you might think of can be sampled here, from seafood shacks to the latest in nouveau cuisine. The region’s growing reputation as a producer of excellent wines makes for a pleasant day’s tour of Long Island wineries.

For those who like to “shop till they drop,” Long Island does not disappoint. It’s home to Roosevelt Field, the nationally known shopping mall, and the Smithhaven Mall, which is just minutes from campus. Long Island offers every type of store, from the nation’s first supermarket (King Kullen) to retail outlets, including the popular Tanger Outlet in Riverhead, featuring more than 200 stores.

Family Life
Stony Brook is a great place for families. The University strives to provide students with everything they need to create a home away from home, from the Barnes & Noble bookstore, full-service deli, and health care facilities to the craft sales, seasonal farmer’s markets, and DVD loans at the library. One- and two- bedroom apartments for couples and families, and three- and four-bedroom apartment shares for single graduate students are available on campus at the University Apartments. The Off-Campus Housing Service office will also assist students in finding suitable arrangements close to campus. For families with young children, the Stony Brook Child Care Center offers day care for children ages six weeks to five years old.

Nature’s Bounty
Long Island is rich in wild landscapes. The campus is close to the Fire Island National Seashore. To the east lies the unique ecosystem of the pine barrens, where The Nature Conservancy maintains a number of hiking trails and nature preserves. The area’s miles of seacoast make it paradise for boaters, anglers, and windsurfers. In fact, the campus is surrounded by Long Island maritime heritage. Port Jefferson, Setauket, and Stony Brook were once bustling shipbuilding centers; today the ferry that links Port Jefferson to Bridgeport, Connecticut, makes the area a convenient jumping-off point for trips to New England.

Life at Stony Brook has something for everyone, no matter where you’re from or what your goals may be. The diversity of the people who live, study, and work here helps our community thrive. There is the tranquil pace of the surrounding village, which has managed to preserve an old-fashioned, small-town atmosphere. At the same time, there are the cutting-edge resources and the abundant international culture of the University itself.

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