I think it’s kind of funny how you can sharply tune into things that you may not have noticed before a topic is acutely on your mind. Case in point: My running mix.
About twice a year, I try to make a new grouping of songs to keep my feet moving and my brain motivated with accelerated songs that make me forget all about the fact that I’m dragging my butt around a park or the hills of my nabe. This summer, I threw the 2010 Florence and the Machine song “Dog Days Are Over” on this summer’s mix, because, well, if you know the song you know it’s a pretty good one to get you moving. But not until a couple of weeks ago did I notice this little bit of lyric:
“Can you hear the horses? ‘Cause here they come…”
Photographer David Benthal and I started working on the Hampton Classic story in this issue a solid year ago in order to have it ready for this issue in your hands. I had never been. Truthfully, I had it in my head that, with all the shmancy, celeb stuff that seems to make news there, maybe the Classic wasn’t my kinda feed bag. But you know what? The Hampton Classic is a pretty amazing feat of equine sportsmanship and, truly, love of these amazing creatures.
As to that, I got curious: Who takes care of them? Who are the people making sure these beautiful animals are healthy and happy? It’s a team, for sure, but it’s the grooms who are the unsung heroes of the day. I hope tuning into this little world behind the tent flaps is as interesting to you as it was to me. Certainly, Benthal’s gorgeous photos tell the story in a way where perhaps my words fail.
While the summer might feel like it’s flying away like horses whipping around an arena and over jumps, the dog days aren’t quite over yet. Tune in. Listen closely. Savor it like you’d catch that sneaky drip of ice cream before it melts off your cone, that perfect combo lick and sip of grey sea salt and cocktail gorgeousness of a cool Grey Garden from Rosie’s in Amagansett in our Southside Sips story, a drip of summer-hauled local honey off a spoon beautifully captured in our bee keeper story by Charity Robey, the feeling of laughing so hard your stomach aches in a good way (thank goodness Sticks and Stones brought the funny back to the South Fork — our own Emily Toy got the laugh track on that one).
There’s a lot to help you draw out the days in this issue. How about 14-hour brisket smoking project from the Pridwin’s chef Todd Ruiz. A look at 35 innovative years at the thoroughly wonderful Quail Hill Farm. Or maybe you’re just feeling pretty stoked about spending August at the beach — ever wonder why they have the names they do? Toy did a pretty deep dive into the archives and history centers to answer that question for you.
Take a little second. Take a breath. Feel that sunshine and all those good vibes surrounding you in this beautiful place we get to call home, or home away from home. Run fast, walk slow.
Live your best dog days, friends.
Amy Zavatto
Editor-in-Chief, Southforker
