Well, it was in many ways – to quote our boss – “the summer that wasn’t.” The rain, the rain and then there was the rain, plus all the other challenges that the flesh is heir to in the season in which “the livin’” is supposed to be easy and often isn’t.
Nonetheless, there was plenty to enjoy – a spectacular Father’s Day at Greenwich Polo Club, where the East Coast Open is on through Sept. 9; a birthday bash – complete with crab cakes, live music and fireworks – at Playland Park’s Pier Restaurant and Tiki Bar, which remains open through October (weather permitting); a birthday feast at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester’s Lobby Lounge, transitioning to its fall menu; and a day at the US Open, which we’ll report on in next week’s WAG Weekly.
For now, it’s time to celebrate our national holiday – and the holiday of all workers – Labor Day, which for us stretches out to four glorious days.
What to do? We could kick back with a good beach read and for this we turn to the queen of the genre, Elin Hilderbrand. We’ll have more on her in October WAG as this breast cancer survivor is featured in the Susan G. Komen “More Than Pink” Luncheon, which WAG is co-sponsoring Nov. 28 at The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s in Darien. In the meantime, you might want to pick up her 21st novel, “The Perfect Couple” (St. Martin’s Griffin). It’s wedding season on Nantucket, where Hilderbrand makes her home, and the protagonists are set for lavish nuptials on an oceanfront property. But murder is afoot, threatening to make the wedding memorable in the most lethal of ways. (Fix us an Arnold Palmer and let the page turning commence.)
A little retail therapy might be in order. The big news at the recent John Hardy trunk show at Bloomingdale’s White Plains, a WAG fave, is what’s trending everywhere – jewelry for guys. There’s more on this in our piece on Thames & Hudson’s new “Jewelry for Gentlemen” book in September WAG, out Sept. 1, but as John Hardy account coordinator Amy Froio told us, “Men are now purchasing for themselves.”
And at the John Hardy counter what they are purchasing are these richly textured Naga (dragon) and eagle bracelets, among other designs, that make fabulous use of a variety of stones, including onyx, topaz, tsavorite, blackened mother of pearl, dragon’s blood jasper and so much more.
John Hardy’s hashtag is artisanhandcraftedjewelryforlegendarymenandwomen. The company’s legendary woman is Oscar winner Julianne Moore. We can’t wait to discover who its legendary man will be.
Retail opportunities abound at The Perfect Provenance, the home goods/clothing boutique and eatery where we met May WAG cover subject, the angelic Roma Downey.
We returned to the shop recently for a busman’s holiday as Caribbean-born chef Duane Shand, new to our area, treated us to an end of summer tasting menu right from the boutique’s adjacent garden. There was a savory tomato tartare with watermelon, pansies and herbs in a jalapeno broth with the sweetest little avocado toast; a creamy sweet child corn soup with cilantro cream, paprika and a generous dollop of shrimps; an extremely rich quiche of sundried tomatoes and stracciatella cheese; and a fig frittata with homemade French vanilla ice cream that gave new meaning to “custard ice cream.”
The Perfect Provenance changes its theme every season. So from the club life it moves on to fall’s rustic Italy. Mmm….
Finally, foodies also won’t want to miss The Castle Hotel & Spa’s “Poolside Clambake” on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m., with offerings made by Tarrytown’s own Duncan’s Abbey Ales and steel drum music set amid the hotel’s terraced grotto. The clambake is $55; $25 for children. Reservations are required at 914-631-3646.
We hope to see you there.
– Georgette Gouveia
