A chicken eating a watermelon and a newborn baby. This is what the first day of summer on LI looked like.
What does a day on Long Island look like? Depends on who you ask.
That's why for our annual Day in the Life of Long Island project it takes a team of Newsday reporters, photographers and multimedia journalists spreading out across Nassau and Suffolk to capture the various sights, sounds and stories that together help paint a mosaic of what life looks like in this place we call home.
To mark the official start of summer today, we spent June 21 documenting the unique people and places that make up this Island and sharing it here and across Newsday's social media platforms.
But each year our project wouldn't be complete without the contributions from our readers, who share glimpses of their day through social media using #DayintheLifeLI.
Here's what a Day in the Life of Long Island looked like in 2022.
Reader photos
Let's dance!
Adult dancers from the NY Dancers Studio prepare for an upcoming performance.
Sunset in Freeport
Mark Livingston and Nadine Thompson, of Queens, watch the sunset along the Nautical Mile in Freeport, on the longest day of the year and the first day of summer, June 21, 2022. Credit: Linda Rosier
The Doobie Brothers return
Things are going swimmingly
Freeport resident Alyssa Hernandez, 18, relaxing in the cool water at Freeport Pool. Tuesday June 21, 2022. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Amityville resident Messing Williamson, 13, working on her working out at the LI Express team practice at Freeport Pool Tuesday June 21, 2022. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Let the music play
Toast to taco Tuesday
Welcome, Mira Rose
Rachel and Michael Vicario, of Mineola, welcome their third child, Mira Rose, 8lbs. 4oz, at 4:27 pm by Cesarean section at NYU Langone Hospital in Mineola on June 21, 2022. The family has twin 10-year-old boys at home. Credit: Linda Rosier
Message in a bottle
Kyle McCarthy of Long Beach found a message in a bottle that was sent by a woman in New Jersey six months into the COVID pandemic, in Long Beach on June 21, 2022. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez
Summer in the sand
Sydney Karl-Otto (L), Abigail Jarrett (2nd from L), Charlen Casey (3rd from L), Danay Niles (4th from L), Bryan Charlemagne(5th from L), and Rhodney Andre (R) relax on the sand in Long Beach Tuesday during the first day of summer. Credit: Johnny Milano/Johnny Milano
Park place
Malaya Del Guzman, 5, of Rockville Centre, kicks a soccer ball around Sea Breeze Park in Freeport, on the longest day of the year and the first day of summer, June 21, 2022. Credit: Linda Rosier
Caiden Mueller, 17 months, and dad Eric Mueller, 33, of Freeport, play together on the first official day of summer at Cow Meadow Park in Freeport, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Myheir Smith, 7, of East Rockaway, learns how to double-knot his shoes, with help from dad Trilain Smith, as the pair spend the together Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the playground at Bay Park in East Rockaway. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Jacob Hernandez, 11, months, with mom Karina Duran, of East Rockaway, on the swings at Bay Park in East Rockaway, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Jacob Hernandez, 11, months, with mom Karina Duran, of East Rockaway, on a stroll at Bay Park in East Rockaway, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Cousins Horace Michael, 8, center, and Noah Bryan, 4, left, of North Woodmere, play together at Bay Park in East Rockaway, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, the first official day of summer. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Enjoy the ride
Emily Keulet, of Nesconset, left, Michael Gaskin, of Huntington, center, and Muhammad Imran, of Lindenhurst, enjoy a ride at the South Shore Mall Carnival in Bay Shore, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
People enjoy amusement park rides at Adventureland on June 21, 2022, in Farmingdale. Credit: Brittainy Newman
Kids ride amusement park rides at Adventureland on June 21, 2022, in Farmingdale, New York. Credit: Brittainy Newman
Kids ride amusement park rides at Adventureland on June 21, 2022, in Farmingdale, New York. Credit: Brittainy Newman
Kids ride amusement park rides at Adventureland on June 21, 2022, in Farmingdale, New York. Credit: Brittainy Newman
Different bikes, just as much fun
Amy Fligstein, of Northport, teaches her 6-year-old son George how to ride his bicycle in Northport Park, while her 9-year-old daughter Bella and dog Sheltie join in. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Zach Torres, 7, of Brentwood, rides his electric motorcycle inside Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Steve Pfost
Summer swish
Ethan Calliste, 9, of Wyandanch, shoots hoops inside the basketball court at Kevin Van Pault Memorial Park in Wheatley Heights, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Ethan Calliste, 9, of Wyandanch, shoots hoops inside the basketball court at Kevin Van Pault Memorial Park in Wheatley Heights, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Bobby Smith (r) and Shalique Roberts, both Roosevelt residents, shoot hoops on the basketball court at Centennial Park, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: Jeff Bachner
Freeport residents James Reeder and Dumaine Jones, no shirt, leaving it all out on the basketball court at Liberty Park in Freeport on Tuesday June 21, 2022. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
A Day in the Life Tuesday June 21, 2022. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
An 'ink'ling of goodwill
A mallard duckling is held by Jesie Bray of Selden after rescuing it Tuesday morning along the Southern State Parkway in Malverne. She brought it to John Di Leonardo of Humane Long Island. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Jean Di Leonardo, left, asks to take a picture of a bird tattoo she likes on the leg of Jesie Bray of Selden, June 21, 2022 in Malverne, NY. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Humane Long Island's John Di Leonardo of Riverhead is helping 16 factory-farmed chickens who were rescued after falling off of a truck in NYC last week. At Humane Long Island, these Red Rangers who otherwise would’ve been destined for slaughter are foraging for the first time. Di Leonardo said, "Following rehabilitation, they will be transported to a vegan animal sanctuary, where they will be loved and never eaten.” Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
What's SUP?
Deanna Arecco of Hicksville, center, teaching a SUP yoga class, Salty Soul Yoga, to Emma Brendel, 18, of Huntington, front center, and Back row L-r, Nikole Holowat, 21, of Mineola, Rebecca Keller, 18, of Oyster Bay, and Karina Paone, 20, of Oyster Bay, at The Waterfront Center 1 W End Avenue, June 21, 2022 in Oyster Bay, NY. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Deanna Arecco of Hicksville, far right, teaching a SUP yoga class, Salty Soul Yoga, to Emma Brendel, 18, of Huntington, front center, and Back row L-r, Nikole Holowat, 21, of Mineola, Rebecca Keller, 18, of Oyster Bay, and Karina Paone, 20, of Oyster Bay, at The Waterfront Center 1 W End Avenue, June 21, 2022 in Oyster Bay, NY. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Helping a seagull in need
Restoring an F-14
Volunteers who worked on the F-14 Tomcat, open a compartment Tuesday on the F-14 that was recently moved to the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale and is in the process of restoration in an adjacent hanger. Credit: Craig Ruttle
Volunteer Bob Hoeffner, a 20-year employee of Grumman who worked on the F-14 Tomcat, stands on the cockpit ladder near an F-14 that was recently moved to the Cradle of Aviation Museum and is in the process of restoration Tuesday in Uniondale. The plane is the 711th of the 712 F-14s built by Grumman on Long Island in the 1980s and 1990s. Credit: Craig Ruttle
All aboard the LIRR
Commuters wait for the train at the Massapequa Park LIRR station Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Folks boarding a train at the Massapequa Park LIRR station Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Folks waiting for the train at the Massapequa Park LIRR station Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Sun bathing and fly fishing out east
The first dog day of summer
North Shore Animal League America kennel manager Michael Spiotta, supervises dogs cooling off in a pool during a “puppy playdate,” on Tuesday in Port Washington. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Walking the boardwalk
A necessary part of most days
The early morning hours on the Southern State Parkway showing west bound in foreground and east bound in the background on Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Morning traffic looking north on Glen Cove Road in Garden City Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
A cyclist negotiates his way through the morning traffic on Old Country Road in Garden City Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Checking in on our feathered friends
An announcement from LI's Idol star
Farm life
Cows grazing in the fields at Treiber Farms in Orient, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Anjali Gordon, left, Abby Kantt, Baladine Pierce, all from Orient and Peter Treiber Jr. harvest straw flowers at Treiber Farms in Peconic, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Eric Sepenoski, his wife Brenna and 12 day old son Oliver move irrigation pipe on their farm Sep's Farm in East Marion, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Work, work, work
Two workers, one on a cherry picker and the other inside a new building, work in Westbury Tuesday just off the Meadowbrook Parkway. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
A local clammer heads out to sea in the early morning light after passing under the Bayville Bridge into Oyster Bay. Credit: Newsday/David Trotman-Wilkins
Checking the tide gauge on the side of the bridge, Mike Congero, has been the Bayville Bridge Operator for the past 6 years while working with the Nassau County Department of Public Works. At 62 years old Mike thinks this is the perfect job for a man of his stature, leave the heavy stuff to the young guys full of energy. Besides this job has a million dollar view, look at that beautiful scenery, sunshine, birds chirping, looking out over Oyster Bay. Plus Mike gets joggers, walkers and bikers that come by and say hello. Credit: Newsday/David Trotman-Wilkins
A jogger takes in her dawn run as she crosses the Bayville draw bridge on W Shore Road into Bayville. Credit: Newsday/David Trotman-Wilkins
A walk in the park
A squirrel enjoys leftover corn at Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon on Tuesday. Credit: James Carbone
Brendon Phillip, of West Babylon, goes for a stroll with his dog “Buddy” at Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon on Tuesday. Credit: James Carbone
Why did the turtle cross the road?
A turtle crosses the road in East Marion, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow on Tuesday morning. Credit: Chris Ware
Working (and working out) at the beach
A machine cleans the sand at Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett Tuesday. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Workers unload large boulders Tuesday morning as they continue working on the Montauk Point Lighthouse Revetment and Stabilization Project. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
A woman runs on the beach at Ditch Plain Beach in Montauk Tuesday morning. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
A bayman's day starts early
South Oyster Bay Tuesday at sunrise. Credit: Chris Ware
The sunrise on the Southold Bay in Southold with a view of Shelter Island as a backdrop, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Oyster farmers Ben Gonzalez and David Daly of Southold Bay Oysters drop an oyster cage in Southold Bay in Southold, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Baymen net fishing on Southold Bay in Southold, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Oyster farmers Ben Gonzalez and David Daly of Southold Bay Oysters start their day by dropping oyster cages in the Peconic Bay in Southold, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
Baymen net fishing on Southold Bay in Southold, Tuesday. Credit: Randee Daddona
It's tee time
Paul Singh, Westbury, gets ready for a round of golf at Eisenhower Park on Tuesday in East Meadow. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Golfers get ready for a round of golf at Eisenhower Park on Tuesday in East Meadow. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Good morning from the beach
Jones Beach in Wantagh at sunrise Tuesday. Credit: Chris Ware
A man photographs the sunrise at Robert Moses State Park in West Islip Tuesday. Credit: James Carbone
Family members from the Hoffer family in Islip, do yoga at Robert Moses on Field 5 at Robert Moses State Park in West Islip on Tuesday. Credit: James Carbone
Today's sunrise at the Montauk Lighthouse in Montauk. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
The bagels are ready
Simon Reyes makes bagels at the Bagel Boss on Tuesday, in Hicksville. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Simon Reyes makes bagels at the Bagel Boss in Hicksville. Credit: Howard Schnapp
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Newsday Live Music Series: Long Island Idols Newsday Live presents a special evening of music and conversation with local singers who grabbed the national spotlight on shows like "The Voice," "America's Got Talent,""The X-Factor" and "American Idol." Newsday Senior Lifestyle Host Elisa DiStefano leads a discussion and audience Q&A as the singers discuss their TV experiences, careers and perform original songs.
Newsday Live Music Series: Long Island Idols Newsday Live presents a special evening of music and conversation with local singers who grabbed the national spotlight on shows like "The Voice," "America's Got Talent,""The X-Factor" and "American Idol." Newsday Senior Lifestyle Host Elisa DiStefano leads a discussion and audience Q&A as the singers discuss their TV experiences, careers and perform original songs.
