Dan's Papers - July 3, 2009 - Places to Hang and Places to Jam

Talk to anyone in their 20s and they'll be sure to tell you that after a long day at the beach, nothing is better than a night out on the town. One of the main attractions of the Hamptons is the incredible nightlife scene, and last summer's hottest spots were the Pink Elephant in Southampton, White House in Hampton Bays, and of course Lily Pond in East Hampton. With lots of outdoor space, Lily Pond is perfect for summer Friday and Saturday nights, and with amazing world-class DJs and a state of the art dance floor, inside isn't too shabby either, it's a great time.

There is a cover charge, but that's the price you'll pay for partying on celebrity stomping ground. Yes, Lily Pond is guaranteed to be just as hard to get into as last year, but it's definitely worth it. For those of us who love smaller bars, there's Cigar Bar in Sag Harbor. Conveniently located at 2 Main Street, Cigar Bar is a great place to grab a stool and chat with locals who are more than willing to talk about things other than themselves. The crowd runs a bit older than what you'd find at Lily Pond, but if you're looking for a good group, there's no better place. Should you find that you want to head further west than Cigar Bar, try the brand new Axe Lounge located at the former club Dune in Southampton. No longer just a body spray for men, Axe has decided to take over where Dune left off. Whether or not you're a fan of the idea of name brand nightclubs, Axe Lounge sounds like it will be just as fun as Dune with its DJ nights, dancing, and $14 drinks. It's certainly enough to bring back Dune's celebrity guests. Apparently Lindsay Lohan likes it, but you should see for yourself by checking out Axe Lounge at 1181 N. Sea Road in Southampton. Like Axe, there is also another "new" spot worth checking out this summer, Phao in Sag Harbor. You might be saying, "Phao? That sounds vaguely familiar." Phao was serving Sag Harbor with Thai cuisine back in 2003 before it closed and became Sen Spice, but now it's back serving Thai food next to Sen on Main Street. As the only establishment serving Thai food in the Hamptons, Phao is an obvious place to stop by for a nice dinner, but it makes for a great late night out as well. Although it stops serving food at 11 p.m., on the weekends Phao is open late and cocktails made with seasonal local produce run for about $12. If you can't make it for the Friday and Saturday scene, Phao features Lipstick Ladies night on Sundays and a DJ on Tuesday evenings.

If you're looking for that good meal, a little less DJ and a little more live music, you may be in the mood for a jam session. Luckily, a few restaurants in the Hamptons have dedicated different nights of the week to local musicians. These are great opportunities if you and your musical talent have yet to be discovered, or even if you are just looking for a chance to play, eat, and meet other musicians. Acoustic jam sessions take place at Rowdy Hall in East Hampton on Sunday nights after 9:45 p.m. Bay Burger on the Bridge/Sag Turnpike has them every Thursday night from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Bring your instrument and come play with the Bay Burger House Band while experiencing great food. If you're in the mood for a burger on Monday nights, head down to Ziggy's, also on the Bridge/Sag Turnpike for a Fat Boy - their signature burger - and their new 9 p.m. After Beach Drum Circle Party. This jam and acoustic drumdancing also features an open mic and those wishing to showcase their talent can contact Alfredo at 631-374-2111 to get on the list. Needless to say, there are so many lists worth getting on this summer, but lucky for us, convenient scheduling has made it possible for jamming on the weeknights and clubbing on the weekends. Now if only parking the in Hamptons could be that simple.