Bye Bye Montauk

Ok. It is official! my laptop died today….

I had to hand it in to the MAC store in Soho, NYC. The boys in their bright blue cotton t-shirts at the so called `Genius Bar’ in the Apple Store in Spring Street had no idea what was wrong with my confidente AKA the silver Mac Book Pro. So, with a smile and a New York accent they took my baby out of my hands and left me and my empty Louis Vuitton handbag at the counter. Lonely and sad. No, actually devastated and depressed is a better description. 3-5 days to fix it. That’s what they said, the `New York Apple Genius boys’.  Uuughhh!!!!

So, this blogging is happening from my dear master photographer friend Christel B’s monster of a computer. She is out and about town tonight while I just got back into town today after an amazing weekend in Bridge Hamptons and Montauk.  Much damage was done and I’m still licking my wounds after a really fun and rock’n'roll weekend…

I don’t know what it is. But The East Coast Beach Houses and peeps just have so much more class (or is it attitude…?) than the West Coast ditto. (I guess I’m mostly comparing NYC to LA right now since ~ San Francisco is a completely different animal than LA).   I think it’s because the East Coast has a much bigger diversity of people from different industries that mix at social events. It’s not only entertainment meets entertainment like in LA. And the sense of humor is also way different between East Coast and West Coast.

However, the true ‘Blue blood New Yorkers’ is also a very snobbish and a peculiar pack of inbreeds. I think that the term ‘ If a look could kill’ was invented by someone who got stared down by a New York woman in 6 inch heels and a 20 inch waist. I have never tried anything as daunting as this look. A mean demeanor. Intimidation just reached a whole new level.  But I guess it’s because some of these New Yorkers know their shit. They have been around the block 40 times and don’t have time for bullshitters. So I don’t blame them. But I also find it fun and ridiculous with these mind games and social games. Because at the end of the day, seriously! Who gives!!?? I only judge people by the way they react to their circumstances and how they treat their surroundings. Blood, breed, religion and money never really caught my interest.

Anyhow… Here is a small selection of my Hamptons pics.

Hell yeah!

Stairway to Heaven..

Crow’s Nest in Montauk

Surf Lodge Easy look, Montauk

Roger and Daria’s Beach House in Montauk where we stayed

JJ, R & Roger

The view from the house..

Later at Restaurant Dave’s with the girls Betty and Becks. Where The Surf Lodge is the funky and fun hang out Dave’s is the best restaurant in Montauk. Period. Go there if you are ever out East

The Hamptons

Yesterday was my mother’s birthday and when I spoke to her on the phone I got home sick for the first time in years. I really miss her and my family even though I just spent parts of the summer with them. I guess more wants more.

However, my day turned out brilliantly after all. I hopped on the 9:30 am Ambassador jitney with JJ and we went to Bridge Hamptons where we spent the day before we took the car to Montauk for night time party adventures at The Crows Nest (A brand new hot spot in Montauk. You def wanna check it out).

This is the break down:

Gorgeous Weather. Check! Gorgeous beach house with ocean view. Check! One fantastic beach party after another. Check! Beautiful New Yorker friends. Check! Keeping my tan in check. Check. Lot’s of rosé on ice. Double check!

Beach party number one in Bridge Hamptons. It probably wasn’t as cold as it looks on this picture, but I just really like my new jacket. And after Ibiza my Viking blood has gotten used to the heat so any chilled breeze makes my jump for a sweater.

The hostess Daria in Montauk and I were wearing almost the same dress and shoes by coincidence. Ehhh….! Could have been embarrassing, but we just made fun of it and took of to the Crow’s Nest Party.

JJ & JD chilling by the outdoor fireplace. I wish you could hear the waves crashing behind me

Leaving Europe

The Rock Star style continues:

I left Ibiza and got into Copenhagen very early Monday morning and had 1,5 day in my hometown before NYC was calling my name. It was an insanely busy time and after a farewell dinner and rosé with my partner in crime Tine at Victor (A classic Copenhagen spot) I decided to stay up all night to catch up on work and re-pack. Who needs sleep anyways, right?

After 2 months of traveling my usual 5 minutes ‘throwing things into a random suit case’ type of packing didn’t quite work. I had a lot of stuff. No really – a lot!! And I had to use my detail oriented skills (geeesh, do I have those..??) to make everything fit into the waaaay to small space my suit cases hold. Yes in plural. More than one suitcase.

So when the sun began to rise over beautiful Copenhagen I woke up my mother and stepfather to say our goodbyes for this time. I always stay with my family when in Denmark. I totally love their place and we get along very well.

They love to cook, drink exquisite wines and during the winter we light a fire in the fireplace. It’s such a great feeling to feel like the kid in the house a couple of weeks a year. And their place is huge so we don’t get in each others hair. It’s the perfect setup and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

So no sleep and still on my rosé back burner buzz I hop on the 6 am flight to NYC and doze off immediately. 8 hours later I’m in my favorite city in the world and more than ready for new endeavors.

Yesterday I crashed completely after sushi and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. This rock star was burned out after hectic travel arrangements and she replaced the high heels with comfy PJs.

Now it’s morning here in the West Village and I’m sitting on Café Gray Dog having my morning single shot, non-fat latte and getting ready for the first day of the rest of my life. The sun is out. I think it’s going to be a good one…

Here are a couple of pics from Copenhagen just before left the beautiful city:

Amalie

My sister Felicia & I

Minx toes in red heels

Emilia

Tine & I saying goodbye outside Victor a couple of hours before I left Europe…

New Looks

Just got some new shots I did with master photographer Max DiBiaggio in NYC.  There are many to choose from and I only have them in really low res. But you’ll get the picture of his style from these 3 shots.

Max is a genius with light. Truly! And I always love to work with him.

We did some video in July as well. Can’t wait to show you the result when he is done with the editing.

Also, some of our work will show in an Italian Magazine soon. I will publish it here when I’m granted permission by the publishers in Rome.

Fashion: Chick With Guns, Calvin Klein, Object, Zara

FORMAT

I’m doing a fashion column on a regular basis for the new magazine FORMAT. It takes point of departure in East Coast versus West Coast fashion. This is the first issue.

Work Hard Play Hard

Sitting here contemplating over the last couple of weeks with a glass of Ott Bandol Rosé, crackers, frozen grapes, gummi bears, a big fat smile and loving how this stay in NYC turned out so far.

The past week has been a mix of ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’. One of my all time favorite ’structures’, because when push comes to shove: I’m not much of a ’structure person’. I like my ever changing schedule and bohemian way of life.  I booked a couple of jobs in NYC and convinced some of my best girl friends to either take some time off and spent time with me in NYC or travel to the city. And it worked ha ha… How lucky am I?

Tomorrow I’m Copenhagen bound. I’m going back to the neck of my woods for only one day before I’m off to Greece.

More about that later.

Here are a couple of pick up shots from NYC….

Whatever you do. Own it!

And even more important: have good and loyal friends around you…. Tine, Giada & I…

Hamptons bliss 1…

Hamptons bliss 2….

haha I will never ever forget the time spent here…

Headed to work in my pajamas….. you have no idea how many fashion columns I’ve written in this kind of look… or maybe you do ….

My Montauk office…

My girls racing to meet me in Montauk… you soooo caught me on the bed!!!!!

Bridge Hampton’s pad…

Back in Manhattan, West Broadway enjoying victory of Spain…

The perfect Sunday hangout spot…. Spain just won the world cup…

Need a cool off?

My beautiful sister Sara & Mikael in NYC ….

Dining outside at Cipriani Downtown. Yes I  it’s Euro Trash, but seriously: the food is insanely good and so is the rosé and the bellinis….

Tine, Giada & I

Giada – Danish – Sicilian goes gorgeous

Jason from LA suddenly appeared….

Mazja baby…

The Wow Effect

It is the weirdest thing. This time when I got into NYC and was anticipating the crazy, warm sensation rolling over me that I usually get when I cross the Williamsburg Bridge entering Manhattan from JFK. The joyous madness of being in love with the city that never sleeps and all it has to offer. However, something was different this time. And it wasn’t the cab, the smell, the July heat or the city lights from the concrete jungle. No, it was me. My feelings were different…. I didn’t feel the jolt in my belly or recognize the instant smile I usually get on my lips when in the Empire State.  Can this really be? Is it possible that my undeniable passion for NYC is cooling off like day old, luke-warm water?

I sort of kept this discovery to myself the first couple of days. I mean, who wants to be out of love with the coolest city in the world? And I lost myself in work and the beach and high-life in The Hamptons. Now, back again in the city working and playing like I was paid to do so (which I am ha ha… Man, I feel blessed)… I’m contemplating again. Have I become the unspeakable? Have I joined the enemy and left the cool pack and become one of ‘those’… I can hardly utter the word here in Manhattan. ‘A  Los Angeles lover’….????? I wasn’t sure about this new ambivalent state of mind I found myself in, which used to be a crystal clear ‘Empire State of Mind. Have I fallen out of love with the man of my dreams??????

this was the question that I kept asking myself since I arrived late Saturday night. But then something happened.

This morning I went down to the street to pick up my single shot skim latte and a tea for my friend and I got a little lost in the neighborhood. Soon I found myself wandering the area around University, 5th ave and East 11th street debating, which coffee shop to pay a visit. The weather today is overcast, mild and feels like a bliss after 5 days of 100 degrees merciless heatwave. And right there on the corner of University and East 11th street it struck me like lightning. I fell in love all over again. Hard, passionate and sensational!!! Just like I remembered it. NYC is still the hottest thing I ever involved myself with. I might like LA and love the lifestyle and my work on the West Coast. Trust me – I do. But NYC and I will always be an item no matter how involved I get with LA or any other city on the planet.

To celebrate my rekindling flame I’ve decided to pay my favorite Spa a visit – The one and only Miss Christine Chin – to get a deluxe facial. Later I’m meeting my girls for dinner and debauchery since I’m not working tomorrow. yay!!

Here are a couple of shots from last night’s shoot and other random NYC stuff….

I paid my favorite NYC hairdresser Mazja a visit down at Arrojo Studio on 180 Varick . On Thursday’s before 4 pm they have ‘bring a friend day and get half-off’. So my old NYC friend Jeff and I decided to test it out. This shot is taken just before Mazja transformed my haystack of hair into something looking more healthy and groomed. Thanks girl!

Sipping wine and touching up between takes from last night’s shoot on location in Jersey with Max. Oh and check out how healthy my hair looks

…mirror stuff…

…more mirror stuff….

Tine & I at restaurant Lion. The people behind The Waverly Inn opened this restaurant recently. The food, wine, crowd and ambience is impeccable. All I can say is: When in NYC, go there!

Back in Manhattan

Got into Manhattan early evening yesterday after 4 days at the beach out East. Getting off the bus Midtown the heat was almost unbearable. Trash floating around on the sidewalks waiting to be picked up sometime after midnight,  contributes to a smell so horrible it’s without comparison. If you have ever been to NYC in July you know what I’m talking about.

I jumped in a cab and went home to The Village where I took a shower and jumped in another cab for a biz dinner at the new restaurant Nuella on 24th street and 6th ave. Yesterday was the pre-opening where you test the menu and tell the owner and chef what you think. So while we were discussing a film project one delicious tapas after the other was served until I was so full I didn’t fit my dress any longer. The owner is from Columbia and the food origins from Latin American cuisine. The grand opening is on Monday. Go if you are in town!

I’m wearing: Karl Lagerfeld dress, Steve Madden sandals, Zara Cardigan, Bikini top from Las Vegas, Chanle purse, my grand mother’s jewelry.

A Day With the Girls

From bad-ass Rock’n'Roll to Super deluxe!

Yesterday we left the laid back Montauk way of living to test out another type of lifestyle in Bridge Hampton. Here, we were invited to stay in the most gorgeous 20+ bedroom mansion owned by a friend of a friend. 3 other girls came out from Manhattan to double the party, we took a peak in the wine cellar and … ha ha … well… the day became one long bliss under the sun in the chilled pool.

Later the 2 guys , who take care of the house came to pick us up and we went to the private beach with food, more wine and lit up a bonfire. The guys are from Brazil so they danced capoeira and taught us samba. Today I’m really happy it was  just us at the beach. We must have been a sight for sore eyes…

Later again we went back to the house and jumped in the pool and jacuzzi.

That was one amazing day with the girls!!!!

I have a couple of more hours here and then I’m Manhattan bound.

Tine chilling poolside in Missoni of course…

Pool area

I could get used to it…

dinner and rosé champagne at the beach

Sexy kitten Anni

Marylin Monroe reference Mazja

I arrived yesterday late afternoon in Montauk and checked into the old school ’shabby-chic’ hotel called  Memory Motel. Hot spot in the 70’s for peeps like The Rolling Stones, Warhol and the likes. Now…. ha ha …. well, the new owners are these cool, young guys who know what’s up. they took over the joint one month ago, but they have decided to wait with the whole renovation process till December. So, the rooms are very ‘authentic’. I have absolutely no problem with this ‘realism’. On the contrary. I think it’s very rock’n'roll. And anyways, who wants to stay in their room when the beach is miles of pure white sand and deep, blue waves.

Last night on 4th of July I hosted a party out here and it got pretty insane after 1 a.m. More than a 1000 peeps showed up and 2 bands performed.

This morning my 2 girls Giada and Tine came out from Manhattan. they woke me up and dragged me straight down to the beach where we jumped right into the waves. Soooo amazing and way warmer than the Pacific. Then we went for lunch in Montauk Habour and caught up on all the gossip that has been going down since May over a bottle of Sancerre.

Now I’m in my wife beater, biker boots and shorts chilling outside my hotel room in a nice, chilled breeze…. But I have to get ready for the Bonfire beach party in Sag habour now, so I have to jump in the shower and dash. I guess I’ll catch you tomorrow…

have fun and enjoy your night

Montauk beach.. hungover and happy

Rock’n'roll hotel…

all booked this weekend

Tine at the beach…

Lunch at the Ocean front…

how gorgeous is this  girl..?????

…and this one….

This is NOT our lunch!!!

God Bless….