Tinx's Hot Dog and Martini Agenda
Plus: A stop work order after lines around the block at Bethenny Frankel's Supermodel Cafe popup in East Quogue, and an incredible trove of wearable East End history
If you’re not on vacation this month, you’re working overtime. That goes for influencers scrambling to get their bikini content in, public-relations queens trying to eke out one more big bash, and contractors attempting to finish that much delayed house. No one is working harder than the East End’s lifeguards, who are handling a record number of saves, including over a hundred in East Hampton Town earlier this month, many of them on Montauk’s “Hotel Row.” Last night, Southampton Village honored its (handsome) star lifeguards Emmett Wetter and Billy Malone for saving a man pulled under by a rip current on what Mayor William Manger called an “extraordinarily busy evening” at Cooper’s Beach.
The courts are buzzing too, with Chanel filing a new motion in its counterfeit case against New York and Southampton store Taroo. While the Upper East Side branch of Taroo is still open, its Job’s Lane outpost has closed. It was once The Hamptons spot to buy purses that resemble designer bags—for less.
You know who else doesn’t take an Aperol spritz break in August? THC. I’m hard at work on our second print issue of the season. In the meantime, here’s a juicy free newsletter, with updates from Bethenny Frankel’s viral East Quogue bagelry, The Hamptons Ten with Tinx, and the rarest grails from Long Island friends and vintage hounds James Acierno and John Troha.
A Stop-Work Order at Bethenny’s Pop-up
Yesterday, Real Housewife turned businesswoman and chicken-salad influencer Bethenny Frankel opened her pop-up Supermodel Cafe in East Quogue. The shop is a way to test Frankel’s upcoming line of what she calls “better-for-you bagels, flavorful dips, schmears,” in partnership with Goldberg’s Bagels, launching this fall. As lines formed down the block, employees came out with samples, and Bethenny herself appeared in a pink lace gown. Real supermodel Molly Sims came by, and an endless stream of influencers filmed content. In a video, Frankel said, “It just felt very real, interactive and fun. We made friends on the line. The coffee and the cheesecake and the bagels are totally secondary.”
However, the Town of Southampton has issued the pop-up a stop-work order, Newsday reported. The violations cited include “dangerous and unsafe work conditions.” Frankel’s team said, “The notice does not require the cafe to close and there is no anticipated disruption to business.”
The pop-up was, by Frankel’s own description, hastily developed in four weeks. In a July video, she said, “I basically want the peoples’ opinion. This was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down even though I didn’t want to work this hard during the summer. I said, ‘Fuck it and let’s find out.’”
Tinx No Longer Shares a Bed in The Hamptons
Christina Najjar—a.k.a. Tinx—is part of the early wave of women who started as influencers and content creators and parlayed their fame into businesses beyond the feed. She went from creating “rich mom” satirical content on Instagram and TikTok to hosting the podcast “It’s Me, Tinx” on SiriusXM and writing two books: her self-help book “The Shift: Change Your Perspective, Not Yourself,” and her novel “Hotter in the Hamptons” (which was optioned by Sara and Erin Foster for TV). I’ve always been into Tinx’s funny, candid perspective and have interviewed her about everything from fancy flip-flops to diamond tennis bracelets. After many years sharing a bed with three or four girls in Montauk group houses, she’s graduated to renting a house in East Hampton. She’s the latest insider to complete THC’s signature questionnaire, The Hamptons Ten.
Describe your perfect Hamptons day.
I wake up next to my crush and we decide to go get coffee on our bikes. It’s a gorgeous day with low humidity and UV8. We drink iced flat whites by the pool and tan but don’t burn. My best friends come over for lunch and we grill hot dogs and have a dance party. After lunch, we swim in the ocean and drink margaritas. Dinner at Blue Parrot, then dancing at a house party all night long.
What’s your favorite spot for a drink?
A dirty martini at The Crow’s Nest.
What’s your secret shopping spot?
I love Amagansett Wine and Spirits. They always have some good funky oranges.
Who would you love to bump into at the farmer’s market?
Andy Cohen.
What’s your main gripe about the Hamptons?
All of the “hot takes” online. If you don’t want to come, don’t come, but I try to skip over the online debates as it will always be a happy place for me.
What would be your dream dinner: spot, order, company?
My backyard with a chef who makes crab dip and grills steak and all my best friends!
What’s your advice to newbies about a visit out East?
Have fun and don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong. And check for ticks!
Where do you go in the Hamptons to be alone?
My bed.
What’s your go-to gift for hosts/hostesses?
Good quality olive oil.
Who makes the best lobster roll?
Lunch!
Who should fill out this questionnaire next?
Jennifer Fisher, ultimate cool girl.
Grail Tales
In THC’s first print issue, we ran a portfolio of some of the rare T-shirts sourced by Long Island friends James Acierno and John Troha of Old Soldier. Here’s an extended interview with the duo, who started their company as a side hustle in 2013.
What was the genesis for Old Soldier?
James: My dad has been in the antique boat business forever. As a kid growing up our family boat was a fully restored 22’ 1957 Chris-Craft Sea Skiff named Night Heron that we’d take to Talisman/Barrett Beach or Davis Park on Fire Island. I remember no matter where we went people would always come over and ask about the boat. He eventually sold it, but an appreciation for old boats, history and the bay were ingrained in me from the start.
Later, he bought a 1946 Consolidated, a type of commuter yacht originally built in New York, to restore, and the boat came with the name OLD SOLDIER. When John and I started talking about starting a brand around 2011, all of the inspiration and direction we were pulling came from the boat’s history and these earlier experiences, and so it was kind of inevitable that we landed on that name. We have a boat house on the Patchogue River, and inside is a life ring hanging from the Night Heron that my grandma, an artist, painted two crossed flags on. We ended up using those flags in our logo, which is what you see in the crossed ‘NY’ today. So it all kind of came full circle.
What is your connection to the East End of Long Island?
John: I’ve been coming out east since I was a kid, it’s always been a special place for me. My dad is a big fisherman, so we fish a lot out of Moriches, Shinnecock, Montauk, Orient Point. When I was in high school I worked some of the offshore fishing tournaments at Star Island Yacht Club, which was really cool to be exposed to big tournaments like that.
I’ve also spent a lot of time in Montauk over the years camping, running and biking. It’s become an annual tradition for me to do a big run or ride out to the lighthouse. Last year I ran from Fire Island Lighthouse to Montauk Point Lighthouse. I’ve also done Orient Point to Montauk Point through Shelter Island and I think you notice a lot more about a place when you’re seeing it on foot. There’s so much to take in.
Where do you find these pieces?
John: It’s really a mix of classic in-person thrifting, estate sales, private collections, and spending a lot of time online. I know the vintage purists would dismiss sourcing anything not IRL, but the reality is going online broadens your reach and definitely has led us to some great deals. We’ve sourced stuff from all over the country and it’s always interesting to me to see where in the world an item ends up.
James’ dad is also a part of our sourcing crew - he travels all over the country working on boats and sees all sorts of great stuff at boat shows. He recently pulled us 2 NOS (New Old Stock) antique wood boat show tees that the original organizer never sold through from the early 80s.
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