New Hamptons Subway Route Map

....no, not really. But a company called Transit Authority Figures has come up with an idea of what exactly efficient underground mass transit would look like on the East End. Probably the best way to get from Westhampton to Montauk on a weekend, when 27 looks more like a parking lot than our main thoroughfare. There's even a Plum Island stop! Looks like this tube is still a pipe dream, though.

Hamptons Subway Map Poster, $20 (pre-order), transitauthorityfigures.com

Saturday Cocktailing | Wölffer Rosé

Well, it's Memorial Day weekend, kids. This kicks off the unofficial summer season in beach towns and backyards everywhere. The pools are open, the grills are fired up, and the summer share folks are leaving the city in droves for greener pastures. This is one of the best times of the year to have a drink alfresco - and what could be better than a chilled bottle of rosé. While rosé had previously gotten a pretty bad rap, in the past few years it's come back in vogue. Just be sure to get a dry variety - too sweet and it tastes like melted candy. One of my favorite rosés comes from Wölffer Estate in Sagaponack, New York. They've just released their 2008 vintage, and it's about to start flying off the shelves for a few reasons - it's mighty tasty, and at $16 a pop, you won't mind if your guests throw some ice in it (hey, it's summer...relax). If you're not in the New York area, you can always order online (link below). Might want to get a bottle (or a case) sooner rather than later - these have been known to sell out pretty quick.

Wölffer Estate 2008 Rosé, $16, wolffer.com

The Perfect Picnic

There's something about coolers that just...irks me. The hard plastic ones are sort of retro-chic but bulky and not so easy to carry, and their softer-sided alternatives are functional but pretty damn ugly. So I was pleased to find this cooler today at an LL Bean shop in Pennsylvania, which deftly combines the best of both (cooler) worlds. Looks just like a classic Boat & Tote, except that it's fully insulated and has a zip top. Sneaky, huh? Comes in a lunch size and a "picnic" size, perfect for a trip to the beach with some sandwiches and perhaps a bottle of rosé.

LL Bean Picnic Tote, $49.50, llbean.com

Come on Baby, Light My Fire

Nothing says "fancy fête" quite like custom-printed matchbooks. They're a great finishing touch for the well-kept home. Keep 'em in the bathroom by your Jo Malone candles or place them on the patio in ashtrays for the smoking set. These also make a fabulously unexpected host or hostess gift. Get them printed with your monogram, your address, or your favorite Sartre quote (disclaimer: "Hell is other people" would not be apropos for giving to a hostess...).

Set of 50, $44, foryourparty.com

Dapper Max

Photo: Stephanie Leondis

Hitting newsstands today: New York Magazine's Spring Design Issue, featuring the fabulous Drew University dorm room of my dear friend Max. Check out the article here.

I remember his first dorm decorating job as a senior at Choate. The walls were wallpapered with nautical charts (from Papa), there was an antique trunk at the foot of the bed full of cashmere cableknits, and part of our hallway was commandeered for use as a dressing room. Max could often be found on the fire escape, starching and ironing his white Frette hotel sheets.

One of our first design collaborations? A set of pink and green china for the dorm, $10 from a local thrift store. Takeout from Wallingford Pizza never looked so good.