Concierge baron’s cove
2019 - 2020
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welcome to a very special place Once a thriving port, the village of Sag Harbor is now known for its waterfront resort qualities, meandering tree-lined streets, historic architecture and casually sophisticated way of life. Located on the picturesque east end of Long Island, about 100 miles from Manhattan, Sag Harbor provides convenient access to virtually all of the attractions that lure so many visitors to the Hamptons. On foot, stroll up and down Main Street to discover singular boutiques, galleries and local museums. In the evening, dine at some of the most widely acclaimed restaurants in the Hamptons. By boat, explore the stunning local waterways, coves and marinas. Or take a short drive to the freshest local farm stands, a surprisingly deep array of wineries — and some of the finest ocean beaches on the East Coast. With easy access to the Hamptons, Shelter Island and the North Fork wine country, Sag Harbor is the perfect gateway to this extraordinary region of New York.
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meet mario, our new general manager Mario Arakelian took over as general manager of Baron’s Cove in March. Overlooking one of Sag Harbor’s signature sunsets, he chatted about his background, his hopes for the future of the hotel and how he unwinds with his family on the East End… Where are you from? Cyprus, originally. I was born and raised there. I am half Greek and half Armenian. What brought you to the States? I came 20 years ago as a student — I attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for their hospitality program. Then I was lucky enough to get hired by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts after graduation. I did a few stints around the country with them, working in Beverly Hills and Miami before transferring to London. I was with the Four Seasons for 10 years then moved to Manhattan to manage my family’s Lebanese restaurant. Were you always drawn to hospitality? Since I was a teenager. Where I come from in Cyprus, we have a lot of resorts. The main industry is tourism, and I always enjoyed interacting with visitors. Having lived in so many beautiful places, how does Sag Harbor stack up? It’s among the most beautiful spots I’ve been. Seeing a sunset over the harbor from the private Map Room at Baron’s Cove is a breathtaking experience. In the summer, this place is so dynamic and electric, with everyone wanting a piece of it. But the winter offers its own charming, wild sort of beauty. Besides location, what drew you
to this role at Baron’s Cove? An opportunity to elevate the entire guest experience is what intrigued me. I’m very keen on doing my best to make this — why not? — one of the top hotels in the Hamptons. How’s it going so far? I love it. I’m very grateful — my family loves it here, too. It’s a great environment to raise children. My wife and I have a four-and-a-half-yearold daughter, Sophia-Rehan. What do you do for fun when you’re not working? We like exploring the outdoors. We love hiking, we love the beach, and we are avid fans of horses so we love horseback riding. Spending quality time together is very important to us. After a long day on the job, what from the Baron’s Cove menu tastes the best while looking out over this view? The lobster roll with fresh Maine lobster is one of my favorite dishes, and I’m definitely a big fan of the octopus, which is a new appetizer this summer. And coming from the Mediterranean, I’ve got discerning taste when it comes to octopus! What’s your goal for the 2019 season? A key area of focus this summer is providing an amazing poolside experience. It’s a short window that the pool is open, and it’s important to me that it’s idyllic. What’s something you’d like people to know about you? I value the fact that people have chosen to spend their finite vacation time here. That’s a privilege. I am looking forward to making sure each guest experiences the warmest, most hospitable environment possible. 4
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10 things you might not know about sag harbor u This village of two square miles is in two separate Hamptons. Three-fifths fall
within Southampton, while two-fifths are in East Hampton. The aptly named Division Street serves as partition between the two areas. u It was named for a potato. Or, more specifically, a potato-producing vine
called sagabon, originally farmed by the indigenous Algonquin people. These Native Americans referred to Sag Harbor as Weg-wag-onuch, meaning “the land or place at the end of the hill.” At the time, Sag Harbor comprised many hills, meadows, streams and swamps. u The first U.S. customs house was built here. In desperate need of revenue
following the Revolutionary War (a war in which residents of Sag Harbor were forced to house British soldiers), George Washington passed the Tariff Act of 1789. The law allowed for the collection of duties on all imported goods — this is how the country would pay for things like the Louisiana Territory and Transcontinental Railroad. Washington established Sag Harbor as a port of entry for these goods, and the village had more ships engaged in commerce by weight than New York City. To service the port, the nation’s first customs house was acquired in the early 1790s. The preserved building is located at the corner of Main and Garden. u In chapter twelve of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick the narrator tells us
about the decision of cannibal/whale-harpooner Queequeg, after witnessing the behavior of Christians, to remain a heathen: “But, alas! The practices of whalemen soon convinced him that even Christians could be both miserable and wicked… Arrived at last in old Sag Harbor; and seeing what the sailors did there… poor Queequeg gave it up for lost.” u Sag Harbor launched the first fire department in the state of New York. It was established in 1803 and has since battled with several devastating fires. In 1817 a small fire began in a barn but quickly spread due to wind to warehouses full of flammable whale oil, resulting in the loss of more than 20 homes and 15 barns. In 1845, a massive fire left 45 families homeless and 100 buildings destroyed. In 1877, a fire consumed 31 buildings. In 1879, the town cotton mill — then headquarters for the village’s largest industry — mysteriously burned. On New Year’s Day in 1925, the Ballen Store Annex on Washington Street caught fire and its stock of ammunition exploded. The resulting blaze engulfed the Alvin Silver 6
Sag Harbor was a thriving international port in the 18th and 19th centuries. Below: The village introduced the first fire department in the state of New York. Sag Harbor Historical Society
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The village’s Main Street in 1890 — many of the buildings remain. Sag Harbor Historical Society
Company (now Conca D’oro), which manufactured silverware. These are only a handful of the fires experienced in the last 200 years. Most recently, in December of 2016, the beloved Sag Harbor Cinema on Main Street was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin. Community fundraising efforts spearheaded by the Sag Harbor Partnership have made possible a restoration project. u Langston Hughes used to recite poetry here. In the 1950s, the Harlem
Renaissance leader, pioneer of jazz poetry, novelist and playwright would visit his friend, the historian William Pickens, at his Sag Harbor home, where they’d read verse on the porch. u Remarkable trees are everywhere. The incredible diversity is due to Sag
Harbor’s days as a major international port. Take the maackia, typically found in Korea and along the China-Siberia border — this tree, which smells like fresh-cut grass, is located at 135 Main Street. Then there’s the tulip tree at Nancy Boyd Willey Park, which came from the seed of 1793 specimen at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The Sag Harbor Tree Fund seeks to maintain the village’s impressive arboreal variety. u The village has been home base for many eccentric seafarers. Prentice
Mulford, who lived on a boat and coined the phrase “Law of Attraction,” was born here in 1834. He was a humorous bohemian author and lecturer who spent 30 years in an unmarked grave before being transported to Sag Harbor’s Oakland 8
Cemetery, where his headstone bears the title of his most famous work, Thoughts are Things. Captain Thomas Welcome Roys, born in 1816, discovered a species of whale in the Arctic called bowhead, and he blew up his hand while working on developing rocket-propelled harpoons — his crew had to amputate with a razor. Then there was the Revolutionary War hero Captain David Hand VI, aka Slippery Dave. He outlived five wives and escaped British imprisonment five times. His home, located on Church Street, is one of the village’s oldest. The man’s story so captivated author James Fenimore Cooper, former resident of Shelter Haven, the writer used him as inspiration for the warrior character Natty Bumppo in his Leatherstocking Tales books. u Sag Harbor once experienced a year of perpetual winter. Due to eruptions of two volcanoes — Soufriere Saint Vincent in the Caribbean and Mount Tambora in Indonesia — which released incredible amounts of ash into the atmosphere, village residents experienced frost every month throughout the year 1816 and had to wear mittens on the Fourth of July.
A writers’ retreat Sag Harbor has long been a haven for creative luminaries, from Jackson Pollock to Billy Joel. But this has proven especially true for the literary set. Some authors have written about the village — Herman Melville references it in four chapters of Moby-Dick. Others have lived, or penned their stories, here. Among the most frequently mentioned when discussing Sag Harbor literati is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck. Thomas Harris, author of Silence of the Lambs, conceived of Hannibal Lecter above Marty’s Barber Shop, now Salon 66. Harris is still a part-time resident. Betty Friedan, a key player in the women’s movement and the author of The Feminine Mystique, summered at 31 Glover Street. Spalding Gray rose to fame in 1987 when his one-man show about political unrest, Swimming to Cambodia, was made into a feature film. His former house is located at 74 Madison. Caroline Blackwood was a novelist, Hollywood actress and Guinness heiress. Among her books was Great Granny Webster, based on her childhood. She lived at 8 Union Street. Others who’ve visited Sag Harbor include James Fenimore Cooper, the 19th-century writer who captured pioneer life, and Langston Hughes, poet, social activist and playwright famous for his portrayals of black life from the 20s through the 60s. Cooper, who based his Natty Bumppo character in The Last of the Mohicans on a Sag Harbor resident, stayed at Duke Fordham’s Inn, now the Muse restaurant. Hughes visited a friend at 19 Ninevah Place in the ’50s and read poems on his porch. For more, consider a walking tour hosted by the Sag Harbor Partnership — see sagharborpartnership.org.
u The village boasts the greatest architectural variety of any of the Hamptons. The eclectic streets are lined with Colonial, High Victorian, Federal, Egyptian, Greek and Gothic Revival styles. The oldest homes in the village date as far back as the late 1600s. At 62 Union Street is one example — the 1693 House — which has been moved five times. Whether modern visitors prefer bracketed eaves, elegant lines, or gingerbread detailing, Sag Harbor delivers.
embracing the past
When Cape Resorts acquired Baron’s Cove in 2013, the restaurant and lounge had been sold off and demolished. After approvals and renovation, Baron’s Cove reopened in 2015. The new resort maintains the name and footprint of the original structure, which was the first resort development in Sag Harbor. It also expanded
to include an enhanced pool area, updated guest rooms and a new checkin, restaurant and bar building which serves the freshest food and drinks. Baron’s Cove embraces the history of the original 1960s hotel, which boasted prominent guests including John and Elaine Steinbeck, Paul Newman, Art Garfunkel and Richard Kind. Local leaders, out-of-town guests 10
Baron’s Cove in the 1960s and 1980s... today, it remains at the center of the community.
and regional artists — Jackson Pollock, Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Truman Capote, George Plimpton and Kurt Vonnegut — regularly gathered at the restaurant and hotel. Today, we offer that same spirit of creativity and community while also offering up-to-date amenities expected from a modern resort. Situated both on the harbor and a short walk from Main Street, Baron’s Cove is perfectly located and welcomes guests any time of year. Baron’s Cove is once again a vibrant part of the Sag Harbor community. 11
resort activities
Pool & Beach
COMPLIMENTARY BEACH SERVICE We offer a complimentary summer shuttle to Long Beach, plus use of our beach chairs, umbrellas and plush towels. Take all of the hassle out of a day at one of the nearby Hamptons beaches. Departs from Wellness Center at Barons Cove at 9:15am and every 15 minutes past the hour — last shuttle leaves at 4:15pm. From Long Beach to Baron’s Cove, shuttled departs every 40 minutes past the hour, starting at 10:40am — last shuttle at 4:40pm.
SALTWATER POOL Play in the water, get lost in this summer’s bestseller or share a light meal with friends at one of our outdoor tables. Pool attendants are at your service when you are ready to order from our pool menu or need a refreshing poolside cocktail. Open daily 8am-7pm. SUN TENTS Lounge in the privacy of our oversized grey-and-white striped sun tents with a generous seating area on the poolside lawn. Daily tent rental comes with two loungers and a cooler filled with ice-cold water and soda. Call the Front Desk for reservations and pricing. Open daily 8am-7pm, from June through September.
BEACH PARKING PASSES Prefer to drive? Complimentary parking passes for Southampton town beaches are available to hotel guests, as are beach chairs, beach umbrellas and towels. Offered daily at the Wellness Center from 9am-5pm. 12
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resort activities Wellness
ommendations for walking through town or hiking in the nearby Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island. Available from the Wellness Center, daily 8am-6pm. Available for two hours at a time, first come, first served.
Take care of your mind and body during your stay with a selection of fun, invigorating and relaxing wellness options. Vacation doesn’t have to mean a break in your fitness routine.
PREMIUM BICYCLE RENTAL Sag Harbor Cycle, 34 Bay Street, is open Friday to Tuesday 10am-5pm.
FITNESS CENTER Our onsite Fitness Center is open daily 8am-6pm, offering treadmills, elliptical, stationary bike, free weights, yoga mats and yoga ball. Water and towels provided.
TENNIS Our onsite courts are open to all guests; rackets and balls are available daily from 8am-6pm. Complimentary group sessions are available with a tennis professional: Tuesday and Thursday 9am-10am; Saturday 4pm-5pm. Private lessons are available $150 per hour (maximum two guests, minimum of one guest). By appointment only (on-site).
SAG HARBOR GYM Located at 1 Bay Street, open Monday to Friday 5:30am-9:30pm; Saturday and Sunday 7am-7pm. Complimentary gym passes available for Baron’s Cove guests. Fitness classes include Zumba, Bodypump, Body Conditioning and cost $15 per class. Personal trainer: $125 for one hour session.
WATERSPORTS Global Boarding, 50 Water Street, open daily at 8am. See aquatic life up close via a kayak or paddle board through the beautiful Sag Harbor Cove.
YOGA Complimentary Yoga on the Lawn daily from 8am-9am, except Tuesdays 9am-10am. Yoga mats, blocks and water provided. Private sessions: $125 per hour (1-2 people); $150 per hour (3-4 people).
KAYAK TOUR Complimentary for Baron’s Cove guests, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 4:30pm-5:30pm and Sundays 8am-9am. Self guided kayak rentals: single $55 for two hours, double $65 for two hours.
SPA SERVICES Located in the Wellness Center. By appointment only. Call the Concierge for more information, or see the spa brochure.
Recreation
STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDING Complimentary SUP lessons are available for Baron’s Cove guests on Mondays and Wednesdays 4:30pm-5:30pm and Saturdays 8am-9am. SUP rentals: $55 for two hours.
BARON’S COVE BIKES Take one of our complimentary bikes for a ride or go for an invigorating run along the marina. Ask the Concierge for route rec-
For more information and reservations, please call the Baron’s Cove Concierge at 631-725-2100 14
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jazz at the cove
Every Wednesday Night Year-Round From 6pm-9pm every first and last Wednesday night of the month — beside a cozy fireplace in the offseason months and in front of glass doors that open onto a breezy deck in the summer season — John brings professional jazz musicians to perform by the Baron’s Cove bar. In each Jam Session group, one member is typically a special guest. Think Randy Brecker, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, and Morris Goldberg, who recorded alongside Paul Simon on his Graceland album. At Baron’s Cove, the focus will be on curating a roster of exceptional vocalists. Meanwhile, on the remaining Wednesdays, Baron’s Cove will continue to host the house jazz bands Myra and her team have been working with for over a year. It’s been easy to source talent, she explains, since musicians frequently seek her out hoping to play the venue. “The acoustics are fantastic,” she said. “But performers are also drawn to the space. It’s intimate enough to provide a true connection between artist and audience. And these musicians are searching for that electricity, that moment of sharing. It’s about so much more than singing songs people love.” The East End-based acts — which will include the rock-influenced Unsung Heroes and, naturally, the Hot Club of Montauk — will provide something for everyone. “We made sure we’re not getting progressive jazz that only jazz-heads like, and we didn’t want elevator music,” Myra said. “There’s great variety here.” But, she’s careful to add, the real credit for the success of these Jam Sessions goes to the people of the East End. “Partnering with and supporting the community is important to us. We’re creating a home for something that was already cherished here.”
Last year, when former interim manager of Baron’s Cove, Rene Stutz, heard the mesmerizing gypsy jazz quintet called the Hot Club of Montauk perform at the hotel, he felt inspired. He approached Myra Vassian, entertainment director for Cape Resorts, with an equally inspired idea: What if Baron’s Cove could provide the community with a weekly jazz night? “I thought it was a great suggestion, and we put it into action,” Myra said. “We hosted several acts that were very good, but we were limited a little — we’re not part of this scene normally.” Enter John Landes, former owner of Bay Burger, Sag Harbor’s beloved roadhouse eatery. For nine of the 11 years John’s family ran the restaurant, the place hosted Jam Sessions, a weekly gathering of seasoned jazz musicians. Their performances — or, perhaps more accurately, their unrehearsed jams — became so popular, they helped Bay Burger defy the odds and stay open yearround. These shows are also what inspired the launch of the Sag Harbor American Music Festival, held every September. When Bay Burger sold in September of 2018, John and Claes Brondal, local legend and musical director for the Jam Sessions, needed to find a new venue in Sag Harbor. Baron’s Cove, they felt, had just the right vibe, and a new partnership was born. “The hotel is really at the forefront of bringing back the jazz,” said John, who is chairman of the Board of Directors of WPPB, the regional NPR-affiliate station, where he hosts The Jam Session Radio Hour. “This is a wonderful place for it. People pay attention to the music when they’re here, but they’re also enjoying each other and having conversations. It’s just an intimate, sweet venue.” 16
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dining at the cove
Overlooking the harbor, Baron’s Cove is inspired by its history as a village inn in one of America’s oldest ports. The nautically inspired dining room and lounge reflect a clubby and energetic vibe. The food is distinctly American, celebrating the season and building on the basics of fresh local seafood, modern tavern classics and simple roasts and meats, with a focus on clean plates and bold, bright flavors. Serving three meals a day, the restaurant is a meeting place, home to both hotel guests and myriad village residents and visitors, creating an atmosphere that integrates fine dining service with convivial warmth. 19
sipping time The bar and lounge at Baron’s Cove has a timeless feel, with attentive service, classic appointments and comfortable seating. Enjoy live music nightly in season along with cocktails both classic and new — the Baron’s Cove Mule, the Paloma and Aperol Spritz are among the favorites. As with great summer homes, the living room feel of the lounge flows seamlessly to the outdoor seating area (pictured next page), with rockers on the front porch and fireside seating on the side patio. Take your pick — serenity awaits.
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a new member of the cape family Sometimes, on an especially starry night, Glenn Petry likes to lie on his back on a wooden dock that extends over Shelter Island Sound, at the eastern end of New York’s Long Island. If he glances behind him, he sees the Pridwin — the hotel his parents purchased the year before he was born — illuminated like a cruise ship. In front of the Gatsby-era building, the leaves of majestic, 80-foot oak trees, backlit by the stars in the night sky, rustle in the breeze. These trees are just about the only thing in this tableau to have changed in eight decades — pictures from the 1930s show the trees at 30 feet high. But the view from the Pridwin, located on the aptly named Crescent Beach in Shelter Island, has been the same for decades. The sunsets cast the same pink light on the same glassy water. Across the bay, the same small cottages dot the same lush landscape. The hotel, named for King Arthur’s shield, conjures thoughts of protection. Tucked away on an eight-acre lot of the beach’s southwest corridor, the property is indeed protected from severe weather patterns and the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But it appears, also, to be insulated from time itself. “There’s the sense that time is not progressing here,” Glenn says. “People come back
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The Pridwin and its crescent-shaped beach on Shelter Island, featured in a 1960s-era postcard. Inset: How the terrace looks today.
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The Pridwin, above, in 1947 and, below, Edie Frost at the hotel in 1947. Her parents, Fred and Mildred, loved the place so much that they put up the capital for Edie’s husband Richard to take it over in 1962. The Pridwin has remained in the family ever since.
year after year partly because they love this. Even though the world may be evolving so quickly around them, change happens slowly here. This contributes to the magical feel of the place.” Glenn and his family have always sought to preserve this facet of the Pridwin, a classic and nostalgic American resort hotel that harks back to a simpler time. And this is why, over the years, they’ve resisted many offers from hoteliers who’ve recognized the potential of the property. It never felt like the right fit. Until, that is, kismet brought the Petry family together with Curtis Bashaw, the founder and managing partner of Cape Resorts — a man who, Glenn says, has a proven record for honoring the history of his properties, including Baron’s Cove and Cape May’s Congress Hall, and the communities on which they depend. Moving forward, the Pridwin will partner with Cape Resorts in renovating the Shelter Island hotel and extending its tra26
ditionally short season well beyond July and August. But the spirit of the storied resort will remain intact. “We like to be that place that makes islanders think: That’s OUR place,” Glenn says. “We want to be a part of Shelter Island — not something that merely exists here — because we love and respect that island way of life. With Curtis and Cape Resorts, this is a shared value. It’s not about changing the hotel so much as making it more accessible.” The Pridwin was built by an English company in the early 1920s. But, as the Great Depression settled in, the project stalled and local builders stepped in to finish the job by 1927. (Today, the granddaughter of one of these builders serves as hotel bookkeeper.) The spot has been important to Glenn’s family since the beginning — his maternal grandparents, Frederick and Mildred Frost, began vacationing here with their young daughter, Edith, in 1930. “As the story goes, my grandfather heard from a friend that this was a place you could get a good meal, and my grandfather really loved to eat,” Glenn says. “But at the same
time, it was also during Prohibition, and I think it was pretty well known — Shelter Island was a place you could get a drink.” Fast forward to 1961. Edith, now working as a secretary in the Chrysler Building in Manhattan, had married Richard Petry, a top graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy. Weary of life in New York and years of working for Grace Lines shipping company as a stevedore, Richard began looking for opportunities elsewhere, ideally close to the water so he could pursue his true passion of fishing. Frederick mentioned that the Pridwin was up for sale, and he offered to put up the capital if his son-in-law would put in the sweat equity. “It was risky, but that’s what young people do,” says Richard, now in his 80s. At the time, he had no prior hotel experience. “In those early days, it wasn’t unusual for for us to be working around the clock.” At first, that work included large-scale renovation projects, like building a grand new dining room or turning a hill of sand into state-of-the-art tennis courts. When the hotel opened for the 1962 season, Richard
Fred and Mildred Frost on the Pridwin’s crescent-shaped beach in 1947. Their annual trip to Shelter Island would change their family’s destiny when they took over the hotel in 1962. 27
how to waterski. During the evening hours, the bay became his own playground. “As dusk approaches on Shelter Island, the breeze dies down,” Glenn says. “So as the sun sinks lower in the sky, the water gets totally flat and glass-like. All the other boaters go in for cocktail hour, so this is the moment my friends and I would always wait for. We’d ski up and down the beach. We’d do silly things, too, like take the boat as fast as we could and jump off the back in our jean shorts. Or we’d tie a rubber tire onto the back with a rope and go makeshift tubing, long before there was actual equipment for this sort of thing. This was the routine for many years. The freedom of a childhood like that... I realize now what a luxury that was.” On Wednesday nights throughout Glenn’s youth, the Pridwin hosted a cookout on the lawn that, to this day, is a beloved community event complete with live bands playing classic tunes. For many years, Richard baked scratch-made brownies for which hotel guests would come off the beach in their bathing suits, then he’d dance with his bride as the sun set behind them. What started as a small affair now draws between 300 and 400 attendees per week. From the North Fork of Long Island, people routinely pull up by boat. For the Fourth of July, the cookout crowd admires fireworks over the water in a patriotic celebration similar to that at Congress Hall. “We didn’t intend to create this quintessential Americana type of thing,” Glenn says. “It just happened.” When it came time for college, both Glenn and his brother set out to forge their own careers — Glenn does PR work for opera singers and classical musicians, while Gregg’s background is in finance. But both have found their way back to the hotel in recent years. Today, Glenn handles managerial duties while Gregg works on the business side of things and, along with his dad, catches the majority of fish served at the Pridwin. They both have children of their own, most of whom work in the hotel,
Richard Petry waterskiing off the Pridwin beach in the 1960s; the famous cookouts that began in the 1970s and which have endured as a Long Island tradition.
also took over the bookkeeping and maintenance work. Edith raised the children — Glenn was born that June, and his brother Gregg came along six years later. She also worked as a cocktail server and, according to her kids, “chief social butterfly.” “It wasn’t until my adult years that I realized, wow, what an absolutely unique opportunity to grow up in this setting,” says Glenn. He spent his childhood suffering through seemingly interminable winters until the Pridwin came alive again each summer, a season of adventure spent exploring the grounds, playing with young hotel guests and doing odd jobs to help out the college-aged staff of the hotel. “At one point, my parents sent me to camp for two weeks. It was an absolutely horrible experience, because it paled in comparison to everything I had at my fingertips.” By age 13, Glenn was captaining the Pridwin’s boat in order to teach hotel guests 28
From Shelter Island to Cape May... the Petry family, with patriarch Richard center, enjoy Winter Wonderland during a visit to Congress Hall in Cape May in December of 2017.
the pool. The feeling of goodwill and childhood magic that’s been drawing thousands of visitors to Cape May since Winter Wonderland launched in 2011 was not lost on the admiring Petry family . “It was perfect,” Glenn says. “Such a warm, great place. It’s what we imagine when we dream of extending the season at the Pridwin. Christmas at the Pridwin — an exciting thought. We’re looking forward to realizing this dream with Cape Resorts.” It might not be such a tough sell for Shelter Island visitors. Those starry skies and oak trees are beautiful, Glenn adds, any time of year.
just as their fathers did. The kids also spend much time on the water, although Glenn’s boys prefer wakeboarding to waterskiing. “I was offended at first, but I’m over it now,” he jokes. In June of 2017, Edith, the matriarch of the family, passed away, a loss with which the Petrys are still coping. That year for Christmas, a holiday usually spent on Shelter Island, the family decided to do something different — they came to Congress Hall in Cape May. Here, they experienced the hotel’s Winter Wonderland festivities, complete with a 30-foot Christmas tree on the grand lawn and a shopping village by 29
the cape resorts family Cape Resorts was founded 30 years ago in Cape May, located on the southern tip of New Jersey. Defined by its coastal charm and Victorian architecture, Cape May is a seaside escape with miles of pristine coastline, quaint shopping districts, a picturesque lighthouse and celebrated restaurants. The city’s most famous landmark is Congress Hall, America’s oldest seaside hotel and a one-time mainstay of visiting American presidents in the 19th century. Cape Resorts reopened the hotel in 2002 after a painstaking $25 million renovation. Also included in our Cape May family are The Virginia, The Star, Beach Shack, Sandpiper Beach Club, Congress Place Suites, The Virginia Cottages and Beach Plum Farm Cottages. Since 2012, Congress Hall, The Virginia and Sandpiper have appeared every year in Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards Top 20 Hotels in the Mid-Atlantic and New York regions. Since reopening in 2015, Baron’s Cove has joined them on the same list. The Beach Shack’s Rusty Nail restaurant was picked as one of Travel and Leisure magazine’s top 10 picks for best beach bars in America. Cape Resorts also operates the 62-acre Beach Plum Farm in West Cape May which supplies fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork and chicken to the company’s restaurants.
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Congress Hall is Cape Resorts’ flagship property, a 106-room hotel that was originally erected in 1816. In 1891, it became the first Summer White House, when President Benjamin Harrison annexed an office there for the season.
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Cape Resorts opened The Virginia hotel and Ebbitt Room restaurant in 1989, transforming an old boarding house (center, right) into Cape May’s first boutique hotel. It would herald the beginning of an adventure that changed the face of hospitality in Cape May. 32
From the 1960s on, the Rusty Nail became known as a hangout for Cape May’s surfers and lifeguards. They still come, along with visitors attracted to the rustic beachfront vibe.
Beach Plum Farm was awarded a “Hero” designation from Edible Jersey magazine in 2019 for working to protect the “culinary soul” of the Garden State. As well as being a 62-acre working farm, it features the Beach Plum Farm Market and Kitchen, and five cottages. It hosts weekly farm-to-table dinners and other themed events. 33
A charming breakfast and lunch spot — and, in the evening, a perfect view of a Sag Harbor sunset. 34
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mondays, the sunset is the star Indulge in a Sunset Seafood Soirée
The sunsets over the waterfront in Sag Harbor are so brilliant that Mario Arakelian, Baron’s Cove general manager, still finds himself pausing to snap photos, even though he sees this crimson-and-tangerine spectacle daily. “It takes my breath away each time,” he says. The nightly show — which often prompts a village-wide moment of silent reverie — was the inspiration for Sunset Soirées, a new offering happening on the Baron’s Cove lawn every summer Monday from 4pm until the sun disappears. Because the summer season doesn’t truly kick off in Sag Harbor until you’ve slurped your first oyster and sipped from your first glass of rosé, Sunset Soirees offer a wide selection of wine, beer and cocktails, plus a raw bar of impossibly fresh options. The popular seafood towers, three-tiered and nearly two-feet high, include Maine lobster, shrimp and three types of oysters, including the local Peconic Golds and the sustainably cultivated Cape May Salts. “It’s important that we support East End aquaculture,” said Mario. “But this event is also about, simply, having a good time. Food should be fun.” To this end, guests — who will also have the option of ordering from the bar and main menus — will be treated to live music from Jon Divello, a songwriter who also covers the likes of Tom Petty and Pink Floyd. “It’s an amazing atmosphere,” said Mario. “We’re so blessed to have the location we do.” 36
Summer at the Cove... our Seafood Tower washed down with a chiled glass of rosĂŠ, chased with a breathtaking sunset. 37
return of a beloved icon At 8pm last Memorial Day evening, around 500 people gathered on Sag Harbor’s Main Street for the much-anticipated lighting of the recently refurbished Sag Harbor Cinema sign. The red-and-blue art deco letters elicited cheers from residents, visitors and local merchants who kept their doors open late for the occasion. “It was like the Rockefeller tree lighting in New York City,” said Jayne Young, vice president of the not-for-profit Sag Harbor Partnership, dedicated to preserving quality of life in the village. “That sign is a beacon that represents home. Few eyes were dry.” The moving ceremony marked a milestone in the campaign to bring back the iconic Sag Harbor Cinema, a 480-seat movie house from the mid-1930s that burnt down in 2016. Since that disaster, the Sag Harbor Partnership has worked to raise funds — via grants, donations and easements secured by Southampton — for the completion of a new Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center. It’s been a gargantuan effort driven by dedicated community partners. “Baron’s Cove has been a terrific supporter,” Jayne said. “They’ve provided sponsorships, goodwill and forward momentum. They’ve been with us from the beginning.” In 2017 and 2018, Baron’s Cove was the largest sponsor of the Big Tent Party for the Cinema held in July on Long Wharf. Organized entirely by volunteers, the event drew around 1,000 people a year. Attendees
enjoyed food donated by local restaurants or cooked on grills manned by local firefighters, wine gifted by East End vintners, and live music graciously supplied by the New Orleans-inspired HooDoo Loungers band. There was also an art auction arranged by painter April Gornik and supplied with donated works. “It really was incredible,” Jayne said. “Everybody threw their hat in and said, ‘How can we help?’ This is the little village that could.” Where its predecessor had only one screen, the new cinema complex, set to open this fall, will offer three separate theaters and serve as “a hearth for the village,” according to Jayne. On offer will be programming for children, seniors and students of film, a virtual reality studio and a private screening room with kitchen space for parties and other gatherings. Because there is still a few million dollars left to raise, and naming rights left to be assigned, interested donors are encouraged to contact the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center (sagharborcinema.org), a new notfor-profit organization formed by the Sag Harbor Partnership that will be taking over fundraising from now on. In the meantime, those anxious for the opening can take heart from that iconic neon sign illuminating Main Street. “The message is: This really is happening,” Jayne said. “You’ll have your movie theater back soon.” 38
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east end happenings Beaches
Hampton Indoor Tennis Club is the perfect place to get working on some of those active leisure activities. When it’s cold and blustery outside and the tennis courts at Baron’s are not calling your name, East Hampton Indoor Tennis Club is located just 10 minutes away. As the premier tennis facility in the Hamptons, you’ll find a place with eight courts, and plenty of space to work on backhands, work up a sweat, or enjoy a competitive (or not so competitive) afternoon with friends. Offering clinics, lessons, and an onsite pro shop, spend
BEACH SHUTTLE SERVICE Baron’s Cove’s complimentary summer shuttle, plus use of our beach chairs, umbrellas and plush towels takes all of the hassle out of a day at the beach. All you have to do is enjoy yourself and learn firsthand how a perfect day at the beach can feel. Shuttles take our guests to and from nearby Long Beach, aka Foster Memorial. SAGG MAIN Sagg Main is a lifeguard-protected Southampton Town beach in Sagaponack, a 15-minute drive from Baron’s Cove. Beach permits are available to Southampton town residents and non-residents at the beach or Southampton Town Hall. Daily passes are also available. W. SCOTT CAMERON Located at the western end of Dune Road in Bridgehampton, on the Mecox inlet, the W. Scott Cameron beach has 300 feet of ocean. It’s a 15-minute drive from Baron’s Cove. HAVENS Havens Beach, on Sag Harbor Bay, is the only beach in Sag Harbor village. Kids love playing on the playground and it’s within biking distance of Baron’s Cove.
Recreational GOLF The nearest public courses are nine-holers at Sag Harbor Golf Club and Poxabogue in Bridgehampton, which also has a driving range. EAST HAMPTON TENNIS CLUB Not all leisure is lounging, and the East 40
some of your vacation at the East Hampton Indoor Tennis Club.
HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE BEACH Located in Montauk, New York, amidst thousands of preserved acres of spectacular coastal land, Deep Hollow Ranch welcomes visitors from all over the world, from the experienced cowhand to the beginner. Step back in time and catch a glimpse of America’s rich history riding along the shore of Block Island Sound. Visit their website at deephollowranch. com or call 631-668-2744.
HORSEBACK RIDING Visit nearby Beautiful Day Farm at Mecox Bay Farm in Bridgehampton to enjoy an afternoon of fresh air, riding on the back of one of the earth’s most amazing creatures. Owner and head trainer Phyllis Kane is well-loved by her regular students and seasonal visitors. Whether you’re ready to jump hurdles in the Hampton Classic or you’ve never ridden before, Phyllis offers a friendly, safe environment, with well-trained horses. Beautiful Day Farm is located just 15 minutes from Baron’s Cove at 231 Pauls Lane, Bridgehampton. Call 631-537-9084.
On the Water WATERSPORTS Whether you’re a seasoned paddleboarder or you’ve never held an oar in your hand, for local water sporting adventures we rec-
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Horseback riding on the beaches of the Hamptons and, opposite, Global Boarding offers myriad ways to enjoy the water.
ommend Global Boarding, in Sag Harbor. If you’ve ever wanted to trying waterskiing or ocean kayaking, these guys can show you how. FISHING AND SURFING They say that if you catch a wave, you’re sitting on top of the world, and if you teach a man to fish, you feed a man for life. Our friends at Fly Point Surf School offer surf camps, fish camps, and private lessons. Expert instruction is offered in saltwater fishing, basic freshwater fishing, fly fishing, and surf casting. They usually paddle out from nearby Coopers beach. For more details give them a call at 516-885-6607.
the water. American Beauty Cruises offer private charters for special events if you’re looking for something exclusive, or you can hop on one of their regularly scheduled tours. Choose a 90-minute nature cruise through the Peconic Estuary System: Learn about the history of Sag Harbor with a view from the water and a narrated sightseeing boat ride. See Barcelona Point, Cedar Point Lighthouse and the Mashomack Nature Preserve with occupied osprey nests on Shelter Island. Looking for something a little more romantic? American Beauty also offers two-hour sunset cruises on Noyac and Gardiners Bay. Visit americanbeautycruises.com.
CRUISES The best way to appreciate the beauty of Sag Harbor and the Hamptons is from
SAILING Feel the thrill of that moment when the wind catches a sail, and you’re gliding 42
Harbor, or hang out for the day at Sunset Beach, they have the boat to help you get the most out of your vacation. Visit peconicwatersports.com/boat-rentals.
across the water with nothing but open ocean and sights of Long Island’s shoreline surrounding you. Breakwater Yacht Club offers private and group sailing lessons scheduled at the customer’s convenience, which means you can choose instruction in a one-on-one setting or learn to sail with a small group of friends. Breakwater, conveniently located in Sag Harbor, also hosts sailing competitions throughout the summer. For lessons and information, visit breakwateryc.org or call 631-725-4604.
SHELTER ISLAND FERRY The sweetest little boat ride you will ever take is the South Ferry to Shelter Island. Drive to North Haven, hop on the ferry and find yourself on Shelter Island, an adorable little hamlet with a Rockwellian vibe. Spend the day exploring beaches, kayaking, sampling fresh seafood and watching the waves crash along Sunset Beach. Visit southferry.com/schedule.
JET SKI AND BOAT RENTALS Wanting to rent a jet ski or a boat more your speed? Peconic Water Sports Boat Rental fleet is a new and exciting way for you to get out on the water this summer. The rental boats range in size from 21 to 23 feet and provide the ultimate platform for fun on the water. Whether you are looking to fish in Montauk, explore Sag
Family CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF EAST END Looking for a rainy day activity with little ones? The Children’s Museum of East End is located less than 10 minutes away in Bridgehampton. It’s a fun, yet educational place that encourages learning
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Southold Bay Oyster Farm offers tours and tastings.
through play. They have all sorts of exhibits and programs to teach kids about the community and the world around them in a way that’s fun and accessible.
tip: check the website (longislandaquarium.com) for special events and programs. There’s always something new happening at the aquarium.
LONG ISLAND AQUARIUM Located on 3.2 acres along the Peconic River in Riverhead, this world-class aquarium is a 45-minute drive from Sag Harbor. It’s home to one of the Western Hemisphere’s largest all-living coral reef displays and was named one of the top ten aquariums by “Parents” magazine. Insider
SOUTHOLD BAY OYSTER FARM What’s the newest product to hit the farmto-table movement — oysters. That’s right — these tasty bivalves are now farmed in Northfork. Visit Southold Bay Oyster Farm for a tour and learn how it all works. The tour describes the spawning process used at the hatchery during the 44
first phase of an oyster’s life. You will then experience a demonstration of the oyster grow-out phase and the gear used to farm market-size oysters. Your tour concludes with a waterfront tasting of our Southold Shindig oysters paired with a local wine. Includes tour of the farm, oyster farming demo, and oyster and wine tasting. SOUTHFORK NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER SOFO, as it is affectionately known, was created with the intention of inspiring families to become engaged and responsible caretakers of our planet now and for generations to come. Inside you find scientifically accurate galleries with expert tour guides to tell you all about the Hampton’s Natural Habitats. Ever wonder what a whelk looks like up close? Stop by the Marine Touch Tank and see for yourself. Outside you’ll find the magical Native Butterfly Garden, Native Wildflower Garden, Educational Pond, Purple Martin nesting gourd site and more. SOFO is located in Bridgehampton, a 10-minute drive from Sag Harbor. Check them out online at sofo.org or call 631-537-9735.
east end lore Jaws, the 1975 Spielberg hit that’s still scaring tourists out of the ocean, would have been a very different movie if it weren’t for the character of salty-dog fisherman Quint, who was likely based on famed Montauk shark hunter Frank Mundus. The late Mundus, an irascible New Jersey native and Jiminy Cricket lookalike, moved to the town in 1951, where he became a pioneer of what he called “monster fishing” — he holds a world record for largest fish caught by rod and reel, a 3,427-pound great white. (With a harpoon, he also once bested a
RIVERHEAD RACEWAY If watching cars drive in a circle at 200mph sounds like fun, take a day trip to Riverhead Raceway. It’s one of the oldest existing stock car race tracks in the country, which includes a world-famous figure-eight course. It’s a NASCAR race site, with kids’ activities throughout the year; a fun day trip if there’s a tyke (or a grown-up) in the family who is into trucks, cars and race tracks. Riverhead is approximately 45 minutes from Sag Harbor.
4,500-pound great white.) Fearlessly — and to the fascination of Peter Benchley, author of the book on which Jaws is based — he’d steer his 40-foot boat toward sharks that were just as long. In his later years, troubled by overharvesting, Mundus turned to shark conservation. Among his other hobbies were cooking, growing fruit trees and tending to his pet pig. As for Jaws? “It was the funniest and stupidest movie I’ve ever seen,” he said
Parks
on his website, adding that the character of Quint, however, “knew how to handle
SAG HARBOR MARINE PARK Take a bike ride, go for a run or take a leisurely walk over to marine park. There’s lots of grass and a little walkway where you can watch the boats as they come in
people the same way I did.”
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and out of the harbor. It’s a hot spot for sunsets viewing and firework watching on Fourth of July weekend. ELIZABETH A. MORTON WILDLIFE REFUGE The refuge is a 187-acre peninsula on Noyack and Little Peconic bays. Located on 2595 Noyac Road in Sag Harbor, it’s full of exceptionally diverse habitats. Hike along the sandy and rocky beaches that fringe the peninsula, and get a perfect view of the Bays from the wooded bluffs.
east end lore Four Nazi spies once landed on Long
EMMA ROSE ELLISTON PARK Take a 20-minute drive to Southampton, where Emma Rose Elliston Park sits on the shore of Big Fresh Pond. A short hiking trail is full of native plants and trees and an adorable footbridge over a stream. If you’re looking for it on a map, the park is located at 40 Millstone Brook Road in Southampton, and it’s open from dawn until 9pm.
Island for a secret mission conceived by Hitler. Among them was George John Dasch, who’d been expelled from a seminary in his native Germany before coming to America as a stowaway, serving in the US Army and waiting tables on Long Island. After marrying an American woman and earning citizenship, he returned to Germany where he became a secret agent. On June 13, 1942, his
FRIENDS OF THE LONG POND GREENBELT The Long Pond Greenbelt nature preserve has over 800 protected acres of woodlands, ponds, swamps, streams, fields and 16 miles of hiking trails. It’s a 15-minute drive to Bridgehampton, but worth it for the nature-lover.
German submarine — the first of the war to land on American soil — docked on a sandbar at Amagansett. While the Nazis buried their crates of explosives meant for American railroads and factories, they were accosted by Coast Guard Ensign John Cullen. Dasch gave the man $300 and advised him to keep quiet about
LINDA GRONLUND MEMORIAL NATURE PRESERVE Consisting of more than five hundred acres of coastal and pine barrens habitat, this unspoiled, wooded peninsula in the Peconic Bay is rimmed with sandy beach and encompasses Little Northwest Creek, a high-quality tidal wetland. It’s located on Route 114 in Sag Harbor.
what he’d seen. Cullen agreed, but ran back to his station where he informed his supervisors. By the time they returned to the beach, the Nazis were gone — Dasch had headed to midtown Manhattan for a drinking spree. Shortly thereafter, he turned himself into the FBI, sabotaging the mission. Some speculate Dasch had
MARINE PARK Within walking distance from Baron’s Cove and with beautiful views of the harbor, watch the boats go by in this park that
never intended to carry it out at all. In the end, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison. 46
and sculpture garden located in East Hampton, featuring pieces from Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono and Willem de Kooning to name a few. Wander through majestic gardens full of contemporary structures, and visit the museum and arts center to learn more about the reserve’s contemplative philosophy and its founder, Jack Lenor Larsen. LongHouse Reserve is located at 133 Hands Creek Road in East Hampton. Learn more at longhouse. org or by calling 631-329-3568.
Long Island Aquarium, 45 minutes away, offers world-class aquatic viewing.
memorializes men and women who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Sag Harbor Village’s Marine Park includes a World War II memorial listing men and women from Sag Harbor who served during the war, and a memorial dedicated in 1981 to service men and women who served in the Korea and Vietnam wars. MASHOMACK PRESERVE Grab some trail mix and head out to the Mashomack Preserve. Edged in white by 12 miles of coastline, Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island is considered one of the richest habitats in the Northeast. Just 90 miles from New York City, the preserve covers a third of the island with 2,039 acres of interlacing tidal creeks, mature oak woodlands, fields, and freshwater marshes and is often referred to as the Jewel of the Peconic. To learn more, visit nature.org or call 631-749-1001.
MONTAUK POINT LIGHTHOUSE Located at the tip of eastern Long Island, Montauk Point Lighthouse has been guiding ships into Block Island Sound since 1792. It’s a National Historic Landmark, and the oldest lighthouse in the state of New York. Climb to the top and experience breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Visit on a special weekend like Lighthouse Weekend (August 18) or for the athletically inclined sign up for the Triathlon (July 15). There’s also tons of history and nature to explore at the lighthouse and within Montauk Point State Park. Montauk is about an hour from Baron’s Cove,
LONGHOUSE RESERVE LongHouse Reserve is a 16-acre reserve 47
Montauk Point Light was built while George Washington was president.
Island in the distance. For more information on the year-round rules and regulations of Montauk Point State Park, visit parks.ny.gov.
but a must-visit for any Hampton’s trip. There’s a brewery, good food, history, a decent party scene, and world-class waves that make it a surfer’s paradise.
Culture
MONTAUK POINT STATE PARK Hunting, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing sound like fun activities to you? Make sure you make it to Montauk Point State Park. You can visit the Lighthouse, watch the seals off shore, surf (in the wintertime), fish for striped bass, and go for picturesque walks along the rocky shoreline while you catch a glimpse of Block
BAY STREET THEATER Discover Broadway-worthy entertainment just a walk away from Baron’s Cove. Bay Street Theater is one of the most highly respected regional theatres in the country. Now in its 26th season, some of the world premieres at Bay Street have moved onto Broadway and Off-Broadway 48
east end lore Whaling was once big business on Long Island. Between 1760 and 1850, Sag Harbor was a major whaling port — third largest in the country — and the dangerous industry attracted hordes of fortune seekers. Oil from these creatures, typically sperm whales, was used to lubricate machinery, light lanterns and make soap. Other parts were used to make candles, typewriter ribbons and cosmetics. Ambergis, a waxy substance found in whale intestines, was considered an aphrodisiac and incorporated into incense. Several mid-19th-century factors — including the invention of kerosene and the beginning of the Gold Rush, which prompted men to sail their whaling ships to California — led to the decline of the
houses. The season is made up of new plays, classic show-stoppers, and special events. The theater itself is intimate and inviting, and with 299 seats, there isn’t a bad one in the house. This summer you won’t want to miss performances by Lucie Arnaz, Charles Busch, and Isaac Mizrahi, to name a few. As a nonprofit and community center, they also offer great performances, camps, and educational programs for kids and budding young theater artists. If you go for a walk in town — you can’t miss it. The company is based at the corner of Bay Street and Main Street.
industry. Today, the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum seeks to preserve this history. Their building, a National Historic Landmark site, was declared a National Treasure by Bill Clinton during his presidency.
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HAMPTON THEATRE COMPANY Hampton Theatre Company is a not-forprofit organization whose mission is to create and support local talent, using local resources whenever possible. They are dedicated to presenting live theater productions of the highest quality, accessible to the broadest possible audience. Their season is an eclectic mix of recent broadway hits with show-stopping classics. They are located in Quogue, a 45-minute drive from Baron’s Cove. Offering dinner and a show and lunch and a show packages. For tickets and information, visit hamptontheatre.org.
east end lore The Hamptons have long been a haven for the nation’s most creative luminaries, from Jackson Pollock to Billy Joel. But
STEPHEN TALKHOUSE Looking for a legendary place to catch some live music? Check out the lineup at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett. The Talkhouse first opened in 1970 and played host to legends like the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, The Velvet Underground and Paul McCartney (and that’s just the short list). In the 80s the place closed up but reopened under new ownership in 1987, and today it’s a Hamptons hotspot. This summer you may catch the Wailers, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, and more talented folks. For lineups and tickets, visit stephentalkhouse.com. Amagansett is a 20-minute car ride from Baron’s Cove.
this has proven especially true for the literary set. Among the most well-known authors to have frequented these shores is John Steinbeck, whose classic novel The Grapes of Wrath won a Pulitzer Prize in 1940. In a cottage overlooking Long Island Sound on John Street in Sag Harbor — a home the writer owned from 1955 to the time of his death in 1968 — Steinbeck penned The Winter of Our Discontent (which is set in Sag Harbor, though the town is referred to as New Baytown in the book). This cottage is also the place from which Steinbeck set off on a cross-country journey with his standard poodle, an adventure chronicled in his
PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM Founded by Toby Perlman in 1994, the Perlman Music Program (PMP) offers unparalleled musical training to young string players of rare and special talent. With a world-class faculty led by Itzhak Perlman and a signature summer program on Shelter Island, PMP is developing the future leaders of classical music within a nurturing and supportive community. The best part for visitors of the Hamptons? They offer special performances and open rehearsals to the public. Come see the chamber music stars of tomorrow as they
book Travels with Charley: In Search of America. When he wasn’t writing, Steinbeck would bring his dog to the Black Buoy bar (now the Cove Deli on Main Street), or he’d wander the streets dressed as a fisherman in order to fit in. Today, in the village’s bookstore, Harbor Books, a framed picture of Steinbeck greets visitors.
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For more information visit guildhall.org.
Enjoy beautiful sculpted gardens at LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton. Joanne Sohn
THE WATERMILL CENTER Art, science and literature converge at the Watermill Center. Located 15 minutes away in Watermill, this incubator for artists was built out of an old Western Union research facility. Today it is home to an artist residency and dozens of performances, exhibitions and events throughout the year that are open to the public. Visit the library and galleries, and enjoy tours of the beautiful surrounding gardens and facilities. More information about the center may be found at watermillcenter. org. If you’re here on July 28, don’t miss one of the premiere events of the year, the Watermill Center Benefit and Auction.
hone their craft. For a calendar of events, visit perlmanmusicprogram.org. GUILD HALL Guild Hall, which combines a museum, theater and education space under one roof, was established in 1931 as a gathering place where an appreciation for the arts would serve to encourage greater civic participation. For nearly nine decades, Guild Hall has embraced this openminded vision and provided a welcoming environment for the public to engage with art exhibitions, performances, and educational offerings. It’s a 15-minute drive from Sag Harbor in East Hampton. This summer it will host a variety of performances and art exhibitions, including a film screening for the Hamptons International Film Festival and an art exhibition from avant-garde artist, composer, musician and film director Laurie Anderson.
OYSTERPONDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Located in the heart of Orient, New York, Oysterponds is home to an extraordinary collection of art, manuscripts and historical objects (dating back to the 17th century) housed on a campus of historical buildings and green spaces. Admission is 51
always free. Orient is approximately a onehour drive from Baron’s Cove. For more information about special exhibitions visit oysterpondshistoricalsociety.org. PARRISH ART MUSEUM Take a ride through a beautiful meadow in nearby Water Mill, where you’ll find Parrish Art Museum emerging from the landscape. The innovative architectural structure is a testament to both form and function, housing various exhibits on a beautiful 14-acre compound. For an up-to-date listing of all programs and events, visit parrishart.org/visit or call 631-283-2118 POLLOCK KRASNER HOUSE AND STUDY CENTER The Pollack Krasner House and Study Center is located at Stony Brook University in East Hampton. Once the home of artist Jackson Pollock and fellow artist and spouse Lee Krasner, the home and studio are open to the public with various exhibitions throughout the year. The property is a National Historic Landmark, a federal designation that recognizes its significance as one of the nation’s most important cultural monuments. It is also a member of the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program. It contains all the furnishings and artifacts that were in the couple’s home at the time of Krasner’s death in 1984. This includes Pollock’s hi-fi phonograph, his jazz record collection, and the artists’ personal library. An original late 1930s painting by Pollock, Composition with Red Arc and Horses, and prints by both artists are on display. The house also features changing exhibitions of artwork related to the Study Center’s mission.
The Watermill Center, 15 minutes from Sag Harbor features inspiring events, performances and exhibitions year-round.
Melville was constructing his timeless narrative about Captain Ahab’s attempted revenge of a white whale, Benjamin Huntting was constructing his grandiose home that would become the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum. Huntting was the owner of whaling ships and an oil tycoon in the mid-19th century. His home (now home to the museum) was named a National Treasure in the 1990s. Even if whaling history isn’t your scene, this cultural center is home to various art exhibitions, panel discussions, and special events throughout the year. It is located at 200 Main Street. For more information visit sagharborwhalingmuseum.org or call 631-725-0770. If history and whaling are
History SAG HARBOR WHALING & HISTORICAL MUSEUM Did you know that Sag Harbor was once a major whaling port? When Herman 52
your thing, you might want to take a walk by the Old Whalers Church, located at 44 Union Street. It was built in 1844 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The Old Whalers Church still operates as a Presbyterian church.
hand to answer any questions. More information about exhibits and events can be found at sagharborhistorical.org, by calling 631-725-5092 or by visiting them at 174 Main Street. SAG HARBOR WALKING TOURS Want to know more about Sag Harbor as you wander around the historic streets? There’s an App for that. Hop on the Sag Harbor Partnership website (sagharborpartnership.org) and download one of their walking tours. Learn all about the architecture, culture, history at your own pace and leisure.
SAG HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY — ANNIE COOPER BOYD HOUSE The Sag Harbor Historical Society has been working for more than 30 years to encourage education and appreciation of Sag Harbor’s fascinating history. Their mission is to preserve historic buildings and sites and keep the historical integrity of the village intact. They’re located at the Annie Cooper Boyd House on Main Street, an 18th-century home. The house is open Saturdays and Sundays, May through September from 1pm to 4pm. The staff is well-versed in local history and on
PRESERVATION LONG ISLAND’S CUSTOM HOUSE This museum was once the home of Henry Packer Dering, Sag Harbor’s first United States Custom Master. Originally 53
built in 1789, his home is now a testament to the Dering Family, their work and daily life. Custom house is full of fascinating documents and objects relating to late 18th-century sea trade. To learn more about Custom House visit the Preservation Long Island website at preservationlongisland.org. The house is located at 912 Main Street.
aficionado, then Romany Kramoris is for the eclectic art lover. Described as “informal” this gallery is like a little piece of Greenwich Village in the Hamptons. With a dedication to the local artist, you’ll find paintings, woodwork, world crafts, American glassblowers and more.
Art Galleries
INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION Enjoy Sag Harbor’s glorious display to celebrate American independence on Saturday, July 6. Grab a blanket and catch the fireworks show from Marine Park, Haven’s Beach, Long Wharf. Or the best spot — from the porch or the balcony at Baron’s Cove. On July 4, Baron’s Cove will be hosting its annual All-American Cookout. Visit baronscove.com.
Events
GRENNING GALLERY See the work of some of New York’s most talented painters and sculptors. Grenning Gallery has been in business for twenty years, and has an ever-evolving collection of classically trained artists. Also on display: paintings from American artists of the early 20th and late 19th centuries. The Gallery is located at 17 Washington Street.
POLO HAMPTONS Spend an unforgettable afternoon enjoying polo in the Hamptons! Polo Hamp-
ROMANY KRAMORIS GALLERY If Grenning Gallery is for the classical art
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Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum and, opposite, the village’s Historical Society.
tiques, it earns its nickname The Classic. The event will be held in Bridgehampton on August 25-September 1.
tons will be producing an event on Saturday, June 29 and July 6. As guests enjoy the thrill of the polo match they will have access to an open bar paired with hors d’oeuvres and preferred seating. Only 400 tickets are available so you’ll want to purchase in advance. The match takes place in Bridgehampton. For tickets and more information visit polohamptons.com.
GRILL HAMPTON A friendly competition for a good cause and a win-win for all foodies in attendance. At Grill Hampton some of NYC’s most highly respected chefs face off against the East End’s Farm-to-Table loving chefs. There’s live music and good food with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. The competition takes place Friday, July 19 at Fairview farm in Bridgehampton.
HAMPTONS CLASSIC As one of the largest outdoor horse shows in the United States, and a premier destination for horse people, the Classic is a much-anticipated stop on the summer tour. Now well into its third successful decade, the Hampton Classic Horse Show is in a class all its own. It’s always a grand way to end the summer. Held in high regard by the horse community, famous for its Hamptons Celebrity sightings, and second to none in high-end shopping bou-
TASTE OF TWO FORKS When you come to a fork in the road... take it. When you come to two forks on Long Island, you’ll enjoy tastings from countless top restaurants, chefs and purveyors from the Hamptons and North Fork! Set at the gracious, sprawling waterfront property of Fairview Farm in Bridgehampton, guests can raise a glass of local wines or the finest of spirits and brews, while watching the sun set over Mecox 55
Long Island wine country isn’t exclusive to the North Fork. Here, we’ve put together a guide to some of the innovative wineries, breweries and distilleries making (or fermenting) magic in the Hamptons.
Channing Daughters Winery and, below, Montauk Brewing Co. and Sagaponack Farm Distillery.
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WHO
WHERE
WHAT
DRINK
Wolffer Estate Vineyard Shinn Estate Vineyards
Sagg Road in Sagaponack.
All grapes are sustainably farmed on 55 pristine acres.
Try the rosé cider, made with New York state apples.
Oregon Road in Mattiuck, heart of the North Fork.
This family-run, 22acre operation also boasts an elegant farmhouse B&B.
No sulfites in their Diaphanous blend — just a true expression of the Shinn terroir.
Duck Walk South
In the heart of Southampton, on Montauk Highway.
Expect a beautiful Normandy chateau nestled within the grape vines.
The Vidal Ice Wine is made with grapes that have been frozen on the vine.
Channing Daughters Winery
Scuttle Hole Road in Bridgehampton.
They create wines from over two dozen varieties — by hand in small batches.
The Vervino vermouth has been fortified with natural grape brandy and made with local botanicals.
Montauk Brewing Co.
Steps from the surf on South Erie Avenue in Montauk.
The Watermelon Expect a come-asSession Ale is ideal you-are vibe that celebrates the simple for summer sipping. pleasures.
Southampton Publik House
Jobs Lane in Southampton.
It’s an award-winning brewery, restaurant featuring pub fare, and taproom.
The Belgian-style Southampton White is brewed with orange peel and ground coriander.
Shelter Island Craft Brewery
North Ferry Road on Shelter Island.
This spot is tiny, as in intimate. And it’s tiny, as in small-batch. But it’s very big on flavor.
The Nude Beach: Plum Ale is made with beach plums — small, tart fruits — harvested from local beaches.
Sagaponack Farm Distillery
On Sagg Road in Sagaponack, just three minutes from Bridgehampton.
This operation isn’t just practicing farmto-bottle; they’re practicing fifthgeneration farm-tobottle.
The Sagaponack Vodka is potatobased, 180-proof and good enough to sip without mixers.
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Bay. Now in its eighth year, Taste of Two Forks will take place Saturday, July 20. Purchase tickets in advance. PADDLE FOR PINK Exercise your paddle boarding skills and engage in some fun competition for a good cause. The Hamptons Paddle & Party for Pink is an annual two-part event benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). The morning Paddle Board Race is a multi-skill level, World Paddle Association-sanctioned points race that attracts hundreds of paddlers and spectators. The evening Sunset Party is hosted by BCRF Board Member Maria Baum and her husband, Larry. Maria is a breast cancer survivor who discovered the healing powers of paddle boarding shortly following her own diagnosis. Last year’s event raised over $1.8 million and attracted the support of celebrities the likes of Ryan Seacrest and Jimmy Buffett. This year’s Paddle for Pink is August 3 from Havens Beach in Sag Harbor.
east end lore Potatoes have played a big role in the Hamptons story. In the 1910s, Polish and Irish immigrants settled here specifically to build what would become potato empires — the sandy soil was ideal. Potato farming peaked in the 1940s when close to 70,000 Long Island acres (or approximately three-quarters of farms) were devoted to the humble vegetable. At one stage, there existed an annual beauty pageant specifically for the daughters of Long Island potato
ANNUAL WATERMILL CENTER BENEFIT AND AUCTION Described as an enchanted forest and performance art extravaganza, the Annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit, on Saturday, July 27, unites the worlds of art, performance, music, theater, design, architecture and fashion. All funds raised support the Center’s year-round Artist Residency and Education Programs that provide a unique environment for young and emerging artists to explore and develop new work. Enjoy dinner, dancing, a live auction, a silent auction, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting the next generation of American artists to call the Hamptons their launching pad. For tickets, visit watermillcenter.org.
farmers, which resulted in the crowning of a Long Island Potato Queen. But, as more families moved to the area in the 1950s and 60s, the demand for other crops increased and many potato farms converted to tree or sod farms. Today, potatoes are still grown on about 2,500 acres, and a quirky Long Island Potato Festival — complete, of course, with potato sack races — celebrates what it calls a “spudtacular” agricultural history.
SUMMERDOCS SERIES This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Hampton’s International Film Festival 58
announces the return of the East Hampton Antiques and Design Show to the grounds of the Mulford Farm on July 19-21. Now in its thirteenth year, the East Hampton Antiques Show is widely recognized as the premier antiques event on Eastern Long Island and a highlight of the East Hampton arts and social calendar. You’ll find an array of antiques, art, jewelry and collectibles. Purchase your tickets to the preview party on Friday, July 19 from 6pm to 8:30pm for a first look at all of the unique items at this year’s show. There’s an onsite café by Bostwick’s and Debbie Gebbert Events and catering, so no need to take a break from shopping to find sustenance. All proceeds from ticket sales to the show and party will benefit the East Hampton Historical Society. For tickets, call the East Hampton Historical Society at 631-324-6850 or visit easthamptonhistory.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate the night of the event.
The Taste of Two Forks offers countless tastings from top restaurants, chefs and purveyors. It takes place on July 20 at Fairview Farm in Bridgehampton.
Summer Doc Series. SummerDocs host (and HIFF Co-Chair) Alec Baldwin will once again lead conversations with filmmakers and guests, presenting new and groundbreaking documentary filmmaking and thought-provoking stories to the East End at Guild Hall of East Hampton. This year’s series begins with a screening of “Maiden” on Saturday, June 29 at 7pm followed by a conversation with director David Nugent and Alec Baldwin. On Saturday, July 20, at 7pm, “Cold Case Hammarskjöld” will be featured, followed by “Circus of Books” on Saturday, August 24, at 7pm. Visit hamptonsfilmfest.org. EAST HAMPTON ANTIQUES SHOWS The East Hampton Historical Society 59
pick some pumpkins, get lost in the seven-acre corn maze, hop on a tractor ride and enjoy treats from the farm stand.
Sag Harbor’s popular Harborfest event is on September 6-8.
HARBORFEST Celebrate Sag Harbor’s maritime history with a weekend full of events for nautical enthusiasts of all ages. There’s a village-wide arts and crafts fair, tours, boat displays, exhibitions from Native American artists, live music, family games and activities, and of course, a little competition among whale boats. Harborfest 2019 takes place September 6-8.
SAG HARBOR AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL This live music lover’s dream offers a weekend of free music, from every genre imaginable, in any kind of venue that Sag Harbor will allow. Listen to jazz in a local gallery or sip on some Chardonnay while taking in the Americana Folk sounds of a Hamptons troubadour. Hear a pop-style tune in a historic home and enjoy a sweet jazz serenade while you have dinner in your favorite village restaurant. This year’s festival is September 26-29.
Fall Season
MILK PAIL ORCHARD From Labor Day through October, pick your own apples, pumpkins, squash and gourds at Milk Pail Orchard in Water Mill.
HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL This year’s event will be held October 10-14 with screenings in venues throughout the East End. Films from every corner of the globe and from every genre imaginable will be shown. For more
HANK’S PUMPKINTOWN Nothing says autumn in the Hamptons like apple picking and corn mazes. A short drive away in Water Mill you’ll find Hank’s Pumpkintown, open in September and October. Explore the orchards, 60
their Christmas wishes. At 5pm, the giant Christmas tree will be illuminated.
Sag Harbor American Music Festival, September 26-29, offers a weekend of free live music at various venues. Michael Heller
HAMPTONS TAKE 2 DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL HT2FF brings the work of documentary filmmakers to new audiences with an annual film festival in Sag Harbor. This year’s event, which is sponsored by Baron’s Cove, is being held from December 5-9.
ICE SKATING Baron’s Cove’s plush beds were made for relaxing after long days of ice skating. If you’re visiting during winter, head for nearby Buckskill Winter Club, lace up your skates and enjoy an afternoon on the ice. Located less than a 15-minute drive from Baron’s Cove, Buckskill Winter Club is the only refrigerated, NHL regulation-sized rink in the Hamptons. It offers skate rentals and a cozy clubhouse.
ANNUAL BARON’S COVE CHRISTMAS TREE-LIGHTING Join the Baron’s Cove crew on Friday, December 6 for our tree-lighting. Enjoy caroling, cookies and hot cider. The following night, the village will light up its Christmas tree on Long Wharf. Santa Claus will arrive at the windmill on a fire truck at 3pm and radio station WELJ will be on hand playing festive music, while Santa visits with the children listening to
HARBORFROST Bring the family to Long Wharf for a day of fun and activities on the last Saturday in February. Expect live ice-carving demonstrations, ice sculptures along Main Street, live music, indoor children’s activities, the Hysterical Society’s Culinary Stroll plus fire jugglers and dancers. Spend the day shopping and dining, and after the sun goes down watch fireworks over the harbor.
information and tickets, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.
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The Christmas season at Baron’s Cove kicks off on Friday, December 6. 62
home away from home The luxury of a second home is that you can have an alternative place to escape the hurly-burly of your daily life in the comfort of a place that is familiar and constant. Second homes are places from which you can come and go, leaving a favorite weekend sweater or walking shoes or even a project ready for your return. This winter, we are offering a limited number of rooms and lofts for extended stay options. Like having a second home, these 13-week rentals, starting in January, will include breakfast any day that you are in residence. Whether you want to experiment with a second home or just enjoy a quiet retreat in Sag Harbor, we would be excited to welcome you to spend the winter with us. 63
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We hope you enjoyed your stay with us at Baron’s Cove and we look forward to seeing you again soon baronscove.com