Two decades of tradition bring this former Long Islander to Northport every Christmas

The following piece was submitted by former South Huntington resident Jim Mahon, Jr. The Northport Journal would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers the happiest of holidays filled with joy-filled and memory-making traditions. 

In the spring of 1991, I left my childhood home in South Huntington for a job out west. In 2000, my mother called me to announce that she and my father were moving. Florida, I thought. No, Northport Village. 

Up to then my remembrance of Northport Village was the 99 cent movie theater (not an unimportant institution for a local teenager on a budget). Now, with over 20 years of visiting my parents in their home with a view of the harbor, Northport Village is like a second home, and I’m always looking forward to my next stay. 

Christmastime, however, stands out. 

Christmas visits, and the traditions my family has built around them, are anticipated months in advance. For us, Christmas in Northport Village simply surpasses. No matter where the past 20 years have taken me, spending Christmas in Northport Village with my parents is non-negotiable. 

For my two children, the excitement begins with my parents buying tickets for the Christmas Eve matinee at the Engeman Theater. For me, it begins with knowing I’ll soon be walking the streets of the village, armed with my 40-year-old Nikon, looking to capture the season and the essence of this idyllic Christmas setting. 

Plays at the Engeman always have the same effect. I marvel at the talent. I delight at my kids’ faces and their reactions. And I become a little emotional, as I look at my parents and think of Christmases past. And yes, I think of the Engeman’s past life as the 99 cent movie theater, and weekend evenings spent in the balcony with high school friends; I say a little prayer and hope they are doing well. 

After the show and the rounds of glorious applause, we’ll say “hi” to some cast members and thank them for their hard work. Then it's off to mass, just up the street (in Northport Village, we walk everywhere and back). Christmas Eve mass presents a perfect and peaceful opportunity for a late-middle-aged man such as I to think about his life, his family, his world, and thank God for all. 

One Christmas Eve I was surprised to find one of the child actors from “Christmas Story” in front of the church waiting to enter; we had just seen him on stage moments before. I instinctively offered to shake his hand, wanting to congratulate him on his achievement. I must have stunned him a bit, as he wasn’t sure what to do, until his mom shoved him forward and said, “Shake the man’s hand!”

Soon enough, we file out of church and into the evening chill, and we bundle back up for our walk toward the harbor. Now with the sun fully set, we see Northport Village lit up in all its Christmas glory. If you’re not in the spirit by now, perhaps only a sighting of old St. Nick himself flying overhead might do the trick.

Next, where to eat? In Northport Village, this decision is becoming wonderfully more and more difficult. For the most part, I’ll let my family decide, just as long as their choice has my favorite local Northport Village-brewed IPA on tap.

Once we’re all filled up and we’ve debated the dessert menu, we’ll take a stroll toward the park and gazebo. We’ll do our annual selfie in front of the tree and walk out onto the dock. We might sit on the benches at the dock’s end for a few minutes to listen to the water and look at the lights.

I’ve noticed sometimes we remain as silent there as we just had while sitting in church.

Now it’s a brisk walk back to my parent’s house for our final Christmas Eve tradition, “It’s a Wonderful Life” (after 20-plus viewings, I still wince when Uncle Billy “loses” the $8,000). I find Bailey's Irish Cream goes great with George Bailey’s angel-guided (2nd class) journey toward enlightenment.

Then it’s off to bed – although my wife and I will deviate from our annual tradition just slightly this year. We’ll spend Christmas night at Northport Village’s beautiful new hotel.

Thanks Mom and Dad! And thanks for not moving to Florida.