Hamptons Private

The Hamptons" is synonymous with luxury. The mere mention of the name conjures up images of pool parties, grandiose waterfront estates and endless days on the beach socializing with the upper class.

When New York's high society got wind of the charming hamlets and salty air, its members - from the Fords to the Vanderbilts - soon turned The Hamptons into a summer oasis. Then came the creatives in search of solitude, a place to write and sketch away from the urban noise. John Steinbeck in Sag Harbor. Jackson Pollock in the Springs. And Andy Warhol in Montauk. Now Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Calvin Klein, Madonna, Alec Baldwin and Martha Stewart all enjoy homes in The Hamptons.

Hamptons Private invites readers to take a peek behind the hedges in Amagansett, rent a yacht off the coast of The Springs, experience the surfer haven that is Ditch Plains and attend a polo match in Bridgehampton. Each page outlines the typical leisure activities of The Hamptons and showcases the unique quality of light that artist Willem de Kooning called a "miracle." One can almost hear the tapping of tennis balls at The Meadow Club, the whispers of exclusive parties, the rhythms of sea music at The Surf Lodge - even the first bite of a lobster roll at Lunch. At once a haven for nature and a hot spot for A-listers, The Hamptons exudes a boho-chic spirit reflected in its beautiful people and sublime surroundings.