VACATION IN THE HAMPTONS: "UNGLITZED"

-- aka --

Yes, Virginia, You Can Wear Flip Flops In The Hamptons

DAY 1- TUESDAY
 

 What is wrong with me?

It's two hours before we are leaving for a week in the glitzy, glamorous Hamptons, 

and I am first throwing my clothes into a suitcase.

Three days ago, I made sure to pack a bottle of tequila, a corkscrew and three novels,

but clothing, usually at the top of my packing priority list, 

is almost an after-thought. 

Just to be safe, I pretty much take everything I own,

yet, I know, as I'm throwing in two dozen tops and six pair of shoes, 

that I won't wear most of it, because.......

This is not going to be that kind of Hamptons vacation.......
one of reservations at chic restaurants,
 carefully edited outfits,
 or a mid-week blow-out at an over-priced salon.

Nope. I'm too exhausted. For the next week, I just need to......
Sit. Still.

Now that Junior Goo Shoes is away at a summer college program,
 Mr. Goo Shoes and I hit the road for a just-the-two-of-us vacation.

We make great time driving out to the east end of Long Island.
Knowing better than to take the single-lane Rt. 27,

 we veer off the highway at Southhampton.

We used to know the back roads like the backs of our hands, even in the pitch dark,

but now, in broad daylight, the choice between Head of Pond Road 
and Lower Seven Ponds Road confounds my Head of Blond.

Eventually we get our bearings, recognizing this farm-stand here, and that cornfield there,

ignoring our GPS, who is imploring us to get back on the main road. 

The windmill in East Hampton waves its arms as we approach. 
"Welcome back!" it says. 

We are staying in Amagansett again, this time, at a different hotel.

I'm still thinking it's too good to be true that we scored an oceanfront one-bedroom upper-level condo when we made the reservation just a week ago.
But, no!  

"Squee!" 
The view is a knockout, and, if you know me, it's all about the view.

Although the condo is small, it more than meets our oceanfront expectations.
 No, we both can't stand in the kitchen at the same time, 
but this is not a problem, since the extent of my cooking 
will be brewing coffee and opening yogurt containers.

It's late in the day, which is just enough time to put our toes in the sand for an hour or so.

I know without asking that Mr. Goo Shoes wants to have dinner at Lunch.

It's actually called the Lobster Roll, but everyone calls it Lunch, 
because of the big sign on the roof.

We've been there a gazillion times, but not since we got hooked on The Affair.

Is it silly to hope that Alison will be our waitress, and Noah will be at the next table?

Of course, it is, but I'm optimistic, anyway.
No dice. 

We toast the first night of our vacation with pomegranate margaritas.

Mussels in herb butter sauce, a lobster bowl for me; a lobster roll for Mr. GS, 

and we're officially in vacation mode.

DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY

It's a gorgeous day.

I decide that when I run through my "gratitude" list in bed tonight,

I will remember to be thankful that this hotel has beach chair service.

Not having to schlep chairs, umbrellas and a cooler is the ultimate luxury......  
I'll gladly skip fancy shampoos and soaps for someone to set up our chairs.



Reading, napping, checking Facebook.....

the rhythm of the waves sets the pace for the day.

Dinner tonight is at our most favorite restaurant in all of the Hamptons -- 
Harvest at Fort Pond. 

No reservations are taken to sit in the patio area, and we expect a long wait.

No sooner do we order two glasses of rose at the bar, than our name is called.

Tables are set within a magnificent garden,

made all the more perfect with the sun setting over Fort Pond.

The portions here are family style, so we order one pizza,

and one fish dish -- enough for four people, 
but hey, that's why doggy bags were invented.

DAY 3 -THURSDAY

One thing I love about the Hamptons is that there is so much to do.
I just don't feel like doing any of it.
This offers a strong insight into my current state of mind,
as I usually plan our Hamptons vacations around the annual Shoe-In Warehouse sale. 

The fact that I am not chomping at the bit to leave the beach early 
to go shopping in East Hampton, is a first for me. 

But I'm not feeling it.
It's just so heavenly to sit here and read.

Having gone through many self-awareness diagnostic tools (eg, Meyers-Briggs),
one thing I know about myself is that l'm not good at winging dinner plans.

I prefer to know where we're going in advance, 

but Mr. GS wants to go to Montauk and just find a place.

I consult Tripadvisor while he's in the shower;

and secretly decide that we'll go to The Gig Shack.

"What's this place?" I ask, as we walk by it. 

Mr. GS checks out the menu, and wants to try it.

The Gig Shack, it is, wink-wink.

After dinner, the view from our deck keeps on paying dividends. 

DAY 4 - FRIDAY

Mr. GS is tired of eating breakfast in the condo,

so we head to Mr. John's Pancake House in Montauk.
Eating pancakes before putting on a bathing suit is not the best strategy,
so I opt for an egg white omelette. 

While we're waiting outside John's for a table, 
I notice this sign with suggestions of how to spend the day in Montauk.  
I'm ready to comply, with one exception.
If "Late Night" said, "Get into bed with a good book," I'd be all in. 



Back at the beach, my weather ap says it's 98° at home,

but I am wrapped in a sweatshirt and towels.

The wind is so strong, that by 1:30pm, we decide to leave and sit on the deck.

At first, I'm bummed about leaving the beach, 
but realize quickly that things could be worse than sitting on a terrace
with a full-on ocean front view.

  Dan's Papers, the weekly Hamptons magazine "bible," has just hit the stands. 
 I scour Dan's to see what kind of events are going on.

The antique show tomorrow at James Lane sounds perfect. 
Maybe I'll want to do something other than lay on the beach, after all!

DAY 5 - SATURDAY

It is brutally hot today.

The antique show in town has lost its appeal in this heat.

The only place to be is the beach, but even with a strong breeze, it's beastly hot. 

 

I need to go back to the room to chug an ice-cold bottle of water,

and sit in front of the air conditioner for a few minutes.

Just walking back to the room is zapping all of my energy.

Suddenly, a cool breeze comes in from the west,

and the beach is absolutely delightful for the rest of the afternoon.

We decide that the contents of assorted doggy bags in the fridge 
will make for a great dinner.

It's kind of nice knowing we're not going out to battle the "beautiful people" 
on a Saturday night.

We are in no rush to leave the beach, 
which is at its finest in the later part of the day.

It is liberating to not have to get dressed and put on makeup after showering.

We clink glasses in appreciation that happy hour on the deck is more enjoyable 
when we don't have to worry about drinking and driving.
 

Heating up leftovers in a miniature stove proves to be challenging,

made even more so when we discover there are no potholders.

Nothing tastes all that great re-heated, but a walk on the beach at sunset 
is a perfect dessert, since we are usually never around at this time.

DAY 6 - SUNDAY
 

Almost a week, and I am still content to do nothing but sit on the beach and read.

This is a first for me, and it feels great.
I'm halfway through book #2. 
   


In all the years we have been coming out here, 

there's a restaurant on the main highway that we've never been to.
Why? I do not know, but  tonight is the night to try Bostwick's Chowder House.
It's a little risky going on a Sunday night, 
when all the New York City slickers will be stopping there on the way home. 

The wait is surprisingly short, and
 the corn chowder is deliciously rich.
It is my one big dietary splurge this week.
I counter it with healthy tuna poke tacos, which are outstanding.
I'm so full that I can't even order a kiddie cup of ice cream 
at Scoop du Jour in East Hampton.

DAY 7 - MONDAY

On our last full day, we can finally say how lucky we have been 
to have had perfect sunny weather for the entire week, without jinxing it. 

      
Mr. Goo Shoes suggests that we leave after dinner tonight,
instead of in the morning.
Sleeping in our own bed sounds like a plan,    
so we load up the car in the late afternoon.
But, our plans are foiled as the weather reports are showing 
severe thunderstorms all across the area.
We unpack a few things, and hunker down for the night,
and armed with two slices of homemade pie from Lunch..

   DAY 8

A stop at Goldberg's bagels for breakfast, and we're on the road.
This vacation was everything I needed it to be, and I feel rested.
Other than eating, all we did was sit on the beach. 

Mr. Goo Shoes decides we don't need to take the back roads on a Tuesday morning.

But, traffic is a nightmare, and the ride home is long, a sure sign that vacation is over.

Even still, it's great to be home. 
 

Resources:

Sea Crest Resort (Amagansett, NY)

The Lobster Roll (Amagansett, NY) 
Harvest on Fort Pond (Montauk, NY) 
The Gig Shack (Montauk, NY) 
Mr. John's Pancake House (Montauk, NY)
Bostwick's Chowder House (East Hampton, NY)
Scoop du Jour (East Hampton, NY)
Goldberg's Bagels (Various locations in the Hamptons)
The Affair (Filmed partially in the Hamptons - Showtime) 

 

 

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