East Hampton puts a colorful best food forward… taco scouting… and some Saturday Night Spring Fever!

It’s been a book store, a toy store and in my head a to-go panini cafe for Sam’s Restaurant!   But alas my dream was not to be and instead we got a colorful new woman’s apparel shop.. Signs are up and construction is under way for a new shop from Jack Rogers USA.   Now I don’t know much about them.  If it isn’t leather or a sneaker, it’s a $10 flip flop on my feet during the summer.    So I did my homework and here’s what I found out about what is billed as colorful footwear at a good price.

According to their website, American in spirit, Jack Rogers was born out of resort style but has evolved into a lifestyle collection of year round pieces.  From the Navajo’s iconic whipstitching and rondelle motif to our full collection of footwear handbags and fashions, out designs exude a confident , born with it sense of style.  They’re the pieces that take you form an afternoon bike ride to evening cocktails and the ones you never forget to pack , where ever your headed.  A pop of color, an unexpected detail, a feeling of coming home… no matter where you are that’s Jack Roger’s.”   AHHHHHHH I feel warm and fuzzy already!  Welcome to the Hamptons Jack Rogers!   I just hope I don’t step on your clients well fashioned toes this summer.  That was a literal not a figurative comment!

Meanwhile, I had a few friends over for dinner last night.  So, I headed to Peter Ambrose’s Hampton Seafood Company in East Hampton.  It wasn’t my first time there but it was an eye opener for me.  I didn’t know this but they have a great to go menu!  I was also thrilled to see they have FISH TACOS on the menu!   Not only were they great, thew were on sale for their “happy hour” menu at a reduced price from 4:30 pm to closing!!! The guys told me the tacos were a Thursday night special so get your butt over there next Thursday and try them!!    If you want you can check out their daily specials on their facebook page.  The location is right on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Race Lane in East Hampton, across from the train station (duh, Railroad Avenue).    Open from 10:30 to 6:30  631-324-9244.

Finally (do I say that every posting?)  if your looking for something to do this Saturday night, I suggest the Parish Art Museum’s Spring Fling!  I’ll be there… but you should go anyway, just ignore me!    At this point, tickets are $225 and less for members but don’t sweat it, it’s all for a good cause!  They’ll have drinks, hors d’oeuvres from Art of Eating and music form Todd Barie Music.  So support culture on the East End, come bid on the great auction items and buy your tickets right here!!!!!!

Barking News!!! It’s a doggone good time in the Hamptons!!

Today show reporter Jill Rappaport & friend
I have some “barking news” here!   Two of my favorite Hamptons organizations are getting together in what sounds like a doggone good time!  Bay Street Theatre is partnering with ARF (Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons for  the “Travels with Charley” Dog Walk on Saturday, May 4th at 8:30 am!   Today show host and dog advocate Jill Rappaport will be there as host.   The walk will start at Haven’s Beach in Sag Harbor and finish at Bay Street Theatre.   There will be a “Bagels and Bones” reception immediately after the walk.  I’ll be there because Bella and Russell love bagels!
The walk is obviously a fundraiser that will  cover 5k or a little over 3 miles with a $25 entrance fee.  There will also be a GRAND PRIZE to the person who raises the most money!  Now, just know I will website and ARF’s website.
be the one who raises the most.  YOU GOT A BONE TO PICK WITH THAT?!   If your interested in hanging with Bella, Russell, Jill Rappaport and me you can get more info from Bay Street theatre on their website.
Now it’s a good time to paws and get the latest news on Hamptons real estate as Douglas Elliman released it’s latest “Elliman Report: Hamptons Sales 1Q 2013.”   As you’ve been hearing the market has been brisk the past few months and the new market report confirms it.    2013 started at a rapid pace tail end of the year.   If you want more details you can download a copy of the report from Douglas Elliman.

Finally, some have a bone to pick with the Hamptons and the fact it’s just gotten too darn expensive out here!  Recently I had a chance to sit down with my friend author Stephen Gaines and LTV host and Southampton Press editor Dawn Watson about the state of the Hamptons economy.  Take a look and in the meantime, I’ll stop hounding you with my horrible puns!

 

The weird and wonderful world of Hamptons Real Estate!!! Part 1,324,9897… and some potentially grate I mean GREAT news for Southfork Kitchen!

It boggles my mind sometimes how people think the Hamptons market works and what the agents actually do out here.   The following tales have no particular theme, thread or commonality other than they both make me scratch my head with a big WTF?!    The first hilarious tale I have this week involves an e-mail I received earlier this week.  I think it’s kind of a perennial here on the east end and I call it….

Fast Times and Hamptons High!

Here’s what it said: 
Hey my friends and I are having trouble finding a house available for rent for the weekend of the 20th to 22nd of June and were wondering if you had any eligible houses. It would be around 40 people for two nights. You can reach me at (516) 996-xxxx!

 

Ok, 40 people for 2 nights at the end of June?  Now, I’m not exactly a rocket scientist but something tells me this is a graduation party.   Besides, does anyone really want to stay in a house for two days with 40 people.   I can barely stand when there’s more than 4 in my house and I have plenty of space.    Also there is the part about, “my friends and I are having trouble finding a house.”  REALLY!?!?!?  I’m shocked, doesn’t everyone want 40 people to rent their house for 2 days!?  What could go wrong? By the way, I really wanted to correct the grammatical errors and send it back to the sender, “are you really sure you’re ready to graduate?”

Bad Ideas… 40 people for a two day rental!


War of the Roses – Hamptons Style
A while back I was handling the sale of a property where the owners were going through …. shall I say… a bitter and nasty divorce.   To give you some idea, if they had a baby Solomon would’ve had to cut the kid in two.  There was no middle ground!   But wait, it gets better they were living in the house together until it sold!!!   Yep, it was fun.   Well, one day, we had scheduled an open house and I spoke to the husband and left the wife a message.     I assumed all was well until I arrived and found the wife’s boyfriend parading around the house naked.   As I was putting out my wrap sandwiches for the fellow brokers and prospective buyers said boyfriend informed me “I fell off my bike and scraped my butt, so I can’t wear any pants.”  Hmmmm.   What about a blanket?  Nope, that won’t do it either, the fabric would be irritating.     Can you go into a room and I’ll keep people out of that one?  Sure, that sounds liek a good idea.  Well despite my best warnings a neighbor who was “curious” didn’t listen to me and went into the room!   OMG…SCREEECH!   If only I had foresight to sell tickets!!

Therapy and Miscellaneous Sightings!  
Your broker knows more about you than you think.   Especially if you’re the type that likes to leave everything out in the open.     Some of the things I’ve come across  (I don’t particularly like this part of the job) range from the weird to the gross and the down right crazy.   Now, some were former listings of mine and some were left in the open of houses I have shown for rent and for sale.    Once agin here are some of the wackiest things, in no particular order: condoms new and used (ewwwww), humongous bongs, the book “Toxic Parents,” weird porn dvd’s,  half eaten sandwiches with 3″of mold, phallic toys, lice shampoo (ewwwwwwwwww again),  self portraits on velvet, labeled urns with an entire family on the fireplace mantel, court appearance notices and my personal favorite a geek shrine to C3P0 and R2D2 (literally A SHRINE!).    I really can’t make this stuff up.

 

Southfork Kitchen

Finally a little bit of news that’s a tad more normal.   A change of hands at the Southfork Kitchen in Bridgehampton.    A recent press release announced,  “Glad you made it through the winter of 2013, Southfork Kitchen did not.  We have passed the torch to the next chef, Todd Jacobs who will continue with local, season and sustainable cuisine.  We thank you for your patronage….”  I’m not sure if he’s the same Todd Jacobs but if he is the one I found in Google.. it sounds promising.  According to his bio of Atlantica Restaurant in Long Beach, “Todd Jacobs, chef/owner of Tierra Mar and Atlantica is a graducate of the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan.  He spent six years running the kitchen at the American Hotel which received the Di Rona Award while he was there.”   Sorry Southfork Kitchen but I found your menu, expensive odd and pretentious.   Here’s hoping for new and better things!

My head is spinning from this one… and getting your caffeine fix just got easier!!!

They say perception is often more important than reality.   I have to say in the Hamptons this is truer than you know.   I mean I work in real estate for crying out loud!   But truth be told, even the keenest eye (I’m including myself in that one) can be fooled.  Take a look at the video below.  It’s a classic example of something called the McGuirk Effect.    Really it’s cool, trust me and watch this video.  Since it’s named after a street in East Hampton village, I feel it’s totally appropriate for this blog.

Meanwhile, something appears to be brewing in Southampton.  The Hamptons Brewing Company is expanding their empire to a new location (the old Mini Cooper showroom) next to Southampton BMW.   The upside, a new location with great coffee and sinful scones.   Yes, the scones are really that good!    Now, I’ve been told that it’s going to be more of a “coffee experience” location.  Hmmmmm a coffee experience… a java journey… a jaunt with Joe!  I know I’ll stop it now!

The way my source described the new location, gave me visions of The Central Perk coming to the
Hamptons!!  Wow, I can’t wait to hang out with Rachel and Chandler!!!  The only downside.. there won’t be a full kitchen like they have in Water Mill.   I have to admit, it’s a recent discovery for me to go to the Hampton Coffee Company for lunch but I had a great experience and a fantastic breakfast burrito there.     But hey, you can’t have everything, right?!