Cue the popcorn and the puffy coats — Hamptons Doc Fest is back for its 18th year, stretching out to a full eight-day binge of real-life storytelling from December 4–11. Sag Harbor Cinema and Bay Street Theater once again take the spotlight, but this season there’s a glamorous new satellite in the mix: the Southampton Playhouse. Founder and executive director Jacqui Lofaro promises an “electric” lineup of 33 films that celebrate creators who “edit, not censor” — a refreshing sentiment in a world where facts sometimes feel like they’ve been run through a blender. The festival opens with Steal This Story, Please!, a deep dive into truth-telling journalist Amy Goodman (and what happens when the press decides to play nice instead of fight back), followed by cocktails — because this is the Hamptons, after all.
The week wraps with a wild side, literally, as Lost Wolves of Yellowstone closes out the festival in IMAX at the Southampton Playhouse, spotlighting the woman who helped bring wolves back to the park. Along the way there’s plenty more drama: filmmaker Alan Berliner receives the coveted Pennebaker Career Achievement Award before screening his new film BENITA, and budding auteurs get their moment during the Young Voices Education Program workshop at LTV Studios. Even local teens get a shot at stardom with the Hometown Heroes student film contest — and yes, there’s prize money, so somebody might earn more than a summer scooping ice cream. Want in? Grab passes and tickets at HamptonsDocFest.com before someone else steals your seat.
Meanwhile, changes galore in the Hamptons… Click below to see the video.
Long Island Restaurant Week: The Hamptons Edition — From Westhampton to Montauk
It’s that magical time again — Long Island Restaurant Week is here.
That means three-course prix-fixe menus, delicious fall flavors, and an excuse to ditch your kitchen and make a dinner reservation stat.
While the Island is packed with great spots, we’re focusing on what really matters: the Hamptons lineup — Westhampton to Montauk. Here’s your insider’s guide to where to eat, what to order, and how to look like you planned this weeks in advance.
Modern coastal elegance with a side of Main Street people-watching. Ivy is offering a Restaurant Week prix-fixe menu, featuring seasonal seafood and locally sourced fall favorites.
Chatter Tip: Weeknight reservations are easier to snag — and quieter if you prefer conversation over chaos.
Bridgehampton Inn Restaurant — cozy, candlelit, and very “Nancy Meyers kitchen”.
Elegant and cozy, the Bridgehampton Inn is that sweet spot between “country-chic” and “fine dining.” Think seasonal ingredients, artfully plated, and a candlelit setting straight out of a Nancy Meyers film.
Chatter Tip: This is your go-to for a low-key QUIET dinner — It’s THE place if you actually want to dine and have a conversation. They also feature some amazing.drink specials… try something new! Here are the details for Restaurant week!
Greek-inspired, fresh, and light — Elaia brings the Aegean to Bridgehampton with local fish, olive oil-forward dishes, and perfectly crisp wine pairings.
Chatter Tip: This is the place to take your friends who “just got back from Mykonos” and won’t stop talking about it. A fun and upbeat dining experience where you don’t have to wait till midnight to eat. Here is the Restaurant Week menu.
Nick & Toni’s — the Hamptons classic that still nails it.
The Hamptons legend. It’s been the spot for decades — and still nails it with wood-fired everything, elegant simplicity, and that see-and-be-seen glow.
Chatter Tip: Weeknight dinner at the bar is the move. You’ll catch locals, low drama, and maybe a celeb quietly enjoying their branzino. But please don’t ask me for an autograph! Here is the Restaurant week menu.
Fresno — tucked away, relaxed, and seriously good.
Tucked just off the village, Fresno delivers modern American comfort with style — great wines, creative plating, and an intimate, under-the-radar setting.
The Palm in East Hampton — old-school glamour with serious surf-and-turf.
Old-school glamour meets surf-and-turf indulgence. The Palm is offering a hearty Restaurant Week prix-fixe — and yes, steak lovers, this one’s for you.
LDV at The Maidstone — Italian-leaning, chic, and very East Hampton.
Italian-leaning, chic, and wrapped in East Hampton charm. The LDV team brings downtown Manhattan polish to a country-house setting — with seasonal pastas and cocktails worth the trip alone.
There’s a trend taking hold in real estate right now: more buyers are choosing newly built homes. And it’s not just about getting the latest technology or modern floorplans. It’s because they may be able to get a better deal.
Builders are offering serious incentives today, and people are jumping on them.In fact,new home sales just hit their highest level in over two years (see graph below):
Why Builders Are Throwing in Perks
There are more newly built homes for sale right now than there have been in years. And as a buyer, that can help you in two big ways. It gives you more options to choose from on the market, and it motivates builders to sell their inventory before they build more.
That’s exactly why more buyers are scoring incentives like these:
Mortgage rate buydowns to shrink your monthly payment
Price cuts that make homeownership more attainable
Help with closing costs and even upgrades in some communities
The best part is, a lot of builders are offering these perks right now.According to Zonda, nearly 6 out of 10 new home communities are doing incentives on to-be-built homes. And over 75% are doing the same for quick move-ins, which are homes that are already built and ready to move into. As real estate analyst Nick Gerli explains:
“. . . builders are adjusting to the realities of the current housing market. They’ve cut prices 13 percent from peak, and are giving generous mortgage rate buydowns on top of that.”
The big takeaway is: builders are motivated to sell. So, you could snag a lower price and maybe even a lower mortgage rate if you buy new. If you’ve been feeling priced out, these offers might be your way back in.
You Have More Brand-New Options Than Normal
Since there are more new homes on the market than usual, that gives you more options than you’ve had in years. Whether you’re looking for something turnkey or want to personalize a build, odds are there’s more available near you than you may realize.
Even though the number of new homes for sale is up throughout the country, there are pockets where you have an even better chance to find a better price. According to Censusdata, here’s a high-level look at which parts of the country are seeing the biggest boost in newly built homes (see graph below):
Both the South and West have more new homes available, so you may find builders are even more willing to negotiate in these regions.
Just know that this opportunity won’t last forever. Recent data shows builders are slowing down their production efforts. And a lot of that is to avoid having too many homes for sale. As Robert Dietz, Chief Economist at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), explains:
“The slowdown in single-family home building has narrowed the home building pipeline. There are currently 621,000 single-family homes under construction, down 1% in July and 3.7% lower than a year ago. This is the lowest level since early 2021 as builders pull back on supply.”
Moving forward, the number of new options may start to shrink as builders focus more on selling what’s already built before they add more. So, the best time in years to buy a new home may actually be right now.
Bottom Line
With builders cutting prices and maybe even helping you score a lower monthly payment, that’s not something to overlook.
If you want to see how active builders are in your target area and what they’re offering, here’s your power move: before you even begin looking, let’s connect.
That way, you have your own agent to help you compare incentives from multiple builders and negotiate on your behalf, making sure you getthe best deal possible.
The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice.
