Fun in the sun.

Had a weird and wonderful time in Montauk this past weekend. Went a little something like this:

After a 3 hour and 15 minute drive (fuck!), we finally arrived in Montauk last Thursday at around 3:30PM. We checked into our hotel quickly, then popped over to another hotel where a bunch of family and friends were staying to say hello. Then we headed over to a place called Dave's Grill to make reservations for dinner.

We headed over there because they have a funky reservation policy. You can call or stop by the restaurant anytime after 4:30 for same-day reservations. Getting through is sometimes tough, so many of the locals line up around 3:30-4:00ish to make sure they get one. That's what we did.

There were maybe 6 people ahead of us in line, and one of them had this great looking black dog. Gia, as she is apt to do, immediately went over to play with the doggie. She was surprised when she looked up and say that the owner was Aida Turturro, of "The Sopranos" fame. This led to us running into her, and her dog, 2 more times over the next few days. We never acknowledged her celebrity, and she never acknowledged our raw sexual magnetism. Must have been tough for her. She, and her doggie, were super, super nice.

The next day was Gia's birthday. We went out for an early breakfast at Mr. John's Pancake House with some of my family. After a brief interlude with Ms. Turturro (she must have been stalking us) we headed to the beach for the day with the rest of the crazies. Gia had such a good time getting knocked around in the surf. At one point, my niece came up to tell me that "your girlbriend id geddin' knocked down and she gonna dwown". I looked into it, but decided she was fine. Tough love, I always say.

Then dinner at The Shagwong for all the adults in the group. All 10 of us. There are better restaurants in Montauk, for sure, but we couldn't find any to accommodate our group. We had a blast anyway. I'm not sure my mother has recovered from the conversation yet. Shocking stuff.

Saturday, we spent most of the morning and early afternoon on the beach with my family before they headed back home. Then G and I took a drive to a place called Duryea's Lobster Deck for lunch. It's a casual eating joint overlooking the Long Island Sound with great views.

The table next to us had a couple of little terriers, and at one point the little one got away. I boldly rescued the doggie and returned it to the table triumphantly. Gia, as she is apt to do, started playing with the dog and talking to her owner who turned out to be Louise Lasser. Don't know if you remember her, but she was the titular star of "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" in the 70's and she was married to Woody Allen for a brief time in the late 60's. She was real sweet.

The rest of the evening was filled with karaoke (Gia sang "Right Hand Man" and blew the doors off the joint), decent drinks and bad food. I won't mention the joint we had bad food, but we should have known better..

Good times. And I'm actually a little tanned. Slyde can attest to the fact that me getting tan is something that never happens. Too Irish, I guess.

Mermaids, Montauk and Mayhem

Just a couple of things on this wonderful Summer (yes...it's finally truly Summer as of yesterday) day.

Gia and I are headed to Coney Island tomorrow to check out the 25th Annual Mermaid Parade. It's a chance for folks to get their freak-on with their, uh, aquatic side. I guess.

I'm going for the hotties dressed up like Ariel. Er, damn! Forgot that Gia reads this shit. Oh well.

The parade itself is an homage to a long-forgotten Mardi Gras celebration that occurred in Coney Island from 1903-1954. Who knew? After the parade, we are going to wander over to the Mermaid Parade Ball where there will be a host of interesting music and burlesque acts. Sounds like a blast.

We are spending the night in NYC where we may check out the NYC Pride Parade on Sunday afternoon. Because we don't have enough wacky gay stories in our life right now.

We don't have much going on next weekend besides the potential mayhem of a summer party at a friend's house. The mayhem is only potential at this point, but my buddy does keep a ridiculous stock of great booze at his place...so it's out there.

Then we are headed to Montauk for the 4th of July. Well, actually the 5th. We are going to spend the 4th at home where we have a great view of an incredible Grucci fireworks display that evening. Then to Montauk for 3 days with a whole shitload of my family and assorted friends.

If you have never been to Montauk, lemme 'splain. It's this cool, little surfer village on the extreme East End of Long Island. None (or very little) of the attitude that permeates the Hamptons, which we have to unfortunately drive through to get there. Cool restaurants and breakfast joints (my favorite) and some low-key to wacky nightlife thrown in to boot. But really, you go for the beaches, the surf and the Sun. I'll be packing my SPF 9000 for the trip.

White boy burns, yo!