Shops
1 Forget your tennis whites and cocktail attire in the city? The master of minimalism’s newest EMPORIO ARMANI boutique has all the classic play clothes and swishy evening things you need for a swank Hamptons weekend. (4 Newtown Lane, East Hampton; 631-329-4277.)
2 As you’d expect, this venerable Italian shoemaker still churns out lots of sensible pumps and Oxfords, but COLE HAAN also has plenty of younger, hipper stuff, including covetable, colorful sandals for men and women, many with Nike Air technology for serious comfort. (2 Newtown Lane, East Hampton; 631-907-9350.)
3 There’s only so much soap a family can use in a mere fifteen summer weekends. Instead, appeal to your host’s spiritual side with pickings from the newest branch of the JEWISH MUSEUM SHOP, located in the East Hampton synagogue and full of the same swank Judaica as its city brethren. (Jewish Center of the Hamptons, 44 Woods Lane, East Hampton; 631-324-9858).
4 FISHS EDDY, the lovably eclectic china shop, has moved from Southampton and packed its new digs – carved out of Dreesen’s Donut Shop – with even more of its famously inexpensive, offbeat dinnerware, a mix of exclusive patterns and cool old stuff the owners scavenge from academic societies, diners, and country clubs. (35 Newtown Lane, East Hampton; 631-907-8510.)
5 Designer STEVEN STOLMAN’s boutique has preppier-than-preppy clothes that are a far cry from the usual boring Land’s End staples. Most of the men’s and women’s styles are cut from decorators’ fabrics – pique sundresses, toile pants, chinoiserie shifts. Everything here’s perfectly suited for sunset cocktails at the Maidstone Club. (55 Main Street, East Hampton; 631-329-3900.)
6 A super-sleek little shop filled with bright, shiny housewares and home furnishings, TURPAN brings a touch of TriBeCa to the South Fork. What to get the hostess who has everything? We bet she could use a colorful fiberglass broom. (55 Main Street, East Hampton; 631-324-2444.)
7 At COLLETTE, Southampton’s first designer-resale shop for women and kids, bargain hunters can snap up current fashion from Prada and Chanel or vintage must-haves like Givenchy gowns and Gucci boots – all either unworn or in near-perfect condition. And yes, everything’s about 70 percent cheaper than it once was. (89 Jobs Lane, Southampton; 631-204-9511.)
8 This summer, Southampton prepsters can get their RALPH LAUREN fix closer to home. In July, the company will open a new boutique filled with the same sleek, uptown-chic fashion for men, women, and kids, including loads of spiffy play clothes and glamorous eveningwear from Lauren’s runway collections. (41 Jobs Lane, Southampton; 631-287-6953.)
9 Forget that extra pair of panties in the city? VICTORIA’S SECRET, the final word in bright, sexy, inexpensive underthings, has opened a branch in a mall near you. The shop’s filled with pretty lingerie, sleepwear, and swimsuits – and it’s located so near the King Kullen we dare you to resist a pit stop. (Bridgehampton Commons, 2044 Montauk Highway; 631-537-3373.)
10 Spice up your summer wardrobe with the Chandler family’s buttery, ultraluxe women’s leather designs at their slick new boutique, AJIA. If you love that suede duster, snap it up – most things here are one-of-a-kind. (28D Jobs Lane, Southampton; 631-259-8800.)
11 Giving your cottage that spiffy Colonial-chic look doesn’t require a round-the-world ticket. You’ll find all the fixings at H GROOME: striped French beach chairs, Indonesian throws, Ligne St. Barths sun products, and, of course, plenty of Bellora and Frette linens. (9 Main Street, Southampton; 631-204-0491.)
12 Big spenders who didn’t stock up at the spring art auctions in the city can now pick up all the Surrealists and Pop Art they long for – plus estate jewelry, antiques, rugs, and even classic cars – at MORGANSEN’S AUCTIONEERS AND APPRAISERS. Call to inquire about biweekly Saturday auctions. (640 County Road 39, on Route 27, Southampton; 631-204-1600.).
13 As any young scenester will tell you, you can’t have too many slip dresses, sarongs, or Sigerson Morrison sandals for a Hamptons summer. So it’s no surprise that CALYPSO ST. BARTHS has opened a second boutique just a stone’s throw from the perpetually mobbed original. (1 Main Street, East Hampton; 631-324-7646.)
14 The Southampton Hospital Benefit is only days away. You scored the perfect dress at Saks. For a bag, try BARR + BARR across the street. The shop’s classic, feminine styles – inspired by vintage designs – are handmade in Florence and are sure to stand out in the usual sea of Jamin Pueches (prices from $400). While you’re there, pick up a Patricia Underwood hat for the Classic. (100 Main Street, Southampton; 631-204-9453.)
15 An East End branch of the beloved Upper East Side shop, ERIC SHOES has everything from casual Robert Clergerie wedgies and Franco Fieramasca driving shoes to strappy Mark Schwartz stilettos for evenings at Sunset Beach. (30 Main Street, Southampton; 631-287-8788.)
16 When you’re used to kicking back in your living room and perusing people’s castoffs on eBay, trekking from yard sale to yard sale starts to seem like a major hassle. Now you can do your weekend scavenging at UNIQUE COLLECTIBLES, which sells all kinds of old knickknacks – baseball jerseys, guitars, you name it. (31 Main Street, Southampton; 631-204-9001.)
17 If the sight of another exhibition poster or Toulouse-Lautrec print will make you do an Edvard Munch, check out BUTLER’S FINE ART & ANTIQUES. The shop specializes in American fine and folk art from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with the occasional oddball collectible thrown in – a hand-colored photograph of Dionne Warwick in Atlantic City, for instance. (303 Main Street, Amagansett; 631-267-0193.)
18 Whether you’re looking to indulge your inner East End princess or your rebellious adolescent side, EDEN ROCKS has accessories to match your mood. You’ll find everything from vintagey crystal jewelry, shawls, and feather boas to rhinestone belt buckles, bandannas, and belly chains. (77 Jobs Lane, Southampton; 631-287-1212.)
Sports & Services
19 If you want to see the really wild side of the Hamptons, forget Tavern, and hook up with the folks at the EAST COAST ADVENTURE CENTER, an outfitter that leads Hither Hills hiking expeditions, kayaking tours of Accabonac Harbor wildlife, and more. Or rent equipment here and plot your own course. “Bike to the beach,” a salesperson suggests. “You won’t have to pay the $10 to park.” (216A Main Street, Amagansett, behind Espo’s Surf and Sport; 631-267-2303.)
20 If finding a dozen near-strangers at your breakfast table – and their swimsuits drying in your shower – isn’t your idea of a relaxing weekend, sign up for a different kind of summer share: HAMPTONS RESORTS AND HOSPITALITY now offers time-shares at any of its three trendy Southampton motels, the Capri, the Atlantic, and the Bentley. Packages include four to fifteen weekends, each with a bunch of weekdays (from $3,650 per room). (1655 County Road 39, Southampton; 631-287-0908.)
21 You couldn’t resist that shiny new titanium G4 Powerbook – but you can’t turn it on. The guys at COMPUTER TUTOR TWO can troubleshoot, teach you to use programs, and – best of all – make house calls. (4 Bergen Road, Hampton Bays; 631-728-6666.)
Restaurants
22 When you’ve had it with regular Hamptons fare – wasabi marinades, baby-beet salads, anything tartare – turn off the highway at RUBI RED. Many of the hearty entrées ($11-$19) – pizza, cornish hen, lasagna – are baked in the dining room’s brick oven; the lounge has a D.J. till the wee hours on weekends. Try the grilled calamari with one of the many infused vodkas on offer. (290 Montauk Highway, Wainscott; 631-907-8030.)
23 Tableside grilling and big parties aside, EDEN AT TSUNAMI has little in common with those Benihana birthdays of your misspent youth. The casual sibling of the original restaurant is set in a lush garden and offers imaginative sushi ($10-$15) – smoked-salmon roll with goat cheese, and spicy tuna with mango, for instance – and barbecue-it-yourself marinated meats and fish ($15-$20). (44 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton; 631-329-6000.)
24 The latest hip, sceney spot to open on the Bridgehampton strip, LURE AT THE INDEPENDENT (which replaces the original Independent) has a sleek banquette-lined dining room and a menu that features offbeat seafood preparations – no surprise since the chef is Patrick Fromm, formerly of Pacific East. (2468 Main Street, Bridgehampton; 631-537-5110.)
25 The owners of the ALMOND have worked at practically every Bridgehampton restaurant – and trust us, they’ve got what it takes to attract good-looking twentysomethings in droves. Sure, you’ll like the raw bar and the food – po’ boys, roast chicken, steak frites ($9-$19) – and the crowd at the bar is just as mouthwatering. (1970 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton; 631-537-8885.)
26 Longing for a sophisticated, grown-up dinner? Try GEORGE MARTIN, a new – and already hopping – regional-American restaurant that’s replaced Peter’s Backstreet. (56 Nugent Street, Southampton; 631-204-8700.)
27 The Maidstone Arms’ renovated Boat Room is now home to the tiny, nautical-themed BOAT BAR & BISTRO. There are three menus: Small Bites (bar food: shrimp cocktail, chicken satay; $7-$13.50), Big Bites (sandwiches and steaks; $11.50-$25), and Sweet Bites. Specialty drinks and a large selection of rums, too. Open for lunch and dinner. (207 Main Street, East Hampton; 631-324-5006.)
28 THE SPOT, an ultracasual, order-at-the-counter eatery, has a kid-friendly menu full of blueberry pancakes, foot-long hot dogs, pizza, and egg creams. A massive flat-screen TV interfaced with ihamptons.com flashes live shots of the sidewalk and East Hampton Beach. (66 Newtown Lane, East Hampton; 631-907-8800.)
29 If the thought of hitting the beach with a cooler of beer and fried chicken turns your stomach, try CITARELLA TO GO. The fish shop’s long-awaited takeout annex has dainty tuna sandwiches, chowders, and salads – plus beer and wine. Still hungry? Stop by the raw bar on your way home. (Citarella Plaza, Montauk Highway, Watermill; 631-726-3636.)
30 For a fresh, fuss-free seafood dinner and an outdoor bar you can hit straight from the beach – sandy feet, wet swimsuit, and all – head a few minutes east of Amagansett to OCEAN’S GRILLFISH & STEAK. The tropical-themed restaurant serves classic seaside fare: char-grilled fish, steak, and lobsters ($12-$24). (2095 Montauk Highway, Amagansett; 631-267-6980.)
31 When the Paradise diner changed hands last year, the Friday-night gay parties went the way of the greasy eggs and rice pudding. This summer, BRIDGES is hoping to bring the crowd back together with Friday-night prix fixe dinners ($15), drink specials, and a D.J. Good thing you’ll have the whole weekend to recover. (964 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton; 631-537-9105.)
32 Getting a drink in Sag Harbor used to be a no-brainer: You dressed up and went to the almost comically upscale American Hotel or you roughed it at the Corner Bar. Now there’s a middle-of-the-road option: PETER MILLER’S, Sag Harbor’s newest restaurant. There’s a cocktail garden outfitted with palm trees, easy chairs, and sofas – and a good bit-of-everything dinner menu to boot. (16 Main Street, Sag Harbor; 631-725-9100.)
33 You’d be a fool to mess with success in East Hampton – particularly when you’re in a prime spot next to the movie theater. Which is why it’s so easy to mistake the BROWN BAG ice-cream shop for the David’s Cookies it replaced. The pint-sized parlor has gourmet coffee and takeout salads as well as the scoops. (30 Main Street, East Hampton; 631-329-2738.)
34 CABAÑA, the Capri hotel’s new bar-lounge, was designed by some of the same guys who concocted Lot 61 – and it’s every bit as swank. Think caviar, champagne, and decidedly ritzy revelers. Garden and poolside seating are also available. (Capri Hotel, 231 County Road 39A, Southampton; 631-287-0908.)
35 Closed the Talkhouse last night? Banish the hangover with beer and a Cuban sandwich at LA FONDITA, a cheap, ultracasual Mexican-takeout shack from the owners of Nick & Toni’s. There’s nowhere to sit inside, but when you really need a refried-bean fix, the streetside picnic benches will do the trick. (74 Montauk Highway, Amagansett; 631-267-8800.)
36 In the old Megan’s Saloon spot, SUKI ZUKI is the latest place to satisfy kampachi and edamame cravings. Get here early – this sliver of a space doesn’t take reservations during the summer. (688 Montauk Highway, Watermill; 631-726-4600.)
37 Inspired by a recent trip to Tuscany, the owners of Plain & Fancy have given their tiny new baked-goods shop an Italian twist. PLAIN & FANCY EXPRESS has the fresh breads and sinfully good scones and cookies of the Springs original, along with gelati, panini, and cappucinos. (136 Main Street, Amagansett; 631-267-3199.)
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