I arrived out east earlier this evening. Just finished dinner and am tucked in near the fire with a glass of '07 Zenato Valpolicelli (it's very good and a great deal at Six Corners Wine in Westhampton) while waiting for my wife to get home. I cannot believe how chilly it is out there! But what a perfect fall night. How I am looking forward to a day of apple picking tomorrow before dropping in on the good folks at Townline BBQ for some smoked specialty and a few pints of my favorite beer... Blue Point Toasted Lager. It's safe to say I've settled into autumn completely.

Last night I went to my friend Keanan's party at Tribeca Grand Hotel for the launch of his new book Rebel Rebel: Antistyle. Awesome party, with the most wonderfully eclectic mix of people. Hamish Bowles mingled with Jimmy Webb of Trash and Vaudeville fame, while club kids and posh folk downed Bulldog Gin cocktails. All to a great mix of Punk and New Wave.

My cousin Carl would be proud, as he was big into the Punk scene in the 80s and introduced me to the famed Trash and Vaudeville store on St. Mark's Place. I always say that I was fortunate enough to experience that time as a child through him and my other older relatives...without the unfortunate pictures left behind!

Ah...it's good to be back in the city.

Well, it's official. Summer is over. Technically, it's unofficially over, as summer doesn't end until September 21st on the calendar and I'll be damned if I'm getting jipped out of any remnants of this season!

Every year, I go through the exact same process. Summer arrives and I'm bursting out of my skin with excitement. Then, as Labor Day approaches, I feel a creeping anxiety starting to take over. That eventually gives way to a full blown 5-alarm panic fire and it's not long before I'm nauseous at the thought of all the sunshine and beachgoing ending.

But then, there's that first nip in the air that signals the arrival of autumn and I start to think that this is, hands-down, my favorite season. That is, of course, until Memorial Day comes back around and the process starts all over again. Yes, it's been this way since I was little.

My personal psychological disorders aside, fall in The Hamptons is simply magical. Having grown up on the East End, I have the most wonderful memories of all the pumpkin and apple picking, harvest festivals, Octoberfests, and trick-or-treating on the South and North Forks. Most summer visitors have no clue what an incredible place the East End is "off-season." Give it a shot.

Trust me. You'll be glad you did.

Just saw the trailer for the new Sherlock Holmes movie. Looks awesome! Robert Downey Jr. was actually out East this past weekend. A friend ran into him at this great shop in East Hampton...A Little of What You Fancy. He was picking up some Kiehl's sunscreen. Good move. That sun was strong this weekend!

Drinking rosé at Sunset Beach and fighting my pirate instincts to hijack this anchored offshore vessel and chart a course for...well, actually...nowhere, since there's nowhere I'd rather be. Damn!