Bethenny And Jason's Spot In Montauk

Post from News Day.

Photo: Gordon M. Grant

By: Lee Fryd
Feathering the nest for the first baby is serious business. Moms often agonize. But getting a resort rental babyproofed? That was reality star Bethenny Frankel’s task this summer when she returned to take a villa at the Montauk Resort and Yacht Club.

Last year, she was bikini clad, single and newly in love. This year, she’s still bikini clad – and so is baby Bryn, born May 8. “She doesn’t go in the pool,” says the 39-year-old star of her own Bravo series “Bethenny Getting Married?” “But we just like to see her in that little bikini.”

Frankel and husband, Jason Hoppy, have been spending weekends and much of his three-week August paternity leave at the resort. Their villa consists of three units -- two ground level with 20-by-15 foot private patios, and an upstairs -- which can be combined to create a 1,500-square-foot, three-bedroom vacation house.

Frankel’s 566-square-foot suite looks onto the Lake Montauk marina, and has a separate sitting area with a wood-burning fireplace. She uses the 450-square-foot adjoining studio as a nursery, when she brings baby nurse (turned-reality-star) Gina and the upstairs for assistants or guests. All villas share a 30-by-20-foot pool, surrounded by cabanas with day beds.

The average price per unit is $699 on weekends, with a two-day minimum, and $599 for weekdays, says General Manager Lloyd Van Horn. Another special feature: “We’re known for our poster beds, deep soaking tubs and pedestal sinks,” he says.

“Life is definitely different than when Jason and I were making marguaritas, walking the beach and going kayaking,” says Frankel. Now, it’s all about the breast pump and the breast friend. “We’re with the baby the whole time.“ Last year, they went out to lunch regularly. This year, it’s take-out on the benches outside the villa. Date nights are still a priority for the newlyweds, often with baby in tow.

Kitchen? Who needed it? The resort's Gulf Coast Kitchen (by Robbin Haas) has great food. Frankel brought in a hotplate “for tea, oatmeal or rice for us,” and a microwave to sterilize the bottle in baggies. “I set up a little area for the bottles, a makeshift changing station and an area to clean the baby clothes right outside our room," she tells us. "We have a Pack n’ Play for her to sleep in, a play mat and books for us to read her. The stroller is always in the trunk of the car, and we use the car seat to take her into a restaurant.”

Mommy’s “formula” is easy to prepare. All you need are ice cubes for the Skinny Girl Margarita. While breast feeding, Frankel's allowed one a day.

And those long walks on the beach? “Now, we don’t go to the beach longer than five minutes,” says Frankel, “so Bryn doesn’t get too hot, or burn under an umbrella.”

Need we ask about the rewards? “She’s amazing,” says the new mom. “She pulls my hair and giggles. I don’t know if she knows the difference between the beach and the city. As long as she’s with us, she’s happy.” And so are they.