Adult swim
Nick & Toni’s, Salon 21, airports special, Upstate listings, Emmett's On Grove, best Brooklyn craft beer, MORE
GETAWAYS • The Hamptons
Eastern peak
In the late ’80s, East Hampton was still a quiet fishing town with limited dining options, but early interest in good food was there. On weekend afternoons, the post-beach crowd flocked to Fierro’s Pizza by the old A&P for cheesy slices and chewy garlic knots. Later, some would drop by Ina Garten’s black-and-white-tiled Barefoot Contessa to pick up imported cheese and coffee (the profound aroma of freshly roasted beans hit you the moment you walked in) for the next morning.
As for restaurants, in 1988 and thereafter, the buzziest place to be was the newly launched Nick & Toni’s. I was too young to dine at Nick & Toni’s at the time, but I understood that it was an adult restaurant — and that it was special. In the years since, I’ve dined there many times, and still feel a sense of adultness to be able to dine at Nick & Toni’s.
On a Thursday night over the July 4th weekend, the restaurant was unsurprisingly busy. Many larger groups and families were having an early dinner (my reservation was at 630p), and servers were carrying bottles of wine and lush salads, jetting from table to table to keep up.
The food has always been rustic Mediterranean-Italian, with a focus on seasonal ingredients prepped in a wood-fueled hearth. (Nick & Toni’s has its own one-acre garden that supplies much of its produce). The restaurant, largely refreshed in 2013, is broken up into several small dining rooms with white walls, blonde wood accents, bistro chairs, and large rust-colored tiled floors.
After sitting down with my husband, I picked up the wine list and was immediately impressed — and surprised — by how reasonably priced the bottles were, with a strong focus on French and Italian expressions. I was especially delighted to spot the elusive Château des Tours Réserve (a coveted bottle from the iconic Chateau Rayas estate in the Southern Rhône Valley) listed at $255, and promptly ordered it.
We had a great dinner. Nick and Toni’s iconic zucchini chips are cut tissue paper-thin and fried, and the wood-fired focaccia is golden-edged, plump, and chewy (I just wish it was served warm). You may have heard about the rich and creamy-tasting red shrimp coming out of Montauk — an ingredient that’s steadily been making its way onto NYC menus. At Nick & Toni’s, the simple preparation highlights how delicious this local crustacean can be, dressed only with olive oil and lemon, crowned with a delicate nest of crispy fried leeks.
Since opening, Nick & Toni’s has always offered house-made pasta. The campanelle — a ruffled, twisted shape — is tossed in a bright sun-dried tomato and basil pesto, topped with a half-round of burrata, finished with microplaned toasted almonds. There’s always a daily local catch — whole local sea bass, this night — stuffed with lemon rings and thyme, roasted until its skin is blistered in that wood-fired oven. It’s dishes like this that encapsulate the simplicity of great summer dining in the Hamptons, all grown up. –Kat Odell
→ Nick & Toni’s (East Hampton) • 136 N Main St • Daily from 530p • Reserve.
THE NINES • FOUND Sponsor
You’re invited: sample sale at Gotham Chelsea
Nine brands to discover at Gotham’s ever-anticipated annual sale.
Eckhaus Latta, concept-driven fashion blending art, design, and everyday wear, starting at $117.50
Collina Strada, whimsical, eco-conscious, and endlessly playful styles, starting at $150
Carne Bollente, Parisian collective turning humor, sexuality, and art into streetwear, starting at $150
DS & Durga, fragrance house crafting immersive worlds through scent and story, starting at $38
Jungles Jungles, Australian-based label fusing counterculture references with modern streetwear, starting at $75
Meals, elevated wardrobe staples designed for comfort, wearability, and ease, starting at $70
Objects Are By x NAS, exclusive streetwear created in collaboration with artist, NAS, starting at $63
Haeckels, natural skincare and more inspired by the English coastline, starting at $13
Derrick Adams, celebrated contemporary artist infusing cultural joy into wearable items, starting at $33
→ RSVP: Gotham Sample Sale (Chelsea) • 146 10th Ave + 19th St • 08/22-08/31.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Airports special: Delta cutting winter flying capacity in NYC • JetBlue doubling down on Florida, adding new routes from JFK • BermudAir coming to LGA, EWR this fall, flying to BDA (Bermuda) • Qatar Air planning first US lounge at new JFK T1, opening next year • Why Virginia’s False Cape is true magic • A wild corner of Ireland, through the eyes of Dylan Thomas.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties Upstate that came to market in the last 30 days.
→ 480 Taghkanic Churchtown Rd (Craryville) • 5BR/3.1BA 3113 SF house • Ask: $2.25M • colonial farmhouse on 40 acres, 10 min to Hudson • Days on market: 8 • Agent: Annabel Taylor, Four Seasons Sotheby’s.
→ 26 Fox Lane (Tivoli) • 4BR/3BA, 2150 SF house • Ask: $2.85M • single floor with tall windows, designed by Jenni Kayne, looking onto 5 pastoral acres • Days on market: 29 • Agent: Raj Kumar, Four Seasons Sotheby’s.
→ 125 Valley View Way (Lake Hill, above) • 3BR/4.2BA, 4688 SF house • Ask: $6.7M • Woodstock estate on 40 acres ‘will leave you questioning all you thought you knew about design’ • Days on market: 3 • Agent: Heidi Stock, Grist Mill.
REAL ESTATE LINKS: In Times Square, The Torch begins its ascent • The Slope on Fifth nears completion in Park Slope • Three towers planned for Greenpoint Landing stage 2.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
Arte dolce
ALEX BASS • founder & CEO • Salon 21
Neighborhood you work in: Soho
Neighborhood you live in: West Village
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
Salon 21 is an appointment-only fine art and interior design studio and we are reopening this September in the new WSA building in FiDi. This summer, I've been spending Fridays out east working on our pop-up exhibition at The Maidstone Hotel called La Dolce Vita and connecting with clients out there. When I'm back in the city, my Fridays usually begin with client appointments in the morning, followed by a rejuvenating Pilates class at WSA with Kayla (see her routine here). The studio’s breathtaking views provide the perfect backdrop, offering a peaceful yet energizing start to the day.
Typical gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, so although I love that "Friday feeling," I typically have to do it all over again on Saturday (usually a bit tired from the previous evening, if we're being honest). But without sounding too cliché, nothing gets me more excited than talking about art to people who are interested and want to listen. That’s truly what gets me out of bed in the morning.
In summer, my friends and I love to unwind with happy hour at Bar Pisellino. It’s the perfect spot to people-watch (or rather, dog-watch), sip on cocktails, and enjoy some snacks. We often end the evening lounging at one of our apartments, laughing about the week’s events, and indulging in a little “grandmacore” fun, playing cards and enjoying each other’s company.
Any restaurant plans?
Emmett's On Grove has an amazing happy hour from 5-630p. We don't gatekeep! My boyfriend and I love to head there on Fridays for the fried olives and chicken parm sliders, and he'll get a martini and I'll get a New York Sour. Then we stroll around the village and see where the night takes us. I always have a list of restaurants and bars I want to try, but to be honest, the classic haunts are the best. Some of our favorites are Pastis, Joseph Leonard, and Revelie. I'm sick of long lines and typically will only go where I can walk in unless we've been smart enough to make a reservation a month before.
How about a little leisure or culture?
My weekends are when I get to actually go see some art (outside of Salon 21). I’m an Apollo Circle member at the Met, so anytime they have a new exhibition opening, I'm the first in line (and very excited for their Man Ray show to open soon). I also live by Film Forum, so it's always fun to pop in there for an old movie.
Any weekend getaways?
I grew up going out to East Hampton where my family lives year-round, and I love being there in the off-season when it’s not super touristy. Sag Harbor and Amagansett are my favorite towns to walk around. I also love a chilly beach stroll. And nothing beats the local farmers’ markets. For art, tour the Pollock-Krasner House and stroll around Long House. My casual go-tos are Goldberg's Bagels, Carissa’s, and Estia’s Little Kitchen. I always hit up Amber Waves farm (where you can also grab breakfast), plus Balsam, Iacono, and Round Swamp. Check out the whole guide at Salon 21's substack.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A limited edition print by Danielle Kosann that we’re exclusively selling at Salon 21 and are almost sold out of.
What product or service do you always recommend?
I always recommend my friend Abby's store Abbode in Nolita. She can custom-embroider almost anything your heart desires. You can never have enough monogrammed waffle pouches!
Where are you donating your money?
I’m a committee chair of the Patron Circle for Free Arts NYC which provides high-quality arts programming for youth in underserved communities, with one-on-one mentorship as a core pillar of its mission. Our committee is planning an event this fall to support the students in the upcoming academic program and raise funds for the organization to continue its amazing work.
CULTURE & LEISURE • 10S NE1
Red Sox v Yankees • Yankee Stadium (Bronx) • Fri @ 705p • sec 115, $374 per ($32 lowest avail)
Lady Gaga • MSG (Midtown South) • Fri @ 8p • sec 107, $1273 per
US Open Session 1 • Louis Armstrong Stadium (Flushing) • Sun @ 11a • sec 5, $421 per
CULTURE & LEISURE LINKS: Waldorf Astoria’s dazzling restoration • Taking a field trip to the roof of the Met before it closes for renovations • Art history majors are getting jobs but which jobs.
BARS • The Nines
Craft beer, Brooklyn
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of the best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundny.com. See also, Craft beer, Manhattan.
Beer Karma (Williamsburg), bottle shop w/ rotating draft selection