The HAMPTON Report

# recessionomics The Way We Live Now: Traditionally. We’re subtly reverting to the days of yore. When women were paid in buttons. When the Hamptons were sleepy beach villages. When money was…controlled by Second Life sex fiends. Well, semi-traditionally. More »

Activist documentarians orchestrated a sting operation at a restaurant that officials say served illegal whale meat.

Outdoor dining season seems to come to the city earlier each year, with New Yorkers eager to take advantage of a growing number of outdoor options.

While 2007 is not considered a great vintage of red Burgundy, the wines demonstrate what is so great about the region.

Outdoor dining season seems to come to the city earlier each year, with New Yorkers eager to take advantage of a growing number of options.

There is little doubt in our mind that if the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was filled with 10 ft. tall blue people with tails, that “Avatar” would have won the best motion picture Oscar on Sunday night.

But it’s not — perhaps sadly. “Avatar” and director James Cameron picked up three awards in technical categories: visual effects, art direction and cinematography. And for the highest grossing film of all time — $2.6 billion worldwide and counting — that seems like robbery. You can read about “Avatar” as an Oscar “loser” here. And there is no doubt, it lost. But did the Academy get it right?

Movie ticket seller Fandango.com ran an online poll and “Avatar” was deemed the biggest snub of the night by 57 percent of those responding. Quentin Tarantino losing for best screenplay to “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” was voted the big snub by 21 percent and Cameron losing best director to ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow was considered  the worst by 10 percent.

We note one consideration. Just because “Avatar” is popular with fans, that doesn’t mean it has to be popular with the Academy, which has about 5800 voting members. Importantly, most all members are in the business of making movies, and everyday they judge films on financial merit in one way or another. Oscar is one chance where they get to judge the art of film. That said, how can they deny the art of “Avatar”? Tell us what you think, here. And while you’re at it, you can read our fashion story and tell us what you think about the ladies and their gowns.

Resort Maps, creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced the launch of its “Best Worst Trip” contest.

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# recaps This week HBO’s jean-making drama didn’t mention denim, but there was all this bullshit about boyfriends and ex-boyfriends and birthday parties and Avenue. The moral? If you want any attention from the NYC ladeez, you better have a flat stomach. More »

Gasparilla Island and Captiva-Sanibel both are in the Barron’s Top 10 best places for second homes, according to a story written by Steven Sears. While Gasparilla was ranked two places lower the Sanibel/Captiva it had one huge advantage. Gasparilla Island property values have dropped only 18 percent during the Great Recession compared with 40 percent for its neighbors.