I often think of my old friend Susan K, who grew up in Sag Harbor in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Her parents moved out there in 1947 (if I remember correctly) because Malverne, Long Island, was getting too crowded! Not a word in the story about the "Donald B. Katz" building on Main Street, but he was one of the first to discover Sag Harbor.
I like that NYT is making the Sunday RE section focus on one general area for its various regular columns. Eastern Lonh Island's South Shore this week, Northern Weatchester a week ago....more cohesion is better for my OCD brain.
2
Sag Harbor's history is so much more than what's mentioned here. Azurest was one of the first predominantly Black summer communities. Somehow I think that should be noted.
Sag Harbor was--in comparison to the Hamptons--a writer's community. I forget all the authors who played in a weekly softball game but there were many.
Sag Harbor was--in comparison to the Hamptons--a writer's community. I forget all the authors who played in a weekly softball game but there were many.
27
Ah, the privileged class enjoying its privileges. What a joke that America feels so self-righteous about throwing off the yoke of the British class system in the Revolution. All that's happened is that we've recreated a cheap, tawdry version of same here in the colonies - class distinctions here are every bit as bad as they ever were in 19th century England.
7
the American Revolution wasn't about ridding ourselves of the British class system. Anyhow, our system is much more mobile than the old European system of feudalism. We no longer have nobility. My mom could barely afford college. I may be able to own three homes, and one in the Hamptons. Capitalism rewards high IQ, self-discipline, delayed gratification, and ambition.
2
I grew up in the Springs area and have been saddened to see that the sleepy little town of Sag Harbor, once a refuge from the Cityots, become just as overwhelmed by the cruisey, boozy, social climbers. Even the sparse, blue-collarness of Greenport has been white-washed into fishing village hipster chic. The Montauk of my great-grandparents has slowly eroded into flagrant displays of luxury goods, pricey cars, and weekend warrior wannabe surfers. The East End of Long Island used to be a place for artists to retreat from the expense and pace of NYC. Given the costs and the vapid social culture, you will never see today's Hassam, Motherwell, de Kooning, Pollack, or Rivers take refuge there. We've all decamped for quieter, more sedate, more human climes.
18
Well said. It's a sad turn of events.
3
My family has been living in the area since the 1630s (being serious here). This lament began when the railroad was completed in the late 1800s. Visiting the area in the 70s the topic of conversation would inevitably swing to talk of how the "summer people" were overrunning everything. That said, the "summer people" back then knew how to enjoy the East End properly: they fished, they gardened, they sailed, they had clambakes on the beach, they availed themselves of some of the greatest produce in the world etc. I agree with you that nowadays the summer folk just want to party the same way they party in the city in the fall. Let's put it this way: if you don't catch a few fluke and bluefish in the Hamptons during the summer then you are doing it wrong.
7
Only in NY will a million dollar plus house have tacky air conditioners hanging out of windows.
10
Pitiful and makes one question what this generation Of New Yorkers will be like: For 2016, 45 percent of the students in Grades 3 to 8 met state standards in English and 53 percent in mathematics, compared with 38 and 39 percent statewide, respectively.
4
You don't seriously believe the kids whose parents own those multimillion-dollar homes attend the public schools, do you? They go to boarding/private schools. They don't attend meetings to discuss improvements or increased programs. It's not on their radar. The locals use the public schools.
4
If anyone was in Sag in 1982/83, you would have seen the Schooner Appledore docked at the end of the town dock during the summers. The owners were Captain Ed Orr, who was the principle of Southampton High School, and Con Donovan, an magazine/advertising guy.
I was in college, and I saw an article in Newsday about big ship sailing on the East End, with the Appledore listed. I wrote a letter to Captain Ed--who lived in Sagaponack--asking if he would take me as apprentice crew, and he did. It was quite the summer. We did day sailing in Gardiner's Bay, and overnights from Montauk to Block Island.
I wrote about some of these adventures here
https://mapeel.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-appledore-revisited-i-am-charles...
I was in college, and I saw an article in Newsday about big ship sailing on the East End, with the Appledore listed. I wrote a letter to Captain Ed--who lived in Sagaponack--asking if he would take me as apprentice crew, and he did. It was quite the summer. We did day sailing in Gardiner's Bay, and overnights from Montauk to Block Island.
I wrote about some of these adventures here
https://mapeel.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-appledore-revisited-i-am-charles...
1
I think the huge influx of NYC money and the changes it has made to Sag Harbor are sad. I raised my children and lived there for over 30 years but when my husband and I divorced and our house was sold, I had to leave. I couldn't afford to buy another house and the rentals were exorbitant. My ex is a well known writer and continues to live among the rich and famous.
6
Sounds like "To The New Owners," by Madeleine Blais, could be a best-seller this summer in Sag Harbor. Reviewed in yesterday's NYT.
2
Bragging about 'rock stars' but not bothering to tell us who they are! Just John Steinbeck (who died in 1968), the late Betty Friedan and Erich Fishl. I guess Bill Joel and the forthcoming popcorn stand will have to do.
If this article was about Soho or Georgetown, we'd hear who the current big name residents are. The snobbery of 'privacy' for residents of uberwealthy small town resorts.
If this article was about Soho or Georgetown, we'd hear who the current big name residents are. The snobbery of 'privacy' for residents of uberwealthy small town resorts.
3
Julie Andrews! I saw Marvin Hamlisch there once.
1
Sat across Betty Friedan at lunch.
1
That's because Julie Andrews daughter Emma Walton runs the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor.
3
Waterfront properties are the most expensive-- and will likely be (literally) under water in 20 years, given rising water. Or as soon as the next hurricane hits. Those who were here during Sandy --far from a direct hit-will remember.
7
A popcorn machine named Billy Joel? How exciting.
4
Sorry if it doesn't meet with your fine new England standards. Bill Joel has done much for Long Island, he is not part of the glitterati He's actually quite humble. He's a local kid who made it big and eschews honors, I bet he got a kick out of it.
12
Sounds like just the sort of place that should build housing for Section 8 voucher tenants, don't you agree? Perhaps a re-incarnated Judge Sand will emerge and ruin another community in the pursuit of social engineering.
6
I have wondered what it is like to be wealthy like the characters in a Fitzgerald novel. Exquisite, beautiful vacations with wealthy, charasmatic scions of the East coast.
Interesting, but alas I am located on the other side of paradise. One shall endeavor to endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
Interesting, but alas I am located on the other side of paradise. One shall endeavor to endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
2
I lived in Sag Harbor many years ago in my late teens. During the summer it was hopping. But the minute Labor Day was over, it was a ghost town. I remembering feeling abandoned.
I'll never forget the line told to me by a local who had lived there all his life.
"In the winter, unless you drink, have sex, or watch TV, there is nothing to do!"
He told me there was one bar for every eleven residents.
Not being a drinker, still among the pure of heart and having no TV I was not looking forward to what would be a devastating winter.
Judging from this article things have changed. As have I, thank God. That kind of isolation is hard to come by anywhere anymore!
I'll never forget the line told to me by a local who had lived there all his life.
"In the winter, unless you drink, have sex, or watch TV, there is nothing to do!"
He told me there was one bar for every eleven residents.
Not being a drinker, still among the pure of heart and having no TV I was not looking forward to what would be a devastating winter.
Judging from this article things have changed. As have I, thank God. That kind of isolation is hard to come by anywhere anymore!
14
And that is why I vacation on the East end right after Labor Day, the kiddies are back in school no wait for dinners out or even staying in. It's quite peaceful.
6
Year-round residents will never fully accept summer people. How could they? In 30 years, everything southwest of Riverhead will be summer only homes. It's only a matter of time. Most waitstaff will be NYU kids trying to afford a summer in the Hamptons. Anywhere I dine in the Hamptons, it's some really cute 19 yr old serving me. Often, I overhear them talking about their 22 yr old boyfriend in business school in NYC.
1
ooops. I meant southeast. I'm from Boston. I still think of all New York as southwest.
3
Sag Harbor is actually ENE of Riverhead.
4
small town aura.....please!!!!
2
In pic 15, one can see two Porsches. The most I myself have ever captured in one photo is three (Southampton). I captured two Porsches, a Ferrari, and a Bugatti in Southampton. My little game in the Hamptons is try to capture $ Porsches in one camera pic. Car shows and dealerships don't count. I've seen four Porsches in a row of six cars (4 out of 6 were Porsches), but I couldn't back up far enough to get all four in the frame.
14
I play the same game (true)..........have you seen any Bentley's or Roles Royce's. Saw several Maserati's, Ferrari's and Benz's. Nice cars but I prefer the classics and many a time I have see late model 60's and 70's Plymouth's , Chargers, and some really nifty convertible Caddies from the late 60's complete with fins.
1
When I head out to the Hamptons, I see many Bentleys heading toward NYC on the LIE around Syosset (sp?). But I don't see any IN the Hamptons. Nor do I see any Rolls out there. Also, never any Lamborghinis. Porsches are like pigeons. I see many Ferraris and a rare McLaren or two.
I'm a Porsche guy. My dream cars are the GT3 RS and the McLaren 570S. I like the Audi R8 too, but it's getting too heavy. I don't really covet any cars with 4 seats. I might need one, but don't want one, aside from the Ferrari FF, which is a magnificent car.
I track and race my car. So, I like track/sports cars. I like the new Corvettes, especially the Z06. I never see any in the Hamptons.
I'm a Porsche guy. My dream cars are the GT3 RS and the McLaren 570S. I like the Audi R8 too, but it's getting too heavy. I don't really covet any cars with 4 seats. I might need one, but don't want one, aside from the Ferrari FF, which is a magnificent car.
I track and race my car. So, I like track/sports cars. I like the new Corvettes, especially the Z06. I never see any in the Hamptons.
1
Corvettes are far too pedestrian for the Hamptons.
2
Soon the "hipsters" will find this lovely spot and ruin it like they did Montauk.
2
Not really, I don't think. Montauk has a lot of cheap (for the area) beach motels that seemingly allow 4-5 people to each room. That's how you get the big crowds at Sloppy Tuna. Furthermore, Montauk has the biggest free public beach in South Fork. Montauk also has a boardwalk type vibe with more open air bars along the highway and it has the clam/booze shacks lining the highway on the way to Montauk. In other words, Montauk is set up to be a destination for not rich 20-somethings.
Sag Harbor doesn't really have a beach and all the bars are more expensive. Sag Harbor has a New England-y harbor town feel.
Sag Harbor doesn't really have a beach and all the bars are more expensive. Sag Harbor has a New England-y harbor town feel.
2
Girl, that moment passed in 2010!
4
Really? I was there last year stop by every year when I stay in Napeague. It still seems quaint and somewhat unspoiled. The Thrift Store and coffee shop is still nice. So sad to hear about the theatre though.
Very nice and personal when the article was published during Ms. Betts' book tour for her memoir, My Paris Dream: An Education in Style, Slang, and Seduction in the Great City on the Seine.
According to Ms. Betts, her late father was an architect and she inherited the Sag Harbor house from her father, Hobart D. Betts. I love that kind of personal story!
Bravo NYT Real Estate pages!