I Heart Amagansett

Each summer as the humidity rolls in and the New York City sidewalks heat to a melting point, we migrate East along with flocks of other twenty somethings.  The mass exodus of metallic Jack Rogers and Sperry Top-Siders has been happening long before I moved to Manhattan, but the trends remain the same.  West Hampton is reserved for beach volleyball and tanning oil, while the opposite end of the Hamptons is better known for sunhats and SPF 30.  In line with folklore, as the years pass we find ourselves further and further from the city...and closer to the End.

This summer we are in Amagansett, one stop short of the very final stop on the LIRR.  It's a small sliver of Hampton that is surprisingly low key with a tiny town that stretches just one street long on 27.  In place of a Saks and an Intermix, there is a neighborhood bar and a pizza shop.  So far, the highlight has been the Farmers Market near the fire house, even though there is not a farmer in sight and it may or may not be operated by Zabars.  However, I think this is as close to authentic beach town as you get out here! 

Lotus of Siam

I am always looking for new restaurants in the Village (West or Greenwich) because I love walking home after a great meal.  So when I read about the highly acclaimed Lotus of Siam, the new Thai restaurant that opened in the old Cru space, I immediately called for a reservation.  Cru had been a stuffy restaurant with an astronomical wine collection that was a quintessential over-priced dining experience representative of better economic times.  Lotus of Siam proves to be very 2011 in its simple, clean, natural interpretation of the space with accolades for being truly authentic Thai food.  The original Lotus of Siam's based in Las Vegas has been heralded as the best Thai restaurant in North America by critics.  Clearly hopes were high. 

For starters we had the Tuna Koi Soy, tuna tartar mixed with greens and lime juice, and Issan Larb, a salad of beef with green chilis and chopped onion.  For our main dishes we split the traditional Pad Thai, and the Kang Khiao Wan, supposedly one of the most popular curry dishes around Bangkok.  Lastly, we ordered the Amish chicken (for those that say you should never order something as simplistic as chicken while out to eat, I wholeheartedly disagree-it was delicious).  After all was said and done, the beef salad, Pad Thai, and Amish chicken were delectable, but the curry and tuna tartar were just OK.  Although I can safely say the Pad Thai was the best I have ever had, with no hint of greasiness and freshly crumbled peanuts, it came at a lofty price.  Or maybe it just seemed lofty compared to the pretty darn enjoyable Pad Thai at Spice a few blocks over for just 7 dollars.  If you would like to dress up your Pad Thai with a great cocktail in the timeless 24 Fifth building, then go for it.  Otherwise, you can get almost as good for a lot less.

Donkey of the Week

The Donkey of the Week is U.S. Rep Anthony Weiner for living up to his given name in the unfolding of Weinergate initiated by Weiner tweeting his...weiner.  In one of my personal favorite clips, he details the now infamous Twitter photos as a master-mind conspiracy theory from a successful hacker, chalking up the incident to 'what life is like within social media in our world today in 2011'.  Yes, this is just pesky 'ole social media at its best, hackers and disturbing underwear shots from a deserted gym.  That's what Twitter means to me anyway- well said Weiner.  And the good news is, he assures the public he will be returning to Twitter when all is said and done, because 'it helps him do his job', which we later found out is courting random college students, single mothers, and porn stars with crotch shots.  All in a days work in the House of Representatives!

Zumba!

I am always willing to try any sort of group fitness regimen because I love being chatty while doing my exercise.  So, when I heard about Zumba, a new crowd favorite for moms in the Midwest, I figured I should give it a try.  I am neither a mom nor a Midwesterner, but something about Latin dance for exercise sounded super fun.  So I convinced my fluent Spanish speaking besty who loves all things Latin to come along for the ride.  We waltzed into the Equinox feeling confident and ready to show our best moves.  Class began like this:  The instructor walked over to the iPod, turned it on, and without a word she along with the rest of the class began dancing in unison to intensely choreographed moves.  Clearly we were the only two in class who had not done our homework.  While everyone segued seamlessly from Samba to Indian dance into Merengue, we stumbled behind them like bumbling idiots.  I was convinced I twisted a knee during a very quick one-two step, while my equally disabled dance partner had to take a break mid Zumba for a towel and water while the grandmother in the front row shook her hips like Shakira.  So, lesson learned:  Zumba requires actual dance skills for maximum participation, otherwise you may end up hurting yourself.  Other than being shamed by older more able women, we had a great time, broke a sweat five minutes into the hour class, and I might dare say learned some dance moves we could use outside just a fitness studio.  All in all a big success, but I will be practicing with the do-it-yourself DVDs before I try and tango with the professionals again.

Four Seasons Birthday

The Four Seasons Restaurant is an iconic New York City restaurant in midtown.  The dress code is jackets required and the ambiance is classic elegance.  It is not the least bit trendy which is why its been serving its signature Grand Marnier souffle since 1959.  Sometimes its nice to get all gussied up just for dinner.  That is why its a great place to celebrate milestones, like a birthday.  Celebrations come complete with their very own gourmet cotton candy tower.  Happy Birthday to me!

Accidental Drinks at the Met

 

The Alexander McQueen Costume Institute Exhibit at the Met has garnered a lot of attention for being a unique showcase of fashion that pushes the boundaries into art.  The galleries display the many dichotomies McQueen explored between culture, politics, and history to serve up oftentimes controversial runway shows.  Or at least that's what the critics are saying.  I wouldn't know because I never made it beyond the velvet ropes.  I suited up and donned my favorite Alexander McQueen scarf to see the exhibit this past weekend, only to be out a twenty dollar cab ride and stuck in an hour and a half line.  Apparently my nice little Saturday was not so unique. 

The afternoon was not totally lost though.  We went to the Met's Rooftop Garden instead.  Not as controversial or envelope pushing as a glimpse inside the late Alexander McQueen's mind, but pretty darn enjoyable.  The cafe has a lovely view of the city and boasts sculptures amid benches where you can sit with a glass of wine or a Corona.  If you happen to be lucky enough to make it inside the Savage Beauty exhibit, let me know how it is.  Otherwise, I'll meet you for a cocktail on the roof!

Save the Date - Judgment Day is Today!

According to Harold Camping, president of Family Radio and certified Christian crazy person, the world is ending today.  In fact, 'The Bible guarantees it'.  Harold's followers have quit their jobs and devoted their lives full time to explaining to the naive unassuming public that we will all be swept up in a rapture on May 21st, 2011.  What this means I do not know, but it apparently involves some of us going to heaven and others being caught up in a tricky one-two punch of a tsunami and an earthquake.  While some are selling their houses and arranging pet sitters for their cats and dogs that Harold has assured will be left behind, I decided to have a great NYC day in honor of Judgment Day.  What would you do on your last day in New York?!  Here is my itinerary:

2:00PM - Metropolitan Museum of Art

3:00PM - Had a goat cheese salad (my fave) and an afternoon cocktail on the terrace at Serafina uptown

4:00PM - Shopped at Hermes, who needs money anyway, the world is ending!

8:00PM - Dinner at Babbo for Rigatoni Bolognese (they probs don't have meat sauce in heaven)

Thankfully, kind souls have sprung up all around the U.S.of A. to offer pet care for those of us that will not make it.  By the way you have to pay in full in advance of the world ending.  Non-refundable.

Locanda Verde

I approached Thursday night date night at Locanda Verde with skepticism, Robert DeNiro, a restaurateur?  Turns out this Goodfella also co-owns NYC's Nobu so I was clearly out of touch and proven oh so wrong by the amazing food that awaited me. The chef, Andrew Camellini was the head chef at Cafe Boulud, but exchanged the jacket required ambiance for a true neighborhood taverna that was both outstanding and affordable.  The restaurant itself is large to the point of cavernous, but was so jam packed that it felt just as cozy as a ten table cafe in the West Village.  We asked the waitress to bring us the most popular appetizers, main course, and dessert.  We ended up with sheep's milk ricotta crostini, lamb meatball sliders, gigantone with Sunday night ragu, and a pear crisp.  Each course was delectably delicious.  The lamb meatball sliders were topped with miniature pickles and homemade sauce that put ketchup to shame, and rank as the best sliders I have ever had.  Skipping dessert was not an option here with famed pastry chef Karen deMasco from Craft, and the pear crisp could have stood alone as a showstopper.  There is nothing better than a hyped restaurant that actually deserves the accolades and attention.  Pictures of my meatball sliders below.  Shania Twain was at the next table and thought I was taking pictures of her, but the real celebrity at Locanda that night was this meatball slider!

Donkey of the Week

Donkey of the Week is Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.  For someone that dishes it so freely, he should really learn to take it with a little more social grace.  As the rest of the crowd laughed at Seth Meyers' roast, Trump made it super awkward by refusing to take himself a little less seriously and offer up a friendly chuckle.  Instead he played robot and the rest of the people at his table were forced to laugh behind strategically placed hands, video here:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWuv2txl_5M

Shouldn't he just be psyched he got the invite?

The Royal I Do's

I would like to pretend this was just any other week, but I would be remiss not to mention the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.  Clearly, there was no forgetting the big day was here as media coverage outside the illustrious affair came to a halt and predictions began flying.  There followed a full five days of made up news in which no firm facts were reported and instead we mulled over the dress (it must be Alexander McQueen!) and the honeymoon (could it be the exotic island of Barbuto?).  I even received an email from website DailyCandy telling me what I should wear to the royal wedding, read, what I should wear in my living room at 5:00AM.  I opted not set my alarm painfully early and don a hat jauntily cocked to the side, but I did tune in thanks to my DVR.  Luckily only consummate professionals were on the scene.  When Kate Middleton first emerged in her wedding dress, all I saw was a blur of white.  However, Randy from Say Yes to the Dress screamed - I see lace, a deep v, and a collar, inspiration is Grace Kelly!  When the cameras honed in on the arrival at Westminster Abbey, voyeuristic precision only escalated with certified lip readers on the scene.  Thanks to the ABC News official lip reader (who knew this was a job?), I also was privy to the not so private sweet nothings exchanged between the bride and groom.  No syllable was left uncovered.  Here's hoping the honeymoon leaves more to the imagination, and we can go back to normal life - not sure Kate Middleton will ever be able to do the same.