The Video Vault: Fim Do Verão

The sultry sounds of Brazil always have a relaxing effect on me. Whether I'm dredging through the snow on a bitter winter day, or soaking in the sun, I can always count on some Brazilian flavor to put a swing in my step, and a smile on my face. With summer slowly coming to a close, I've found myself drawn to this slightly schizophrenic music. Upbeat melodies accompanied by an undeniable sadness... isn't that the most satisfying and haunting of combinations? Case in point Brazil's sweet songstress Nara Leão. Leão's father gave her a guitar at age 12 in hopes of vanquishing her shyness, and soon she was being taught by popular musician and composer Patricio Teixeira, and classical guitarist Solon Ayala. As a teenager she met many of the key players of the burgeoning Bossa Nova musical revolution, and that promptly sealed her fate as "the muse of Bossa Nova".

Hot Fun In the Summertime

New Yorkers have been seeking refuge from the stifling summer heat for decades, and for those who can afford it, the Hamptons continues to be an ideal destination. Before I moved to New York City, I had heard that elite phrase on occasion, like a mysterious whisper. I pieced together a few facts: the Hamptons was a high society playground in the summer, and a solitary nest during the wind swept winter months. I conjured up images of Big & Little Edie, along with Upper East Siders with palatial properties. The plot thickened when I watched Woody Allen's 1978 film Interiors, and saw the Hamptons captured on film, with its sandy dunes and fragile wooden fences. When I finally made my way to the Hamptons for the first time last year, I was less than impressed by the towns themselves - why would New Yorkers come all this way for Saks and Citarella? I judged, and I judged hard. The quaint paradise that Allen had captured in the late 70s was overun with the pretentious descent of designer labels and wealth. Had the relaxed escapism of its past been lost forever?

This weekend I was lucky enough to get a second chance. What I realized as I dipped my toes in the ocean, is that any place as beautiful as the Hamptons can be redeemed by the company of good people. When you breathe in the fresh air and feel the breeze swirl around you, any preconceived notions you may have had fall to the wayside. The Hamptons may be about social standing and power to some, but to me it was the summer escape I craved - sand, sun and a whole lot of laughter.