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.

Screening Room | The Windmill Movie

The Windmill Movie, a beautiful and haunting autobiography of the late documentary filmmaker Richard P. Rogers was not put together by Rogers himself, but was assembled by his former film student (and tiemaker) Alexander Olch from 25 years of footage Rogers had never released.

Though shown in select theaters starting in 2008, the film was only released on DVD yesterday.

The film explores Rogers' life through self-reflexive footage of his plum upbringing on the East End of Long Island, his difficulties with his family and intimate relationships, and his ongoing struggle with his self-worth and desire to document his life. Toward the end of his battle with brain cancer, when footage becomes more sparse, Rogers' close friend, actor Wallace Shawn steps in as Olch narrates.

The Windmill Movie, $20.99, available here

Seven Days of Fall | Day 3

The Pumpkin Peel

While the socialites and celebs prefer summering in the Hamptons, for my taste, early fall is the best time to be out there. When the obnoxious hordes head back to the city after Labor Day, the leaves turn gorgeous golden colors, it's a cinch to get a res at Nick & Toni's, and the farmstands bring out the best squash, apples, and pumpkins. And not all of those pumpkins get turned into pumpkin pie and jack-o-lanterns - natural beauty products company Naturopathica harvests them into a face mask. It smells good enough to eat (but don't) and it gives your skin a warm glow that you haven't had since that August tan faded away. Deelish.
Naturopathica Pumpkin Enzyme Peel, $56 for 1.7 oz, naturopathica.com

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.

Saturday Cocktailing | The Southside

Sometimes you need something a little sweeter than a martini. More summery than a Manhattan. Less trendy than a mojito. Fancier than a G&T. And for those times, there's the Southside. Apparently the Devon Yacht Club in Amagansett, New York makes a mean one. Never been there to sample their rendition, but this a drink that's simple enough to make on your own. The key is the fresh mint sprigs and the fresh lime juice (Rose's just doesn't cut it). Here's the recipe:

2 ounces gin (or vodka, if you must)
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
3 large mint leaves
3 drops cocktail bitters (Angostura is fine)

Frost a cocktail glass by putting ice cubes and cold water in the glass, and letting it sit while you make the drink. Place the mint leaves in the cocktail shaker and press them with the back of a spoon to release the essential oils. (You don't have to pulverize them; a few presses will do.) Fill the shaker with ice and add the gin, simple syrup, lime juice, and bitters. Shake until the outside of the shaker gets all frosty. Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with an extra mint sprig or a lime wedge. Enjoy, preferably by the pool, with good friends and good music.

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.

Entering Grey Gardens

And speaking of the crazy rich (or perhaps the merely crazy), much buzz is being generated about the upcoming debut of Grey Gardens, a movie based on the lives of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Little Edie, the recluse aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy. The Beales of Grey Gardens have been in the news in the past few years, notably for Christine Ebersole's star turn in the 2006 Broadway musical version, Grey Gardens, an adaptation of the Maysles' brothers 1975 cult classic of the same name. The film follows the transformation of Little Edie (Drew Barrymore) from Maidstone debutante to fallen heiress under the auspices of her controlling mother (played by Jessica Lange). In the crumbling Grey Gardens of the 70s, cat food is called paté and the resident raccoons are seen as welcome playmates for the hordes of stray felines. Check out the preview below - seems like the ladies live up to all the hype. (And if you think Barrymore's overdoing it - check out a video of the real Edie to compare.)



Grey Gardens premieres Saturday, April 18 at 8pm on HBO