IS THE HAMPTONS OVER? April 21
Yes, if the Neo Leftist Elitist Hypocrites Have Their Way.
This past week I had the opportunity to attend the Gala Preview for the New York International Auto Show to Benefit the East Side House Settlement. In addition, I served as guest bartender for the Worlds Collide Party hosted by David Shapiro and Alisha at Scopa, one of Midtown’s more interesting new spaces. My experience guest bartending was an awesome one. The staff of Scopa was extremely hospitable, the crowd was excellent and despite the fact that it was somewhat of an off Saturday night between Passover & Easter the space was filled largely with my Jewish & Italian friends, including some adorable and sexy JewLo’s. A night of Matzo Pizza it was. I loved it.
Of late, however, while David Shapiro’s house is nearly sold out, an often heard lament in other social circles is that Hamptons Night Life is Over before the Summer has even started. Vacation Rentals in the Hamptons are down, the country is at war andthe end of the economic downturn is no where in sight. Some may rejoice at the prospect but still others could care less. One critic has expressed contempt and distaste for what the Hamptons has become and even suggested that we Nuke the Hamptons altogether. It’s understandable. Despite one famous documentarians attempt to portray the The Real Hamptons as urbane, sophisticated, open and and diverse, many of the Hamptons reality shows on television exposed the frivolity of the Hamptons
as perpetuating a shallow, vapid, materialistic lifestyle. The case of Lizzie Grubman only further symbolized what was wrong with the Hamptons and the fissures which exist in the Hamptons social hierarchy. But what else can you expect of self indulgent capitalist “Bon Vivants?” Furthermore, weren’t many similar critiques once leveled at the excess and social caste systems fostered in other summer playgrounds of the rich and famous from South Beach, Palm Beach, Ibiza, The French Riviera, Newport, Cape Cod etc?
The unique characteristics of the Hamptons from too posh and too trendy to beautiful and serene has given it an exclusivity all its own. Some of those that have made the Hamptons their summer home have also given it a notoriety that some locals, including well healed socialites find distasteful. Even some of the rich second home owners who summer in the Hamptons find that there is a social hierarchy which excludes even them. An inquiry into the local Chambers of Commerce is certainly not necessary to confirm that the pursuits of “the Summer People”,many of whom often spend their summer in share houses, have driven more money into the coffers of the East End Community, its inhabitants and local business. Things, however, may undoubtedly be different this year but not for the reasons one would suspect.
Unfortunately, it seems that some out East are doing all that they can to insure the precipitous decline of tourism to the East End of Long Island. For the critic who wanted to Nuke the Hamptons, that may not be necessary. Class warfare has begun, ironically enough in an economy where consumer dollars are even more scarce to come by these days. The closure of night spots and the threatened enforcement of local ordinances precluding those who are unrelated from cohabitating in share house arrangements may bring about an end to summer fun for many. I find it most hypocritical that locals out East would want to discourage the annual “invasion” of middle & upper middle class Manhattanites who regularly spend the equivalent of the GNP of some small states over the course of the Summer just to enjoy the beach and patronize their community.
As our friend Cass has pointed out Dan’s Papers, not only writes disparaging articles against New Yorkers who do share houses they also include a form to fill-out so readers can report all Share Houses to the Police so that illegal summer cohabitators can be fined and arrested! They site a law that it’s illegal to rent a house in the Hamptons to 5 or more un-married people. Ironically Dans Papers, among some of the other neo leftist elitists in the Hamptons sell ads claiming that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers read their ads. To Dan and his advertisers, we really don’t read that rag as much as you think we do and if we did, you might realize that single people, often whom reside in share houses spend alot of money on the very businesses advertised. Let’s play a game, for one summer close the Hamptons down to singles, lets see how many of your quaint little businesses go BANKRUPT.
Over the years, Manhattanites en route to their Summer places of relaxation have encountered numerous deceptive speed traps to nab “consumers” on their escape from urban insanity. This exclusionary class war happens to a degree every year but it seems especially forboding this year. Lines have been drawn in the sand in terms of crack downs on “share houses,” which is but another way of saying that they do not want people out there who are not of a class that cannot own a home in the Hamptons or afford $350 per night hotel rooms. That should present some more interesting challenges to Summer Fun than the Annual War Between Owners & Renters in the Hamptons. If you ask me, Hamptons folk might better concerned not to politicize and penalize a class of single professionals who seek to leave city life on occassion to partake of the scenery, the beach and some of your local businesses while renting some of the houses that your owners have built but could not otherwise afford to carry the mortgage on if urban dwellers did not regularly visit your community. Think again before you drive up local bankruptcy rates, destroy local business and kill home values. Your citizenry may then come to better understand that having a buffoon like Jerry Seinfeld or some other celebrity dining in your local restaurants on occassion and not tipping as usual is insufficient to keep your local citizenry employed. The proletariat feeds your community.
Despite all of the foreging, the annual rite of Spring is upon us. In full swing are weekly happy hours at various Midtown watering holes on Wednesday & Thursday nights. These events are hosted and attended by a broad cadre of the Manhattan Professional Social Circuit. At these events one has the opportunity to meet the people running the house, house members from prior years as well as those who have joined or are thinking of joining. From my discussions with friends, the economy is not the only thing that suggest that things will be far different out East. For many, however, the end of Hamptons Night Life is not necessarily the end of the Hamptons per se. For them, the Hamptons is not so much about the night life as it is about the good life, county charm, quaint villages and gorgeous coast lines; some of the best in the world.
My recommendation to those that seek to control the destiny of the Hamptons as tourist attraction and resort is to be careful. I understand that perhaps you want a little less South Beach and a little more Newport or Palm Beach, but in doing so you may make life so uncomfortable for the very people who feed your economy that many may not return and choose to spend their hard earned money elsewhere, including the Jersey Shore or other resort towns. Your community is already exclusive enough; the vast majority of Americans, including most New Yorkers can not afford to play in your sandbox. You may want to try to be nice to the few who still can or perhaps the Hamptons will be over much to your chagrin.