offManhattan

Although the days are getting noticeably cooler, there is a balmy weekend forecast ahead and our minds are on one thing: the beach. Not Southampton, not Shelter Island, but a more off the beaten stretch of shore called Ditch Plains Beach. This sandy tip of Long Island is cliffy and quiet—if you don’t mind surfers and the occasional wakeboarding celebrity designer. Here on Long Island, the shiny, pristine setting, tasty food stands, and yoga-surfing clinics are enough to make Ditch Plains the kind of getaway all New Yorkers need at the close of summer.

Read on for our tubular step-by-step guide to living like a Ditch Plains local, if only for a day.

Known for pampering pooches as well as people, Southampton Inn owner Dede Gotthelf is the kind of B&B keeper who gives guests complimentary rides in her polka-dotted van one mile down the road to Cooper’s Beach—recently ranked the #1 best beach in America by Stephen P. Leatherman, a.k.a. “Dr. Beach.” She’ll also offer guests access to sailing at the Southampton Yacht Club (where her son is an instructor), or to windsurfing, motor boat rentals, and a nearby animal sanctuary.

Since purchasing the property from the Passavia family in 1998, Gotthelf has turned the Southampton Inn into a refuge for New Yorkers and international travelers alike. At a recent afternoon party to celebrate the grand opening of the inn’s pool and restaurant OSO, Irish couple Catherine and Tim Daly said they picked the Inn for the relaxing atmosphere, close proximity to the town’s restaurants and shops, and neighboring Sag Harbor. Easily accessible by train and the Hampton Jitney, the Southampton Inn also has plenty of outdoor adventure on the premises.

The warm evening air at an estate in Watermill, NY pulsed with the beat of DJ Tyger Lilly, as guests munched on hors d’oeuvres, sipped summer cocktails and chatted about summer plans. The Social Life Magazine Memorial Day kickoff event drew an elite gathering of Hampton locals and those in for the weekend festivities, including featured celebs Matt Lanter of the new 90210 series and Sara Canning of Vampire Diaries. Among the memorably dressed guests, one young man draped in a sequin-encrusted floor-length jacket, topped it all off with some serious neck bling and sunglasses worn even in the fading light.

Read on to get a sense–from the tanned and tippled partygoers—of the green movement in the Hamptons.

When we step off the train in Southold, Long Island, I can’t help but think, “We’re not in New York City anymore.” Just two and a half hours from Manhattan, the green, wide open spaces of the North Fork of Long Island seem as far from the congested city as can be. The most striking difference is the presence of land, lots of land. That most coveted of commodities in Manhattan is present here—in all its sprawling, lush glory: along its sidewalk-less road, between, behind, and in front of its single family homes and, most importantly, in and among its vineyards.

When the waitress offered me a plate of caviar-topped Swedish Raraka surrounded by clouds of crème fraîche, I knew this would be a memorable anniversary meal. The potato cakes were like crispy designer chips threaded with onion, the caviar was salty, and the crème kept it all cool with a hint of dill.

News about c/o The Maidstone’s new “Scandinavian Cozy” experience at The Living Room, spread quickly on the shores of Montauk, spurring residents (who don’t normally feel the need to leave the South Fork of Long Island during summer) to make reservations a week in advance, present company included.

For the July 4th weekend, offManhattan chose to brave the crowds at the beach rather than on the banks of the Hudson River this year. And while the three wimpy fireworks that we managed to see in the Hamptons were disappointing, the setting at Social Life Magazine’s Gatsby Under the Red, White, and Blue soirée was anything but.

Poolside, with Peronis in hand, we chatted up celebrities like Twilight star Kellan Lutz and 90210’s AnnaLynne McCord while MJ songs blared through the speakers. In the backyard of a 10,000-square-foot pink mansion in Watermill, we found out who used to bring a whip to set and the best place—we verified—to get breakfast in Southampton.

Read on to find out what guests had to say.

This spring, Montauk was ranked number eight out of the Ten Best Surf Towns in America by Surfer Magazine, much to the chagrin of local surfers. Although it’s no secret that surfers are territorial and secretive, the ocean is a vast and limitless beast, and if you’re just starting out you don’t need to surf the biggest spots. Stick to this guide for beginners and you’ll find a welcoming wave with small crowds and friendly faces.

Get the Gear: If you don’t have your own surfboard or wetsuit, head to Main Street where Montauk’s premiere surf shop Air and Speed has everything you’ll need. Owned by local Stu Foley and his environmentally-conscious family, the store will help you find just the right board and fit in a wetsuit for reasonable daily rates. Even better, Air and Speed offers surf lessons, private and group, which include a board and wetsuit rental. One of Stu’s strapping sons will give you a professional lesson, starting with pop-ups on the sand and ending with you catching plenty of waves. If the surf makes you nervous, ask for a lesson with Bob, a local surfer, who has more than twenty years as a lifeguard under his belt.

What: Montauk Rummage Sale

When: Saturdays, 9:00am-12pm

Where: Community Church, Montauk, NY

Why: In a town known for its enclave of Bohemian artists and salty fisherman, you’ll be sure to find an abundance of intriguing castoffs at the rummage sale. Hosted every weekend from Memorial to Labor Day by volunteers of the Community Church, the rummage sale has become a Saturday staple. If the waves are flat, hit the sale. If the sky is gray, hit the sale—and make sure you go early to get first pick.