Burningman and Hampton's Man

So I'm on my way to Burningman to see what it's like, and will attempt to post video to this blog from the event.. taken with my Nokia 7610.

Not so coincidentally, Hampton's Man is also burning a man on Saturday, September 4th at 6:00 PM on Coopers Beach, Southampton. Hampton's Man is decidedly different than Burningman, though.

Their motto: Radical Consumption. Conspicuous Anarchy. Dry Martinis.

What is Hamptons Man?

Trying to explain Hamptons Man to someone who has never been is a bit like trying to explain crashing a P. Diddy party or getting on the list at polo to someone who lives in california and wears Birkenstocks. At Hamptons Man everyone and everything is fabulous. Just showing up is genius. It is a celebration of the human spirit and of radical expression. People come to Hamptons Man from all walks of life and all from all over the world: from above 59th street and below. From Downtown and even Flatbush. Such is the global diversity and transcendent spirit of  Hamptons Man.

Hamptons Man is all this and more: The sacred schmooze. The ritual sip of a martini. The crash of the ocean and the crash of the market.  At Hamptons Man, the everyday is left behind for the commute with nature for creation, expression, and being--- at least until the next party on our list. It is where the energy of the summer combusts, culminating in the burning of Hamptons Man, lime blazer and all, as an expression of our spirit, aspiration, and belief that that lime jacket has got to go because fashion week is just a few days away and something else is surely in.

You heard it here first, people. Check it out, as they will have videos taken with their Nokia 7610 as well, for coordinated east and west coast burns, if not asymmetric philosophies!

Where Burningman is inclusive (okay, it's now $350 for a ticket today), Hampton's man is exclusive (okay, it's free but you have to get out there)... where Burningman is free love and doesn't take money (okay, except for coffee and ice), Hampton's man is laise faire about putting Gucci loafers with linen Bermuda shorts (okay, except for the sunglasses.. you have to have cool sunglasses) ... where Burningman is a techy community art / light show (except for the fact that people trade hard for batteries), Hampton's man is all about working your "community" for the next deal (community sounds so, I don't know communitarian, don't you think, how about 'niche market' instead)....

Anyway, you get the idea. So have fun whether you're drinking martinis or beer, popping zanex or reds, it's all fun. Okay, I won't be doing any of that, but you get the idea. And I do intend to have fun. N'est pas?

Oh wait, there's more:

Where did this idea come from? Is it really OK to Have Fun in the Hamptons?

Every year during Labor Day week there is a legendary gathering and celebration of creativity in the Nevada desert: Burning Man. It is, perhaps, the greatest week long party on earth attracting 35,000 people. Back when Burning Man started, in the '80s, it was just a small party on the beach. Who are we to let all those folks out West have all the fun? So we're starting a small party on the beach.

Both Burning Man and Hamptons Man are being chronicled on blogs (frequently updated web postings), and both events are blogging one anothers activities. Come back to this location for a link to Burning Man reports and their coverage of Hamptons Man.

Go to it. If you're in the Hamptons. It's the Anti-burningman. Go to Burningman, if your in Nevada. It's the Anti-Hampton's man. But do something people! Do it now!

Posted by Mary Hodder at September 2, 2004 12:00 PM | TrackBack