Chelsea Handler and hotelier Andre Balazs. (Liam McMullan of Patrick McMullan Co.)

Southampton - Are you ready for the summer? Well, it is certainly underway as evidenced by the myriad of bold faced names and celebs that hit The Hamptons over the first official launch of the season this past weekend.

Keeping track of who was where and who was who was as much fun as our own Tweet Up held on Friday at Don Sullivan's Southampton Publick House. Making that scene wereMatt Weeks, Alexis Hernandez and Ryan Hernandez. Hamptons.com first offical Tweet Up of the summer was a great success with DJ Dory playing party music and the brand new Malibu Black sponsored half priced cocktails. The atmosphere was fun and excting, it was a great way to kick-off a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend right in Southampton.

On Saturday night, the new management team behind Boathouse Restaurant in East Hampton lead the charge for an amazing Memorial Day Weekend. The packed bar was a great indication of how busy the bartenders were that night and the food that was coming out of the kitchen in all directions left your eyes and tastebuds begging for more. As dinner service was coming to a close a DJ came on and the lounge was set up with tables for bottle service. Soon the lounge was packed with a great crowd dancing and celebrating another Memorial Day Weekend in the Hamptons.

Everybody knows that on Sunday of holiday weekends the party is most definitely not over! That being said, Phao on Main Street in Sag Harbor played host to one of the hottest parties of the weekend. DJ Efra and The Foul Owl Group hosted the party which went all all night. The drinks were amazing and the music was perfect for the dynamic atmosphere.

Celebrity chef and author Katie Lee and Southampton Social Club owner Ian Duke. (Liam McMullan of Patrick McMullan Co.)

HAPPENINGS!

Spotted at Nick & Toni's over the Memorial Day Weekend were Lou Reed, who dined with two women (not his wife Laurie Anderson), while Howard Stern and Beth Ostrowsky dined with a group of friends. Nathan Lane, Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts were also spotted at the eatery.

Busy as ever and now in a new location, celebrity regulars still found their way to Almond in Bridgehampton, as N Sync's Lance Bass stopped by with friends on Friday night while NY Met alum Keith Hernandez, James Lipton, Joy Behar and Jeffrey Chodorow all dined at Almond's over the weekend.

On Sunday night, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star Kourtney Kardashian stopped by Hamptons hotspot AXE Lounge to celebrate the long weekend, while heiress/reality TV star Paris Hilton danced the night away on banquets at the newly redesigned club. Also in attendance was '90210' starlet Shenae Grimes, clad in leopard print pants, who hung out with a group of friends until the wee hours of the morning. AXE Lounge also feted the weekend with a performance by international singing sensation Nadia Ali on Saturday night along with DJ Jesse Marco and on Friday night, DJ Jus Ske spun for a packed house to christen the venue's third summer.

The newly opened Southampton Social Club was the hotspot this Memorial Day Weekend with celebrities including TV host Chelsea Handler with hotelier beau Andre Balazs, model Beth Stern, celebrity chef and author Katie Lee, R&B Singer Estelle, "Gossip Girl" Tika Sumpter, Actor Kyle MacLachlan with wife and producer Desiree Gruber, "The Real Housewives of New York City" Kelly Bennsimon and Ramona and Mario Singer, models Jessica White and Lisalla Montenegro, The Spin Crowd's Jonathan Cheban and Simon Huck, "Inside the Actors Studio" James Lipton, Musician Matt White and New York Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, Chair of this summer's 53rd Annual Southampton Hospital Summer Party were all seen toasting to the 2011 summer season at the restaurant and lounge.



East Hampton's newly opened beachhouse Restaurant, owned by Michael Gluckman, also of The Boathouse Restaurant, was home to VIP Hamptonites over the Memorial Day Weekend, including real estate moguls Gary DePersia and Susan Breitenbach of The Corcoran Group, Harald Grant of Sotheby's International Realty, Nancy Mizrahi and Cathy Dransfield of Saunders & Associates, creative directors of popular Hamptons fragrance 'Privet Bloom by Hampton Sun,' Salvatore Piazzolla and Grant Wilfley, Ed Bulgin of Bulgin & Assoociates, Inc.'s and local artist Silas Marder and Jeff Muhs.

Guests enjoy being poolside at Southampton Inn this weekend. (Courtesy Photo: Lawlor Media Group)

New York Socialite Olivia Palermo and boyfriend, German-born modelJohannes Huebl, and Annette Rogue Lauer all left Christopher Fischer East Hampton with some new duds.

A Power Dinner - Miami Dolphins and The Related Group owner Stephen M. Ross, with business partner Jorge Perez, Executive Vice President of the New York Giants, Steve Tisch and advertising executive Donny Deutsch enjoyed dinner at Southampton staple T-Bar at Savanna's.

"The Real Housewives of New York City" star Sonja Tremont-Morgan was seen enjoying cocktails at Nello Summertimes with three friends, while "Royal Pains" starlet Reshma Shetty was seen at Hamptons staple The Driver's Seat. Strutting down the sandy white beach of Distinctive Resorts and Residences at the Panoramic View in Montauk this weekend were 30 stunning models, as guest and residences had their eyes glued on their picture perfect bodies.

Dina Lohan, star of the new "21Jump Street Jonah Hill," Sports Illustrated models Jessica White and Lisalla Montenegro, Sonja Tremont-Morgan, as well as star of E!'s "The Spin Crowd," Jonathan Cheban were all seen holding court at Southampton's beloved restaurant, 75 Main, as 30 beautiful Victoria's Secret models also entered the dining scene, while "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" Kim Granatell kicked off the Hamptons season this weekend sunbathing by Southampton Inn's colossal pool, while sipping on their refreshing cocktails.



Christine Ebersole and Edward Hibbert sold out their performance of "Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward" and delighted the audience on May 28 at Bay Street Theatre. The play interweaves the music of Noël Coward and letters between Noël Coward and his famous friends (newly collected in the critically acclaimed book, "The Letters of Noël Coward," edited by Barry Day).The Noël Coward material used by permission of the Noël Coward Estate. A reception was held after the performance for premium ticket holders.

Shenae Grimes at Hamptons AXE Lounge. (Courtesy Photo: Fingerprint Communications)

UPCOMING
The Battle of the Bands will take place at Ponquogue Beach in Hampton Bays. Eight bands, comprised of local teen-agers will rock the house at the Ponquogue Beach on Dune Road, on Friday, June 10, (rain date June 17) at 8 p.m. at the Ninth Annual Battle of the Bands. The event, sponsored by the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau, will bring together teens from all the villages in Southampton Town and will provide a memorable performance experience for the eight bands chosen. Slated to perform are Patrol, Degenerate Burnout, and The Blazing Beaverducks from WHBHS, Calypsis from ESMHS, The Entertainment from CMHS, Urbanoid from HBHS/WHBHS, and according to J from McGann Mercy, Human Errror from Shelter Island Heights/WHBHS/EHHS.

Gates open at 7 p.m. The evening will include a Mobile Video Game Theater for the first two hours. Throughout the night audience members will have a chance to win prizes by answering music trivia questions and an award ceremony will follow for first, second and third place bands. Top prizes include Sam Ash Gift Certificates, One fully produced song by Bulldog Studios, first, second, third place plaque, a website and one year of free hosting from Certain Media Inc., cash and more. Tickets are $10 at the door, so turn out and support some local music. For more information, contact the Youth Bureau at 631-702-2426.