Southampton - The joint is hoppin' the Hamptons way as parties, gatherings, openings and festivities heat up headed into 4th of July weekend.

Guest Mark Udell with Club Starlight honoree Sybil Yurman at the Club Starlight gala at the Ross School. (Nicole Barylski)

The Ross School held their Eighth Annual Club Starlight in honor of Sybil and David Yurman on Saturday, June 25, 2011. The event was held at the Ross School's Great Hall of the Center for Well-Being, and emceed by "Saturday Night Live" writer and stand-up comic Colin Jost. Club Starlight featured music by the multi-platinum band Cherry Poppin' Daddies.

The event which raised over $500,000 for Ross School programs and scholarships, including the Steven J. Ross Scholarship Fund, enables 45 percent of the student body to receive financial aid.

The event was attended by over 400 guests, and featured a cocktail reception, dinner, silent auction. The silent auction included an online shopping extravaganza donated by Rue LaLa, two preview tickets to Super Saturday Ovarian Cancer Fundraiser, Director of High School for a day donated by the Ross School, four seats at a New York Rangers Game, and a month of unlimited yoga donated by Ananda Yoga & Wellness Center.

Guests enjoyed wine from Channing Daughters Winery and hors d'oeuvres from local businesses including Bay Burger, Cavaniola's Gourmet Cheese Shop, Hampton Coffee Company, Il Capuccino, Pierre's, The Seafood Shop, Serafina, and Turtle Crossing.

Kirstie Alley and chef Hung Huynh compete in a quick-fire challenge at the Lacoste event. (Nicole Barylski)

At the Lacoste bash on Saturday at the Estate in Sag Harbor, chefs Hung Huynh and Franklin Becker kept guests going back for seconds and thirds of the absolutely delicious offerings.

The event featured a quick-fire challenge with guest sous chefs, "Dancing with the Stars" alum, actress Kirstie Alley, and Hamptons Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Samantha Yanks, for a quick-fire challenge. CWE Media President Charlie Walk emceed the affair while Steve Birkhold, CEO and President of Lacoste, volunteered his taste buds to judge the quick-fire challenge. The challenge was too close to call and both chefs were were declared winners.

When chatting with Chef Becker he revealed "I do the meats and poultry, and Chef Huynh has been doing the seafood, and everyone seems to be enjoying it all." That's an understatement - in particular the swordfish, lobster roll, chicken and filet mignon kept everyone's mouth watering for more!

This past Saturday, Martini and StyleCaster headed to Montauk to celebrate the launch of Martini Moscato d'Asti, the chicest wine of the summer!

Hamptons locals and vactioning city dwellers came out to party at Sole East Resort and lounge by the pool with custom Martini Moscato d'Asti cocktails like the Martini Dolce La Poire and Martini Moscatini. Sophmore's DJ Chrissie Miller provided the perfect summer soundtrack, playing everything from old school reggae to modern surf rock.

Also on Saturday, the Phoenix House held their summer party which honored designer Elie Tahari and Julie and Bruce Menin. The event was held at the home of Margie and Michael Loeb in Southampton. It was attended by "Gossip Girl" star Kelly Rutherford, "Royal Pains" star Mark Feuerstein, Beth Ostrosky Stern, "Real Housewives of New York City" Ramona Singer, Jill and Bobby Zarin, and music provided by DJ Donna D'Cruz.



Artisan Sitara Naghavi celebrated the Grand Opening of her retail gallery of sculptural jewelry and functional art at 60 Jobs Lane in Southampton last weekend. The event began on Friday, June 24, 2011 with Andrea Gurvitz, from Gurvitz Marketing reading a Proclamation issued by County Executive Steve Levy recognizing Sitara Naghavi as a new business in Suffolk County.

Southampton Mayor Mark Epley then addressed the crowd at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony where owner and artisan, Sitara Naghavi and her husband, Dr. Ray Naghavi cut the ribbon to the entrance of their gallery. This was followed by a Champagne reception and cocktail party catered by The Driver's Seat Restaurant.

An eclectic gathering of guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as they viewed and purchased one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces of Sculptural Jewelry and Functional Art created by Sitara Naghavi. Sitara made herself available to media and guests to answer questions about her work, showcase her signature pieces, and talk about the creative inspiration she finds in the natural beauty surrounding the area.

DJ Chrissie Miller enjoys a drink by Martini. (Courtesy Photo: Nike Communications)

A percentage of all sales generated is being donated to charities that are close to Naghavi's heart: The Breast Cancer Foundation, The Breast Cancer Society, Southampton Hospital and the Have a Heart Foundation. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 1-855-7-SITARA (774-8272) or 1-631-377-3637.

Montauk's Sole East offers guests a unique getaway experience, guest can spend their time in a unique and renovated bungalow-like room, or in one of eight garden cabana suites. Relax by the pool and enjoy your time at Sole East this summer during one of the many live musical performances, weekly themed events or sunday brunches offered this season. Spend your Fourth of July weekend by experiencing a day of beauty and pampering on Sunday, July 3 when celebrity hairstylist Ric Pipino debuts services in the resort's "Zen Den" between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Service inquiries and appointments can be made by contacting Natalie Colwell at 714-861-9355 or ncolwell@pipino.com.

SPOTTED!:

 • "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin meeting friends for dinner at East End hotspot Beachhouse Restaurant, as famed artists Eric Fischl and April Gornik dined on fresh sea urchin bucatini pasta a few tables over.

 • "Californication star" Madeleine Martin posing with fans at local favorite 75 Main restaurant.

 • Molly Simms dined at Nick & Toni's in East Hampton on Saturday night. She sat on the porch with five girlfriends for a late dinner.

 • Tony Bennett and his wife enjoyed dining at The Living Room at c/o The Maidstone in East Hampton.