Thanksgiving Weekend in Mastic

Was around for the holidaze. Did some thinking and drinking with the fam. Some heads rolled out from the ciudad as well with dog in tow. We hit up the woods to connect with sticks and leaves. Windy as all hell. But here are a couple visions of the path. This is at Terrell River in Moriches.

Fall Colors on the Twin Ponds

Along the shores the color show hits first. The Twin Ponds sit quietly at the head waters of the Forge River.

Dan Ortner

I am loving this dude's paintings.

CHECK HIS OTHER WORKS RIGHT HERE MOFO!

Andy Goldsworthy

When the air starts getting crisp, for some reason I think of this man.

And if you like water, nature and art shit...

RENT THIS.

The Larcombs

When I started getting into the world of surf and skateboarding it was 1989. I was just 10 years old. These two were already doing it for a few years. They taught me the ropes. That was 21 years ago. Holy shit. Time passed, love lives floated and sank, friends were buried, babies were built, miles were walked. They are still out there today, meeting up with me along the shores of LI doing exactly what we did for two decades.

Here's to two homies who never forgot where they came from.

Sunday morn, Smith Point

Sunday wound up giving us a lil bit of that summer feeling back. And it delivered a little fun swell.

Jianca Lazarus

I met Jianca when she was just 17 and just arrived from South Africa, skating the streets of Midtown Manhattan. At the time she was one of the only non-penis owner skateboarding with my crew. We crossed the country in a van for a Juice Magazine article that somehow she fanagled me a seat. Over the years we always kept in contact but a year here and a year there would go by without any sightings. I go to find out thats because she was fully immersed in surf culture. Here is her website. She is a great photographer.

Feeding and Fall Collecting

Speaking of Jefferson, Mastic Beach

Now this may or may not matter to you. It's news to me. You may not care much. You may not be happy about rainbows and glimmering bays, or hushed rumbles of the ocean. You may care more about Micheal Jacksons funeral, or making out with the TV screen when Patrick Swayze criss crossed it in the other years. But I was driving down Jefferson in Mastic Beach. Usually I would come to a rusted old gate that would have piles of shitski everywhere near. But the pavement kept going, proceeding all the way to the water. Cleaned up drastically. Finally allowing access to another piece of our fine shoreline. I'm not sure exactly who to thank but hey...Thank You.

William Floyd Estate, Mastic Beach

Fdogg and I did the house tour. Such an under-used institution of Mastic. The frickin house was visited by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison for god sakes. Instead of worrying about which Desperate Housewife got Gohnorreah why not get your history on. The house is full of antiques and pieces of the time. Rocking over 200 years of Long Island and American history for that matter. 5 stars. I loved it.

Clam Bar Coming!

Well I have nowhere to confirm this. Complete hearsay. You ain't heard it from me. But rumor has it the Smith Point Lounge will oneday house a 50's style Clam Bar. Now finally something to get excited about. After surf beach stops will never be the same. Hopefully its done right. With all that space out back, hopefully the makers of this joint are looking to the eastern most parts of Long Island for inspiration (cough cough Cyrils in Montauk) and thinking about outside dining. There's room to set up some serious drinking grounds ah la Bier Garten stylee. Hey, and if you know something more please elaborate in the comments section.

Scott Pasfield grabs another great moment

My friend Scott Pasfield is a great when it comes to finding beauty surrounding in the environs of Mastic Beach. Here's one that caught me and threw my mouth slightly ajar in amazement.

Check out his blog here.

Mastic is a funny place

Heres a wonderful story that takes place in Mastic in the pages of Newsday.


Read it here.

Clams, Antique Shopping and Beach

Did try to surf both days labeled weekend. Yes it was clean and glassy but weighing in at knee knocker status. Still the water is beautifully warm and the summer souls have parted. Peaceful.

Did however cook-up some Manila Clams and bought a ton of antiques.

Outer Beach driving.

Found this article that was a great point of view piece on sharing the beaches with fishermen.

Sharing is caring.

Now back in 1958 the beach was a much different place. Surfing was at best a seasonal sport with a handful of dedicated players on Long Island. The beaches were empty except for the main bathing areas during the summer season. Endangered plants and birds were of no concern. It’s not hard to imagine how they came up with the “keepers of the beach” credo.

A slideshow of that Surf Lodge place in Montauk

This was in the NY Times.

The Habitat vs. Shirley Pool Party

The ladies of The Habitat in Greenpoint Brooklyn came out to Mastic to fill the bellies with a Low Country Boil over at Carlos' pool.
Clams, corn, potatoes, shrimp, mussels and all sorts of other pieces afloat in a delicious broth. Boiled in a huge vat. Margarita machine included. Them ladies know how to do.

The Mastics is diversity.

I love this place because of its diversity. While we were enjoying a Pool Party the neighbors were doing a traditional African Wedding. The dresses were beautiful.

Smith Point Locals

Growing up there was SIB (Strong Island Boys), there was BWA (Bitches With Attitude), there was KOS (Kings of Style) and than there was SPL (Smith Point Locals). The three before were there to cause trouble, gangs of sorts, and the SPL was a group of kids, having fun, sliding on waves. If it was to be written, it was SPL with your house number, so the cops can easily find the graffiti maker.

Forge River Saturday morning

I have been meaning to get a photo of this mofo.

Hurricane Bill looking down from Peter Beards property

Here is what you missed. Sunday morning looked big and beautiful. I need to get a better zoom lens.

Return to the Sand Bar

We did it again. Emily was out from Brooklyn with friends and since Hurricane Bill was keeping us ashore we got our liquid fill at The Sand Bar. I love this place. Stuck in time, only thing is when a group of outsiders walks in the record stops and than slowly fades back into a noisy bar scene. I look at it as our introduction.

Last weekend at Smith Point and around Mastic Beach

Yes there was an absence of waves but the water was beautiful anyways. Here are some images collected at the most summer feeling weekend yet. The no-wave-weekend will not hold for long, Hurricane Bill is in the house now.

NY Times story of Kess

Read Times story about Andy Kessler.

Andy Kessler, you will be missed.

Its a sad day today. Phones been ringing, texting fingers frantic, emails of forwarded articles and blogs have been reporting. I will add.

I just saw Andy in Montauk while I was out there at Ditch Plains on Saturday. I was walking off the beach saw Andy than continued on. There was a group of mid-aged men sitting over by the Ditch Witch food truck and I overheard one dude say,

"Did you just see him, he is a legend"

Dude hit the nail on the head.

Mike DeTemple in Hamptons Magazine

From the Picaresque world.

Hampton Magazine jumping on the bandwagon.

Montauk Aug. 8

Headed to the end of the Island for Saturday since it was flat there at Smith Point.

Ditch Plains pretty much always breaks even if its an ankle bender.

Its funny watching the in-and-out going on at the shore. A peoples feet so used to sand takes some time to overcome rocks.

Bronx Zoo

So I went by the Bronx Zoo.