No summer is complete without at least one trip to The Hamptons where you can se and be seen among, well, the scene. This sampling of social functions, dining and nightlife will remind you why the traffic is worth it.
Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game (61st Annual)
August 15, 3pm
Herrick Park, East Hampton
(631) 725-1294
artistswritersgame.com
Will benefit East End Hospice, East Hampton Day Care Center and Phoenix House.
Concerts on the Green
August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 6-8pm
Montauk Green
(631) 668-2428
montaukchamber.com
Hampton Classic Horse Show (34th Annual)
August 23-30
Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton
(631) 537-3177
hamptonclassic.com
House and Garden Tour (6th Annual)
July 17, 11am-4pm
Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
(631) 288-1500
whbpac.org
Tours of spectacular homes and properties in the villages and hamlets of Remsenburg, Westhampton Beach & Quogue. Tour and lunch: $100; tour only: $75.
July Fourth Parade
July 4, 12pm
Main Street, Southampton Village
(631) 283-1623
southamptonchamber.com
Mary O. Fritchie Outdoor Juried Art Show (37th Annual)
August 1-2, 10am
Westhampton Beach Village Green
(631) 288-3337
whbcc.org
The South Fork Craftsmen Guild’s Fine Arts & Craft Shows
June 20-21
Miss Amelia’s Cottage, Amagansett
July 11
St. Mark’s Church, Westhampton Beach
(631) 726-0402
southforkcrafts.com
Shinnecock Indian Powwow (63rd Annual)
Sept 4-7
Shinnecock Indian Reservation, Southampton
(631) 283-6143
shinnecocknation.com
A traditional Native American ceremony with crafts, food, music, raffles and prizes.
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Hamptons Dining
ANNONA
Westhampton Beach, (631) 288-7766
The sleek, sophisticated, Annona, in Westhampton Beach is an elegant, upscale, fine dining spot, with its subdued lighting, waterfall, cool jazz, wall of candles in cubby holes and curved bar. Its outdoor deck provides a contemporary aura similar to that at fashionable East Side restaurants. Add Daniel Ross-Leutwyler and Brian Leth, two creative young chefs, and you have one of the very best restaurants on the Island.
The overall excellence and artfully-presented modern Italian dishes here might come as an unexpected surprise to those diners who have heard Annona is perched atop an auto dealership near the railroad tracks. But take a second look. The restaurant has a quiet, palatial feel and the automobile dealer is Manhattan Motorcars of the Hamptons, more an art gallery filled with $100,000 to $350,000 Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces than a showroom.
The food, too, is of Rolls Royce quality. It’s full-flavored front of the month fare, created by chefs who aren’t playing it safe, who know how to craft flavor sparks without explosives.
Adventurous eaters will appreciate both the blending of local ingredients with Mediterranean-touched contemporary Italian dishes and the house made breads, pastas, rice, sorbets and gelatos here.
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ALMONCELLO
East Hampton, (631) 329-6700
Almoncello, a sophisticated, northern Italian restaurant in East Hampton, is almost as noteworthy for what it’s not as for what it is. It is not a garden-variety pasta and pizza red sauce spot. Instead, executive chef, co-owner Jason Weiner and John O’Connell, his chef de cuisine, turned what was Almondito, a flashy Latino restaurant, into an ambitious destination eating place for the East End fooderati.
Those in an adventurous mood will no doubt target the likes of scallop carpaccio and pomegranate grapefruit granita, crisp leeks and artisinal olive oil as well as short ribs goulash with escarole, polenta and smoked paprika.
Owned by Eric Lemonides and Jason Weiner, the same partners who operate the deservedly-popular Almond French Bistro in Bridgehampton, Almoncello is smaller and cozier than its predecessor. Its fireplace, candles, well-spaced paper over cloth tables, wall of wine and rows of wine bottles on shelves over its windows make it a mellow milieu. Welcome too is an attitude without an overanxious effort to impress. There’s no pretense at this former VFW Hall that has housed many a restaurant prior to the present occupant. Fortunately at this one, the kitchen never upstages the quality ingredients it uses.
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Hamptons Nightlife
21 Water, Sag Harbor
(631) 725-7500
twentyonewater.com
668–The Gig Shack, Montauk
(631) 668-2727
668thegigshack.com
Boardy Barn, Hampton Bays
(631) 728-9733
boardybarn.com
Buckley’s Irish Pub, Southampton
(631) 283-4316
buckleysirishpub.com
Fiddler’s Cove Pub, East Hampton
(631) 329-7577
Lily Pond, East Hampton
(631) 907-2790
Nick’s, Montauk
(631) 668-4800
nicksmontauk.com
The Star Room, Wainscott
(631) 537-3332
thestarroom.com
Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett
(631) 267-3117
stephentalkhouse.com
Southampton Publick House, Southampton
(631) 283-2800
publick.com
The Surf Club, Westhampton Beach
(631) 998-3167
hamptonssurfclub.com