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Try to Keep Your Laptop Dry While Using Solé East's Free Poolside WiFi

Where: 90 Second House Road [map], Montauk, New York, United States, 11954

Solé East has mastered the ability to have that unique quality of being an "all play and no work" and an "all work and no play" destination thanks to their gift of free universal WiFi to guests.

The swanky, Euro-chic Montauk property has a strong wireless connection in the bungalow rooms and cabana suites, out by the heated pool, along the two rows of over-sized outdoor beds, in Backyard Restaurant — everywhere! Dare we say it: it's almost too much. We need to detach from the Mac. Yes, it is an amazing convenience, but after an 11am to 2pm outdoor work session we learned the hard way that laptop tan lines on the upper thighs are not a sexy look.

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The Surf Lodge in Montauk Opens for the Season on May 15

Where: 183 Edgemere Street [map], Montauk, NY, United States, 11954

Summer is officially upon us: the Montauk Surf Lodge will be opening for business starting on May 15th. The Hamptons hotspot has been accepting rezzies since April 15th, and it's looking like rooms are going for about $275 and up.

The hotel, which opened last year from the nightlife group MCM Hospitality (the peeps behind CAIN), was not without its share of issues last summer: locals did not enjoy the fact that it existed. The place got lots of hip-and-trendy clubby visitors on the weekends, and guests were illegally parking in the streets and pissing off locals. Also, Montauk is supposedly all about the anti-Hamptons vibe, and the Surf Lodge has been a celeb magnet and locals feared the presence of the Surf Lodge was going to turn the whole place into another snooty destination. Hopefully everyone has a better attitude this year.

It was hella tough to get a rezzie at this hotel last summer — partly because it was super popular, and partly because they couldn't get their shiz together and had no online reservation system and their phones went perpetually un-answered. But it appears the online reservation system appears to be working this year, so have at it.

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Surf Lodge Co-Owner Attempts to Mitigate the Tension

Where: 183 Edgemere Street [map], Montauk, NY, United States, 11954

But it looks so peaceful on the inside...

There's so much drama at the SLM--Surf Lodge in Montauk and it's kinda hard being a hotel owner managing all of the tension. But the Surf Lodge's co-owner/partner Steven Kamali is trying to bring some peace to the table. He tells us exclusively:

The Surf Lodge has successfully been attracting an incredible number of families within the local Montauk community....

Unfortunately as with any new business in a small town, there will always be a small minority of people that are not comfortable with the increased attention being brought to the area.

But we are confident that with time they will come realize the benefits of our presence.

According to a report in the NY Post yesterday, the Surf Lodge has come under the ire of locals who are annoyed by the illegal parking and New York City attitude. But guests are still flocking there. The hotel, which only has 32 rooms and features a restaurant helmed by Top Chef hotness Sam Talbot, is fully booked for the month of August.

Have you stayed at the Surf Lodge? Let us know how it went.

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Round Two of The People of Montauk vs. The Surf Lodge

Where: 183 Edgemere Street [map], Montauk, NY, United States, 11954

All eyes are on Montauk this summer, thanks largely to the freaky-as-all-hell Montauk Monster that washed up on shore and has since sent the whole nation into a frenzy about mutated animals. [Ed. Note: Also, it helped Gawker meet its monthly traffic goal.]

But aside from the monster on the beach, hideous creatures are also spending some time about town, according to the Montauk locals.

And, oh goodness, after round 1 of the people of Montauk vs. the Surf Lodge, now someone's brought Page Six into this. The gloves are off.

Today's NY Post had a sassy little item about the "everyone hates the Montauk Surf Lodge" situation that's been a-brewin':

Someone made up a bumper sticker reading, "Mistake by the lake! Dodge the Lodge!" And some of the partners have been called choice words and even been re fused service at local eateries and bars. Brazilian co-owner Jayma Cardosa, known for her temper ament, has been standing up to the bullies by threatening to keep the place open year-round.

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Round 1 of The People of Montauk vs. The Surf Lodge

Where: 183 Edgemere Street [map], Montauk, NY, United States, 11954

It's the classic case of David and Goliath, reincarnated in the town of Montauk and The Surf Lodge. An article in this weekend's New York Times details how the "proudly low-key" town where "middle-class families could afford hotel rooms," is fighting the Manhattanization of its streets and shores. And it's almost as nasty as Christie Brinkley's divorce case.

Every chance it gets, Montauk has attempted to knock The Surf Lodge down a notch, the Times says, issuing a violation for putting up an outdoor movie screen without a permit, putting its hair salon and clothing boutique on notice for not being allowed under its building permit and erecting no-parking signs in the area.

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