EDITOR'S LETTER

The Hamptons is a favorite place to so many, and even though summer has not officially begun, it has here in our office. We've even noticed the traffic beginning to build up along Montauk Highway, and reservations filling up at our favorite restaurants. Still, this is truly a magical time of year. There is no place quite like the Hamptons...the light, the air, the sea...even the streetscapes.

The beginning of the season also brings the activity of new happenings—in stores, restaurants and at events. In our annual "Best of Season" feature we preview what to explore as you settle into your summer routine. We also feel it is time to add something new to our repertoire of exploring the East End—our new "Neighborhood Report" column. Starting with this issue, two of our editors, Orli Ben-Dor and Alexa Stevenson, report on a full-packed day in Sag Harbor, highlighting the shops and restaurants they visited there.

Another new development is all the activity that goes along with HC&G's third-annual Idea House. This year's house, at 7 Calf Creek Court in Water Mill, is designed by architect Steven W. Semes, with Richard Gherardi of Sand Dollar Construction bringing the architecture to life.