Hamptons 101

To the average midwesterner, The Hamptons (yes, it's singular - I researched it) is a mystical place where hunky dark-haired men play polo, celebrities attend charity events and Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson go beach-combing for stones in Something's Gotta Give. In reality, The Hamptons is all of those things, but it can also be one of the most casual, relaxing weekend trips you've had in a while. I was lucky enough to escape the city this past weekend to stay in a phenomenally beautiful home in Amagansett (west of Montauk, east of East Hampton).

If you're a fish lover, you'll be in heaven as all of the restaurants generally incorporate fish into the majority of their menu items. For special evenings out, I highly recommend Dave's Grill (468 West Lake Drive, Montauk - http://www.davesgrill.com/home.html) and Nick & Toni's (136 North Main Street, East Hampton - http://www.nickandtonis.com/). Dave's Grill had perhaps the most delicious fish dish I've ever had - Black Miso Cod. I would take a 3 hour train just for that dish! Going out to eat isn't the only option - the group at our house decided to "stay in" for lunch Saturday, which for this crowd meant pre-ordering about 12 two-pound lobsters, corn on the cob and roasted potatoes from Amagansett Seafood Store (517 Montauk Hwy, Amagansett). As we dug into our delicious food and drank wine in the open-air dining room I thought, "So this is The Hamptons, huh? I could get used to this..."

In closing, I'd like to leave you with a few tips for the inexperienced Hamptons traveler before you embark on your trip:

1. The Friday crowds at Penn Station can be one of the most intimidating experiences of your life. Don't worry - even though the crowds stampede towards the train immediately after the track number is posted, there are still plenty of seats left even minutes before the train departs.

2. While the summer weather in The Hamptons is fabulous, the temperature on the train is comparable to a Midwest winter. Make sure you have a hooded sweatshirt and a scarf handy nearby at all times - and don't wear flip flops either - you will be freezing.

3. Be prepared to be stared at whenever you leave the comfort of your private home. Everyone is always looking at everyone in an attempt to spot celebrities, socialites or any famous face in general. Upon receiving our lunch bill at CittaNuova (29 Newtown Lane, East Hampton - http://www.cittanuova.com/) - home of the best spaghetti I've ever had - we noticed a small insert asking "Love People Watching from CittaNuova's Front Patio?" The card then went on to describe the restaurant's "live webcam" broadcasting pedestrian activity inside and outside the restaurant. I mean, really? Taking people watching to a whole new level - only in The Hamptons!

My recommendation? Take a Friday off (or at least a 1/2 day), grab some friends, head east on the train and relax. While I can't speak for the other Hamptons towns, Montauk, Amagansett and East Hampton were everything I was hoping for - quaint, tree-lined streets, sandy beaches, great restaurants and top-notch people watching. While the shopping leaves a bit to be desired (all of the stores are simply outposts of large Manhattan luxury chains like Hermes, Michael Kors and Theory), the experience itself is definitely worth one of those summer Friday's you've been saving up.