Hot on the heals of the fundraising and fact gathering sweep the presidential candidates made through the Hamptons this summer comes some sweet revenge. In a new film Southampton producer Patricia Watt unveiled recently at Sundance, Mark Mitchell's mock-umentary, "Liszt for President," the story has us all in stitches. The wicked premise is quite plausible: a charismatic billionaire declares himself as an independent candidate for president – hmm, are we thinking Ross Perot? Michael Bloomberg?

Ralph Fiennes and Bob Balaban. Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

Patricia and Mark hosted a private screening at a weekend long celebration for Mark's mom, Pat Mitchell (she not only heads The Paley Center for Media but is vice chairman of Sundance with Robert Redford), and her husband, Scott Seydel, who renewed their wedding vows. The a stellar audience included Jane Fonda and beau Lyndon Gilles, assorted Redfords, Buffets, Turners and the like.

The film stars Richard Masur, Holt McCallany and his mom, the incomparable Julie Wilson, and a slew of our neighbors such as Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach, Paul Hecht, Larry Pine, Jacquelin Murphy Stahl, and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps. Mark and Patricia will be screening it soon in the Hamptons. Can't wait!

Speaking of the Countess LuAnn, one of our fave gals on the scene, I have just learned that LuAnn and her debonair husband Count Alexandre de Lesseps will be honored for their philanthropic and community efforts at the big bash, Hooray for Hollywood, which also pays tribute to screen legend Patricia Neal and wealth manager whiz, Smith Barney's Shirl Penney. I know I already mentioned this red carpet gala, but now you have two more reasons to add November 1st to your calendar and help out the extraordinary work of The Auditory Oral School of New York, a non profit organization which specializes in teaching deaf and hard of hearing children to listen, talk, think and socialize.

I just can't resist saying, "I told you so," but Bravo TV has finally confirmed their new series which has been quietly filming here for several weeks. The reality show is now titled "Manhattan Moms" - not Hamptons Housewives as I suggested – but it does feature Countess LuAnn and that indefatigable fabric guru and fundraiser Jill Zarin. (See darlings, I can keep a secret or two.)

Frances Berwick, executive vice president of Bravo's programming and production, said in a statement, "Manhattan Moms is a fly-on-the-wall glimpse into the privileged lives of New York's wealthy socialites. We'll watch as they juggle calendars packed with charity fundraising galas and the social whirl of the Hamptons, with interviews for elite private schools and high-powered careers". I have at least twenty more candidates for her!

Good news for the fashionistas - especially the European set - who came to town for the annual Mercedes-Benz Fashion blitzkrieg and found the venerable Nat Sherman Tobacconists across from Bryant Park shuttered. The family owned premium cigar and cigarette company didn't close, simply skedaddled across the street to a brand new three story building on East 42nd Street. Family patriarch Joel Sherman, along with sons Larry and Bill, decided that it was time to have grand new headquarters for the international firm. They were looking for a suitable for place for their clientele, which includes the likes of Rudy Guiliani, Yankees Manager Joe Torre, Joe Montana, and hundreds of the cigar loving public, to stash their stogies in private thermostatically controlled lockers.

The new store combines stately and cozy in 5,700 square foot spread over three floors rich in wood, leather, and 5-star service. The new Nat Sherman experience begins with a warm copper and stone façade that features arched windows and a slanted roof reminiscent of Edwardian London. That's no accident, since the interior boasts a 30-foot ceiling over the ground floor highlighted by a circular balcony with shelves of cigar boxes that look like books in an elegant English library. In fact, the Sherman's once again hired their favorite architect Jack A. Michaelson and Broadway set designer Charles McCarry to give the store the ambiance of Henry Higgins' library in "My Fair Lady". I can't wait til their grand re-opening to do my Julie Andrews turn.

Talking tobacco, I was thrilled to hear that Bob Balaban, one of the hardest working artists on the East End, will have the world premiere of his much talked about film, "Bernard and Doris", as the opening event of the 15th Hamptons International Film Festival. Written by Hugh Costello, the film stars Susan Sarandon as tobacco billionairess Doris Duke and Ralph Fiennes as Bernard Rafferty her gay butler, to whom she left her fortune including her jewels. This has been, as the gals on "The View" would say, one Hot Topic, with many of Duke's relations ready to lace into the creators. My money is on Bob who has demonstrated remarkable talent in dealing with painful and often horrifying real life stories. Remember "The Exonerated"? Bob helmed that - also with Sarandon starring.

Doris Duke had some serious baubles but Kelly Klein has got a few pieces that even Doris would have envied. Her collection includes a natural pearl and diamond necklace that belonged to the Duchess of Windsor. Former hubby Calvin Klein snatched that little trinket up for her back in the late 80s when the grande dame's collection went on the auction block in one of the most widely publicized auctions in history. Calvin even tossed in the famous Noir et Blanc earrings from Harry Winston that become the late duchess' signature.

Now Kelly is putting the historic set with its amazing provenance up for sale at Sotheby's. This is one auction that is going to have the high jewelry set swooning.

A little lower down the fashion chain – in price not style - Todd Oldham has just been named to head up design for Old Navy. Makes sense to me, after all Old Navy was the first budget line to bring in the major fashion guns with style icon Carrie Donovan as spokeswoman. We like a company with a sense of humor…and we really like Todd!