>travel now: the hamptons

he little girl looked forlorn. Standing in the Starbucks The main streets of every town in the Hamptons are filled line in East Hampton, she tugged at her mother’s with bistro bars, patio restaurants, antique shops and pricey cashmere sleeve, almost in tears. “Oh, Mummy,” she boutiques. You’ll find many of your favorite labels at the shops said. “I forgot to kiss Daddy good-bye this morning like Ralph Lauren, InterMix, J.Crew, Wonder, Tory Burch, before he got in the helicopter.” Michael Kors, Calypso, J. McLaughlin, Theory and Elie Tahari. TThis child of the “one percent” summers with her prosperous In East Hampton you can buy a cashmere sweater for $1,250 parents on the luscious East End of Long Island known as “The at Brunello Cucinelli or an $18 T-shirt from Bookhampton that Hamptons,” a term that annoys many locals, who prize the says, “I Believe in Books.” (I skipped the sweater and bought uniqueness of each little village and hamlet tucked into the 27 the T-shirt). miles from Montauk Point to East Hampton. This elite stretch While in East Hampton make your way to The Monogram A Travelgirl’s Guide to the Good Life: of land includes Wainscot, Sagaponack, Bridgehampton, Water Shop (www.themonogramshops.com) on Newtown Lane for Mill, Southampton, Sag Harbor, Amagansett and Shelter Island, anything you want personalized. The place is overflowing with which can only be approached by ferry. ideas, from finely stitched pillow cases, bathrobes and night “The Hamptons” conjures the good life of pristine beaches, gowns to beach bags, sun bonnets, glasses, placemats, napkins million dollar mansions, gleaming yachts and emerald green golf (paper or linen) stationery, invitations, and place cards for your courses where even the sand traps glisten. In addition, the area dinner parties (the funniest being monogrammed Stop Talk- THE Hamptons boasts windmills, horse farms, flowered meadows, rolling fields ing beneath which the impish owner, Valerie Smith, wrote the of corn and acres of vineyards. The food is farm fresh and, just name of Bill O’Reilly). She also sells 16 oz. shatterproof glass By Kitty Kelley like Provence, there is a farmer’s market (in season) every day in cups that go in the dishwasher and — ta dah — predict presi- a different town offering fresh fruits and vegetables, sunflowers, dential elections. eggs still warm from the hen house and even fresh chicken. “The cups know,” said Smith. “The cups always know.” Since 1994 she has been monogramming political cups — the last “The Hamptons” conjures the good ones were Obama/Biden and Romney/Ryan. “I keep a daily tally life of pristine beaches, million dollar of how many sold and post it in the window so passers-by can mansions, gleaming yachts and see the results, and every four years my cups have accurately emerald green golf courses where predicted the presidency.” Beyond the glitz and glamour of the Hamptons is a cornu- even the sand traps glisten. copia of culture — theater, music, dance, art, film and spec- For foodies, there are gourmet chefs and starred restaurants, tacular garden tours. Nearly every night in the summer there notably Nick and Toni’s (East Hampton), Tutto Il Giorno (Sag is a charity event open to the public to raise money for every Harbor), Tom Colicchio’s Topping Rose House and Pierre’s good cause from local schools and libraries to hospitals and (Bridgehampton). The most romantic restaurant by far is the hospices. Not to be missed is an evening of Shakespeare Under bricked alley of Sant Ambroeus (Southampton). The orchids the Stars at Mulford Farm in East Hampton presented by HIT- cascading from the walls and candles flickering at small tables Fest (Hamptons Independent Theatre Festival: www.HITFest. make you feel like Cinderella with two glass slippers, plus a org). Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor offers a summer comedy fairy godmother who grants your every gourmet wish from fresh series and top-quality productions by Equity actors. One of the seafood to locally harvested wines. The princess-worthy menu funniest evenings is “Celebrity Autobiography” at Guild Hall is served by waiters who look (and act) like Prince Charming. in East Hampton, featuring a troupe of actors reading inanities “The Hamptons” also mean celebrities, celebrities, celebri- from books written by celebrities such as Dolly Parton, Arnold ties. In East Hampton you’re bound to see Alec Baldwin with Schwarzenegger and Tony Danza. his yogi wife, Hilaria, carrying their baby down Main Street. An absolute must-see is LongHouse Reserve (www.longhouse. If you breakfast at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor, you can org) in East Hampton, the 16-acre sculpture garden created by be sure the former president you see ordering an egg white world-renowned textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen. He has omelet is Bill Clinton. He and Hillary (aka “Billary”) are sum- filled his little piece of paradise with towering oaks, weeping mer regulars. Kitchen czarinas like Martha Stewart and Ina Japanese cherry trees and Hemlock hedges surrounded by Garten are fixtures as are tycoons like Ron Perlman (Revlon), flowers in full bloom year-round. You will be mesmerized by the Ronald Lauder (Estee Lauder), and Len Riggio (Barnes & marriage of art to nature as you stroll through 37 pocket gardens Noble). Don’t be surprised if you see Howard Schultz, CEO of under rose-entwined arches. Wandering around ponds teeming Starbucks, standing at the door welcoming customers. with lilies and pools bedecked by outdoor furniture as colorful Fashionistas love spotting Tory Burch, Calvin Klein and as peacock feathers, you will see sumptuous sculptures — a de

Ralph Lauren and fans occasionally glimpse Madonna, Paul Kooning here and a Chihuly there. Yoko Ono’s mammoth white discover longisland.com : ESY

McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Jessica Parker, marble chess set gleams in a green garden not far from an arrest- T Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Ripa, Andy Cohen, ing fiberglass dome designed by Buckminster Fuller. O COUR

Gwyneth Paltrow, Mariska Hargitay and Christie Brinkley, who On summer weekends the main roads of the Hamptons are T

at 60 looks better than when she was Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl.” clogged with Jaguars and Ferraris. The traffic is bumper to rich PHO

28 travelgirl www.travelgirlinc.com 29 PHOTOS FROM TOP L-R: BY ERIC STRIFFLER/ NICK & TONI’S; COURTESY DISCOVERLONG ISLAND.COM; COURTESY DISCOVERLONG ISLAND.COM; COURTESY BAKER HOUSE; COURTESY LONGHOUSE RESERVE; COURTESY SANT AMBROEUS

PHOTO COURTESY discoverlongisland.com as one resident quoted Rich,” and Extremely atthe Angry are Rich Very “The story: the headlined newspaper local The racket. the discuss to meeting hall atown held recently Harbor Sag that akerfuffle up such kicked has mornings Monday and afternoons Friday on Hamptons the over traffic sky The ocean. the by sions man dollar multi-million their to helicopter then and planes in on private fly one-percenters The clubbing. night Saturday and rentals summer for heading X-ers Generation with filled hattan Man from arrive of jitneys Fleets dinner. upscale of an price the you than more cost could Aticket monitored. strictly are places parking and to) pedestrians protect (try guards crossing bumper; - - memorable trip. trip. memorable a be to promises Hamptons the to ajourney winter, and fall of romance fireplace or the of spring leisure dialed-back the of summertime, throttle celebrity full the you choose whether honor So bar. and aspa plus beds, canopy features Hampton East in (www.bakerhouse1650.com) House Baker The tourists. of hordes the without especially rewarding, be can season any sky.” the across fingers middle of fleet a Isee choppers, and planes up Ilook atsmall “When saying, for its veal Milanese. Its gelato also gets rave reviews. gets also gelato Its Milanese. veal its for is known Ambroeus restaurant Sant Southampton Romantic Larsen; Lenor Jack designer textile world-renowned by created park asculpture and garden amuseum, Hampton, East in Reserve Longhouse East Hampton; in B&B 1650, House Baker aluxury The Main; 55 at shopping high-end for —even Hamptons the in transportation of mode popular a are Bikes Island; Long Yacht Montauk, in Montauk the Club at marina The Fallon; Jimmy or Baldwin Alec to next dining yourself find may you restaurant mainstay, where Toni’s, East Hampton an and Nick of Smith Mark co-owner and Realmuto Joseph Chef Executive to right: left from top, page Opposite shopping. and restaurants fabulous with area awalkable has Hamptons, the in towns most like Village, Southampton page: This While the Hamptons are famous for summer vacations, vacations, for summer famous are Hamptons the While t g www.travelgirlinc.com

31 ILLUSTRATION BY KARLA TRAPP