Your Custom Text Here
Kerri Walsh Jennings Is Bringing Hero Volley Back to Montauk This Week
If you're out east this week, add this to your plans. Hero Volley -- the beach volleyball tournament founded by three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings -- is back in Montauk July 28-30, and it's one of those summer events that delivers.
I went last year. The wellness session was a highlight -- Kerri is magnetic in person, and getting to hear her talk about her Olympic career in that setting was genuinely special. We also brought the kids to the Pro-Am tournament, and what struck me most was the mix of people on the sand -- local families, serious volleyball fans, people who just wandered over and stayed for hours. That's a hard thing to manufacture and Hero Volley has it naturally.
If you're out east this week, add this to your plans. Hero Volley -- the beach volleyball tournament founded by three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings -- is back in Montauk July 28-30, and it's one of those summer events that delivers.
I went last year. The wellness session was a highlight -- Kerri is magnetic in person, and getting to hear her talk about her Olympic career in that setting was genuinely special. We also brought the kids to the Pro-Am tournament, and what struck me most was the mix of people on the sand -- local families, serious volleyball fans, people who just wandered over and stayed for hours. That's a hard thing to manufacture and Hero Volley has it naturally.
WHAT IS HERO VOLLEY?
Hero Volley is a multi-day beach volleyball experience that brings together elite professional athletes, local lifeguards, high-level amateurs, and the broader Hamptons community. It was founded in 2025 by Kerri Walsh Jennings -- three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated beach volleyball players in history -- with the goal of growing the sport while keeping it rooted in community and coastal culture.
The event takes place at iconic Montauk venues and blends elite competition with wellness, music, and hospitality. A portion of proceeds benefits the Hampton Lifeguard Association, which supports water safety programs and the local lifeguards who keep our beaches safe all summer.
THE FULL 2026 SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, July 28
Youth & Adult Hero Volley Clinics | Lion's Fields, Montauk
Wednesday, July 29
Hero Volley Wellness Session led by Kerri Walsh Jennings | Gurney's Montauk Resort & Spa (invite only)
Sunset welcome drinks and live music | The Montauket
Thursday, July 30
Pro-Am Volleyball Tournament | Hero Beach Club / Kirk Park Beach
WHO'S COMPETING:
This year's Pro-Am brings together thirteen teams featuring some of the best players in the game alongside VIPs, local lifeguards, and standout amateurs. Athletes competing include Taylor Crabb, Andy Benesh, Phil Dalhausser, Troy Field, Casey Jennings, Taylor Sander, Brooke Nuneviller, Taryn Brasher, and Kristen Nuss Cruz.
WHY IT FEELS DIFFERENT:
Most summer events in the Hamptons are either very exclusive or very crowded. Hero Volley sits in a rare middle ground -- it's high caliber without being inaccessible. Watching world-class athletes compete on the same stretch of sand where local families are set up with their kids is a genuinely Montauk thing, and it's part of what makes this event worth coming back to.
registration & INFO:
Head to herovolley.com for the full schedule, and updates.
photo credits: Hero Volley, Andrew Dresher, Daniel Rahal, Jenna Van Asco
Love this side of the Hamptons? Get our free Hamptons Homes & Seasons guide - 30+ pages of the East End’s best, town by town from Westhampton to Montauk. Get it here: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptonshomesandseasons
Keep exploring: The Hedges Inn Is Back — And It Was Worth the Wait, and the rest of our Hamptons guide. Read more from our Hamptons guide: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptons
Tuesdays at Main Beach Are Back -- Here's Everything You Need to Know
If you're looking for the best free thing to do on a Tuesday night in the Hamptons this summer, this is it.
Tuesdays at Main Beach is back for its fifth season, and it's become one of those summer traditions that just feels like East Hampton at its best. Free live music, ocean sunsets, a blanket on the sand, and thousands of people showing up simply because it's a beautiful evening and there's nowhere else they'd rather be.
The series is presented by the East Hampton Village Foundation and runs every Tuesday evening through September 8th, starting at 6pm. No tickets, no reservations -- just show up.
If you're looking for the best free thing to do on a Tuesday night in the Hamptons this summer, this is it.
Tuesdays at Main Beach is back for its fifth season, and it's become one of those summer traditions that just feels like East Hampton at its best. Free live music, ocean sunsets, a blanket on the sand, and thousands of people showing up simply because it's a beautiful evening and there's nowhere else they'd rather be.
The series is presented by the East Hampton Village Foundation and runs every Tuesday evening through September 8th, starting at 6pm. No tickets, no reservations -- just show up.
The 2026 Lineup
July
July 7 -- Candy Shop (Opening Night)
July 14 -- Yacht Pockets
July 21 -- Hello Brooklyn
July 28 -- Nancy Atlas
August
August 4 -- Black and Yellow
August 11 -- Cherry Bombs
August 18 -- Rubix Cube
August 25 -- Winston Ir
September
September 1 -- Hot Lava
September 8 -- Fred Goldring (Closing Night)
What to Know Before You Go
Parking fills up fast, especially on opening nights and peak summer weeks. Plan to arrive early or consider parking further out and walking in. Bring a blanket or low beach chairs, sunscreen, and layers for when the sun goes down -- the ocean breeze picks up in the evening.
The Beach Hut stays open late on Tuesday nights, so you can grab dinner and drinks right there -- they're serving beer, wine, and frosé. Or pack a cooler and make a full evening of it. Both are completely valid strategies.
This is a community event in the best sense. Families, locals, visitors, people who've been coming for years and people discovering it for the first time. It has a rhythm to it that feels very East Hampton -- unhurried, beautiful, and genuinely free.
Ten Tuesdays. Ten bands. One of the best stretches of beach on the East End.
We'll see you there. ☀️
Love this side of the Hamptons? Get our free Hamptons Homes & Seasons guide - 30+ pages of the East End’s best, town by town from Westhampton to Montauk. Get it here: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptonshomesandseasons
Keep exploring: Topside at Gosman’s: The One Thing in Montauk That Didn’t Change, and the rest of our Hamptons guide. Read more from our Hamptons guide: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptons
Topside at Gosman's: The One Thing in Montauk That Didn't Change
If you've been coming to Montauk for any length of time, you remember the conversation. New ownership at Gosman's, and suddenly everyone had an opinion. It was going to be different. The magic was going to be gone. The place that had been a Montauk institution for decades was about to become something unrecognizable.
That was a few years ago now. And I'm happy to report - Topside is exactly what it's always been.
If you've been coming to Montauk for any length of time, you remember the conversation. New ownership at Gosman's, and suddenly everyone had an opinion. It was going to be different. The magic was going to be gone. The place that had been a Montauk institution for decades was about to become something unrecognizable.
That was a few years ago now. And I'm happy to report - Topside is exactly what it's always been.
Topside vibes
Tucked above the main Gosman's complex with a view straight over the inlet, Topside is adults only. No kids. Which in the middle of a Hamptons summer, is a sentence that deserves its own paragraph.
It's not a scene. It's not trying to be. It's a raw bar, cold drinks, and one of the best views in Montauk. That's it. That's the whole thing - and that's exactly why it works.
The move is simple: come off the beach, rinse off, and head straight there. Order clams and oysters, get a drink, and just sit with it for a while. No rush, no noise, no performance. Just the inlet, the breeze, and the kind of afternoon that reminds you why you come out here in the first place.
About Those Seals
Last night we were sitting at the raw bar and a seal came swimming through the inlet. Calm as anything, completely unbothered. It happens more than you'd think out there - the seals are regulars - and it never stops feeling like a gift.
It's the kind of moment that doesn't happen at a crowded restaurant or a packed beach. It happens when you slow down enough to actually be somewhere.
Why It Matters That Nothing Changed
There's something worth saying about a place that survives a transition like that intact. Gosman's has been part of Montauk's identity for a long time, and the anxiety around the ownership change was real. People who love a place always worry.
But Topside held. The raw bar is still there. The view is still there. The adults only policy is still there. The seals are still there.
Some places know exactly what they are and don't need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. Topside is one of them. In a summer full of new openings and buzzy spots competing for attention, there's something genuinely reassuring about that.
Best visited late afternoon after a beach day. Go for the raw bar, stay for the view. Keep your eyes on the inlet.
Love this side of the Hamptons? Get our free Hamptons Homes & Seasons guide - 30+ pages of the East End’s best, town by town from Westhampton to Montauk. Get it here: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptonshomesandseasons
Keep exploring: The Hedges Inn Is Back — And It Was Worth the Wait, and the rest of our Hamptons guide. Read more from our Hamptons guide: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptons
The Hedges Inn Is Back — And It Was Worth the Wait
I had high expectations for The Hedges Inn reopening. I was not disappointed.
After a full off-season renovation, one of East Hampton's most beloved properties quietly returned this week, and from the moment you arrive, it's clear that real thought and care went into every detail.
I had high expectations for The Hedges Inn reopening. I was not disappointed.
After a full off-season renovation, one of East Hampton's most beloved properties quietly returned this week, and from the moment you arrive, it's clear that real thought and care went into every detail.
A First Impression That Stops You
The new blue front door greets you before you even step inside. It's a small thing, but it sets the tone immediately. Considered. Intentional. Warm.
The Mural
Just inside, there's a new mural of the house at the head of the pond, with all these little East Hampton details woven in. So charming. It's the kind of welcome that tells you this place knows exactly where it is and is proud of it.
Swifty's, Reimagined
Swifty's, the restaurant inside The Hedges Inn, has been completely reimagined. Each area has its own distinct design, and there's a stunning new bar. But the space I keep thinking about is what I'm already calling the garden room.
Lattice walls, lattice ceiling, opening out to the fountain. It feels like a luxurious patio leading into a perfect Hamptons garden. It can close off for private dinners or cocktail parties, and it's the kind of space you want to linger in long after the meal is over.
The Food, The Service, The Details
The meal was delicious and the service was exceptional. But what struck me most was that all the small details that made Swifty's special before? Still there. A renovation can sometimes sand away the soul of a place. This one didn't.
The Gift Shop
A lovely new addition: a small gift shop with branded merch for the whole family, dog included. Genuinely charming and the perfect thing to browse on your way out.
The Ending
We finished the night with s'mores around the firepit.
That's the Hedges Inn. Beautiful, warm, and completely itself. This is what a reopening should feel like.
📍 The Hedges Inn / Swifty's, East Hampton
Love this side of the Hamptons? Get our free Hamptons Homes & Seasons guide - 30+ pages of the East End’s best, town by town from Westhampton to Montauk. Get it here: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptonshomesandseasons
Keep exploring: The Hamptons Hidden Gem Families Need to Know About This Summer, and the rest of our Hamptons guide. Read more from our Hamptons guide: https://jenna-joe.com/hamptons
The Hamptons Hidden Gem Families Need to Know About This Summer
Most people drive right past Madoo in Sagaponack. And honestly? That's part of what makes it special.
Tucked away on Sagg Lake Lane, the Madoo Conservancy is a historic garden established in 1967 by artist, gardener, and writer Robert Dash. It's been called "an ever-changing masterpiece" by the New York Times -- and once you walk through the entrance marked by four large stone pots, you'll understand why. It feels less like a garden and more like stepping into someone's living, breathing work of art.
Most people drive right past Madoo in Sagaponack. And honestly? That's part of what makes it special.
Tucked away on Sagg Lake Lane, the Madoo Conservancy is a historic garden established in 1967 by artist, gardener, and writer Robert Dash. It's been called "an ever-changing masterpiece" by the New York Times -- and once you walk through the entrance marked by four large stone pots, you'll understand why. It feels less like a garden and more like stepping into someone's living, breathing work of art.
And right now, admission is completely free.
Why Families Should Know About It This Summer
Madoo isn't just beautiful -- it's genuinely fun for kids. The paths are wonderfully uneven, the garden feels like a labyrinth, and there's always something new to discover. It's the kind of morning that doesn't require a screen or a plan.
Monday Morning Storytime
This is the detail I want every parent on the East End to know. Madoo partners with the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton for a free Monday morning storytelling hour -- toddlers through age five, every Monday from 10 to 10:30am, right in the garden with Shanon Hughes, Head of Children's Services at the Hampton Library.
Bring a blanket. Pack a picnic. Plan to stay longer than you think.
Registration is required and it's through the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton -- call 631-537-0015 to reserve your spot.
Plan Your Visit
Summer hours and booking details are available at madoo.org. A few things to know before you go: wear sturdy shoes (the paths are uneven), no dogs, and photography for personal use is welcome -- tag them at @madoogardens.
You can also explore a digital guide to the garden through the Bloomberg Connects app before or during your visit.
Madoo is the Hamptons that actually lives here. Go find it.
Madoo Conservancy, Sagg Lake Lane, Sagaponack, NY | madoo.org
Introducing Paperplane Cocktail Club: The Best Private Bartending Service in The Hamptons
Are you looking for a reliable and experienced private bartending service in The Hamptons? Look no further. As a Hamptons real estate agent, I have had the pleasure of working with Paperplane Cocktail Club. Their expertise in cocktail making, personalized craft bartending, and event planning is unparalleled in the area. With years of experience under their belt, they cater to all occasions, no matter how big or small. In this blog post, I'll be sharing with you why I recommend Paperplane Cocktail Club to all my clients and customers.
Are you looking for a reliable and experienced private bartending service in The Hamptons? Look no further. As a Hamptons real estate agent, I have had the pleasure of working with Paperplane Cocktail Club. Their expertise in cocktail making, personalized craft bartending, and event planning is unparalleled in the area. With years of experience under their belt, they cater to all occasions, no matter how big or small. In this blog post, I'll be sharing with you why I recommend Paperplane Cocktail Club to all my clients and customers.
Unparalleled Cocktail Making and Bartending Services
At Paperplane Cocktail Club, your guests will be treated to a personalized and unique experience that they will always remember. Their highly-qualified bartenders specialize in craft cocktails and mixology, which means each drink is made to perfection. From classic cocktails to contemporary blends, Paperplane Cocktail Club can cater to all personal preferences. They also provide cocktail making classes that are both informative and fun. So, whether you're looking for a customized cocktail menu or to have a fun-filled cocktail making class, this is the right spot for you.
Professional Event Planning and Coordination
Paperplane Cocktail Club has the expertise to handle all aspects of your event planning. They help you plan the perfect cocktails, menu, decorations, and can also coordinate with your vendors to provide seamless event planning and coordination. They work closely with their clients to understand their vision and expectations, to ensure that they meet all necessary requirements. Whether you're looking to host a small intimate gathering, a corporate event, or a full-scale wedding, they will make sure that every detail is taken care of.
Exquisite Service and Attention to Detail
At Paperplane Cocktail Club, they take customer service to the next level. From the moment you contact them, their team is dedicated to meeting your unique needs and providing excellent service. They are committed to providing personalized attention to every client and offer tailor-made services to cater to your preferences.
Experience and Proven Track Record
Founded in 2021, Paperplane Cocktail Club has quickly established itself as the top private bartending service in The Hamptons. Their highly qualified bartenders have catered to numerous events, including poolside parties, birthdays, corporate functions, bachelorette’s and many more. They have delivered quality and consistent services, earning them a reputation as a top-rated service provider through word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. This gives you the assurance that they are reliable, competent, and will exceed your expectations.
In summary, for all your bartending and event planning needs in The Hamptons, look no further than Paperplane Cocktail Club. Their professionalism, exceptional services, attention to detail, and personalized customer experience sets them apart. As a Hamptons real estate agent, I highly recommend them. Call them now, and let them make your event an unforgettable experience.
And meet them for yourself this weekend at our exclusive broker’s open house!
Poolside Broker’s
Open House
Featuring Left on Friday, Paperplane Cocktail Club, Vacation Inc and Lobster rolls from Hooked.
6 Hamilton Drive, Montauk
Saturday, September 2nd
1:00-3:00pm