Back to high summer in New York City

In all my many visits to New York, I have pretty much covered every month and every season and can honestly say that as much as I love the summer, the heat and humidity in this city can be quite brutal and best avoided if possible. Hence native New Yorkers leaving in their droves for the country and the beach during the hottest months of July/August.

Shopping in Soho

My primary reason for going at this time this year was to go with my friends to their beach house in East Hampton for a long weekend and subsequently spend time in the city as well, living as they do.

There's always tons to do in New York. There are of course the sites - many of which I have done before - and countless galleries, museums, theatre on and off Broadway and activities going on all the time. You will never be bored there. The summer heat is draining so it's a good idea to plan your days with that in mind. Like most other major cities, there are also the shopping areas - my favourites are Soho, The Village and the Meat Packing district.

I usually stay uptown with friends and the nearest subway station used to be a few blocks away. There is now a brand new line called the Q which serves the east side from 96th Street to the west and south all the way to Coney Island - so much more convenient than before. I was in the city for a week, so I bought a weekly metro pass for $32 + $1 for the card, for unlimited travel on the subway and buses. This card is valid for a year and can be topped up to suit. If you prefer to travel by yellow cab, there is now an app called Curb so you can easily request and pay for cabs without the need for cash or credit cards. So quick and simple.



Self Portrait in
stained glass micro mosaic

One thing I loved about the new subway line was the sizeable works of art on display in the stations. One of the four artists was Chuck Close, a photorealist artist, painter and photographer. He was commissioned by the Arts for Transit and Urban Design to provide 12 large scale portraits for the 86th Street subway. The works are phenomenal and well worth seeing.

I do like an exhibition and went along to the Met or the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination"

“Heavenly Bodies” is the largest exhibition ever offered by the Met’s Costume Institute and was organized by its curator, Andrew Bolton. It runs from its dedicated downstairs hall to the Byzantine and medieval galleries and into the Lehman Wing; it then continues at the Cloisters, the museum’s serene home for religious art in Upper Manhattan. Most of the designers here were or are Catholics, including historical figures like Elsa Schiaparelli, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent, and active designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Credit New York Times

I loved what I managed to see but unfortunately didn't get to the other locations to see the rest of it. It finishes on October 8th so if you love fashion I'd recommend you go.

Another day I hopped on a bus and went across town to the New York Historical Society on Central Park West and 77th Street. I went specifically to see "Walk This Way: Footwear from the Stuart Weitzman Collection of Historic Shoes" which was very interesting. There is a wealth of history on show here and well worth putting aside some time if you are interested in American history. There is also a stunning collection of Tiffany lamps on display.

It was a beautiful day so I decided to walk home through Central Park, watching people cycling, rowing on the boating lake and walking their dogs. I walked right up by the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir which stretches 10 blocks from 86th to 96th Street. I came out of the park just north of the iconic Guggenheim museum.

I opted not to join the seemingly mile-long queue in that heat and headed home for an ice cold drink.


I ate at a number of great restaurants - a new one on the West Side I liked was Ousia described as Greek focused Mediterranean cuisine.

I had to try a grilled watermelon salad from the set menu to start which sounds a bit weird but was absolutely delicious and refreshing despite being a warm dish. My cocktail was called Far West Side, a mix of Vodka, Mastiha, Lemon, Cucumber and Mint.  I'd like to try and make it myself!

One evening was spent with friends in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's a vibrant, trendy neighbourhood with loads of street art, shops and restaurants. We had a fabulous view of Manhattan from the roof terrace of my friend's apartment. How lucky is she to have a view like this!


Equally how lucky was I to see an amazing sunset like this from where I was staying. Who doesn't love a sunset - they are always beautiful, always different.

Other things I did ..  went to the movies one afternoon at Lowes AMC Movie Theater at 84th street. It was a hideously hot, humid day so the only thing to do was grab an iced coffee and sit in the uber comfy recliner chairs in the air conditioning and relax and enjoy the movie. I went to a matinee off Broadway to see Wicked, and on my last day enjoyed a manicure, pedicure with back massage at Nirvana Nails. The perfect precursor to a long flight home.

Another amazing holiday under my belt, I flew home safely on the Lady Stardust, Virgin Atlantic.


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Recommended restaurants ..

Extra Fancy  302 Metropolitan Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11211 - American

Luna Rossa  347 E 85th St. NY 10028 - Italian

Ouisa 629 W 57th St. NY 10019 - Greek/Mediterranean

Maz Mezcal 316 E86th St. NY 10028 - Mexican

5 Napkin Burger 2315 Broadway, NY 10024 (and other locations) - American

Burger and Barrel 25 W Houston, Soho NY - American

The Hamptons .. getting away from the heat of New York city

There is a lot of history surrounding The Hamptons, too much to go into here but interesting nonetheless.

The original inhabitants were Native American tribes hence some of the unusual village and hamlet names. It's an area for fishing and farming and an art community established over the last century. 

Artist Jackson Pollock moved to East Hampton in 1945 with his wife and converted an old barn into a studio where he developed his famous 'drip' technique. His house and studio is now a museum known as the Pollock-Krasner House. You can visit from May through October and reservations are required.

I have wanted to go to The Hamptons for ages after seeing it featured in many movies and television series. There's something about the light, the New England style houses and obviously the beach which really appeals to me. The furthest east I had been from New York City before was to Fire Island which is about half way along Long Island and accessed by ferry.

Of course it's become a major summer retreat for New Yorkers to get out of the stifling heat of the city. In just a couple of hours you can be at the beach whether you drive, go by train or coach. It's also a haven for the rich and famous, pushing property prices to an all time high.

For the last couple of years I've been invited by my wonderful New York friends to their summer rental in East Hampton and this year I was able to take them up on their offer. I was beyond excited and they picked me up from JFK and we headed east, arriving in the village around 9pm - ready for pizza and a glass of wine at Sam's. There was a full moon that night so after dinner we drove over to Main Beach and watched the moon reflect on the Atlantic Ocean. A beautiful introduction and I hadn't even seen anything yet!

Being there was everything I expected - quaint villages, artisan shops, fab restaurants, boats on the water and in the harbour, great beaches and little farm shops along the roadside.

Day one we took a trip to Sag Harbor (historically a whaling port) and after a browse around the town had lunch at LT Burger. The thing they do well in the US is burgers and they made the most delicious crispy waffle fries topped with melted cheese and shallots. A great dish to share.

It was also good that mutual friends were around and we all met up at the beach on the Friday night for a picnic. There was a slight mist rolling in but it didn't dampen spirits and groups of people lit campfires and enjoyed the fresh evening air. Everyone brings their own chairs etc. There are no loungers and umbrellas for rent on the beaches here.

The next day started the same way - overcast and hot so we spent the first half of the day in the village of East Hampton browsing the local shops. There is a fab ice cream shop called Scoop du Jour with a myriad choice of flavours. It's rare that you can just walk in and get served immediately - it's that popular. The portions were large and a single scoop was more than enough for me. They only take cash.

That afternoon we went home and had a barbeque early evening. When the sun went down little flashing lights started appearing in the garden and I was informed that these were winged beetles, commonly known as fireflies or lightening bugs. It was mesmerising to watch them and try as I might I could not get a decent photo. It was a beautiful, silent light show.

We went out for a late late supper at a fab restaurant called Nick & Toni's. The place was jammed with people and the food is superb but you do have to book if you want to get a decent time slot. The crispy zucchini chips were a hit - it's listed as a starter but big enough to share for 3-4 people. 

The sun came out late morning on the following day and after a dip in the pool at the house, we loaded up the car and made our way back to beach. 

Main Beach, East Hampton

I had to put my toes in the water just so I could say I had. The waves were big enough for body boarding and the water refreshingly cold but it was just a little too rough for me given the number of people jostling for position. There is a life guard on duty until 5pm and swimming was only recommended between the flags so the beach was pretty much empty early evening. Families with children packed up and went home.

Dinner that night was to the north of the island at Moby's, East Hampton Point. It is a most beautiful setting and we arrived just in time to see the sun set over the harbour.

This is definitely the place to eat fresh fish - it's the only way to have it. Never again will I buy fish that has been farmed if I can help it.



View from the base of the lighthouse

The long weekend almost over, my bucket list almost ticked, we drove to the far east of the island to Montauk Lighthouse which is more than 200 years old. I have a fascination for lighthouses - it must be something about the loneliness of the lighthouse keeper, the sometimes savage weather and the light beaming out over the ocean to keep mariners safe from crashing onto the rocks. I climbed to the top to see the view and although the air had become quite misty, it was great to look out over the ocean. You can't actually walk around the light. You can only poke your head out of a small opening but so worth the climb for the amazing view if you have a head for heights.

Lobster Roll and slaw

You must not leave Montauk without visiting Duryea's Lobster Deck. This is the place for fresh lobster, clams, prawns, crab cake and more. They also have an extensive wine list - the rosé is all from Provence, France which pleased me as it's the only rosé I like. The delicious lobster cob salad is big enough to share and the lobster roll more than enough for one person. It's also a beautiful setting overlooking the sea.
Check out the live cam on their website.


My Hamptons visit almost over, we mooched around the town (I just had to buy the t-shirt) and headed back to the house.

We left East Hampton that rainy evening on the Hampton Jitney which is a daily coach service between Long Island's East End and New York City. It's a good and comfortable means of travel, reasonably priced and has various drop offs in the city. Ours was just a few minutes walk from where we were staying.

It was sad to leave but also great to be back in Manhattan, my favourite home from home.


Coming up next .. a week in New York City.

My day job at The Open Golf Championships .. Carnoustie, Scotland

My job as a make up artist took me to Scotland this year for The Open Golf Championships in Carnoustie, which is just a few miles from Dundee.

My colleague and I had an on-air studio team to look after plus giving a little help to others reporting on the course and in the Open Zone, which was an open air studio. Luckily the weather was pretty good with only one day of rain and the only issue was wind for one of our female presenters braving the outdoors. I really dislike spraying hair to within an inch of it's life and making it look like a wig or a helmet. I like a more natural look with movement in the hair, styling it away from the face. In gale force conditions however, actually creating an up-do or gripping it in place is the only option.

I have had scenarios in the past where the hair was preferred down in windy conditions and fortunately it was blowing in the right direction, keeping strands off the face.

I had some great new men's grooming products from Discovered Brands to try this year which went down really well. A lot of lines around now - and there are a multitude - are all very similar in what they can achieve and I tend to go for those that dispense well, smell good (and natural) and do the job. Attractive packaging always helps too!

My favourite was the Hans de Fuko Sponge Wax. It's a semi matte, medium hold product and perfect for our studio conditions. One of our male studio guests had let his hair grow on top and just allowed it do it's thing, falling like a side swept fringe over his forehead. I suggested a more modern look and he was happy to have me restyle it. I found the Blind Barber pomade gave a similar result and I liked the texture. Being a matte finish was also perfect for the studios and the overhead lighting.

I started by spraying a little water to dampen the hair, applied some wax warmed in my hands and used the hair dryer to create an upswept quiff which stayed in place without the need to use hairspray. He was so delighted with his updated style and it looked slick and neat on air. It's a style he could easily manage on his own.

I also loved Recipe for Men a Scandinavian skincare range for men. The Anti-shine moisturiser worked really well under my regular go-to make up for men base Gentlemans Polish. It's a fab product which can be used for full coverage or just where needed without looking like make up. It gives a natural flawless finish which for me is what it's all about. I've had many occasions where male guests have opted to go home without taking it off!

Another product I liked was Wake up Call by Anthony which did what it said on the package. It really is invigorating and revives the skin especially given the long hours we were working. Made for men and also great for us girls - I admit to trying it on myself and loving the fresh feeling! 

It was another successful week which ran smoothly and was a lot of fun despite the lack of sleep. It's always great to work with a team of highly professional people who know what they're doing.

I'm now looking forward to my next Golf project, The Ryder Cup near Paris, France at the end of September. I will definitely be taking all the products I've mentioned above with me.