It was like a zombie movie.  The town was all decked out in lights, ribbons and bows- yet there wasn't another human being in sight. This is winter in Montauk, New York.

     Frozen ice, sleet and snow has descended on New York, producing one of the coldest and dreariest winters in recent memory.  Yet, despite the frigid air, there's something special about a quickie respite to the easternmost area of New York State.  Montauk, affectionately known as THE END, is home to expansive vistas, six state parks, and wintertime peace and quiet.

     During this time of year people are noticeably absent.  Even with its 'star power' ties (Billy Joel song lyrics, the Rolling Stones song "Memory Motel,"  and the Jim Carrey art house flick Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, to name a few) the home to the largest fishing fleet in New York State manages to stay amazingly sheltered from Hampton's opulence.

     While the summer offers an abundance of seaside activities, the winter finds Montauk in a slumber. If you stay local, your culinary options are limited.  Among the choices: 'not very New York' pizza, O'Murphy's, a local pub, and Shagwong, the watering hole slash restaurant.  Of course you could make the 15-minute drive west to the Hamptons of your choice.  But if you're relaxing in Montauk, over-priced food and Hamptons 'tude are probably not on your menu. This is a place where the locals embrace hoi polloi status; visitors are expected to do the same.

     The lighthouse is always a treat, where even the tourist gift shop is inviting.  Here you'll find the usual knick-knacks (shark teeth, pressed pennies) accompanied by a mammoth fireplace.  The hot chocolate will beckon and Connecticut will shine in the distance. The marina area, where Gosman's Dock is located, is a ghost town.  Overrun by voraciously-appetited seagulls during the summer, the only sign of life this time of year are the vapors of your own breath in the air and several shreds of cracked crab legs along the pier.

     Wintertime landscapes at The End are open, with the Atlantic taking on a completely different hue.  I often find that Montauk’s winter sky yields celestial sky shows that put the world's finest planetariums to shame.

     Don't let Old Man Winter get you down.  If you want to clear your mind and experience Montauk in a way that so few people do, now is the time. Maybe I'll see you out there.

     P.S. Reports of the Montauk Monster  are grossly exaggerated!