restaurants

A day of discovery in Sag Harbor!

First I’m telling you the rumors about the demise of La Maison formerly known as JLX Bistro are greatly exaggerated. The brown paper is off the windows and it looks as the if the restaurant run by the folks who bring you Trata will be back another year! For a time there everyone from Almond to Le Circ were rumored to be going into the spot but alas all were wrong. I stopped by and asked one of the head honchos there what the deal was and he told me La Maison will be open again for business the first weekend in May. Now, maybe this year I’ll actually go in and try the food!

Secondly, since moving into the Hamptons full time I’ve had 3 major complaints:

1) There isn’t anywhere to get shoes repaired east of the canal.

2) The movie theatres have the worst selection and options of anywhere on the planet (I swear March of the Penguins played for 3 years in East Hampton).

3) The only Tasti-D-Lite outlet (The Brown Bag in EH) is now a Sunglass Hut or something! There’s no low fat yogurt/ice cream anywhere to be found!!!

Well, now I think I have answers or at least mild solutions to two of my issues. 1– I hear that they do shoe repair in King Kullen in Bridgehampton. I dropped off 3 pairs last week 2 Ferragamo’s and beat up Prada. I’ll let you know how they do. Issue #3… they sell ONLY 8 – no fat, low carb, low calorie ice cream (or frozen pvc) at the Ice Cream shop in Sag Harbor. It’s right next to Vincenzo’s Pizza! Thank goodness… I don’t have to travel all the way into the city for frozen chemically tasting stuff anymore. According to the Only 8 website, a half cup only has 32 calories. If that’s the calorie count, I can deal with the funky taste.

Rodent sees shadow and Sag is trying to make Winter fun!


Whenever I try to think about Groundhog Day, I always get the feeling the results are never right! But then again I think this holiday was best described by Bill Murray’s character Phil in GROUNDHOG DAY.

“RITA:” You’re missing all the fun. These people are great! Some of them have been partying all night long. They sing songs til they get too cold and then they go sit by the fire and get warm and then they come back and sing some more.
“PHIL:” Yeah, they’re HICKS Rita.

Hmmmm, I think Bill was right but still everyone, even sophisticated types ask, “Did THE Groundhog see his shadow?” Well stop holding your breath… the groundhog in question Punxatony (do you really care if I spell this right?)didn’t see his shadow. So now Phil will have some free time to go see “Black Swan” or was it look at a black swan, hmmmmmmm? Anyway according to legend we can all head to the beach next week!

Well until next week when we can put on our Bikinis you can indulge in Sag Harbor’s first “Harbor Frost!” The village will be hosting Ice Sculpting ,” Fireworks by Grucci, “Fire and Ice” promotions at retailers, $20.11 prix fixe menus, a POLAR BEAR PLUNGE OFF LONG WARF and what I see as the highlight… a walking historical ghost tour of Sag Harbor Village.

Yeah, we know it seems more like a Halloween event than Groundhog day time but I still watch Ghost Hunters in August! That’s why I, along with the rest of the Sag Harbor Prudential Douglas Elliman office will be sponsoring a FREE tour which will start at 6:45p sharp in our office at 138 Main St. The tour will be led by Tony Garro of the Sag Harbor Historical Society and Annette Hinkle from the Sag Harbor express. In addition to our two leaders, we’ll have a spiritualist who will help us get some additional dirt from those who are currently six feet under the dirt!!!

One the properties we’re hoping to visit will be the former home of Robertson Realty, PDE and now currently Wellnest on Main Street. Several sane agents who I know and
respect have told me creepy tales of doors slamming, items moving and a very old woman who likes to hang out dressed in 19Th Century dress on the third floor. It’s really creepy stuff and to be honest, I’ve heard it from too many people to totally think it’s just one persons imagination. So come join us Saturday 6:45p while we party with Gozer and the Key Master!!!

For more details on Harborfest go to the following link for more details: http://bit.ly/ew7wkI

Finally two quick blind items about Hamptons real estate
This agent definitely likes Brown but should actually be afraid of blue and especially those folks in blue who’ve been put on notice. Apparently when said agent left their last gig at another company the cops in blue were called in to stand by in case. Management thought said peRson was a little off and might try something a bit wacky! Any guesses?

Now number two; this agent may look like his/her two dogs but that doesn’t mean they’re cute and lovable. In fact this person goes to the E. Hampton dog park and always seems to start a scuffle. Now dog lovers are running the other way every time this newly promoted agent comes by. YEAH, YOU KNOW WHO!

Come along hear the song that we’re singing… come on get HAPPY!

It was a beautiful week in the Hamptons but not for humpback whales unfortunately. Anyway, an awesome week and Friday is of course full of rain. What can you do today to put you back in that happy mood??? Why go to a HAPPY HOUR of course. So, if you’re looking for some suggestions here is a really great one!!!

The Palm in East Hampton is having what they call PRIME TIME, weekdays at the bar. While drinks are full priced the appetizers and nibbles are dirt cheap. A platter of KOBE BEEF SLIDERS which are normally $10 are $3.50!!! Yes, $3.50 and no they don’t cheat you out and give you a spa portion! In fact, all of their PRIME BITES MENU is $3.50each! What a deal… Filet Mignon Capri Sandwiches, Calamari Fritti, Mini Broiled Crab Cakes and tons more. It’s totally awesome. If you haven’t been to the bar at The Palm, the bar itself is small but there’s plenty of booths, tables and comfy chairs. The only downside of this is the occasional overbearing scent of cologne or perfume. I’m not sure why Hai Karate and Jean Nate wearers favor The Palm. It’s just one of those eternal mysteries only Leonard Nimoy would dare explore!!

Finally, my last place for a great happy hour is my sofa with a nice glass of anything. OK, maybe not anything… I don’t like Riesling or Sterno! Anyway, have a great Friday night all!!! Hope to see you soon!

It’s a lot like my house but not as comfortable but the food is better!!!

So I finally hit what I have no doubt will be “THE” place this summer. The Living Room at The Maidstone. That’s the Maidstone Inn… not the the “Club” where they would never let me in…. and who are you kidding, they wouldn’t let you in the “Club” either!

Anyway, newly redone and newly fun the menu is pretty eclectic but not difficult. SI started with the winter salad of baby arugula, apples, endive, walnuts, cranberries, apple cider vinaigrette and grated blue cheese. The portion was generous and the salad was delicious ($14). Among the other appetizers are Swedish country Pate with lingonberry (why does that sound gross to me?) mustard, cornichons and radish ($12)… Peconic pride oysters (who knew Peconic oysters were gay but that’s what the menu said) on the half shell with citron mignonette.

The entrees include Sweedish lamb meatballs, Salmon, Codfish, Fettuccine with wild mushroom bolognese and pecorino. Yum, so what did I order. Chicken, I know I’m boring. Besides everything else tastes like it anyway, right? It was apparently a Heritage chicken, once again there words are not mine and that means and I quote “A happy chicken who leads a natural and relaxed like on a farm with family and friends” until he of course gets his head cut off and is tossed in a rosemary jus, with Long Island potato puree and caramelized Brussels sprout leaves ($28). In the end it wasn’t the chicken that was happy but rather it was me!

A nice room, plenty of am-beyonce which is much hipper than just ambiance. The Living Room was a comfortable and good meal with great service. Go now, you’re not going to want to in August! TRUST ME. Chef James Carpenter formally of Della Famina and one my favorites Susan Spicer’s Bayona in New Orleans gets an A for The Living Room. Anyone else agree? The Living room is located 207 MAIN ST., EAST HAMPTON 631.324.5006

Finally, the Sag Harbor express has a riveting intereview with a US Census taker in this weeks issue. www.sagharboronline.com Don’t wait for the movie kids, it’s always more exciting to read it!!!