Gin Beach Pics

Hi all! Things have been busy, and so I have been offline, but I wanted to share a couple of pictures that I took of Gin Beach in Montauk. We have had some fabulous weather this summer, and I am looking forward to going swimming this Friday (hoping for 80 degree weather!). Yesterday was officially the first day of summer, so here's to blue skies, sandy beaches and salty water!

Beach House Architecture

One of the things that I really enjoy about Montauk are the multitude of different styles of beach homes. From large to small, traditional to modern, bohemian to conservative, the beach shacks that dot the expansive shores of Montauk have something to offer everyone. To the left is a quick snapshot of a house that really caught my eye-- an Asian-inspired beach home with a gorgeous view from Culloden Point, not far from the Blue Gull Beach House. I think one of the things that is so wonderful about it is that it is so unexpected. When you drive down this particular street, even though the homes have a variety of looks from Hampton's "shingle style" to more Dutch-inspired architecture, this one, right on the bluff, causes your eye to gravitate right towards it. I love it!

My Beach Bucket Lamp

Weeks ago, I had mentioned wanting to put a lamp in the second bedroom that was inexpensive, yet beachy and different from some of the ones I have seen. A fairly tall order. Well, I was able to put together the lamp to the right for $15-- it was extremely easy to do and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

I took a beach bucket (or pail...whatever floats your boat), a plain lamp that was on sale at the hardware store for about $10, and a variety of different beach rocks, sand dollars, and beach glass. How easy was it? I just stuck the lamp in said bucket, filled with cool rocks and things (mostly found on the beach itself, and looped the cord back behind the bucket's handle. Totally simple.

You can see in the picture to the left, it adds a little something to the second bedroom's lobster theme...the real Rock Lobster! Ha! I suppose if you prefer you could use a lamp kit (you can get them at the store for around the same price as the on-sale and put-together model that I selected) and make it more permanent by adding plaster inside the base. I chose not to do that though....I like to move stuff around, and who knows what this little bucket has in store for the future!

The Verdict is Finally In-- Navy Beach Delivers

Following the e-mails I have received asking if I had a chance to check out Navy Beach, I will leave you in suspense no more-- Navy Beach delivers on everything it promises. The service was fantastic, and everyone was friendly-- they make you happy to be there, and you will leave trying to calculate exactly when you will return (if you can bring yourself to leave!). The food was wonderful-- thoughtful and successful taste combinations provided unexpected twists on traditional flavors. I had the salmon nicoise, a welcome departure from the typical tuna preparation that we are all used to.

As you can see in the picture above, the atmosphere is everything you could hope for from a restaurant with it's own beach-- after lunch I was able to slip into an adirondack

chair overlooking the water and enjoy a cocktail (the Navy Grog was delicious) while drifting away. They have a great lineup of drinks, complete with one that changes daily to weekly-- the Madoff Cocktail.

Now, I timed my visit for a slot where Navy Beach was not crowded, so the vibe will depend on your timing-- typically in Montauk if you want a crowd, you go out on a weekend night, and if you are looking for something more laid back you go out during the week when fewer tourists are in town. Regardless of the speed you pick, Navy Beach will provide you with food, drinks, service and atmosphere to make your visit enjoyable.

Nautical Fix

I've been slowly trying to add some nautically-styled stuff to the Blue Gull Beach House without going overboard and by trying to incorporate some functional pieces. I did however, fall in love with this little red sail boat pictured to the left (not functional but I had so much fun putting it together!)-- it seemed to bring just enough extra color into the livingroom's overall scheme. I found it in Our Gig Two "Whatever"-- a shop in Sag Harbor with a mix of nautical antiques and just a variety of stuff. I could not find a website, but they are located on Main Street and have cool home furnishings in a price range to satisfy everyone's budget.

I also found this nautically-themed flag with two pockets-- I've hung it on the side wall, and it seems as though it will come in handy for holding pens, paper-- maybe things I should not misplace or forget. The yellow and red are helping to brighten things up a bit (I steered clear of the pink pillows I was considering-- maybe I will introduce those colors in the bedroom at some point, but for now I've got colors that the Coast Guard would approve of!).

Day Trippin: Sag Harbor

The rain held off for most of yesterday, and with bright skies today I am hoping to squeeze in another great run and a fabulous day at the beach. Yesterday I decided to take a road trip in search of some nautical pieces that would add a bit of interest to The Blue Gull Beach House without overwhelming it, and my travels lead me to Sag Harbor.

Sag Harbor is a quaint little area with a rich whaling history-- about a 40 minute drive from Montauk, but you want to go on an off-day when there is little traffic. There are many shops to spend time in, a few restaurants on the main drag, and plenty of yachts bobbing on the water for you to gawk at. There is also a beach nearby, but I did not check it out this time around.

I stopped and grabbed a quick bite at The Corner Bar, which has a good variety of sandwiches, salads and main dishes. I think I mostly enjoyed snapping a few shots of the harbor and sitting in the area around this windmill, which has benches and picnic tables scattered about in the sand. It's a great spot to relax and daydream. What nautical pieces did I finally find? Stay tuned...

In Search of Sun

The weather was fantastic again yesterday, but fog rolled in and they say we will have showers and thunderstorms up through this evening. I snapped this shot of Ditch Plains beach yesterday-- the waves were gorgeous. Over on the sound side near Culloden I went swimming, and the water temperature has been slowly rising since this past weekend. There have only been a few swimmers to brave the chilly water, but it really is nice once you are in, honest!

Fishbar-- Best Montauk Restaurant?

After this evening, I think not. I read the fabulous advertising and decided to give Fishbar a try-- I walked in, was seated by a seemingly friendly bartender, and so it began. I am actually pretty laid back when it comes to restaurants-- I understand things happen, you have off days, you have busy nights (tonight it was relatively empty) and it actually pains me to write a negative review on a spot in Montauk, but I am always forthright when it comes to my experiences.

I ordered an appetizer, the Thai mussels, and a blood orange margarita. The drink was very tasty-- not too sweet, and filled with interesting flavor. The mussels, while prepared in a very thoughtful and interesting manner, seemed a bit fishy--

perhaps not quite as fresh as they could have been. But then, there was the hair in my food. It was a big turn off for sure. Still, all the while I was trying so hard to like this restaurant-- the decor was simple, yet interesting, and the ads looked so cool-- especially when I saw the chef would be featured on Food Network...I wanted to love it.

I thought, this happens, a simple mistake, I will alert the waiter. The waiter looked at my unfinished dish, took it away, and said nothing. A simple "I am sorry" would have been a great response...a step up could have been a drink on

the house... but he seemed to not care, as if it happens often in the joint, and so I thought how terrible, surely the manager would care about the quality of the food. When I told the manager/bartender, he seemed to not care either-- it pained him to say sorry and he quickly went back to what he was doing. I was shocked, that given their highly-priced menu and seemingly good reputation, that no one cared about a sanitary matter.

I am not a snob-- I eat everywhere, from dives to some of the most fantastic restaurants you could imagine-- but customer service is king and it is something the Fishbar lacked this evening. After my experience, I will not go back, there are too many other great places, from the Dock, to Lenny's, Cyril's, Harvest, Navy Beach, Indian Wells, Star Island, The Lobster Roll and yes, my savior this evening-- Pizza Village, where I am always greeted with a smile and a fabulous pizza.

So, as for Food Network...well, I think the Fishbar's chef needs to spend a bit more time here at home training staff on customer service and keeping their hair nets on.

Two for Tauk

Well, I have been slacking off at the Blue Gull Beach House (it is so hard to not play outside all day!) but I did manage to get the extra lounge chair and cushions set up, and as you can see to the left they are resort-quality (navy blue seems to be the color I reach for lately). I picked up two large ice buckets for the yard, and I am thinking that it could use a hammock in the shade...I'll think about it at the beach!

Flip or Flop?

If you live in Montauk then you have heard of Kai Kai Sandals. On my search for cool small beach businesses, I decided to check out their Montauk location. I am happy to say, I actually bought a pair of their sandals for myself-- it's been four days in, and my feet are still loving them.

The store's owner used to be a lifeguard out here, and had an urgent need to develop a comfortable flip flop that could get him to the beach and about town. Some of the beaches out here are a little rocky, and as someone who grew up on Long Island I can tell you it can be hard for your feet to get used to. Many of us have our own disasterous flip flop story--from tales of blistered feet, to situations where the sandals just fell apart. If you love the beach, you need to keep your feet happy so you can keep going back-- all the more reason to give Kai Kai sandals a try.

I visited the Kai Kai store over by Gosman's Dock, and met the owner's sister Gabriell (she's in the picture to the left) who explained that you can also trade in certain Kai Kai sandals, and they will be refurbished and donated to the homeless, which I thought was pretty cool. In return you get 40% off of your next pair, which is a hard deal to beat, and can help you get new sandals for next season once your old ones wear out (which, I am having a hard time believing these things will ever wear out, but it's always nice to upgrade).

Now, I am not sure I'll dance to the beach (if any of you have seen me on a dance floor you know why!) but I will definitely run, hop, skip and jump in these sandals--in sum, they are worth flipping over.

More Beach House Garden Pics

This week I have been able to watch the backyard at the Blue Gull Beach House transform into an amazing beach house garden. I thought the flowers that were budding back in April were fantastic, but it just keeps getting better!

Every day I am excited to peek outside and see what new flowers are blooming-- right now, there are tons of roses, and I am embarrassed to say a multitude of blooms that I do not even know the name for, but I love them all. There are even some herbs in the side garden, and one of my favorite trees-- a Japanese maple, growing in the side yard.

The previous owners, Bob and Marion, did a fabulous job in creating a little

oasis back there (as if just being at the beach is not an oasis in and of itself!). I realized when I bought the house that there was a huge responsibility in keeping the garden healthy, and so I have been doing my best to read up on gardening and hired professionals to lend a hand as well.

With the great weather we've had everything is in full bloom, I wish you all could smell it, it is far better than perfume!

Rock and Roll

Last year I had an amazing lobster roll at Lenny's on the Dock, and since I have been on the hunt for new versions in Montauk. After a failed attempt to make one myself with lobster salad bought at Gosman's Fish Market (I was really disappointed in the quality and all the shells in the salad--maybe just a bad batch?) I returned to Lenny's for lunch yesterday. It was just as I had remembered it-- sweet meat, seasoned just enough, with the Rolling Stones playing in the background and the bar humming with tropical drinks and ice cold beer. The seating right near the dock allows you to relax and watch the charter boats come and go. I am looking forward to trying something new this summer, but for now I can count on getting my rock and roll at Lenny's.

Last Night's Sunset

I took some photos last night from a new little spot that I found for sunsets-- everyone always suggests the Montauket for watching a sunset, and while I agree, if it's your first time out to Montauk it is a good spot, it can get crowded very quickly. On a weekend night it's you and every other tourist!

Last night I took my camera and a glass of wine down to a more secluded spot on the lower beach that sprawls out across from Duryea's and got a few cool shots in-- in a more intimate setting.

The New Big Apple

Well, after a long battle with many viruses, my old laptop was finally laid to rest and I did the unthinkable-- I made the switch from a PC to an Apple Mac. I bought a MacBook Pro and it has been amazing-- my download speeds are faster, my picture quality seems better-- I love it!

The weather has been great out here in Montauk-- they say we may have a shower later but the weather has held steady at 80-85 degrees and I actually went swimming this past weekend (yes, it was cold, but so good!). A fabulous Memorial Day was had by all, and I hope the great weather continues. More to come, from the new Beach Mac at the Blue Gull Beach House!

76 and Counting!

The weather forecast for this week looks fabulous, with 70+ during the day! I thought I would share one of my favorite pics with you-- the water to the left at Ditch Plains looks so inviting it makes it impossible to concentrate with this as your desktop background!

Pillow Tauk

Today, I am on the hunt for some pillows and a comfy chair to brighten up the far corner of the Blue Gull Beach House's livingroom. Once again, I struck gold (to the left) online at Anthropologie, so I will hit a few shops today before making my final decision. The room has lots of navy and lime green, so I need to go back to ROY-G-BIV to find a complementary hue! This pink is growing on me, though.

The weekend was productive-- I was able to scoop up a bunch of fun stuff for my July guests (party tub, extra towels, cushions for the chaise lounges, board games) and I am looking forward to finishing that beach bucket lamp I mentioned so many weeks ago (yes, she moves with warp-like speed in theory, but in practice??)...stay tuned!

The Montauk Oyster Pond

Montauk has a number of cool trails that you can hike, and one that I recently discovered is the Oyster Pond Trail which leads to the Oyster Pond. To the left you can see some pics of the pond that I took from the overlook site. You can access the actual trail from the Seal Haul Trail, which takes you out to the beach on Block Island Sound. It is a very secluded area that gives you that "untouched by man" kind of a feeling, with no tourists, crystal clear waters and salty air.

The pond itself is an area with a rich variety of plant and animal life. When heavy rain hits it will sometimes cause the pond to connect directly with Block Island Sound, and this process typically brings in new sealife, nutrients, you name it, but can also cause schools of fish to become trapped-- as you can see being there definitely brings out a little of my inner geek!

Zagat Survey is In: Dave's and Harvest on Top

The newest Zagat Survey on Hamptons restaurants is out for 2010/2011, and Dave's Grill and Harvest on Fort Pond came out with strong scores for the Montauk area. I have blogged about my love for Harvest before, but have not had a chance to drop in at Dave's (although many people have highly recommended it). Dave's looks as though it has a great seafood lineup, and so, I will be making a reservation for the first week of June so that I can try their "Famous Fish Stew"-- I am curious to see just how famous it is!

Memorial Day Countdown!

Greetings! After an intense computer virus hit my laptop, I am finally back up and running!

The time away from the blog has enabled me to get ready for my Memorial Day Party. This year, I am hoping to make things interesting with this "drunken watermelon on tap" that I found on Evite. I thought this was so clever, the author scooped the watermelon out, made a punch with rum and the watermelon chunks, and attached a faucet from the hardware store to make a keg- like contraption. I thought it turned out kinda cool, not sure if I can pull this one off, though!

Navy Beach Opens This Week!

The wait is finally over-- I heard that Navy Beach, the new restaurant on Navy Road, will open for business on Thursday. Their website is up and running, the place looks great and the food sounds fantastic, from lobster pot pies to buttermilk fried chicken. Check out the interior pic to the left from their website. Make your reservations now!

Happy Mother's Day!

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day! Whether you are at the beach, in the mountains, in the city or somewhere else in-between, I hope this day was a special one. We had a wonderful time visiting with Sondra and the gang-- I will leave you all with one of the Blue Gull Beach House garden pics. Stuff keeps growing everywhere, I love it!

One Fish Two Fish...

If you love to fish, Montauk is the place to be. I recently saw an ad somewhere that described Montauk as a "quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem" and that's about as good of a description as any. A number of boats down at the harbor are ready for hire to take you and your group on daily tours to catch whatever is in season. I am hoping that maybe this summer or fall I can convince my family to go out with me, I think it would be cool!


Lenny's is a great spot to grab lunch, watch them all come back in, and check out the catch of the day. If you want to charter your own boat or dock your boat there are a number of marinas nearby, including the Gone Fishing Marina, Rick's Crabby Cowboy Marina, the Montauk Marine Basin, and Uihlien's Marina. The Montauk Yacht Club and Star Island Yacht Club are also available for dockage, and Star Island has a number of shark tournaments in the summer months. I am hoping to check out the upcoming one in June-- watch out JAWS, here I come!

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone! I hope you all have a margarita in hand and some fabulous Mexican food in front of you. To help celebrate, I thought I would post some pics from my last trip to Isla de Mujeres, a beautiful island off of the coast of Cancun.

What can I say-- Isla is quaint, fun, has a ton of cultural eye candy. Just a fabulous place to get away from it all. This picture above was taken at Maria's Kan Kin, one of my favorite spots for ceviche.

You can get to Isla via ferry from Cancun-- pack extremely light (your bathing suit, a cover up and an outfit for nightlife) and be sure to rent a golf cart when you arrive. First stop, Hacienda Mundaca, the house of a slave trader/pirate built in the 19th century (be prepared, there are iguanas *everywhere* and quite a little collection of monkeys on the premises). Second stop (especially fabulous at sunset) Punta Sur, the first spot for the sun to hit Mexican soil, and the site of a Mayan ruin built for the goddess Ixchel. This below picture was taken at Punta Sur.

For dinner, there are a number of fabulous options, and the downtown area comes to life with street performers. You can find authentic mexican, italian, ice cream, cafes, bars-- you name it. While a sleepy little fishing village, Isla has a magical way of making you feel close to nature and surrounded by privacy. This is one place where I will definitely be back!

Makin' Waves

Beach hair has a way of looking extremely sexy-- sun-drenched tresses that are slightly windswept can help to heat up those summer months! The best way to get this look is to get yourself to the beach, but we all can't be beach bunnies 24/7 now can we? Last week I found the perfect solution to this little problem-- if you can't get to the beach, just bring the beach to you!

One way to get the look is with Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. I tried it the other day and it rocks. If you're a curly girl like me, you may want to straighten your hair before using it, but if you have straight hair just work it through your damp hair and start making some waves!

More Beach Pics

It's been a while! The great outdoors have called my name and I have been behind in my blogging duties. Hope you all are enjoying some fabulous weather wherever you are, with gorgeous blue waters nearby.

I obviously can't wait for summer, as the temperatures rise I am excited about sunning, swimming, boating-- you name it! I shot these pics (as promised!) of some local paddleboarders-- yet another sport that I have not had a chance to try. But. Maybe!

The Dunes Near Culloden Point

I took a number of pictures of the dunes leading up to the beach near my house recently. By summer's end I am hoping to pull together a cool portfolio of pictures just focused on the beaches in Montauk, so I am on the lookout for items and people of interest-- it was the fence that caught my eye this time!

Flip Flops By Day...Wedge Heels By Night

I love that Montauk is so casual. I can go anywhere I need to go in my flip flops by day, and most places even welcome my flip flops by night. The cool thing is, if I have the urge to dress up, there are places where people can ooh and ahh over my Charles David wedge heels, which I absolutely adore. I bought them last season when my heel got caught in-between those little slats on the dock at the Montauk Yacht Club, and I, without a shred of grace or poise, fell on my arse. So I've learned, there's no heel like a wedge heel. They give me height, they evenly distribute my weight, and reduce my chances of an outright swan dive.

One place I would recommend if you feel like getting fancy in-season is East By Northeast (ENE). Interesting food, great drinks, well dressed folks, and another view of Fort Pond. One place I have not yet ventured into (the long lines and beautiful people had me shy away last year), is The Surf Lodge. I have never been but I've heard all sorts of interesting things about the place. Some locals seem to hate it; visitors seem to love it. Without having been brave enough to venture in myself, I cannot form any sort of opinion-- but I do think they have a cool website. If you've been...let me know how it is...or perhaps I'll finally check it our for myself...

Happy Earth Day!

The weather in Montauk may not be the best for getting outside and enjoying the sun today, but have a wonderful Earth Day! If you live near a beach, check out Ocean Conservancy to find out how you can help preserve our beautiful beaches by taking part in the next International Coastal Cleanup. Start a Sea Change!

Village of East Hampton

East Hampton is yet another fun area to stop off in on your way out to Montauk. The vibe is not as quaint as Amagansett-- it is harder to describe, with shopping like Manhattan on a small town main street with one hour parking...I won't lie, the parking is a pain. There is an area with two hour parking as well, but for some reason I always feel rushed when I am out and about there.

The shopping does not involve your normal medley of stores, but rather upscale boutiques such as Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany's-- you get the picture. The headquarters of the Hamptons International Film Festival are also located there, as well as a restaurant that I love: Rowdy Hall. They have an amazing vegetarian chili, good burgers-- something for everyone. East Hampton is also home to a restaurant/inn that I am dying to try-- the famed 1770 House. I first saw this spot when it aired on Barefoot Contessa (yes, I watch a lot of Food Network...I should probably watch less and actually cook more!) and I am waiting for the perfect occasion to drop in for a bite.

Dish it Out-- Coastal Style

My plates from CB2 have arrived, and I am not opening the box until I complete all of the tasks on my "To Do List" (there are a total of 2o items, so this will be a busy week!). In looking for some fun dinnerware, I also came across these octopus plates from Anthropologie, featured in their From the Deep Collection. This collection houses an assortment of plates, from kissing fish, to boats and more, all ranging from $14-$24. Check out their Life at Sea tumblers as well, and their Sea Creature Tea Set for a funky tea party even Alice would love!

Bathroom Pics

Thought I would share this picture of the main bathroom. As you can see, it has beadboard walls, tile floors, and there is also a fabulous skylight above the bathtub (you can see the light filtering through). The lighthouse rug was another housewarming gift-- I love the bright colors, so I picked out towels that match that same color scheme...and coordinate with each bedroom! This system also helps me keep things organized when guests are over-- if your designated color is blue, don't let me catch you with a yellow towel!

Greetings From Annapolis!

To prep for the upcoming wedding that I will be shooting, I took a quick trip to Annapolis, MD. The weather was fair (it could have been 10 degrees warmer for me!), the seafood fabulous, and I was able to find some cool "shot spots." Mission Accomplished!

My first introduction with this fun, coastal town was via my friend who attended the United States Naval Academy (in the historic district). The area is also home to a number of interesting shops, great restaurants, and even The National Sailing Hall of Fame. If you love to sail, Annapolis is a great spot to get your fix. Re-Sails, a store that makes unique products from used sails, is also located near the City Dock, and has a number of great gifts for that special sailor in your life!

While there is no beach (sans sand), the beautiful harbor views and historic homes make up for it, as well as the myriad of art galleries. I did not visit any of the galleries this time, but I did have a fabulous lunch at McGarvey's Saloon and Oyster Bar-- their steamed seafood sampler hit the spot. See ya next time!

On the Way to the Beach I Saw a Duck

The Great American Road Trip goes hand and hand with Beach Pop Culture. Years ago, people didn't surf the web for travelocity deals or plan every detail of their journey through trip advisor-- if your family was taking a vacation, you just got in the car and drove. I can still remember the steps: your parents packed the car, then they packed you in, and then you drove, testing how long you could make it before needing a pitstop!

These road trips allowed for something kinda special-- the element of surprise. Sometimes, along the way, you would pass a real roadside gem-- something so kitschy you begged your parents to stop. For me, the roadside attraction that always struck me was The Big Duck. Built in 1931 by Riverhead duck farmer Martin Maurer, this 20 foot tall, 30 foot long structure even features red tail lights from a Model T Ford for eyes (they kinda glow red at night!). Maurer used the structure as a store to sell his Peking Ducks to passing travelers.

The Big Duck's roadside location has shifted over the years, but to date it still stands in Flanders, and I smile every time I pass it on the drive out to Montauk. A few weeks ago, I indulged myself, and stopped (yes, I stopped), breakfast in hand, and sat at one of the nearby picnic tables to pay homage to this giant that watched over so many of my trips to the beach growing up. He may not be number one on trip advisor, but he's tops on the Blue Gull Beach House's list!

The First Annual Montauk Music Festival

For those of you looking to enjoy the beach a little early this year (and maybe beat some of that summer traffic), Montauk has some cool upcoming events, including the first annual Montauk Music Festival sponsored by The Montauk Sun. From May 13-16 various bands will play throughout different venues in Montauk, their music covering a wide spectrum of sound (country, rock, jazz, blues). Looking forward to what I hope will be a great event!

More Livingroom Pics

Thought I would share a few more pics from the livingroom-- the couch has been great, it's actually a pull out, and I love that all of the covers are machine washable. The white tables are also courtesy of IKEA-- I love the fact that the coffee table has a drawer that pushes through both ways with different compartments. Right now, I've got my blue starfish and some sand dollars in there, I'm still thinking about what beachy stuff I can house in that drawer!

The sofa table also has a glass top with open shelves...yes, more starfish! They seemed to bring the least amount clutter while giving things a bit of a coastal touch. I found them on quality shells, a discount shell store that enables you to purchase seashells from all different parts of the world. Montauk does have a number of great shells, but I thought it would be fun to bring in a few that wash up naturally on other shores.

Of course, with a glass top table you need to be careful-- I received one of the best housewarming gifts to help me with that-- these gorgeous blue coasters made out of geode rock. They are the perfect platform for any cocktail!

Amagansett: Another Unincorporated Hamlet

In getting accquainted with Montauk and its surrounding areas I have had to learn a little bit about geography, erosion, and the differences between towns and villages and hamlets oh my. I think I've finally got my map straight! So here is how it works: Montauk, an unincorporated hamlet, is part of the town of East Hampton (as is the Village of East Hampton, a bit of Sag Harbor, and the other unincorporated hamlets: Wainscott, Springs and Amagansett).

Amagansett is Montauk's closest neighbor, and right now is a running favorite of mine. Its main street area is small on size, big on charm, and home to the nearby Indian Wells Beach. There are a number of antique shops, a hardware store (with the most adorable little new puppy you have ever seen...yes, I love dogs), an art supply store, camera store, and a few restuarants including one of my favorites, Indian Wells Tavern.

There is also a Marine Museum which overlooks the ocean and details Eastern Long Island's fishing and whaling history. I have not yet had an opportunity to check it out, but I hope to do so soon.

If you have a chance, if you are driving through to Montauk, stop off here, even if just to ooh and ahh and the amazing homes, some almost barn-like in their presence, many with breathtaking beach views. The drive through East Hampton can be really relaxing (note: there is summer traffic so you have got to plan ahead) and is free of any billboards, gas stations or other clutter. Just open village greens like the one to the left, and miles and miles of beach...