A peek at the fashionable side of the 2020 Hamptons
New Yorkers normally migrate each summer to the East End of Long Island into the playground known colloquially as “the Hamptons,” which encompasses Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Sag Harbor and Montauk on the Southern Fork.
For many reasons, this year has seen a long winter and grey spring. As a consequence, many have already headed to the Hamptons to start their season early while confined in quarantine. As spring warms and turns to a social summer, this July and August will represent the peak of both the summer and the social season in the Hamptons, which will bring New York players in search of social activity and relaxation on the beaches or at the top socially-responsible cocktail parties of the season. Summer 2020 will finally be fabulous, but it will also have some differences from more recent seasons. Expect to see social distancing and also a number of events moving to calendar slots later in the summer.
Who to Know
The traditional charity season of fundraising events and galas has been impacted by recent events, with many moved to later dates. These three ladies know the importance of innate giving as well as radiating their sense of style and fashion in the Hamptons scene.
Cynthia Rowley is an East-End staple. The fashion designer has been visiting the Hamptons since the birth of her daughter Kit. A fan of Montauk, Rowley sees the summer as not just physical activity but also in spiritual terms.
“I spend every weekend of every summer out East surfing, what I call my own personal form of meditation,” she said.
Cult film star and philanthropist Leesa Rowland is the daughter of an artist and college professor, Rowland grew up in Austin, Texas and later became a classically trained actress at Stella Adler Studio in Los Angeles. She is also the author of the best-selling self-help/motivational book “Discovering the It Factor Within You: Developing Your Charismatic Personality,” which was published in 2015.
Lizzie Asher has also spent a good portion of her quarantine working with several good friends to create a new nonprofit called the Cura Collective (and making Macchu Pisco cocktails). What makes it more fun is the true friendship aspect; it’s a group of friends who are hoping to make a difference. While Cura has come to life over many, many zoom cocktail meetings, according to Asher, it’s a gratifying extension of the day-to-day work of these five women, who work on philanthropic efforts, the arts and media.
Norma Kamali, iconic fashion designer and creator of the sleeping bag coat and the slip maillot red swimsuit worn in the Farrah Fawcett photograph, is one to watch this season in the Hamptons. After the tragedy of 9/11, Kamali created a wellness café with products which aim to boost the immune system — something to make a beeline for in the current environment.
Things to Do
Health and wellness and the Hamptons go hand in hand. Here a few must-try places where being seen can be as important as the experiences themselves.
British-born actress Naomi Watts co-founded Onda Beauty with Larissa Thompson and Sarah Bryden-Brown and the mission to create clean beauty products. Even if an Academy nomination feels distant, Onda in Sag Harbor can make you feel a star.
Wake up and smell the coffee at The Golden Pear or, starting this season, enjoy dinner, as they will be open until 9 pm. With locations in Southampton, Bridgehampton and East Hampton, as well as Sag Harbor, you can be guaranteed of being close to those flavored coffees, pastries and snacks. Get ready for a queue!
Indulge your sweet tooth with one of the fresh fruit dessert pies from Round Swamp Farm, the East End’s go-to spot for fresh baked goods and farm quality market food. Visit the Bridgehampton or the East Hampton store that started it all.
Celebrity spot Nick & Toni’s entered its fourth decade in 2019. This restaurant is the East Hampton hub for classic, seasonally inspired dining with a Tuscan farmhouse style location. Reserve an outdoor table and engage all five senses from the sights and sounds to the delicious taste of the cuisine.
Keep fit remotely with fitness model, sponsored athlete and personal trainer Nikki Walter, who has a strong passion for health and wellness that she shares with her daughter Addison. Walter wants to help change people’s lives through her website efforts and company, along with the hashtag #ruralfit.
Where to Eat
Some of the best dining establishments in the Hamptons will respond to this summer of social distancing with al fresco dining, with tables spaced out under the sunshine. One of the new developments this season is the integration of home delivery into the repertoire of every restaurant. Should you or your trusted house guests feel like remaining aloof from the crowds, you can still enjoy some of the finest food the East End has to offer.
This season, Southampton Social Club is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In 2020, al fresco dining at tables spaced to meet the social distancing requirements will offer group dinners under the sun and stars. As the pre-eminent fine dining supper club in the Hamptons, Southampton Social Club (SSC) continues to set the standard for hospitality. From executive chef Scott Kampf’s cuisine and his dedication to the classic “Farm to Table” cooking style, SSC will delight with the help of its summer 2020 cocktail program. On a weekly basis, the entertainment will reach a crescendo with Live Music and DJs setting the vibe for your summer.
T-Bar Steak and Lounge Southampton is like its sister restaurant on the Upper East Side. It offers guests innovative. contemporary American cuisine in a warm and inviting ambiance with an outdoor terrace and garden and outdoor dining spaced sensibly apart, making it the quintessential location for evening cocktails on those warm summer evenings. T-Bar is a new spin on the classic upscale steak house. The menu features a wide range of dishes, ranging from renditions of classics to refined and inventive plates.
The all-new Union Sushi & Steak restaurant at 40 Bowden Square in Southampton is opening this summer! Co-owners of SSC Ian Duke and David Hilty have teamed up with Kampf to create the go-to modern sushi and steak eatery for the Hamptons. Co-located with Union Burger Bar, it offers an assortment of specialty gourmet burgers that are hormone, antibiotic- and additive-free, fresh hand-cut fries, maniacal milkshakes, desserts and — of course — an elaborate craft beer and small batch bourbon selection.
