locate this blog

Simple Really

The North Fork? Where is it you ask? Follow the LIE east all the way to the end. Exit to the North Fork, the sister of the south fork (better know as the Hamptons). A different vibe altogether. Less traffic, more peace. Plenty of hotels, restaurants, places to buy  props, caterers, everything you need for your crew and your shoot. Dare I say a bit less expensive too. View north fork locations. Inquiries at info@locatethis.net and 631.805.6252.

Have you been to Shelter Island?

Let's face it. If you are going to do a shoot it would be great if it was some place you actually want to go. Now that summer is in full swing, might I suggest Shelter Island. You will feel the stress fall from your body  the minute you step on the ferry. The ease of shooting here is palpable. There are plenty of places to shoot, plenty of places to stay and plenty of places to eat. It a veritable one stop shopping for all your shoot needs.

Need some examples of all of the above. I will take that challenge. Let's start with places to shoot. Click on "Shelter Island" under categories and you will find beaches, homes, galleries, a private island and a chapel.  Now that we've determined that you could shoot here for a week if needed, let's find you a place to stay. You must have heard of the Andre Balaz hotel Sunset Beach. It's hip happening, beachfront chic and the place to be. Dining could not be better. Catering by Planet Bliss is a must. They can supply breakfast, lunch and dinner. All of my crews from various shoots rave about Planet Bliss's food. Looking for restaurant options? Planet Bliss, Sunset Beach, Vine Street and MarkitwithG are among my favorites.

Okay, I am going to stop here and link you to my other Shelter Island shout out posted earlier this year. I regaled you with all of the nitty gritty details, the who, what, where, when and how of production on the island. Seriously folks, take the stress out of your shoot. It's guaranteed the minute you step on the island. Feel free to contact me at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252 for location and production needs.

Welcome to Shelter Island

I have produced quite a few shoots on Shelter Island. Not only does it have great locations but it has great restaurants, caterers, hotels and crew resources such as producers (me), location scouts (me) production assistants, art directors, directors, stylists, hair/make-up and photographers. I've worked with all of them. Okay, most productions bring their own crew but in this economy, you may want to consider some local options. And there is nothing better than a local production assistant. I am happy to help you contact local crew.

So let's start with locations. Being an island we have plenty of beaches. Crescent, Wades, Shell and Hay are the most popular but quite a few lesser known, less crowded options exist.  Shelter Island architecture varies widely from traditional (S106) to modern (S104). There is also a 2000 plus acre nature preserve, horse farms, docks, golf courses and yacht clubs. On the hotel front, there is the high style place-to-be, Sunset Beach. On the same beach you will also find The Pridwin. Inland there is The Chequit Inn. All of these places are big enough to hold all of your crew. There are also B&B's all over the island such as House on Chase Creek, Candlelight Inn and Azalea House to name a few.

Next let's talk about caterers. I highly recommend Planet Bliss. I use them every time I have a shoot. They can do breakfast, lunch and dinner. Planet Bliss offers high quality food and a lot of variety. Let's face it, if I have another piece of chicken or fish with rice and mescalin salad I might cry. I often mix it up between a couple of caterers for a longer shoot just so the crew doesn't mutiny. I feel comfortable just hiring one caterer if it is Planet Bliss. If they are not available for the whole enchilada, mix it up a little. Sure bets for breakfast are markitwithg, Stars and Reddings. Markitwithg has amazing made-on-premises croissants and breads. It's a great bakery and also offers a tasty lunch. Stars and Reddings offer breakfast and lunch too.

Where should you spend your off-hours? Dining options vary widely. You can dine at the high-end place to be seen hot spot Sunset Beach. Then just stick around and do some after-dinner cocktailing and dancing. Or start your night at Planet Bliss, a great choice with a cozy bar lounge, tasty world bistro food and attentive staff. Vine Street Cafe is a good choice for american bistro fare. Classic fish shack options are Two Ed's and Commander Cody's.

Need some props. Home 114 and Marika's are great places to purchase or rent prop furniture.  Fred Bernstein, owner of Home 114 is also a great stylist whom I love to work with on shoots. How about production supplies like tables, chairs, coolers or tents? Your caterer will likely supply or arrange for most of these items but Shelter Island Party Rentals can cover the rest.

If you have time to do anything other than work, eat and sleep, there's plenty to do. Boltax Gallery and Mosquito Hawk Gallery always have great exhibits and pretty fabulous openings from May until October. Speaking of local crew, Karen Boltax, owner of Boltax Gallery is a very talented art director whom I have had the pleasure of working with many times. Shopping, hiking, beaching and kayaking are easy to find. Boutique shopping can be found at Marie Eiffel's and Orabello Scarano's. Find beach supplies like towels, umbrellas or sunscreen at Bliss Department Store. There are gorgeous trails in Mashomack Nature Preserve. Shelter Island Kayak Tours will set you up with kayaks or take you on a tour.

The Shelter Island Chamber of Commerce also has a helpful website, http://shelterislandchamber.com. It will show you where everything is on a map of Shelter Island. All in all, Shelter Island is an easy place to produce a shoot or stage an event. Please feel free to contact me at info@locatethis.net with any questions/inquiries.