The Hamptons are as much a state of mind as a place, a retreat on the eastern tip of New York’s Long Island where power brokers, solace seekers, artists, and families can find their version of paradise. Holly Peterson, author of the delicious new summer beach read It Happens in the Hamptons (William Morrow), introduces us to those in the know and uncovers their secrets.
What to Pack
Aerin Lauder, founder of the Aerin brand, on what she brings out east
Your namesake lifestyle line typifies the Hamptons chic-and-casual look. What’s in your weekender? A Lisa Marie Fernandez one-piece pink terry bathing suit, a Talitha white cover-up, my Aerin cashmere silk solid fringed scarf in lilac, a Lola hat with beige trim, and Oliver Peoples tortoise sunglasses.
What are your summer sandals? My Aerin T-strap in gray. Any other packing necessities? Swedish Fish. Hamptons favorites? Lunch at Duryea’s Lobster Deck, dinner at Crow’s Nest, and berry pies from Loaves & Fishes.
From Beach to Table
In every Hamptons town, from East Hampton to Montauk, there’s a hangout to suit any mood.
Chic and Cool
Lively places for anyone up for the buzz
BARON’S COVE — The draw at this Sag Harbor mainstay is the outdoor terrace and terrific rosé. baronscove.com
BAY KITCHEN BAR — The dock-to-table menu at this Springs haunt relies on local clammers, lobsterers, and fisheries. baykitchenbar.com
CROW’S NEST — You’ll see an array of fabulous types — wealthy moms, surfers, and hipsters — mingling by the outdoor fire and down by Lake Montauk while they wait for a table. crowsnestmtk.com
GURNEY’S — Guests sip drinks on the Montauk beach — the only full-service shoreside resort in the Hamptons. gurneysmontauk.com
NAVY BEACH — On a private beach in a calm bay, this relaxed Montauk eatery is ideal for a big family dinner. navybeach.com
RUMBA — This Hampton Bays boîte serves Caribbean-inspired dishes and colorful cocktails. The fish tacos and chips and guacamole are a must. rumbahamptonbays.com
SURF LODGE — There’s good music here, but Surf Lodge, in Montauk, can be slammed at night and certainly on weekends. Visitors crowd in for music on the deck at sunset. thesurflodge.com
PRIDWIN HOTEL — The Petry family has owned and managed this idyllic Shelter Island inn on the bay for two generations. It serves elegant yet rustic fare overlooking the sound. pridwin.com
Quiet and Lovely
When you need a break from the scene
SUNSET BEACH BISTRO — People who take their boats to this Shelter Island spot for pricey margaritas seem to momentarily believe they’ve docked in St.-Tropez or Capri. sunsetbeachli.com
HARBOR BISTRO — A more affordable option for a nice dinner, this hidden gem in East Hampton’s Three Mile Harbor has a patio and balcony that faces the marina. harborbistro.net
RAM’S HEAD INN — This quaint Shelter Island hideout with a country aura would be a good setting for a romantic novel. There’s a rolling lawn, a gazebo for drinks, and dining both outside and near the fireplace inside. theramsheadinn.com
A Good Match
Dave Sokolin, president of the Bridgehampton-based Sokolin wine dealers and a part-time Montauk resident, suggests wines to pair with the best Hamptons dishes. These bottles can all be purchased from sokolin.com.
RED BAR — Appetizer: Wedge salad. Wine pairing: 2015 Domaine Claude Riffault Sancerre les Chasseignes, Loire, $25. Entrée: Cioppino. Wine pairing: 2010 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne, Burgundy, $110; redbarbrasserie.com
TUTTO IL GIORNO — Appetizer: Chilled lobster with avocado and crispy polenta. Wine pairing: 2013 Vincent Girardin Puligny Montrachet Les Referts, Burgundy, $65. Entrée: Grilled whole fish. Wine pairing: 2015 Carbonnieux Blanc, Bordeaux, $30; tuttoilgiorno.com
DURYEA’S — Appetizer: Lobster cobb salad. Wine pairing: 2016 Bedell Taste Rosé, North Fork L.I., $20. Entrée: Clambake. Wine pairing: 2014 JM Pillot Chassagne Montrachet Les Chaumes, Burgundy, $50; duryealobsters.com
BOBBY VAN’S — Appetizer: Colossal Crab Cocktail. Wine pairing: 2014 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch, California, $40. Entrée: Porterhouse. Wine pairing: 1995 Château Calon Ségur, Bordeaux, $140; bobbyvans.com
New in Town
Steven Jauffrineau on his wildly popular Lulu Kitchen & Bar, in Sag Harbor
Lulu Kitchen feels high-end but casual at the same time. How do you achieve that? All of the food served here is wood-fired fare. We have the most fun when we aren’t worried about what we are wearing. You come as-is and feel right at home. What makes your restaurant stand out from the pack? I just look at all the fancy Hamptons stuff as not what we do. Best dishes to order? Surf and turf — short ribs wood-fired and lobster. You live in the Hamptons full-time now. Are you an authentic local? I have a 1992 Jeep with fishing poles in the front. Our favorite thing is to park by a bay or a bridge and fish organically. lulusagharbor.com
Matt Lauer’s Top Golf Holes
Golf is a mix of jokes, epic frustrations, and one shot providing a lifetime’s loop of happy memories. NBC’s Today host spoke with us about the most confounding and challenging Hamptons holes.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Hole 11
Insiders know Shinnecock as the hardest Hamptons course. It prides itself on hosting the U.S. Open every ten years or so. Even though the 11th hole is a par-3, it’s considered the shortest par-5 in America. The green is a postage stamp: a small target with severe, unforgiving slopes. If you miss the green, you are in for difficult bunkers or the rough.
Matt’s take: “You just had an Arnold Palmer and a peanut butter Ritz. You tee off on 11 and hold your breath. Am I dead? Your nightmare or surprise waits.”
National Golf Links of America, Hole 4
This plays like a tricky Scottish course, and it takes local know-how to succeed. The fourth hole, a Redan, is a par-3 modeled after the 15th hole at North Berwick, Scotland, which slopes strongly from right to left. A member calls it “a great dinner companion who is amusing every second but doesn’t snap at you.”
Matt’s take: “Hole 4 looks simple, but it is anything but. If you hit well and happen to get to the bar, it’s the best party around.”
Maidstone Club, Hole 10
A Hamptons favorite, the Maidstone has picturesque bridges over the water and ocean views. Jackie Kennedy’s father, John Vernou Bouvier III, was a member. “It’s the hardest shortest course in America,” one member says. “On a windy day, it can bite you in the ass. The tenth hole is a killer with a fast-sloped green. You could be putting for a birdie, and then suddenly be putting for a six.”
Matt’s take: “I got addicted to Southside cocktails at the Maidstone bar years ago. Hole 10 is difficult because it has an elevated green that is penalizing and very hard to hold.”
Sebonack Golf Club, Hole 2
The Peconic Bay course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak. Hole 2 is beautifully laid out, but long and brutal, and it’s difficult to hit the green. “Beware the sand traps,” one member says. Regulars adore it; newcomers think it’s overly tricky.
Matt’s take: “If you shoot a left drive, you’ll have a blind shot. If you’re right, you’ll be near a bunker. If you’re short, it’s trouble. If you’re long, it’s death. If you’re to the right, it’s death riding a gorilla.”
Friar’s Head, Hole 18
A Coore & Crenshaw design, Friar’s Head has links-like terrain. Hole 18’s second shot is its hardest. If you’re short of the green by five yards, it will roll 50 yards into a gully. One member says, “If you’re not a good golfer, you’re screwed. Actually, you’re screwed even if you are a good golfer.”
Matt’s take: “By your second shot on hole 18, you’re hitting through tears running down your face.”
Atlantic Golf Club, Hole 10
A newer course built on undulating hills, the Atlantic is set on 204 acres of former farmland where the morning and afternoon light can mystify the mounds and moguls. Sudden ocean breezes make an array of shots necessary. Hole 10 is a long, narrow par-4, where trouble looms everywhere. You can be out of bounds on one side and in bunkers on the other.
Matt’s take: “On hole 10, you can think you’ve hit a good shot, but the wind can be blowing, and you watch it blow out of bounds.”
Pizza-Oven Mania
Chef Katie Lee on the Hamptons’ coveted cooking appliance
You’re a pizza-oven connoisseur. What’s the best current model? I have a Wood Stone, and it’s fantastic. My oven is a combo: It can run fully on gas, or I can add wood to it. What recipe do you use? I am a fan of margherita, but sometimes I add corn cut from the cob and it adds this little burst of sweetness. In the fall, I’ll do shaved Brussels sprouts or roasted butternut squash with Fontina. Your favorite summer cocktail? I will never turn down an Aperol spritz. What do you like to do outside in the summer? I learned to surf in the Hamptons in 2009, and it is still my favorite place to surf. A home break is the best break.
This Is Farm Stand Country
SoulCycle master instructor Stacey Griffith, who spends her summers teaching at indoor-cycling studios in East Hampton and Bridgehampton, has a request: Eat local.
“Support your local farmer.” That’s my Hamptons motto,” says SoulCycle guru Stacey Griffith. “It’s really important to me that those of us who spend the summers in the Hamptons give back to our neighbors. I recommend Pike Farms (pikefarms.com), in Sagaponack, and Babinski’s Farm Stand (160 Newlight Ln.), run by Lisa and Bill Babinski in Water Mill. Round Swamp Farm (roundswampfarm.com), a country market, used to be only in the Springs, but now there’s also a location in Bridgehampton. It has the best selection of preprepared meals and side dishes, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
“Yes, even though I’m a fitness instructor, I know it also has awesome cinnamon buns.”
Book Smart
Playhouse in the Hamptons
SOUTHAMPTON BOOKS — With readings and signings, Southampton Books mixes the rare with the new. southamptonbooks.com
HARBOR BOOKS — Literary and artsy, Harbor Books in Sag Harbor is lined with shelves that make the shop feel like a living room. bookssgh.com
BOOKHAMPTON — BookHampton is where tourists, locals, authors, and readers congregate. bookhampton.com
A TALE OF TWO SISTERS — This small-town vibe Montauk shop has the “many in Montauk are trying to preserve.” 631-238-5999
The Perfect Saturday
Jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher, who weekends in East Hampton with her husband and two children — and with another couple and their four children
“The first thing I do, after coffee and yoga, is make breakfast,” says jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher. “While they’re at Tracy Anderson I make poached eggs and pancakes for the kids.” Fisher describes summer as “primal” and herself as a “hunter-gatherer” thing and “antisocial”: “We don’t go out at night much. Maaaaybe Dopo La Spiaggia. We stay in — otherwise you just see everyone you see during the week in the city!”
Artist to Watch
Michael Dweck
Your photographs capture people enjoying the sand, sea, and salty air. Is the seduction of the flesh particular to Montauk? No, it’s not specific to a town. My work is about summer youth and blends idealism and documentation. Your book The End: Montauk, N.Y. is more a story than pure photography. My artwork is like a film. You escape and go on a journey into a surfing subculture. How has money changed Montauk? The main street still looks the same, and there are dunes, and the sunsets are still the same. The sun and water are what make Montauk special.
Artists & Writers: A Literary Slugfest
For decades, on August’s third Saturday, Hamptons locals have met up in East Hampton to watch well-known writers and artists play softball. The players’ potential for humiliation is high. “If you strike out twice, you probably have to go into therapy,” says Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, who has watched but not played. “You ruin your life playing sports or running off with your masseuse — it’s the same thing.” awgame.org
