The social calendar in the Hamptons has been jam-packed with designer pop-ups, dinners, art fairs, activations, and charity galas as of late. But over the weekend, the invite on everyone’s lips was Edition Hotels’ two-day-only residency at The Crow’s Nest in Montauk—which marked the luxury hotel brand’s grand debut on the East End.
For its first foray in the Hamptons, Edition hosted Naomi Watts, Kate Mara and Euphoria actress Anna Van Patten along with a roster of creators and creatives at its second installment of The Summer Edition—a global retreat that takes over a sun-drenched destination for dining, wellness programs, cultural experiences, and community building.
On Friday, things kicked off at The Crow’s Nest, the popular eatery known for its relaxed bohemian spirit. The evening began with a cocktail reception on the beach, followed by an al fresco dinner. “I’m a huge fan of Montauk,” Watts told Vogue, clad in Khaite. “I have a place here, but I’m filming [season two of All’s Fair] in Los Angeles right now, so I haven’t been in Montauk all summer. This is my first weekend back and I’m so happy to be here with friends, and my brother Ben is part of tonight. This is a vacation for me: the Edition Hotel has a fun, boutiquey vibe and they know how to do it right.”
Extending the residency’s cultural offerings, photographer and longtime Montauk resident Ben Watts opened his archives of sun-centric photographs for guests to peruse. Also on display were scrapbooks and a collection of pictures from his book Montauk Dreaming, a vibrant homage to his home filled with images of friends and family at the beach and parties. “I’ve been in Montauk since 1998 and honestly, I can’t imagine a better place to be,” he told Vogue. “All year round it’s absolutely fantastic and there’s something for everyone here. All boxes are pretty much ticked: the weather, the sun, the small community, the town, the sea, the beaches, and the wildlife is pretty incredible—all within a 3-and-a-half hour drive from the greatest city in the world, so it’s a massive draw.”
Watts has so much pride for Montauk that he easily persuaded his actress sister to put down roots. “She lives on the same street as me, and I insisted,” he said. “When she sold her place in Amagansett, I’m like, ‘Over my dead body you’re getting another place in Amagansett. It’s Montauk all the way!’”
During the two-day residency, Watts photographed all the candid moments that unfolded. He even playfully teased Naomi as he took her photo with Mara and Van Patten on the beach. “I need something cheeky,” he jokingly instructed the trio. “I don’t care if you’re world-class actresses!”
“The one thread of continuity in my work is life and living in the moment,” the photographer had said earlier about his work. “It’s the energy, it’s the vibe, and creating something where the hairs on the back of your neck rise. The experience for me is being present and taking the picture rather than trying to get it on people’s walls.”
