Ice Gold

Excellent five song E.P. to keep cool through the dog days of August. Check it out.

A Weekend In... Montauk, N.Y.

The first in a new series of posts taking a look at the basics for a weekend away.

MONTAUK, N.Y.: Sunny brights and lifeguard style typify the once-sleepy (and now trendy) beach town at the easternmost point of Long Island. While you're there, g

rab a sandwich from Ditch Witch and watch the surfers at Ditch Plains Beach. P

op into Tauk, a chic clothing and home design boutique. Have a cocktail at Navy Beach before family-style dinner at Harvest; then take in a Sunday night concert on the deck at The Surf Lodge. Hop on the LIRR or the Jitney and head back to the City.

...'til next weekend.

Clockwise from top left: Persol 649S sunglasses (custom blue lenses), $389, here; Saturdays Surf for J.Crew flag tee, $40, here; Jack Spade nylon canvas gym bag, $275, here; Ocean Potion SPF 15 sunscreen, $9.89, here; Miansai hook bracelet, $55, here, Vilebrequin Moorea "Tribal" swim trunk, $230, here.

The Upgrade | Grown-Up Ketchup

I'll say it. I'm not a ketchup fan. Probably because the watery, high fructose corn syrup-infused crap that comes out of a Heinz bottle just isn't doing it for me. When your "hamburger" is grass-fed beef on a toasted brioche bun, you need a condiment worthy of your organic ingredients. I have thus been converted after tasting the gourmet "scooping" variety from mustachioed ketchup mascot Sir Kensington. The ingredients are delicious--real brown sugar! pear tomatoes! chipotle peppers!--and it has less sodium and sugar than Heinz. With grilling season right around the corner, pick up some for your next backyard BBQ and impress the madras pants off your guests.

Sir Kensington's Gourmet Scooping Ketchup, $9 a jar, $25 for a four-pack, available here and at Williams-Sonoma, Dean & Deluca, and Whole Foods

Strong Island

With the mercury today reaching near-tropical heights (compared to the past few weeks), it's become clear that summer is around the corner. That means it's time to make sure you've got all the essentials for a beach trip, whether it be to the Eastern Shore or East Hampton. This (obviously) includes swimwear. If you're still sporting some baggy, cargo pocket-ed trunk, ditch 'em for a suit from Strong Boalt, by Palm Beach native (and Ralph Lauren alum) Amanda Boalt. Now in her second season, the suits are well cut and sport some gorgeous prints inspired by South Florida and the Bahamas. (And they look adorable on girls, too!) Throw on a white linen shirt and you're set for an après-beach cocktail.

Flying Fish Swim Trunks (Papaya), $145, Strong Boalt

Ebay Find | Purple PL Silk Blazer

Yeah, it screams "I am Chuck Bass," and you can probably only wear it once a year, but... I do love this blazer. Purple silk shawl DB Purple Label. Buy it Now for $488.

Steven Alan S/S '10

Sunday Cocktailing | The Georgica Grapefruit Fizz

Feeling inspired after a trip to Georgica Beach in East Hampton this past Saturday, I came up with this drink after finding several ripe grapefruits in our kitchen. It's delicious and refreshing... just the thing for a lazy afternoon. You can use store bought grapefruit juice to save time, but be sure to use fresh juice and not Tropicana - it really does make a difference.

2 oz vodka
1 oz Alizé Wild Passion
Juice of 1/2 grapefruit (about 3/4 cup)
Sparkling lemonade (preferably San Pellegrino Limonata)

Pour ingredients over ice, top with sparkling lemonade. Garnish with lime. Enjoy.

BTW - the cups are Tervis Tumblers, great for poolside - they won't break and they keep your cold stuff cold. Get a set at my sister Dina's store, Monograms on Main. Tell her I sent you and you'll get 15% off.

The Lonely Islands

"WILLIAM MCNEIL:

First settler Chippewa Bay
emigrated to this area
from Vermont prior to 1812
His home was a cave and
he lived off the land."

My dad often reminds us of the proverbial "simpler times" as we pass this sign on our yearly trip to the Thousand Islands region in upstate New York. Indeed, things have changed a bit since Bill and his rocky domicile. Chippewa Bay now boasts a U.S. Post Office, a general store, and not much else. And that's exactly how we like it.

While it was settled way earlier (according to the helpful sign), the region became popular at the turn of the 20th century. In the days before air conditioning, wealthy vacationers fled Manhattan in droves and headed north to cooler climes. Daily train service brought illustrious families like the Pullmans and the Astors up to the St. Lawrence, the waterway that runs between New York from Canada and defines the region. In those glorious pre-income tax times, no expense was spared in the creation of castles for George Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria, and Frederick Bourne, of Singer Sewing Machine fame, replete with boathouses and ballrooms; secret passageways, seaplane hangars and squash courts. And speaking of secrets...Yale's Skull and Bones maintains a retreat on Deer Island.

Once the Golden Age ended, the area returned to its sleepier summer roots, the sort of quiet atmosphere that it cultivates today. (No one would confuse it with the Hamptons, that's for sure.) There's no real estate market to speak of; instead, houses just pass from generation to generation. Nor has there been much change to those homes--the remoteness makes construction difficult and expensive--so they stay the same from summer to summer, living time capsules filled with yellowing copies of Popular Mechanics and National Geographic and 1960s-era cooktops and fridges (from when power was brought over from the mainland).

The fresh water makes it a haven for antique boats and Jet-Skis alike (no salt, no corrosion, no problem), but the rocks and shoals make it a foe for both (we've got a first-gen Jet-Ski from '91 currently making a nice home for some fish on the bottom...).

Every once in a while, some attention is brought to the area--be it a Singer Castle cameo The Skulls (the horrible Paul Walker movie), or a nod as a preppy summer retreat by The Official Preppy Handbook--but for the most part, it's a well-kept secret.

Let's keep it that way.

Nose Candy

With summer finally in full swing, I can finally focus on something other than the clouds and rain: three delicious scents, for the home and for you.

This classic fragrance, coveted by men and women alike, is perfect for a breezy summer night. Sicilian citrus fruits mellow out the stronger sandalwood and vetiver notes, making for a deliciously harmonious blend. The bottle alone is a studied minimalist masterpiece. One spritz of this and suddenly you're zooming up the autostrada through Tuscany in a vintage Benz.
Acqua di Parma Colonia, $73 for 50ml, available at Barneys

I'm a sucker for a good shaved fennel and arugula salad in the summer, made with fresh ingredients from the Amagansett Farmer's Market or Jim Pike's stand in Wainscott. Somehow this candle from Diptyque captures that essence. I know what you're thinking - I didn't think my house should smell like root vegetables, either. Until I lit this thing. It works, I promise. With notes of fennel, dill, and anise, it's great for a kitchen or a bathroom.
Diptyque Fenouil Sauvage Candle, $55, available at Barneys

This one, as my friend Julio says, is a "no-brainer." New this spring from Hermès, the fresh, bright essence of grapefruit and rose petals is bottled by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena for the luxury goods house and is selling out everywhere. (I would know - I bought the last bottle.) It smells just as nice as men as on women, and is a good daytime scent for a season that usually doesn't need one.
Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, $165 for 6.5 fl oz, available (for now) at Hermès.com

Cruel Summer

So those of us in the Northeast have yet to see any semblance of summer weather, and already June's nearly over. Damn the weather forecast - with the solstice behind us, I'm declaring it summer regardless. With the fireworks and festivities of July 4 just around the corner, I'm in a beachy mood. Here are my picks to help inspire the same feeling in you:

Nothing says summer like a bunch of photos of tanned, hunky, shirtless lifeguards. This nicely done book will do just the trick. Added bonus: you can pass it off as "art" instead of something decidedly more illicit.

Lifeguard on Duty, $45, available at amazon.com

When just lying around in the park gets old, break out this pétanque set, the sparkly French cousin to bocce. This gorgeous set is the perfect antidote for a gloomy day (like the ones we've been having), and the solid teak construction will ensure this piece lives to see another summer.

Teak Pétanque Set, $160, available at Design Within Reach

And should you need a refreshment during the game, reach for this. Only recently available in the States, this relative of Campari has a delicious orange flavor. Try an Aperol Spritz - 2 parts prosecco to 1 part Aperol with a splash of club soda. Garnish with an orange wedge. It's quite refreshing, and it's low alcohol content (11%) will keep you from getting sloshed.

Aperol aperitivo, $25.99, available at better liquor stores and BevMo!

And if your travels take you to the beach, make sure you're not bumming around in a baggy pair of board shorts. By no means does this give you license to attempt a "Daniel Craig in Casino Royale" maneuver, but your shorts should FIT. Not too tight, though. If you've got skinny legs (guilty) then wearing big shorts is only going to accentuate the issue. One classic option lies in Birdwell Beach Britches, which come in a variety of lengths (nothing beyond the knee, please) and colors to suit your frame. And the price is right, too.

Birdwell Beach Britches, $50, available at Kona Sports (photo, New York Times)

Cheers to summer.

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

Summer Shirts from J.Crew

It seems that, at the moment, everybody loves J.Crew. Even the Obamas. A few years back, I had the privilege of meeting the man responsible for the company's turnaround from plain vanilla mall store to destination of chic, Mickey Drexler. Fascinating guy. I was working at their store in the Hamptons, and he popped in for a visit. He's quite hands on, and was very interested in hearing opinions from salespeople and customers alike about the product and what could be done differently.

Anyway. They have some great mens's shirts right now, which, paired with some great white jeans, give you that casual Hamptons summer vibe. The first, pictured below, is their linen-cotton camp shirt, $98, in cool dusk. Even the color sounds perfect for dinner alfresco at Sunset Beach. The epaulets remind me of that cobalt blue Ralph Lauren number that twink icon Zac Efron was wearing in GQ this month, but this one seems much more wearable.

Next up is this chambray specimen, also $98. Say what you will about the whole workwear trend, but I feel like blue chambray has a certain classicism about it that's got definite staying power. Just please, don't wear it with blue jeans. Every few years someone comes out with a horrible proclamation that says it's okay to wear denim with denim as long as the colors don't match (ie dark jeans with a light denim shirt). I don't approve of this practice; I still think it makes you look like a farmer. I love the way this color looks with stonewashed khakis or white denim.
Then we've got this blue irish linen shirt, $79.50. I really think linen might be the perfect summer textile. The more you wash it, the softer it gets, and I love the way it wrinkles just so. Looks great with a tan. This particular shirt reminds me of a version Brunello Cucinelli did this spring, but J.Crew did it for about $400 less. Simple, classic, elegant, and not breaking the bank.
Grab a shirt in the city, hop on the LIRR's Cannonball, and you're ready for Hamptons cocktail hour.