East Hampton

Picking the Right Real Estate Agent

In the age of endless listings, AI-written descriptions, and agents who juggle more properties than they could possibly remember, picking the right real estate agent can feel like finding a needle in a haystack — or in Hamptons terms, a parking space on Main Street in August.

But here’s the truth: the agent you choose can make or break your experience — not just the sale price, but how smooth, transparent, and stress-free the process feels.

So what should you look for in a real estate agent?

1. Someone Who Treats Real Estate as a Concierge Service

Buying or selling a home isn’t a drive-thru transaction. You deserve an agent who’s hands-on — someone who personally returns calls, handles details directly, and understands that no two clients or properties are the same.
That’s the approach I take. I don’t hand clients off or hide behind assistants. I answer my own phone because real estate is personal.

2. Proven Experience and Credibility

Credentials and results matter. Real estate is full of noise “I’M #1″— so it helps to look for verifiable recognition and performance, not just social media polish.
Being RealTrends Verified is one way sales results are independently confirmed, not just claimed. It’s one way to ensure clients know they’re working with a proven professional, not just someone with a big Instagram following.

3. Deep Community Roots and Reputation

In a close-knit place like the Hamptons, reputation and relationships open doors long before listings hit the MLS.
I’ve always thought is important to build strong connections through community involvement — something i know i strive to accomplish. Not to brag but… ha…. I was recognized when I was named to the 2025 Dan’s Papers Power List for local outreach. Those ties matter because they often lead to opportunities and insights before they go public.

4. Connections Within the Brokerage World

A good agent doesn’t work in isolation. Collaboration is key.
That’s why I’m part of a networking group of 50 top agents from across the major Hamptons brokerages. We meet monthly to share market intelligence and quietly preview listings. For sellers, that means more exposure; for buyers, it means access.

5. Quality Over Quantity

Some agents measure success by how many listings they collect. I measure it by how well I serve each client.
I focus on a select number of properties at a time — because marketing, negotiating, and managing a sale the right way requires time and attention.

The Bottom Line

The right real estate agent doesn’t just unlock doors — they create opportunity, protect your interests, and ensure you feel informed and supported every step of the way.

Whether you’re buying your first Hamptons home or selling your forever one, look for an agent who listens, communicates, and treats your goals like their own.

221 Redwood Rd., Sag Harbor NY currently listed for $3,165,000. https://www.elliman.com/listing/221-redwood-rd-sag-harbor-ny-11963/12357188

Stretch Goals and Guest Lists: Lululemon and Zoe Club Make Summer a VIP Workout

Because nothing says “Hamptons summer” like sweating in $128 leggings, Lululemon is transforming a house out east into The Summer Club—and yes, you’re invited. From June 27 to July 6, expect poolside lounging, tennis that’s more social than competitive, and workouts intense enough to justify the green juice. It’s all to celebrate 10 years of the cult-loved Align™—aka the pants that launched a thousand yoga poses. Bonus: all class proceeds benefit local nonprofit i-tri, helping empower middle school girls through triathlon (talk about core strength). Space is limited, so sign up before your favorite slot is gone and you’re stuck doing downward dog in your driveway. More info and schedule at lululemonsummerclub.com.

Just when you thought dinner in the Hamptons couldn’t get any more exclusive, here comes Zoe—a new private dining club from celebrity chef Ralph Pagano (yes, that Ralph from Hell’s Kitchen and Pressure Cook). Housed in the former Robert’s restaurant in Water Mill, this century-old farmhouse has been reimagined as a Riviera-meets-Hamptons hideaway—complete with bocce, backyard tents, and a “curated casual” vibe. But don’t just show up hungry: access requires a $2,500 membership fee. Inside, expect globally inspired, family-style dishes served with a side of “I paid to be here.” It’s less scene-y than Surf Lodge, more social club for the foodie elite. Membership may have its privileges, but if you’re curious (or just nosy), peek the menu or apply here: zoehamptons.com.

Sea’s the Moment: Moby’s Swims Into Sag & the Hamptons get Lucky

Just when you thought your summer dining spreadsheet was complete, the Hamptons restaurant scene went ahead and did what it always does—flipped the table, changed the seating chart, and added four more courses (plus a DJ). From steakhouse takeovers to disco seafood lounges, here’s your definitive, no-reservations-left guide to the new kids on the East End block. And yes, I broke the news on some of these. You’re welcome.

🍝 Moby’s (soon in Sag!?)
📍 TBA
RUMOR HAS IT… The team behind the OG East Hampton hotspot is doubling down and dropping anchor in Sag Harbor—. Moby’s 2.0 promises pizza, cacio e pepe, and just enough boat-shoe glam to keep your waterfront date night looking “effortless.” Expect a crowd that smells like sunscreen and Sauvignon Blanc.

🥩 Lucky’s Steakhouse
📍 85 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
Let us bow our heads. Cove Hollow Tavern—home to flattering lighting, low-key cocktails, and the best damn French fries in the Hamptons—has been taken over by Lucky’s, the Montecito and SoHo steak slinger. The East Hampton outpost is set to open in June, just in time to soak your summer in dry-aged decadence. Will the fries survive? One can only hope. Expect prime cuts, plush booths, and more Burgundy flowing than at a Sotheby’s afterparty.

🎉 Mary Lou’s
📍 474 West Lake Drive, Montauk
From Palm Beach to Montauk, Mary Lou’s brings a disco ball and a dream. The vibes are pure 70s/80s decadence—think caviar towers, wagyu sliders, and cocktails with names like “Studio Fifty-Sip.” It’s not so much a dinner as it is a throwback fever dream with seafood.

🌊 Gigi’s at Gurney’s
📍 290 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk
Scarpetta has sailed off into the sunset, and now Gigi’s is taking over the primo ocean-view perch at Gurney’s. Expect steak, seafood, and enough white wine to fill a plunge pool. Opens mid-June, just in time to “accidentally” order a second shellfish tower.

🧂 Sea Salt at Sole East
📍 90 Second House Road, Montauk
Melissa O’Donnell (formerly of Duryea’s fame) is helming this Mediterranean reboot, which includes bouillabaisse, crab spaghetti, and monkfish in red wine reduction. It’s like the Amalfi Coast… if the Amalfi Coast had mosquitos and TikTokers in cowboy hats.

🍽️ Swifty’s at Hedges Inn
📍 74 James Lane, East Hampton
Swifty’s has finally returned to the Northeast after cozying up in Palm Beach. Now at Hedges Inn, expect crab cakes, meatloaf, and a dining room filled with people who still own pagers “just in case.”

🍕 Camp Rubirosa
📍 31 Race Lane, East Hampton
The red-sauce royalty from Little Italy has moved in for the summer, bringing Staten Island-style pies, house-made pastas, and chicken parm that could probably double as a space heater. You will stain your shirt. You will not care.

🍽️ Crazy Pizza
📍 47 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
This is not your nonna’s pizzeria. Imported from Europe with a SoHo soft opening, Crazy Pizza features spinning dough, yeast-free crusts, and toppings so luxe they need a trust fund. Great spot if your Margherita order comes with a Cartier bracelet.

🍣 Namiro
📍 76C Jobs Lane, Southampton
Namiro mixes sushi with swagger—think raw fish, vegan rolls, Korean fried chicken, and enough mood lighting to cause a vitamin D deficiency. It’s chic, it’s sleek, and it’s probably already on your ex’s Instagram stories.

🌿 Fēniks
📍 75 Jobs Lane, Southampton
Chef Douglas Gulija and cousin Skip (yes, Skip) rise from the ashes of Plaza Café with this new Croatian-tinged culinary playground. Highlights include a $250 chef’s counter and surf-and-turf sliders upstairs. Because why not pair escargot risotto with bottle service?

🌟 Ruschmeyers Beach Grill
📍 161 Second House Road, Montauk
Ruschmeyers has ditched Placebo (both literally and metaphorically) for a new coastal menu: monkfish tail au poivre, lobster spaghetti, and a vibe that’s more barefoot-chic and less “bottle-service-in-Birkenstocks.”

🌊 Bagatelle Montauk
📍 500 West Lake Drive, Montauk
RIP Gosman’s. Bonjour, Bagatelle. The international brunch mecca has taken over Montauk’s most iconic dockside location and will soon be serving Saint-Tropez vibes, Champagne-fueled brunches, and possibly the highest heels you’ll see on a dock this side of Cannes.

🌅 Wayan & Ma-De at EHP Resort
📍 313 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Rd, East Hampton
French-Indonesian power couple Cedric and Ochi Vongerichten have moved their culinary empire to EHP, offering sambal-drenched sea bass, pork ribs, and crab fried rice—plus a sunset view you’ll pretend you’re not photographing.

That’s the summer scoop, folks. If you need me, I’ll be sobbing quietly into my old Cove Hollow Tavern napkins and praying Lucky’s doesn’t touch the fries.

Finally, The Hill has just published their list of the top beaches in the US according to coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman. Yes, that’s his real name and no Two Mile Hollow is not on the list but Main Beach in East Hampton and Coopers Beach in Southampton did. You can read all about it here.

Follow along at Hamptons Chatter—because I eat, drink, and gossip so you don’t have to.

Paws, Sauce & Applause: Hamptons Heats Up with Two New Pizza Joints and a Doggone Fabulous Pageant

Well, pour one out for Kizzy-T’s—our beloved little East Hampton haunt that managed to serve charm and chow without the side of theatrics. Taking its place? None other than Crazy Pizza, (click here to learn about Crazy Pizza) the flashy import from SoHo, where apparently pizza needs to be served with a show and a manifesto. According to their website, they’re bringing “an Italian oasis” to our quaint village, because what East Hampton really needed was more imported vibes and fewer local gems. While they wax poetic about “bold new flavors” and “elevated culinary visions,” we’re just hoping they don’t charge $45 for a margherita and a round of interpretive dance. Stay tuned, folks—it’s pizza, but make it drama. BTW, friends in the city have given Crazy Pizza some major thumbs up.


As you remember (you do, right?) we have two beloved pups. Bella, a black mixed breed who is now getting on to “dowager” status, and Ralphie, an incredibly dignified beagle. And by “dignified,” I mean “not really.” And not ready for dog shows. Dog agility? Ralphie jumps like a sack of potatoes. Obedience? Ah hahahaha, he’s a beagle. Of course, he is the cutest and bestest boy there is, but it’s hard to tell from a photograph.

Which is why I’m unsure whether we’ll be entering the Inaugural Baron’s Cove Doggie Pageant. Sure, Bella would have Evening Wear locked up, or would have if Chanel Chien hadn’t closed up shop, and Ralphie would win the Swimsuit competition rocking a tiny pair of Vilebrequin trunks, but I don’t want to make my dogs feel as if their only value is their looks.

Of course it’s all for a good cause–Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. If you can’t make the pageant in person on May 18, ESPN will surely be streaming it later. Click here for more details.

Finally one more bit of pizza news. Pizza Pizza is now part of Cluckman’s on Water Street in Sag Harbor. If you’re looking for a quick slice on the go… this is your spot. It’s good and hearty pizza with an eclectic and large selection of slices. The safe is also friendly and attentive. So give it a try and let me know what you think!

< Cluckman’s Pizza!