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Updated: August 12, 2009, 10:58 pm	Share    Print    Email

Jill Zarin in golf garb for her recent appearance in the Hamptons Classic. Photo courtesy of PatrickMcMullan.com

Southampton - Is it mid-July already? I know I sound like a broken record, but the summer is flying by and I haven't enjoyed the Hamptons until today. I remember a few years ago (actually almost eight) Bobby and I bought our first of four boats. We went from a 40-foot SeaRay Sundancer, to a 50-foot SeaRay Sundancer, to a 42-foot Aft Cabin (felt larger) SeaRay to a 72-foot San Lorenzo.

Darren (my assistant) and I recently took a drive to the Montauk Yacht Club for lunch. He has never been to Montauk and I wanted to show him why so many people count this area as a home away from home or just their home.

Being on the water having lunch reminded me of our boating years and living on the "docks." The Montauk Yacht Club feels like you are 1,000 miles away from NYC. We enjoyed chips and salsa and simple salads with the most delicious shrimp I have had all summer. Though the weather wasn't perfect - the day was.

We took Old Montauk Highway toward home passing Gurney's Inn (a totally different feeling as it is located directly on the ocean), and passed many hotels/motels also on the ocean. It is too bad that we can't support a Four Seasons style hotel in that area. Since we are only "in season" for beach weather a few months a year, it would not be cost effective I suppose, but we can only hope that one day they might come?

Passing though Amangansett, the landscape changes from casual beach type homes to more manicured properties but still of "normal" size and shape. Then we turned left onto the famous Further Lane and they got bigger and bigger and bigger.

I haven't been in East Hampton all summer and forgot how special that area is. I used to have friends on Egypt Lane and always loved visiting them. By now we were ready for ice cream so we parked on Main Street and walked around. I have to say that East Hampton is my favorite town to shop in. I love Southampton too, but there is something special here. Ralph Lauren was having an insane 25 percent off all sale items so I had to "save something" and bought gold wedge shoes with an ankle strap to wear on grass.

I am always worried about sinking my expensive Louboutin heels in the grass at Polo or a charity event on soft ground. I will test these at Polo this weekend. We browsed all the stores and didn't find anything that said "buy me" so we shared mud pie ice cream and left town.

Since Darren had not traveled passed Water Mill, I wanted to give him the full tour. We stopped by a new store (at least new to me!) Belhaus in Wainscott. I was surprised to see it on Montauk Highway. It is a very high-end couture store. The entire store was on sale - 50 percent - off including the make-up which I had to buy. I love the two-sided lip liner from Vincent Longo so I got two for the price of one! I think they would do much better if it was in East Hampton but with the amount of square feet they have the rent would be enormous. The buyer definitely has a point of view and can do very well with a loyal following. I tried to say hello to the owner but he was out of town.

Next stop - Levain Bakery. I admit I am a recovering CCC addict, (Chocolate Chip Cookie) . I haven't been there in a year but had to stop by. The owner was there and as usual, when I asked her for all the CCC's in the store she could only produce one.

Imagine if I made a special trip? It was 3 p.m. and they close at 5 p.m. I asked her "why don't you just bake a few dozen at one time" she said "what would I do with the leftovers if they all didn't sell?" Imagine - making cookies without someone to buy them? So you know what they did? They baked them right then and there and you wait 20 minutes. If a line develops and you are at the end, you pray no one orders more than she made so you won't have to wait another 20 minutes when it's your turn! The Soup Nazi from "Seinfeld" came to mind!

After we had the honor of buying the last cookie and sharing it, we went to TJ Maxx. It is hit or miss there and I always walk out with something I definitely don't need. By now I am exhausted but still have stops to make. One more at a local fruit/plant stand in Water Mill. I actually took a picture of the largest squash I ever saw. Go to my Twitter if you want to see it.

I had to buy a few plants for the house and then finally headed home, stopping for gas on the way. It feels really good to get a lot done, especially when all I usually want to do is sit in the house or by the pool all day, (under shade, I try not to do sun).

I am getting the house ready now for some special guests this weekend. My dearest friend remarried last year and moved away so I cherish their weekends visiting here. We have a typical schedule of parties, fundraisers and charity events but you will have to wait until next week for the recap! Have a happy and healthy week!

If you need to find out more sooner - you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Hi Jill,

Hope you and your family are doing well and enjoying the summer? My question is: you recently had a breast reduction and I was wondering if your doctor could recommend or suggest someone in the Boston area? I am really looking to get mine reduced as well. I started to look into it previously but its hard to find a good doctor to perform the surgery.

Thanks so much! Love the show and thanks for being on Facebook!

Sincerely,
Christina Turcotte

Hi Christina,

I don't know a good doctor in Boston but you have the BEST doctors in the world here. For a personal recommendation you need top ask all your friends. Send out a mass email, post it on your Facebook - whatever - but get one!

Good Luck!

Jill Zarin

Dear Jill,

As an outside observer and someone who really liked you the first season, it seems like fame has REALLY gone to your head.

You're talking about a talk show, comparing your cast to "Friends," etc.

Don't you think you need to check yourself? Control the ego just a bit more?

Chris

Dear Chris,

I am happy to answer your question even though it is mean-spirited. People who say things like that are usually jealous, which is a very destructive emotion. Most people know this, but I will share it with you - don't believe everything you read or even see when it is related to the gossip columns and glossies. I will say there is usually a thread or more of truth, but most likely exaggerated to make the story more fun for readers - often at the expense of celebrities and their families. I love to forward the articles when they get emailed to me on Google alerts and forward to my closest friends and family and tell them what is true and what isn't. I think I should keep track over a period of time and publish my findings. One came out today - NONE OF IT TRUE. I happen to adore the writer and wish he had fact checked with me first. I will address the "comparing your cast to friends" when I was asked something quickly on a red carpet. I was asked about what I thought of people being on the same show making different amounts of money. I said that I liked what the cast of "Friends" did, negotiate together as a group even though some had become more famous than others over the years, since they all started together they should stick together. There was no comparison made to our show except to say we are both ensemble casts. You last question was about my "ego." My "ego" is fine, thank you, how is yours?

Have a fun summer!

Jill Zarin

Thank you all for the lovely compliments. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to comment on the status of negotiations or anything regarding Season 3. You will have to watch and see what happens!

•The fabulous fiery redhead Jill Zarin, of Bravo TV’s “The Real Housewives of New York City,” will be bringing you her pearls of wisdom here at Hamptons.com. Got a question about style and fashion, dating and relationships, hot spots in the Hamptons or NYC, and the second season of the hit show? Just ask Jill! Please email questions for Jill via askjill@hamptons.com. Be sure to include your name, city, and state.