Get Your Coat

Come January and February —  and, come to think of it, March — when the days are cold and the nights colder, cultural events are few and far between. This isn’t really surprising; half the year-round population of the South Fork is in Florida or Rincon, Puerto Rico, and the other half doesn’t feel like leaving the house. Yet for those motivated to put on an overcoat and venture out, there are options. 

Quogue has theater, Sag Harbor and Amagansett have rock and country music, Southampton can be depended on for group artist exhibits and free classical music, Bridgehampton has artists and writers nights at a restaurant from time to time as well as live music, Guild Hall has staged theatrical readings and broadcasts of live theater from Great Britain as well as the Metropolitan Opera, and there is always something doing at the Parrish Art Museum and Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center. Nevertheless, the off-season can some weeks feel like a drought.

One thing we find ourselves wondering as winter sets in for real is whether there is an audience here for small events despite the weather. Could small “black-box” theater performances fill enough seats to justify the effort? What about a spoken-word series? How big would the turnout have to be for an event to be judged a success? And would free beer or coffee be necessary to sweeten the deal? Count us among those who would be eager to find out. At least parking won’t be a problem.