Brew's Cafe

You have the hat. Probably in several colors. Because everyone has the hat. But when Amanda Merrow and Kate Baldwin set out to start Amber Waves Farm, they did not expect to be the creators of one of the most iconic fashion pieces of the past 10 years. In fact, they didn't expect to be many of the things they turned out to be, 15 years later. But here they are, and the small plot of land they ventured to farm in 2008 is now a thriving retail, educational, community center. Not to mention a thriving local farm raising beautiful organic produce. Join us as Amanda shares the stories of how Amber Waves Farm went from being a daydream of a couple of young, unafraid farm interns, to an internationally known producer of highest quality produce. And, as a bonus, you'll get to hear the story of that damn hat!!

Jeremy Blutstein is NOT a local. He makes that clear several times in the course of our conversation. He wasn't born here, only moved here when he was a kid, used to be a summer kid. All the bona-fides of a non-local. But you'd be hard pressed to find someone more dedicated to promoting and contributing to the local economy than he does as current and former chef of several restaurants whose menus center on locally sourced products. He drops names like Alex, Amanda and Marilee as if he were referring to the summer glitterati, rather than the local farmers with strong hands. As a restaurant manager, which is what a chef really is, he's also intensely familiar with the many challenges facing anyone trying to not only make a living, but provide the space for others to make a living, too. So while we cover some familiar ground of housing, labor and transportation, Jeremy also provides some fresh insight into ways he's working to make these challenges less difficult. So while he's not actually a local, he certainly acts like one. Another thing he's not? A fan of "The Bear"! Tune in to find out why....

A recurring theme for many of my guests, is that they knew what they wanted to do from an early age. When Nick Epstein was very young, he knew he wanted to perform onstage. Today, Nick can be seen onstage as the lead singer and guitar player in Roses Grove Band, a group that plays songs from the Grateful Dead songbook, mostly on Long Island and very often on the East End. I've had the good fortune to know Nick for some time, and when I had a recent birthday party at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, Roses Grove happened to be headlining and Nick offered to play a song (or two... or three) in honor of my birthday. That's just one of the stories that Nick and I share about music, performance, and figuring out who we wanted to be. In this episode, Nick tells the tales of his adventures in music and life, and even plays us an original song while he's at it!

In lots of the pictures I take, my guests have their eyes closed. I usually delete those. But in the case of spiritual healer Angel Santamarina, it's only fitting that I use a photo with his eyes closed. After all, the name of the book he co-wrote with Erica Broberg is titled "I See Better With My Eyes Closed", and after a read of the book or a long conversation, I can understand why. Angel operates in a realm most of us are unaware of. It's a part of existence many will doubt even exists. But Mr. Santamarina has NO doubts. Not one. "One hundred percent", he describes his ability to see and understand the spiritual world where his healing takes place. At this point, I really can't describe any more. You just have to listen to the episode. Or read the book. Or both!

Not everyone likes flower baskets hanging from the lampposts in East Hampton Village. Not everyone likes banners promoting coming Village events. Community events in Herrick Park? Santa arriving by helicopter? Not everyone is into it. Jerry Larsen, East Hampton Village mayor for the past three years, understands that. And, for the most part, he's ok with it. Because he feels most people appreciate the changes he and his administration have made in the Village, and that those changes have, by and large, made Village life a little better (he'll know for sure next year, as he's up for re-election!). All this is not to say that those people aren't entitled to their views, and that he doesn't listen to and respect those views. He just doesn't let the complaints of the few outweigh the approval of many more. It was truly an honor to have Mayor Larsen join me in the Cafe, and discuss not only some of the changes he and his administration have brought about, but what challenges remain, and how he intends to go about tackling them. 

Just because Minerva Perez tackles some of the most critical issues facing some of the most vulnerable East End residents, doesn't mean she can't be a little silly sometimes. And even though she has a degree in theater from NYU, her movie credit might be a little less highbrow than you would think. But... you'll have to listen to the end to find out in what famous comedy she played. In the meantime, you'll hear about the serious business that occupies her days as Director of OLA- Organización Latino Americana of Eastern Long Island. Services they provide (to all citizens, whether of Latin American origin or not) include helping with everything from illegal evictions, wage theft, health services, legal direction and so much more. High on Minerva's long list of achievements is the establishment of a youth services  initiative which provides assistance to young people throughout our schools and communities in whatever areas they might need it. I was fascinated by not only the depth and intensity of their work, but also Minerva's clear love for the projects, and more importantly the people she serves.

You may be excused for having no idea who Walker Ward is. Very few of us, myself included, had any idea who he was. Until, that is, "Wall Street Intern" got on the train to Montauk for the first time. And then was overheard in line for the Surf Lodge. And couldn't get on the corporate jet. And for many of us, the travails of the "Wall Street Intern" became one of the amusing themes of our summer of '23. And suddenly Walker Ward was known by millions of people. That's the way of our world today, though: one day you're just a guy making his friends laugh at parties, the next you're a social media sensation. But this was no accident. And for Walker, it didn't actually happen overnight. His ambitions for entertaining people go all the way back to childhood. And it's quite clear that Ward has talent: his characters are at once ridiculous, yet lovable; annoying but also supremely entertaining: kinda like so many "characters" who grace the LIRR on Friday afternoons, the lines for Surf Lodge and so many other Hamptons stereotypes. I hope you enjoy this episode, and I hope we get to hear from Walker Ward for a long time to come.

Brian Halweil has been a mainstay in the East End local food movement since before "Locavore" was even a word. For many years, Brian brought the sights and stories of local producers and their food products directly to our hands via "Edible" publications, "Edible East End" and "Edible Long Island" being the most relevant locally. But a few years ago, Brian made the jump from reporting on local food to actually participating in producing it. Only rather than working for a local farm or producer, Brian went more large scale, consulting with companies investing in organic, sustainable and otherwise responsible production, and, more recently, working with Belltown Farms to secure, cultivate and produce organic grains on local farms throughout the US. Join us as Brian tells us his stories of moving from reporting to producing and of the challenges and rewards of working to convert the agricultural world to a more sustainable model.

This is an episode I was looking forward to for a long time. Brian Burns is not just an extremely successful Film and Television writer and producer, he's an extremely interesting person and a helluva nice guy. And a great little league coach! So among his Hollywood credits such as "Blue Bloods" and  "Entourage", on which he did much of the writing, or "Daddy's Home", where he was writer, producer and creator, he's also coached a couple of East Hampton Little League teams deep into the playoffs, which is where I met him. But put a couple of Irish American, New York born and raised boys in front of a microphone and you're going to hear stories. Stories about family. Stories about fathers, about drinking, not drinking, about raising kids and stories about New York City. Lots and lots of stories about New York City. See, no matter what else he might be, Brian is a story teller. And as we discover in this conversation, it's our stories that make us human and it's our stories that make us individuals. Please enjoy this very special episode with this very special guest.

"Watch till the End"!! In the course of my conversation with Josh Gladstone, I explain how, in the life of Brew's, the long running NYC bar and restaurant after which this podcast is named and formulated, every single day something would happen that had never happened before. And here Josh keeps the spirit alive by ending the episode with not just a soliloquy, but with an emotionally delivered, perfectly paced and entirely gripping version of one of The Bard's most beloved soliloquies (nope, no spoiler here, ya gotta listen). But in the meantime, Josh and I have a fabulously entertaining convo about, not only the many many goings on at LTV Studios, where he's now head of something or another (creative direction, programming... I don't know, listen to the episode), but the wealth of cultural events that happen all around us, often without our knowledge or involvement. He also delivers some hilarious personal anecdotes of his time in the East End performing arts scene, as an actor, writer, producer, promoter, program director and pretty much any other hat that's been required to put on a show around here. So please join Josh and me as he entertains and informs-- and honestly makes me feel a little lame for partaking in so little of all there is to do around here!