Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back

After a long respite from blogging, I am happy to report that I am back, and there have been a number of positive changes at the Blue Gull Beach House. Currently, a number of different projects are underway to give this little beach cottage a new look for 2012. I am excited to share them with you, and I am looking forward to another fabulous summer in Montauk! This picture taken at sunset last summer remains one of my favorites-- and the colors were the inspiration for some color changes throughout the house-- stay tuned!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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...