Keep your groundhog. Magnolias? Shmagnolias! The real sign of warm weather’s arrival: the opening of the Pridwin in Shelter Island.
The sweeping, white clapboard charmer of a resort sits facing the peaceful waters of the Shelter Island Sound on aptly named Crescent Beach. It’s a perch that’s thoroughly beautiful on a sunny day, but it’s the evening sunset views that are nothing short of a show-stopper. There is no summer without at least one night, cocktail in hand, watching the sun go down. Dramatic? Maybe—but we’re big fans of this circa 1927 mainstay.
After a long wait, last summer was the big reveal of the newly renovated digs, now a partnership between Cape Resorts and the family that’s owned the iconic hotel since 1962, the Petrys, when Dick Petry and his father-in-law, Frederick Frost, and Paul and Dorothy Mobius, bought the hotel, which Frost and his family—including Dick’s wife, Edie—had vacationed at since the 1930s.
You can still feel that special pull of the place, the one that made the Petrys take a gamble on becoming hotel owners all those decades ago. You can still find Dick’s sons, Glen and Greg Petry—the latter an avid fisherman whose catch sometimes winds up on your plate—pretty much every weekend welcoming guests and sitting en masse around a table with friends and family, making new memories. Because that’s what you do here.
For the 2023 season, there is so much throw-back fun in store for guests and visitors. Local guitarist Jim Turner leading acoustic Happy Hour singalongs, tennis, pickle ball, water skiing and wake boarding, fishing expeditions lead by Greg Petry and his son, Todd, Friday night S’mores around the fire pits, and yoga in the morning every Saturday—and that’s just the tip of ship for guests here.
And for those who just come for the food, drink and spectacular sunsets, there’s lots on the menu to be excited about. Chef Todd Ruiz is keeping much under wrap before the seasonal reveal, but the Terrace bar manager Gillian Georges has a little sneak peak for us.
Georges started out on track to become a chef, and through a serendipitous mentorship in her native California, wound up behind the stick. She’s been the chief shaker for the Bazaar by José Andrés in Beverly Hills and even did a stint as bar manager for the venerable Nick & Toni’s.
This summer, her seasonally minded recipes will take their star turn at the Pridwin’s Terrace bar. In particular, expect to have her Double Trouble on regular rotation. This mix of both tequila and mezcal, fresh watermelon juice, ancho chili and hibiscus syrup is at once refreshing, earthy and spicy—everything you want for a sunset sip. “This will be our signature cocktail for the summer season,” says Georges. “It’s bright, spicy and smokey and perfect to enjoy by the pool or beach!”
A suggestion nobody needs made twice.
The Pridwin Hotel & Cottages re-opens for the season April 20. Make your room reservations here and nab yourself a dinner reservations here.
