A Guide To Montauk's "Hampsters," The Fedora Rating Scale

Aug 6, 2012 11:45 AM

This weekend, The New York Times posted a story in their Sunday Styles section on the hipsterization of Montauk. Titled "Noted: Montauk's Hipster Fatigue" it's url title tag reads: "Montauk Feels the Effects of Too Many Hipsters." Guest of a Guest even got a shout out (for coining the term "Hampsters" two years ago - get it? Hipsters + Hamptons). We've been on to this local phenomenon for several seasons out east (see "Your Official Guide To Becoming A Hampster," and, "Montaukburg: Topless Hipsters, Taxidermy, Just Some Of The Trends Williamsburg Is Bringing To Montauk"). The stuffed deer head proudly displayed (non-ironically) next to tanning oil on Ditch Plains beach last year signified we were close to reaching the zenith (or nadir?, depending on your perspective) of the hipster insanity. This Sunday Styles piece may just be the final fedora.

So, what's a regular Joe to do? We've spent the better part of the summer checking out Montauk's establishments for hipsters, and feel confident that we can provide a guide for where to go (or not go) to spot these hampsters. Check out our Fedora rating scale below...

THE FEDORA HAT HAMPSTER RATING SCALE:

  • 0 Fedoras: The hampsters have never heard of the place, you're in the clear. You'll spot more baseball caps than fedoras.
  • 1 Fedora: One or two hampsters may pass through the door, it's probable they got there by being lost on their way from the train to their hotel room.
  • 2 Fedoras: You may meet a couple of hampters, but they're likely parents with small children.
  • 3 Fedoras: On weekends, a group of hampters will sporadically frequent the place. They may be there in an effort to get a break from the 5 fedora hat sort of places they spend 90% of their time.
  • 4 Fedoras: You will meet some non-hampsters here, but they will be the minority.
  • 5 Fedoras: You are at the hampster mecca center.

BONUS: THE INSTAGRAM CRED TEST: Another way to easily tell if your next dinner destination is a hipster or hampster haven? Check and see if it is rift with instagram photos. Every hipster loves showing off how cool they are, chances are if the place you are going to has more than 100 geo tagged photos on instagram, you are in deep hampster territory. We've made it easy for you and included each places tagged Instagram in the slide show.

  • Ditch Plains
  • Gin Beach
  • Navy Beach
  • Kirk Park Beach
  • Moby Dick's
  • Crow's Nest
  • The Shagwong
  • Swallow East
  • La Bodega
  • Ruschmeyer's
  • Surf Lodge
  • Montauk Beach House
  • Gig Shack
  • Sloppy Tuna
To contact the author of this post, email guestofaguest@gmail.com

deliadillow

August 6, 2012

8:14pm

Sorry, but wasn't it the brilliant booksellers at BookHampton that baptized the great unwashed "Hampsters?" According to the New Yorker and the Village Voice it was. [blogs.villagevoice.com]  

Check your facts

August 8, 2012

4:18pm

The gig shack is not owned by locals. The people who own it lived in NYC and had a house out here. SO they are NOT LOCALS!!!!! None of them were born and raised out here year round. Check your facts. This is just one of the many false statements that I have read on this craptastic site!  

dbealey

August 8, 2012

7:36pm

We were the last peopel to get married at the crows nest before it became a "hampster" hangout. If theytreat people the way they treated us, iI would Endorse this awesome amazing place all day long. Great food, great staff, worth going to check out despite the hipster rating...  

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