Plum Hamptons

Ross School's Starlight Ball Preview

atowne — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:06:56 -0400

Plum's Chris O'Connor sits down with the Ross School's Director of Development and PR, Diana Aceti, and the Head of School, Michele Claeysto, to talk about their upcoming fundraiser, the 5th Annual Starlight Ball.

Thomas Kopka Memorial

atowne — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:45:42 -0400

Ed Vinski, lifelong friend of East Hampton resident Thomas Kopka, talks with Plum about the upcoming memorial for Tom.

Headaches Among the Hedgerows

jmay — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:48:18 -0400

Ah, the first blooms of Spring, the grass is growing green and the peals of summer laughter are just around the corner. And so are the headaches. Never has one place been so blessed with a richness of bounties—and so many hassles. And they’re not just your garden-variety hassles either, they’re that special breed of hassle you find only among the hedgerows.

Where’s the Help?: Never mind the saying, “Good help is hard to find,” right now in the Hamptons, any help is hard to find. The national immigration debate has complicated the temporary visas usually granted to foreign workers who come to the Hamptons for six months or so and leave at the end of the season. “Restaurants, landscapers, retail shops, sports and recreation facilities, transportation services, and estate management” will all be affected. Translation: if you order your food it might come eventually but we’re not clearing the table between courses; mow your own lawn; don’t bother trying to shop; Raoul, your Brazilian tennis pro, isn’t at the club anymore; no taxis; and, again, mow your own lawn. It’s going to be a fun summer!

The Sound of Silver on Fine China: Assuming you can find a waiter to wait on you, please refrain from making any noise while dining outside at 1770 House this summer. No loud laughter, no voluble interjections into a dining companion’s story, no enthusiastic calls to raise a glass in good cheer. One of the restaurant’s neighbors is complaining about the handful of tables the restaurant has been using on the outdoor patio. Apparently, 1770 House doesn’t have a permit for outdoor tables—which their neighbor was quick to point out. Apparently, the seven outdoor tables that they had last year were unbearable for the neighbor—and you know how crazy and wild people get while eating $50 steaks and drink $300 bottles of wine. Or should we say whine?

Restrictions on Where You Can Fly Your Helicopter: Shhh, it’s the Hamptons. Total silence please. We’re not going to compare some people eating outside to a helicopter flying low overhead—that would be silly. But we also have to note that frequent fliers are going to allow for a forty-six-minute flight out east as opposed to the usual forty-five-minute trip—ouch! How do you spell L.I.E.?

The Constant Theft of Plumbing: Copper has become so valuable as scrap metal, East End thieves are plundering homes and construction sites for copper piping. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a plumber before Memorial Day?

Even More Shark Attacks: Blame it on global warming—seriously. The two recent shark attacks in California have been linked to global warming, according to people who blame everything on global warming. So if there’s any truth to this, well, we hope you have a pool.

Property Price Shrinkage: The only thing you want shrinking is your brain tumor. We’re not even going to get into this one. You’ve heard the news. You’re shaking your head in disgust. We know.

Summer in the Hamptons: Sun, Sand & a Labor Shortage [NY Sun]
Clatter Over Restaurant's Noise [East Hampton Star]
Copper Crooks Hit Hamptons [NYP]
Surge in Fatal Shark Attacks Blamed on Global Warming [Guardian]

Hamptons Fishing Report #3

atowne — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:19:02 -0400

This year may go down as “The Year of the Bluefish” according to Captain Craig Cantelmo from Van Staal Reels. The fishing has been “outrageous” of late. Shinnecock Bay and Peconic Bays are inundated with large bluefish and stripers feeding on schools of bunker that have pushed into all the area creeks. Surface lures like Pencil Poppers and Saltwater Super Spooks have been very effective. If you get a few follows without a take, increase your retrieve. The New Moon tide this week should result in some great action in the late afternoon working the back bay points.

Ken Morse at Tight Lines Tackle in Sag Harbor echoes Cantelmo’s report, saying the fishing is phenomenal. He only marvels at how few fishermen there are out there taking advantage of this time of year. The creeks around Southampton are giving up 30-inch stripers, and Morse has heard reports of the first fluke being caught, along with some big porgies in the 3-4 pound range. The seasons will open on flukes and porgies in the coming weeks.

To the west, Captain John McMurray of One More Cast Charters also reports great fishing in Jamaica Bay. Excellent grass shrimp hatches, some of the best he has ever seen, have led to great surface action for stripers in the mid 30-inch range. There are still plenty of bunker around with some bigger bass underneath, but most schools of bunker are dominated by bluefish. The grass shrimp hatch provides a great opportunity for fly fishermen. Hope it lasts!

Check back every Wednesday for a new report.

-Tee Clarkson

The State Of The Market - First Quarter Stats For '08

atowne — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:39:54 -0400

You know times are tough when real estate agents are taking waitress jobs, albeit on Shelter Island so they don’t run into their clients while offering them the short ribs. The figures are out to prove that the Gucci belt is tightening as sales slow down. Suffolk Research Service Inc. released the first quarter figures for 2008 and present some statistics that, while sobering, are certainly not doom and gloom

Plum Builders: Green Building

atowne — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:46:47 -0400

Al Giaquinto, President of Plum Builders (no relation), discusses the latest trends in green building and shows off some of the materials that are gaining traction in the environmental revolution. His insights: Use closely manufactured materials, recycle old materials for structural or aesthetic uses, and get to know new heating and cooling systems.

Plum Builders
125 Stephen Hands Path
East Hampton, NY 11937
P: 631-329-1300
F: 631-329-5648

www.plumbuilders.com

LongHouse Reserve Opening

atowne — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:27:07 -0400

LongHouse Reseve in East Hampton opens for its 16th season featuring new artwork and exciting landscaping. To name a few attractions, Curator Jack Larsen has collected several precious pieces of pottery in a grouping entitled "100 Vessels". Additionally, sculptor Bryan Hunt has brought his 1995 work "The Plunge" to the Reserve.

Plum's "Pre-Summer Celebration"

atowne — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:58:15 -0400

Plum plays host to a "Pre-Summer Celebration"

"Summer, We Can't Wait To See You!" Love, Plum

atowne — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:45:27 -0400

On a special night in May (last Thursday), standing on the doorstep of thee season (Summer), Plum had a celebration ... a Pre-Summer Celebration. Food, drinks and friends, oh what a night!

Check out all the photos from the night in the slideshow below.

Hamptons Lunch: Stonewall's

atowne — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:54:32 -0400

Plum's Matt Lyman visits Stonewall's Restaurant in Riverhead to experience an authentic French lunch. Located at the Cherry Creek Golf Course, Stonewall's is led by executive chef Guy Puch.

Stonewall's Restaurant
967 Reeves Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
631-506-0777

www.stonewalls-restaurant.com

North Fork Living: Dining Tour

atowne — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:23:31 -0400

In this edition of North Fork Living, Agawam Albertson broker Tom Scalia takes us on a culinary tour of the North Fork. Starting in Jamesport, we visit the Jamesport Manor Inn. Then it's onto Southold to eat at the North Fork Table and Inn and Sea Food Barge. And last, but certainly not least, we end up in Greenport at the Frisky Oyster.

Direct Action-East End Exhibition

atowne — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:13:40 -0400

To see all the entries for Norsic's Direct Action-East End environmental challenge head over to The Gallery Sag Harbor.

Hamptons Artist Profile: Elaine Grove

atowne — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:51:57 -0400

Sculptor Elaine Grove talks about the empowerment of melting steel, the importance of her community, and pleasing the soul.

Noise Battle Begins: Dial 1-800-HELL-icopter

jmay — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:53:55 -0400

Huge DISCLAIMER: the above number is NOT the number to dial if you have a helicopter related complaint. It would be awesome if it was, but it's not. The actual numbers to call are below.

Undoubtedly, helicopter news is going to rank right up there with piping plover news this summer in the Hamptons. Senator Schumer is all over the issue like a teenage, East Hampton summer deputy on a stickerless parked car at the beach—no quarter will be given.

So far the Senator's efforts have resulted in 70% of helicopter flights out east traveling on the proposed routes over less-populous areas of the island. The other 30% are expected to get in line or suffer the consequences.

We're heavy gamblers here at Plum, and our money is massive complaints. The over-under for Memorial Day Weekend complaints is 112. Place your bets in the comments.

Helicopter Complaint Numbers:
Eastern Region Helicopter Council: 845-353-6050,
East Hampton Airport: 631-537-1130
Gabreski Airport: 631 -852-8095.

Long Island Hotline Set to Report Rogue Copters [Newsday]

Talkin' Montauk: Then & Now

atowne — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:06:56 -0400

At the very tip of Long Island is Montauk, a mecca for fishermen and beach-goers. This is a short look at its long history, from the days of the Montauk Indians to its development as a summer destination.

The Bzzz of Spring in The Hamptons

atowne — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:01:59 -0400

Not unlike the change of a deciduous forest or a blossoming caterpillar, the Hamptons Winter-to-Summer transition is one people take note of.

The signs of another transitional Spring in the Hamptons are everywhere. It’s not only the buzz of the bees but also the buzz of lawn equipment. There are swarms of descending insects being closely followed by swarms of migrating New Yorkers.

Just like nature and clockwork, a Hamptons Spring has its certainties. And here we are again, ‘tis the season to get ready for the season of all seasons—Summer!

Hamptons Prep Work [NYT]

Justice Antonin Scalia on Plum

atowne — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:44:59 -0400

An interview by Stan Pottinger with Justice Antonin Scalia, the second most senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Hamptons Artist Profile: Tony Rosenthal

atowne — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:32:51 -0400

Sculptor Tony Rosenthal talks about his life as an artist, including his best known work, the cube in NYC's Astor Place.

Coming To A Hook Near You

atowne — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:39:57 -0400

Captain Bart Ritchie of Mistress Too Charters in Montauk takes Plum on a sunset cruise off Montauk Point. As huge striped bass keep biting, Captain Bart explains what makes Montauk a fishing mecca.

Therapy Clothing

atowne — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:27:44 -0400

After a long, stressful week or simply a rough day, everybody needs a little Therapy.

Therapy Clothing
77 Jobs Lane
Southampton, NY 11968
631-259-2555