patrick mclaughlin

New Snack Food Coming to the Hamptons… Ore Ida and Totino’s must be nervous!

I don’t know if this ironic but as the tundra on the east end is finally melting,  there appeared a sign suggesting that my one of my favorite frozen foods is getting it’s due in the Hamptons.

The site of the establishment known as The Pizza Place in Bridgehampton is apparently becoming a Goldberg’s Bagels and Pizza.   Now, I don’t know if they’ll be selling pizza and bagels or pizza-bagels but I’ll tell you if it’s the latter, Ore Ida foods are going to be mad!   It’s not the oddest combination ever but it is a bit different.   Anyway, here’s a helpful hint for the owners of this establishment, make a drive through window in the front!!!  That would be awesome!

Bridge Cafe, Ziggy’s, M+M is now an office!
Meanwhile, the former site of Bridge Cafe, Ziggy’s and M+E Restaurant on Sag Harbor Turnpike will not be coming back as another restaurant anytime soon.   It’s been renovated and now is an office for a builder and contractor.  Is it me but is every builder now taking high profile locations for their offices?   Well, they say real estate is the best form of advertising and builders are the new Starbucks in the Hamptons!
Bissell Spot Clean… a life saver!
Finally, last week I wrote about the best housewarming gift in the Hamptons and it was quite popular.   So, I’m going to do it again and give Hamptons folks another must have item!  If you have guests and or pets who are sloppy and have bad bladders….   with me the dogs are fine it’s the guests that have the problem… you need to get a Bissell spot clean.   So, let me paint a picture for everyone.  You’re hosting a party and you’re serving … let’s say…. pizza-bagels and someone drops theirs on the floor sauce side down.   Well go grab the spot cleaner spray the area and vacuum the water up!   I’m telling you this machine is a life saver and can be used on both rugs and furniture.     Also, if you’re a tenant and you don’t want to get billed for damages because one of your guests couldn’t make it outside in time to go, voila!   These machine really works.  You can buy it online or at the local Kmart or hardware store for about $100.   Trust me you’ll thank me!
Don’t fear the pizza bagel!

Madison and Main gets ready to split… and The Foot Fetish in the Hamptons!

Times are apparently tough for many restaurants on the east end.   Depending on who you ask the off season crowds are not what they used to be and that could be why we recently saw the departure of

Foody’s says goodbye!

Foody’s in Water Mill and imminent change at Madison and Main.   The former shuttered it’s doors with a big blow out Sunday night.  While Madison and Main which seemed to be doing steady business is changing to what my sources claim will be a brick oven “pizza and pasta restaurant.”    The building on Sag Harbor’s main street was recently sold and the new landlord apparently got an even better deal with an “up island italian restaurant.”   I don’t know if these whispers are true but that’s the rumor heading around town.   So can rumors like this be trusted?  Well, someone once told me “if you walk and pass wind on one end of main street in Sag Harbor, it’s already being discussed at the opposite end of town before you get there.”  So true!

The new… what would you call this anyway?
In the meantime, what is the biggest trend in the Hamptons these days?  Is it a new designer?   Is it a hot new developer? No and no… it’s actually foot massage places.   The success of Happy Feet in Sag Harbor is apparently sprouting a cottage industry on the east end.    There’s already one in Southampton and now East Hampton is getting one across the street from Chase Bank on The Circle.    According to workmen in the location, the new… what would you call this anyway….. foot massage place will be opening sometime in the next month.    I guess it’s the $35 price tag for an hour of pampering that caused this place to be a hot ticket.    By the way, if you ever see me there run the other direction.  I have a tendency to pass out and snore when getting my happy feet!
Meanwhile, what’s going on at the former home of Well Nest?    The sign said, see you in the spring of ’13… then see you in the spring of ’14…. and now the sign says available for rent!?   I hope Well Nest comes back somewhere!  It was a great store and a cool concept.   Just please not another real estate office or bank in that location.

The Banana Splits…. and Which Professionals have the most psychopaths… I know what I think!?

In another strike against the average Joe, the Banana Republic store in Bridgehampton Commons has packed up and split.    While I don’t really buy my clothes at Kmart (OK, I bought a few Land’s End sweaters there) nor do I shop Bergdorf Goodman (OK I bought a few things there too), B.R. was one of the rare quality middle of the road shops out here in the Hamptons.    When I tried calling the company for a response, the woman on the phone couldn’t tell me why they left town but she did tell me she could save me 10% on my next purchase if I opened a Banana Republic credit card.

In other sad news, TheWeek.com has posed the question, “which professions have the most psychopaths?”  Now before you start thinking about “American Psycho,”  lets take a look at the definition of Psychopathy.   By definition, Psychopathy is a “personality disorder that has been variously described as characterized by shallow emotions (in particular reduced fear) stress tolerance, lacking empathy, cold heartedness, egocentricity …. and antisocial behaviors such as parasitic lifestyle and criminality.”  So those two sales agents that brawled at The Hotel a few weeks ago probably  psychopaths, it’s more likely they have anger issues.   So do you want to take a guess where sales people came on the list?  They were #4!  YIKES! Wedged between media personalities and surgeons.   That’s not such bad company is it?   So who are some of the biggest psychopaths I met working here on the East End?  Well, I never blog and tell.  But buy me a drink sometime… in vino veritas!

Finally, so why is this picture on my blog?  Because I can.  Happy Birthday Bella!!!

 

 

HUNTING FOR A HOUSE???? Great Apps for the Home Buyer… or Real Estate Junkie!

A few days ago , I got an e mail from another agent talking about a new i phone app someone in her family invented.   It was kind of like a Yelp or Foursquare for the Hamptons.   While I liked the app, I thought to myself why do I need a Hamptons Yelp when Yelp covers the Hamptons.   Hmmmmmm. So, that brings me to today’s blog.      I’m sharing with you some apps that anyone who is looking to buy or just window shop real estate should have.   Some are a little more complicated than others but once you get the hang of them, you’ll love them as much as I do.

HOUSE HUNTER PRO – Looking for a house is often a daunting endeavor!   Luckily your I phone can help make the process a little less stressful and HOUSE HUNTER PRO (for I phone) in the apps
store is a great tool.    The app helps you orgonize your notes,  pictures, features of the property and a mortgage calculator does the money thing for you too.    The app is $4 in the app store but since we’re good friends and you read Hamptons Chatter, for you it’s free!    The app is customizable and you only need to use the features you like.   So punch in code # 2412012 and get the app for free from me the only down side is my ugly mug comes up with my information when you open up.    If you don’t like my picture pay $4 and get a clean version.  But either way, try the app I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

MAGIC PLAN – So many buyers in the Hamptons come from NYC and they’re used to seeing floor plans.   So what do they do when the broker of the property doesn’t know measurements and doesn’t have a floor plan? (I and a hand full of others are the exception and do floor plans)   Well you take out your trusty I phone and start pointing and shooting.   Magic Plan will help you do floor plans for the individual room and the entire house.   It will also help you stay organized as you can make plans for a multiple of homes.    There are free versions as well as a more sophisticated ones that range in price up to $59.99.   Make whatever you do with Magic Plan, you play with the app before trying to use it on your house hunt.    You don’t want to look like a total moron in front of your agent!    Other wise, they’ll dump you and you’ll be looking for houses with that loser…… oh ask me in person, I’ll tell you who I’m talking about !  Here’s a little video of MAGIC PLAN I found online which explains the whole tamale!   DON’T FREAK THERE IS NO AUDIO!

There is also a similar app to this called PHOTO MEASURES but I’ve never tried it.  Friends of mine have and said it’s just as good as MAGIC PLAN.

Finally… my last app suggestion for your Hamptons House Hunters is…. drum roll please….

Property Evaluator

PROPERTY EVALUATOR – If your in the market for an investment property this app is a must have!!!  It allows you to input your purchase price, potential sales price, cost of improvements, the time you plan on carrying the mortgage and other various add ons and then turns out a sort of flip analysis.
Now, that is pretty frigging cool.   The app also has a mortgage calculator to help you also figure out your payments.     The cost is free for a basic version and goes up to $19.99.

Houzz-   This is a free app that’s kind of like PINTEREST meets INSTAGRAM.  Take a look at the largest database of home designs anywhere on the market.     It’s a really great tool for the buyer that’s contemplating just exactly what they can do to make that unrenovated 60’s split level stylish.   l

NEIGHBORHOOD SNOOP – This app is the cream on the cake.   Just activate your phones GPS options and let “Snoop” do the work.   The app actually scans Facebook postings, twitter mentions and postings, local town police records and Match.com to figure out if you’re going to like your neighbor or hate them!   The app grades potential neighbors on a “jerk” scale from 1-10.  If your neighbor is a 1 you’re a winner and that cup of sugar is on the way.  If the neighbor is a 10, then don’t buy the house!   If only this app really existed… sorry… yes I’m teasing you.   If it did exist I would have known my neighbor was an 8.5 before I bought my house!

Anyway, the film festival kicks off tonight.  I’m going to the opening party.  I’ll try to post some pics! Hopefully I’ll get my picture taken with somebody cool!  If you want more information on the film festival, check out their web site!