how to enjoy sunset beach

One of the best things to do in the Hamptons is to go to Sunset Beach.  It's owned by famous hotelier Andre Balaz.

He's cute.

John and I had been told over and over again that we Must go to Sunset Beach.  So one fine day, we took the ferry over to Shelter Island and saw this and thought, 'What's the big deal all about?' And then we left.

It wasn't until a couple of years later that we finally discovered why Sunset Beach is so great and how to enjoy it.

First, you need a boat. 

Orrr....like me, have a friend with a boat...

Enjoy a leisurely boat ride around Shelter Island over to Sunset Beach.   Drop anchor...

And SWIM to the beach!  (Obviously, no pictures of that happening on here!)

After landing safely on the beach, hide your rafts for your return trip.

Hang out and people watch as you wait for your table.

Pass the afternoon enjoying Andre's amazing rose' or bloody mary's,  eating fantastic food, and having scintillating conversation on the rooftop for lunch.

As the sun begins to set, trek across the beach back towards the boat.

Sadly, recall how faaaar out the boat is and how coooold the water is...

And then, say a little prayer that you'll return one day.

sunset beach

For me,

summer in the Hamptons

is never complete 

until we visit 

Sunset Beach.

So last Sunday,

with just a few days left,

John and I met up with the Ringelsteins

for dinner.

We sat downstairs

in the sand

so the girls could

have more freedom

to roam around.

The sunset was 

 still breathtaking.

Oh! What a night!

oh, what a night!

We had a fun filled weekend, beginning with Friday night.
We took the kids to Sunset Friday at

the Wolffer Wine Stand 

where, on Friday nights, you will find

 live music, wine,

cheese trays, picnic blankets,

and plenty of children.

It's starts at 5:00 and continues until sunset.

While there, L borrowed my camera

to take a picture of the 

"ugliest sunglasses in the world."

Here is the pic:

Hellooo? Am I not sooo  'on trend?'  
No? No!

We barely saw C the whole time

because she was trying to score something

from the Styleliner.

After an hour or so,

we headed home to drop the kids off and

meet some friends for dinner.

They encouraged us to hurry or we'd miss the sunset

from the restaurant.

As we drove by Long Beach,

we snapped this picture from the car.

Then, we arrived here:

H waiting on us!

The Beacon is a wonderful restaurant

overlooking the harbor

in Sag Harbor.

It also provides some of the most beautiful

sunset views around.

We were a little late, so by the time we were seated,

this was our view.

Still Gorgeous

Dinner was fabulous.

John had braised pork belly

and I had to die for fish tacos.

While we were there, we ran into two couples

we knew who were out celebrating a birthday.

We decided to all meet at Murph's,

a local dive bar, after dinner.

Being from the south,

where my favorite place in the world is FloraBama,

I fell in love with Murph's.

It's filled with locals and just has that authentic, gritty feel.

I was informed that you Do Not go to Murph's before 11.

I was thrilled that John wasn't abused for wearing his

 white sweater and turquoise polo

- especially after he and D trounced some serious locals in darts.

We danced to the music

on the jukebox.

summer reflections

As I fall into the sobering reality

of a full time job,

it makes me wax nostalgic

on that vague memory

called 

summer...

We enjoyed our annual trek
to Sunset Beach.

When we arrived,
it was late afternoon
and perfectly picturesque.

John 

managed to score the 

perfect table.
The view was 

Insane.

It grew

more and more

beautiful

as the sun set.

We talked.

We laughed.

We ate.

We savored

Andre's rose'.

And

as usual,

closed the place

down.

Aaaahhhh,

summer.

Thanks for the memories.

monet: part deux

One thing I discovered about teenage girls this weekend

is that they are tireless shoppers ~  

especially, when it's overcast and they can't go to the beach.

So on Friday morning, we headed to Southampton.

The girls shopped and shopped.

They have an impeccable sense of style and

found fantastic deals because they are so tiny. 

"Oh look!  Here's a $150  sweater in a zero for $29!"

Yay them!

After meeting the guys at the Driver's Seat for lunch,

we stopped by Town Hall.

Robert's Great (great?) Uncle had won an architecture competition

and designed the building.

How cool is that?

I took the girls on a driving tour around Southampton

and down Gin Lane 

to see the mansions behind the hedges.

They braved the wind and cold to snap a few beach pictures.

Next, we stopped by Tate's Bake Shop

to grab a hot cup of coffee

and some treats.

We shopped even more in Sag Harbor

before heading to Sunset Friday

at the vineyard.

It was a light night because of all the rain,

but the girls loved dressing up and

found more great deals on the Styleliner.

We caught the ferry 

to Shelter Island

and had another amazing meal

at Vine Street Cafe.

Exhausted,

we arrived home around midnight

and

fell...into...bed.

cloudy with a chance of cocktails

It's been cold and cloudy here 

for the past several days.

However, just like 

any beach 

anywhere,

it's still beautiful.

On Friday night,

we attended our first Sunset Friday

of the season.

It was chilly,

but Clinton Curtis played

and between the music, wine, and sweaters

it warmed up

~ just enough.

After enjoying rose' with some close friends,

we went to their house for 

dinner.

While there, 

I was introduced to a new cocktail

of Aperol and (Wolffer) sparkling with a slice of orange.

It was pretty And delicious.

Cheers!