After the Storm

While some people waited in vain for the next Jitney out of Sag Harbor, others were happy to enjoy the amusements that a quiet Main Street had to offer in the aftermath of the blizzard.

Tonight's Concert

Decorating some gifts with my new cupcake toppers from Bake it Pretty has put a spell on me. When I saw this sign, taped to a bench on Main Street, shortly afterwards, I had an intense urge to attend the Community Band's holiday concert tonight at the Old Whaler's Church.

Sign of the Season on Main Street

Santa will be making a personal appearance in Sag Harbor, at the Bay Street Theater on Saturday at 4pm. But I am too old and impatient to stand on a line, even for Santa, even in the Hamptons. So I'll wave to him as he passes by with his fire department escort, put my wish list (so far I have my eye on the Michelle Obama fashion magnets at Kites of the Harbor, this shiny bread box at Sylvester and Company, and the stunning poodle portrait at Gallerie B) in the mailbox thoughtfully provided by the Village, and get on with my shopping.

Candles for My Holiday Table

For a few weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day I try to get over my intense fear of candles, caused by too many trips to the Sag Harbor Fire House during Fire Safety Week at the Elementary School. It is worth it, to improve the appearance of my holiday table. On Wednesday afternoon I realized that at my last holiday dinner the candles had burned down to nothing, so I ran to Flashbacks (69 Main Street; 725-9683) to buy some new ones for Thanksgiving. They have a great selection of sizes and colors. The ones in the back are all unscented (so important when you want to smell the turkey and the stuffing). One of the store's owners wrapped each of them individually so they wouldn't get scratched on the short walk home, and packed them in this re-usable shopping bag with a much-needed message about the important things in life.

Kitchen Renovation

It took over 30 years, but I finally found the perfect kitchen sink for my house at the Wharf Shop (69A Main Street; 631-725-0420).

IGA Item of the Week

Has anyone expressed that end-of-summer feeling better than Marty the Barber (66 Main Street; 725-2220)? I was overjoyed to send my not-so-little ones off to Sag Harbor Elementary and Pierson High School this morning with lunch bags from the King Arthur Catalog (yes, they've agreed to carry these) packed with sandwiches on Bread Alone's delicious whole grain health bread, available at the IGA.

Delectable Fashions

Sometimes on my way to Java Nation I stop to salivate over the Chanel handbags and Manolo Blahnik shoes displayed in the windows of Collette (78 Main Street; 725-9300). Yesterday, I experienced a surprise sugar rush when I peaked in.

On the Way Home from Main Street...

Once and sometimes twice or three times a day I pass by Blooming Shells (11 Washington Street; 725-9504) on my way to Main Street. Every time, I peek in the window and see the same basket of rings made out of shells. A few weeks ago I even went in to take a closer look and try one on. Could these really be as nice as I thought they were, if they were only priced at $8 each? Then yesterday, as I walked past the movie theater on my way home from the IGA I noticed a stylish young woman waiting for the Jitney, carrying an Hermes tote and wearing one of the rings! Without hesitation I headed straight to the shop. Blooming Shells' owner, Debbie-lou Houdek, says she can tell the difference between someone who is going to buy something and someone who is just looking in a matter of seconds. So she knew I was ready . She overturned the basket on the counter and helped me find one that fit just right.

For the Littlest Blogger

Here's a Sag Harbor onesie I bought for a city friend's new baby yesterday at Land Shark (75 Main Street; 631-725-4933). Can you believe she is barely 4 months old and already has her own blog? I'm hoping to get on her good side, so she'll link to me...

The Sag Harbor Express Celebrates

The Sag Harbor Express threw itself a 15oth anniversary party yesterday. I loved seeing so many of our V.I.P.s, including the Editor-in-Chief, the Mayor, the Chief of Police, and many members of the Ladies Village Improvement Society, under one Main Street roof. I was hoping for cake, but no luck. Maybe I left the party before it was presented. Fudgie the Whale would have been perfect for the occasion. It's still available after all these years at Carvel in Bridgehampton (2033 Montauk Highway; 631-537-2436).

My Visit to the Express, with Muffins

Yesterday, Annette Hinkle from the Sag Harbor Express invited me over to the paper's office on Main Street to talk about my blog. I couldn't go empty-handed, so I brought her these muffins.

Lemon Ginger Corn Muffins
Makes 12

I've never forgotten the Bridge Creek Ginger Muffins in Marion Cunningham's The Breakfast Book, so I went back to her recipe to see what made them so memorable. I think her secret is heating the ginger with some sugar to release its flavor before mixing it into her muffin batter. So I did the same, and added it to my corn muffin batter, with a healthy amount of grated lemon zest for good measure. The IGA always has buttermilk, but you can substitute plain yogurt or 3/4 cup sour cream thinned with 1/4 cup milk if that's more convenient.

1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup yellow corn meal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup peeled and coarsely chopped fresh ginger
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk together the flour, corn meal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Combine the ginger and 1/4 cup sugar in the work bowl of a food processor or mini chopper and pulse until the ginger is finely ground, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary. Scrape the mixture into a small pot (I use my butter warmer) and heat over medium-low, stirring, until the ginger is fragrant, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Whisk together the butter and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a large mixing bowl. Whisk in the eggs, lemon zest, and the ginger mixture. Whisk in the buttermilk. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon.Don't overmix!
5. Divide the batter among the muffin cups and bake until the muffins are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, invert them onto a wire rack, turn them right side up on the rack, and let them cool completely (or just let them cool for 10 minutes more and eat them warm).

Happy Mother's Day

Here's one of today's cutest messages, constructed by my daughter from Iwako Japanese erasers she purchased at the Wharf Shop (69A Main Street, Sag Harbor, 631-725-0420). New deliveries weekly. Ask Gwen to put you on her list and she will call when they arrive.

Greetings from Sag Harbor

Here's the gateway to Main Street, Sag Harbor, from my house. The crumbling factory building and the "do not enter" signs are forbidding, but there's plenty to enjoy in this village once you have safely passed. I'll be posting something here most days about what catches my attention. Hope you will return to see what's happening and let me know if I'm missing something new, interesting, funny, beautiful, or good to eat in Sag Harbor.
Lauren