Good morning, Monday- it's a lovely day back in Brooklyn and I'm feeling pretty energized from my trip, if not somewhat deflated that it was way too short. Everybody knows that New York City is my place of places, but Montauk- Montauk has a spiritual pull that I can't quite explain.
Maybe it's the fact that I grew up going to the beach every summer, and though it was Rehoboth in Delaware and most definitely not the Hamptons, I feel my dad's presence when I am at the beach- being seaside was his favorite thing on the planet and I loved watching him swim and tan and be generally excited to rock some white Polo pants and his loafers with no socks. It's funny that I lived in Miami all of those (long) years and had no affinity to the beach there- sure it's beautiful and perfect and the water is calm and gorgeous but somehow it wasn't mine. The beach of my youth was Northeastern, salt water taffied, and decidedly rough seaed. Living in Miami and having the ability to lay on the beach all year round, I so missed my Northeastern summers and feel very happy to be back and fully embrace those gorgeous shores, and feel my dad's presence all along the way.
And I'll never forget the first time I went to the Hamptons- I was in my early twenties and had moved to New York from Philly after college and was well versed in the Jersey shore and Delaware beaches, but never in my life had I seen anything (in my mind) as beautiful as that coastline of shingled homes, farm stands, and rugged beaches like I saw out East in Long Island. The Hamptons is not just a spot for conspicous consumption- it's also served as a muse for artists from De Koonig to Jackson Pollock- they all agreed that there was somethign about the light there that was heavenly, and I couldnt' agree more. Light aside, I instantly fell in love- the sleepy charm, the quaint spots like the Golden Pear to get a morning muffin and coffee, the obvious preppiness and class that came with such a lovely setting. Sure there were douchey people in the Hamptons, but they had nothing on Jersey shore types so I never felt bothered by them. And yea, there's a pretentious cluelessness there but I ignore that too- I adore all the little towns- the "you've arrived" feeling of hitting Southhampton after hours of car travel, the ice cream cone cuteness of Bridgehampton, the upscale retail and celeb spotting of East Hampton, the small town vibe of Sag Harbor, the little local record shop in Amagansett, and then of course, my crown jewel - Montauk. Ah, Montauk. They say it's "The End" because t's the last point of Long Island and the Hamptons, But I say it is because for me, it's simply "the end". As in where I want to spend my days and endlessly lovely and perfect and gorgeous. There's something about Montauk that despite its recent and (to some reluctant) status as a hipster Hades that still feels a bit rebellious, outlawed, and majestic in its unfussed, somewhat mangy beauty. I live for it.
Montauk, with its storied past of hosting Stones, Bouvier Kennedys, and Warhols. Montauk, with its craggy coastline and hill top dunes that make you realize how small you really are. Montauk with its newly found status as hipster hangout, making it a fun place to explore with restaurants like the Crow's Nest and hotels like the Surf Lodge (more on my fav spots later). David and I have our very own past with Montauk and it's always been a special place for us- it's easily the most casual and surfy of all the Hamptons and because it's a bit of a wonk to get to on the weekends (it's the furthest from the city) it somehow feels like its own little island of goodness. There are a few places in this world that have such great pull on me- New York City is one, Jamaica is another ,and Montauk is yet another. And as proof of such pull, we're making it a goal of ours to have a place out there in two years time or less. I am absolutely sold on the fact that being out there is better than any therapy, botox, or drug could give me (though there's plenty of people out in the Hamptons that indulge heavily in all three). We don't need much, mind you- just a smallish shack with a guest room so people can come stay, and if we could have a pool, well that would be amazing.
In any event, to make this littler property a reality, I gotta get to some serious work. I'm thinking about new opportunities this Fall, so stay tuned. And if you're nice to me, you may very well get an invite to our future home- I'm one for sharing my happiness with others. All the love and feeling very blessed to have a spot in the world that brings me such peace and joy. I hope you have such a place in your heart- cause that's what's up this feet in the sand kind of Monday in the 718. Hopefully one day you'll meet me in Montauk. The End. XO