Hamptons Homes & Seasons: Your Pocket Guide to Spring on the East End

Homes & Seasons

YOUR POCKET GUIDE TO SPRING ON THE EAST END

Founders & Publishers

Jenna & Joe Van Asco

Brokerage Affliation

Douglas Elliman

Photographer

Jessica Dalene

Our Contributors

FreshDirect

Farm-fresh groceries and quality ingredients delivered straight to your door

Melissa Merlino Studio

Purposeful event planning & design for social celebrations and brand moments across the Hamptons

Paper Plane Cocktail Club

Elevated bar catering & mixology classes for events and private gatherings

Hamptons Blue

Your one-stop shop for timeless, Hamptonsinspired living

Spring in the Hamptons is subtle and quiet, the kind of season you have to slow down enough to notice. The first crocuses pushing through cold ground Bud vases lined up on the windowsill catching afternoon light A 60-degree day that convinces you to take a walk with a friend, no real destination in mind That first sunset that stays golden just a little bit longer These are the moments that matter most to me, the ones that remind me why I love living here and sharing this place with all of you

After a long, cold winter, spring bursts with these small, meaningful moments, and they feel like permission to start dreaming again This issue is a celebration of that We gathered around a table in February (already thinking about spring, because who isn't?) and brought together people who make this community what it is Matt and Melissa Merlino are a husband-and-wife team who each bring their own expertise: Matt with Paperplane Cocktail Club and Melissa with her event planning business Together, they crafted a meal that tastes like the season Julie and Dana at Hamptons Blue lent us beautiful pieces that made our spring table feel both elevated and effortless Collaborating with people who care as much as I do about creating something thoughtful and real, that's what spring in the Hamptons is all about Reconnecting. Working toward our dreams for 2026. Noticing the details that make it all worth it.

Here's to a season of small moments, quiet whimsy, and big possibility.

a note from Jenna Jenna

a note from joe

Spring has arrived with real momentum this year After an unrelenting winter, the ground is finally softening, the sun is sticking around a little longer each day, and the first daffodils are pushing through right on cue It's the kind of reminder that no matter how frozen things feel for a while, everything has a way of coming back to life.

Around the house, the usual cast of characters has reappeared squirrels back at it, moles preparing their annual campaign against the yard, bees getting ready to build again As a husband and father of two little ones, there's something especially rewarding about this season More time outside, more energy in the air, a sense that everything is starting fresh

The Hamptons real estate market tends to mirror that same rhythm. Spring always brings a surge of activity, and this year is no exception. Many homeowners held off during the winter months and are now preparing to bring their properties to market both for sale and for summer rentals We're seeing a wave of new opportunities all at once, with more to come as renovations wrap up and homes are fully furnished and ready

It's a good time to get back out there, explore what's available, and take advantage of the energy this season brings.

Wishing everyone a beautiful, active spring And if you have the chance plant something, even if it's just a few tomatoes and enjoy watching it grow

Warmly,

Joe

out east SPRING MOMENTS

Spring arrives quietly here, not with fanfare, but with small, certain signs. The first crocuses pushing through along Main Street on the walk to Main Beach. A splash of purple against cold ground It's the moment you know: life is returning

After a grey and sleepy winter, there's an inevitable rush once we're certain no more snow is coming Outdoor furniture emerges from hibernation Cherry blossoms begin their brief, breathtaking bloom The air shifts, not just warmer, but alive with possibility There's an excitement, an anticipation that hums beneath everything.

Spring in the Hamptons is a season of preparation. While visitors may expect everything to be open and humming, the truth is quieter: this is when we get ready Restaurants start reopening at the end of March, trickling open throughout April. Homes are made season-ready Gardens are planned, not yet planted

SPRING HERE ISN'T JUST A TRANSITION. IT'S A RETURN

There's something else that returns in spring: familiar faces The neighbors you haven't seen since fall The couple who winters in Florida The shop owner who took February off. Conversations pick up where they left off, easy and warm It's the quiet reunion of a community that knows the rhythm of this place. Spring isn't just about the land waking up. It's about people coming home.

And then there's the countdown: Memorial Day Weekend. Even though it falls smack in the middle of spring, it marks the unofficial start of summer The flurry of activity leading up to that first big weekend is palpable Painters, landscapers, shop owners, everyone moving in rhythm toward the same date

But before the rush, there's this: the firsts of the season The first lobster roll The first beach day The first sunset past 7pm The first lunch outside without a jacket. Spring here isn't just a transition It's a return

A reminder that the best things are worth the wait.

SPRING Happenings

Spring in the Hamptons means life returns in waves. First, the land. Then, the people. And finally, the places we gather

By the first week of May, farmers markets are back It's one of those small but significant shifts that signals the season has truly arrived

You'll find local produce starting to trickle in, though the real abundance won't hit until summer For now, it's about the baked goods, the pickles, the artisans who've been quietly working all winter. It's about seeing neighbors again, filling your bag with something fresh, and remembering why you love this rhythm

Before the markets return, there's Amber Waves Farm's seedling sale. I look forward to this every single year They set up tables and tables of seedlings, vegetables and flowers, all ready to start your garden. It's where I begin mine, every spring without fail There's something grounding about choosing your tomato plants in person, imagining what your garden will become by July. And while you're there, take note: their kids programming returns in spring too Classes, experiences, cooking lessons in their outdoor classroom It's become a cornerstone for families out here.

But if there's one spring outing that gets me truly excited for the season, it's the Waterdrinker Family Farm Tulip Festival. It's a day trip from the Hamptons, and it's worth every minute of the drive Endless fields of tulips and daffodils stretching out in every direction, row after row of color that seems to go on forever The kind of place that makes you stop, breathe, and pull out your camera without thinking twice You can wander through the fields, cut your own bouquet, let the kids run wild. There's a sense of abundance here that feels almost unreal after months of grey skies and bare branches

AFTER

MONTHS OF GREY SKIES AND BARE BRANCHES, THERE'S A SENSE OF ABUNDANCE HERE THAT FEELS ALMOST UNREAL

And it's not just the flowers. There's a brewery on site, food trucks parked nearby, plenty of space to make a full day of it. It's not polished or precious. It's just joyful. The kind of outing that reminds you why spring matters, why the wait was worth it Every time I go, I leave feeling lighter, more hopeful, ready for what's coming.

GARDENS and blooms

There's a vintage truck on Wainscott Main Street that signals spring has arrived more reliably than any calendar date Nikki Osborn's flower stand is back, and with it, the results of last fall's work: 3,400 tulips and thousands of daffodils in 25 different varieties, all planted by hand. They bloom at different times throughout the season, which means every time you stop by, there's something new A different color, a different shape, a different moment of spring unfolding

It's the kind of place you don't just pass by You pull over, you browse the buckets, you leave with an armful of stems that feel infinitely more special because they were grown here

Because Nikki did the work last fall, planting bulb after bulb, knowing what spring would bring

And once you get those blooms home, a few small moves will keep them alive longer. Cut the stems at an angle, change the water every couple of days, keep them out of direct sunlight

YOUR HOME REFLECTING WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE, LIFE RETURNING IN SMALL, TANGIBLE WAYS.

With daffodils, there's one extra step: their sap is toxic to other flowers, so if you want to mix them into an arrangement, let them sit in water alone for a few hours first to release the sap, then rinse the stems before adding anything else Or just keep them in their own vase Either way, the real trick is just bringing them inside in the first place Fresh flowers in spring, windows open, stale winter air finally clearing out it's not decoration. It's a reset. Your home reflecting what's happening outside, life returning in small, tangible ways

It's the in-between season, and it matters. One of the best ways to show up for them is through a CSA. Balsam Farms and Amber Waves Farm both offer produce shares that start in spring, and Amber Waves has a flower CSA too You commit early, they know they have your support, and you get the best of what they grow all season long. It's a partnership, not a transaction. And it's one of the most grounding rhythms you can build into your Hamptons life

This is also the time of year when local farms need support most They're doing the hardest work right now prepping soil, planting seeds, tending to what will become summer's abundance but they're not seeing the crowds or the harvest yet

THE RETURN OF al Fresco Dining

The first surefire sign of spring isn't a date on the calendar. It's when Bostwick's Chowder House opens Opening day feels like a party even though it's not one everyone just shows up, rosé and painkillers flowing, ready to reclaim their spot on the patio I seriously count down the days until I can have a lobster roll there for the first time each year.

Soon after, Navy Beach in Montauk opens, then The Clam Bar on Napeague, and finally, Duryea's Lobster Deck. That's when you know the season is really on These aren't new restaurants with seasonal menus to decode. They're old favorites returning, and that's the whole point.

There's something grounding about ordering the exact same thing every time. Not because you're stuck in a rut, but because you know what you love, and spring is about coming back to it The first bite of tuna at The Clam Bar tastes like confirmation yes, this is still as good as you remembered Yes, you're back It's not about novelty. It's about the ritual of return. The same table if you can get it, the same order, the same feeling of settling back into a rhythm you've been missing for months.

IT'S THOSE SMALL, UNPLANNED MOMENTS

THAT MAKE SPRING FEEL DIFFERENT FROM SUMMER

Even if it's chilly, I don't mind bundling up with a blanket to sit on the dock at Duryea's for a sunset dinner It may be one of the only times all year you won't have to wait for a table. Joe and I love when we both happen to be in Montauk for work and can bike over to Hooked for lunch on their blue picnic tables. It's those small, unplanned moments that make spring feel different from summer less crowded, less performative, just easier

Keep in mind that most restaurants are still opening partial weeks in spring Thursday through Sunday, or some variation They won't go seven days until the full summer season is in full swing So check hours before you go, and don't expect the same availability you'll see in July.

But that's part of the charm Spring dining in the Hamptons isn't about securing the hardest reservation. It's about showing up to the places you've missed, ordering the things you've been craving, and settling back into the rhythm of eating outside again.

SPRINGweekends

Spring in the Hamptons builds toward summer through three key weekends, each with its own rhythm and energy If you know what to expect, you can plan accordingly and actually enjoy them instead of being caught off guard.

Mother's Day Weekend is the first big dining weekend of the season Restaurants fill up, brunches get booked weeks in advance, and everyone wants to celebrate outside for the first time all year It's the weekend that reminds you to make reservations early and confirms that yes, al fresco season is officially here

My favorite spots for Mother's Day? Dining al fresco at Nick & Toni's in East Hampton feels like the quintessential Hamptons experience the garden patio, the energy, the food It's special without being stuffy The Pridwin on Shelter Island is an amazing kidfriendly resort with a restaurant overlooking the water If you're celebrating with family, this is the move. The views are stunning, the vibe is relaxed, and kids are genuinely welcome And Navy Beach in Montauk is one of the few places where everyone actually wins kids can play in the sand while you enjoy a beautiful meal, and the setting makes it feel like a real occasion

A few weeks later comes Montauk Music Festival, which feels like the first big weekend in Montauk Before the Memorial Day crowds, but everything is alive and full of energy Over 400 performances across three days (Friday through Sunday), 100 acts, 40 satellite venues all over town We look forward to it every year It's not just about the music it's about Montauk waking up. The streets are buzzing, venues you haven't been to in months are open again, and there's this collective feeling of the season starting for real If you want to experience Montauk before it gets packed, this is the weekend to do it.

And then comes Memorial Day Weekend the end of everyone's countdown to summer This is the official start, the moment the Hamptons shifts from spring to full season Stores in town often have special offerings, music, treats Restaurants are at capacity. And in recent years, the weekend unofficially starts on Thursday, so plan your traffic accordingly and make sure your reservations are locked in Here's the thing most people don't realize: weekdays in the Hamptons from Memorial Day through the end of June remain relatively quieter

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS WHEN THE RHYTHM CHANGES. THE SEASON IS ON.

Kids across the tri-state area are still in school, but families will make the trip out to enjoy those first early weekends of unofficial summer So if you have flexibility, consider coming out midweek. You'll get the full summer experience without the full summer crowds Memorial Day Weekend is when the rhythm changes. The season is on. And if you've been counting down since winter, this is the weekend you've been waiting for

SETTING THE TABLE for Spring

There's something about the first warm afternoon in spring that makes you want to open every door, set a table outside, and invite people over. Not for a big production just for the pleasure of eating together in the light that stays golden a little longer now Spring entertaining in the Hamptons isn't about perfection It's about readiness

Getting your home and outdoor spaces refreshed, your hosting rhythm back, and leaning into the season's first offerings daffodils from the farm stand, fresh herbs just starting to come in, and a menu that feels both effortless and intentional

This year, I wanted to kick off the season with a spring lunch that felt like exactly that: ready, but not overdone My best friend Melissa Merlino, who also happens to be an event planner, helped me craft the perfect setup

We started with the table, because that's where everything begins Melissa has this way of making a tablescape feel collected rather than coordinated like you've been gathering beautiful things over time and they all just happen to work together

For this lunch, we used plates, silverware, and glasses from Hamptons Blue, a local business that specializes in coastal, lived-in style The blue and white palette felt classic without being predictable, and the woven chargers and simple linens gave it texture and warmth Fresh daffodils in mismatched glass vases down the center of the table, and suddenly it looked like spring had arrived on purpose

The menu was where I leaned into my favorite spring strategy: fresh local produce for the star moments, and smart conveniences for everything else I love FreshDirect, especially in the busier months, because it takes the hassle out of shopping during peak season I get all my essentials from them quality proteins, pantry staples, citrus, herbs and then when I want to make a trip to the farm stand, I can actually enjoy it instead of running through a long grocery list For this lunch, we featured their citrus steelhead crudo, which is light, elegant, and exactly the kind of dish that feels special but doesn't require you to be in the kitchen all afternoon The silky texture of the steelhead, the bright citrus, the good olive oil it's the kind of recipe that lets the ingredients do the work

And then there are the cocktails Because if you're going to host in the Hamptons, the bar matters We brought in Matt from Paperplane Cocktail Club to create a thoughtfully designed cocktail program for the afternoon Not just someone pouring standard drinks, but craft cocktails that actually reflect the season and get people talking Paperplane's whole approach is about creating a bar experience that's as memorable as everything else at your event, and you can see it in the details the garnishes, the glassware, the way each drink feels considered It's the kind of touch that elevates a lunch from nice to something people remember

Spring entertaining is the starting point for your season of hosting It's when you shake off winter, refresh your outdoor spaces, and remember what it feels like to gather people around a table in the good light. You don't need to overthink it. You just need to be ready with a beautiful table, a simple menu that leans on what's fresh and what's easy, and drinks that make people feel like you thought about them

The rest takes care of itself.

CITRUS STEELHEAD CRUDO BY

FRESHDIRECT

Light, elegant, and exactly the kind of dish that lets spring ingredients shine The silky texture of sustainable steelhead trout paired with bright citrus and good olive oil it's simple, but it feels special

Ingredients:

2 Steelhead Fillets

2 Blood Oranges or Cara Cara Oranges

1/2 Small Fennel Bulb

6 Green Olives

Instructions:

Place two steelhead fillets flesh-side up on your work surface and slice 1/8-inch thick (do not slice through skin)

Flip over and carefully slide the knife under the skin to remove

Divide slices between plates

Peel 2 blood or Cara Cara oranges and cut flesh into wedges along the sides of each segment (supreme style)

Squeeze out and reserve any juice from the scraps

Cut orange wedges into smaller pieces and scatter over fish, along with 1/4 c thinly-sliced fennel and 6 green olives cut into matchsticks

Sprinkle with good olive oil, reserved orange juice, and flaky sea salt

STRAWBERRY

HIGH BALL

A bright, refreshing cocktail that tastes like the season

The strawberry shrub (which you can make ahead and use all spring) adds depth and complexity, while the serrano agave gives it just enough kick.

Ingredients:

2oz Gin (Mezcal/Tequila/Vodka also work)

1oz Lemon Juice

1 5oz Strawberry Shrub

5oz Serrano Agave (Equal parts light agave & water, serrano infused)

3 dashes Angostura Cocoa Bitters

1 5oz Soda Water

Shake Fine strain directly over ice & soda water

Garnish with sliced strawberries or dehydrated lemon wheel

STRAWBERRY SHRUB

Ingredients

600g Organic Strawberries

60g Champagne Vinegar

7g Citric Acid

300g Cane Sugar

Macerate Strawberries and sugar together in a large container

Cover and let sit

Using a spatula, transfer the strawberry-sugar slurry into a blender

Add vinegar and acid Liquify

Press the mixture through a fine strainer Bottle and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks

SAG HARBOR Escape

We hosted our spring lunch at 57 Northview Hills Court in Sag Harbor, a shinglestyle home tucked into a quiet cul-de-sac that somehow manages to feel both polished and lived-in. The open flow between the kitchen, dining, and living areas made hosting feel effortless we could prep, gather around the island, and set the table without missing a beat Cathedral ceilings and walls of windows let in the kind of light that makes you want to linger all day

The backyard is the real showstopper A heated gunite pool surrounded by lush landscaping and a nature preserve, a full outdoor kitchen, multiple lounging areas including a fire pit and hammock, and enough sun to make you forget what season it is. It's minutes from Sag Harbor village and the best beach in town, but private enough that you genuinely don't need to go anywhere. Available for rent summer 2026 and off-season, if you're the kind of person who knows that fall and winter in Sag Harbor might actually be better

This 1930s cottage on Accabonac Road is the kind of place that makes you rethink what a Hamptons retreat should feel like Biking distance to ocean beaches, moments to the heart of East Hampton Village, surrounded by natural beauty that's been left quietly wild tall sea grasses, native trees, a new gunite pool set into an open meadow.

THE KIND OF RETREAT THAT REMINDS YOU WHY PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE WITH THE HAMPTONS IN THE FIRST PLACE

The restoration at 149 Accabonac Road feels intentional without being precious. Original wooden beams, a cathedral ceiling in the primary bedroom, light pouring through expansive glass doors. Summer mornings start with coffee on the deck, afternoons blur into long swims, evenings unfold around the outdoor bar or summer kitchen There's an outdoor shower, because of course there is, and a flow to the whole property that makes hosting feel effortless

What stays with you is how livable it all feels. This isn't a showpiece you're afraid to touch it's a home that supports real life Meals with friends, cross-breezes through the upstairs, a cozy desk nook for quiet moments. It's the kind of retreat that reminds you why people fall in love with the Hamptons in the first place: not for the spectacle, but for the rhythm of days that feel a little slower, a little more intentional, and entirely your own

Inquire for details.

MAKING THE HAMPTONS PART OF your story

For us, real estate has always been about more than just properties it's about helping people find their place in the Hamptons in whatever way feels right. Maybe it's a summer rental that becomes a tradition, or a first home where new memories can unfold. And often it's during the energy of spring when everything is coming back to life and the season ahead feels full of possibility that people find the momentum to start something new

As locals and real estate partners, we guide clients through every step of Hamptons living — seasonal rentals, long-term stays, purchases, sales, and all the little transitions in between. With deep knowledge of the area and a genuine love for this community, we ’ re here to help you take the next step, whether you ’ re discovering the Hamptons for the first time or have been coming here for years.