Memorial Day Weekend marks the opening of the "summer season" in the Hamptons - those who rent houses can take possession and those who own, aired theirs out weeks ago. The variety of people who decide to claim the Hamptons as their own for the summer is endless. Established Wall Street and corporate business types gravitate to the Hamptons to socialize together and with those in the arts and film. Middle aged couples and singles seek out the peace and relaxation that comes from removing themselves from the day-to-day grind of suburban commuting and/or city living. Young couples are attracted to the beach and barbecues, and all that means for their growing families. And the recently graduated singles find the singles-scene irresistible, as they gather to look one another over to find some fun and maybe a mate.
These seasonal interlopers come in every size and shape, and are endlessly entertaining to observe. Some are decked out in designer wear, others supplied by Target. Some wear leather high-heeled sandals and others find plastic more to their liking. Sneakers may be pitch-black, and top-siders may be blue. Luggage could even have initials of its own.
Every year Peter and I consider the arrival of the LIRR Cannonball train to be the official start of the season. For nearly two decades, you'd find me on that train every Friday of the year - the 3:58 p.m. out of Penn Station, arriving "on or close" to 6:15 p.m. in Bridgehampton. Once Memorial Day comes around, the railroad doubles the size of the train, from six double-decker cars to twelve, to accommodate the throngs, requiring the train to stop twice in every station. I used to strategically plan exactly where to sit in order to get off the last of the first six cars to stop, which would place me at the top of the stairs, for a quick and "painless" get-away.
The diversity of the crowds on the Cannonball was, and is, always amazing, but their excitement in anticipation of the summer to come and being in the Hamptons is palpable. They arrive on the same train and depart to their various corners of our world in everything from Mercedes to Volkswagen's - always anxious and eager to get under way. The pandemonium they create as they disembark the train in each station by the hundreds, never lasts long - generally not more than twenty minutes or so, but we find it immensely entertaining and worthy of recording - so here is a second year's recording of Friday night's arrival of the Cannonball in Bridgehampton.
Photos and slide show ©2011 Claudia Ward
Music: Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi
So what do you think?
that completely fixed it- thanks.
so much fun to watch this with the music especially.
It is interesting as I watched Peter's first, then this one and I love how the 2 of your chose different presentations. I liked your thematic inclusions too. and how things slid together and apart.
great people watching as you say.
really both are so cool- made me smile.
and so glad to know to turn the HD OFF- that cured it and made a seamless flow.
Posted by: ally | Monday, June 06, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Ally, It may be because this is in High Def, try clicking on the HD just below the picture. I think it will flash "HD is off", that may help. Let me know. Thanks!
Posted by: Claudia | Monday, June 06, 2011 at 08:05 AM
I tried the later one first, and now this one. I really like how you put it together, thematically but again, not sure if it was my computer but it was playing stop/start and not at all flowing like all of your other videos.
a problem?
or maybe just me?
looks cool if I could only view it.
Posted by: ally | Sunday, June 05, 2011 at 09:05 PM