The E List: Where to Enjoy Arts & Culture on Long Island
by ELLIMAN INSIDER TEAM
June 2025
A version of this article was originally published in the Spring 2025 edition of Elliman Magazine.
While New York City, one of the world’s cultural centers, is at the western end of Long Island, a rich bounty of arts and culture is yours to enjoy without having to board a train.
MUSEUMS, ANYONE?
There are a number of world-class museums on Long Island. And most are housed in spectacular mansions with stroll-worthy grounds. One of our favorites, The Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, which has been dubbed “secluded but worldly” by Forbes, is beloved by locals and a perfect place to enjoy an exhibit and savor a bite in the terrace café if the weather is nice. Its collection is composed of more than 2,300 works from the 16th to the 21st century.
The Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor is home to a host of cultural events, a lovely collection, regular exhibits and artists’ talks, and one of the finest sculpture gardens on Long Island. A membership is de rigueur, especially if you want to dabble in an art class.
STELLAR STAGES
Islanders also know that proximity to NYC means they can enjoy Broadway-level entertainment close to home. Tilles Center in Brookville hosts some of the best performers around (think Wynton Marsalis and Yo-Yo Ma), features chamber music from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and regularly stages Broadway shows, including Come from Away this spring.
The John W. Engeman Theater in Northport was Northport’s first movie house, opened in 1912. Today its mission is to bring both classic and new works to its stage. Season-ticket holders enjoy five shows each season. Upcoming shows include Waitress, South Pacific, and Footloose.
If you’re on the South Shore, you are no doubt familiar with the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport. It’s celebrating its 75th season with a slate of Broadway-caliber shows.
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