Category Archives: Newsletter

Live Theatre In The Hamptons

There are world-class performing and visual arts here in the Hamptons. The proximity to New York City draws extraordinary talent and while we’re here, we try to take in as much as we possibly can. We’d be crazy not to take full advantage of it.

In June of last year, we attended an excellent performance of Arthur Miller’s production of All My Sons at Guild Hall in East Hampton. The production featured a really strong cast and starred Hamptons local Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Laurie Metcalf (The Big Bang Theory and Roseanne). A difficult subject, the tragic play was about a successful businessman whose unethical practices during World War II resulted in aircraft equipment failure that hurt and killed air force personnel and ultimately destroyed his and his former partner’s life and family. It was flawlessly acted but the subject matter made it difficult to watch. It was, in a brief description, theatre at its best.

“All My Sons”

Last week, we attended the opening night, world-premiere performance of The Forgotten Woman at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor. This play is about a tremendously talented opera singer who is right at the cusp of fame and success in the opera world. As she steps into her own power, she must address core personal issues including her weight, conflict between motherhood and career, self-doubt and sexuality. Every performance was strong, but we felt that Ashlie Atkinson in the role of the opera singer, Margaret, was outstanding.

“The Forgotten Woman”

Last night, we attended the opening performance of The Underpants, adapted by Steve Martin from a 1910 German farce, at Guild Hall in East Hampton. We went with our actor, director and producer friend, Ian, and his friend, Birgit, from Cologne, Germany. Unlike the last two plays that we’ve seen, this was a wild satire, chock-full of sexual innuendo with lots of verbal and physical comedy. Ron and I thought the play was fun, was well-performed by the actors, and felt that we’d had a fun night of entertainment. I wouldn’t see it again, nor highly recommend it to others, but we felt it was definitely an enjoyable performance.

“The Underpants”

We’re looking forward to seeing whatever production is next and hope we’re able to attend!

Sweet, Sweet Sue

Linda in Newsletter

Sue is one of our dearest friends and we cherish any and all time spent with her. We’ve had the opportunity to share time with her in Cabo, northern California and here on the east coast. The three of us share our passions for tennis, great conversation, gourmet cuisine, fine wine and so much more.

Professionally, Sue has an amazing success story. Self-made, she has attained extraordinary global recognition for her talent and product line. Self-disciplined and hard-working, she deserves every bit of the success and acclaim she receives. She is extremely visual and creates beauty in everything she touches. Her home is warm and inviting and reflects Sue’s impeccable taste (she did all the structural and interior design herself).

Sue’s Watermelon Margarita

Personally, Sue is one of the most generous people I know. When Ron lost his rental accommodation for over a month two years ago, Sue opened her home to him, and to me while I was still in New York. My birthday rolled around while we were staying there and Sue made the day unbelievably special. She created a spa with products that she had made herself for me to indulge myself with, and a blender full of watermelon margaritas for Ron and I to enjoy. She vacated the house so that we had privacy that night and could not have made my birthday more special.

Special Birthday Wishes

We created many meals together in her well-designed kitchen. We both love to cook and it’s a joy to create food with Sue. We’re both passionate about using fresh, local ingredients of which there is an abundance in the Hamptons.

After tennis last week, Sue invited us over to her house for lunch. One thing we’ve learned over time is that you NEVER turn down a meal at Sue’s house as it is always a memorable event. Here’s a picture of the salad she served – the greens freshly picked from her macro-organic square-foot garden. Served with some baked lasagne, our lunch was delicious!

Sue’s Garden Salad

We’re living in a village nine miles away from the tennis club Ron works from and Sue offered me a bicycle to use for the time I’m here. It’s a gorgeous cruising bike and I am so grateful to have access to it to get me around and to get some extra exercise.

We played tennis this morning and she generously invited us AGAIN to join her for lunch. As always, it was scrumptious and beautiful. Every dish she serves is a work of art. Please note the before and after pictures as a testament to how appetizing and delicious our meal. Our lunch consisted of chicken salad flanked by grilled salmon with dill sauce, all served over mixed greens sprinkled with tabouli, with a side grilled corn salad!

Before….

After….

We love you, Sue, and cherish you and our friendship immensely! Here’s to many more games of tennis, great conversations, gourmet cuisine and lots of shared glasses of fine wine with you!

The Jam Session at Bay Burger

Linda in Newsletter, Site News

There is a roadhouse family restaurant in Sag Harbor, New York, that we try to get to every Thursday night. Bay Burger makes really good burgers and their lobster rolls are delicious. We love their fresh veggie sides and their Joe & Liza’s homemade ice cream is wonderful (free ice cream on Wednesdays with your lunch or dinner – you can’t beat that!).

Although it’s jam-packed (no pun intended!) and chaotic on Thursday nights, we absolutely LOVE coming out to listen to the live jazz which is led by Claes Brandal and features the Thursday Night Live Band every week. If you miss coming out, you can always listen in to the Jam Session Radio Hour every Wednesday night at 7:00 EST on WPPB 88.3 F.

You never know who you will see there jamming and we have heard some truly world class entertainment (a week ago Thursday we saw world-renowned trumpet and flugelhorn player, Randy Brecker, and his beautiful wife, Ada Rovatti, a brilliantly talented saxophonist, jamming with the locals. There was a line-up of performers out the door that night, but the highlight was a young man of fifteen who stepped up to play sax with this cast of seasoned talent. I’m sure it was a night he’ll always remember, as we will, and he’ll be someone to watch in the years to come.

Ahhh….The Amazing Fragrance of Lilacs

Linda in Newsletter

Lilacs on my birthday have been a tradition as long as I can remember and no birthday seems complete without them. Yesterday was no exception.

My precious Mom was concerned that the lilacs would be finished by the time I get back to Canada towards the end of this month. Bless her resourcefulness, as she took her iPad out to my favourite dark purple lilac tree and took some pictures to ensure I would enjoy their beauty on my day.

Ron managed to find a fresh lilac bouquet at the Bridgehampton Farmers’ Market on Friday: their exquisite fragrance fills my heart with memories.

One of my favourite memories is of a card I received on my 50th birthday from my dear friend, Bettina. She had traveled to Italy with me to celebrate this milestone and she made the time there incredibly special. Outside our villa in San Gimignano was an archway of the most beautifully scented jasmine, of which Bettina picked a bouquet and had waiting for me when I awoke on my birthday. No lilacs that year, but the jasmine was an elegant substitute.

Everything Bettina did was very special and appreciated, but the card she found and gifted me could not have been more perfect. She purchased the card years before and remembered to pull it out of her stash before we left Calgary. It was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me and I’ll never forget its significance. Here are the words from that special card:

On the porch,

Many years from now…

You will sit on the swing

I will sit on the chair,

And the fragrance of lilacs

Will hang in the air

I will tell you a story

I’ve told you before,

We will laugh (like the last time)

And tell a few more

Then perhaps we will say it,

And perhaps we will not,

But both of our old hearts

Will be thinking this thought

That it’s good to be known,

And it’s good to be there,

Where the fragrance of lilacs

Hangs in the air

Ahhh…the amazing fragrance of lilacs.

Window Shopping in Sag Harbor, New York

Linda in Newsletter

Night time is a great time to browse the shops in the small villages of the Hamptons. The window dressing is spectacular and each window tells a story! These shots are from a visit to Sag Harbor the other night after seeing Bay Street Theater’s excellent production of The Forgotten Woman. Enjoy!