MTK Magazine PREMIER ISSUE

M

A

G

A

Z

I

N

MONTAUK’S HOME GIRL: SURF PHENOM

QUINCY DAVIS

PREMIER ISSUE

SUMMER 2014

E

M

A G

A

Z

I

N

E

Publisher / Editor in Chief CECE WOODS

Beauty Editor: TARA OWENS Cocktail Editor KATE ROSANTE Food Editor JEFF SCHWARZ Health & Wellnesss Editor ADAM ROSANTE Market Editor: RANDI PACKARD

Executive Editor LAURA RUBIN Managing Editor PATRICK FALLON Director of Surf Content BRIAN BIELMANN Director of Advertising JUDSON BARDWELL Associate Publishers STEVE WOODS CLAUDIA TAYLOR ROB TAYLOR

Advisory Director Best of the Bohemians Publishing RANDY OLSON Director of PR Best of the Bohemians Publishing BIRUNGI IVES

Cover Photo of Quincy Davis by BRIAN BIELMANN FOR VOLCOM

MTKMAGAZINE.COM twitter:@mtkthemag instagram:@mtkthemag facebook.com/mtkmagazine

email: editorial@mtkmagaziine.com

Published by BEST OF THE BOHEMIANS New Wave Publishing bestofthebohemians.com

Contributors: MATT ALBIANI LINDA ATKINSON ELIEN BECQUE VANESSA BIELER ZAK BUSH IAN COOKE ADAM GUY KIRSTEN JUDSON “JOHNNY K” KINGSTON NANCI LAGARENNE BARRIE LIVINGSTONE HEATHER LILLESTON ALEXIS MILLER GRANT MONAHAN MICHAEL ROVYNAK BEN REED AUDREY RUTH M. ROBINSON TAYLOR GEFFREY YABES Digital Producer: SEAN EKHARDT

Magazine Premier issue

LETTER from the

EDITOR

Welcome to MTK. I first visited Montauk at the age of 5. To the best of my recollection, I ate a hot dog at Duryea’s and walked on the beach. I liked it here. I didn’t want to leave and apparently made that quite clear, as only a 5 year old can. I still feel that way when I have to head west on 27, though I’m somewhat able to better contain myself these days.

Tantrums not withstanding, this special place has a strong draw, and lately that dynamic is bringing more and more people and attention to Montauk. It’s in the midst of change, an evolution. Last fall when I first heard of the plan to start a magazine devoted to the town I was skeptical but optimistic. I didn’t plan on becoming its Executive Editor but when asked to take the role it wasn’t a difficult decision. Montauk has given me some of the finest moments of my life, and by celebrating what makes it unique on these pages I hope to repay that generosity at least in part.

From its inception this has been a passion project. What you’re holding reflects the unstinting contributions of multiple players including writers, subjects, photographers, editors, artists, business owners - and the many of you who were kind enough to make story suggestions and send us in the direction of particularly worthy topics.

Busy people with multiple demands, yet they provided their knowledge, time, attention, patience and talent because of their devotion to this community.

Our intent is that MTK Magazine will continue to become a basis for dialogue, that you will let us know how we can make it better. What do you want to learn more about? What places, people or experiences best represent Montauk? We look forward to hearing from you.

- Laura Rubin, Executive Editor Email: editorial@mtkmagazine.com Instagram: @lauralrubin

LIFESTYLE: M

A

G

A

Z

I

N

SUSTAINABLE LIVING BY THE SEA

E

MONTAUK’S

HOME GIRL: SURF PHENOM

QUINCY DAVIS

PREMIER ISSUE

SUMMER 2014

IN THIS ISSUE MTK Magazine

PORT OF MONTAUK SUMMER STYLE: IMRIE

Artist: Nick Weber

MONTAUK BREWING COMPANY

MUSIC:

THE MONTAUK PROJECT

470 W Lake Dr.

MONTAUK

631.668.6252

Magazine

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE

Premier issue

MTK readers, Montauk has been more than just “home” for me. For my entire life it has given me everything: happiness, a childhood, memories, opportunity, undeniable support and above all its beauty.

This community is one of a kind. The people who live here shape what this town is. The surfers, the fishermen, the small business owners and workers, the tight knit family of people who survive through the cold, quiet winters and of course the people who visit our beautiful town in the lively summer months, they all make up this town to be the perfect “home.”

For the last 4 years, I have been attending college in Florida studying Journalism, which has forced me to leave Montauk during the school year.

In my time away, Montauk was always on my mind. I often found myself boasting with pride when I told people where I was from. I didn’t usually have to explain much about Montauk though because most of the time, people had at least heard of it or had a memory or story to share about it that is significant to them.

From the time I was born to the day I left for college, Montauk was everything I knew. I wanted to get out of Montauk and learn more about the world, but there is something about leaving that gives me a funny feeling in my stomach every time. When I hit the Napeague stretch even it’s to go run errands in the Hamptons, the feeling of heading west bound makes me anxious knowing that the comfortable feeling of being in Montauk is gone.

When you hit the stretch going east bound on the other hand, that uneasy feeling of being away starts to fade, and you notice your foot starting to press harder on the gas pedal as you get closer and closer to town. I think the best feeling though, is the one felt when coming down the hill into town. Driving in while overlooking the Atlantic’s horizon behind the yellow walls of the Oceanside Resort, as you pass the green sign reading Monatuk Point: 6 miles. I feel as though that feeling of joy that hits me right then never ceases to put a smile on my face, knowing I am home, in my element, in the comforting arms of Montauk.

We here at MTK are trying to find a balance between preserving the “Old” Montauk that people know and love, while embracing the inevitable change and the “New” face Montauk is seeing. As you could imagine this can be quite the challenge.

MTK has been a project of many talented people including editors, photographers, journalists, artists and above all the people of Montauk who have given their ideas and contributions to make a magazine worthy of representing our town, and we can’t thank every one enough.

This challenge of finding the balance between “Old” and “New” is an opportunity more than anything though. An opportunity for our community to have a voice. This publication has not only given me one opportunity already, my dream to write for a magazine in and about my hometown and its community, but has given you, us all the opportunity to be heard, businesses and people of Montauk alike.

As managing editor at MTK and above all a product of Montauk, I want to know your concerns and thoughts. If you want to write something let us know! If you have a story idea, let us know! If you have anything that could be of benefit to Montauk, let us know! We want everyone who makes this community a part of their lives to have equal representation.

So call, email, let us know what we can do to make our magazine better and to show our audience what Montauk really has to offer. We want to know the who, what, when, where and whys in Montauk, and we want that information to come from the people who make up what this amazing town is. We look forward to hearing from you all and building the relationship between MTK Magazine and the town of Montauk every single day. Thanks for reading and enjoy.

Pat Fallon Managing Editor and Product of Montauk

Pfallon.com Instagram: @pfchang email: pat@mtkmagazine.com

Magazine Premier issue

A Surfing Family Portrait: By Pat Fallon THE

DAVISES OF MONTAUK

It’s an early summer morning in Montauk around 7 a.m. as I walk up to the Davis household in the hopes of catching up and going for a surf with friend, hometown girl and world-renowned surfer Quincy Davis. Instead, I find nobody home but the family’s 12 year-old Bull Mastiff, Blue. Expecting Quincy, her brother, Tyler, or her mother, Paulette, to be home, I let out a, “Yew! Hello? Anyone home?,” only to be answered by a deep howl from ol’ Blue.

For most families, being up-and-at-em’ at 7 a.m. on a summer morning is unlikely, but for a family like the Davises it just another day in Montauk. With no answer and a little wave in the water, I quickly assume that they are most likely all in one spot: the beach.

If, by some miracle, the whole family is actually in Montauk at the same time or if there is any sign that the waves are good, it is almost guaranteed that the family’s vehicles are side by side on the beach at Atlantic Terrace while the three are out in the water trading off waves. As a child living and breathing Terrace beach days, it was an expected scene to see the Davis vehicles lined along the beach as I walked up through the early morning haze over the sand. They are always the first ones in the water.

If there aren’t waves, day-to-day business busy ensues. Quincy is most likely preparing for her next trip, Tyler is probably on the way to work at his Acai Bar, Happy Bowls, and Paulette is headed to oversee a new project. No matter where around town you may find them, the Davises are often identified as a family with roots deeply intertwined in the heart of Montauk.

Quincy Davis, 19, has become a household name not only here in her hometown, but internationally as a professional surfer and athlete. Her uncanny ability to blend power, style and grace extends into everything she does: her surfing, her fashion collection, her modeling gigs -- and it all started right here in Montauk.

Which is interesting. Montauk, or New York for that matter, isn’t one of those places known for pumping out professional surfers. Sure, it has its share of homegrown surf talent, but to make such a splash onto the pro circuit like Quincy has done at such a young age is an accomplishment that doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Being from Montauk, she represents something unique,” Quincy’s manager, Justine Chiara said. “There aren’t many professional surfers coming from the east coast on the stage that she is on, especially on the girls’ side of the sport. So being from New York just makes her even more intriguing.”

It all started on the beach at Atlantic Terrace where Quincy used to spend day after day in the hot sand next to the boardwalk or in the water surfing 6 sessions a day, only getting out of the water to refuel or eat at the café.

Surf photos shot exclusively for Volcom by Brian Bielmann Lifestyle photos by Matt Albiani

Her natural talent in the water was evident at a young age. She started surfing when she was just seven years old and even then Quincy surfed well and was always yearning to be in or around the ocean. Spending summers down at the beach at Terrace, Quincy often watched mentors surf and found confidence and motivation from supportive community around her. People like her brother, her dad, among other local rippers took her under their collective wing.

“Being from Montauk, you know everyone knows each other and the community is pretty small. I don’t really see many Montauk people while traveling, so to me it’s special. I’m proud to be from Montauk and you know the people that make up the community in Montauk have been really supportive of me in and out of the water, and in and out of town,” Quincy said.

“Everyone has each other’s back, and the Montauk surfing community is really like a family,” Quincy’s mom, Paulette Davis added.

Another Montauk surfing family with whom the Davises are close is the Engstroms. Parents Kathy and Greg, their son Leif and daughters Ariel and Alexis, collectively own the local T-shirt and souvenir shop in town, conveniently located close to the beach. The family would often switch off shifts, walking back and forth from the shop to the beach to surf. It was only natural that the Davises and the Engstroms would create a special bond over the years. .

Leif Engstrom, who went on to have a career in the video and free-surf areas of professional surfing, often helped mentor and train Quincy.

While Ariel and Alexis, who had quite the adolescent surfing careers themselves, were two of Quincy’s best friends and biggest competitors early on. Even Paulette and Kathy often surf together. Not surprisingly, Quincy, Leif and the twins, were some of the most noteworthy young competitive surfers on the east coast. Beyond Quincy and the Engstroms, there have only been a handful of surfers from New York to make a name for themselves in the multi-billion dollar surfing industry. As Quincy grew older, she started to travel and train, bringing that reality closer and closer.

The Davis’ and Engstroms, bought property in Puerto Rico, where the families still spend winters, training for the upcoming contest seasons and film for video sections. From there, Quincy’s surfing career took off.

“We bought a house in Puerto Rico so that we could escape cold winters in Montauk and so that the girls could keep up with surfing. Quincy, Ariel and Lexi would literally stay in the water all day and I think that was so good for her [Quincy] and made her really just love to surf,” Paulette said.

Magazine Premier issue Through the winters in Puerto Rico, the kids were home schooled, with the dream of a surf career being the ultimate goal. Quincy was conscientious about keeping her grades up, even when surfing would sometimes over-shadow responsibilities in the classroom. She finished most of her classes early and graduated from high school on time last June.

For most professional athletes, their big break doesn’t occur until their early 20’s or mid-career into their 30’s. But Quincy’s career began early, when she was a young teen going into high school and winning local and regional competitions. She showed dedication in her decision to stay in Puerto Rico and home-school, forgoing rights of passage like the prom. It was tough for Quincy at times, but her choices ultimately gave her what she has today.

After years of training and competing, Quincy’s invested time in Puerto Rico, began to show in her abilities. She started traveling more, competing in bigger competitions, working with surf coaches. As she matured, gained strength and excelled, her career began to take shape in the form of contest wins and sponsors.

“I am so lucky. My family, my sponsors, and my friends have all supported me so much and allowed me to follow my dreams to travel, compete, and have a career in surfing. Having that support from the people around me, I’m really thankful for that,” Davis said.

With her success came popularity. Quincy has been a sponsored competitor for the better majority of her life. Those early sponsors helped Quincy grow as an athlete and have put her on the map of the surfing industry. Volcom clothing, Oakley sunglasses, Creatures of Leisure surf hardware, and Channel Island surf boards supply her with the equipment and support to excel, helping Quincy attain a level of awareness and acclaim that is rare for one so young in the industry.

Quincy has parlayed her fresh-faced beauty and personal style into other career ventures, as well. Most recently, Volcom recently gave her the opportunity to design her own clothing collection for them.

“It was really cool that they gave me the opportunity and trusted me to make my own clothing line, and the fact that people actually liked it and bought stuff from my line was a really cool feeling,” Davis said about her collection, which she explains represents “when the beach hits the streets.”

With a surfing career comes the territory of small bikinis and photogaphers. With her appealing all-American good looks it comes as no surprise that another aspect of Quincy’s career is modeling for her sponsors and the modeling just further elevates awareness of Quincy as a figure and a diverse professional. Advertisements in surf magazines, retail window displays, or posters on the walls of her fans – all this has lead to an image that the public, both male and female, love to see and recognize.

Now ranked number 33 in the world on the woman’s circuit, the 19 year-old carries herself in a way that is wise beyond her years yet remains grounded, humble. With over 122 thousand Instagram followers, over 185 thousand likes on her Facebook athlete page, her own Volcom clothing line, and a part-time modeling career, Quincy still will blush when someone recognizes her. It’s this demeanor that makes her so loveable, and why she is role model for many.

Magazine Premier issue “When you’re a professional athlete, ‘professional’ is a huge part of it, and Quincy does a great job of managing everything that comes with that, like social media, or how she holds herself in the water and out, she is humble, respectful and people see that,” said Chiara. She continued, “She’s a force and she has a bright career ahead of her.”

Quincy isn’t the only Davis making waves in Montauk and beyond though. Her brother Tyler’s business, Happy Bowls, is a success, as well .

Happy Bowls serves up Acai and Pitaya Bowls, smoothies, fresh squeezed juices, and the occasional homemade treat.

“You know Acai is one of those things that makes you feel good and is good for you, which is why we came up with Happy Bowls, and it’s become a really popular thing around town which is pretty nuts,” said Tyler, “People here don’t even call them Acai bowls anymore, everyone is like ‘You wanna go get a Happy Bowl?’”

Tyler (23) like Quincy, has found success at a young age, but not without a lot of hard work and determination. After finishing up his third year of college at Plymouth State in New Hampshire, he decided to take a trip to Peru to study abroad. While in Peru, Tyler realized that instead of finishing college he wanted to explore new options. While finishing up his winter in Rincon, Puerto Rico, working at local spot Puntas Bakery, Tyler came up with the idea for Happy Bowls and launched it there as a shop-in-shop.

“They were a hit! People loved them,” said Tyler. So, he decided to extend the business to his hometown, and opened a storefront in Montauk, as well.

“For most of us that have grown up here in Montauk, it’s the dream to come back here and be able to make a living and survive. Happy Bowls gave me the opportunity to do that, so for me, to see how much people love it and to be able to spend summers at home, it’s a dream come true for me,” said Tyler.

Today, a year and a half later, Happy Bowls is a go-to spot for healthy breakfast and lunch options in Montauk. On any given day there can be a line out the door with people waiting to customize their favorite bowl or get a refreshing smoothie. Given its tremendous reception Tyler franchised the business and has started to further expand. Now there are four Happy Bowls locations in the US: one in Montauk, one in Wilmington, NC, and two in Puerto Rico, with plans for more locations in the near future.

“I’m so proud of my brother. He really worked hard to make Happy Bowls a reality and to see it be so successful is really cool,” said Quincy, “They are so good, even if he wasn’t my brother I’d be there like everyday,” she chuckled.

The siblings have a strong bond. To Tyler, Quincy is not a world famous pro-surfer but his little sister, his best friend. To Quincy, Tyler is her biggest fan and someone she looks up to. Together they have an unbreakable relationship that is instantly noticeable when seeing them in the same room. It’s almost comical, when asked about the other’s career

for this article they each said the same thing -- A: That they are so proud of each other and B: That both of them are each other’s biggest supporters.

“Tyler is always the first one to call me after a contest and check up on me, or always the first one telling everyone when to watch my heat’s live, said Quincy. “He supports me so much, he is basically my biggest fan,” she said.

And Tyler had something pretty similar to say about Quincy.

“Quincy is always helping me out and I never even ask her to. Whether it be bringing attention to Happy Bowls by posting stuff on social media or bringing her friends in, she is so supportive of my career and before anything she is my little sister and my best friend,” Tyler said.

With two young, career-driven, thriving children, Paulette couldn’t be more proud as a mother. But it may have been Paulette’s own entrepreneurial achievements that paved the way for the kids.

“I have always raised them both to be individuals. I’ve always had my own businesses, so at a young age they realized they wanted to work for themselves,” said Paulette, “and knowing that you have to work the hardest for yourself, and being motivated by knowing you then reap the benefits of being your own boss, we all have worked really hard to get where each of us are today.”

Paulette manages the family owned construction company, Davis Builders Inc, with Quincy and Tyler’s father, Paul, as well as investing in multiple food & beverage businesses. Both parents have made it a point to give their kids the opportunity to follow their dreams.

“I’m so grateful that my parents decided to live in Montauk and that I was born and grew up there,” said Quincy. “I am so thankful that they have been able to give me the opportunity to travel and do what I love,.”

It’s pretty unique that it all started in Montauk. For a family that travels all over the world, it’s evident that their hearts are here in Montauk. No matter where the family goes they all agree that Montauk is home, and that coming back to this little town never gets old.

Looking ahead, the Davis’ have an exciting future before them. Quincy’s goal is to eventually make the woman’s elite World Championship Tour while still managing to maintain her pure enjoyment of surfing. Tyler is entering his second year at Happy Bowls in Montauk and plans to explore new territories for the business while fueling his surf addiction. And Paulette will continue to provide the support and inspiration that nurtures the whole family, the inspiration that leads them to pursue their dreams in far flung locations while always returning to their home right here in Montauk.

Magazine Premier issue From Montauk to Malibu:

CRUSHING

on both COASTS

Quincy Davis and Frankie Harrer.

Two girls + two coasts = one love: SURFING. These two first bonded four years ago while competing on the amateur circuit surfing the NSSA and Surfing America contests. They were also members of the US Surf team The newfound friendship quickly blossomed into bi-coastal besties.

They do what all girls their respective ages (19 and 16) secretly wish they could. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of. Chasing waves with bikinis as their uniform.

Surf legend Raimana Van Bastolaer, sounded the alarm as I was at the Harrer family Malibu home listening in on Frankie’s upcoming interview with former Surfing Magazine icon Sam George for our sister pub, 90265 magazine. A serious swell was on the way. With Quincy in Montauk and Frankie in Malibu, neither one of them wasted any time as they headed straight to the airport with big barrels on their agenda.

Quincy has her hands full with Montauk’s unpredictable but rewarding break and certainly earned her place in a “pecking order” similar to the North Shore. Frankie’s home break is Malibu, a pretty tough line up when you are beating out a bunch of boys for the best waves. But tackling Teahupoo on a tow swell and surfing there in general is something you dont see many girls doing. But then again, Quincy and Frankie aren’t just any girls. The ocean is their office and they helped us gain a unique perspective on paradise.

Our director of Surf Content, a seasoned veteran of photographing these types of swells offered “My first thoughts after seeing the photos of Quincy and Frankie on those bombs was these could be the biggest waves any teenage girl has ever ridden at Teahupoo.”

“I have seen Quincy on the north shore for Volcom and I’ve known Frankie since she was a skinny 12 year old surfing in Indonesia so I know how good they both are. But the way they handled this swell in Tahiti... that’s just a whole new level of guts and performance.”

So when you see them hanging out at Terrace or Zuma, remember, they are not your average girls. They are hardcore surf sensations poised to change the world of Women’s Surfing. #crusingonbothcoasts Follow Quincy: @quincydavis Follow Frankie: @frankieharrer

By Cece S. Woods, publisher MTK Magazine

The port of Montauk has been feeding the world for generations; shipping primary catches like fluke, squid, scup, butterfish, monkfish, and whiting to international destinations daily.

PORTof

MONTAUK

By Elien Blue Becque

photos by Adam Guy

Magazine Premier issue

Charlie Weimar and his son, Charles Edward III, who is eight ( above and left ). Charlie’s father bought the Rianda S, a 1980 55-foot steel stern trawler that was built in Montauk, in the mid eighties. Charlie has been fishing for 16 years. Of a recent trip 40 miles offshore he described being out on the ocean alone, “It was beautiful. It was actually calm, it was calm out and it was just lovely.” Charlie hauls mostly calamari and flounder, between 200,000 and 300,000 lbs of each, a season and works with Tim Alfred, Tommy Veitch, and Nick Joeckel. Says Charlie, “We’re feeding the population; we’re feeding the people here. Fisherman are the biggest environmentalists out there.”

Magazine Premier issue

Magazine Premier issue

Magazine Premier issue

Danny Lennox, a third generation fisherman, has been fishing in Montauk his whole life.

His boat, the 2 Sea Sons, is a 55-foot dragger he owns with his nephew, Wesley Peterson.

What does Lennox like about fishing? “The independence.

And I like the change, different hours, different areas, different weather. But mostly the independence.�

Andrew Shaternik, (far left, following page) and Shaun Jones (opposite page). At 23 Andrew has been fishing for four years and is one of the youngest fisherman in Montauk. In 2013 the gillneter Andrew works on, the Seaquell II, hauled about 1,300 lbs of monkfish a day. Still, for Andrew, fishing beats working in a restaurant, “If I worked in a restaurant I’d be out every night partying like a rockstar and I wouldn’t save any money. Fishing in the summer I wake up every morning around 4 am—I can’t go anywhere at night.”

Magazine Premier issue

Cousins Robert Aaronson (center) and Andrew (left) grew up together hanging around the docks and Salivar’s, which reopened this spring. They’ve been through their share of adventure too, in particular in February of 2012 when Andrew saved the day: in below freezing air temperatures and 35 mph winds, an outrigger on their dragger snapped upright, wrapping a metal chain around the frame of the boat and threatening to destabilize it in 12 foot seas. Andrew flew out of bed and into action, “he just acts, he’s on the roof of the boat in his T shirt and boxers and boots on,” remembers Robert, “and he’s just holding on to it, trying to pull it down, and if he’d held on a second longer that thing would have shot him off, over the side of the boat.” The outrigger free-fell from vertical to horizontal and the bird—a 100 lb weight to stabilize the boat—went back into the water safely, thanks to Andrew.

Magazine Premier issue

MADE IN MONTAUK: W H A L E B O N E

By Pat Fallon Photos by Matt Albiani

C R E A T I V E

“Inspired by the original Montauk culture, and the people who surrounded it, Whalebone Creative is the remnants of what once was. Handmade, hardworking, creative individuals who want to convey that lifestyle through unique products,” said Founder and Owner, Jesse Joeckel in regards to what is: Whalebone Creative.

When sputtering down Tuthill Road either on the way to Montauket for a beer or to the top of the hill to watch the sunset, as you pass the Whalebone Creative boutique, you wonder. You wonder what the stylish little shop is about, what goes on in there? If you decide to walk in, you’ll probably notice the presses on which which Joeckal and his buddies screen print every Whalebone piece by hand. You may see Joeckel stitching patches on hats, answering emails for upcoming orders or designing new pieces for the collection.

Alternatively, you might find a few local fellas hanging in the back drinking Budweisers while reminiscing about the day’s waves, or listening to music inside while vibing out to the sunset beaming through the shop’s big window overlooking Navy Beach. A genuine Montauk brand and space for people to shop in, hang at and enjoy.

Whalebone Creative is a project that started from and stays loyal to its grounded roots while stretching to great heights and new beginnings, kind of running parallel to the changes to our little hamlet on “The End.” It was founded in 2010 by Montauk’s own Jesse Joeckel with a vision of building a surfing, lifestyle clothing brand around the town in which so many of us have grown to love. It’s become known for its trademark clean-and-clever graphics on a range of shirts, hats and jackets for men, women and kids.

“When you mention New York people immediately think of the city... but we (Montauk) have a very unique style, we have a very different lifestyle,” Joeckel continued. “And that lifestyle has shaped me, my family, my friends and who we are, so I really wanted a brand that explained where I am from and what we are all about.”

After graduating from the Art Institute of California - San Diego, Joeckel entered the “real world” during the worst job market since the Great Depression and found himself in San Diego trying to support himself.

“I would drive up to interviews for entry level graphic design jobs, dressed up and nervous. There would be 350 people lined out the door for the interview,” said Joeckel. “So I’d literally laugh turn around and go straight to the beach and just surf.”

Magazine Premier issue After countless job interviews (or better yet, blowing off pointless interviews to surf), he came up with the idea to start a clothing brand back in MTK. The brand gave him an opportunity to come home to Montauk, to make a living where his heart was - a feat that is quite difficult these days. For a while, before Whalebone, he worked for various businesses around town during the summer months, designing and screen-printing shirts, gaining experience in the field of clothing production. In the winter months he would travel to surf in places like Puerto Rico, Bali and Hawaii, meeting with people and locations from which he says he learned a lot.

After finding inspiration amidst his travels and returning home to the special town that he calls home, he decided to combine those experiences and ideas to form a brand around Montauk “with his own spin,” as he suggests. With an abiding respect for the place he came from and new ideas and concepts, Jesse ultimately formed Whalebone Creative.

Whalebone appeals to a lot of people sort of like Montauk does. Locals, visitors, transplants, surfers, skaters, men, women, all kinds of people buy Whalebone, not only for the cool designs and the handmade nature of the product, but because of what it represents. Jesse explained that a lot of people love Montauk and putting the energy that makes the town unique into a brand ended up being what’s driving the company’s popularity.

He’s now getting orders from customers nationwide and being a small company with a big following, Joeckal sometimes finds it hard to keep up by himself. Many of his friends around town often stop by to hang out or lend a hand. The shop has sort of become a hub and the community pitches in to help when things get busy. In return he takes care of them as they take care of him.

“You know I’d rather take a 1,000 bucks that I would spend on a half page ad, and put that money into putting shirts, that a lot of my friends help me print anyway, on my friends’ backs or co-sponsoring events that my friends are hosting or something. Have my friends go to the beach, the bar, events, this and that, wearing Whalebone!” said Joeckel.

And from what Jesse has seen, it has been the best form of attention in which he could invest. Everyone cruises by the store to pick up goods or at least say, “what’s up.” They want to be a part of the Whalebone story.

Tyler Maguire, a member of the “Whalebone crew” of friends and surf team riders, explains how Joeckal really makes it a point that everyone benefit from what he is doing.

“You know, whether we are just having a beer at the shop or Jesse is in a crunch and needs our help, we simply just enjoy being there. Jesse started this brand so he could have the opportunity to make a living in and around Montauk and that’s what Whalebone is all about,” said Maguire. “None of us want to be pencil pushing in the city, so being there and making shirts or just being a part of Whalebone by either showing up at Whalebone events or wearing Whalebone every night to the bar, it represents us being able to live in Montauk and being able to live that dream.”

Now 4 years later, Whalebone is the staple of Montauk style and surf culture. With its growing popularity and support from customers, people often wonder why word of Whalebone hasn’t spread far past the Northeast.

“I wanted to know Whalebone could be successful and sustain itself, and now that it has been four years, I sometimes can’t even keep up with the orders coming in. Now that I know that going forward, we can work on bringing Whalebone to other places other than Montauk and the East Coast, and that’s the future for Whalebone as I see it,” said Joeckel.

For now though, Montauk continues to fuel Whalebone’s fire and will continue to do so this summer, and hopefully many to come. With plans for growth, Whalebone will always focus on keeping the brand immersed in Montauk. The ways in which Whalebone has grown to be a part of the Montauk community over the last four years has shown that Whalebone is no longer a project but here to stay, that has the strength and support to explore new territory. Above all though, in hopes of preserving “Old Montauk” with a fresh, stylish twist that people like, Whalebone Creative will continue to strive for quality products that people love and trust.

Whalebone Creative is located at 65 Tuthill Rd. Instagram: @WhaleboneCreative Whalebonecreative.com

Magazine Premier issue

MONTAUK

BREWING COMPANY

By Nanci E. LaGarenne

Brewing beer is not new. Ancient civilizations were the first brew masters, or mistresses, in the case of the Incas. The Sumarians did it, the Pueblo Indians too. And like the growing (no pun intended) demand to know what we’re eating with ingredients we can pronounce, beer is back, slow brewed from whence it came.

Sometimes we want more than a cold one. We want to know the guy pouring the brew, and ask him what’s in it. We like that our beer has a name and not a label, per se. Anyone can drink a Bud; I want an Arrowhead Irish Red Ale. Or a Hop Blonde. Don’t you? And that is what you will get, and more, when you visit the Montauk Brewing Company. Ritual. Spirit. Sharing.

You have to admire a dream realized. Especially in today’s economy. Starting a business takes gumption and perseverance. It also takes a good working team and in this case, one who sticks close to their roots. Montauk Brewing Company is Vaughan Cutillo, Joe Sullivan, and Eric Moss, best friends and business partners. All three, homegrown on the East End. Cutillo is from Montauk, Sullivan and Moss from East Hampton and Wainscott. All left for college and all returned, to Montauk.

“This was a great place to grow up,” Cutillo says, “the beach, the fresh air, the outdoors. Sure, it is not easy to make a go of it here, but the draw was too much not to come back.” And that is exactly what these three former Montauk lifeguards did.

Magazine

Premier issue

In 2007, Cutillo and Sullivan started home-brewing in Cutillo’s basement. “We read a ton of books (on the subject); we did five batches at a time.”

And then Moss came on board with some home brewing skills. “Eric’s roommate in Colorado taught him how to make beer.” The three had keginator tastings. Not your typical keg party. They were gathering friends to taste their brew and planting the germ of an idea for a business. The dream was taking root. They even started calling themselves the Montauk Brewing Company. They had the beer, now they needed a logo. Enter Charlie Lee, a friend and local artist. They chose a Montauk arrowhead as their symbol. It epitomizes the real Montauk, “unique, never fake, and no two arrowheads are alike,” says Vaughan. He could be talking about the true spirit of Montauk, not arrowheads.

MBC incorporated in 2010 and opened its doors on June 30, 2012, in a red barn-like building across from the movie theatre on South Erie. Away from the increasing crowds, but easy to find. Even off season, mid-Polar Vortex, on weekends. And in season, every day. There is a local artists gallery within and a taproom, a tasteful sensory experience. For eight bucks, you get to sample four brews on tap, six ounce pours, and a souvenir tasting glass is yours as a keepsake. Or you can get a growler for twenty-two dollars. You keep your growler and return anytime for a fill up, for sixteen bucks. During wintry months you’ll want to hunker indoors, or take your growler home, but come the thaw, you can sit outdoors and feel that famous Montauk breeze while you enjoy your beer of choice.

Not sure what to have? Do a tasting and ask the MBC guys, they love to talk about what they brew. Cutillo tells me they just came out with a new stout, called, The Guardsman Stout. “It is an easy-drinking milky stout,” says Cutillo, “that we named in honor of the Montauk Coast Guard. They have been very busy this year.” Cutillo refers to the sea rescues of local commercial fishermen, most with good endings and one, sadly, a tragedy. “Both veterans and current Guardsmen thanked us and said it is good beer. That made us feel good.”

MBC started delivering their brew to restaurants with a keg trailer on the back of a bike. We had “tremendous support from the community,” Cutillo says.

They’ve graduated to 225 rotating accounts all over Long Island, including Montauk establishments The Harvest, West Lake Chowder House, and The Inlet. The delivery bike has been since been shelved along with their nine-to-five jobs. The MBC keeps them busy and on call, but loving it. And who better to enjoy what you do with, than your friends? “Working with my friends has been a great experience. Communication is key.” Three is the magic number for them; they bounce ideas off one another and come to common ground. “We all have a strength, and we trust each other. We all find the work rewarding and that is an awesome feeling. There are no issues, yet.” From the smile in his voice, I don’t sense any on the horizon.

If “each brewery has a story,” as Cutillo says, then Montauk Brewing Company will tell theirs through their love of product and love of Montauk year-round. “We want to be part of the sharing of good beer in the same way people share good whole food. With that you become part of the story, the sharing and the spirit. Small is better, there is more substance.” The off season quiet lends itself to “hibernation time,” Cutillo says. “No one’s on the beach, you can breathe for a moment, reprioritize, take in that cool crisp Montauk air. In Montauk, you are aware of your surroundings. People come here for what we know all year. That calm, the land, the sea, that hearty group of people who work hard and there’s nothing fake about it.”

Will it stay that way? Cutillo has his own take on the changing scene, the popularity of the hamlet and its effect on Montauk. “Hopefully it will stay the way Montauk is and always was, unique. Real and rugged. There is transition in small ways everywhere and some people are just finding out about Montauk. That will subside. And businesses depend on the seasonal trade. Then it goes back to the quiet time, after Columbus Day. It will always go back.”

What is in store for the future of MBC? “We will expand the business, stay open more days year round, and share more beer with more people. We will carry on and stay true to our roots.” I ask Cutillo again what Montauk means to him, though I know he has already told me. “Montauk is the Brewery,” he laughs.

“Seriously, it is all about having good beer with good people.”

62 S. Erie St. Montauk, NY 11954 631.668.8471 Montaukbrewingco.com Follow Montauk Brewing Company Facebook.com/montaukbrewingcompany Instagram: @montaukbrewco Twitter: @montaukbrewco

MONTAUK BREWING CO. GALLERY TASTING ROOM

62 SOUTH ERIE AVENUE MONTAUK, NY (631) 668-8471 - WWW.MONTAUKBREWINGCO.COM

Magazine Premier issue

Behind the Bar:

BEER and a SHOT

By Kate Rosante

There are times in life when the only thing that could improve upon a moment is the addition of a beer. And then there are those times when the only thing that could improve upon the enjoyment of that beer, is to start it off with a shot of whiskey.

There’s something about this particular drinking ritual that keeps bullshit at bay and for that reason, it’s a classic. No fancy glass, no overly complicated technique. Definitely no garnish. If Montauk had an official drink, this could certainly be a contender. Its personality fits the lack of pretense we all take pride in. Also, this is the drink to have after a grueling day of work, when you head to the bar with a friend or two, to lick your wounds. A shot and a beer

is not for the typical post work bar visit as it should be reserved for those days when it’s really been earned.

Whenever I have one of these post-work drinking sessions I feel like there’s this moment of celebration that says, we did it; we survived another day and we’re here to tell the tale. It’s the reason we go to bars in the first place. The community and camaraderie in bars is more important than the actual drinking. Otherwise why would people pay a premium to drink in a bar when you can just grab a bottle and start mixing in the kitchen? I would take an okay drink from a salty bartender any day over a perfect drink served by someone with the personality of a door handle.

Drinking/ Cocktail history is a murky, confusing subject owed much in part to most of it taking place in bars with heavy doses of alcohol. The history of this combo is no exception. It goes by a couple names. Shot and a Beer. One-and-One. Boilermaker. Some folks insist that it’s a Boilermaker only if you drop the shot glass into the beer and chug it all down at once. Please, don’t do this. It’s a sin against both the beer and the whiskey.

In addition to the argument over what to call it there’s also debate over where and when it truly started. It’s safe to guess that people have been drinking these two together since the dawn of distillation. But most historians agree that the tradition officially started in 19th century Pittsburgh steel mills.

Given the horrid conditions of factory life this is no surprise. Under the circumstances, it seems a shot of whiskey before your beer was only fair.

The simplicity and lack of rules around this drink leave it wide open for interpretation. A shot of Pappy Van Winkle Special Reserve and a Dogfish 90 Minute IPA? That’s one way to do it. Old Overholt Rye and a Miller High Life? Even better. You could also go further back into history and have one “Pop In” style. This style dates back to 17th Century England and pairs an unhopped ale with a bitter liqueur such as Cynar, or if you’re feeling a bit more bold, Fernet Branca. Staying local is always a good idea in which case a shot of Rough Rider Bourbon and a pint of Montauk Brewing Arrowhead Irish Red Ale will absolutely hit the spot. When pairing beers and shots it’s not a bad idea to lay off the hops but you could ignore this suggestion and go with the Montauk Brewing OffLand IPA for sure. Your shot is traditionally going to be whiskey but who’s to say you can’t branch out with a tequila and Corona every once in a while?

The main thing with having a shot and a beer is to not take things so seriously. Ensure that you’re in good company and the beer is cold. That’s about it. Unless you’re having more than two in which case the number for a taxi and some aspirin for the morning is in short order.

Bottoms up!

Follow Kate Rosante: Instagram: @_elegantly_wasted

Worth a SHOT These local spots are where you’ll find the best selections for a beer and a shot.

NAVY BEACH

Not too fixed up to get a little wet, Navy Beach’s easy going nautical vibe keeps things low key enough to bring boaters on shore for their favorite beer or cocktail.

16 Navy Road, Montauk 631.688.6868

ZUM SCHNEIDER

What better place to have a beer and a shot than restaurant resembling a Bavarian pool hall ( and the food’s great too ).

4 South Elmwood Ave., Montauk 631. 238. 5963

Chefs Jeff Schwarz (left) and Jeremy Blutstein.

CHEF VS. CHEF Crow’s Nest alum chef Jeff Schwarz interviews his successor Jeremy Blutstein Of all the restaurants in Montauk, perhaps the Crow’s Nest, owned by Sean MacPherson represents Montauk’s changing food scene. Our food editor, Jeff Schwarz, the former chef of the Crow’s Nest, sat down with the current chef, Jeremy Blutstein, to discuss the finer points of the Crow’s Nest, the Hamptons crowd and what it takes to be a chef in Montauk.

Jeff: How was your first year as the chef of the Crow’s Nest?

Jeremy: Controlled insanity. Chaotic and beautiful.

Jeff: What was the best part?

Jeremy: Taking the creativity in my head and getting it out to an enormous audience that appreciated my food. Working with the best possible produce and seafood available.

Jeff: What was the biggest challenge?

Jeremy: Trying to convince my fiance ( now wife ) that planning a wedding and running the Crow’s Nest was a good idea. That was interesting. And just trying to do our thing with the big numbers we were doing. It’s a long hard grind.

Magazine Premier issue

Jeff: Do you have a favorite dish? Something you were proud of?

Jeremy: The halibut with Balsam Farm’s corn and sun gold tomatoes. You can’t beat that. It’s summer on a plate. That said, we were so desperate for corn and tomato season to come but then when it arrives, it’s just three constant weeks of corn and tomatoes. It’s all anybody wants to eat. By the end of it, I’m ready to lose it.

Jeff: What does the Hamptons crowd want now?

Jeremy: They want fresh. They drive by the farms and the ocean and thats where they expect, almost demand, the food to come from. But they also want to get a little dirty. At the end of the day, people are on vacation.

Jeff: What is your favorite food to eat?

Jeremy: I’m a big octopus fan.

Jeff: Really?

Jeremy: Yeah. I like the oceanic saltiness. That char that comes from the grill.

Jeff: What’s your favorite restaurant in Montauk?

Jeremy: The Dock. Hands down. Not even close.

Jeff: Agreed.

Jeremy: What’s your favorite item to cook?

Jeremy: Jeesh! I don’t know man.

Jeff: Yes you do.

Jeremy: Yes I do. I would have to say...the seafood in general.

Jeff: Just say pork. You lovin’ pork.

Jeremy: I do love me some pork. I love pork with seafood. Nothing wrong with chorizo and clams.

Jeff: You got rid of my chorizo and clams!!!

Jeremy: That’s a 15 minute pick-up. I ain’t got time for that.

Jeff: True.

Jeff: What else did you have to change when you came into the kitchen?

Jeremy: I don’t think of it as changing what you did. I think it was just making it more me, in which case, making it less you.

Jeff: Nice. Well said. So you’re a philosopher now too?

Jeremy: Duuuude. (Sean MacPherson imitation*) Jeff: Duuuude. (Sean MacPherson imitation*)

Above; the Dayboat Scallops served at the Crow’s Nest.

Magazine Premier issue Chef Jeremy Blutstein of the Crow’s Nest

Jeff: Harder to be a chef in the Hamptons or NYC? Jeremy: They both have their challenges. In the Hamptons every week is monumental because of the short season. In NYC, the magnifying glass is real. The press and the bloggers come to Montauk to have a good time. In New York, they come for blood.

Jeff: Turnaround time. Do you have a question for me?

Jeremy: What do you miss the most?

Jeff: The action.

Jeremy: You miss the fight?

Jeff: I kinda miss the fight. Of course, I miss the food. But it’s good to be a civilian. To sit back and realize you did it.

Jeremy: One of these days I’ll join you. *Sean MacPherson is known for his often imitated but inimitable use of the word dude.

Mezze Platter

The dining room at the Crow’s Nest

Magazine Premier issue When I left as the chef of the Crows Nest, the powers that be decided to no longer offer my signature dessert. Perhaps, the choice was made out of respect for me but more likely, the decision was made because the damn thing took too long for the kitchen to make.

Either way, I’m happy to share the recipe to all those who have been longing for it.

-Jeff Schwarz

Chef Jeff's Chocolate Bread Pudding 1 large loaf of brioche (should weigh at least 1lb.)Â 2 1/2 cups milk 2 1/2 cups heavy cream 5 eggs 3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 bag ghiradelli chocolate chips 60% or about 12 oz. of chopped semi sweet chocolate (Valrhona, Callebaut, etc) 1 tbsp. butter pinch of salt 1 9x12 casserole dish or 8 large ramekins Preheat oven to 375 degrees 1. Cut crust off of bread and cut loaf into 1 inch cubes 2. Combine milk, cream, eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt into a large bowl. Mix until eggs are incorporated.

3. Combine bread with wet ingredients in the large bowl and let sit for at least 20 minutes.

4. With the butter, grease the casserole or ramekins.

5. When bread pudding is ready, place a layer of breading pudding mix, then chocolate, then bread pudding mix, then cover with chocolate.

6. Bake for about for about 40 minutes if in a casserole and about 20 minutes if in a ramekin. They will puff up like a souffle when ready.

7. Serve with vanilla ice cream

Crowsnestmtk.com Follow Chef Jeff Schwarz: Instagram: @c_h_e_f Follow Chef Jeremy Blutstein: Instagram: @chefblutstein

Magazine Premier issue

LADE BRISA TACOMBI

crispy fish taco

reposado rojo Tacombi welcomes their second season at their Montauk outpost, “La Brisa”. The culinary team headed by Chef Luis Aguilar will continue to take advantage of the fresh, local seafood available in Montauk to offer authentic tacos. New this season is the full service coffee bar and extended hours with a late night cocktail and bites menu. Start your day at La Brisa with a chorizo breakfast taco topped with avocado or a plate of chilaquiles coupled with their own in house brand of coffee or espresso. Fully encompassing the Mexican experience, Tacombi is sourcing their coffee beans from the highlands of Mexico which are freshly roasted in New York. Doors open at 9AM-4AM for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a late night cocktail offering. Featuring Mexico’s favorite cocktails, including the “Paloma” comprised of tequila, fresh grapefruit juice and lime and the “Spiked Sandia” with watermelon agua fresca and tequila.

The bar will also serve frozen margaritas and their specialty frozen piña colada, “The John Wayne” along with ice cold cervezas to round out their drink service.

Lobster taco

La Brisa Montauk 752 Montauk Hwy Montauk, NY 11954 631.668.8338

Ceviche

Labrisamontauk.com Twitter: @tacombi Instagram:labrisamtk

www.HipanemaUSA.com

Magazine Premier issue

NICHOLAS WEBER A R T I S T “Feet” 11X!4 oil on canvas 2011

Magazine Premier issue East End based artist Nicholas Weber‘s paintings are classically figurative through his execution in coloration and rendering the human form, yet his compositions continue to push the boundaries for contemporary painting.

WEBER: “I subject the painting to destructive forces such as sanding and scraping.

Like a memory, what survives is the essential. I attempt to rebuild the image. The past lives in the present. I suppose it’s a way of recording in paint a cycle of creation and destruction.”

A visit to Weber’s studio yields surprises. While galleries prefer that viewers not touch paintings on walls, Weber encourages this in his studio, and this simple act can transform how one experiences his work, especially in these intimate portraits.

Most of his pieces are years in the making, and the layers of paint, sanded, painted, and re-sanded, many times over, are extraordinarily soft. The figures and scenes at one’s fingertips are gorgeous and real, as much as they are shrouded and inaccessible.

Weber graduated from Stanford, where he studied with Nathan Oliveira, in 1993, with a BA in studio art and has shown extensively in New York City and the Hamptons. His paintings have been collected by Richard Prince, Lisa de Kooning, Phillip Aarons, and Glenn Horowitz, among others. He has recently completed portrait commissions for Betsy Johnson and Abercrombie and Fitch. Weber has an upcoming solo show in Montauk this fall at Martine & Juan. nicholasweber.com “Chris” 24X18 oil on canvas 2011

“Portrait” 16x20 oil on canvas 2013

“Standing figure in a large room” 40X30, oil on canvas 2012

SHELTER STORY: SUSTAINABLE MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE

By Nanci E. Lagarene

Magazine Premier issue

MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE #2

Montauk Beach House No. 2 is a reflection of the owner’s lifestyle and keen photographic eye. He is a commercial photographer, filmmaker, surfer, yogi and martial artist. He and the archtiect of this project, Tommy Zung are friends and surfing buddies for a decade.

It was natural that when the owner wanted to remodel he turned to his friend to reimagine the space. The concept was to create a serene modern home where calming minimalism prevails.

Photos by Matt Albiani

Tommy Zung the architect responsible for re-envisioning some of Montauk’s most original (and sustainable) designs, including the The Crow’s Nest Inn, the fully solar “Montauk Beach House No. 1” and the former upside-down “Montauk Beach House No. 2.”

Magazine Premier issue

Wood and light surround you. So in tune with the natural landscape, the barriers between inside and outside blur. A Japanese wood curing technique, Shou Sugi Ban, which formerly used cypress or eucalyptus, but in this case, cedar, creates a smooth black “skin.�

The ebony color of the cedar is striking and unique. The dark finish glistens in the sunlight.

Every precisely cut window provides sweeping views. One tall east- facing window juts out from the house, standing on its own in 3D like a life size box frame. A huge rectangle of glass on the back of the house reflects the upstairs.

Below it, another slightly smaller rectangle window is next to a wooden slated screen wall. A flat stone path interspersed with grass lead up to the front and back of the house. In a nod to Zen rock gardens, one path is made of loose stones. The clean roofline is sleek and angular and pointing to the sky above.

Magazine Premier issue

Inside as in outside, simplicity and balance abound. The living areas are open and loft-like to provide ample flow. The house clearly represents the interests of its owner with its custom photography studio and private yoga deck, which is enclosed in wood and topped with glass. Clean lines, order, light and accessibility are evident throughout the unique design.

Both Montauk Beach Houses No. 1 and 2 are living spaces that express sustainability. Zung utilizes environmentally friendly elements throughout, including recyclable gypsum boards, bamboo flooring, mahogany decking and zinc-free copper – very much in keeping with respect for the local and delicate ecology of Montauk.

Magazine Premier issue

DYNAMIC DUO

M A R T I N E There’s a little boutique tucked away just off Main Street run by a twosome that is very much a reflection of their lives. Martine & Juan offer up unique goods, harder to find brands and items they pick up in their travels. Additionally, they manufacture their own clothing line out of 90% organic Pima Cotton from Peru.

But it is “Secret Sixteen,” the subterranean gallery element of space, that best represents their vision and has brought a new artistic hub to Montauk.

&

By Laura Rubin

J U A N

Martine & Juan’s unique mix.

Tapping their creative friends to fill the walls, Martine says, “The gallery here is really the heart of the store. It’s so wonderful to always have artists hanging around.”

This kind of artistic environment comes naturally to Martine, who grew up in New York and East Hampton, raised by parents in the arts, going on to study photography at FIT and working as a freelance artist. Juan, an avid surfer who hails from Argentina, moved to New York to pursue a career in the arts – painting large scale murals and designing textiles for companies including Volcom and Calvin Klein.

Says Martine of the duo, “Juan and I met three years ago through a mutual friend. I guess I could say it was love at first sight because we were inseparable since the day we met.”

Like so many creatives before them, they started feeling confined by life in the city and were ready to make a year-round move someplace they could “stretch out and create art.” This led them to open their doors in Montauk last summer.

When asked what it is the couple most loves about life on the East End, Martine responds, “The nature, the people, the OCEAN.” Upcoming/current exhibits: Lance De Los Reyes symbols of the sea (through Aug. 1) Group show (Aug. 2-22) Lola Montes Schnabel (Aug. 23-Sept. 23) Nick Weber (Sept. 24- Oct. 23) 805 Main St. Montauk, NY 631.483.5048 martineandjuan.com

The GUILD by artist Lance de Los Reyes 16X20

Magazine Premier issue

Painting by artist Lance De Los Reyes, also known as graffiti artist “Rambo�

Magazine Premier issue

MONTAUK

By Randi Packard

M A R K E T From the city to the sea, summer sets up the mood for a change in style. The best beach looks this season embrace everything from a relaxed classic vibe, to an eclectic pop of color. Here are the top picks for Summer 2014.

SUMMER REFLECTIONS: Oliver Peoples Limited edition “Sir O’Malley Sun” $510 available at the Optical Shop of Aspen, East Hampton 631.329.4318

TRUE BLUE: Chambray shirt (above) Parker Dusseau $145 Parkerdusseau.com

THE BASICS SUMMER SOUL-STICE: WELL TRAVELED:

Vans’ newest version of its Era 59 features a twill upper and floral lining, $55 Vans.com

Hampton Duffel ( below ) Blue Claw Company’s canvas duffel bag.

Also available in red, $145 Zady.com

BONFIRE NIGHTS: Cashmere “Baja Hoodie”, Elder Statesman, $1325 Elder-statesman.com

Magazine

BEACH BREAK SURF’S UP: Hand shaped 9’0” surf board

by Yater Spoon, $1325 Pilgrim Surf + Supply Amagansett 631.267.3598

FLOWER CHILD: Cynthia Rowley Hawaiian Lei t-shirt, $55 Cynthia Rowley 696 Main Street Montauk, NY 11954 631.668.8077

COLOR BLOCK:

The FFS brass chain and vintage vulcanite bracelet from The $120 Theffs.com

Premier issue

Magazine Premier issue

MONTAUK MARKET W A V E S

F O R

D A Y S

SUNSHEER SUPERCHILL Sunscreen by PREVISE CARE, $36. Previsecare.com

SURF BAZAAR Crochet bikini, top $106, bottom, $106. Thesurfbazaar.com BROOKLYN BEACH sea salt hair mist, jojoba oil with a natural floral scent, $20.

Brooklyn-beach.com

ROSEL eco tote, $395.

Roselwear.com BROOKLYN BEACH beach blanket, $290, Brooklyn-beach.com CALAVERA suit for WITHOUT WALLS Top, $54, bottom, $44.

Calaveraswimwear.com

OH YOU KNOW...

The Usual, Montauk’s locally grown publication.

Theusualmontauk.com

GREENLINES Waterman board shorts, $60.

Greenlines.com

Tides Reach ResoRT

fiji

TidesReachResoRT.com

Magazine Premier issue

MONTAUK MARKET E A S T

E N D

S T O R Y

Beach house basics this season begin with a neutral palette and earthy textures.

SAGE ADVICE:

Juniper Ridge’s smudge trio of cedar, sage and mugwort. $12 Shopgeneralstore.com

FORM AND FUNCTION: Trunk vases made of durable American stoneware from $42.

Homenature.com

BASIC INSTINCTS: pocket knife ( above ), $99 Kaufmann Mercantile Kaufmann-mercantile.com

FILL THE AIR: Pure scent packaged in ceramic containers.

From $14 Westelm.com

TIE DYE FOR: Rebecca Atwood pillow, $300 StudiofourNYC.com

LOOMING LARGE: Cream nube throw, $870 Homenature.com

PERFECT VESSEL: Vacuoles unglazed porcelain, by sculptor Maria Moyer, price upon request Mariamoyer.com

[WWW.CURIOUSYELLOWNYC.COM || HAMPTONS TO NYC 631-237-4835]

Magazine Premier issue

IMRIE M O N T A U K Inspired by their nomadic upbringing and calling everywhere from London to Maui home, the Imrie girls, Tamsin, Caitlin and Lola have brought their brand of the beach lifestyle to a collection of epynomous boutiques, IMRIE. With their mother Pippa, a former fashion editor at British Vogue and their fashion photographer father Richard (their brother is also a photographer), they curate the eclectic collections showcased in their four locations, Montauk, West Hampton, Maui and St. Barths.

Currently, the Imrie clan is excited to collaborate with designers such as Acacia, Pompei Beach, James Colarusso and Totem Salvage (to name a few) on exclusive pieces for Imrie.

They are also expanding on their in house brand of organic tees. says Pippa, “With so many of the great lines out there today being mass produced, available all over the internet and primarily made in China, it is really exciting to be able to scale down and offer something really special that you can’t find everywhere, but that still has name brand quality and design.”

Imrie Montauk at SOLE EAST 90 Second House Rd Montauk, NY 631.288.1166 imrieonline.com

Magazine Premier issue

The TRUE ESCAPE: Meditation 101

By Heather Lilleston

Whether you’re a year round resident adjusting to the increasing influx or someone who has tried to escape the intensity of the city only to realize that the rest of your borough had the same idea, summer weekends can provide their own flavor of frustration. The first “truth” one learns when studying Buddhism, is that everything changes. Impermanence was the initial realization that prompted the Buddha to leave his home life in search of the truth. Essentially, looking to “getaway” from the pain of the impermanence of the things of this world – a dynamic to which we can all relate.

Though the quiet fishing town of Montauk is different than what it used to be (impermanence rearing it’s devious head at us again), we’re lucky to be here in this special spot and a little meditation can help us enjoy it more fully, despite its changes. Start building your inner space where there is a sense of quietude inside all of us. Instead of needing the outer circumstances to be of a certain measure, make the place you can take comfort in, inside your own mind.

The way to begin this practice is to try to sit still for 15 minutes. Physically still, while watching the movements of the mind. For those who have been sitting for 15 minutes, it’s now time to practice for 30 minutes. Just as the Buddha did, there will come a moment when we sit down, wherever we are, and look in. It’s where all roads were leading to in the end anyways.

ESCAPE:

Meditation Instructions: 1. Set up a comfortable and supportive seat. Put in earplugs and set a timer.

2. Close your eyes, make any final changes to your chosen seat, start the timer, and commit to sitting physically still for the duration of the meditation practice.

3.Mentally lean into the back of your skull, the back of your mind, and from this place, watch your breath.

4. Rest your attention on the natural movements of the breath as a point from which you can watch the movements of the mind.

5. Do NOT try to stop the mind from thinking, do not try to “getaway” from the mind.

Instead, let the mind think, but you, lean back, and watch. Let it carry on ahead, as you hang back.

6. When your attention wanders, pull it back to the breath and the practice of observation.

7. When the timer goes off, gradually blink your eyes open.

8. Dedicate your efforts to close your practice.

Suggested Reading on Meditation & Topics Above: “The Untethered Soul” by Michael Singer “The Wisdom of No Escape” by Pema Chodron “Tao te Ching” translation by Stephen Mitchell Follow Heather on Instagram @heatherlilleston Photo by Zak Bush

Welcome back to the beach.

Opening May 2nd www.loveyogamontauk.com

Magazine Premier issue

SUMMER FEVER

By Adam Rosante

Summer colds suck. Hard. They drop in like some punk ass in the lineup and wreak havoc on an otherwise amazing time. Good news? You couldn’t possibly be in a better place or time of the year to throw that cold a beating.

As with most things, the best offense is a solid defense. And your defensive line comes in every shade of the rainbow and is growing in a nearby garden. I’m talking fruits and veggies. Seriously. Sidestep the prescribed pills and potions and take care of yourself like a smart, grown ass human being.

Fruits and veggies are packed with the vital nutrients, minerals and vitamins your body needs to keep your immune system firing on all cylinders and that nasty cold at bay. And when eating your weight in produce isn’t an option, there’s always a fresh pressed juice. Drop by Joni’s or Naturally Good and just pick something from the board.

Or, if you’re feeling crafty, fire up the home juicer and give one of these bad boys a shot. Just make sure you’re aware of any food allergies you may have and proceed accordingly.

Top tip: go organic with these ingredients. Does everything you eat have to be organic? Not really. A good rule of thumb is, the thicker the skin, the less important it is for that thing to be organic. Unless, of course, you’re going to eat the skin. In the case of these juices, you will be. So pony up and get the good stuff. Yes, organic is a bit more expensive than traditional produce. But your health is worth a few extra bucks. Think of it this way: you can pay now or you can pay later, at the doctor’s office.

Leftover organic fiber (below) from your fruits and vegetables make great compost.

Prepare juices in advance. They will keep fresh i n your refrigerator for up to three days.

STAY GOLD

1 large bunch kale 1 large bunch chard 1 cucumber 4 stalks celery 6 carrots 2 apples 1 pear ½ lemon (with rind) Small handful fresh parsley ½ piece fresh ginger 1 shot wheatgrass

BEET IT!

1 large bunch kale ½ cucumber 1 apple 3 carrots 1 beet ½ piece fresh ginger 1 large pinch fresh parsley

OOCHIE ORANGE

6 carrots 2 oranges (peeled) 1 lemon (peeled) ½ piece fresh ginger Heavy dash cayenne pepper (added after you’ve poured the juice)

Magazine Premier issue

TAKE A

HIKE

By Adam Rosante

Crack the beers and light the sparklers. It’s July.

If you’re anything like me, you’d just as soon be thrown into solitary confinement than be forced into a gym in the summer months. But that doesn’t mean the beach body you worked so hard to build (or keep swearing you’re going to carve out) has to fall to pieces. It’s time redefine our understanding of “exercise.” The best workout is simply the one you’re going to do. And what better way to enjoy a workout then when it doesn’t feel like one? Your plan: hike your ass off!

One short outdoor hike can power up your cardio, tone your muscles and boost your mood. What’s not to like? You get to go outside and play and tone up. This feeds two birds with one seed (see how I made that work without killing any animals?). You get fresh air, a kind of sneaky workout and possibly a little inspiration along the way.

Want to make this a more intense sweat session? Swap your hiking boots for running kicks and sprint these trails. Jog at an easy pace for 2 minutes then go as fast and hard as you can for 30 seconds. Recover at a jog for 60 seconds. Then repeat this sprint/recover format up to 10 times. Just watch out for uneven surfaces along the way that may twist your ankle and make 100% sure to bring a bottle of water. Like your body, July’s hot. Know what isn’t? Heat stroke. So train smart, have fun and get outdoors.

Amsterdam Beach Preserve Trail Amsterdam Beach Preserve begins conveniently right on Montauk Highway and brings you through a scenic walk to the ocean shore. As you approach the bluffs on the ocean, walking through the wooded trail, there are several points where the brush clears and visions of the ocean appear. This moderate, somewhat hilly trail ends on the shore line and, depending on which way you take, filters you out to a sandy beach or cliffs over-looking the Atlantic. The easily navigated trail provides pristine opportunities to marvel at Montauk’s beautiful beaches and bluffs.

Culloden Point Trail As you follow Flamingo Ave. from town towards the docks, tucked into the residential neighborhood known as Culloden lies a trail also known as Culloden that is a must-see in Montauk. There are a number of ways to access the path, but the main entrance is found on the left side of the road as you head North on Flamingo. It’s next to a small plaque commemorating the sinking of the HMS Culloden, which ran aground during January of 1781 (and was discovered in the 1970’s, serving today as the only underwater park on Long Island). The often hiked and easily navigated marked trail leads you through a varying terrain of wooded areas and hilly sand dunes. It is approximately a mile long, hugging a number of ponds and creeks until it leads you to a beautiful bluff over looking the Long Island Sound at the famous Culloden Point. At the point there is a parking lot and a platform with stairs that allow you to access the beach known as “The End of the World.”

Hither Hills State Park, Hither Woods Preserve, and Lee Koppelman Nature Preserve With over 3000 acres with 18 different trails and just over 40 miles of terrain, this preserve is the one with options. Hither Woods West has plenty of opportunity to explore the sandy beaches and woods of western Montauk. You can bike, hike, run to Fresh Pond, or stroll the coastal walk known as Rocky Point. One of the most diverse and breathtaking parks in town, the trails, roads, and spots within the preserve are well maintained. Although, like most trails in Montauk, the trails are marked by color, it is suggested newcomers or those unfamiliar with the large area should take a map that can be obtained from a number of local businesses or the chamber of commerce office. Either utilizing the trail as one of the more advanced mountain biking trails or just taking a stroll on the beach, one can access the park in many different ways depending on their goal for the day. Parking is available at the overlook at Hither Woods, the parking lot at the dump or at the Navy Beach parking lot by the pier (better known as “the dog park”-- a great place to walk your canine friends).

Montauk Point State Park, the Sanctuary, and Camp Hero State Park Camp Hero at Montauk Point is rife with opportunities for people to explore, exercise or even learn a little Montauk history as it connects three historical parks into one. Camp Hero is one of the largest and oldest state parks on Long Island. With multiple entrance points it can be confusing for those not familiar with the area. For hiking trails north of 27, park on Camp Hero Rd., not to be confused with the entrance to Camp Hero Park. This is the parking area for what is called Seal Haul Out Trail. During the spring and winter months, seals call this area home and can often be seen on the rocks and shoreline of the Long Island Sound at this location. Trails lead easterly towards the lighthouse on Money Pond Trail and westerly towards Oyster Pond, as well. Alternatively, park on Camp Hero Road and head south towards the Point Woods Trail to the ocean, with trails lining the enormous bluffs and cliffs so famously characteristic of Montauk. To get a more historical experience, park just west of the renowned Lighthouse and explore the trails and roads through Camp Hero, a decommissioned military base converted to a state park in 2002 known as a National Historic Site. Maps of the park are available at each trail entrance and the visitor center by the Lighthouse.

Ditch Plains

Photo by Matt Albiani Shadmoor State Park Shadmoor State Park just east of Montauk Village offers visitors the opportunity to weave through the shadbush shrubs and wooded areas after which the park is named. One element that makes Shadmoor unique is its accessibility to Montauk village, just a quart mile from the center of town. With 99 acres of land and close to 2500 feet of Montauk’s famous beaches, Shadmoor is one of the most popular outdoor attractions in Montauk including freshwater wetlands, diverse ecosystems and abandoned bunkers from World War II to explore.

Montauk County Park On East Lake Drive near Big and Little Reed Pond, Montauk County Park is one of the most breath-taking trails in Montauk. The three-loop trail is sectioned off and marked by color for easy navigating an exploration. The blue, green, and brown marked trails make up a loop around Big Reed Pond and brings you through the fresh water brooks and wooded areas along the Long Island Sound on the south eastern area of Montauk. There are trail signs throughout the path to help lead the way, and once you see the view from the observation deck’s view of Big Reed Pond, you’ll quickly realize why the pond is a registered National Natural Landmark.

Walking Dunes The Walking Dunes is a self-guided nature trail about 5 miles due west of town, at the end of Napeaugue Harbor Road by the Art Barge. The Walking Dunes got their name, not from people walking on and around them, but because every winter the strong south winds of Montauk cause the dunes to erode and move close to three and a half feet to the southeast every year. The mile long trail loops around the dunes and you can follow the trail markers to find your way. The trail provides an easy walk through the dunes and brings you through a hike in and around the 3 moving parabolic dunes. The most noticeable, North Dune, stands close to 80 feet tall and gives hikers a great view of Napeague Harbor.

Remember though before you take the walk, this area of Montauk is very fragile and erosion is a big problem, so follow the trails and please not to harm this natural phenomenon.

If you’d prefer to a guided hikes rather than exploring on your own, the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society conducts guided hikes year round of Montauk’s trails. Visit their site: www.ehtps.org, for schedules. The Concerned Citizens of Montauk offer free hikes guided by naturalists and other outdoor activities throughout the year, as well. Visit their office at 6 South Elmwood Avenue in the Village for advice on trails or helpful maps through the trails above. Stop by the office or visit: ccom-montauk.org.

Note: Ticks are an unfortunate reality in this area, but precautions can be taken so that hikers can enjoy walks through our beautiful woodlands, national parks and trails. Experts recommend that you stay on the trails, wear light colors, make sure you are well covered, and use an insect repellent before setting off, as well as taking one with you. Ticks tend to congregate on tall grasses, so avoid walking through these areas, in particular. And after your walk or bike, ALWAYS do a careful check.

Magazine Premier issue

MONTAUK

By Johnny-K

T H E N I’ve been asked to reminisce on the Montauk of yore by the Montauk Mag people. Basically, they need a token older fella.

I came to Montauk in the mid-eighties because I was a commercial fisherman and Montauk was the big league of the industry. I immediately fell in love with the town and its beauty. What I really loved about it was its rough-around-the-edges vibe. The people had a toughness about them. The town was not for wimps. Winters were brutal but wonderful. It was like any hardscrabble fishing community dotting the east coast, minus all that pesky inbreeding.

Particularly in the fishing community, eccentricity was not only welcome but embraced. You had to be a little off to willingly spend ten or fifteen days offshore in the middle of the winter. After you were finally accepted by the fishing community you could kiss your given name good-bye. Like being inducted into a twisted Knights of the Roundtable, you were given a name. Characters like Bobo, Big-Mikey, Roach, Johnny-Angel, Ghost, Pot-Roast and of course the strapping Adonis known as Johnny-K. Bobo was and is the chief nut job among the crazies. Back in the day of the Baby on Board window sticker, Bobo strapped a doll to his bumper and titled the masterpiece Dead Baby on Board. When coming in from fishing, Bobo, who has long blonde hair, would take his pony-tail out, comb it to a luxurious sheen, throw on a long flowing dress and stand on the bow as the boat came through the jetties. He also had the misfortune of having numerous fingers lopped off by a long-line cable. When told by the doctor that they were unable to re-attach all his digits, Bobo insisted that he be back given those fingers since they belonged to him. To this day they can found on his mantle at home in a jar of formaldehyde. That, my friends, is priceless.

After tough winters of fishing, everyone looked forward to the nice summer weather. Tourism back then was nothing like it is today. The crowds, though still big, were of a different ilk. It was mostly fishermen out for a weekend charter or families on a week’s vacation. The dock area was an oasis. All the bars were unchanged from the sixties. Coming in from ten days offshore, it was a pre-requisite that after packing out the boat, it was time to remind your liver that it had to earn its keep. First stop would be The Dock Restaurant for lunch. There, you would get your daily dose of abuse from the venerable owner, George Watson. George was not man enough to be a commercial fisherman, so he set up his bar in the center of the dock area where he could at least be among the men. George to his immense credit, is one of the few vestiges left of the glory days of Montauk. He still unmercifully abuses his local clientele. It’s a shame that he has reached that age where at any time, he could do a face plant into his morning oatmeal and that will be that. R.I.P. Georgey.

After The Dock, and assuming you avoided food poisoning, it was off to Salivar’s. Now gutted and rebuilt, Salivar’s was, how do I put this, a dump and that is what made it so wonderful. One half of the place was a diner and the other half a bar. It was the best of both worlds. The bar was lined with charter-boat captains and crew and commercial guys in from trips. It was here, in the early afternoon, where you would get your drink on while the wonderful aroma of sun baked fish wafted through the bar. By this time, the women lucky enough to call the collection of misfits at the bar their men would join in the festivities. If you think the men were tough, you should see our women. After numerous hours at Salivar’s, it was decision-making time.

Stop for dinner or go straight to the most down and dirty fishing bar known to man.

Liar’s Saloon: home of bar-brawls, buck-dice and debauchery. In the winter, you could count the patrons and their teeth on one hand. Buck-dice would be played till the sun came up. In the summer, the place was packed with fishermen of every kind including the bottom of the food chain, Sporty Boat girls. Oh sorry, that should read Sporty Boat men. Wannabes, as we called them, the Sporty Boat people were easy to pick out. Wearing pretty little white boots or topsiders, a brightly colored Guy Harvey shirt with some big mean fish on the back of it, and of course, a pair of Ray-Bans perched perfectly on their heads or hanging around the neck. They would mesmerize with tales of their day out at sea, how the scorching sun caused their beers to get to warm and the rough half-foot seas caused them so much discomfort. Poor little things. Perhaps with extensive therapy, they can work out their issues.

That’s a little walk down memory lane. Next time I’ll take an in depth look at how a once great town where men were men and sheep were scared, has, in a terrifying short time, degenerated into a place where alleged men, known as hipsters, walk around in Capri’s and “those” hats. I may digressing here, but I had a conversation once with a popular flamboyant figure from Montauk. I’ll call him Paul Page because that’s his name. He said that this “hipster” look, minus the fedora of course, was big with his tribe in the nineties. They had to drop it though because it was even a little much for them.

Montauk...then.

Michael Rovynak

Atlantic Beach Realty Group, 710 Montauk Highyway, Montauk NY 11954 |Phone:631-668-0400 | Fax:631-668-0450

Magazine Premier issue

LOCAL LIT: POET SURFER J O H N

By Ian Cooke

A N G I U L O

On a typical morning at Ditch Plains beach in Montauk, it’s safe to expect to cross paths with 26 year old writer, poet and surfer John Angiulo. Mr. Angiulo has been coming to Montauk and spending summers out here with his family his whole life. Now, as a grown man, he has the freedom to spend time here throughout the year as he chooses.

I sat down to talk with Mr. Angiulo at his family’s home in Ditch Plains, directly across the street from the ocean. There in his living room, he told me that a large portion of his life has been based around Montauk and surfing.

Angiulo studied writing at Stony Brook University for a few years. He knew that he ultimately did not want to be an English teacher, but simply: a writer. While at Stony Brook, at the advice of a professor, he decided it would be in his best interest to master the art of self publishing and design, and he eventually went on to publish two books.

His two books represent his passion for the ocean, among other aspects of life, and include some of his poems, short stories, photographs and other related artworks.

Angiulo’s first book is entitled Soul Sanctuary, which he quickly flipped through for me as we spoke. His second, Meeting a Dream, is a “children’s book for adults,” as he likes to call it, written in rhyming prose with illustrations to go along.

When asked if his works are about surfing, Mr. Angiulo told me that it’s not so much that they are about surfing directly, but more so about how surfing influences his entire perspective on the world, and it is from that perspective that he acquires his creative drive.

Angiulo also mentioned that it’s been with the help of Montauk’s “very supportive community” that he has been able to profit off of his work. An example of that local support being Perry Haberman, owner of our Montauk bookshop, who buys and sells Angiulo’’s work. Other places where Angiulo’s work can be found are on the amazon.com online bookstore, as well as through John’s own publishing company, Active Imagination Publishing (activeimaginationpub. com).

Aside from writing, John spends his summers teaching surf lessons in Montauk with Corey Senese of Corey’s Wave, while in the winter he works at a family friend’s restaurant. As for current projects, Mr. Angiulo has a story book in the works that is being illustrated by his girlfriend Erin Boyle, who has her own company called WithIn, which produces artwork in the form of surfboard bags, jewelry and surf apparel. John hopes to have the new book finished by mid-summer.

Magazine Premier issue

(I) I watched you wipe Your blood stained hands On the curtains made of silk Curtains and blood Made and spilled By you and your ilk

A Sparkling Eye dances to the song Of a good hearted Pile of Bones With the Dirt and Weeds staring along The warbling vision of his mellow tones

I saw you when You were a flower Staring bright and fresh I spied you When you first Donned a suit of flesh

A lie brings them all together But together they bloom a bit of blue Fire on the ground and star lit rain make the weather That holds them in the hollow hiding place like glue

I focused on you As a creature Which eyes couldn’t see I laughed with delight As you up and sprung Sprout to a tree

A Wandering Abstraction records all it can see While a Leaf in the fall laughs and plays with the Child

I remember when You were a door That hadn’t found its key For I was the ceiling Walls and floor Beneath the feet of thee

And now the Critic and the Optimist finally agree That perhaps the neutered dogs and cats were better off in the wild

Once you were a bird A high flying bird That couldn’t help but sing How all of you Was quite special Thought you may seem a silly thing

A feast owns the day, mocking Death and Resurrection With a veiled tale who apparition has grown thinner and stale Yet, the seeds that snooze, dream of a willful correction That makes the ancient drama kings grow weary and pale

And then you were a stump Cursed and burned Swearing you were alone Chopped cut and worn You grumbled anger In a bitter tone

All this in one place, in one stay, in one lost and found day And so much more do the attic and basement have to say But Magic and Truth will come together to make honesty from pray So that all the Wizards and Witches, Goblins and Gargoyles will finally find their way To a distant star Where we could watch The others walk their strand From both near and afar

Photo by Ian Cooke

And then there you were Eyes wide Staring straight up Without any fear A certain faith That would always fill your cup And it was then That you Finally knew That I am In everything And that I was you Then we walked Hand in hand

Magazine Premier issue

The House That

KESS Built

Words and images by Grant Monahan

Remembering Andy Kessler As human beings we instinctively seek to collect. We strive to have as many different variations of the things that we truly love. It’s why we travel, why we enjoy meeting new people, try out new experiences, and why I still go out of my way to talk to girls even though I have been denied so many times. We all love that feeling of the new, the uncertain. We all love to collect.

Memories pile up and start to blend together. We start to lose details, confuse names and times, until we grasp that special one, the one you will never forget. Every one of us can go deep into our minds and recall, in exacting detail, something we truly love.

They stand out because they are imperfect and unique. They were so different from the norm that you fell in love.

Nothing embodies this spirit for me more than being obsessed with a four-wheeled wooden toy; I am talking about skateboarding. Skaters will go so far out of their way to find the unique, the different, that thing others didn’t think was skateable. Who else will drive numerous hours, sleep in their car with four other friends, wake up, hop a fence into some foreclosed home, and spend hours in dirty scum water emptying a pool one bucket at a time? This rare breed of person consistently risks trespassing tickets just for the thrill of “seek and destroy.” Have you ever seen someone dig their trucks into pool coping and make it bark? Have you experienced it in a back yard that you broke into, where the cheers of celebration are mere muffled whispers? I have, and it was the experience I will never forget. It was pure punk.

Zach Cusano studied botany at Hangar University; here he is tending to his Andrecht Plant.

I would have never discovered my love for skateboarding if it wasn’t for the late Andy Kessler. Andy is a New York City skateboarding legend, who in his later life fell in love with Montauk the same way we all have. Andy was born in Greece, but was raised on West 71st Street. There, in the early 1970’s, he found his first skateboard in the basement of his family’s apartment building. It was literally all down hill from there.

Andy and his Soul Artists of Zoo York crew were the driving force behind New York and East Coast skateboarding. They mail ordered skateboards from California’s fun-in-the-sun skate scene, and used them in the grit and grime of the New York City streets. When they couldn’t afford to buy, they stole skateboards from other crews and split up the parts. Andy lived and breathed skateboarding; it was his artistic expression through the good times and the bad. He pushed through city streets, bombed central park hills, and carved the pools of Riverdale.

Zach Dayton never missed a Pool Party Wednesday, and always dressed appropriately.

Lien tail in his party shirt.

In 1995, Andy helped persuade the New York City Parks Department to build Riverside Skatepark at 108th Street, the first skate park in Manhattan. Andy went on to build skate parks in all five boroughs of New York City. His vision was not just to create a safe haven and a meeting place for skaters. He also helped change society’s perception, to see skateboarding not as a nuisance but something to respect.

In the late 1990s Andy discovered Montauk, and fell in love with its thriving surf community and numerous characters. Come 2000, Andy made a pivotal move that changed many of my local generation’s lives when he approached The Town of East Hampton about building the first concrete skate park on the East End. One year later we had a concrete paradise.

I remember going to town hall as a naïve eleven year old and getting my blue skate park card, skinning my forehead raw trying to go down the banks for the first time, chugging gallons of “green box” just because I could, and watching Crazy Leg Greg fly around the park on his bike. I remember playing skate tag, watching Lenny manual around the entire park twice, running my parents Herb’s bill through the roof, and the first time I skated the pool. I remember Pool Party Wednesdays, watching my friends make pool coping bark, and skating until we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces. I remember that time we got 200 dollars worth of free beer, threw a massive “skarty,” and got kicked out by the cops. These memories run infinite.

Magazine Premier issue

Tyler Maguire is a stand up guy; Make sense with this front side stand up grind, deep end to shallow.

The Montauk Skatepark is exceptional in its flaws. It is so imperfect it is perfect. The concrete is lumpy, the coping sticks out too far in some places, and not enough in others. The salt air has weathered the surface to a sand paper-like texture. There are dead ends, God-awful graffiti, variable transitions, and horrible kinks. Everyone who has ever skated there has complained about the random defects at some point. The elements that make it flawed also make it special. It is UNIQUE, and you will never find another skate park like Montauk’s. The parks’ focal point is a ten-foot deep right-handed kidney pool. This was Andy’s baby, his sanctuary. It may be one of the worst skate park pools you will ever find, but also one of the best backyard pools you will ever drain. Pool skating legend Tony Farmer once told me, “Skating fucked up shit is the best part. I love that shitty pool because…it’s fucked!” I love that shitty pool, too, because it is unique and it is ours.

Andy loved Montauk. From the day he discovered it, he strived to make it better for skaters just like he had done all over New York City. In 2009 Andy tragically passed away from an allergic reaction to a wasp sting at the age of 48. Andy chose Montauk as his place to settle down, surf, and skate the one-of-a-kind pool he built for us. Now looking back, this really is the House that Kess Built, for all of us, the house he built for Montauk. Next time you roll down Essex Street, turn into the parking lot and push your skateboard towards the entrance of the park, be thankful for the one-of-a-kind concrete paradise Andy graced us with. Go skate the pool, grind the deep end and make him proud.

Quinn Knight bringing his southern fried Front Rock style north of the Mason Dixon Line.

It’s all about placement, Zach Cusano, Body Jar on the hip.

Magazine Premier issue

THE

MONTAUK

By Ian Cooke

P R O J E C T

It’s a Saturday night in July and you’re walking back to your car parked on

main street in Montauk. It’s just about 10pm and you’re lost in your own thoughts, when suddenly you become distracted by loud sounds echoing up the street: the powerful kick of a bass drum followed by a few heavy guitar chords, the sounds of a rowdy group of young people hooting and whistling as they begin to get excited about something.

You wander in the direction of the sounds to find out that they’re coming from 668 The Gigshack, and that it’s the East End’s very own The Montauk Project doing a quick soundcheck before starting their set with “Good As Gold”, the first track off of their new full-length album Belly of the Beast. Within seconds, those sounds you first heard have developed into a deep groove of hard-hitting riffs and screaming guitar solos. It’s a packed house and the crowd of young locals has begun to sway to the music of the longhaired, classic-vans-wearing “beach grunge” rockers that they know and love.

“Lets start by saying that, in one word, The Montauk Project is Big. This is a

band that makes big music and a band that deserves classification with some of the biggest bands in hard rock history. Take your black, blue, purple styles filtered through 90’s alt and Seattle sounds, then take it forward a couple decades and you have the badass sound of The Montauk Project” -RUST Magazine. The Montauk Project consists of Mark Schiavoni (vocals, guitar), Jasper Conroy (drums), Jack Marshall (lead guitar), and Chris Wood (bass). Forming in 2011 after founding members/childhood friends Jasper and Mark returned home from college and travels, the group was rounded out in 2012

by Chris on bass and eventually Jack on lead guitar in 2013. With influences such as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Black Sabbath, The Montauk Project delivers powerful, grungy, psychedelic rock n’ roll and are currently proving themselves to be one of the best upcoming bands in the genre with their high-energy live performances. In just this past year, the band put out its first full-length album with a sold-out release party at Pianos in New York City, picked up a sponsorship with Jagermeister, toured to Austin, TX to perform at South by Southwest Music Festival, received several great reviews in publications such as The Deli Magazine and Eastern Surf Magazine, and got themselves into this summer’s Great South Bay Music Festival. The Montauk Project’s latest release Belly of the Beast was recorded in their home studio with the help of friend/audio engineer Matt King, and has received nothing but positive feedback. As Eastern Surf Magazine put it, “The Montauk Project is far tighter than every other surf inspired East Coast rock band to come before it…Belly of the Beast packs more muscle than anything ESM has heard in recent years.” You can catch The Montauk Project performing all over the East End this summer, as well as in New York City. Visit their website at www.themontaukprojectmusic.com for a complete schedule of upcoming summer shows, or follow the band on instagram: @ themontaukproject.

® NEW YORK•BRIDGEHAMPTON•MONTAUK

Magazine Premier issue

SOLITUDE:

SURFING IN THE OFF SEASON

Words and Photos by Zak Bush

New York transplant Zak Bush takes us along for a mid-February swell in Montauk. Here, he proves getting away requires neither warm weather nor sunshine.

Arrival. Showing up at an empty line-up is not a luxury many experience while summering in the Hamptons. Mikey Detemple bottom turning.

Magazine Premier issue

Staples of the surfing in the North East: Wetsuits drying over a sweltering heat vent before worn to paddle into 38-degree waters.

Magazine Premier issue

Magazine Premier issue

A large Nor’easter provides enough swell that rarely-surfed waves in nooks and crannies can break.

Magazine Premier issue

Wishing there was someone to share a wave with in February.

Magazine Premier issue

Rob Kulisek following directions from a different era to an empty peak.

Magazine Premier issue

Magazine Premier issue

Storm debris and seaweed replace hundreds of multi-colored umbrellas and beach blankets. Quivers hang out in truck beds ready for action.

Magazine Premier issue

Departure. Deciding whether to paddle back out for one more wave or return home to a hot shower is never an easy choice.

Magazine Premier issue

LIQUID LINES

By Nick Lynn