| Issue #30, October 20, 2006 |
South O’ the Highway (and the North too)
Just before Marilyn Monroe’s death, Vogue commissioned famous fashion photographer Bert Stern’s iconic photo shoot, “The Last Sitting.” These prints, which art critic Bertrand Lorquin compared to the nudes of Rubens, Velazquez and Manet, just left the Musee Maillol in Paris and will be displayed in East Hampton at Vered Gallery starting this weekend. Bert Stern will be at the reception this Friday, along with some of the Hampton’s International Film Festival’s Stars.
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Southampton’s Bobby Abid is starring in the Alter Ego production of A First Class Man, by David Freeman, at 45th Street Theater in Manhattan on a limited run through October 21. The play is the story of Srinivasa Ramanujan — played by Amir Arison — a shipping clerk living in India in the 1910’s who was a genius with a passion for producing complex mathematical theorems. For tickets, call 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com
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Jimmy Buffett of North Haven was detained at Toulon airport last week when French customs officers found what they said were Ecstasy pills. He was never arrested but had to pay a fine of 300 euros (about $380) before he could start his vacation in St. Tropez. Buffett has now posted his side of the story on margaritaville.com, in which he says the pills were actually a vitamin B supplement. The singer wrote, “My vices these days consist of boat drinks, beer, wine and the occasional hot fudge sundae…… In these days and times, the truth sadly gets lost in the gossip at an alarming rate. This is something that will happen if you have an adventurous soul and live a nomad life.” Buffett’s latest album, “Take The Weather With You,” was released last week. After appearing on “The Today Show,” he kicked off a brief fall tour on October 19th at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, California.
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Hamptonite Joanne de Guardiola and Susan Malloy co-chaired The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Preview Party for The Haughton International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show last Thursday at the Park Avenue Armory. Among those who showed up to bid on over a billion dollars worth of antiques were Julia and David Koch, Thomas Guinzburg, Betty and Virgil Sherrill, Gail Hilson, Jessie and Rand Araskog, Kitty and Stephen Sherrill, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Jamie Drake, Tony Ingrao, Karen LeFrak, Randy Kemper, Lisa McCarthy and Richard Mishaan. Shoe designer Taryn Rose and Southampton’s Janna Bullock sponsored the affair.
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Hamptonite Billy Joel is a finalist in the 2006 Billboard Awards’ hotly contested “top box score” category, which honors the top-grossing single event of the year. Joel’s record-setting stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden earned him this place. Other finalists in this category are Madonna, for her run at London’s Wembley Arena and Luis Miguel. The awards will be handed out Nov. 9 at New York’s Roosevelt Hotel, capping the third annual Billboard Touring Conference.
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New York Synagogue, led by Rabbi Marc Schneier of East Hampton, opens its fourth season to celebrate Shabbat Bereshit this weekend. Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv and former Chief Rabbi of Israel, will speak on Saturday about Ezer Mizion, The Israel Health Support Organization, which provides medical and social support services including the Terror Orphan Program, the Golden Age Division and Cancer Support. It is best known for the International Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which has made 800 donor-patient matches and facilitated hundreds of stem-cell transplants. Services will be led by Rabbi Schneier, Cantor Dudu Fisher, Cantor Netanel Hershtik and Assistant Rabbi Yishai Hughes.
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Ellen Barkin’s jewelry collection was auctioned off at Christie’s recently and the sale’s total — $20.3 million — made it the highest single-owner jewelry sale of the past 15 years in the U.S. and placed it among the top four ever worldwide. The purchase of the night was $1.8 million paid for a diamond ring — a gift from her former husband, billionaire and chairman of Revlon Inc. Ron Perelman, of East Hampton. Barkin is currently filming Ocean’s Thirteen with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
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Sag Harbor’s Julie Andrews will receive a life achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild at the Guild’s annual film honors, on January 28.
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Hamptonite Steve Ernst and his wife, Jackie Rogers, who is planning her fashion show at the Friars Club for this week, attended the Humane Society of New York benefit at the Dutesco Gallery last Wednesday. They were greeted by HSNY’s Sandra DeFeo, Susan Richmond, and Virginia Chipurnoi, president of the organization. Dutesco’s curator, Peter Tunny, and his fiancée, Amy Magee, were there, as well as former magazine icons Grace Mirabella and Jade Hobson. Also spotted were Hamptons regulars Mark Langrish, Harriette Rose Katz, Dr. Peter Theodorou, Dr. Eric Berger, and Michel Witmer. Fifty percent of all sales that night from the “Horses of Sable Island Exhibit” were donated directly to the rescue center.
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The home on Middle Lane in East Hampton where Barton Kaplan was found at the bottom of his pool (just steps away from the spot where Ted Ammon was murdered) is on the market for $19.5 million but it won’t sell easily with Kaplan’s ghost hanging around. Barton’s father, Robert Kaplan, called in a psychic, Robert Brown, to tame his son’s ghost but the rattling windows, flashings lights, slamming doors and strange noises didn’t stop. In fact, it got so bad that renters were given an extra month this past summer. According to Sam Wagner, the late Kaplan’s partner, the ghost is mad because he (Wagner) never got $2 million left in his (Kaplan’s) unsigned will.
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East Hampton’s Sean “Diddy” Combs’ new album, “Press Play,” was released on Oct. 17 but he’s making more than just albums these days. On the same day, Vibe Magazine’s November issue hit the newsstands that featured an interview with Combs in which the rapper makes it official that Kim Porter, his longtime girlfriend, is expecting twin girls. He also says that although he hopes to get married one day, he isn’t ready yet.
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Jon Stewart, of Sag Harbor, was interviewed by David Remnick at the New Yorker Festival recently. When he was asked about the “Stewart/Colbert ‘08” t-shirts, the comedian replied, “Nothing says ‘I am ashamed of you, my government’ more than ‘Stewart/Colbert ’08.’ They are a real sign of how sad people are with the state of affairs in the country.” Stewart, who recently hosted Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf on “The Daily Show,” said he’s been trying to get top Bush administration officials to appear, but only Barney, the President’s Scottish terrier, has replied.
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Anti-noise residents on Long Island’s East End are fed up with people who increasingly rely on private helicopters to get to the Hamptons, and have enlisted a pair of Democratic lawmakers to do something about it. Rep. Tim Bishop and Sen. Chuck Schumer sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration last week requesting the agency take some action.
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Hamptons International Film Festival accompanies great screenings with great parties. This Friday and Saturday night at Star Room, Dan’s Papers own Joel Rodney, aka DJ Black Rhino, is spinning. He’s recently been spinning at Marquee in Manhattan and at other hot clubs, and we’re lucky to have him in our hamlet. Don’t miss it.
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The Ross School presents “An Evening With John Chamberlain Benefit” featuring the premiere showing of the documentary John Chamberlain and Miss Lucy Pink, created by Ross 11th Grade student Alexandra Fairweather, and a special Question and Answer Session with internationally-acclaimed artist John Chamberlain on November 4 at Ross School in East Hampton. This event will launch the new Ross School Chamberlain/Fairweather Scholarship Fund, which will enable an Arts student to attend Ross High School. The event is sponsored by the Glimcher Family and PaceWildenstein Gallery in New York. For tickets and information, call (631) 907-5112.
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Kimko Realty Corp., the shopping center magnate that owns Bridgehampton Commons, has just penned a deal in conjunction with General Electric Co. to acquire 19 shopping centers from Crow Holdings of Dallas. The cost for the 3.6 million square feet of leasable space is roughly $920 million.
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The Neighborhood House in East Hampton, an educational institution and community center for over a century, is in need of help. Local builder Ben Krupinski has donated $15,000 to alleviate some of the costs of a new roof, and an additional $5,000 was gifted from the East Hampton Preservation Society, but the building is still in need of work. On Saturday, Oct. 21, The Neighborhood House will host a quiz show benefit. A $50 entry fee will get you dinner, drinks and placement on a quiz team. Call (631) 324-0175 for more information or to reserve a seat.
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Robert Chaloner, of Cabrini Medical Center in Lower Manhattan, has been chosen as the new CEO of Southampton Hospital. He is “extremely excited and honored to be appointed.” He will assume his new duties in early December, the most blaring of which is a $40 million deficit.
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The final show at Guild Hall’s John Drew Theater before it closes for renovation is a staged reading of the George S. Kaufman/Edna Ferber comedy The Royal Family. Broadway actors Marian Seldes, Mercedes Ruehl, Paul Hecht and Daniel Gerroll head the large cast in this Barrymore family parody. Directed by Tony Walton, the performance is Friday, October 27, 8 p.m.
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It looks like East Hampton Village will be trading a parrot for a pony. One of the only wet bars in the Village, the Blue Parrot, known for its relaxed, fun atmosphere, has been reportedly purchased by Ralph Lauren. What will come of the restaurant/bar is still anybody’s guess, but don’t be surprised if the surfboard over the bar is replaced with wallpaper of “Brightwell Paisley – Indigo. RL Number: LWP30597.”
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East Hampton’s Renee Zellweger will act as Special Chairperson at this year’s South Fork Breast Health Coalition Artist & Celebrity Bird House Auction, on October 21. Birdhouses designed by Reese Witherspoon, Edie Falco, Isaac Mizrahi, and Cliff Robertson, among others will be placed on the auctioning block for this worthy cause. The event will take place at 5:30-8 p.m. at Southampton Hospital’s Parrish Memorial Hall, on Herrick Lane. For more information please call (631) 779-3333.
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The Bridgehampton Country Market has been sold. The new owners are Bob and Barbara Baugh, former owners of the Sagaponack General Store. They’re moving uptown. The new store will be called Bob’s Village Market and will carry, among other things, the delicious fresh-baked items like they had in their old store, made everyday on the premises.
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Leif Hope’s Restaurant in East Hampton has closed. The property has been leased to Michael Gluckman, manager of Bamboo. Reportedly, it is to be a steakhouse and will open in November.
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