Dan's Papers - June 5, 2009 - What's New, What's Best in Show

I invite you to scan this supplement, which serves as a handy guide to the 5th Hamptons Home & Garden Show. This three-day event is the most distinctive and elegant of its kind on Long Island. It has taken us 9 months to assemble this extraordinary line-up of exhibitors you'll be meeting on the expo floor. Exhibitors are not only from around Long Island, but the tri-state area - even around the country. They all have one thing in common; they are serious about serving the Hamptons region and really want your business. Consider it an economic stimulus plan for your home.

I'm proud to say the show floor is larger than years past. That means you have an enormous selection of vendors no matter what your home improvement needs might be, from sprucing up a single room to a makeover of your entire home. So, if you need a shot of inspiration these days, come and expect to be titillated by the plethora of exciting home improvement ideas and solutions. All of this is here for you at the spacious and pastoral Elks Fairgrounds on County Rd. 39. Get ready to explore 17 acres of memorable products and services. You had better wear comfortable shoes.

The show has two predominant integrating themes this year. One is green. The popularity of our GreenHamptons Pavilion reveals how prevalent green thinking is now in virtually all building, remodeling and interior design approaches. As Hamptonites, we like to think we are slightly ahead of the curve, acutely socially conscious, environmentally sensitive, and trendy - fertile ground for sprouting fast growth of the green movement. GreenHamptons Pavilion vendors are scattered throughout the floor. They can be identified by their green colored back-wall draping. The other overriding theme in 2009 is, ironically, green! The kind of green that stretches you greenbacks for greater value. Everyone is seeking to get the most for their dollar these days - and rest assured, all our exhibitors are acutely aware of this. Even our hip Design & Décor section presents cost efficient decorative approaches and vignettes, artisan furniture, beautiful paintings and memorable artworks all at remarkable value. Remember, it's a buyer's market.

1. It's just fun to roam through the aisles of more than 200 eye-catching displays inside the massive 28,000 square feet, fully enclosed and carpeted tent structure (the largest on Long Island). And when you are finished, there's another 20,000 square feet outside to explore as well. Sit down, relax, have lunch, and enjoy the sunny fairgrounds. All in all, it's like shopping on the Miracle Mile, the Hamptons Home Improvement version.

2. Shop and compare with at least a couple of vendors in similar product categories. To paraphrase a popular TV banking commercial, "When vendors compete for your business, you win."

3. Uncover unique and rare products, ranging from statues, fireplaces and mantels, wall art and paintings to custom-made furniture, wine cellars, and garden antiques, to name a few.

4. It's the best place to discuss your current energy footprint and how to save with alternative energy choices - or just better insulation. Get immediately usable and practical advice on how to reduce your current oil, gas and electric bills. You can even get an energy efficiency evolution rating on the rooms in your home. Meet the area's green whiz kids and the leading movers and shakers, be it builders, architects, designers or suppliers.

5. Sit in on our highly rated "how-to" seminars held in the theater on the north side of the Expo floor. It's an extraordinary chance to learn about the latest and most effective home improvement trends. Discover what's hot and "in" for the summer, even on a tight budget. Learn about eco-friendly solutions from our two days of lectures, including the Sunday Green Seminar Series presented by the Hamptons Green Alliance members and sponsored by Hamptons.com. Our mistress of ceremonies, popular radio talk show host Natalie Weinstein, keeps the pearls of wisdom flowing over two info-packed days.

6. You've been cooped up all winter. Get out and celebrate one of the first major events of the 2009 season. Meet and mingle. Make it happen. You may even wind up on the gossip page.

7. Okay, it's time to get excited. Even our home improvement staples are higher-end and more compelling from high-tech kitchens, cutting-edge security systems, mesmerizing audio-video systems to well-built sunrooms, modular home extensions and outdoor pavers, magical landscaping presentations to slick indoor and outdoor furniture. I am not even going to mention value for your buck.

8. Come and give to a good cause. All admissions ($10 a person) received at the gate on Friday, June 5 will be donated, in full, to the Southampton Hospital.

So it's all here for you, June 5-7, 2009 with convenient local resources, boundless ideas, rare finds, great bargains, doses of inspiration, the requisite fund-raiser and tons of photo ops. And the entire event is being made into a one-hour TV special by award winning Hamptons TV-WVVH, which will air all weekend long on channel 78. How cool is that?

On behalf of the exhibitors and sponsors, speakers and hardworking team at the Hamptons Expo Group, I welcome you.