Fall is the new summer, at least on the East End. Time to book a Hamptons getaway weekend, or a “staycation” at c/o The Maidstone Hotel, where they are offering a great Harvest Stay package. KDHamptons loves to book a weekend at c/o The Maidstone in East Hampton, sometimes it’s easier not to deal with airport hassles and canceled flights when you can jump in the car and head to one of your favorite hotels right here on the East End? Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljunberg’s eclectic East Hampton hotel, c/o The Maidstone has a chic, sophisticated edge, mixing classic and modern, glamour and relaxation, luxury and social responsibility. Put on the c/o The Maidstone bespoke clogs and make yourself at home…

Go for an excursion on one of the hotel’s complimentary red Kronan bikes and explore the quaint town of East Hampton. You’ll fall in love with the little boutiques, book stores and coffee shops. The beach is at its best during fall too – dogs are permitted at all times and the beach crowd is long gone. Pop by the pumpkin patches or eat roasted corn straight from the maze at one of the local farms! In the evening you can enjoy a refreshing cocktail in the Cozy Lounge followed by a candlelit dinner in the restaurant.

The package is offered Sunday-Thursday, minimum of 2 nights – we guarantee one is not enough. Stay in one of the designer hotel Hotel Room or Cottage, receive Continental Breakfast, and a Dining Voucher for 20% off at the Living Room Restaurant*. Late check out at 1pm. *Available Sep – Nov 2016, not valid holidays.

The luxe hotel has 19 room, each in one of four categories: Divine, Magnificent, Fabulous, and Cozy~ stylishly crafted to celebrate a renowned Scandinavian personality. Want more privacy? Stay in one of the freestanding quaint cottages in the back! You will find a charming welcome note [below] and cookies on your bed from haute hotel manager Sophie and her husband, Par.

Travel Tip: Be sure to check out all of the fab rooms at c/o The Maidstone on line before booking, each has its own personality to suit your mood…After settling in, slide on the black and turquoise painted Swedish clogs tucked in the closet, and take a clomp around the property to see any new changes in design, landscaping, or art….

Here’s a list of things KDHamptons loves to do at c/o The Maidstone:

• Borrow an iPod fully loaded with all music types, bundle up, and scoot off on one of the vintage bikes for a ride to Main beach, and then along the back roads through the majestic Maidstone Club golf course.
• Get a massage [Swedish, of course] in my room..
• Check out the amazing photography throughout the hotel curated by Eric Firestone
• Hang out with the dapper dogs that are all welcome guests in the hotel [yes, they even have their own “Woof Menu”, including vegetarian options.]

Okay, time to talk FABULOUS FOOD: The Living Room restaurant in c/o The Maidstone offers a menu committed to the Slow Food philosophy featuring fresh seasonal and organic foods. The result? Chef’s cuisine is fresh, delicious, and fancy, with a hint of comfort food by the fire.

Although the fare changes with the seasons, there are a few signature dishes that remain year-round, including: the Swedish Smörgåsbord tasting of homemade gravlax, herring, shrimp skagen and grain mustard sauce; Scandinavian ‘Toast Skagen’ with baby shrimp, lemon-scented crème fraiche, dill from the garden on toasted brioche with Swedish caviar; and “Köttbullar and Klimp” Swedish lamb meatballs with Mecox Bay Dairy ricotta dumplings, tomato broth, Cavolonero kale and Västerbotten cheese.  I love the wild and cultivated mushrooms [in a brandy cream sauce!] over toasted brioche below…

Don’t have such an international palette? Non-Swedish dishes include: roasted heritage chicken (an exceptional breed of poultry rarely found on menus in its purist form) with Satur farm organic root vegetables and rosemary jus; Black Angus Delmonico steak with baby spinach, potato leek gratin and bordelaise sauce; and seared Atlantic salmon with local savoy cabbage, roast beets and mustard dill sauce.

If you want to get a taste of Scandinavia, KDHamptons suggests you start with a half order of Swedish meatballs and gnudi, followed by the Smorgasbord tasting plate which is like a Scandinavian pupu platter. Followed by the duck. For dessert, the cheese plate is a home run. Desserts are all homemade and feature seasonal crisps, homemade ice cream and the sumptuous sticky toffee date cake which is the crowd favorite: If the Sticky Toffee cake is taken off of the menu for one night, the dining room is in an uproar.

More liquid refreshment and fun is found at the bar. Try the signature Stockholmapolitan and Ruby Rita. By now, you should be thirsty, hungry, and in the mood for a great date night.

*Location: 207 Main Street, East Hampton; 631.324.5006 or go to http://www.careofhotels.com/maidstone/