maine recap, hamptons book signings, high summer happenings

My husband and I and our girls went to Maine for three days earlier in the summer, and it was just the reset we needed after the chaotic din of June’s end-of-school-scheduling-extravaganza. We stayed at the absolutely charming White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, ME, ate a lot of lobster rolls and fried food, and spent most of our time either watching the girls splashing in the pool, attempting (unsuccessfully) to get them out of said pool, or making s'mores by the fire in the magical WBI garden while monitoring the marshmallow roasting stick’s proximity to eyeballs. I hope our girls remember the trip forever.

The magic of Auberge Collection properties is that each location feels uniquely different than the other, informed by a sense of place–the design is incredibly thoughtful and differentiated, like a chic friend’s home in whatever location you’re in. (This post is not sponsored, just a huge admirer of their ethos–especially after getting to work so closely with the Mayflower team over the years on the Fenimore Lane Design Summit.) I think hospitality is incredibly hard to do at scale, and they do it so well.

We decided to go last minute, so I corralled my summer staples into my favorite travel bag (large, zip top.) I threw together a mix of my favorite cotton gauze white pants and cotton poplin white pants (are you sensing a theme?) with a version of a striped top (tank, button down, sweater), a solid poplin button down (one must always bring a solid and a striped…), a pair of Birks for the pool, a pair of braided leather sandals for nighttime, my favorite Casa Bombon canvas tote, and a straw tote, which I alternated between depending on how much mom storage I needed at that moment in time. A trusty v-neck navy sweater tagged along for chilly evenings. This entire paragraph is essentially my take on summer dressing in a nutshell.

I didn’t wear any makeup and just used my favorite Vitamin C serum, SPF primer, and tinted SPF moisturizer, and a hair clip half up-half-down for good measure if I didn’t have my trusty SPF 50 woven hat. The best texturizing spray gave me some natural volume and air-dried waves. Rōz really knows what they’re doing.

This weekend, I very much wish I was heading out east to join our friends at East Hampton Art & Design Days–alas, real life calls–but they will so graciously be selling autographed copies of The Happy Home, and I hope you’ll stop by to say hello! The Summer Cabana, a fabulous pop-up with a heavily stacked list of my favorite brands, is also high on the must-see list. If I were heading out for the weekend to celebrate, here’s what my game plan would be:

If you’re staying for a few days, start the morning with a coffee from Sagtown or Carissa’s, (perhaps add in a quick beach walk?), then make the rounds at Round Swamp Farm, Amber Waves, Balsam Farms, or the Sagaponack General Store to stock up on provisions for the day. Cavaniola’s, the Cheese Shop in Southampton, Provisions in Sag Harbor and Loaves & Fishes are personal favorites to pick up a sandwich or a little bit of delicious prepared food (+ some kettle chips) and then promptly park yourself on a beach.

For lunch/dinner: Il Buco al Mare, Tutto il Giorno, Jean-Georges at Topping Rose House, East Hampton Grill, Tavern at 1770 House, Suki Zuki, and Bostwick’s are all excellent options—depending entirely on the mood and whether little ones are in tow. Babe’s Diner is a new addition to the breakfast rotation; I haven’t been yet, but I have heard the pancakes are worth an order. For drinks or drinks with dinner: The American Hotel, Swifty’s at The Hedges Inn and East Hampton Grill all make an excellent cocktail. For the all-important ice cream stop: Big Olaf is a classic, and BuddhaBerry, BonBon, Topiaire, The Sweet Spot, and The Fudge Company are all in good additions to the sweet treat summer rotation.

If you’re not staying in a house and thinking about hotels: I’m most excited about the recently opened The Hedges Inn, designed by the crazy talented David Netto–it’s the sister hotel of Palm Beach’s The Colony and I’m itching to see it in person. Topping Rose House is an elegant classic (with a Jean-Georges restaurant in-house, where you’re 99% likely to have an Ina Garten sighting, based on the one time I spotted her there with Jeffrey, thanked her for teaching me how to cook, and she hugged me–still not over it.) The Reform Club is chic and off the beaten path, and Faraway Sag Harbor (the newly renovated used-to-be-Baron’s-Cove), looks stunning. Each is charming in its own way and perfectly situated for wandering into their respective towns.

And for the all important boutiquing/antiquing: Sage Street Antiques, The 1818 Collective, Shooster, Galerie Provenance, John Salibello, Laurin Copen Antiques, Wyeth Sagaponack, JED Interiors + Antiques, E-E Home, Il Buco Vita, Mecox Gardens, Harper’s Books, BookHampton, L’Epicuriste, Hoare & Hoare Antiques, and The Monogram Shop. For fashion, Tenet, elysewalker, AERIN, TWP, Ralph Lauren, Goop, Roller Rabbit (AOI designed both the East Hampton and Sag Harbor stores!), and 180 The Store are worth a stop.

Well that’s it for this unintentionally coastal summer themed edition of FTDO ;) should we do an “everything I’d buy for” with this theme?! LMK in the comments.

xx

AO