Summer 2009 is officially here and despite all the predictions of doom and gloom the Hamptons were HUSTLING! East Hampton town was a virtual gridlock of traffic, even with the sunny weather and warm temperatures. Are they coming to town to shop or to go to the beach!?!? Whatever, local merchants were happy and the cash registers were ringing!
Frank Calvo of East Hampton Pharmacy and Bridgehampton Pharmacy told me he did “THREE times the business he did last year!” In case you haven’t been skip the big chain place and go visit Frank, you’ll get
the personal service and he stocks some of the best and most exclusive sundries (great shampoos and soaps,etc.) found anywhere in the Hamptons. I only have one complaint he doesn’t stock any “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific,” I’ve been having a miserable time finding it anywhere in the past 30 years!
In Sag Harbor, David of IN HOME said it was much busier than last year. Monday was a winner day for him he told me, this in spite of Main Street being closed for parade early Monday afternoon.
How did the restaurants do!? Killer apparently… The Lodge in East Hampton was packed all weekend… The Pear was Golden in SAG, EH and Southampton… Beacon in Sag Harbor had customers lining up non-stop… and the Palm was filled to the rafters!! So for all of the nay sayers out there… THE HAMPTONS ARE STILL THE PLACE TO BE FOR SUMMER!! It was a great weekend for all, except maybe Rudy Giuiliani who got heckled and verbally assaulted in Bridgehampton. I’m not getting into it… but if you want to read more go here: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/05/23/2009-05-23_rudy_giuliani__wife_judy_confronted_by_heckler_in_the_hamptons.html#ixzz0GRUYsoZy&A
See you tomorrow!
Being healthy in Southampton just got a little easier… and a bit more affordable. TODAY, my friends Jessica Greenfield and her husband Dominic Chiapetta (gosh I hope I spelled that correctly) have just opened up Annie’s Cafe and Grocery or as we say in the south of East Hampton, charcuterie. Located on Nugent Street in the village, Annie’s has an awesome menu, great wraps, quesadillas, omlettes, salads and more. I stopped by the other day before they even opened to sample some of the dishes and eat for free (yes, I’m cheap). It was awesome. To give you some idea of what Annie’s is like, think Provisions in Sag Harbor but with friendly people working there. They also carry a full line of healthy groceries, vitamins and fruit drinks and smoothies for a fraction of what some other health food restaurant in the village charges.
Finally, actor Richard Gere’s Water Mill home has just been reduced from $8.8 million to $7.2 million. This rather expensive blue light special is a beautiful 1890’s farmhouse that has been completely renovated. The house boasts 7 Bedrooms, 10 and a half baths, 5 fireplaces, gunite heated pool with pool house on 1.20 acres. While the house on Halsey Lane it does have distant waterviews. It also features a quaint meditation room on it’s 3rd floor with portraits of the Dahli Lama (this is similar to a meditation room I have in my house with a portrait of a deli and a lama – i know bad joke… but i really do have a cool b+w photo of 2nd Avenue deli in my meditation room). In case you didn’t know Gere and his wife former Bond babe Carey Lowell bought a home in the Actor’s Colony area of North Haven that is currently undergoing renovation.
If you’re not going to the dinner you can get caught in what I have no doubt will be another wonderful bump in the already rocky road of what is known as the parking lot of Route 27!!! The former Hampton market in Bridgehampton is now the site of the third Hamptons CITARELLA.. YEAH!!! Now traffic can be backed up straight from Watermill to Ocean Rd. Listen let’s be honest most city residents don’t drive… they use their cars two days a week .. summers only … and think it’s always a good idea to completely stop their car before making a right hand turn off of a busy highway!!! Except the people who work with me… they’re all good drivers… me too!! Look at those treats in the picture above, they’re worth the points on your license and higher insurance premium!!! They also think it’s ok to hit their brakes suddenly to see if they really is that person from their spin class at the gym. Hey, I get it.. i used to be a city driver too… but I have more experience at being a good driver… I’m originally from New Jersey!!!
FOOD: THE LODGE on Toilsome Rd. East Hampton, go on Friday nights… owner Michael Gluckman and his crew have some of the best free appetizers I’ve had in a long time!!! Much better than the free “nachos” (chips and genric cheese wiz no doubt made somewhere in Eastern Europe) they used to serve at Hoolihan’s I frequented in college! NO COMMENTS…HELLO WE WERE BROKE AND IT WAS CONSIDERED A NIGHT OUT! Buffalo chicken wings, hamburger sliders, mini pizzas and they’re good and they’re FREE!! Tell the bartender Rory, “Hamptons Chatter” sent you….. not that I think it will do anything!
FASHION: Hit TJ Maxx in Bridgehampton on Wednesday afternoons. That’s when the new shipments come in. Yes, you can find Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Hugo Boss and according to legend Prada. Kelsey Grammer and his wife Camille have been spotted there…I guess FRASIER was doing his show for free. Name me another TJ Maxx where the parking lot is full with Merceedess, BMW’s and Maserati’s? Personally, I go there to buy picture frames, $30 to $40 dollars retail… at the TJM $5.00! Amazing! Also, if you go NOW… COLE HAAN in East Hampton is now 50% off !!! It’s quality leather.. as nice as Coach and a heck of a lot cheaper with the 50% off!!!
Entertainment: Hahahahahahhahahahahhhahahahha… cheap entertianment in the Hamptons! hahahahahhahahah … ok.. let me think of something other than going to Net Flix or sneaking in the side right door of the East Hampton