BUSTING A SUMMER RENTAL MYTH... AND DOPPIO IS DONE-I-OH! AGAIN.

Doppio in Sag Harbor.... brown paper seems to be it's color!

Good Morning all.. or is it afternoon?  Either way, HC as some people like to call this blog has been off the grid for the past few months.  It's been a period of reflection and real estate and a media blackout.  I've ignored TV, radio and the internet for weeks now.  So before I read the papers about the Jeb versus Hillary show... I mean nobody was going to vote for "him," I did some recon in and around the Hamptons to get the latest in our neck of the woods.

So word about town in Sag Harbor is that DOPPIO is definitely DONE-I-OH.   As if the incident of last summer's sudden shuttering wasn't a big enough omen for you, the Italian bistro has packed it's bags and headed off for greener and perhaps less discerning pastures.    But while this is a surprise for virtually nobody, the big buzz is about what's going in there!  So, what will it be?   Apparently, it's going to be brown paper on the windows for the next few months.  Unconfirmed word about town is that the state of the space is in a bit on the worn side and a renovation is afoot.  If I have wrong information here, let me know and I'll fix it!  I still miss the old "Paradise" in Sag Harbor.  Please can somebody talk to somebody and bring it back?    It had good service, good food and a great atmosphere, something far too many restaurateurs in the Hamptons have a hard time understanding.

Meantime, why is it so tough to find a summer rental this season?  Well it's not as the NY Times would have you believe.     The mad rush that they report every year ("act now if you want your summer Hamptons get away) as having taking place is more myth than reality.    The truth is with all of the new regulations that include rental permits, registries and blood oaths more than a few home owners have decided NOT to rent rather than deal with all of the drama.    Now, I'm sure some agents and brokers are going to say, "not at all."   But I'm speaking from my experiences in the past few weeks.    I've called numerous landlords about renting only to have them inform me the house is no longer available.     I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing but I can tell you, if you're debating on renting your home this coming season... make sure to get the permit and protect yourself into the pool... it's smaller this year than it's been in a long time!

The birthplace of Hannibal Lechter? Plus, where would he go for lunch?!



Pass the fava beans!!! It's Hannibel's house!



We all know that Sag Harbor has been a haven for artists and writers of all types for years.  John Steinbeck, E.L. Doctrow and the late great Spaulding Gray have all found their inspiration among the waters of the fair Harbor and the stale beer of Murph's.  Well, maybe Steinbeck never went to Murph's but I bet he would have loved it!    But I digress... so, I learned something new the other day when talking to a friend of mine in Hamptons.  The house is located on Jermain Avenue in Sag Harbor and to be honest,  I fail to see how this sweet property could have ever been the birth place of the red wine swilling cannibal known as Hannibal Lechter.   The house is currently on the market for a little under  $1.5 million dollars and listed with Gioia DiPaolo of Douglas Elliman in Sag Harbor.    You can see the listing here.... and yes it's walking distance to Murph's!  That alone makes it worth more than the asking price!!  So make and offer and tell them I sent you... and who knows if you buy it, maybe you too can be inspired to write one of the most frightening best sellers of all time!!    

our Sag Harbor office.

Sidewalk dining at Madison and Main

So speaking of Sag Harbor and dining but not the cannibalistic kind; the town was recently voted one of the friendliest places in the country.   But now I think it deserves another honor.  I'm declaring Sag Harbor the "Lunch Capital of the Hamptons."   Sure, there are plenty of restaurants in the Hamptons but where can you go to have a good lunch (especially during the week)?   With the recent addition of Madison and Main, Sag Harbor is by a long shot the best place for the mid day meals.     While East Hampton has Ralph Lauren and Bridgehampton has real estate offices, the Harbor has more eating restaurants per foot than any other town.   It's also the only one where you can dine out doors without breathing in the exhaust from Rt. 27.   Let's think about this, you have the American Hotel (I suggest The Cobb salad), LT Burger (I recommend the fries and turkey burgers), Dockside (the tuna wrap), Madison and Main (tuna tacos), Bay Burger (the burger duh) and Page (you're on your own) all with open air dining.     So why am I writing this?  Well because when you have your weekend guests and you want to get them out of the house for some privacy Saturday afternoon, send them to Sag.  See this blog is good for something!