activities

MIDWINTER BLUES?!

I know we’re all counting the days till spring.    But if you can’t shake the cold in your bones you might as well celebrate it.   That’s why Sag Harbor’s annual “Harbor Frost” is a welcome event during these cold weather doldrums.    Some of the events include a culinary stroll, art exhibits, live music, fireworks and of course the annual “Frosty Plunge.”   This is not to be confused with a “polar bear plunge” which happened earlier this year.  One involves sun starved adults and teens jumping into frigid waters for two seconds so they can take selfies and tell their friends.   The other involves sun starved adults and teens jumping into frigid waters for two seconds so they can take selfies and tell their friends.  If you want more details on Harbor Frost click here.    If your curious about how much Hampton folk love their cold water plunges, take a look at the video below from the East Hampton New Year’s Polar Plunge.

So, if you’re like me … winter is the perfect time for binge watching and seeing all the movies you never had a chance to catch at the theatre.   But if you’ve been suckered like me into upgrading

IMG_1138to the new “Altice” cable system, you’ve been cursing and screaming more than binging and drooling.     The new “higher tech” system that was formerly known as Optimum sounds great.   Each box is a router which you can pause and rewind shows.  There’s also more storage on the DVR that actually can be controlled with voice recognition.  It all sounds great!  If it works!  It doesn’t.   The boxes are constantly frozen, the DVR rarely works and the whole “router” thing is a complete joke!   I’m not saying it’s a complete flop but I’m tempted to go to one cable box and do the rest via Amazon Firestick or Google Chrome.      The ironic thing is I also had a chance to chat with a few of their own employees on the street and even they said the new system is filled with bugs.

So, the moral of today’s blog is go outside, get off your sofa and be social!   Besides, yourTV doesn’t work anyway.

 

JANUARY IS THE CRUELEST MONTH!

T.S. Eliot once said, “April is the cruelest month.”   Well, let me just say anyone who was willing to write the lyrics for that awful Andrew Lloyd Webber musical gets no respect from me!   The Hamptons in January is truly the cruelest month!  Case I point, today I went to a home inspection and there was no heat.    The homeowner had winterized the property and it was a 20 degrees INSIDE!     Yeah, Hamptons real estate is so glamorous!     My feet are still numb, but I guess it’s better than working in a coal mine or being a food critic in Des Moines.

 

Anyway, all things considered the Hamptons are not a bad place to be even when it’s 5 degrees outside.     So, here they are in no particular order a few fun INDOOR things to do when the forecast has more negatives than a yelp review for a Cracker Barrel restaurant.

 

Montauk Salt Cave

The Montauk Salt Cave – Imagine sitting comfortably in a nice heated room as you breath in Himalayan salt infused air.    It’s like going to the beach but without a village parking sticker.    According to the company website, the cave helps revitalizes ones respiratory tract with lungs and nasal passages cleared from pollens, inflammations and other pollutants.  This is particularly handy if you’ve recently been spending anytime on Main St. Amagansett.   The cave has various scheduled sessions that included everything from guided mediations to reiki healing.    Locals secret:  Take a look on Groupon where the session are often offered at a steep discount.  For more information click HERE.

 

Photo: The Clubhouse East Hampton

The Fieldhouse East Hampton – If you haven’t gone yet you should.   Located on Daniels Hole Rd. in E. Hampton, this entertainment center has something for everyone.    There’s an arcade for the kids, bowling for the families, bocci balland corn hole for the millennials and a bar/restaurant with full a menu for people like me.    They also have a mini golf course but I don’t think that’s in the cards when it’s this cold.   Long needed on the east end, the Fieldhouse is perfect for everyone.  It’s especially great for parents who want to ignore their children with a cocktail as the little ones play games, win points and hopefully buy a prize.   If you want more information check out the website HERE.  Local secret:  Check out their Facebook page for special events and discounts.

 

 

The Spa at Gurney’s – Book a massage or treatment at the Seawater Spa then for a small facilities fee of $30 take a dip in the salt water pool, sweat in the sauna or sweat it out in the Swedish steam room.   The best part of the deal is actually swimming in the pool while overlooking the sand and surf through the expansive wall of glass doors.     Follow it up with a glass of wine and lunch at Tillie’s café.   Although last time I was there I got in trouble for trying to eat my tuna salad sandwich in the pool, so I don’t advise.    For more information you can click HERE.    Local secret:  Memberships are available for access to the fitness club and spa areas.

 

The Parish Art Museum – It’s indoors.  It has art.  I never took an art history class so it’s pointless for me to elaborate.   There are no dogs playing poker, toreadors on velvet or cats hanging onto bars so I’m lost.   I will say people seem to enjoy it and find it EDUCATIONAL.   For the latest exhibitions and hours click HERE.

 

So, there you go!  I know!  You’re welcome!  You don’t have to sit on the sofa binge watching Netflix the entire month.    There are actually things you can do INDOORS that are a little out of the normal routine.    Now, excuse me while I book my flight on Southwest.