summer rentals

A Brouhaha at the Beaches in Amagansett and a Cure for Round Swamp Farm’s Cinnamon Buns… well sort of!

VERBOTTEN!

Those oft over-the top folks in “Amagainsit” are at it again.  Fearing that the guest of a guest, share house, booze-swilling Saturday afternoon fedora crowd would drift east from Indian Wells due to parking lot restrictions and an increased police presence, the Beach Hampton homeowners association sent out an early summer warning to members.

That beach access would be restricted to members in good standing with the Dunes home owner’s association (i.e. residents and their tenants ).
OK. We’re good so far.  While we won’t consult our Hamptons Chatter legal department just yet about their legal right to restrict access they have begun stationing “monitors” at various beach access points.  (although when we googled “lawsuit beach public access” it appears the folks in Amagansett are walking a very shaky and fine line).

This summer, clipboard carrying Studio 54 type bouncers have been checking to make sure not only if beach goers are from the right part of town, they’re also making sure everyone is ponied up with his or her Homeowners Association Dues.    But what if you landlord has paid the dues… you want to go to beach but the bouncer says “no you didn’t.”   Well that’s exactly what has been happening.  Apparently this is becoming more and more of a problem with rental tenants lugging their wares to the beach only to be turned back!!! I don’t know the whole deal here but I’m just predicting this is going to blow up before the end of the summer.

Meanwhile here in the Hamptons we’ve got more than our fair share of famous culinary and home making genius’.      There’s of course Martha Stewart…. there’s Ina Garten (who I like even though she and Jeffrey have yet to invite me  over) … and now there’s ANKE.   In keeping with the  summer of healthy eating I want to tell you Anke’s Fit Bakery and her stuff is awesome.   I’ve also been discussing this around town, and I’m hearing similar stories from other agents whose summer tenants are being subjected to random shakedowns in The Dunes.    Perhaps this is just all a bunch of misunderstandings but bouncers on the beach?!!!   Stay tuned.

 

 

Shunning refined flour for her baked goods, Anke uses spelt flour, whole oats and other organic ingredients because, “Ingestion of refined flours elevates the potential for heart disease, stroke, cancer and obesity.  The health risks can be reduced by using whole grain flours instead of refined flours.”  My personal favorite is Anke’s Chocolate Loaf cake make with coco and a bunch of good stuff.   But you would never know it, I would swear it’s Entenmann’s!    Marie Claire, Tracy Anderson, the East Hampton Star and a bunch of other publications will attest to the fact I speak the truth.   So check out the website or go visit Anke at the Sag Harbor Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning.  You and your gut wont’ regret it!!!  Now, back to the treadmill!

An Ode to Spring and some Food Fodder for the East End!

Well some good news for those who love a good steak or a great juicy burger.  Sag Harbor’s venerable favorite Cromer’s Meat Market is setting up shop in the Hamptons Market on Race Lane.   In case you’re not aware, they also provide meats to more than a dozen restaurants on the East End.  So you know they’re pretty good.   Signs in the market indicate it will be opening today (March 21st).     If you remember, there hasn’t been a butcher there since before the market suffered from a fire and forced renovation about a year ago.   A nice ode to spring unless of course you’re a cow!

Meanwhile, sometimes a name change is just a name change   The former Agave in Bridgehampton… which is not to be confused with the old Agave in Sag Harbor or the current Agave in Westhampton… has changed its name to Mercado.  According to their website, this is due to the constant confusion with the other said restaurants.  Now, I know and I have heard the criticism that this place is the worst thing to happen to Mexican food since The Blue Parrot but I disagree.   The food is actually pretty good.   I’ve gone in a few times and tried the fajitas, burritos, chips, guacamole, salads, margaritas and more.  All were pretty standard and actually better than any other Mexican restaurant (other than LaFondita) in the Hamptons.   The only thing that drove me to drink after my dinner was the fact the service was the equivalent of being water boarded.    But hey it’s the most edible Mexican menu with eat in service in town.    I have a few friends who actually like La Superica in Sag Harbor, but I’ll to reserve judgment for now and try again when they open for the season. If you’re a person who loves new places and things, you’ve more than likely visited Trip Advisor.  You know the place where every day folks let you know what they think of this hotel or that restaurant.   For example, if you want a good chuckle read the reviews on Blue Parrot.    Well I recently logged onto the site and I noticed something a little odd.  The “East End Eating Disorder Center” is apparently seeking reviews on the site. While, I’m not so sure if this is a good idea, I can assure you there will be no middle ground.  My guess is most of the reviews are either the portions are too large or in fact too small.  Now, I’m not making fun of eating disorders but you have to admit, this is weird.  Besides if people are eating too much it’s just as easy to take them to Blue Parrot.

Speaking of weird, do you remember that WALK OF SHAME kit that Svedka Vodka produced a few summers ago?  Well with out going into detail, you can click here.  I’m sure the folks at this summer rental had these kits in abundance.    And you thought your summer renters were bad!

UPDATE: It looks like the Cromer’s move is a few days off.   Look for the opening this weekend.

A fancy term for “garage sale” and Southampton landlords beware!!!

Google went to something called CHROME and my blog looked like garbage for over a month.  It was hard to read and I didn’t have any enthusiasm for posting on something that looked like Coogi sweater.    So much has and is happening on the Hamptons so I’ll try to get on top of it asap.

A new fancy term for getting rid of junk?
First issue I think we need to tackle in the Hamptons is what do we call it when you’re unloading junk in front of your house?! We all see those signs all over the place advertising “estate sale” or “garage sale.”    Well in East Hampton they have something entirely new and unconventional and it’s apparently called a “YERD SALE.”    I guess that’s a fancy Hamptons way of announcing a “yard sale.”

Meanwhile, in Southampton town landlords beware!!  A few years ago they decided to require that landlord get a permit to rent their home.  Local Law No. 40 went into effect in the areas of the Town of Southampton back in 2008.    Well now some homeowners are being challenged in court by their tenants for partial or full rent refunds for various complaints from the pool heater doesn’t get hot enough to the back yard had too much shade.   But guess what, the tenants are winning because the landlord didn’t get a permit.  So if you’re thinking about renting your house this summer in Southampton, make sure to get a permit and don’t say we didn’t warn you!     And if you think I’m kidding about tenants complaining about things like shade guess again, it’s a true one!
The former Turtle Crossing

 

Finally, if you’re depressed about the demise of Turtle Crossing in East Hampton take heart.   There’s a a new BBQ place coming to town.   A big thank you to my friend at East Hampton Patch for the details. I was a big fan of the old Turtle Crossing before they got fancy.   My expectations for this new establishment will be high especially since it’s being opened by the former executive chef and BBQ expert of the “Crossing”  Arthur Wolf and his wife Michelle.

 

My long awaited… by at least somone although I’m not sure who… return!!! BEACH PERMIT UPDATE!

Yeah, I know I keep saying I’ll blog more but somehow I get caught up in the moment trying to put food in the dog bowl and it slips my mind. So what’s been going on???? Well, lots as far as I’m concerned.

The market has been brisk and busy out here. Already, I’ve done more rentals this year than I did a year ago at this time. So I’m genuinely optomistic about things out here. While I haven’t seen prices go up on either sales or rentals, the article the Faux News had about Hamptons foreclosures being rampant, I JUST DON’T SEE IT. That’s my two cents and I’m sticking to it.

Switching gears now as we used to say in the TV biz.. I’m already getting ready for bathing suit weather. I’ve driven by De Jesus Deli in Southampton and resisted the tamales…

I’ve just said NO to The Golden Pear’s “Mac N Cheese” (even though it costs more than a car payment and the calories are the same number as a Chevy’s weight)… it’s probably the best in the Hamptons! Seriously it is THE best but no doubt extremely fattening!

So, I’m watching my waist and one of the things I’m doing to help me in my quest to ditch the Sans-A-Belt pants is running. Where am I running to? I’m running to East Hampton

Village Hall because apparently there are only 700 of the 2900 beach permits still available for non-residents of the village! Yeee Gads! That means they’re about 75% of the way sold out!! I known it’s only early March but if you remember, last year they were gone by early April. If you want information on what you need to do to get the coveted EH Village parking permit, CLICK HERE! In the meantime, here are the rest of the town links if you want to get a town permit.

Ok, my hands are hurting and I’m done typing and I’m full from my Mac N Cheese lunch! I know you’re thinking “bathing suit?” Well I didn’t say what size bathing suit I wanted to buy!

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