Montauk

 

 

 

 

Fall, 2013

This weekend we headed out to The Crow's Nest, in Montauk, for my belated (gulp!) 35th celebrations. It's a sort of 1960s lake-side motel that's been re-imagined as a very cool hotel, complete with swanky cocktails, a fire pit, and rooms kitted out with vintage African textiles and John Robshaw bed linens.

It was a quick visit, but we had a great time. We went to Snug Harbor (could there be a more cozy, autumnal name?), watched the fishermen cleaning their catch, had some unexpectedly delicious sushi at Westlake Clam & Chowder House, let Axel run around on the lawns, and had a great dinner at the inn. We also drove down some of our favorite back roads in Napeague and Springs, hunting for fantasy surf shacks to buy one day.

Seven or eight years ago, I had a position as Editor at Large for a glossy magazine out in the Hamptons, which meant Will and I had a lot of adventures out there, riding bikes and taking windsurfing lessons as well as going to some of the fancier 'dos like a huge party at Robert Wilson's Water Mill Center, polo matches, and lots of silly cocktail parties at Gatsby-esque mansions. It was definitely a very nostalgic trip, which also reminded me of the time I drove out in the dead of winter, solo, to research this story.

I think both Will and I are drawn to the more low key charms of the East End, and it's definitely fun picturing finding a little cottage (cue obsessive real estate hunting.) Of course, we'll always have Maine for the summers, but it's enticing to think of having a little weekend bolthole for the rest of the year (especially when we have two boys galloping around the apartment.)

Until then, we'd like to make going to Montauk a fall tradition, and have our eyes on Ruschmeyer's or the Surf Lodge for our next visit.