Montauk:Montauk is going through a renaissance driven by people who apparently don’t mind a four hour commute from NYC. Be that as it may, the young and smart set has taken over Montauk over the last several years. This has happened mostly because the until recently very tired hotel stock has been bought up and redeveloped over the last five years by young hotshots in several high profile projects. The ghost of Carl Fisher, the original developer of Montauk, (Miami Beach too) famous for branding Montauk as Miami North, is well and alive. Wiped out by the great depression first and then the Hurricane of 1938, Fisher never realized his ambitions. Maybe this new batch of speculators will.
New restaurants and nightclubs have appeared in Montauk, as the remaining old seedy hotels are bought up and redone to suit the tastes of this crowd. How to best describe it? Sort of hipster, but with money and fancy European cars, into fitness, surfing, recycling and socially conscious consumption. Half of the crowd, probably the more fun half is single, sort of an international set, looking to party in the newly discovered Montauk. These people are driving the long time Montaukers and the locals nuts at places like the infamous Surf Lodge, but hey, it’s for two months, let the kids have their fun!
From a local’s perspective, it’s gotten way too crowded out in the line up at Ditch and at the bar at the Shagwong. Did someone say it was for sale? Yes, there are locals in Montauk. They used to fish. Not so much anymore. Most commute to East Hampton for work. The young guys probably work in the trades and get out surfing as soon as there’s a good break or a northwest wind. Some just drink all winter. From December to April it’s cold and dark in Montauk!
If you visit don’t miss Gosman’s Dock, Dureaes, Montauk Downs golf and “The End,” the majestic lighthouse that is surrounded by substantial walking trails that converge on the point. Cyrils and Clam Bar on the Napeague Stretch are also lots of fun if you like reggae music, rum drinks and clams on the halfshell.