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Hamptons Happenings

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Hamptons Eats …What’s up Doc? Bug’s Bunny would have been in Carrot Heaven at Estia’s Carrot Root Tasting… Carrots, an essential in every kitchen.

DSC_8995On Wednesday November 12 I attended a carrot tasting harvest. Estia’s Little Kitchen hosted their first in a series of root tastings.
This started last summer when Colin Ambrose of Estia’s Little Kitchen decided he wanted to explore the carrot with his friends, well-known hamptons chefs and farmers in the Hamptons. Christopher Polidoro with Quail Hill Farm farmer Scott Chasky
Joseph Realmuto with Nick & Toni’s Garden manager Jeff Negron
Jason Wiener with Almond pal, Sagaponack farmer Marilee Foster
Todd Jacobs with Fresh friends and partner farmers Bette & Dale
Kyle Koenig with Topping Rose House garden manager Jeff Negron
Robert Durkin and the garden at Robert’s in Watermill
. Each chef & Farmer displayed their control seed (scarlet Nantes) and a choice seed. In addition to tasting raw and steamed carrots, the chefs prepared a dish of their choosing and presented it on the counter at The Little Kitchen.carrot

I brought my daughter Allura with me and we had a great time learning about the different variations of carrots, and tasting each one of them. Growing up in Harlem, I was unaware that carrots were not just orange. DSC_8925At the tasting we ate purple carrots, white carrots, red carrots and of course the orange carrot. Some were light and sweet, others had your typical carrot taste we liked many of the carrots but we especially enjoyed the Atomic Red from the Garden of Estia’s Little Garden, we also enjoyed the carrot from Dales Fresh Mix from Todd Jacobs from Fresh and farmers Bette & Dale.
After everyone tasted each carrot Colin conducted a Q&A. Each participant brought all of their 20 foot carrot beds production to compare and discuss. One of the questions asked was about seeding:
Colin: Once your carrot seeds are set how to do you maintain that between the hard set and the harvest?
Quail Hill Farm farmer Scott Chasky: Weeds are not allowed… laughter erupted in the room…take a listen to his response….

DSC_8986Allura and I were in carrot heaven, the prepared dishes were so delicious, the Fritters, the Rabbit pie and Dumplings were among our favorite but my personal favorite were the mini carrot cakes made by Cassandra Shupp, the pastry chef from Topping Rose House. This was really one of the BEST carrot cakes I have ever tasted and I just wanted more.DSC_9000 2

I am looking forward to the Beet Tasting in this series of Root Tastings…All remaining carrots were donated to the Sag Harbor Food Pantry.

Photo credit: Allura Leggard

Holiday Gift Guide for the Couch Potato in your life!

Holiday Gift Guide for the Couch Potato in your life!

Hamptons Coffee gift cards, Gift basket from Golden Pear.

Of course you can’t be a couch potato with chapped lips….BUTTER LONDON LIPPY
Liquid Lipstick,$18.00,

GIFT CARDS HAMPTONS COFFEE

Hampton Coffee

Hamptons Happening: Cranksgiving comes to the Hamptons
Saunders_LogoSaunders & Associates is proud to join forces with the nationwide Cranksgiving movement. This ride was the brainchild of NYC cycling enthusiasts who wanted to pair pedaling with giving.

The concept is simple, a route is created that takes you to four different grocery stores. You pay nothing to join the ride, Instead, you are asked to bring your wallet and purchase non-perishables at each grocery store stop along the way – the amount you spend is completely up to you. Spend the morning riding your bike with a group of awesome riders and you help members of your community have food on their tables for the holidays.

What could be better than being able to help someone have food on their table for the holiday. The event will start in East Hampton Village on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.

logoAll donations for this ride will go to the East Hampton Food Pantry. They plan to feed more than 31,000 people this year in Amagansett, East Hampton, Montauk, Springs and Wainscott.

NBC’s TODAY Show will be at Cranksgiving documenting the event and will be airing the footage on Monday, 11/24!

Ride details:
Ride will start and finish at the East Hampton Middle School, 76 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY
Registration will begin at 10am. The ride will begin at 11am.

Please bring:
• Bike with a helmet and a bike lock
• Large, sturdy backpack to carry your non-perishable goods
• At least $20 to purchase the food (bring more if you want to donate more!) There is no registration fee.

Please check in when you arrive to receive a free map with your route — including stops at local grocery stores — a shopping list of food requested by the East Hampton Food Pantry and an envelope to collect all the receipts for your purchased items.

The ride is approximately 6 miles. There will be fun prizes and giveaways along the way!10348539_10152473843003575_3037848298029843841_n-2

Remember, this is a charity ride and not a race. Ride safe, be nice and treat others like you would like to be treated.

Cranksgiving is lots of fun, helps a good cause and shines a positive light on the local community. Please come and support the community, either by participating in the ride or cheering on the bicyclist. Come and ride with Team TODAY? RSVP here. If you can’t participate, please help them reach their goal of raising 1 million meals by Christmas with the help of Feeding America.

It is my hope that Cranksgiving in the Hamptons expand next year to other towns… 2014 it will start in East Hampton Town, but next year lets expand this to other areas.

If you need to rent a bike contact Amagansett Beach & Bike

Hamptons Happenings: Literature Live! To Kill a Mockingbird
Literature Live! presents
To Kill a Mockingbird
Public Performances Fridays & Saturdays in November
Weekday Performances November 5-29, contact the Box Office for tickets
New this year! All students come FREE.
Bay Street Theater
1 Bay St, Sag Harbor, New York 11963

Photo by Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com
Photo by Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com

CLICK HERE: TO PURCHASE TICKETS

The cast is made up of many local actors from Sag Harbor, Hampton Bays and Calverton who have participated in a variety of programs at Bay Street Theater. The cast includes Chloë Dirksen (Jean Louise Finch), Cooki Winborn (Calpurnia), Jemma Kosanke (Scout), Carolyn Popp (Miss Maudie), Rob DiSario (Heck Tate), William Sturek (Judge Taylor), Jessica Mortellaro (Mayella Ewell), Joe Pallister (Bob Ewell), Hudson Troy (Jem), Thomas Schiavoni (Dill), Scott Eck (Atticus Finch), William Sturek (Mr. Cunningham), Chauncy Thomas (Tom Robinson), and Al Bundonis (Mr. Gilmer). Many of the cast members have participated in Literature Live! productions such as The Crucible, and The Diary of Anne Frank, as well as in Bay Street’s Mainstage productions including Romance, Men’s Lives and Conviction.2727mockingbirdflyerwcast

Hamptons Wellness: Are You Getting Restful Sleep
We all need to sleep. It is an essential function of life, but sleep nowadays can be significantly disrupted. You may have been in bed for eight hours, but then you wake up feeling groggy. You now live in a world that requires you to go, go, and go. Many nights, you may be unable to shut your mind off, which reduces your ability to get enough restful sleep. Those with insomnia struggle further and find their quality of day-to-day life decline due to a lack of energy. Luckily, some people turn to natural treatments such as smoking marijuana to help them get a restful nights sleep. You can get more information on cannabis and its positive impacts at Leaf2Go. However, if this isn’t for you, another method to turn around your lack of sleep must be found. In turn, you have trouble staying alert throughout the day. Moreover, it can have a profound effect on your daily life. Here are some ways to make sure you are getting enough quality sleep:

  1. Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time, and wake up at the same time, even on weekends.
  2. Avoid taking naps. If you have insomnia, this could be why. However, if you need a cat nap, 30 minutes should be the limit.
  3. Dont be a victim of after-dinner dozing. Get up and do some activity after your meal. Moreover, big meals right before bed can cause stomach issues and heartburn.
  4. Avoid that nightly drink after work. Alcohol interferes with the quality of sleep.
  5. Caffeinated drinks can also be a culprit. It can cause sleep problems many hours after you finish drinking it.
  6. Make sure you get enough exercise. 20-30 minutes of daily activity, like a walk or a bike ride can help you sleep more soundly.
  7. Turn off the television. Many people use them to fall asleep. However, TVs stimulate the brain. That goes for your computer too. Read a book instead.
  8. Keep your bedroom cool. A bedroom that is too hot or too cold can reduce sleep quality. The temperature should be around 65 degrees.
  9. Manage your stress. A simple thing as getting organized can help. Moreover, taking a break when you need one goes a long way.
  10. You may use smoking as a coping mechanism. However, you should stop. Nicotine is a stimulant.
  11. Make sure your mattress is comfortable.
  12. Increase your exposure to natural light during the day. This will help with the production of melatonin.
  13. Take a bath before bed. It will help you wind down.
  14. Stop worrying about the day. If it can be put off until tomorrow, deal with it then.
  15. Write down any bothering thoughts in a journal. This way you can unload.
  16. Dont watch the clock while trying to fall asleep. It can increase your stress.

If you follow these tips and are still having trouble with getting a restful night’s sleep, you should see your doctor. It could be a sign of something more, such as:

  1. Diabetes: frequent urination, symptoms of low blood sugar, nighttime limb pain, and night sweats.
  2. Fibromyalgia: a condition characterized by painful ligaments and tendons. Researchers have found that about 50% of fibromyalgia sufferers have an abnormally deep sleep, in which slow brain waves are mixed with waves usually associated with relaxed wakefulness. People who suffer from fibromyalgia may find themselves in a lot of pain most of the time, and this doesn’t help when the time comes to get a good night’s sleep. Not only can products like these cbd topicals help with chronic pain symptoms such as fibromyalgia, but they have also been known to help people who are suffering from insomnia to get the sleep that they are desperately craving. Sleep is important for us all, so if there hasn’t been any luck to help improve your sleep pattern as of yet, it may be worth it to check out sites like everydayoptimalcbd.com, in the hopes of trying alternative methods to dealing with sleep, as well as the pains experienced from Fibromyalgia. With this being said, for anything new, do some research beforehand. This research is vital due to the confusion that can be experienced due to the different types of CBD available. For example, looking into the difference between full spectrum vs broad spectrum cbd is essential to decide what’s best for resolving your problems.
    Most people may decide to use this course of treatment after checking with their doctors first so that they know they are safe to take. If you think that you are suffering from fibromyalgia, make sure you seek medical advice.
  3. An overactive thyroid stimulates the nervous system, making it hard to fall asleep. It also causes night sweats.
  4. Heart failure: the heart’s inability to circulate blood properly. It can cause fluid to build up in the lungs and tissues. Patients with heart failure may awaken during the night feeling short of breath.
  5. Kidney disease: these damaged organs can no longer filter fluids and keep electrolytes in balance. Waste products build up in the blood and can result in insomnia or restless legs syndrome.
  6. Enlarged prostate: a person can have the urge to urinate constantly, getting up five or six times a night.
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The writer, Trisha Vassello, is a student of medicine at University of Florida’s College of Medicine who uses writing on medical topics as a means to provide supplemental income. Many of her friends work in the trucking industry, and so she also intends to get certified for DOT physical examinations, and to better facilitate this she plans to register her future practice online through www.driverphysicals.com.