SUMMERTIME is here! #heckyeah Hopefully we've kept you entertained with our social pages right up till now + we CAN'T WAIT to get started on this season's crop of galas which judging from our social calendar is going to be another bigggg year. We'll do our best to keep y o u in tune with all the right parties and all the big events with some mighty fine video bytes we grab here & there. We're kinda hoping you might spring for some tickets to these mega galas to help support some of these fine & dandy organizations! For new folks we have a handy list of restaurants & night clubs...so be sure to bookmark those pages for easy reference to all the best spots to eat, drink and relax...and for a nightcap & dancing we have a nightlife page! Follow us on twitter if you like regular updates...@hamptonsmedia Firefox, RootOrange, Razorfish, AmericanExpress, TheNextWeb, textPlus, TheUnionCares, TheOprahShow, TMZ, PRNewswire, WarnerBrosEnt, SonyPictures, CNNiReport, Piper_Heidsieck, Harpers, BSmithStyle, PasteMagazine, CrainsNewYork, LeOficial, NWF, Collective_Soul, DyansCandyBar, BaumeMercier, Veuve_Clicquot, TOMSshoes, ChrisLawford, PatrickMcMullen, SamanthaYanks, R. Couri Hay, Alex McCord, PaulWilmotComm, the NewYorkPost, Newsday, OK_Magazine, ZagatBuzz, WeAreFamilyFdtn, drinkArizona, ChuckSchumer, TheMotleyFool, NASATweetup, GuyKawasaki, Kelsey_Grammer, Sothebys, MasterCard, @AmericanAir, AlinaChoCNN & even a few blogs like Guest of a Guest, Hamptons, PlumHamptons, Variety, MuseumofCityNY & PageSix ARE - just to name a few : ) For LARGER size viewing check out our video index pages in the bigger flash player w/a nice xml playlist...and if you're new to us here's a preview of some of the upcoming annual events from last season on TheHamptons.com's SUMMERTIME party page...good news for you loyal Apples we are building an index for ipad & iphone for ya : ) bookmark this page too so you can keep up with all the best events in The Hamptons! Come on back for a look at what we get for where to go or do a little party gazing!! Our video index has Xploded into five p a g e s of videos featuring a library of summer parties in The Hamptons so do preview our previous party pages...and if you need to get the most current Adobe flash player to play these videos, it's free and fast to install!! We encouraged you to use firefox as a browser but IE has rendered it just as fine these days as does Safari - either are a snap to download...it makes everything look just right!

MDdebuted summer 2013 with Brooke Shields at the The Southampton Social Club where she was touted as super cover girl of Hamptons Mag which is celebrating their 35th year!!? Wow + congrats! Kites for a Cure went off without a hitch at Coopers Beach in Southampton for the family-friendly kite fly raising awareness for lung cancer research. Coopers once again was selected for the TOP 10 Beaches in America!! Yes, we are proud so have to shout it out loud : ) At the 3rd Annual ARF Designer Showhouse we found a dressed up cozy, Hamptonsy cottage at their Thrift & Treasure Shop in Wainscott. CHAIRS: Gigi Mahon, Sandra McConnell, Peter Hallock, Lisa McCarthy and Grace Coddington used 100% of all proceeds from the event to go directly to ARF's life saving work! Vignettes inspired and arranged by guest designers Elizabeth Dow, James Huniford, Ann Madonia and Susan Madonia, Annie M. Napoliello, Barbara Ostrom and Preston Phillips from thrift shop donations and the designers personal collections made for a dashing interior. Little ice cream cones filled with creme fraiche + salmon were a big hit too with our taste buds. Not even a rainy, cold evening could keep guests from jam packing this cheery soiree. Miracle House 23rd Annnual Memorial Day Summer Kickoff honoring Jayma Cardosa + Gerry Logue was hosted by Emmy-Winning TV Star Carson Kressley at the Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf Club with a special performance by international recording artist Kistine. Southampton Hospital's Singapore Fling to benefit their Westhampton Primary Care Center was held again at The Westhampton Country Club and co-chaired by Christiane Hiegel and Dorothy Lewis. It started with cocktails + hors d'oeuvres in the tent where dinner stations, silent auction and dancing on the terrace followed. There was also the Season Opening Party for The Water Mill Museum too! Happily, we jotted over to the beautiful Channing Family Sculpture Garden for Planned Parenthood's Hudson Peconic East End Benefit hosted by Molly and Walter Channing. Molly introduced Eric Fischl who spoke about how the organization had impacted his own life and just how important it was for women to have safe choices available. Who knew he could play guitar?! Quite the benefit committe which included Rima Mardoyan, Dorothy Lichtenstein, Jill C. Scheuer (Co-chairs) Diane Benson, Walter and Molly Channing, Cia Comnas, Kendell Cronstrom, Annette P. Cumming, Virginia Edwards, Lisa Eisenstein, Sinead Fitzgibbon and Anne Livet, Robin S. Miller, Sharon Morris, Joe Nahem and Jeff Fields, Ann Pogue-Campbell. Wines from Channing Daughters Vineyard? But of course...and really a local favorite or ours! SO many biggies to commemorate Memorial Day weekend this year! Somehow though we always make it to our own family bbqs and our old friends for more intimate gatherings and famliar faces...which writes that old song of summer on our hearts each Memorial Day...and of course thanks + prayers go out to our soldiers and their families who keep America, America for us.

JUNE rolled in with Ross School which just keeps growing so no small wonder why they went all out for their Tenth Annual Live @Club Starlight pulling in Cyndi Lauper for a very special performance! Chaired by Christie Brinkley it started with the usual *red carpet* and a repeat of students lining the walkway into the cocktail tent so EVERYONE made a grand entrance as they clapped for each guest's arrival!! Club Starlight raises over $700,000 for Ross School and the Steven J. Ross Scholarship Fund, which helps ensure that children from all economic backgrounds benefit from a world-class Ross education. Stations of food abounded along the tent walls and aution tables were set up in the center while smart looking volunteers wearing sparkling hats walked around with ipads taking bids! The $50,000.00 Deluxe package sat 10 VIP guests at an exclusive front-and-center lounge area just inches away from the stage and got individual "Meet and Greet" backstage passes to meet Cyndi Lauper. Gregg Maloberti, Interim Head of School, and Christie Brinkley gave speeches, as well as Ross 2012 alumna Christin Aucapina who spoke about the importance of Ross scholarships and the opportunity it provided her. A 12-minute video on the Ross Systems course, taught by founding mentor, Ralph Abraham, was shown. Menu options for dinner were not easy to choose between lemon ginger jumbo shrimp, beef tenderloin medallions, mediterranean salad with Greek feta, bbq pulled pork or roasted salmon...mmmm! Then it was Golf with the New York KNICKS at The Bridge Golf Course on Millstone - an exclusive 18-hole, 76.1-rated course designed by Reese Jones, ASGCA. Event Chairs Andy Boyland, Vyto Kab, Gregg Maloberti, Toni Sacconaghi didn't let the rain hold them up AT ALL! Current Knicks Player J.R. Smith teed off the fundraiser where Legends John Wallace, Larry Johnson and John Starks were all in the lineup for the star-studded round. Current assistant coaches Herb Williams and Jerry Dunn were on hand as well and Knicks staffers Troy Bowers and Brendan Callahan too. It was a very special kid-friendly event natch... just look at the beaming faces on those young'uns for a photo opp with the NY Knicks legends! VIPs Scott Roskind, Dr. Mark Creighton, Paul Insalaco, Kimberly & Stephen Bollenbach, Louis Meisel, Bill Grathwohl, Greg Lisi, Robert Vilensky, Sy Flug, Brad Butler and Harry Hackett braved the weather and showed full support for Ross. Who wouldn't want to be rubbing elbows with all these great hoop stars out on the course?! The New York Knicks golf outing raised nearly $44,000 for Ross School programs and scholarships, including the Steven J. Ross Scholarship Fund, which helps ensure that children from all economic backgrounds benefit from a world-class Ross education. The super star event hosted at the exclusive Bridge Golf Course was attended by 56 golfers including celebrated members of the New York Knicks family. It was: Breakfast Buffet + a Shotgun Start were followed by cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and awards back at the clubhouse! Pretty nice finish : ) A simultaenous golf event was going on at The Maidstone Club in East Hampton for 6th Annual CMEE Golf Outing where guests had a chance to play at one the most exclusive golf courses in America and enjoy an exquisite brunch before the big game - and cocktails and supper overlooking the ocean after their round! Tough choices out here when it comes to special events!! How would you have chosen? Then there was also the 10th Annual Golf Tournament & Cocktail Party at Westhampton Country Club AND the WOMEN'S US OPEN at Seboncac - golf! Golf!! GOLF!!! {tis the season and we are known for our outstanding, specially designed courses}

The NEW Parrish Art Museum started the season with Landscape Pleasures and a breathtaking garden tour which has become the premier horticultural event on the East End. Co-chairs Lillian Cohen, Jack deLashmet, Marty McLanahan and Linda Hackett Munson came up with a new theme Modernism, Minimalism, and Meadows celebrating the inauguration of Landscape Pleasures in the Museum and taking its inspiration from the architecture and landscape. Bridgehampton Historical Society's Benefit at the Ludlow Grange Estate was hosted by Christie Brinkley, Ronald + Jo Carol Lauder, Andrea + Doug Madaio. The Madoo Conservancy held a preview cocktail party aptly named Much Ado About Madoo in Sagaponack and then there was The Great Gatsby Party At Wolffer Estate Vineyard also in Sagaponack Peconic Baykeeper had Launch 15 at Jonesey's in Westhampton Beach to launching into summer for THEIR 15th season! Animal Rescue Fund organized their 27th Annual ARF Garden Tour - Tiptoe Through the Tulips with a lovely benefit cocktail reception after the self-guided tour. Gardens Featured: Barrie Berg & Antonio Munoz, Dwyer & Michael Derrig,Alexandra Munroe & Robert Rosenkranz, Jan & Randy Slifka, Craig James Socia, Peter Wilson & Scott Sanders. What could be more divine then the Villa Maria on Mecox Bay in Water Mill?! Once a retreat for nuns it is now owned by Vince and Louise Camuto who graciously hosted the 13th Annual Midsummer Night Drinks Benefit for God's Love We Deliver on a perfect June evening for sunset cocktails out on their lawn overlooking the water. The Swedes were there too with their delicously light fare and Swedish specialties prepared by Chef Gorgen Tiden. Other mouth-watering delectables passed around by butlers were summer vegetable rolls, croque-monsieurs and steak frites were catered by Canard, Inc. along with a variety of one-bite burgers and sweets such as toffee pecan brownies and mini lemon ice cream cones. Pernod Ricard USA generously donated all beverages at the bar including the event's specialty drinks, Absolut Madras, Absolut Red Thread Good Dreamy Chocolate Almond Cocktail and Absolut Citron Lemonade, all delicious concoctions for the warm summer evening. Guests danced the night away to the music compiled and spun by DJ Karin Ward. Throughout the evening, in between dining, laughing and talking, guests also enjoyed coffee from RED THREAD GOOD Coffee, a new sponsor of God's Love, and microgreens from Koppert Cress USA. In attendance were Dennis Basso, Jason & Haley Binn, Yildiz Yuksek Blackstone & Richard Blackstone, Geoffrey Bradfield, Mark Brashear, Claudio & Debra del Vecchio, Karen & Jefferson Hughes, Ford Huniford, Christopher Idone, Tony Ingrao & Randy Kemper, David Kleinberg, Esther Newberg, Roland Nivelais, Fernanda Niven, Nathan Osrsman & Jose Castro, Jeff Pfeifle, Andrew Rosen & Jenny Dyer, Margaret Russell, Chuck & Donna Turlinski, David Wine & Vicente Wolf. It was terribly hard to tear ourselves away to get over to Dive Into Summer - Group for the East End's Annual Benefit...but not THAT hard because it was at Wolffer's heavenly estate vineyard in Sagaponack!! Bumping into Campion and Tatiana Platt upon arrival, we made our way around the tent for the cocktail hour just prior to another fresh farm to table dinner inside another billowing tent set up with tables focusing on a stage where Alec Baldwin stood up for environmental policies in an effort to push for more action that will SAVE our Atlantic haven. He was genuinely warm to all after his red carpet duties and shook hands with those inside - in a very generous-hearted manner I might add which was a genuine pleasure and surprise.

Down the road a bit between Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor is the South Fork Museum of Natural History! Yes, they too were hosting THEIR biggg SOFO ROCKS! summer gala honoring Mermaids Susan Rockefeller + Christie Brinkley with special awards for their selfless efforts to bring about awareness to both saving our water and what's most precious to us and protecting us from nuclear disaster and prevent nuclear power plants from putting us in danger by its eery proximity just a hop, skip and jump away in CT. Oh, and we do NOT have an evacuation route God forbid...another matter of agenda. Over at Ross Lower Campus on Butter Lane in Bridgehampton was The Retreat's 26th Artists Against Abuse Celebrates the 60s! Presented by Kathleen Tait and Tony Rosenthal the live auction included artwork and exciting + exclusive experiences. Previously auctioned art have included such artists as Ross Bleckner, Louise Bourgeois, Dan Christensen, Elaine DeKoonining, Robert Dutesco, Jimmy Ernst, Jack Gerber, April Gornik, Brian Hunt, Claus Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, Dan Rizzie, Frank Stella, Donald Sultan, Andrew Wyeth, Gavin Ziegler and many more! Live Auctioneer Sara Friendlander of Christie's did the honors for our *only* domestic violence agency and the whole east end...both forks. In Southampton on the ocean under the *SUPER moon* everyone dressed in white attire for Triumph For Teens - Phoenix House's Summer Gala AND 45th Anniversary! Founder Mitch Rosenthal was there to celebrate the momentous occasion at Margie & Michael Loeb's who hosted the lavish party at their sprawling post modern tucked inside the dunes! Sponsored by HBO, Bank of America, Hamptons Magazine and Lacoste - the staff wore Lacoste of course and tables were decorated with tennis balls. MC Rosanna Scotto mingled in sweetly with all the guests as did Chairs Pete Peterson & Joan Ganz CoCooney. The evening's Co-Chairs were Rose Marie Bravo & William Selkirk Jackey; Ellen Chesler & Matthew J. Mallow; Karine & Alexander Chudnoff; Shirine Coburn & Tony DiSanto; Harriet & Steven Croman; Bob DeBitetto; Tanja & James Dixon; Nancy Dubuc; Peter W. Emmerson; Rose & John Franco; Lori & Eric Friedman; Keith & Barbara Gollust; Martha & George Kellner; Hillary Koota & Glenn J. Krevlin; Angelina & Monte Lipman; Margie & Michael Loeb; Allison & Howard Lutnick; Judy McGrath; Lisa & Richard Plepler; Ernie Pomerantz & Marie Brenner; Andrew Sabin; Douglas E. Schoen; Annette Tapert & Joe Allen; Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch; Lauran & Charlie Walk and Samantha & David Yanks. Vice Co-Chairs: Heide Banks; Wole C. Coaxum; Donny Deutsch; Frank Doroff; Diana Frank & Paulmittee. Frank, MD; Milly & Arne Glimcher; Anne Keating; Jimmy Kimmel; Richard & Dana Kirshenbaum; Rikki Klieman & William J. Bratton; Stephanie & Ron Kramer; Jill Martin; Sandy & Ed Meyer; Susan & Alan Patricof; Perri Peltz & Eric Ruttenberg; Robert W. Pittman; Shirley Lord Rosenthal; Shawn Sachs; Scott Sassa; Nicole Seligman & Joel Klein; Amanda Urban & Ken Auletta; Marcy & Michael Warren; W. Christopher & Anne M. White and Tanya Zuckerbrot & Glenn Beyer. Mark Feuerstein, Nicole Miller, Kelly Rutherford and Ali Wentworth are on the evening's Celebrity Committee.

Third weekend in June was chock full of mega galas - as in - GET WILD! the summer gala benefit was ALSO going strong on First Neck at Ellen & Chuck Scarborough's in Southampton. Honoring Sharon Kerr, Howard Lorber, Kim Renk and Linda Renk the benefit was for the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center of The Hamptons it was a celebration of the rehabilitation and successful release of Long Island's native wildlife. Dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured, sick and orphaned wild animals in order to return them to their natural habitat, the center is a full-time professional wildlife hospital staffed by veterinarians, licensed rehabilitators, biologists, animal behaviorists and volunteers. Howard Stern and Beth Ostrovsky came in full support and were on hand to hold the various wild animals to show others trust and love nourishes these animals as much as physical care. Rounding out June was Benefit for the Bays Aboard the Mariner III in Sag Harbor for Peconic Baykeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance. Held aboard the luxury yacht, the Mariner III, in Sag Harbor fto celebrate Baykeeper's 15th anniversary and to raise awareness and funds to keep local and international waters swimmable, drinkable, and fishable. Join us for dockside cocktails and a one-of-a-kind three course cruise dinner created by Michelin starred chef, Gustav Tragardh, of the internationally renowned Swedish seafood restaurant, Sjomagasinef. Sponsored by the Swedish Culinary Group, fabulous auction items will be featured, including travel packages to Sweden. I think the Swedes have surely landed in The Hamptons! Thank you c/o Maidstone ; ) From the West to the East...at Sandacres Estate in Quogue East End Hospice hosted their 14th Annual Summer Gala - An Enchanted Evening - with Angels to Juniors dinner, dancing, auctions and casino games! The 14th Annual Dorothy P. Savage Good Samaritan Award was awarded to the Reverend Dr. Charles M. Cary. At the Nature Conservancy's local Center for Conservation in East Hampton, Charlie Marder Trustee of the Long Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Founder and owner of Marders Nursery in Bridgehampto was honored by Chairs Bettina and Fred Stelle. Peter Duchin's orchestra played throughout the evening with a cool environmental installation *happening* in the hedges to bring attention to their real agenda! Key Protector Tables of Ten went for a wopping $50,000 helping to raise funds much needed to support The Nature Conservancy's critical work on Long Island including the protection and management of our precious environment of wetlands, forests, bluffs, dunes, beaches and underwater bay habitat. Hamptons Free Ride also had their annual launch party at the Blue Parrot and they've started giving free rides in Southampton village now to Coopers Beach...but don't try waiting around in bathing suits as there are strict laws in place re/shirts on the street. The star of the new movie Diana, Naomi Watts, was spotted dining with two friends at one of The Hamptons' hotspots, Sotto Sopra, in Amagansett, sister restaurant to Bobby Van's. Sotto Sopra has gained a celebrity following with actors Alec Baldwin, Cameron Diaz and John Slattery and designers Michael Kors and David Yurman.

In between at Hayground School in Bridgehampton the American Heart Association gave their 17th Annual Heart of The Hamptons Ball - Heart of Gold. Event Honorees were Dr. James Taylor, Caroline Loeb & Eric Trump. Always a festive, social gathering with cocktail hour, dinner and dancing!! Widely recognized as a premier philanthropic and festive event in The Hamptons, the Heart of the Hamptons Ball has raised over $2.5 million for the American Heart Association since it began 17 years ago. An elegant and diverse representation of the corporate, medical and social communities from The Hamptons, Long Island and New York City celebrating the community's support of the life-saving mission of the American Heart Association. This year the "Heart of Gold" Heart Ball honored James Taylor, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stony Brook Hospital with the Distinguished Service Award and the Distinguished Leadership award was presented to Eric F. Trump, Chairman & Founder, The Eric Trump Foundation. This year's Event Co- Chairs were Henry Woo, MD, Director Cerebrovascular Center Professor of Neurological Surgery and Radiology at Stony Brook Hospital and Andrew Graves, Private Wealth Manager from Goldman Sachs & Co. Our Heart Hero award recipient was Caroline Loeb, who shared her personal story. All of the honorees spoke eloquently about their dedication to the mission of the American Heart Association to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. This year, Rosanna Scotto, Co-Host of Good Day New York, served as Master of Ceremonies. A great success as usual but this year they raised more than $500,000 in one summer evening! Each guest was given one of the best goody bags of the season as they left! WORTH bags filled with all sorts of cool stuff and I'm still playing Nancy Atlas' new cd!! LOVE her song from Montauk to Memphis. Stony Hill Stables Foundation held its 2nd annual benefit for Stony Hill Stables in Amagansett with a Special Dressage Exhibition and Pony Drill Team Performance! Owned and operated by the Hotchkiss family for more than five decades, they launched the newly formed Stony Hill Stable Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with the express purpose of promoting equine sports through riding education and competitive opportunities for children and young adults in the local residential East End community. Even Wick performed dressage on Royal Dancer to hiphop song Thrift Shop! Launched in the summer of 2012, the success of the foundation is already evident by mounting ribbons. Hard-working scholarship recipients, who trained last summer, have already won ribbons in some very prestigious horse shows, including the Sagaponack Horse Show, The Hampton Classic and most recently at the famed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), held annually in Wellington, Florida. Committee members include Maureen Bluedorn, Dan and Melissa Berger, Ed and Christy Burns, Rebecca Chapman, Guillermo M. Gomez, Mark Lowlicht, Carolyn Murphy, Jill and Paul Ross, Ellen Rosengard and Pernilla Ammann. Local residents of Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Southampton and Westhampton are encouraged to apply for scholarship.

JULY brought in hot, gorgeous weather for a change and it lasted ALL through the long holiday weekend! Great for beach days and swimming or tennis & golf or even croquet and badmitton out on the lawn...whether you were just lying in hammocks on the porch for leisurely afternoons or whatever you did - the first weekend of July definitely put summer into high gear! The evening stars were out for the 25th Annual American Picnic with Grucci Fireworks on Meadow Lane in Southampton and those who didn't have tickets to the Fresh Air Home benefit tailgated or moored their boats in the bay to get a glimpse of Grucci's spectacular display in the sky. July 4th celebrations would not be the same without the Halsey House SUMMER GALA and the volunteers outfitted as militia and revolutionary period costumes. American as apple pie Independence Day pays tribute to our forefathers {and mothers} and The Thomas Halsey Homestead built in 1640 was the perfect setting as it's the oldest house in the village and Southampton is the oldest English settlement on New York State!! Schmidts went all out with a seafood bar, sushi bar, assortment of cheeses and heavy on passed hors d'oeuvres that melted in your mouth. We dashed into 4 North Main just because we simply could not miss out on Jules Feiffer - JZ Holden - David Geiser - Paton Miller joint exhibition getting us ripe for the big week of art!! The 5th Annual Summer Docs Series of 4 sponsored by The Wall Street Journal began in June at The John Drew Theater at Guild Hall presented by The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) - Alec Baldwin will be joining forces in July throughout the summer. In betwixt + between all their regular programming Guild Hall also held an opening reception for the special exhibition celebrating 65 years of the Artists + Writers Softball Game. Twenty Feet From Stardom was the first one and Alec chimed in for a sold out Gasland Part II once July came around. Well who would have thunk we would run into a cowboy on his horse in Bridgehampton Commons? You may have seen Cowboy Brett too riding Dixie to King Kullen and back from Nova's Ark on Millstone Road...he's getting her used to traffic and going to start pulling a wagon - a gypsy looking one for countryside tours. Tundra has a lot of animals on her property - goats, sheep, cows, polo horses and they wait like clockwork every night on the farmhands from the stand across the street to bring them dinner around 6 o'clock : ) All are ready, set, go for ArtHamptons, Super Saturday and everything else going on at Nova's Ark.

Hamptons Cottage & Gardens Magazine hosted the opening night bash for the 6th Annual ArtHamptons Preview Party to benefit Guild Hall. Held again in the brilliant Sculpture Fields of Nova's Ark with 80 top-tier galleries from 10 countries and 1,000+ important contemporary works of art by 600+ finest notable artists worldwide. Upon entering the expo Larry River's famous legs loomed above the front entrance signifying Forty Feet of Fashion in commemoration of the beloved artist's 90th Anniversary. Lots of smaller special events like customized polo demonstrations presented by the elite Southampton Hunt and Polo Club, special performance art, insightful panels and even Hamptons Magazine 35th anniversary party! It was the 3rd Annual artMRKT Hamptons VIP Preview Party too at the Bridgehampton Historical Society and the village was a mad traffic jam with spaces impossibly hard to find - but we found our very own lot smack in the middle ; ) Meant to coincide with the Parrish Art Museum's Midsummer Party at their new digs in Water Mill, the museum is hosting a Friday brunch event with the museum's Education Circle. However the Opening Night Preview party was a blast and the LongHouse Reserve was its fortunate beneficiary. Have to say that THIS event was so cool + innovative with the Manhattan club Norwood's free form bar + music installation atop playing awesome techno by Brooklyn-based Post Rock/Electroacoustic duo, Live Footage - Mike Thies and Topu Lyo. We grabbed an impromptu interview with owner Alan Linn - gotta love his Scottish accent! Outside celebrated vendors like Red Hook Lobster Pound, Montaco, Rickshaw Dumplings and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream made up the curated group of gourmet food trucks providing refreshments starting on opening night...in tandem with the complimentary open bar. 40 exhibitors this year will include dealers Lennon Weinberg Inc., Rick Wester Fine Art, Nancy Hoffman Gallery, Halsey McKay Gallery, Joshua Liner Gallery, Lesley Heller Workspace, Tripoli Gallery, JHB Gallery, Eric Firestone Gallery, Cade Tompkins Projects, Boltax Gallery, Brooklyn's Fuchs Projects, Mindy Solomon Gallery, Tally Beck Contemporary, Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, Vered Gallery, Alpha Gallery and CB1 Gallery of Los Angeles. Seriously both ArtHamptons and artMRKT Hamptons are a terrific lead into the upcoming ArtSouthampton benefitting Southampton Hospital!

The highly anticipated East Hampton Antiques Show was once again held on the the historic grounds of Mulford Farm to benefit East Hampton's Historical Society. It's the seventh year in a row and has become a highly touted antiques fair as well as a favorite social event of the season. Interior Designer Steven Gambrel was the Honorary Chair this year of the Preview Cocktail Party, which offers patrons an early buying opportunity of the extraordinary array of antiques, art, jewelry and collectibles. Mulford Farm, located on James Lane in the heart of the village of East Hampton is an historic three and a half acre property featuring a restored 17th century farm house as well as several barns and outbuildings that are among the oldest on eastern Long Island. Twenty-five A-list interior designers who work in The Hamptons are also supporting this year.s show on the Designers Committee. This year's list includes John Barman, David Kleinberg, Scott Sanders and Charlotte Moss, to name just a few. Tiger Graham who is President of the East Hampton Historical Society was looking super suave having donned Bermuda shorts and pink knee socks to match his pink polo on the hot and humid summer night! Other familiar faces such Duncan Darrow, Steven Gambrel and Charlotte Moss were spotted amongst the large turnout. Fave hors d'oeuvres were the petit blini and the thirst quenching encrusted grapes! Kudos to Shamin Abas for changing the tide at Bridgehampton Polo and bringing it back to its original elegance and more intimate crowd! Christie Brinkley did the honors of throwing the coin toss to begin opening matches between Victor Vargas. La Lechuza and White Birch Farm for the 17th season of polo...and Dylan Jenet of Universal Records sang our national anthem! Amanda Hearst, Campion and Tatiana Platt, Kelly Klein, Gianpaolo de Felice and Gabby Karan, Natasha Barnard, Hilaria Baldwin, Ireland Basinger Baldwin, Peter Brant, Ben Watts, Sam and Libby Edelman, Anne Hearst McInerney and Jay McInerney are all a part of the in-crowd this season. Burgess, Gotham Jets, LaCroix, Polo Gear and Town & Country are season-long sponsors and Ferrari North America is going to be closing match sponsor. Escada was an opening day sponsor handing out black + white umbrellas offering shade from the hot sun and well chilled Channing Daughter rose and non-alcoholic pink pony drinks paired up nicely with the yummy hors d'oeuvres - and thankfully plenty of vegetarian ones pour moi! It was all ages...from two adorable little girls with big, white bows in their hair and matching dresses to gorgeous Paulina Keszler in the same tangerine Christie Brinkley wore and whose father Stephan Keszler was hosting the kick-off cocktail party for Art Southampton. FYI the color orange currently stands for *hunger awareness* We can quite accurately predict that this summer season of Bridgehampton Polo at Two Trees Farm is going to take the cake tastefully : )

If there was ONE STANDOUT WEEKEND it was July 20th this summer with no fewer then 10+ mega galas. We hopped, skipped {some} and jumped to as many as time would allow! Yup, we're getting pretty pro-y at this : ) Sports Illustrated model Julie Henderson, Adelina Wong Ettelson Blair Voltz Clarke, Colleen Saidman Yee, Kelli Delaney, Lorna Dreher and SKIN founder and designer Susan Beische all co-hosted SKIN Cocktail Party at Bonne Nuit in East Hampton. The designers sumptuous and, above all, comfortable creations have made their way into the wardrobes of a number of high profile powerful women such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Carine Roitfeld, Sarah Jessica Parker, Christy Turlington and Halle Berry. This year, Beischel was inducted into the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers). The James Beard Foundation's Annual Chefs & Champagne GALA at Wolffers Vineyard started with a special preview VIP Reception for an hour prior to the main event for a sumptuous tasting party featuring flowing champagne and wines of Wolffer Estate Vineyard, and culinary treats from over 30 select fine chefs from NYC and beyond. There was a nice turnout for our Ameican Soldiers at the All American BBQ + Open Bar in Amagansett at ROCK the Farm Benefit for Wounded Warrior Project who had live music by The English Beat! In Quogue Paul and Jane Dietche hosted the 7th Annual Wild Night for Wildlife Benefit Gala cocktail party AND a historic house tour for those generous guests who donated $750 to the cause! The Times Square Orchestra provided live music and ABC's Bill Ritter was Auctioneer for the roughly 500 guests bidding including a Meet and Greet with CNN's Anderson Cooper and custom-made birdhouses from area architects and builders. And out east it was cocktails at Sunset Benefiting ACRIA presented by COACH at David Kleinberg's in East Hampton with music by Chelsea Leyland. An annual gala preview party kicked off the Hampton Designer Showhouse built by Bodenchak Design and Build and sponsored by Traditional Home magazine *still going* at 990 Brick Kiln Road in Bridgehampton through LD so not too late to go! The showhouse raises much needed funds for Southampton Hospital, the only major medical facility on the South Fork. Susan Lucci hosted ROCK THE DOCK FOR BAY STREET! Summer Gala Benefit Bash on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor under a humungous, gorgeous tent that took up the entire wharf! SO hot though that one person passed out and EMTs rushed in to save the evening and the gent. Thankfully all flaps were open making for a yummy cross breeze and the crowd spilled out onto the dock. Fantasy live and silent auctions included a chance to go backstage with Donny & Marie Osmond after their Live Las Vegas show, VIP tickets and a "meet & greet" to LIVE with Kelly & Michael after the show - PLUS vacation getaways at a Four Seasons resort, The Ritz Carlton Orlando - Grande Lakes, a Wimco Villa in St. Bart's and more!

Honorary Chairs Honorary Chairs Susan Allen, Board President Jonathan McCann and Jean Shafiroff wSusan Allen, Board President Jonathan McCann and Jean Shafiroff welcomed over 200 supporters to The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation's (SASF) 4th Annual Unconditional Love Gala at the home of Sandra McConnell. WNBC's Chuck Scarborough emceed the evening and honored NBC's Award Winning Animal Advocate & Best Selling Author Jill Rappaport along with ASPCA animal behaviorist and trainer, Pamela Reid, Ph.D CAAB who was given the outstanding achievement award. The Alex Donner Orchestra kept guests including Henry Buhl, Amy and Ray Cosman, Raya and Cliff Knight, Southampton's Mayor Mark Epley, Jean Remmel Little, Nicole Noonan, Kim Renk and Greg Dwyer, Martin and Elizabeth Shafiroff, Fred Tanne, Lisa McCarthy, Laura Lofaro Freeman, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Yaz and Valentine Hernandez on their feet after a fabulous dinner catered by Robbins-Wolfe Eventeurs. Honorary Corporate Chairs for the event included Allen & Co, Barclays, Ferguson Cohen LLP and Sequin Jewelry. Proceeds raised from the Unconditional Love Gala help SASF continue to care for over 1,200 homeless animals rescued from The Hamptons each year. LongHouse Reserve hosted its summer benefit White Night in honor of internationally acclaimed Chinese contemporary artist and political activist Ai Weiwei, Richard White, and the late Lisa de Kooning. Though still unable to leave his country due to the his contentious run-ins with the Chinese Communist Party, honoree Ai Weiwei also greeted gala goers via special video appearance. Under the glow of a midsummer's full moon, legendary textile designer and LongHouse Reserve founder Jack Lenor Larsen joined the Reserve's illustrious Board of Trustees in welcoming artists, patrons, and art-enthusiasts alike to this glamorous garden affair that raised $420,000 for the organization Among them were Honoree Richard Meier and his wife Ana Meier, modernist painter Frant Stella, playwright Edward Albee, American artist Alice Aycock, whose latest sculpture was unveiled that night, sculpture artist Jack Youngerman, and avant-garde director and artist Robert Wilson. Gala goers also included president of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, Dorothy Lichenstein, famed lensmen Bill Cunningham, and Patrick McMullan, the late Lisa de Kooning's daughters Isabelle, Emma and Lucy de Kooning Villeneuve, author and socialite Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Alice Weil Judelson, Fabiola Beracasa and Jason Beckman, Faith Popcorn, Patricia and Geoffrey Schneider, Michael Halsband, the Pucci family including Ralph and Ann, Nicole, Maria and Michael, fashion stylist Yuta Powell, R. Couri Hay, Cynthia Fitzgerald, Sandy and Stephen Perlbinder, Toni Ross and Sara Salaway, Thomas Shulte, Mary Jane Marcasiano and Ralph Gibson, Peter Olsen, Lys Marigold, Skye Marigold, Martin Liu and Abby MacFaeen.

It was a BIGGG shopping day the following Saturday and the one everyone waits for in these parts! Kelly Ripa, Donna Karan and InStyle hosted Ovarian Cancer Research Funds (OCRF) 16th Annual Super Saturday Benefit. Guests in attendance included: Zosia Mamet, Ali Wentworth, Jonathan Cheban, Kelly Rutherford, Kim Raver, Christa Miller, Susan Lucci, Lisa Rinna, Joy Behar, Tiffani Thiessen, Nicole Murphy, Star Jones, June Ambrose, Aida Turturro, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicky Hilton, Beth Stern, Fern Mallis, Sandra Lee, Amy Carlson and Diem Brown among others. DJ Steve Porter, internationally acclaimed DJ and music producer provided the entertainment. Kelly Rutherfurd walked hands free of a leash with her 18 yr old dog loyally following her each and every step! She explained that she never wanted to have to tie her dog to a leash so he could have free range within her space. Once dubbed the Rolls Royce of garage sales, over 200 prominent designers including: Donna Karan, Theory, alice + olivia, Robert Rodriguez, Diane von Furstenberg, Helmut Lang, Intermix, Scoop NYC, Joie, JBrand and Ralph Lauren. For the sixth consecutive year, the Designers A to Zoe booth by Rachel Zoe featured luxury designers such as Proenza Schouler, Chloe, J Mendel, Saint Laurent, VERSACE and more. Leading multimedia retailer QVC broadcasted live from the event for two hours smack in the middle of the day. QVC Presents Super Saturday Live were offering viewers the chance to purchase a variety of products including apparel, accessories, jewelry and beauty at amazing prices with all net proceeds benefiting OCRF. Shopping made easy : ) Super Saturday 16 is OCRFs fun-filled, family-oriented daylong fundraiser, complete with a one-of-a-kind designer garage sale, kids carnival and activities, a luxury raffle and gourmet treats. Ovarian Cancer Research Fund's Super Saturday 16 raised $3.5 million and were still tallying from the extended Charitybuzz auction! In between two fast paced weekends of events was another huge art expo promising to bring in a huge crowd on a week night. ART Southampton was a massive pavillion built on the grounds of the Southampton Elks Lodge and kicked off with a VIP Preview cocktail party catered by Southampton Social Club benefiting the Southampton Hospital. The exclusive evening provided the first opportunity for collectors to view and acquire some of the finest pieces of contemporary and modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Notably present was Woman with Peanuts by Roy Lichtenstein with a price point of $19 million and Andy Warhol's Flower priced at $10 million!! Yes, serious art for serious collectors and investors.

The 9th Annual Hamptons Happening Waxman Foundation Benefit at Maria & Kenneth Fishel's in Bridgehampton horse country was MC'd by Chris Wragge of WCBS - honoring Ruth Finley of The Fashion Calendar and Chef Todd English. Todd English + TWENTY Top Chefs of from six of his restaurants - Ca Va, Curly Cakes, Todd English Olives, TE Todd English, Todd English Food Hall and Tuscany at Mohegan Sun - all showed their brilliance. Joining Todd in this jinormous 8000 sq ft tent of fine cuisine was Chris Coleman and some of THE best diversified chefs both local + beyond! Bareburger's entire team, Chef/Chef Coordinator Peter Ambrose, Arlotta Food Studio, SilverSpoon Specialties, Loeb Boathouse, Socarrat, Red Horse Market, Chef prodigy Gregg Grossman who at the age of 16 appeared on the Food Network's "CHOPPED", Todd's newest addition to The Hamptons - Fresh Hamptons, The Seafood Shop, renowned Sen Sushi Restaurant, who just opened a NYC space this past winter AND Chef Veli Myllirnen from Sweden and Komegashi. Delectable desserts abounded like Joe & Liza's all natural ice cream, Fabipops, Smush, Erica's Rugelach & Baking Company, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Wafles & Dinges - the hottest food truck in NYC {hint: @waffletruck}, La Churreria, Bee's Knees Cake Cups, Kyotofu and of course - the Hampton Coffee Company's Mercedes movable coffee bar to pair perfectly with each morsel. Russell Simmons + Danny Simmons joined forces to host the 14th Annual ART FOR LIFE Benefit. This year's event held on the water at Fairview Farms took on an inspirational theme "A Field of Dreams" and celebrated the creative energy of New York City youth and honored individuals in the community for their career achievements and philanthropic work. Another HUGE success Art for Life raised $1.5 million at last count...and the online auction hosted by Charitybuzz kept on going! Highlights include priceless experiences such as dinner with Magic Johnson and five friends, a walk-on role in Tyler Perry's next feature film, a VIP package with the band One Direction, lunch with Sarah Jessica Parker, a day on tour with musician Robin Thicke, and a meet-and-greet with Ice-T on the set of Law & Order SVU. This year's honorees included Samuel Englebardt and William D. Johnson of Demarest Films, Anne Pasternak of Creative Time, writer Walter Mosley, and Filmmaker Tyler Perry. This year's featured artist was renowned artist and photographer Rashid Johnson. CNN's Soledad O'Brien hosted the evening, which featured a Rush Kids Auction hosted by actor Anthony Anderson and special performances by Estelle, Rick Ross and Maxwell as well as a surprise performance by Doug E. Fresh. Guests included Angela Simmons, Michael Strahan, Nicole Murphy, Rev. Al Sharpton, Star Jones, Skylar Diggins, Olivia Culpo, Nana Meriwether, Melanie Fiona, artist Kehinde Wiley, Tahiry Jose, Jill Zarin, Ronald Perelman, Tichina Arnold, attorney Sanford Rubenstein, artist Mike Starn, Debra Lee, Kevin Liles, Chloe Flower, Flaviana Matata, Angela Martini, Pat McGrath, and more. Music was provided by DJ M.O.S. Star Jones and Michael Strahan acted as Honorary Chairs, and Event Chairs included Kimberly Hatchett, Crystal McCrary, Camilla Olsson and Richard & Lisa Plepler. Lucille Blair and Alberto Mugrabi served as Art Auction Chairs with Shamin Abas and Angella Forbes as Luxury Auction Chairs.

AUGUST rolled in after July's great fini w/ Top chefs from Manhattan and The Hamptons who worked their magic for the 9th Great Chefs Dinner at Hayground School as a benefit for Jeff's Kitchen and the Jeff Salaway Scholarship Fund. Starting off with the super popular cocktail party aptly named Meet the Chefs for a sumptuous tasting extravaganza by Josh Capon (Lure Fish Bar); Arjun Achuthan (Hayground School), Tom Colicchio/Ty Kotz (Topping Rose House), Bryan Futerman (Foody's); Joel Hough (Il Bucco), Jason Weiner (Almond), Matt Michel (Rolling in Dough Pizza); Joe Realmuto (Nick & Toni's), Davie Simmons (Uptown Juice Bar), Cheryl Stair (Art of Eating), Lia Fallon (The RiverheadProject) and Christian Mir (Stone Creek Inn). More generous pairings were offered too from like minded sponsors Kona-Ice, Blue Parrot, ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water, VerTerra, PLAIN-T, Greenport Brewing Company, Crystal Head Vodka, Wolffer Vineyards, Channing Daughters Winery, Diplomatico Rum, Nestle Waters/San Pellegrino and Shaw-Ross International Importers while Lily and the Parlor Tricks played live music!! A silent art auction featuring renowned artists hung on the gallery walls inside the tent and we noticed Eric Ripert signing his name to the portrait he fancied of himself : ) New this year were demos in the newly expanded Jeff's Kitchen by TV host and chef George Hirsch and Aesop Skin Care. Barry Sonnenfeld and Alec + Hilaria Baldwin walked amidst the crowd intermittently tasting a soupcon here + there along the way. Nice to *not* have a red carpet hoopla and just see people acting normal at a local event for a change like old times. An intimate VIP Wine Dinner honoring Eric Ripert following the cocktail party was held at the home of Toni Ross. The dinner featured a four-course meal prepared by a select few of the participating chefs and paired with wines by Aldo Sohm (Sommelier at Le Bernardin). Chefs Claudia Fleming (North Fork Table and Inn), Justin Smillie (Il Bucco Alimentari e Vineria), Michael Cavaniola (Cavaniola's Gourmet Cheese Shop), Kerry Heffernan (Finalist "Top Chef Masters" season 4); Marc Murphy (Benchmarc Restaurants), Steffan Karlsson (Fond- Gothenburg, Sweden) and Taku Sato (Nobu57). A portion of the produce used in sit down dinner was actually sourced from Hayground School's Slow Foods Greenhouse. Exclusive culinary and travel packages were put up for grabs during the live auction...natch!

A new event this season was the inaugural La Palestra Kids Benefit was an intimate semi-private event aimed at raising both funds and awareness for the actual program which promotes healthy living to improve the quality of children's lives and the lives of their family through integrative health classes. The day-long event took place at East Hampton Studio in Wainscott combining fun daytime activities and kid-friendly exercise for families with a yummy lunch catered by non other then celebrity top chef Sam Talbot! Gracing the ORANGE carpet for cocktails and dinner were Howard Stern and Beth Ostrovsy Stern and Kelly Klein...just to name a few but other heavy hitters on the host committee were Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Olivia Culpo, Patty Smyth, Noah Emmerich, Michael McGlone, John McEnroe, James Marshall, Tom Sachs & Sarah Hoover, Randy & Melani Nardone, Elettra Wiedemann and Joel Coen! Michael McGlone managed to pull in some top brass in the music industry fturing special performances by Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz and the acclaimed inspirational, R&B, and Six Time Grammy Award Winning Gospel vocalist Bebe Winans and supporting them are the Ray Chew Live Band - Fox's TV Show American Idol. As if that wasn't enough...dinner featured specially prepared cuisine by famed restaurateur Richie Notar from Harlow and Top chef Sam Talbot and Celebrity Chefs David Burke from David Burke Catering. SOOO then...Michael McGlone who is perhaps best known as the film noiresque spokesman for GEICO insurance cracked some hilarious jokes as part of his introduction...when out of the blue Howard Stern spontaneously hops on stage to join Pat Manocchia & buddy, Cece + Bebe Winan and the Ray Chew Live Band to sing Gloria Gaynor's I will Survive!! What a hoot and they were ALL SOOO good together but most of all the fun they were having was INFECTIOUS : ) Ok, so you think that's good? Well, then Adam Duritz joins Bebe Winan to sing The Beatles' Let it Be culminating with full back up by guitarists Dan Vickney + David Immergluck, Cece Winan AND The Ray Chew Live Band! What an unexpected unabridged mix of talent...the entire evening. The finale was everybody in East Hampton Studio singing Happy Birthday to Adam Duritz...and he had a LOT of fans there : ) Next it was Guild Hall's Annual Summer Gala with a preview opening of recent works celebrating Chuck Close at a special cocktail party prior to cocktails, dinner, dancing and a lively auction of fine art at the exquisite Bridgehampton estate of Louise and Leonard Riggio. He's the founder and chairman of Barnes and Noble and the former chair of the Dia Art Foundation. The evening honored Ninah and Michael Lynne. Mr. Lynne is 2nd Chair of Guild Hall's Board and serves the Chair for both the Museum and the Major Gifts Committees. Guests at the gala were encouraged to stroll the magnificent property and its sculpture garden. which included works by Noguchi, Botero, and di Suvero, as well as Richard Serra's "Sidewinder," an immense, rusted steel curve that is installed on the Riggios' rolling two-acre front lawn. The captivating teahouse in a Japanese-inspired pond garden was designed by Edwina von Gal. The modernist pool house with a picturesque pergola was another popular artistic element. The evening is sponsored in part by sponsored in part by Swarovski with additional support from Christie's Fine Art Storage Services.

More than one hundred doctors, actors, and guests came together in support of the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine at the Power Foods for the Brain Benefit. Nutrition researcher Neal Barnard, M.D., along with special guest Alec Baldwin, raised awareness of groundbreaking research showing that nutrition and lifestyle changes can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Over 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. With rates expected to triple by 2050, Dr. Barnard wants everyone at risk to know that there are steps they can take to help protect their brains from memory loss, stroke, and Alzheimer's. Memory expert Marilu Henner, fashion designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart of Voute Couture, and actor Elaine Hendrix with her cast from It's Just Sex. Hosted by John Bradham at his Amagansett home, guests of the benefit toasted to health and friendship with wine from basketball champion John Salley's The Vegan Vine. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed gourmet plant-based hors d'oeuvres from Verite Catering a sampling from Treeline Treenut Cheeses and Cavi-art. LongHouse Reserve hosted a spectacular evening celebrating the opening of two of its much-anticipated 2013 exhibits: internationally acclaimed Chinese contemporary artist and political activist Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Gold - and top emerging Cuban sculptor Yoan Capote's RERUM ALTER NATURA. The Reserve kicked off these two noteworthy exhibits with an enchanting garden concert by the inventive Voxare Quartet - comprised of violinists Emily Ondracek-Peterson and Galina Zhdanova, violist Erik Peterson, and cellist Adrian Daurov. The twelve-piece art installation is the gold patina-plated "collector" series of his internationally touring body of work. A collaborative project between Ai Weiwei, his studio and private New York art organization AW Asia. The second exhibit is from top Havana sculptor and UNESCO prize-winning artist Yoan Capote. RERUM ALTER NATURA, or The Other Nature of Things, is Capote's most recent work, completed during his current residency in the states. Like much of Capote's energetic, psychologically-driven, and superbly well-crafted work, RERUM ALTER NATURA features two bronze sculptures, and grapples with immigration, exile and the emotional and psychological plight of the wandering traveler. The exhibit will also run through the end of the season in October. Guests included Guns N's Roses guitarist Richard Fortus, photographer Michael Halsband, President and Founder of Fundacion Amistad Maria "Luly" de Lourdes Duke, Ralph Pucci, Asia Dyrkacz, Rolf Heitmeyer, Ellen Wesibrud, Nancy Singer, Angela and Eric Firestone, Fiona Moore and son Declan Slonim, Claudia Spinelli, James Solomon, Larry Warsh and Jonah Warsh, Sandra Becker, Victoria Exnicios, Howard Farber, Lillian Heidenberg, Melissa Armstrong, Melissa Mapes, and Katerina Benzoba. As part of the evening's festivities, Yoan Capote made a special appearance along with LongHouse Founder Jack Lenor Larsen, President Dianne B, Executive Director Matko Tomicic and Peter Olsen.

The Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education hosted Let's Misbehave, its 17th Annual Hamptons event. The sold out 200 person event held at the Wolffer Estate Vineyard raised over $195,000. Celebrating the glamour of the Roaring 20's, hosts Nicole Trunfio, Bibhu Mohapatra, Samantha Marcus Yanks, Dini von Mueffling & Ted Sann, Chele Chiavacci & Richard Farley and Howard Horowitz, dined with guests and friends in the vineyard while enjoying fresh summertime cocktails from Patron - Midnight Madness, Pyrata Pamelo and Basil Patron. In keeping with the evening's Gatsby theme, after dinner, guests danced the night away to jazz band extraordinaire Art Baron and The Duke's Men - yes, from the real-deal Duke Ellington's band! Fashionable guests included actress and model Kelly Bensimon, news anchors Alina Cho, Gigi Stone and Chris Wragge, Marla Maples and daughter Tiffany Trump, producer Arden Wohl, stylist Amanda Ross, Eric Villency, Jean Shafiroff, fashion designer Susan Beischel, philanthropist Yaz Hernandez, art dealer and producer Edward Tyler Nahem, attorney Richard Farley, Jill Martin and Polina Proshkina, among others. From flappers to gamblers...it was *Only the Best* - a Caesars casino party at Georgica Restaurant hosted by the Carbon Group nd presented by SONY with guests flown in for the special event by Analar helicopters or ferried by Ferraris. Notables that attended were Leslie Modell, Ivan Wilzig, Marla Maples and Raina Seitel of NBC NY and Style Network's City Girls. Carbon NYC along with Sony, Ferrari and Absolut Elyx got together with other high power brands for a social soiree in The Hamptons as part of Carbon NYC's multi-million dollar membership society's social event of the season. The exclusive networking club is a community of New Yorkers who have demonstrated achievement in their chosen fields (finance, technology, law, sports, and real estate). Amidst an evening of networking and eating, Caesars created a mini casino so guests could play for free and the highest roller won a trip to Caesars in Las Vegas.

Peconic Baykeeper held its fourth annual Celebrating Our Bays Benefit in support of Peconic Baykeeper's clean water programs. Willi Salm graciously hosted it at her home Port of Missing Men overlooking the Peconic. Once known as a famous pit stop for bootleggers Port of Missing Men epitomizes a by gone era of prohibition and wide open land - notably one of the most protected and beautiful penninsulas on all of Long Island. Tim Burke catered the event and was sure to have well known locals running the seafood bar and the open bar as well as passing around divine little morsels like fish tacos and lobster on brioche toast and lots of other yummy fare. Kevin McAllister honored both Founding Director of Peconic Baykeeper Skip Tollefsen and Hudson Riverkeeper Emeritus John Cronin with warm speeches and two lovely water colors. Skip had flown up with his wife Karen from Florida and was joined by his sister and brother-in-law for the special occasion. Skip has done so much for the non-profit guardians of our local bays and has donated 300 acres of protected land to it as well. It was a particularly nice mix of people both local and summer + American and European! Some of those who attended were Nancy McGann, Noel and Debby Hare, Barbara Frerichs who was recently at Authors' Night with her new book What My Dog Has Taught Me About Men! A woman clearly with vision, Barbara was the FIRST online store American Online had with ReadUSA way back in 1993. Southampton Center, in partnership with The Hamptons International Film Festival, with Cinedigm & Savannah Buffett hosted The Hamptons Premiere of SHORT TERM 12. Actors John Gallagher Jr. and Brie Larson, Director Destin Cretton, HIFF Director Anne Chaisson, HIFF Artistic Director David Nugent were all there! It was a nice impromptu reception that drew a good number of film buffs of all ages ; ) Short Term 12, directed by Destin Cretton, is the touching and uplifting story of Grace (Brie Larson), a twenty-something social worker who has channeled the demons of her own troubled past into a passion for helping at-risk teens. Her newest ward, Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever), forces Grace to relive her own difficult upbringing as she and her boyfriend Mason (John Gallagher, Jr.) are on the cusp of making a decision that will change their lives. Southampton Center is the newest addition to the film festival's list of venues.

The Pink Apron Party for HEAT was an all-WOMAN celebrity chefs' tasting extravaganza! Twenty-three renowned female chefs presented their delectable, savory and sweet creations under a large white tent pitched at the corner of Wickapogue and Old Town in Southampton - yes, right BY Southampton Hospital! Headlining the party were Celebrity Chef Chair Iron Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter and Darby Restaurant and Celebrity Chef Host and MC, Anne Burrel - and Honarary chairs Christie Brinkley, B. Smith and Dan Gasby and celebrity hosts Emma Stone, Kelly Klein, Nacho Fuerguras, and Steven Klein. Honorees of the evening were Iris Dankner, founder of Holiday House in New York and Holiday House Hamptons, benefitting breast cancer research, and services and Dr. Harold Freeman, Chairman Emeritus and founder of the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in Harlem who were both presented with good kharma bowls : ) Last December The Ellen Hermanson Foundation pledged a minimum of $220,000 to underwrite the purchase of a Dual Detector Tomosynthesis System with 3D capability. This cutting-edge screening technology insures that The Ellen Hermanson Breast Center remains a state-of-the-art breast center that excels in imaging - thus saving many who live here locally. Nile Rodgers and Chic, Adam Lambert, Aviici, Chromeo, Mystery Skulls, Russell Peters and Prince Paul totally stoked the audience at AFTEE held on the stunning 200+ acre Martha Clara Vineyard owned by the Entenmann family! The daylong music festival rocked the north fork to raise funds for non-profit All For The East End whose primary purpose is to raise awareness of the role not-for-profit organizations play in making the east end of Long Island one of the most desirable places to live in the world and to establish a fund of new money that they will have access to through a grant process. Morning kicked off the AFTEE family-friendly festival w/ music, song, dancing and activities showcasing our East End not-for-profits and also providing entertaining activities for families of young children and teens. Then at six everyone arrived for the main event - the AFTEE *Dance Party* East End produced by the famous Nile Rodgers {who was snapping photos of the crowd + seemingly enjoying photo opps as much as his fans!) Peconic Public Broadcasting (88.3) community owned radio station based in Southampton, and one of its directors, Myron Levine, founded AFTEE to leverage the strengths of the East End not-for-profits in a collaborative community supported effort. Digital Media Director Jim Durning and Roger Waters of The Wall Tour directed the online ticket sales and promotion...no wonder why it was such a huge success on its inaugural endeavor! Bridgehampton Bank occupied a sizeable portion of the VIP section - at least we know where their marketing dollars are going and we know their fees are well spent ; ) A limited amount of BNB Backstage Lounge Reserve Tables for 10 went for $10,000 if you didn't want to just settle for an ordinary $300 VIP ticket! One dude in particular drew a lot of attention and that was Tony Ellis...the #crowdpleaser. The entire event was orchestrated very well so even parking was not a hassle for the 4000+ music lovers.

New York' Andrew Cuomo flew in by helicopter to present the Governor's Cup Winery of the Year Award to McCall's Vineyard + Ranch! HARVEST East End's Wine + Food Classic in Cutchogue was in its fourth year. Presented by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and organized by the Long Island Wine Council with support from Merliance, this gracious and fun charity fundraiser celebrates the wine region at the East End of Long Island and benefits four important regional charities - East End Hospice, Group for the East End, the Peconic Land Trust and new for 2013, the Long Island Farm Bureau Promotion & Education Foundation. People from both forks and beyond came out under a harvest moon to taste the world-class wine and local flavors of one of the world.s most exciting, emerging viticultural and culinary destinations! The Festival Tasting featured the flavors of the region.s farms, fishermen, cheesemakers and other food artisans in dishes made and served by top local chefs...and of course tasted current releases and barrel samples of their not-yet-released wines from local winemakers. The Vin-IP Experience was presented by Lincoln with a special preview hour and the speech by our honorable governor of New York who emphasized the intricate balance of farms and vineyards and the importance of both Group for the East End and Peconic Land Trust as guardians of the land. Guests enjoyed an hour of private time to meet winemakers and chefs, a sparkling wine reception, up-front event parking and exclusive access to the Library Lounge, presented by Empire Merchants, with older vintages and special selections of wine. The sheer size of the tent made us dub this THE most massive one of the entire season...and it was packed to the gills!! It was so nice to see all ages for wonderfully happy mix of excitement. It was a thrill to watch the helicopter spinning up and away as the gov took off from the field just outside the tent the same way he arrived! Flashing back to the 1950's, Leon + Debra Black, David + Julia Koch, Richard + Karen LeFrak, Dick Merkin, Mike + Lori Milken and Glenn + Jennifer Myles hosted the Rydell High School Sock Hop benefitting the Prostate Cancer Foundation on Saturday at East Hampton Studio in Wainscott. Guests embraced the theme of the event, donning poodle skirts, clam diggers, slicked back hair, leather jackets and Rydell High School athletic uniforms. Those in attendance included musicians Daryl Hall & John Oates, event planner Colin Cowie, Chef David Burke, Larry Gagosian, former New York State Governor David Paterson, film producer Lawrence Bender, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Douglas Elliman Chairman Howard Lorber, John + Jenny Paulson, Steve + Christine Schwarzman, Stewart Rahr, Tom Lee & Ann Tenenbaum Lee, Howard + Nancy Marks, Barry Sternlicht, Marc Leder, author and TODAY Show contributor Jill Martin and East Hampton Studio owner Michael Wudyka. Colin Cowie, who styled the "Grease" themed benefit, left no detail to chance, procuring six classic cars, vintage-style decor, lockers and even a school bus, to transform the Hamptons venue into Rydell High School. Renowned chef and restaurateur David Burke catered the affair, mixing 1950's favorites like Pigs in a Blanket, Wild Salmon Croquettes and Black Cherry and Chocolate Malt Milkshakes, with updated summer delights such as Watermelon and Burrata Salad, Turkey Club Kabobs, Cheesecake Lollipops and Lemon Meringue Pie Shots. During cocktail hour, guests mingled while enjoying passed hors d'oeuvres, comparing costumes and bidding on silent auction items that included a variety of autographed memorabilia signed by the cast of the movie "Grease," The Beatles and Marilyn Monroe. After sitting down to a delicious dinner, guests enjoyed the musical styling of Daryl Hall & John Oates, who entertained the crowd with their hit songs including "You Make My Dreams Come True," "Your Kiss (is What I Miss)" and "Maneater." By the end of the show, guests were ready to groove and took to the dance floor for the sock hop portion of the night, revisiting popular 1950's dances such as the Hand Jive, Lindy Bob, Cha-Cha and Swing. The Rydell High School Sock Hop benefitting the Prostate Cancer Foundation was planned in association with the Charles Evans Prostate Cancer Foundation Pro-Am Tennis Tournament, which took place during the same weekend.

We are already missing the sweet little, equestrian village erected for the 38th Hampton Classic Horse Show - marking the end of summer high season! Kent Farrington won the wopping $250,000 FTI Consulting Grand Prix prize riding Zafira - winning it for the second straight year. Last year he rode Voyeur to 1st place. In becoming the fifth rider to win the Hampton Classic's featured grand prix in consecutive years, Farrington joined Show Jumping Hall of Famers Rodney Jenkins and Michael Matz and two riders who are still active, Olympic veterans Margie Engle and McLain Ward. Farrington's jump-off time of 38.51 seconds defeated Ireland's Richie Moloney on Slieveanorra (40.00 seconds) and Georgina Bloomberg on Juvina (44.03 seconds). Moloney was going for his second grand prix victory in two days, having won the $40,000 Longines Cup on Saturday with Carrabis Z. His second-place finish was good enough to make him the inaugural winner of the Classic's new Longines Rider Challenge which awards $30,000 plus a Longines watch to the Classic's leading Open Jumper rider. Third place had special meaning for 30 year old Georgina Bloomberg, as she had announced that the Hampton Classic was to be her final show of the year since she is expecting to give birth in December. This was also the first time she'd placed among the top three in the featured grand prix at what she considers her hometown show. Course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil had altered the course to make it even more challenging this year - and proving its difficulty 29 of 34 riders got snagged with their horses...mostly on the last high jump. Of the five out of the 34 starters who reached the jump-off, three missed the jump-off by incurring 1 time faults. Farrington echoed his sentiment. "I think this is the best event in the world. Our top riders bring their best horses here, and the management is always trying to keep the show at the highest standard," he said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Jon Bon Jovi, Mary-Kate Olsen, Billy Joel, Jerry Seinfeld, Sophia Vergara, LA Reid, Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, Christie Brinkley, James Lipton, Martha Stewart, Aida Turturro, Robert Davi, Kyle MacLachlan, Jill Rappaport, Tina Louise and hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert were this year's celebrity guests who mixed in with loads of local equestrians and spotted at various tables decorated to the hilt.

AUTUMN kicked off the 21st Hamptons International Film Festival rolling out the first red carpet on Opening Night in East Hampton screening the film Kill Your Darlings with Dane DeHaan John Krokidas. East Hampton Point hosted the Opening Night Party despite threats of a torrential rainstorm! Instead it got the all clear and weather permitted festivities to go off without a hitch this year. Barbara Kopple, Ralph Macchio, Dane DeHaan and John Krokidas mingled with industry, film buffs, Founders and the backbone of HIFF. That initiated the long Columbus Day weekend of the festival spread out from Southampton to Montauk and Sag Harbor as well. East Hampton's favorite Swedish styled hotel c/o Maidstone was once again headquarters for the film festival. The Sloan Foundation Reception was held there on Friday afternoon after the screening of Decoding Annie Parker which won the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize and other terrific screenings like The Capital...and Rowdy Talks w/Barbara Kopple. Yummy Diplomatique daiquiries and local wines were served along with delectables created by c/o Maidstone's executive chefs. Plenty of big screenings but we attended the premiere "Louder Than Words" starring David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Timothy Hutton & newcomer Olivia Steele Falconer. The film - written by Benjamin Chapin, directed by Anthony Fabian ("Skin"), and produced by Anthony Mastromauro's Identity Films - is based on the inspiring true story of John and Brenda Fareri, who found solace after the death of their young daughter Maria, by channeling their grief into action and spearheading the creation of the world class Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center through their passion, dedication and fundraising efforts. All the stars came together to honor Maria Fareri along with her parents John & Brenda Fareri and did a sweet Q + A afterwards. Lawlor Media took the entire cast and family of Louder Than Words to Sotto Sopra in Amagansett after the premiere for an apres soiree and divine dinner. Simultaneously the Opening Night Screening in Southampton was the film About Time with Richard Curtis giving the Q&A before all heading over to HIFF Boardmember Ann Barish's beautiful property on Gin Lane for another big premiere bash! Ann is well known in the film world as a savvy investor and hosted the HIFF premiere parties in the past along with Harvey Weinstein for The King's Speech and The Artist - both went on to become Oscar winners...AFTER our darling, little local festival : ) SO much going on! As a big supporter both she and the mayor introduce the opening film for the festival in Southampton. Joey Wolffer and husband Max Rohn hosted the Wolffer party where we caught (we thought) them sneaking through the iron gate to their office - not realizing of course it was their digs!! The fine wine we were sipping on was a 2010 Merlot but they also had a Diplomatique rum bar set up to go with all the yummy bites being passed around by Small Affairs. Outside an enormous buffet of the most delicious mushroom ravioli, roasted corn, fresh from the farm salad and dessert lured the crowd out to the patio with more tables and chairs bordering the vineyard lit so beautifully. For this we forfeited the UK Spotlight film w/ Ralph Fiennes' Invisible Woman screening at Guild Hall - and Free Ride with Anna Paquin at the UA theater! One can only fit in so much so some difficult choices had to be made rather spontaneously. Saturday began with ROWDY TALKS: MEET THE COMPETITION GSA FILMMAKERS and VARIETY'S 10 ACTORS TO WATCH: Breakthrough Performers 2013 BRUNCH at Nick + Toni's in East Hampton. Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor was host to Conversation With - Helena Bonham Carter...and BAFTA TRIBUTE WORKING TITLE was at Guild Hall with Edgar Wright, Joe Wright, Richard Curtis, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Kelly Reilly and Renee Zellweger! Winner of HIFF's Zelda Penzel "Giving Voice to the Voiceless" Award went to Douglas Kass, Roger Kass and Jonathan Franzen for EMPTYING THE SKIES who followed with a Q & A as well.

Now we don't mean to be leaving out the loads of other TERRIFIC screenings everyone else was attending - it's just that *like we said* IF ONLY The Hamptons' International Film Festival was l o n g e r we could get to so many more wonderful films - can ya hear us HIFF?!!? We should have perhaps mentioned it to Stuart Suna when we were at the Chairman's Reception. Everybody came to the Suna residence for their splendid annual cocktail party where the red carpet was a constant stream of photo opps representing all the talent attending the festival and all the media credentialed for the festival. Later in the evening was the Centerpiece Film AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY - a look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Premiering at Guild Hall, AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY was directed by John Wells and boasted a star-studded cast: Meryl Streep, Dermot Mulroney, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis...and BAFTA's Burton and Taylor played at Sag Harbor Cinema with Helena Bonham Carter and Richard Laxton on hand for Q&A. In between that and the screening of The Galapagos Affair, the Filmmaker Party was going strong at the Blue Parrot!! Sunday was chock full of special entertainment and screenings. ROWDY TALKS: NY INDEPENT FILM: REWIND + FAST FORWARD and the other CENTERPIECE SCREENING @GuildHall: NEBRASKA (Q&A with Alexander Payne, Bruce Dern and Will Forte) Bruce Dern and Will Forte did a round table at c/o Maidstone in addition to the red carpet at the screening. c/o The Maidstone was where the Conflict + Resolution Reception was happening but we had opted for watching the US Premiere of EXIT MARRAKECH (Germany) directed by Caroline Link. When 17-year-old Ben visits his divorced dad Heinrich in Morocco for the summer, he realizes his dad is as foreign to him as the country itself. Struggling to reconnect, their old conflicts bubble up and eventually push Ben to leave the luxury confines of his father's world for the wonders the exotic country has to offer. From the colorful streets of Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains, with deserts and oases in between, Academy Award winning director Caroline Link (NOWHERE IN AFRICA), takes us through the unexpected twists and turns of Ben's adventures and Heinrich's search for his son. AND it really wowwwwed us - the cinematography, the story, the music, the ups + the downs + the happy ending...just an awesome movie we highly recommend as one of our favorites (yes, even in spite of the English subtitles). We wanted so badly to get out to Montauk to see the surf movie STEPHANIE IN THE WATER which is an intimate documentary portrait about the culture of pro surfing, growing up a professional athlete, and what it means to be the best...but alas we couldn't get out there in time so another reason we are appealing for a longer festival!

This year, The Hamptons International Film Festival recognized five stellar films for Conflict & Resolution: Plot for Peace, The Square, Ana Arabia, God Loves Uganda and Sleepless Nights and celebrated with a reception at c/o Maidstone Sunday early evening. For the 11th year, New York Women in Film & Television joined with the Hamptons International Film Festival to present a screening of select short films showcasing outstanding achievements by women filmmakers from around the world. Culminating with the Women Filmmakers Brunch at The Hedges in East Hampton, women are definitely making a bigger impact both here at this festival and worldwide. Then it was on to HIFF SALUTES THE 2013 FILMAKERS out by Three Mile Harbor at SL and hosted by Arts & Entertainment and IndieFilms which reeled in ALL the filmmakers : ) YES, loads more films and then also the GSA AWARDS PRESENTATION with filmmakers at the Presbyterian Church Hall on Main Street followed by the GSA AWARDS BRUNCH at Serafina also on Main in East Hampton! The grand finale for this year's international film festival in The Hamptons was the greatly anticipated Closing Night Film 12 YEARS A SLAVE with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender + Brad Pitt and directed by Steve McQueen. The film is about the antebellum United States where Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Adepero Oduye who plays Eliza and Paul Dano who plays John Tibeats were on the red carpet and on hand to greet fans and answer questions. In partnership with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), New York, The Hamptons International Film Festival awarded Tim Bevan and Eric Fellnera co-chairs of the British production company Working Title Film and Producers of Atonement, Rush, Love Actually and Les Miserables among many other films with the Golden Starfish Award for Lifetime Achievement, as part of the Festival's Focus on UK Film. The event's special guests included directors Richard Curtis and Edgar Wright. PHILOMENA and DESERT RUNNERS took the Audience Awards presented by BAFTA. Golden Starfish Award Winners were THE SELFISH GIANT, CODE BLACK and WHALE VALLEY. Special Juror Mentions Awarded To Conner Chapman for his performance in THE SELFISH GIANT and the ensemble cast of KUSH. So much more to tell you but for details on films and awards and full program list we encourage to you to go to hamptonsfilmfest.org!

We happily fit in a few interviews - one was with Tania Zarak whose film TANTA AGUA (Narrative, Uruguay) screened at this year's festival in the World Cinema catagory. Tania created Bonita Films based both in Mexico and New York focusing on projects of international character. Curtains of rain spoil the vacation that divorced dad Alberto has eagerly arranged at a hot springs; because he seldom sees his kids, he refuses to allow anything to ruin his plans. Nothing could be worse for teenage Lucia than to be cooped up indoors with Dad and little brother Frederico. But the springs are closed until further notice, and Lucia's adolescent rebellion clashes against her father's efforts toward quality family time. A taut, wondrous gem, TANTA AGUA captures the emotions of this universal domestic transition in the most naturalistic sense, even given the meteorological impediments. Director of the film Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge were both born in Montevideo, in 1980 and 1981 respectively. They became friends when they were students of Communication at the Human Sciences Department of the Universidad de Catolica Uruguay. They started writing together and in 2006 made EL CUARTO DEL FONDO, their first short film, of whose production they were in charge of under the name Medio Limon Films. In 2008 they made their second short film, CORREDORES DE VERANO, having by then partnered up with Control Z Films. Both short films were selected by and exhibited at film festivals worldwide. TANTA AGUA is their first feature film. We also caught up with Paula Garces and Michael Walker of The Maid's Room for an interview. We were right when we said she looked familiar to us from Devious Maids where she plays Flora! The Maid's Room is categorized under Views From Long Island as it takes place in The Hamptons. Drina, a young immigrant from Colombia, is hired by the Crawford family as a live-in maid for their second home in East Hampton. When the Crawfords' son Brandon comes home from college one weekend, something horrible occurs, and Drina unwittingly becomes the only person outside the family to know. But before her conscience gets the best of her, the Crawfords have something to say about it. Annabella Sciorra, Philip Ettinger, and Paula Garces star in Michael Walker's haunting psychological thriller that explores the complex relationships between truth and justice, hubris and power, wealth and fear. Writer/Director Michael Walker made his feature filmmaking debut with the Lions Gate release CHASING SLEEP starring Jeff Daniels' CHASING SLEEP premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Film Program, Michael also studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory for Acting in Los Angeles. His latest film, PRICE CHECK, starring Parker Posey, premiered at Sundance in 2012. It is being distributed by IFC Films. He currently lives in New York.

The youngest filmmaker at The Hamptons' international film festival was the charming Shubhashish Bhutiani who sat down with us to tell us a little bit about KUSH - which received Special Juror Mentions Award at HIFF and was Winner of best short film at the Venice Film Festival. Anti-Sikh riots surrounding the assassination of the Indian prime minister force a teacher and her students to unite to protect Kush, the only Sikh student in the class. Shubhashish Bhutiani is a 2013 graduate of The School of Visual Arts film program in New York City, having grown up in a small Himalayan town in India. Bhutiani began his film career as an assistant on the critically acclaimed director Vishal Bharadwaj's film, Kaminey, and has worked on commercials for major international brands. To date, Bhutiani has directed multiple short films, music videos and theatre. His thesis film, KUSH, made its world premiere at the 70th Venice International film festival. Bhutiani is currently in development on his debut feature film. Another wonderful filmmaker at the festival was Dan Shadur who along with Barak Heymann made Before The Revolution - a film about an Israeli paradise in Iran. For a certain group of Israelis in the 1960s and '70s, Tehran, Iran was a utopia. Enjoying close relations with the Shah's regime, their paradise was built on construction contracts, weapons sales, and oil. Then the Iranian Revolution arrived. In what begins as a nostalgic quest to understand his family's glory days, Dan Shadur's tale becomes a thrilling documentary filled with rare home footage and interviews revealing a new perspective on the 1979 overthrow. BEFORE THE REVOLUTION reminds us that memory can be deceptive and, in a world of constantly shifting political dynamics, often manipulated. A graduate of the Film and Television Department in Tel Aviv University, Dan Shadur was a writer and editor in some of the main newspapers in Israel, before shifting into film and TV production. Shadur was the founder and chief editor of the cultural section of Globes, Israel's leading financial newspaper, and founder of Shadurian Publisher's, a publishing house for cutting edge literature from Israeli and international writers. In the last couple of years he made a few shorts, video clips, and various works for TV, including a 30 minutes fiction film SUNBURN. We also sat down with Sara Zandieh who submitted her short film Reza Hassani Goes to the Mall into the Hamptons International Film Festival and became Student Award Winner! She discussed the film with us which is about a trip to the mall for a recent immigrant leads to confusion and misunderstanding in this cultures-clash dramedy that looks at one man's struggle to acclimate to a brave new world. Sara Zandieh is a writer/director based in Brooklyn and holds an MFA in Film Directing from Columbia University. Her film, THE POOL PARTY won a Jury Award at the Tribeca Film Festival, Best Student Short at Cinequest, and played at film festivals worldwide. Sara is a recipient of the Fulbright Grant for filmmaking and was a participant in the directing workshop at the French national film school, La Femis. Her thesis film, REZA HASSANI GOES TO THE MALL won the Focus Features Award for Best Film and the Student Selects Award for Best Directing at the Columbia University Film Festival. She is currently developing her first feature film. In between all the hustle bustle of the film festival we still managed to get to Long Island's First Annual Waatah Bash! Inn Spot On The Bay on the west side of the canal in Hampton Bays!! If you were a fan of their annual Lobster Bash, then you too would have loved this new fall event - 1st Annual Waatah Bash! Held over the big Columbus Day weekend for a final gathering of the season, Baykeeper friends soaked up Long Island's coastal splendor while enjoying a most gorgeous autumn sunset over the bay. Sipping on wine and Blue Point Draft Beer to compliment the delish hors d'oeuvres created by The Hamptons "1st Platinum Chef, Executive Cheffe Colette," guests bid on the silent auction of wildlife art and photographs. All proceeds went directly to benefit Peconic Baykeeper's programs protecting Long Island's right to swimmable, drinkable & fishable waters, from the tips of the Twin Forks through the Great South Bay. Baykeeper Kevin McAllister gave an exceptional speech against the backdrop of our precious bays urging everyone to please spread the word so here you go> peconicbaykeeper.org Amidst September and Octoberfests there was also Animal Rescue Fund's Stroll to the Sea Dog Walk at the Mulford Farm Museum, Montauk's Hook 'N Slice Charity Fishing & Golf Tournament Benefit for Wounded Warrior Project, Wolffer Estate Vineyard's Annual HARVEST PARTY, Southampton Hospital's 8th Annual Celebrity & Artist Birdhouse Auction Cockateil Reception Benefit at Peter Marcelle Gallery for The Coalition for Women's Cancers...for which...Renee Zellweger was Honorary Chair! Did you r e a l l y think the social season was over in The Hamptons?

Many people who live here in The Hamptons are city dwellers as well and November kicked off these two biggies in town! The New York Women's Foundation (NYWF) celebrated its 26th anniversary with A Starlit Evening honoring Carolina Herrera, Morgan Stanley and the Ford Foundation at the Waldorf Astoria Starlight Rooftop. NYWF President & CEO Ana L. Oliveira, NYWF Board Chair Anne E. Delaney and NYWF Board Member Diana Taylor were united with leaders in the worlds of fashion, finance and philanthropy under a shared mission to improve the lives of women and families in New York City. Those in attendance included legendary fashion designer + NYWF honoree Carolina Herrera and her husband Reinaldo Herrera Guevara, The Aspen Institute President + CEO Walter Issacson and his wife and new NYWF Board Member Cathy Issacson, Bezos Family Foundation Co-Founders Jackie and Mike Bezos, CNBC's Fast Money host Melissa Lee, Women's Prize for Fiction winner A. M. Homes, Model Sandor Johnson and Service Women's Action Network Executive Director + Co-Founder Anu Bhagwati, as well as Morgan Stanley CFO Ruth Porat and Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, who each accepted the evenings honors on behalf of their respective organizations. Anne E. Delaney welcomed guests to the annual fall gala on behalf of The New York Women's Foundation, thanking them for their continued generosity and support, and for coming to honor the individuals and institutions that have helped further NYWF's mission and purpose of promoting the economic security of women; their right to live safely and without violence; and their health, sexual and reproductive rights. When it was first founded 26 years ago, The New York Women's Foundation began with $50,000 to grant to four organizations. In 2013, NYWF will grant $5.25 million to grantee partner organizations in all five boroughs, making it the largest Women's grantmaking foundation in the United States, and amongst the largest in the world. The other pre-holiday biggie was hosted by Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) who celebrated its 16th Annual Collaborating For A Cure Dinner and Auction at the landmark Park Avenue Armory. Arthur Imperatore was honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award and Tadashi Shoji received the Fashion Cares Award; the evening was headlined by special musical guest, Train. Notable guest attendees included Michael and Elin Nierenberg (hosts of the 16th Annual Collaborating for a Cure Dinner & Auction), Chris Wragge (Master of Ceremonies and Co-Anchor of CBS2 News This Morning), Hugh Hildesley (Sotheby's Executive Vice President & Auctioneer), Spencer Waxman (SWCRF Board of Directors), James Frankel (SWCRF Board of Directors), Mary Kantor (SWCRF Honorary Board Member), Ruth Finley (Founder and Publisher of Fashion Calendar), Martina Arroyo (Opera Singer) and Andrea Powell (Actress, Ender's Game). The dinner, auction and concert was attended by more than 950 corporate executives, board members and their guests. The benefit raised nearly $3 million to support the Foundation's research efforts to produce a cure for cancer by reprogramming cancer cells to deliver tailored, minimally toxic treatments to patients. The scientists who are funded by the SWCRF have made significant breakthroughs in cancer research, including identifying pathways to deliver drugs and novel therapies to treat cancer. The evening's live auction offered guests the opportunity to bid on exclusive items such as a White Golden Retriever puppy that started a bidding war between various attendees and received a winning bid of $7,000. Guests were also able to bid on an exclusive opportunity to meet Train backstage at the event and receive an autographed guitar; bidding started at $3,500 and sold for $10,000. The highest bid of the night went to a luxurious five-night stay aboard a Private Yacht complete with a private jet and seaplane for $135,000. Other packages included the ultimate James Bond experience with a trip to the world-famous Golden Eye Resort in Jamaica for $26,000, a two-night stay at Shutters Santa Monica in the Presidential Suite for $14,000, a golf outing for 24 people at Hamptons Hills Country Club in Westhampton, NY, for $6,000, a 3-hour cocktail reception, planned byROBIN for $6,000, a private wine tasting for 25 at Italian Wine Merchants for $19,000, a limited edition print and studio tour with photographer Richard Corman for $7,000, a one-of-a-kind abstract painting by Harold Garde for $25,000, "Tree of Serenity" limited-edition print by Peter Lik for $8,000, and the ultimate sushi experience for 10 at Neta Sushi for $9,000. The live auction was led by Hugh Hildesley, Executive Vice President of Sotheby.s Auction House. Online auction items. including two-tickets to the Tadashi Soji Fall 2014 Runway Show, second-row seats to watch the New York Knicks up close and personal at Madison Square Garden, the ultimate NASCAR racing experience, and many more. are currently still available for bidding on Charity Buzz until December 4, 2013. After the auction, guests were treated to an exclusive, live performance by music legends, Train! Known affectionately by New Yorkers as *The Waxman* - the yearly fete is considered to be among the top fundraising events in New York City. In recent years, The Waxman has raised several million dollars to support the Foundation.s research efforts to produce a cure for cancer. Past celebrity supporters have included the Warren Hayes Band, Kid Rock, Chevy Chase, Steely Dan, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, John Fogerty, Steve Winwood and Counting Crows.

Welcoming in the holiday season, East Hampton Historical Society opened its 29th Annual House + Garden Tour with a lovely cocktail reception traditionally held over Thanksgiving weekend. Jack and LuAnn Grubman graciously hosted this jam packed holiday benefit at their country house in Georgica. Their own shingle-Style "cottage" started as an early 20th century summer house that began to be expanded in the late 1950s. Today it is a beautifully massed example of the area.s most famous early summer architectural design and one of the village's most lovely homes - a welcoming abode from which to toast this season's East Hampton House & Garden Tour! A Ramble Along the Coast featured five unique homes on the self-guided tour. Richard Barons, the Executive Director of the East Hampton Historical Society was quoted as saying "Whether you tend toward the charm of a classic, historic East Hampton "cottage" or the clean lines of modern architecture, this year's tour has an enchanting combination of houses that are sure to delight. We believe it is the mix of architectural styles from the turn of the century to today - that gives East Hampton its unique character and flavor." The House Tour Committee creatively selected five homes that uniquely express the spirit of living by the sea." Tucked away near the Village of East Hampton, lies a magical compound with incredible Japanese-inspired gardens, complete with a koi pond. In the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright, the main house offers spaces that open out to larger terraces and lawns as well as intimate gardens, reflecting the owner's desire to live within the landscape. This sophisticated oasis also boasts both indoor and outdoor pools! For the romantic at heart, a barn-of-a-house overlooking Georgica Pond, with ocean views beyond, contains actual timbers from Anne Boleyn.s 500-year-old grain barn (Kent, England). The fields on which this house is set still possess the feeling of tilled land rolling down to the ocean, reminiscent of the days when East Hampton was a farming community. As a nod to the controversial queen.s martyrdom, the library paneling matches that of Hever Castle, her childhood home. When 2,100 square feet are enough, this gambrel style, two-story residence combines traditional Shingle Style details with contemporary interiors and a state-of-the-art mechanical system. Designed by Bruce Siska, an East End architect, this newly renovated house offers all the charm of a classic East Hampton "cottage" but with modern amenities and eco-friendly technology, including a high efficiency geothermal HVAC system. Further rambling along the coast takes us to the Bluff Road Historic District, where a beautiful 19th-century house with a spacious wraparound porch offers views of the Atlantic Ocean owned by an interior designer, attention to detail is evident in every room, including a full set of wicker furniture in its original condition from the 1920s that has been in the family for decades, having been moved from one of the Procter & Gamble mansions in Devon. But the most unusual home on the tour this year may be the seaside hexagonal house nestled in the Napeague dunes - one of the greatest sites on the ocean in all of Long Island. Owned by David Netto, a well-known interior designer who collaborated with the Meyer Davis Studio, this Amagansett house has a series of interlocking hexagons, with windows that take full advantage of the breathtaking ocean views. Netto's interior design inspiration was '50s colonial - but sexy, turning the hexagonal living room into a giant, magical wooden tent. In accordance with tradition, the exact locations of these houses are revealed to ticketholders the weekend of the event, thus heightening anticipation! In between holiday festivities were some wonderful gallery receptions. First we went over to Madonia Antiques for Dinah Maxwell Smith's lovely exhibition of paintings illustrating days of old. Munn Floral Designs adorned the beautifully laiden antique tables laiden with platters of hors d'oeuvres and local selections of wine. Next door Trip Patterson was getting his gallery set up for his 9th Annual Thanksgiving Collective: The Worlds We Create. Artists Jonathan Beer, Melanie J. Moczarski, Nick Weber and Aakash Nihalani were the featured artists at Tripoli Gallery. We popped in hurriedly on our way to a private party but were able to capture a glimpse of the exceptional range of talent on exhibit. It will be running right into the new year until January 14th, 2014. The exhibition creates an insightful glimpse into artists' worlds - encouraging the viewer to step into their perspective for a unique experienceand full range of the artist's intimate angle. We are SO going back!

Till next week we hope you enjoy TheHamptons.com scoop on People & Parties while we gather together more of this season's crop of galas & charitable events! #wordonthestreet is Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Kate Upton were seen hanging at Dockers in Quogue a lot and been about town this past summer shooting upcoming new movie The Other Woman - so look out for yet another film shot right here! We also have Royal Pains and Revenge sporting The Hamptons as their locale! Loads to come...Parrish Art Museum's 1st Anniversary at new place in Water Mill, local gigs, holiday galas - just for a sense of what we have in store for you! We encourage you to buy tickets to these terrific fundraisers that support your favorite charities - this is their big chance to raise tons of money for those worthy causes so they put out their BEST for you. Enjoy this high season...thehamptons.com will keep bringing you interviews and a whole lot more...just to name a few ; ) You'll find all the great parties from previous seasons AND the season before and so on & so forth...and get an idea of what to look forward to for this season's events PLUS you just might see yourself in one of them. As per our copyright notice for this entire website, all content, photos & videos are copyrighted to thehamptons.com. If you would like a copy of any photo or video from any of these events, please get in touch with thehamptons.com by emailing us at staff@thehamptons.com and THANK YOU for visiting : ) We will keep adding to this as we capture more great footage here & there...could be nyc or cannes!!! Please have a look at our seasonal social page to keep up with The Hamptons all year round! Autumn, Winter and Spring are very special here and that's why so many have lingered on and opted to become LOCALS!! Please come for a visit during each of those and find out why there is still so much to keep you here most all of the time. TheHamptons.com and @hamptonsmedia are invited to cover events here & there so keep us bookmarked and share w/your friends - please : ) We also now post fave fashion shots, fave recipes, fave places and a whole lot more #fave on pinterest.com/thehamptons so let us know if you want to pin on our boards!