Southampton - Just when you thought funnyman Steve Martin had nothing else to add to his fascinating curriculum vitae, he rolled into East Hampton with a banjo on his knee to perform at Guild Hall with the Steep Canyon Rangers. This multi-talented actor, director, writer and artist kept guests entertained with his musical skills and of course, ever present humor. Spotted in the audience were Alec Baldwin, Eric Fischl and April Gornick, Dina Merrill, Candace Bergin, Mort Zuckerman, and Elie Tahari.

This should keep you chatting - net-a-porter.com and Mr. Porter have partnered with Hampton Luxury Liner to offer travelers free wireless internet access on board all routes between Manhattan and the Hamptons through September 30. Combined they showcase a well edited selection of clothing from over 450 leading international designers. With express worldwide shipping to 170 countries (including same day delivery to London and Manhattan), luxurious packaging and easy returns, both sites offer an unparalleled shopping experience.

The State University of New York (SUNY) College at Old Westbury hosted its 10th Annual Summer Polo Match and Lawn Party recently. This championship polo tradition raises funds to support academic and programmatic enhancements at the College, while also honoring those who advocate for the preservation of Long Island's open spaces.


As it has since its inception, this year's polo match was provided by Meadowbrook Polo Club, the oldest polo club in America. The 2011 Theodore Roosevelt Preservation Award was presented to Steve Bellone, Supervisor of the Town of Babylon. The Theodore Roosevelt Preservation Award was created in 2004 to honor individuals and organizations that are committed to conservation efforts and causes for future generations. Two other awards were also given out to local Long Island residents including the Alumni Leadership Award to Marie (Mea) Knapp, a 1977 graduate of the College and counsel to the law firm of Germano & Cahill, and the Ed Wrigley Horsemanship Award to Marianne (Bunny) Steelman, instructor for Long Island Riding for the Handicapped Association.

Sponsors included Land Rover of Long Island, TD Bank, Cameron Engineering & Associates, Chartwells, Smithtown Hunt, Meadowbrook Polo Club and SUNY College at Old Westbury Alumni Association.

Now this is dedication to Mother Nature and the outdoors: Johan Ernst Nilson, a Swedish explorer known for his unparalleled Climate Neutral travels, commenced his journey from the northernmost point to the southernmost point of the earth on Wednesday, April 6, 2011. The expedition, titled Climate Neutral-Pole2Pole, marked the anniversary of American Explorer Robert E. Peary's expedition to the North Pole, as well as the history-making voyage of Norwegian Explorer Roald Amundsen, who was the first explorer to reach the South Pole in 1911.


Johan started the voyage by walking more than 124 miles on the Arctic ice of the North Pole to the Svalbard Archipelago in Greenland. He was then scheduled to navigate across the Arctic Ocean to Ottawa, Canada, however, less than three months into his journey, the explorer was forced to change route towards Vancouver, Canada. He was treated for frost-bite, a recurring problem he faced during his 2008 Seven Summits journey, and he also fell into the Arctic Ice while trying to keep afloat as his skis and boots weighed him down, he was eventually dragged out of the frozen water by co-explorer Harald Kippenes. Give up - Never! The activist was also chased by a grizzly bear while cycling in Canada.

Johan will continue cycling for six months through North and South America, passing through major cities such as Mexico City, Mexico and Santiago, Chile to the Amazon Jungle before arriving in Patagonia. Finally, he awaits a two month journey in Antarctica on skis and a parafoil, to the South Pole. The expected duration of Climate Neutra/Pole2Pole is one year!

Teaming up with iconic brands such as Audi - who built equipment for the explorer including skis, kites, bikes and a sled, as well as named him a Brand Ambassador, a title shared by Justin Timberlake and ZENITH Watches, Johan is known globally as The Environmental Explorer, and has accomplished some 30 excursions across 100 countries. Good luck and stay warm, dry and safe!

Closer to home, kicking off the Southampton Hospital's 53rd Annual Summer Party, Patty and George Kraus hosted a cocktail reception at their lovely Southampton estate on June 25, 2011. The exclusive event, which was held for the supporters of the Southampton Hospital included Jean Shafiroff, Chair, 53rd Annual Southampton Hospital Summer Party, Martin Shafiroff, Jean Remmel FitzSimmons, Chuck Scarborough, Robert S. Chaloner, Mary Katherine and Alex Navab, Ann and Arnold Jurdem, Christl and Ken Meszkat, Stephanie and Stephen Hessler, Mary Ann and Daniel Van Arsdale, D.O., Marion and Philip Piro, Jr., Raya and Clifton B. Knight, Sandra McConnell, and Christopher Obetz.

This year's Summer Party, "A Tropical Paradise," will be chaired for the second year by Shafiroff, who expressed her gratitude to this year's committee members and Hospital staff for their hard work and support. "It is an honor for me to again chair this important event and we are anticipating another success!" Hospital President and CEO Chaloner greeted guests, joking that "when staying in the Hamptons, the last place you would want to be is in a hospital!" He went on to say, "However, if you are ill, you will not find a better local hospital to take care of you. In the last several years, Southampton Hospital has completely renovated and expanded critical departments, including the Jenny and John Paulson Emergency Department, the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center, the Kathleen D. Allen Maternity Center and the Ed & Phyllis Davis Wellness Institute, among other areas.


The long-time tradition supports the Hospital's Jenny and John Paulson Emergency Department, which serves more than 25,000 residents and visitors annually on Long Island's South Fork - the Emergency Department was named after the Paulsons in recognition of their generous support for the Hospital. Tiffany & Co. will serve as the Honorary Jewelry Chair, Barclay's Wealth will serve as the Honorary Corporate Chair, Cushman and Wakefield will serve as the Honorary Commercial Real Estate Chair and Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate will serve as the Honorary Residential Real Estate Chair. The highly-anticipated Southampton Hospital's 53rd Annual Summer Party will take place on Saturday, August 6, 2011 under the tents at the corner of Wickapogue and Old Town Roads in Southampton.

Courtney Friel, Cleo Jung, Ainsley Earhardt, and Kimberly Guilfoyle celebrate new location for the well known spa. (Courtesy Photo: Shin Advisors, LLC)

Beauty and wellness entrepreneur Cleo Jung celebrated the opening of her eponymous Cleo Spa and Salon on Gramercy (260-264 Third Avenue) in NYC, along with hosts Ainsley Earhardt, Michelle Edgar, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Luigi Tadini. "Ladies first" in pampering took on a new meaning as former First Lady of San Francisco Guilfoyle welcomed Broadway's First Lady Bebe Neuwirth and her dashing husband Christopher Calkins, who joined the festivities. Just days after completing a successful year of playing Morticia in the "Addams Family," Neuwirth was primed for a bit of relaxation with friend Susan Shin who sported a new haircut from the talented Cleo hairstylist "DC." No stranger to the stage herself, Imogen Lloyd Webber also dropped in and shared tidbits with Fox News' Courtney Friel, Andrea Tantaros and Megyn Kelly. Other well-groomed guests included Stephanie Foster, Cassandra Seidenfeld, Emma Snowdon-Jones, Heidi Lee, Flo Fulton, estate jewelry expert Tara Compton and Korean show host and jewelry designer Tana Chung, not to mention Luigi Maestro, Anisha Lakhani's ever so chic Shih Tzu who celebrated his birthday with the ladies and Peter Davis in his urban chic mode.

Guests experienced the holistic approach to pampering the mind, body and soul in a celebration of well-being and accessible bliss as they indulged in blow-outs, mini-massages and express manicures and enjoyed Orange V Vodka "Cleo-politans" and Redemption Rye "Renewal on the Rocks" and nibbles by Sonnier & Castle.

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan at the 12th Annual Play For Pink Golf & Luncheon Tournament. (Rob Rich)

The name of this beauty mecca in the Gramercy Park neighborhood is derived from its founder, Jung, who first launched her Cleo beauty and wellness spas in 1999 with locations in Chelsea and White Plains, catering to busy clients including Julia Roberts, Eva Mendes and Isabella Rossellini. The spa and salon is a relaxing haven from the hustle and bustle of daily urban life, where beauty and art harmonize to promote well-being for its clients. From head to toe, every detail of beauty care is addressed, executed by skilled professionals who are leaders in their respective fields. Go to www.cleospa.com for further information on how to be pampered.

The 12th Annual Play For Pink Golf & Luncheon Tournament, benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was recently held at the Hampton Hills Golf & Country Club in Westhampton. Founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993, and chaired by Jane Pontarelli for 12 years, it is the largest Breast Cancer Ladies Golf Tournament in the Hamptons!

If you haven't made it to the new Beachouse Restaturant yet this summer, you are missing a beautiful setting and fantastic food - the decor, staff and offerings are just delightful! So grab your matey and enjoy the nautical theme, and if seafood is not your thing - try the filet mignon which will have anyone jumping ship for more!

And there you have it - good times keep rolling along.