What's happening in New York and Nantucket You Ask?

I just got back from a week in New York and a week in Nantucket.  For any of you that are planning to visit either, or just like to be in-the-know, you've come to the right place. Both are quieter than in previous visits due to the economy, but still way cooler (at least in the figurative sense) than most other places.

I was surprised by the store-front vacancies on Fifth Avenue, especially south of Saks.  The sidewalks were ridiculously easy to negotiate even with an open umbrella. Hell's Kitchen on the other hand was packed--restaurants, shops, and sidewalks.  It wasn't so long ago that this area lived-up to its name, now it competes for cool with the downtown destinations. It's a perfect place to have dinner before or after a show.  Speaking of...Jude Law is performing in Hamlet for a couple-a-month run starting in September.  I think the combination of this cool actor (so charming) and hot character (so complex) is worth the trip.  And if you're wondering what to wear, go with leggings.  Leggings with big shirts, belted or not, were all over the East Village.  The translation to fall should be leggings with big sweaters and stilettos or leggings with long jackets and riding boots.  Your leggings will probably be black, but hit the gym just to be on the safe side!

Nantucket is not a good place for tourist and this is a good thing.  Other than the great whaling museum there aren't a lot of places for the "tourist bus" to stop.  There are better beaches (for swimming), golf courses, and tennis courts all up and down the eastern seaboard.  Hanging out is what's happening--in the coffee shop, at the nude beach (you know who you are!), window shopping, or reading at the beach in the fog.  At night there are good restaurants with happening bar scenes (LoLa 41, Corazon Del Mar, 21 Federal) or you can stroll the ballast-paved Main Street and  probably catch some guy playing his guitar or a group of kids signing a capella (this should be done while eating fudge from Aunt Leah's or ice cream from the Juice Bar).  While leggings were on every hip woman in NY, Prosecco (Italy's version of champagne) was on every hip menu in Nantucket--yum yum!