Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1546312
Diary of an Editor 46 Dana Garner and Billy Fong. Illustration Leanne Fitzpatrick. August 14, 10:45 pm EST N eed to remind myself with the time zone that I am on the right (in more ways than one) coast. To be specific, here in Southampton in a sprawling manse on a pond that looks like it could have been the inspiration for the book by Thoreau. Need to remember to query what that body of water is. It's a quick trip — I flew in this morning. After an afternoon that segued to evening and thus became all-day drinking, I'm now in bed. It somehow feels bigger than my king-size at home, but perhaps everything is bigger in the Hamptons. The estates … the Birkins … and obviously the bank accounts. Beginning to stress about the busy fall party schedule. Need to think of witty turns of phrase and fancy words to toss about. My mantra: The best hostess gift is not a candle, but rather showing up prepared for witty repartee. Heard the words "petrichor" and "crepuscular" today, and that seems terribly intriguing. I should figure out a way to work those in at amfAR. August 16, 11:45 pm EST The last few days, I've felt like the living embodiment to the Talking Heads song "Once in a Lifetime" — lyrics such as "You may find yourself in another part of the world … behind the wheel of a large automobile [yup, I drove my friend and myself to a party in East Hampton in her big blue Bentley] and you may ask yourself, 'Well, how did I get here?'" In this case, it was due to the generous invite from a dear friend (thank you, NR). Today we got on a '62 Pershing with a bunch of friends — some I've known for years, and others I'd met the day prior — and headed up to Montauk for lunch at Duryea's. Juliette, who runs the place with military precision, had our table ready with popped bottles the moment we docked. August 17, 3 pm ET I'm on the Ambassador bus heading into the city. I should have mentioned that this last-minute adventure is both work and play. Well, to be completely honest my work is often play. Have I said recently that I love my job? I haven't been to New York City in eons for a lot of reasons, but I won't dwell on those here. As I gaze out the windows at the trees whizzing by, I'm romanticizing what's ahead. I'll be staying at one of the grandes dames of the hoteliers of New York City, and you'll be reading about it in the coming months as the next installment in our "Ode to" series. I'm hoping it will be thoroughly enchanting and might inspire you to mimic my same itinerary in the city that never sleeps. August 18, 1 am ET I'm back in that hotel and enjoying a late- night pastrami sandwich and watching Friends (yes, I am that analog guy who enjoys not remembering my streaming service logins and prefers to watch cable television). Suffice to say, my summer on Martha's Vineyard and this recent sojourn to the Hamptons have left me refreshed; as of now, I feel no need for cosmetic procedures — but we still have four months left in the year, so that might change. Hopefully you have meandering musings as well to share with me. Counting the days until I see you, which will likely be at the Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas fashion show and luncheon for the final time at Neiman Marcus downtown. Billy Fong Dallas Editor in Chief billy@papercitymag.com In lieu of my normal letter, here's a glimpse into what I've been doing and thinking the past few days. Heretofore, ramblings … musings.