SUNRISE… sunset… SUNRISE… sunset. Tevye’s Turmoil!!!

NO! Today’s blog has nothing to do with Fiddler on the Roof! Although good trivia… did you know Paul Michael Glazer was in the movie?!? Seriously! Starsky!
So the Hamptons are a summer place… right? So what better than dinning on the water and watching a fiery sun set in the distance. In my book there are only 3… ok 4 great places to go watch the sun set.

The following are my top 4 in no particular order:
The Beacon in Sag Harbor. Owner David Lowenberg and his crew run one of the most consistently great seasonal restaurants on the east end. The crowd is Hamptons chic and there’s usually a celebrity or two there when you dine… Richard Gere is my most notable. Try the seared tuna it’s fresh and tender. My other favorite is the iceberg lettuce wedge with blue cheese , a gourmet flashback to 1970. They don’t take reservations so get there early and put your name on the list. The photo to the left was taken last night! WHAT NO RAIN!!!?
NEXT… drum roll…is East Hampton Point. The menu is limited and the food is probably a C+… prices are steep but the view is spectacular. Overlooking Three Mile Harbor it’s ideal on a late Sunday afternoon to hang for cocktails and enjoy some live reggae music!!! The service is slow but hey “don’t worry mon.. enjoy the music!!” What I typically do is go early for drinks and then head over to ……
Bostwicks – 423 Three Mile Harbor. I grew up in Joisy and this is the closest thing I can find to one of those fancy Atlantic City type restaurants! HA!. It’s a cool mix of local and weekenders at Bostwicks. The food isn’t priced like it’s Joisy joint but the menu is diverse and solid. Try the

Lobster… The Surf and Turf… or any of the fish or huge lobsters. Once again.. NO RESERVATIONS. Send a friend a few minutes early to put the name on the list and have a drink and relax. Here’s a pic of the view. I’d pay extra for that wouldn’t you!!? Yes, I took the picture myself!!!

Finally, Sunset Beach on Shelter Island. 35 Shore Rd. , Shelter Island. It has to be about the view because let’s face it the service is HOSTILE… but of course they have every right to be… they’re better looking than you!!! The food is expensive… um because “we the staff are beautiful .. you can’t’ look at us for free“… and the food is very mediocre. Um, you have a problem with that!?!? Ubermodels from around the world have come to play with their food here! It’s an A for attitude at Sunset Beach!!!! I’m sure there’s some sort of secret menu for the glamorous… like a cigarette salad with Stoli dressing. So, why do I actually look forward to going there!?!?!

There are deals… except for when it comes to Chili!! Plus watch out or you might get sued!!!

Most New Yorkers may not have noticed but according to a recent report by the Federal Department of Labor, in the past year… New York has become a cheaper place to live!! This is the first time this has happened in over 50Years.

It may be a temporary condition, that was likely caused by a substantial drop in the cost of energy.   Over this last year, the Consumer Price Index for the city dropped by 0.1 percent, its first decline in any 12-month period since 1956. 1956!!!! But have no fear… it’s still not that cheap here out east! I have to clarify, we don’t want people to think we’re giving it away in the Hamptons!!!
Today, I had a turkey chili, salad and bottle of seltzer water at the Golden Pear. What was the cost ?? $19.50. I get the same thing at least 3 times a week but for some reason, getting .50 back from a $20 rankled me this afternoon. The food is great.. but I took it to go and ate it with a plastic set of utensils. I don’t know about you but even compared to Manhattan… that felt a little pricey to me. But I wasn’t sure! So I did some chili research!
I have a friend from Cincinnati (did I spell it right?) who brags about how good the chili is there… why I can’t actually tell you how the chili tastes, I can tell you about the service.   It took me about 20 minutes to get an answer. But at the “world famous” SKYLINE CHILI, I guess it’s famous everywhere else in the world but Long Island, my new favorite discovery on the Internet charges $5.99 for a QUART of chili and $2.49 for a garden salad and $1.50 for a soda. These prices could be inaccurate since the guy answering the phone wasn’t too sure himself. That’s a grand total of $9.98!!!! So take that Department of Labor!!! We’re still expensive in the Hamptons! And we like it that way!!!!
On a real estate note, a friend of mine who is an attorney was doing some research. She remarked to me, you won’t believe this agent who is known about town and knows the way of country living but he/she “sues everybody!!!” I can’t tell you who it is but I’m not surprised.
Also, an offer you can’t refuse!! There’s a great historical restoration in Sag Harbor village. 4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths and it’s under two million. Cheaper than having a chili!! E-mail me or call me if you want details.
It’s a dogs life this weekend and I’ll give you details tomorrow!!!

Planning your weekend… What’s going on!

Well the forecast is looking kind of iffy at this point. I don’t know of a time when I’ve been so consistantly depressed reading a forecast! Tomorrow. Rain, followed by rain, then more rain and then a thunderstorm. YUCK! ENOUGH!

So what to do other than pump the excess water out of your basement or pool? Go have a cocktail and help raise some money for a good cause. You can also go do some nifty artsy stuff like…

Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm: The Sag Harbor Chamber of commerce is holding it’s annual Arts and Crafts fair in Marine Park on Bay Street. Admission is free and you can get more information by visiting the chambers website http://www.sagharborchamber.com/ .

On saturday night… tons of benefits but I’ll give you my top 3. I’ve yet to decide which one I’m going to!

Love Heals at Luna Farm, benefitting the Alison Gertz Foundation for Aids research. It’s a beach theme featurning cocktails, auction, dancing and a barbeque. I don’t know the price of tickets but it’s being held at 276 Parsonage Lane, Sagaponack starting at 7:30pm. If you need more details go to the we address www.loveheals.org/luna .

Next is the American Heart Associations 13th annual Heart of the Hamptons Gala. This year’s event is being held on the grounds of the Hayground School in Bridgehampton. There will be your standard auction, food and drinks. I will say this event has one of the best silent auctions all summer. Tickets are $500 and you can get more details here: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3058137

This year’s event is emceed by Bill Hemmer formerly of CNN. Rudy Giuliani and wife Judith will be there along with a long list of other east end celebrities.

Now last but not least … the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons better known as ARF is hosting ther 23rd annual GARDEN TOUR of 6 gardens in East Hampton. The tour is Saturday from 10am to 4pm followed by cocktails from 4-6pm. Get more details at http://www.arfhamptons.org/events.ihtml

If you’re not familiar with ARF .. I encourage you to explore the web site. They’re a shelter for animals in need and they do an awesome job… my own Boo is a shelter dog but you would think she came from Tiffany’s (she has attitude). When you’re there… read about Heidi above and see what you can do to help!!

Sorry I was MIA for a few days but it was MY turn to make the doughnuts!

Bikini Busters!!!! The best baked goods in the Hamptons!

I have long complained there are no good bakeries in the Hamptons. Ever since Ina Garten closed the doors on the Barefoot Contessa, I’ve been searching the East End tirelessly looking for the next great coconut cupcake. Ok, yes you can buy the box kit but it was forever ruined when my sister Gina decided to make them as a surprise for me! Yes they were a surprise… a surprise like being stuck in the Sahara without water. This is the same sister who confused the abbreviation for a tablespoon with pound while one time surprising me with pasta dinner!!! But enough about my sister’s culinary clumsiness. Ok, one last jab…I shingled a roof once with her pancakes! But alas, there are good baked goods. First up on my list is BREADZILLA on Wainscott Northwest Rd. Great focaccia breads and in my opinion, the only place to buy a birthday cake this side of the canal. No, the prices are not for the faint of heart but they put their money where the butter is!!!

For cookies, try Levain Bakery on 27 at the Wainscott shopping center. The oatmeal raisin are my favorite. They each weigh about 3 lbs a piece.. or at least they feel like it… but they are awesome!!! The chocolate chip rock and the peanut butter…incredible. They’re not open during the winter and hours are choppy at best. But if you catch them open, the fumes alone are awesome and they should charge admission! You can also get the cookies fresh out oven… wait I have to go wipe my drooling chin.

Finally ROUND SWAMP FARM, what can I say. The cinnamon buns, the sour c
ream coffee cake, the brownies, the triple berry pie and the corn bread muffins….. well lets just say I know them all intimately! The farm is and has been run for over 40 years by Carolyn Lester Snyder who along with her family create the baked goods and meals fresh daily. It’s a small shop but it covered from wall to wall with quality stuff. It’s not a baked good.. but it is baked… their Mexican cheese dip is just plain wrong!!! It has to be about 4000 calories but it’s worth every scoop on your tortilla chip. The market is located on Three Mile Harbor Rd in East Hampton and is opened 9-5 Mon-Saturday… 9-1pm on Sunday. I know they accept cash, visa and I’m hoping soon will assist with financing!

Speaking of financing… in the … It’s not my listing but I know of a great deal section.… south of the highway property… it’s a bank sale and an amazing deal. Contact me for details!!!! In fact, a few more distressed properties came onto the market last week… I’m about to start a weekly mailing here. Let me know if you want to be on the list. E mail me!!!!