Me, SJP and 13 nice things about the Hamptons!!

Last night I was at the NY Sheraton for the annual Empire State Pride Agenda, fall dinner. It was actually a really great event for a great cause. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was there as was Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor David Patterson. The event was hosted by Andy Cohen of Bravo and Sarah Jessica Parker. Now, I’ve known Andy for years and he introduced me to Ms. Parker or as he calls her SJP. I have to say, she was more attractive in person than in any of her movies or on the TV show. She was also absolutely charming. So now, if you read this blog you know I wasn’t crazy about “Sex and the City 2” the movie. Well, I take it back. I’m going to only say nice things about the Movie and SJP! She’s my new BFF.

So that had me thinking. Now that I’ve turned over a new leaf of saying only nice things about S&TC2, maybe I should say nice things about some other places and people I’ve often slighted. So, since today is Friday the 13Th I’m going to add some positive energy to the day and say 13 nice things. Here it goes….

#1 Bay Burger in Sag Harbor … nice thing… they have a very smooth parking lot!

OK, how did I do? I’ll keep going….

#2 The smell of the East Hampton Gym and the stale smelling towels keep me alert when working out!

#3 Bagel Buoy in Sag Harbor… the bagels are very round!

#4 Joan Jedell’s Hamptons hot sheet is great for starting bonfires!

#5 The traffic on 27 isn’t really that bad on Sunday mornings in January!

#6 The Golden Pear’s $10 gazpacho makes me spend $10 less on wine!

#7 That agent that looks like Ms. Piggy is much better looking than their boyfriend!

Gosh this is hard… I’m thinking… I’m thinking… hummmmmm….

#8 The produce in Walbaum’s isn’t as rancid as it looks!

#9 Riverhead is a great place if you like fast food!

#10 Murphs in Sag Harbor has a floor that’s very difficult to slip on!

#11 I don’t have to ever worry about sleeping too late, now that I have my Beagle Russell!

#12 ATT’s lousy reception keeps me from spending too much time talking to long winded real estate agents!

and…. drum roll….. #13 the orange parking ticket on my window looks so great with all of the Fall colors!!!

Whoa! Oh before I forget. I have to post this video. If you haven’t seen it yet you should. What do you think happens to a McDonalds Happy Meal after 6 months. Take a look. Bay Burger may not seem so bad now!

More Hamptons business obituaries and Water Mill’s new sweet spot!

So, if you read the blog recently you know that Citarella Water Mill is gone, Saks Fifth Avenue in Southampton is gone and one of my favorites Tutto Italiano shuttered up last week with no notice leaving some residents and a dozen employees miffed and angry. Read more here: http://bit.ly/9JacMv Well now you can add Ziggy’s in Bridgehampton to the list. The restaurant which catered to families and served a pretty good burger (hello maybe they could sell the recipe to Bay Burger) is becoming something called “M&E CONTEMPORARY TAPAS”. I don’t know who is running this or doing it but let me just say, does the Hamptons really need a SECOND tapas place?! I like Copa on School St. in Bridgehampton. In fact, I ate there last night and the flat bread pizza with chicken was over the top great! I have no idea who is opening the new place M&E but once I get the dope, I’ll write asap! I don’t have anything against tapas but there are a million other cuisines out there that we could use out east. My biggest beef is a decent Mexican!

Meanwhile, NY TIMES blogger Bruce Buchel has finally opened his long awaited Southfork Kitchen on the Bridge-Sag Turnpike in Bridgehampton. According to the blogger, the first night went off without a hitch or any major catastrophes. http://nyti.ms/au74FJ Meanwhile, I heard via a friend of a friend that the food was worth the wait. No comments about the service though. Really… they didn’t mention the service. It could have been great! Who knows!?

Finally, something we do need in the Hamptons… CUPCAKES! Enough about Magnolia, Cupcake Cafe and Crumbs we now have THE WATERMILL CUPCAKE COMPANY. Run by two cousins from the city Ruth Balletta and her cousin Cindy have brought a welcome confection to the East End! Located at the Blockbuster/former Citarella/Muse shopping center in Water Mill the girls have baked up some great stuff. My personal favorite was the “red velvet” which are the real McCoy with dark coco and not just food coloring. The cakes were fresh and buttery and the brokers at my recent open house where I dispensed these cakes, gave them an A+! The Water Mill Cupcake Company is opened at 10 am til 5pm. The coffee was pretty awesome too. Great job ladies! 631-726-044 is the number!

 

Resting for tomorrow’s big ARF walk!

Boo, Russell and Bailey are resting for tomorrow’s big event! ARF – ANIMAL RESCUE FUND OF THE HAMPTONS’ 17TH ANNUAL STROLL TO THE SEA! Pedigrees and mutts alike will be taking a the two mile walk to the ocean starting from Mulford Farm in East Hampton all to benefit the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. There will also be free microchipping, contests and treats. New this year, a silent auction featuring great gifts for people and pets. Prizes awarded to top fundraisers! Register now online at arfhamptons.org or day of event starting at 9 a.m., walk starts at 10 a.m.

Meanwhile if anyone can put me in touch with a good dog whisperer! It’s been a barkapalooza since Bailey came to visit for the weekend! I wonder if cat owners have this problem?

Sayonara, Saks and Citarella (Water Mill)! There’s some major shake ups in the Hamptons retail world!!

Well here’s a move that kind of had me blindsided. Saks Fifth Avenue will shutter their Southampton store as of this Sunday! So, what does this mean to you and me… not much but if you think you’re going to go head over and get some Jimmy Choo’s for a song guess again. Is anything on sale then? Well not according to my sources. The gossip around town has everyone going into the spot from J. Crew to Ralph Lauren to Saunders real estate. So far nothing confirmed but for the ladies of the Hamptons, Riverhead will soon be the place to be! HA!

Now as for the other retail news which is less of a shocker, Citarella will close their Water Mill store as of this Sunday. So far, the employees don’t know if they’ll be kept and moved to other locations. They’re all waiting to hear! Meanwhile, an informed source tells me there will still be produce in the Ghost Town Shopping Mall …. a new concept organic grocery is set to move into the location soon after it’s vacated. No, it’s not a Fresh Foods or anything like that. It’s an original and a new concept. I’ll have more details soon!

Meanwhile, a little broker gossip; what Shelter Island agent is so reviled…. this person’s nick name is Count Chocula! Apparently because of an uncanny resemblence to a sugar coated breakfast icon! Pluck the eyebrows!