Early outings reshape Long Island's social and nightlife scene

Let’s call it a night — sooner, not later.

That’s the way it goes for a growing segment of Long Islanders in their 20s, 30s and early 40s seeking social activities that get them out and back home early — often by 10 p.m.

Ask Julia Johnson, 31, a tax manager who lives in Patchogue. She’s among the expanding flock of social early birds. "I used to go out and stay out late," Johnson says.

"But over the last couple of years — honestly, since COVID — I’ve definitely come to enjoy going out earlier and then being in bed by 11 p.m.," she adds. "That’s a good night for me."

And for good reasons. The early shift allows for engagement — including game nights, concerts, movie screenings and recreational sports — and fits well with busy schedules, fitness goals, parenting duties and the desire to unwind and socialize.

Johnson is active in a book club that meets monthly at 6 p.m. at The Better Man Distilling Co. in Patchogue as well as at weekly events at other area establishments. "Usually there's at least one bar that has trivia or bingo or other games," Johnson says.

Early to bed and early to rise

The early-out, early-in trend aligns with personal and professional priorities and is a matter of established habits. Many people have got used to staying in, enjoying slower evenings and protecting personal time during the pandemic. Now, the preference for earlier outings has persisted.

Venues across Long Island serve this demand. The Main Event sports bar and restaurant in Farmingdale hosts a popular 7 p.m. trivia night on Tuesdays. The event attracts teams who gather for food, drinks and friendly competition.

"People have work in the morning during the week. But even on the weekends, I just feel like people don’t like to be out too late anymore," says manager Steve Ringle, 38. "We definitely get an earlier crowd. The nights are ending earlier for us."

Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, which holds weekly 5 p.m. musical events, and Rust & Gold in Huntington, which presents trivia and bingo, are two more early-shift options.

Recreational sports leagues offer a way to socialize without compromising early-morning routines. LI-Kick offers 11 weekly sports events — kickball, cornhole, bowling and ultimate Frisbee among them — that take scheduling into account.

"Seven o’clock is our sweet spot," says Sal Farruggia, 39, who launched LI-Kick in 2013. "That gives people time to play their game, and, afterward, to hang out and socialize."

He adds, "I think people in my age group are ceding the late-night territory in favor of activities at a more reasonable hour that don’t put you out of commission for the next day."

Seeking experiences 

For Abby Gruppuso, 30, co-owner and chief of operations at The Better Man Distilling Co., the early out, early in trend checks off desirable boxes both personally and professionally.

"People my age are looking more for experiences, and not so much just getting drunk," she says. "That’s kind of the crowd that the distillery was geared around in the first place. We close at 10 o’clock."

The distillery offers a variety of events and entertainment for guests wanting to stop by to unwind, grab a cocktail and have fun. 

"We have educational experiences. You can come in and do a tour, and we have things like the book club and outdoor movie nights," Gruppuso says." 

For Joe Quartuccio, 39, vice president of Sound Room Solutions, an acoustical specialty business, who lives in Roslyn, an early night fits with personal and professional demands.

In addition to being on an LI-Kick kickball team, he occasionally heads to game nights at area breweries. "They normally start at 7 o’clock," he says. "You probably get home anywhere between 10 and 11 o'clock."

Ultimately, the trend is a reminder that you don’t need to stay out all night to have a good time. "For me," Quartuccio adds, "it’s a lot better because I have two kids and a demanding job. I can’t be out all hours of the morning."