I stumbled across this article "The Hamptons in Flip-Flops" in today's NY Times, addressing the monetary aspects of surviving a summer in NY's famed beach escape amidst the the financial crisis. Mainly discussing fashion & lifestyle, the article points out the 'discounts' that local boutiques & restaurants are offering which turn out not to be a deal at all (“beach shacks” selling $200 slacks, expensive restaurants offering a free glass of wine? No deal here.) As journalist Allen Salkin notes: "Low-key is the Hamptons theme this year, no matter how much it costs."
www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/fashion/17hamptons.html?_r=1&ref=fashion
