American Traveler

Literati Under a Tent at the Library

Scores of authors, both local and national, sat  behind their stacks of books Saturday evening and patiently engaged in coversation with book lovers—and maybe sold a few books in the process. We had a nice visit with Alice Harris who brought the family out to support her and spread the word about her latest book, The Wedding Album. Sitting nearby was the totally charming Marianne Hagan, author of Victoria Hagan, Interior Portraits, a book about her sister’s interior design projects. We also visited with Robert Caro from whom i finally bought a copy of The Power Broker. I told him i had put off purchasing it before because the book was too thick and heavy to lug back and forth on the jitney.

Vivacious Danyelle Freeman, The Restaurant Girl, was also there with her book, Try This.

Danyelle Freeman's Latest

I also had a nice chat about one of my childhood heroes with Tom Clavin co-author of Roger Maris. Ex-Yankee Jim Leyritz was there pitching his new book.

Co-author Tom Clavin was at Author's Night

Also on hand were Martin Amis, Alec Baldwin, Dick Cavett, Robert Klein and many many more.

Great dinner at East Hampton’s newest steakhouse, the Beachhouse. Even the small seafood platter is huge. Grilled asparagus was crunchy and delicious. Coffee and donuts desert sent us home happy.

We’ll be back for sure for their earlybird Lobster Bake, a good sized lobster, plus, clams, corn and potatoes for $25. They also have a happy hour special of a dozen clams on the half shell for $5!

Oh, by the way, service was terrific.

Saturday Evening in the Garden

We were fortunate to snag an invite to the annual Benefit for Longhouse Reserve on Saturday honoring Dale Chihuly. Even though the artist was not able to attend, it was still a glorious evening, highlighted by a dazzling perfomance by principal dancers of the New York City Ballet. Of course Jack Lenor Larson was there. So was Edward Albee. Ran into Mark Drucker from Plum magazine, whom i worked with at Garden Design back in the day.

Lauren is ready to dig in to her tuna salad nicoise at Pastis on Sunday morning.

Here’s the Hall of Springs, built in 1933. Now used as an event hall.

Relaxing Evening at a Chic Downtown Hotel in New York City

Needing a break from the craziness that is the Hamptons in summer—the parking lot that is route 27, the cattle car that is LIRR, the scene that is the scene—we decided to spend the weekend in the city, doing the things we never do. we spent the afternoon Friday at the Museum of Sex. It was more interesting and comprehensive than i thought it would be. Loved the condom exhibit. Lauren was enthralled by the Sex Live of Animals exhibit. Then coffee and lunch at Birch Coffee inside/beside the Gershwin Hotel. Really fun place, especially the library upstairs. We hopped the F train to Brooklyn for drinks with friends at Apartment 138 on Smith St. Kickin’ martinis on the patio.

Saturday, back to Brooklyn for some random wandering on 5th ave in park slope, a burger at Bonnies, then a show at the Bell House in the Gowanus. Brother-in-law Don McGlashan from New Zealand was on the bill and he really rocked the house (which seemed to be full of Mutton Bird fans.)

Furnishings almost as classy as the girl at the this Wall St. hotel.

As fun as all that was, the best came last on Sunday when we checked into the Andaz on Wall St for a luxe evening. And luxe it was, from the check-in, to the room, meals, and complimentary goodies. Check-in was smooThu and friendly. Our 17th floor room was spectacular from the plush kind-size bed to the modern furnishings, to the techie LED lights and electronic blackout shades. the bathroom was spectacular, easily larger than many NYC hotel rooms. In fact, the bathroom was more than a room. the sink was in an open area, the toilet behind a frosted glass door in a black granite room. across the space were the tub (for two) and a sleek shower.

King sized bed, huge bathroom, Lauren loves the Andaz

But we could only spend so much time admiring and playing with the facilities. After a short walk around the block we headed to the hotels restaurant, Wall and Water, for dinner. it’s a beautiful space with an open kitchen at one end and a unique loungy bar at the other. It was quiet early on Sunday evening and we enjoyed the calm with a glass of wine before ordering. We had the potato soup with duck sausage, a few oysters, the old-style Maine shrimp cocktail (excellent!) to start. Lauren had the Chanterelle and chickpea pot pie as an entree and she really enjoyed it. My roast chicken with stinging nettle and morels was good, if a bit too salty for my taste. It was a delightful dinner.

We finished off the weekend with a room service breakfast of pancakes and crepes before i rushed off to work on the 4 train.